Covered in gore and blood, Art stammered through the woods, his expression dull from how many close calls of death he had experienced so far.
After the lion's den he went hunting around numerous unidentified beast nests. He did gain more combat experience but it wasn't fun.
The humaniod insects that had paralyzed him dozens of times, the shit throwing monkies and the sonic screams of the giant canaries.
It was agonizing to say the least.
"I hate effort."
Ranning his fingers through his wet hair he sighed full of anguish.
The early sun's glow futher worning him out.
Right now he was pretty strong not yet a powerhouse but seen as an individual with the potential to be one but all that strength was uncontrollable.
It was like having the latest model of a sports car without being able to drive it.
A single instances of reckless could lead to an accident and that was why he greatly needed real combat experience.
The more he used the snowdance techquie the more it was engraved into his body hence he was slowly getting a hard at properly using a sword but that wasn't enough, there was something more he had to comprehend to fully bring out his potential.
"It's a techquie.",
The reason he was feeling lackluster wasn't just about combat experience but also he lacked a techquie that properly situated him.
The snowdance was too rigid and restricted for him and the basic dagger Arts he got from increasing Grim's emotional meter was too weak.
He needed a techquie or a weapon art that was both flexible and easier to master.
"Maybe the sword isn't a weapon for me."
He really liked swords but liking something didn't mean he would be good at using it.
"Spears...I could try that."
For a moment he envisioned himself with a golden spear in hand, tossing down pillers of island size light spear down on his enemies.
The sight was chilling and awesome but he felt it didn't fit him yet.
"I'll just stick with swords."
He didn't need to be a swordmaster to win a fight, he just needed to be stronger and more cunning.
Reaching the side of the mountain road, he took the path leading down stream.
With his sword strapped to his waist, he placed his hands in his pocket, his nonchalant expression shifting back and forth between passing vehicles.
Times like this were the few moments he could relax but there must always been a calm before the storm.
Villier's chances of becoming a villain was getting nearer and nearer and if he fully accepts said role, Art will only have a few weeks before the eventually confrontation were he will destroy the barrier to the academy and let in dangerous people.
As his memories slowly repaired themselves his face paled understanding what fate had installed.
"One's he returns I'll confront him."
Words before conflict that was his principal with any potential enemy.
------------------
"Hyakki Yagyō"
Stirring the cup of coffee before her, Valarie spoke.
"The abyssal parade of ten years ago?"
Responding to her words was Grim in casual attire, her expression full of warmth.
"Yes, my family among other leaving on the outskirts become causalities of that incident."
"Were you the only survival."
"No." She shook her head.
"I survived along a friend of my but..."
"Did something happen to them."
".....I can't remember it's been so long."
Holding her forehead with her eyes closed she winced in pain as the memories began to flood her mind.
"Take it easy."
Streching her hands across the table, Grim patted her shoulder, relieving Valarie of some of the pain.
"I can't understand what is wrong with me...."
Holding her arms in discomfort, her voice cracked slightly.
"...as I child I was scared but in time I was sure I got over it,.I even dwelled in aura but all that progress I made ruined all because my childhood trauma resurfaced."
"Have you told the spear Saint–i mean you master about it."
Placing her arms on the table, Grim stared intently at her.
"I did but all he told me it was a trial I must overcome..hehe..as if that could help."
"Miss Valarie can you tell me, what time those traumas of your's began to resurface."
"My second encounter with an Abyssal entity."
"When excalty." Grim gesture for her to elobarte.
"A year ago when my master took me to the Rift. One of those freaks broke out the dimensions gap..or so my master said. The sword saint quickly dispatched of it but I did see it and that's when it happened."
"So seeing an abyssal entity triggered you trauma." Grim responded not surprised.
"They could be a possibility consideration they are know to corrod minds." She added causing Valarie to flinch a bit.
"You're saying I've gone mad."
She wanted to cry at such as a possiblity. She hadn't even gotten her revenge nor has she experienced romance. Now she was going to be put down soon.
"Your words not my."
To lighten up the mood, Grim shrugged, her expression playful towards Valarie's panic.
Having open up a bit to her and adding the information she already had on Val, she had deduced her problem was purely psychological with no external interference.
It was a similar case to how she use to have difficulty in causal chatter but a bit more advance.
Her problem was the type that could be solved with the help of a psychologist or simply overcomed by sheer will.
The latter was somewhat difficult because the kind of environment to build such a will wasn't easy to came by.
The well to overcome such a trauma needed a strong foundation built from years of hardship and yes while Valarie had seen things and experience things she shouldn't have gone through as a children it wasn't enough.
Her determination was too lackluster, her personality too laid-back and so her will was incomplete.
So that left her with the former option, someone good in psychology or atleast who can recommend one and strangely the first person to came to her mind was unexpected.