The lady was able to use a Class; this could only mean one thing:
'She's Royalty.'
Only those of Royalty could have a Class. Even though Leonard had never seen someone with a Class in action, just by seeing the process of how the sword manifested, Leonard could guess that she belonged to a Class. Fighting someone with a Class was the equivalent of suicide for someone without one, yet Leonard had a smile on his face.
'So what if you have a Class?'
Thinking of this, he stood up and looked the lady in the eye.
"You're quite courageous," the lady said as she slowly walked towards him.
"Why should I be scared?" Leonard asked. His tone sounded as if he was asking a serious question.
"Yes, after all, I have a Class," the lady said.
"Oh, that? I just couldn't care less."
As he finished saying this, he charged at her, his bloody nails ready to kill. The lady also charged at Leonard with swift and precise movements.
'Fast!'
Before Leonard could properly register what happened, his left arm was cut off in one swift, precise slash. The lady was so extremely fast that even Leonard's heightened senses couldn't save him. Before he could move, he saw the world turn upside down. The sky was down while the bloody ground was up. He couldn't feel his limbs or any body part. He felt strangely cold. His cognition was slowly going.
Thud!
Something dropped on the ground.
'Why am I on the ground?' Leonard wanted to speak but couldn't. 'Most importantly, why is my body still standing even though I've hit the ground?'
Leonard's body soon dropped on the floor; once it hit the ground, blood came out like an overflowing pipe. Looking at his body, Leonard realized what happened.
"I've been decapitated."
The lady must have slashed at his neck, separating his head and his body.
'Truly the skills of a Royal.'
Leonard was a few seconds from finally dying. How he maintained his consciousness for this long was inhuman.
'At the end, I felt peace for the first time.'
Thinking back on his life, he had never once experienced peace; he always faced attacks, be they physical or mental. At the end, when he went crazy and started killing indiscriminately, he felt a sense of peace. Seeing the people he hated die by his hands, no longer having to hear the remarks they had about him—all of that was gone at that moment.
But...
'I don't want to die.'
A burning desire to live lit up in him. Why did he want to live? Leonard himself didn't know, but all he knew was that he wanted to live—to live as long as possible, to live with all life had to offer. Perhaps that was the reason he wanted to live.
'I want to live because of my greed.'
From childhood, he never knew why he lived; to him, he lived because he didn't want to die. There was no real ambition, but now he had found his reason for living. It was a shame that the moment he discovered his goal—his reason for living—he was at death's door.
***
Death was quiet. Nothing existed. It was just quiet, like a still painting. However, at this moment, that stillness came to an end.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
Eight loud claps were heard.
"That was quite the show you put on," a feminine voice sounded in the empty void.
The void was completely black. Nothing could be seen apart from a figure. The figure wore a majestic gold dress with some purple strips which reached her legs. Her hair was golden, reaching her waist. She had dark purple eyes which seemed to draw mystical light in. In the dark world, only she gave off light.
"Would you believe me if I were to say this place is, in fact, not dark, but filled with color?" she spoke. Her voice was soft, pleasing to the ear.
"..."
No one answered her. However, she didn't seem disappointed at this and continued talking.
"This world exists because I exist: The Witch of Time."
She walked around, then suddenly manifested a white chair and table; on it was a cup of golden tea.
"This world exists in a state in which time doesn't exist; as such, there's no light, nor is there dark. But you see darkness, disproving my statement of dark not existing. Even my claim that the world is filled with color disproves my statement. However, I'm not wrong. This world truly can't have color, but also has color. Next time you enter, it may be white, or colorless, or my favorite color—gold."
She drank another sip of the golden tea.
"For now, it's black to you, but it will most definitely change next time. However, next time I won't let you visit my world, so consider this your first and last."
She drank another sip, finishing her golden tea. Once it was finished, she let out a sigh.
"Anyway, enough about this place. First, I'd like to introduce myself. I am one of the three great and limitless witches: The Witch of Time."
As she said this, she waved her hand and a symbol appeared. The symbol was that of a golden clock; the clock had large circles surrounding it—about twelve of them.
"Now then, first I'd like to tell you something. Today, you're officially dead. I can't really bring your body back because the other Witches aren't really understanding."
She said this, then smiled and added, "But don't be upset. I expected this day to come; as such, I made a body for you. All you have to do is let your soul take over it. If you were attached to your old body, sorry, it's long gone. There was no way to bring it back without facing issues."
She extended her hand. Golden lights rushed in a spiral circle then disappeared, leaving behind a body which had long blonde hair and golden eyes.
"Unique, isn't it? After all, having golden eyes is rare."
Soon, twelve chains appeared and bound the body.
"For now, you won't be able to use the full body's power. The stronger you grow, the more seals unlock. I've revived you from the dead and given you a unique body; it's time for me to make my own requests. First, I need you to go to a strange town which will suddenly appear, filled with people who act strangely. However, this town will disappear, so be sure to escape before it does. Once you're in the town, look for a strange book there which will most likely be worshipped by the townspeople. Once you have the book, I'll tell you how to send it to me. I don't know when this town will appear. Raise your strength like your life depends on it... because it does."
"That's it for now. Until next time, Leonard."
As she said this, she waved her hand; the clock and body both disappeared. She was now the only bright thing in the dark world.
Crack!
A small white line appeared above her.
"It seems like you're growing impatient with each passing day. However, don't forget I am the limitless Witch of Time. Dare look at me again, and I'll find a way to kill you."