Even if I supposedly have a thread. What will that do if I can't see?
It's much more than just having my eyes closed. There's no darkness. No light.
Thump
And this aching pain in my eyes and head.
The twist in my chest feels like it's growing stronger.
Wait. How do I have time to feel all this? There's no way somebody as ruthless and whoever this man is would just let me live.
The blood on my face feels like it's falling slowly. Is my perception of time changed by the thread?
It hits me.
Not an object, not a feeling or realisation.
My surroundings.
Everything
Stone. Its temperature and feel under my knees. Exactly how much pressure is being put on them.
Blood. It's a feeling on my face. Still slowed, as if disconnected from time. The soft echo of droplets hitting the floor ringing out for far longer than they should.
The exact position of every corpse in the room. Its angle. Its pose.
My sword is on the ground next to me.
I can see everything. Not from my eyes. But like the information is being relayed to my mind.
And it's not just what's in front of me. I can see behind. Both sides. Above and below.
It's like looking at a drawing or image on a piece of paper. Except that drawing is the real world.
Things behind solid walls are as easy to see as things mere centimetres from my face.
Everything in perfect detail.
Even him.
He shifts his weight. Watching me in front of him.
It looks slow. But I can tell it isn't.
That's what the thread's power is. Isn't it.
I can see everything around me. And I can process everything dramatically faster. If not instantly.
I plant my palms on the floor and push myself up.
I can fight with this.
I can feel every grove in the hilt of my sword as I grab it from the floor.
I see the tensing and relaxing of every one of his muscles as he begins to move.
He didn't even plan on giving me a second. At a guess the real world time between now and when he struck my eyes was less than 10 seconds.
Based on how I got hit it must look unbelievable. The pain I feel backs up that idea. Tenfold.
Suppress it. If I can at least drive him away everyone else will be fine.
I didn't train for nothing.
His sword is aimed to strike my left arm. Just under my shoulder.
The pressure behind my eyes as I focus on it.
But I can still see it coming.
I'm not any faster with my thread. But it makes my reaction time near instant.
The difference in speed means nothing now.
Block.
Deflect.
Now he's going for a thrust. My lower right abdomen.
I shift to the left and swing.
I can see the muscles in his legs shift. He's trying to duck it.
Bring my sword down.
His legs shift again. He's pushing back.
Thrust forward and catch him.
I push the blade forward, his feet leaving the ground moments before.
His sword is too far away, he can't move midair.
I watch the sword disappear into his waist.
I quickly try to push the sword to the right, cutting towards the centre of his body. My blade didn't go deep enough to hit his spine, but it'll do damage regardless.
Despite my efforts he jumps back again before I can deal any more damage.
???: "I see."
What? Has he figured out my thread already?
???: "You unlocked a thread. It somehow lets you see without eyes and lets you react and understand everything instantly."
He's smart.
???: "If there's some kind of effect to show it's being used I wouldn't be able to see it. My own lack of a thread renders me unable to see the effects of threads like yours."
Kareth: "Like mine?"
Pain dances through my throat as I talk.
???: "You don't even know of the differences between threads? So naive."
He pauses for a moment.
???: "Your thread is most likely one that uses the Eidryn to cause some supernatural effect. Simply put it would do something like making you stronger. Or in your case giving you the ability to see and understand everything."
All this is new information. That means mine and Rhovans threads are similar at the most basic level. Assuming his theory about Rhovan's thread is correct.
???: "The other kind is a thread that connects the Eidryn and changes its physical properties for use. The boy over there has one like it. Based on what I saw, it's something to do with light."
Why is he telling me all this?
???: "There's not much point in me telling you regardless. I don't plan on letting you live anyway."
I can feel my body shiver. Barely noticeable when it's being drowned out by body wide pain.
The throbbing in my head has only gotten worse since I started using my thread. I suppose this is the drawback.
???: "Any final words? A name for your thread or a confession to a lover?"
His tone is almost mocking.
I cough up blood as I go to talk.
Kareth: "I do have words. Though they won't be my last."
He smirks.
Kareth: "Instead. I'll make sure these are the last words you hear."
It hurts. Everything hurts.
Kareth: "I will strike you down. No matter what."
But I'll ignore it for as long as I can.
Kareth: "Using my thread. All Seeing Eye. I will bring death upon you."