I remain laying on the ground, watching the man raise his blade.
"This ends here, kid."
I close my eyes hopelessly.
Then—
CLING!
A loud metallic sound rings out as it hits the hunter's blade.
I completely open my eyes, and to my surprise...
I see the hunter, restrained and covered in gold coins.
"That's a close call, kiddo."
I smile as I see Gabriel restraining the man on the ground...
I let go of the stick and run towards him, avoiding the hunter.
"Are you hurt, kid?" Gabriel asks me as the hunter growls on the ground.
I nod and stare at Gabriel and the hunter.
Admiring him for being this strong.
"What are you planning to do with him, Gabriel?" I ask, not out of compassion, but curiosity.
"With him? He's not even a challenge."
I watch as the guy floats and gets tossed into the violent river by the gold coins holding him.
I stare at the guy as he desperately tries to float until he's out of our sight.
"Let's go, kid."
I snap back as soon as Gabriel starts to walk.
I quickly follow him, looking around, still wary of my surroundings.
"So how did you even last this long, kid?"
He asks.
"I must say, that hunter has experience... So I'm curious."
I stay quiet for a while...
"Luck, I think."
Gabriel didn't reply for a moment, then laughed at my answer.
"Luck? Don't be dumb. There's no such thing as luck!"
He kept laughing at me. It's almost annoying, but I control myself.
"I was able to land an accidental strike on him... Just luck."
Gabriel stopped laughing after that.
"And? Why were you lying on the ground earlier if you managed to hit him?"
I stop and stare at where I was lying earlier.
"I managed to block one of his attacks with that stick." I point.
Gabriel follows my finger and asks,
"With that stick, huh?"
...
"So you can use it now?"
I tense, not even realizing the possibility.
"I... I'm not sure."
"Not sure? We just have to test it then."
Nervousness fills my chest.
"Test? Test what? Ken Coating? Uh..."
"What else? Come on, Jean... Show me." Gabriel gives me a knowing smile.
"Attack me with all your might."
"I promise, I won't hit back."
Gabriel kept his taunts, but that's not what I'm thinking at the moment...
Can I really do it again?
"Come on, come on, kiddo~"
Gabriel kept his taunts. I couldn't think anymore because of him.
In rage, I lunge forward to give him a punch.
Then, to my surprise...
I found myself falling to the ground while Gabriel slightly moved sideways.
"You really can't use it... I wouldn't call it luck, but a possibility."
I remain on the ground, more frustrated with myself, because...
After all, I really thought I could use it now...
While I was quiet on the ground, Gabriel crouches down and smiles.
"I'll give you a clue about it. Use your brain, kiddo."
I stare at him, ready to take his clue.
...
...
Silence...
"Ask yourself, what could be the reason? What triggers it."
"Either way, it might take you weeks to figure that out... You seem like the type of kid who doesn't focus on the present and past events..."
Gabriel's yapping blurs into the background as I re-evaluate everything...
What's the reason?
What...
triggers it?