56 Spear Boy’s Vacation Gone Wrong

(Cao Cao POV)

Peace in strength is a basic idea, but it does make the most sense in the scenario. I remember arriving in this world barely able to kill a normal human, but now I could destroy continents with ease after only a year and two months of training and research.

And while the biting realization of how necessary these essences were is not lost on me, it is more of a humbling reminder in a way. I am under no illusion that without them, I would not have thrived as I have now. But if I thought of this anymore, it would be redundant at this point.

While the LP purchases have helped immensely, I have trained for this power for the most part, at least. The regeneration keeps scars from fully forming, but I can still see them on me whenever I look at myself in the mirror. All the scratches, burns, and blood.

But now I am a top ten contender if only through beating Zeus in his prime and enhanced by fate, a snake from Ophis, and maybe Indra, but that could just be my paranoia, and as Scathach and I walk through the streets of London, Scathach seems almost out of her element.

"Is everything alright, master?" My question is met with a small bit of silence before she answers.

"Yes, Disciple, but I am still somewhat affected by how much the world has changed in my absence. While I would get people who would come to the Land of Shadows and tell me of the passage of time, it never felt real until now. But for enough fish out of water from myself, why do you do that?"

"Do what exactly, Master ?"

"Call me Master in public. I cannot teach you more than I already have, and now we are equals in many regards." That makes sense, but it would feel wrong not to at this point.

"If I were being sentimental, I would say that I enjoy calling you Master because it's something that only I can at least at this point in time. Logically, I would say that calling you my Master just makes sense. You are always teaching me new things, even if you don't realize it. Every movement you make, and every improvement you have made has aided in my own studies and is that not the definition of a teacher."

She chuckles but says, "Should I feel honored that you're watching my every move or creeped out?"

"I would hope the former, but maybe the latter as I am a bit possessive or I have realized that I am. I never want to lose any of you if I can help it." That was an undeniable truth, and as the essence of the binder grows in power, I will be able to ensure that they never leave me, or I don't know what I would do.

As Valerie tries to take pictures of everything, Scathach nods in understanding but then says, "Really, is that the reason? Or is it because you have a master-student kink? I did not know I was training a deviant."

I mean, we are in the hand-holding range, so our lewd scale is already off the chart. But answering her, I smirked and said, "And what if I was a deviant master? Would you feel threatened?"

She then takes her hand and grazes my cheek as she gives me a very hungry look, and as our eyes stare into one another, I see the endless seas of blood that she has spilled during her life. Yet what she sees in mine is unknown as she then pulls away, and we continue walking. This conversation, however, has brought up a question of if I can make her dress in a bunny suit.

Now, that is something to look forward to if I can achieve it.

"I feel as if you are thinking perverse thoughts, my disciple."

"I have no idea what you were talking about, Master. I am simply enjoying the view in front of me. And the view from behind and side to side. You get the point." She simply scoffs in exasperation as we arrive at the gate outside Buckingham Palace, and I see Valerie attempting to scare the guards.

What makes it more amusing is that she's trying to use her Shadow manipulation to take off their hats, but she hasn't realized that the guards themselves are seemingly Supernatural in nature as they are more than likely homunculi meant to guard the place. The amount of effort she puts in is almost comical, and even the guards are amused as I see hints of smiles on their faces.

My Master simply sighed in amusement as she looked around, trying to see every difference between her time and this one. It feels kind of similar to when Captain America ran in the middle of Times Square in the First Avenger, but unlike Steve, Scathach has had a decent time understanding the change. She has just never been exposed to it until now.

"Valerie, don't scare the muggles with your shadows." Valerie seemingly ignores me as she summons more of her shadow imps to try to pull the guard's hat off.

Scathach looks at me with an almost surprised look. "You have read Harry Potter?"

I nod as she seems thrown off a bit. Valerie eventually stops trying to pull off one of their hats, but the guard, seemingly trying not to laugh, bends down and hands her his hat. And as the young vampire princess looked up, the guard already had a new one somehow.

Wait, where did it come from?

I see the same guard wink at me. Valerie seems dumbfounded but happy nonetheless as she puts the hat on, and I have to try not to chuckle at how ridiculous it looks on her. I do take some pictures using my magic because I can maybe give these to Gasper at a later date.

As she runs back to us, she flaunts her hat with a proud smile on her face as if she has won a war and is returning with honors. As she approached us, I gave her a mock salute, which she returned with complete seriousness. Ironically enough, it seems that the hat has somehow transferred military etiquette, as that salute was perfect. All she needs is a rifle, and she will be set.

"So Valerie, what shall you do with the hat?"

"I shall learn to summon the forces of bunnies from it like those magicians do on the streets!" Okay, now I am lost. My questioning look makes her giggle as she then begins to explain how she saw magicians on our way here pulling rabbits out of a hat and birds from their coats. It is official, people. The vampire princess wants to become a street magician and wear her large hat.

"Well, Valerie, if you ever learn to pull a rabbit out of your hat, please let me be the first one to know and see the show, and do try to keep front-row seats for me."

'Of course, but front row only? No, you shall be my assistant in my journey delving into the abyss of magic!" Okay, we are getting a bit ridiculous here, and I have to make sure I do not raise a chunni. But after saying this, Scathach gives her a look, and she stops and salutes again, but in fear this time.

Truly, the power of the anime Sensei is absolute.

But as we leave the premises, the world around us starts to warp and change as we find ourselves in what looks like a forest. As I summon my spear, Scathach her Gae Bulg, and Valerie summons her heartless, and we wait for an attack. Spreading my senses, I feel the very air trying to trick me, but these eyes see through their fairy magic, and I disperse the mist that attempted to surround us.

Scatahc then yells out, "I did not know that the fae has become so cowardly during my time imprisoned. Show yourselves lest you feel the tip of my spear!"

"And my hat!"

Not the time, Valerie.

As I slam my spear on the ground, I summon a wave of holy fire that spreads in a circular wave around us and disperses the rest of the mist, and as it clears, I see many creatures staring right at us, from monsters to humanoid beings, all of them look at us as if we were some abstract art piece.

Summoning a portion of my strength, I ask, "Why have you brought us here?"

"You know why interlopers! You carry the cursed blades!"

Cursed Blades? They must be referring to the pieces of Excalibur, and as I summon the case with all of the pieces in it, they grow a bit more agitated. Yet, as the small army begins to approach us and prepares to attack, a wave of energy spreads across the realm as a loud voice commands, "Cease Hostilities Now!"

And as if they were never there, almost all of the beings disappear, with the only ones remaining being the fairy knights, who were definitely human-sized and wielding large lances of pure woodland material.

Each one of them felt about high class in strength, but after the voice spoke, they all kneeled to an approaching figure, a woman with black hair and purple eyes and a long, flowing back robe that only reached her very large chest.

"Stand down, as it has been a long time since we have had visitors in the place." The woman commands, and the knights all nod and form ranks behind her.

She then looks at me, and a small smile forms on her face as she heads towards us, and as she does so, we do not lower our weapons.

"I greet the princess of vampires and the god slayers. I am Titania, the Queen of The Eastern Fae; it is nice to make your acquaintance." her smile never wavers as she looks at me specifically, but Scathach then nods as I give s all bow of respect while Valerie after her training as a royal does a respectful bow.

"I greet you, Titania, in the light. But I must ask why we were invited into this realm so forcefully."

"Oh, I did not invite you all per se it was more the work of our ruler. You see, the crown has always been a rather fickle being, and to think that the realm has brought three visitors is almost astounding. Especially since the slayer of the Morrigan and the Skyafther were the visitors." She does genuinely sound impressed, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something here.

As she gets closer to me, she looks at my blindfold almost hatefully, but the expression is almost unnoticeable, and as she pulls away and says, "Well, since you have appeared in my woods, I must show you all around. So please follow me."

With a great deal of strength, Titania pulled me toward her as Scathach caught me before she could pull me, but I was unmoved by either. Valerie, on the other hand, I was being held aloft with my telekinesis.

This just seems wrong for some reason, as everything seems real yet fake at the same time. It can't be an illusion because the realm is real, but I can't escape the scratching feeling that I'm missing something.

Noticing my gestation, Titania simply says, "After I show you around, I can lead you to the ruler, and they may be able to send you back." The offer, while tempting, was useless as I could send us back myself, but my curiosity was stoked, and I did want to return to swords, so I looked to Valerie and Scathach and talked to them telepathically.

"What do you think, Master?" I desire her expertise on this as she has dealt with Fae before.

"Do not trust them. While they may appear harmless, many have fallen to their wiles and never returned. Make sure to keep Valerie in your sight at all times. Can you get us out of here?" I then give an affirming mental nod.

"Yes, at any time now that as I have seen their magic." My answer makes a sense of pride wash over the conversation but then ceases.

"Good at the first sign of trouble; send Valerie back to the Land Of Shadows," I mentally nod at the action.

"I can take care of myself, you know." Valerie retorts.

"I know Valerie. But you are more support than a fighter, and besides, any good tactic always involves killing the white mage first." My choice of words causes Scathach to sigh, and I chuckle at her exasperation.

"I will never understand this gamer language you speak of disciple."

"I can't help it if I am such a cultured man master." I am met with silence after that.

Valerie then nods as she understands the security of this situation, or at least her own. While she has become adept at her Shadow Magic and has become stronger physically due to drinking my blood on a decent basis, she still has not learned to control her sacred gear yet, and it may be a liability during battle.

So, as I look at Titania, I nod my head and see her smile become almost voracious as she takes me and puts me in her chariot, and as I enter it with the others, her gaze never leaves me as I wonder what I did this time.