Watching a large gust rush into the distance, Anaar gives a slow round of applause to Maggie. “You are definitely dedicated.”
Running up to give him a tight hug, she looks him over with concern. “Welcome back! How did everything go? Why did you need to leave so abruptly anyway? How is Phavian? You have seen Phavian haven’t you? Oh my gosh am I keeping you from Phavian?!”
Chuckling lightly, something he did not realize he needed quite badly, he gives a sigh before starting his attempt to answer the typical string of questions Maggie was prone to. “Things went… surprisingly well. I’ve surely never been on a mission like this one before.”
“Really? What was so different?”
“Well, for one thing, I just kidnapped a little girl.”
Mouth falling agape, “You did what?!”
Shrugging, “Okay maybe kidnapping is a bit strong, but I think if I were to be prosecuted it would definitely be for kidnapping.”
“Why would you be prosecuted? Why are you kidnapping someone in the first place? Didn’t you say the Headmistress sent you on this mission personally? Oh my gosh is she like some evil human trafficker?! All my notions about her are ruined!”
Not sure what else to do, Anaar fashions a cup made of water, sealing it with a barrier and filling it with more water. Handing it to Maggie, she looks at him, doubly shocked and impressed, then greedily drinks down the water. With it all gone, she gives him a small motion indicating she wanted more, and the cup refills as she downs it again. Finally calming down, she awkwardly hands the cup back to him which immediately bursts into mist, dissipating in the air.
“Are you better now?”
Squinting at him with pouty lips, “Not really. You can’t just drop things like that on people!”
“I don’t know what else you wanted me to say.”
“You know, sometimes I miss the days of your obscure, intentionally cryptic answers.”
Sighing with a shrug, “I can never win. It is always too much or too little. Do you want me to explain or not?”
Slapping him on the arm, “Yes! Start with why you would be prosecuted!”
Putting his finger to his mouth gazing aimlessly to the sky, “Maybe because I took a French national, who is also an orphan from her orphanage and brought her to American soil with absolutely no permission or documentation?”
“What?!”
“Well…”
“Oh no you don’t. You are doing that thing where you act like something beyond absurd is completely normal!”
“I already said it wasn’t normal,” he says with a slight grumble.
“Not helpful! So why would the Headmistress have you kidnap this girl?!”
“I’m not sure if it was intended to be kidnapping…”
Slightly raising the fan resting against her side, “I swear I will… not kill you, since you can’t die, but hurt you really badly if you don’t stop playing innocent!”
“This was weird for me too! I’m pushed through a wormhole, dropped in France, and told to find a young girl and try to get her to come back with me.”
“Okay, that sounds really creepy… Like unmarked van and offering candy creepy.”
“Gee thanks for the imagery as if I hadn’t already thought of that myself.”
“So what is so special about this girl? How old is she anyway? Why is she an orphan?”
“She’s nine, and she killed her parents. No one wants her it seems.”
Rubbing her temples vigorously, “So you just brought a young French psychopath to America? Wait, did you bring her here?!”
“Where else was I going to take her?”
“Anywhere but here!”
“Like leaving her at the orphanage?”
“Yes!”
“That wouldn’t have worked.”
“Why not?!”
“Cause she blew it up. Well at least partially.”
Gasping with understanding, “You mean…”
“Yes, technically she is a Demolitionist.”
“What do you mean by technically?”
“Well typically Demolitionists’ abilities at their core are destruction. Hers is not. It just happens to cause lots of it.”
“That isn’t very helpful. How is that any different from your explosions?”
“Because those are intended to destroy. I just have gone the opposite direction and toned them down.”
“Well what does she do if she isn’t ‘technically’ a Demolitionist?”
“She converts things to antimatter.”
“Antimatter. Like, the antimatter? The stuff that caused the Big Bang?”
“Pretty much.”
“Isn’t that extremely volatile?!”
“Well, only when it annihilates. If the whole world was made up of antimatter, we would just know it as matter. The problem with her ability is I don’t think she can create new matter, which makes sense, she isn’t a True Quintessence, so anything she converts automatically has something to react with.”
“And how is this not classifying her as a Demolitionist?”
“Because theoretically, if she could convert all the molecules of something in a given area to antimatter without it coming into contact with regular matter, there would be no boom.”
“This seems overly complicated and I am getting a headache. So when you say she killed her parents, you mean she manifested and couldn’t control herself.”
“Exactly.”
“You made it seem so bad! The poor thing had no idea what was going on!”
“I never said she murdered her parents.”
Hitting him in the chest a number of times with an annoyed growl, “You could have led with that! So you were sent because you have… experience?”
Shrugging, “Maybe, I can’t be completely sure. Ixnes has her own reasons that make my ambiguity look like complete clarity.”
“So why did she blow up the orphanage?”
“I think she was scared. I’m not the only operative that has been trying to get to her.”
“You knew she was being harassed by strange people and you did nothing?!”
Pointing to himself, “You mean like me?”
“Well, I mean… You are you!”
“I’m sure the others felt the same way. At the end of the day, we all wanted the girl for our own ends. It seemed hypocritical to act as if I was any different from them.”
“Are all missions like this?!”
“No. Lots of them I just do intelligence gathering or kill people.”
With a look of horror on her face, “Please don’t just say that so casually!”
“It’s true. You know this. I’ve killed tons of people. I would like to say I am devastated by every life I have taken, but I’m not. I have come to live with being a terrible person. Also, it helps when I just look at it as a job. No different from flipping burgers or writing code.”
“That is just…”
“Fucked up? I know. When I can I try to balance the scales, but it will be a long time coming. So what did you call me down here for?”
“Are we just not going to discuss Phavian?”
“There isn’t much to discuss. They won’t let me see him. I can’t, well I shouldn’t, go blasting my way in, so I have to trust what I have done is enough for now.”
“That doesn’t make you angry?”
“Of course it does. You know what makes me angrier though? Being blamed for doing this to him. How about not knowing who is responsible so I can make them suffer? If all they are doing is trying to ensure his safety and recovery, I am better off leaving them alone.”
Reaching up to touch his face, “Hey, I’m sorry. This couldn’t have been easy for you. While you were gone, they have already restored the campus like nothing ever happened. It literally happened overnight. I would have thought they would want to get clues, or evidence, or something!”
Shaking his head, “There’s no use worrying about it now. There is nothing I can do, at least not
yet. What I can do is help you though. Are you trying to see how much juice you need to carve through a boulder with a blade of wind?”
“Well I wasn’t, but now I feel like I should be looking into that…”
“Of course you should. Take it from someone who has an inherently destructive ability. Control and understanding of your capabilities make all the difference.”
“Well not all of us have a supercomputer for a brain.”
Shrugging, “Guess you just have to work harder then.”
Smacking him in the arm, “You know, sometimes I really don’t like you.”
“Join the club, it has free admission. Are you trying to learn how to do something new? I mean you just got started as is.”
“You have a point. I am not exactly concerned with new stuff, I just want to get better with what I know I can do first. Mainly I feel like I’m still struggling to just use this thing properly.”
“But you created it. Only you can determine if it is being handled properly. That is the great thing about creation, no one can tell you what it is supposed to be.”
“I know, but even just using it as a weapon feels weird, like I’m just flopping it around you know?”
“That is to be expected.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“You have no fundamentals. You don’t practice any other martial arts, so you have nothing to draw from. Remember how Phavian had to give you a quick crash course before our Melee in using your hammer? At least hammers have some fairly established handling methods for you to draw on. You don’t have that luxury here.”
“Since you have all the answers, why don’t you train me?”
“I don’t think I’m qualified to do that.”
“Why not? You are good at everything!”
“Completely not true. I do have an idea regarding someone who might be able to help you though.”
“Are you pawning me off on someone else?!”
“Pretty much.”
“Rude! Who could possibly teach me? Master Shin?”
“Probably not. Well, more accurately he probably would refuse to teach you. Knowing him, he could create his own art with that fan with no problem. I’m thinking someone a little closer to home.”
“And who could that possibly be?”
“Pryshka.”
“Why, because she also has a unique weapon she created?”
“There is that, but let’s just say I’m more than positive she has the tools to help you with your training.”
“I’d rather not teach her how to use my weapon. She is already only one rank below me, she will completely know how to counter me!”
“Trust me, if you don’t take her out quickly, she would figure it out anyway so you might as well benefit from the help.”
“Fine, but if you are wrong about this…”
Turning to leave, “When am I ever wrong about these things?”
“Someone is feeling rather smug, and where do you think you are going?!”
“I have my own training session I need to attend. That, and it will go better with just the two of you.” With a quick wave, he leaves Maggie there as he makes his way back toward the building.
Taking his advice, Maggie decides to call up Pryshka to ask for her assistance. If nothing else, she at least knew what it was like to have a weapon no one knew how to use. Surprisingly she was quite happy to help, and happened to be somewhat nearby. Rushing right over, she found Maggie busy at work, becoming frustrated at her failures.
“I guess Anaar was too busy to help you?”
Turning abruptly at the sound of Pryshka’s voice, Maggie flushes red. “No, no, no, no! It’s not like that at all! It was actually his idea that I contact you.”
“What is it he thinks I can do that he can’t?”
“Frankly I have no idea.” Catching the look on her face, Maggie waggles her hands defensively. “That came out bad! I wasn’t trying to say you were inadequate or anything!” Sighing, she doubles over in defeat.
Walking closer toward her, “Don’t worry, I didn’t take offense or anything. Your confusion is understandable. I just feel we are on different levels, so how I can magically succeed at something he can’t is a mystery to me.”
“Well he would start by lecturing us about there being no such thing as magic. From there he would do typical Anaar things and make it seem like they are the most normal actions in the world. He seems to hold you in high regard, especially where it concerns unique weaponry.”
“He thinks I can help you because of Pratikaar?”
Throwing her hands in the air, “Who knows! He says that is only partially the reason. Do you have any other reason he might think you are so awesome? Not saying that you aren’t.”
“Beats me. I’m pretty good at martial arts, so maybe that is what he is getting at?”
“He does keep mentioning my utter lack of martial arts training. I was the one who suggested to all my friends we take Principles of Combat so we would be spared our martial arts requirements for a while. Now I am the only one left who isn’t practicing. They still take the class with me, but they are technically doing double work just for my sake.”
“I definitely wouldn’t be taking Principles if I didn’t have to. You all are something else. Since you called me here to help you, maybe we can start by going over this contraption of yours.”
Beaming proudly whilst holding her fan aloft, “This is Tachikaze. Even though at its core it is of course a large fan, it is so much more than that. Even when open, its leaves are rigid and super sharp, so you can cut with it. Then when you close it, you can use the edges like a sword too.”
“If all you were going for was an edged weapon, why not just get a sword? A fan, and a custom built one at that, seems like an unnecessary expense for something not as good. You can’t even hold this the normal way, which makes for more difficult maneuvers.”
Pulling off her cap, it becoming stuck in her bushy hair, “I know. That is the complicated part. The fan serves a greater purpose to my fighting style. I recognize it would have been way easier to just take up a regular sword, but sometimes you just need something special to suit your needs you know?”
“I won’t disagree with you there, but you didn’t even try learning other martial arts before jumping right into something of your own?”
Poking her lips out, “Everyone keeps saying that! I have been fine before!”
“You have a hammer and a bow. You can’t do too many fancy things with a hammer, and I am positive you did not just pick up a bow out of the blue with no training and start using it.”
“When you put it that way…”
“It has taken me a lot of hard work to get to where I am. You are amazing with your bow, it seems completely natural to you at this point. If you aren’t planning to work at least that hard with your fan, then there is no point.”
“Geez, now I know why Anaar suggested you. The two of you sound just alike. It’s always hard work this, and training that.”
Laughing, “Well it is nice to know he isn’t just obnoxiously good at everything without trying. Here let me see this thing.”
Handing her the fan, “No, he is, but you must be really special for him to leave me in your care. Right now I want to work on being able to handle it better. I have been able to do a little when I catch people off guard, but once they get used to it, my fumbling will make me easy to counter.”
Hoisting the fan, Pryshka tests its weight, then flips it around a few times. Trying to open it, she fumbles, dropping it to the ground. Picking it back up, she proceeds to awkwardly open it, but not holding it in any manner that would lend itself to being used. Running her hand along an edge nearly cutting herself in the process, Maggie began to wonder what could have possessed Anaar to suggest such an idea.
“Maybe this was a mistake… I didn’t mean to bother you. I blame Anaar for trying to push me off on you.”
Raising a finger for silence, Pryshka continues working w
ith the fan, slowly appearing to become more and more comfortable with its unique dimensions. After a time, Maggie all the while watching, she begins sweeping the fan around with beautiful poise, combining different motions all while opening and closing it fluidly. In just a few hours it seemed the weapon were designed by Pryshka herself, and unlike Maggie, she had the composite skill to utilize it like a true champion.
By the time Pryshka had come to a stop, the elegant dance she had been performing completely captivating Maggie, she had a light dew of sweat on her bared abs, and handed the fan back to Maggie.
“Wow, this is quite a beautiful and impressive weapon you have made. Depending on what you want to accomplish, having it open allows for extra resistance which could throw opponents off in the speed of a swing. It has a similar trait to Pratikaar in that it feels like a few weapons in one. It is really fun.”
Confused at what she had just witnessed, “Umm… Are you going to teach me how to do all that? You looked like a ballerina the way you glided around.”
“I think it will take me some more time to get used to it, but we can definitely come up with a regimen to make you flourish with it.”
Hugging the girl abruptly, Maggie cannot help but squeal with glee. “Thank you so much! At first I was mad at Anaar for leaving me, but even with as talented as he is, I couldn’t see him coming up with something as refined and beautiful as what you have. I have to admit, he was right. As usual.”
“Good to know even his best friend gets annoyed by that.”
“Yeah, you get used to it. This is awesome! Have you eaten? Want to go get some food?”
“I’m not really hungry, but I could go for a smoothie.”
“They are so good aren’t they?! All right, to The Rack! Smoothies on me!”
Together the two leave Demolitionist’s Destination in high spirits, Maggie completely ignoring the look on the attendant’s face as they are leaving. They talk happily about a training program for Maggie, and even discussed potentially allowing her to try out Pratikaar to help with her progress. As they continue talking, Maggie sends Anaar a happy note to his Vizer thanking him for finding her an amazing teacher.
Apotheosis (Song of Sophangence Book 3) Page 9