12 Chapter Twelve: Hide

"That really was faster than I expected. Reminds me of the one who made me the way that I am. So, why did you not abandon your humanity? Why keep those emotions?"

"Because," I start, "humans are powerful. I want to use that power. To cultivate it into something more."

Orth looks me over, his eyes questioning me.

"Right, well, since you've mastered your mental demons, it's time for some combat training."

"Already? I've been tormented for five days. Do I at least get food?" I question him. These people are slave drivers.

"You don't need food. Didn't you notice? You only want food out of habit. Think about it. Do you even feel hungry?"

Realization hits me. Since my birthday, I haven't felt any hunger. Sure, I've been eating, but I haven't actually been hungry.

"Godly brings barely need anything to sustain us. We may eat every once in a while, but mostly for the flavor and hardly for the actual need of it. Really, what has that old bear been teaching you?"

I look at Orth with interest. For a being that doesn't care for human emotions, he seems completely laid back. He especially loves to crack a joke here and there.

"He hasn't really had the chance. I spent a lot of time sulking, before we came here."

"Now, that's just pathetic for a god to sulk in such a way."

With no warning, Orth charges at me, and this time I block. I still managed to be blown back, only I didn't land on the ground, but instead my feet skid back.

Not waiting for Orth to retaliate, this time I strike, willing my feet to move faster than their normal speed. Just when I was about to land a blow, I began to doubt it'll do any damage.

At the same time, as soon as I hit Orth, my fingers break in several different ways.

"Let me guess, you started second guessing your strength? Honestly, what is the point of keeping your emotions, if you're just going to delay your progress?"

"That's where you're wrong," I say through gritted teeth. "It just means I'll fight harder to be a better version of myself. Only weak people throw their emotions aside, because it's too hard. If I wanted the easy way out, I would've forgotten about this a week ago." I respond to Orth.

"You really are a lot like him. Just who are you."

"Like I told Emiya, I'm no one special."

I question rather or not I should tell him that the god Kano is my father, but decide not to. I understand that Benson and Emiya trust him, but I don't quite know him for myself just yet.

"Alright, anyway, I think you've officially earned yourself a break from getting your butt kicked."

With a hard pat on my back, Orth opens a portal back to Emiya's mansion.

"Welcome back young master," Benson greets me. I hold myself from flenching back at the memory of him nearly knocking my head from my body.

"Hello Benson."

"How was training?"

"It was interesting, to say the least. Um, do you know where Emiya is?" I ask, unable to shake the reality that I've been faced with.

Thanks to that strange fruit, I've come to understand that I've fallen in love with the strange redhead in the short time I've known her, and I would at least like to check on her.

"She had some business to attend to, but she shall return shortly."

Just as Benson answered, Emiya appeared. I stopped in my tracks and looked at her for a bit. There was a part of me that still didn't understand how this whole god thing worked.

"Emiya, hi."

I secretly wanted to punch myself. What type of greeting was that?

"Hey, how was your training?"

"Well, I didn't get knocked through a pillar, if that's what you mean."

Emiya laughs, and Orth smacks my back- hard.

"Yeah, he did pretty good. Not nearly as hopeless as Benson made him sound."

"I did no such thing. I simply made you aware of my short temper and that I needed your assistance."

That was all that had to be said, before the foundations of the mansion shook, and I lost my footing, Orth catching me before I can fall. Cracks begin to form in the ceiling, as a chandelier falls to the ground.

"Young master, I need you to hide." Orth tells me.