by Dixon, TJ
“I’ll take four people with me, but three will act as reserves. Assuming they agree not to target the reserves.” I explain.
“Why are you so concerned about making it a fair fight?” Rin asks.
“I want to prove that we can win in a fair fight. Beating them five against two doesn’t prove anything.” I answer.
“Why not wait until we go up against 2A?” Rin asks.
“They asked for a fair fight and I know they can give us a good fight. Against 2A it would only prove that I’m good, but against those twins we can prove how good another member of the club is as well.” I tell Rin.
“I suppose that’s true. Who were you thinking of using?” Rin asks.
“Cherry, Yu Kii, Emma and you.” I tell Rin and am amused how nervous she looks until I name her.
“You could have said my name first.” Rin says with a huff.
“I hope I get to fight.” Emma says.
“Unless the battlefield is bad for our element I plan to fight with Cherry.” I tell Emma and everyone seems surprised.
“We’re both able to avoid their attacks with flight magic. I can’t take advantage of my flight magic to dodge the enemy if the other person can’t fly well enough to do the same.” I explain to them.
“I understand.” Rin says with a sigh. “But I hope we’re fighting underwater. That way you have to use me.”
“I guess I’m only there in case it makes sense to use fire, so I don’t imagine I’ll get to fight.” Emma says. “You could have used Sherry for that though.”
“You can use all the elements though, and there’s no way Sherry can beat Fire Rose at fire magic. The only person in our group who could is Jenny, but I can’t use her.” I say.
“Sherry would be sad to hear that, but I suppose it is true.” Emma says.
“So I only have to fight if it is an underground battle?” Yu Kii asks.
“Or one that favours the earth element at least.” I say.
“I hope it isn’t.” Yu Kii says.
“Don’t worry. No matter what the element is, we are not going to lose.” I tell Yu Kii.
“So are you going to wait until the training to tell Cherry?” Rin asks.
“Yes. I will train with Cherry every day this week other than the day before the next match. I want the three of you to train with Dairon as much as possible other than that day. We are all to save our power the day before the match, as well as of course the day itself.” I tell them.
“So is Cherry not going to train with Dairon at all?” Rin asks surprised.
“No. Cherry will only train with me this week. Dairon can’t teach her what she needs to know.”
“Fine, but even if it is going to be a fair fight don’t go easy on those damned twins.” Rin says.
“Did we offend you?” Cherry says and I notice her standing behind Rin.
“Not you.” Rin says.
“How long were you there?” I ask.
“Only from ‘…those damned twins’.” Cherry says.
“We’re up against the Rainbow Twins next.” I tell her.
“Oh those twins… I thought they were meant to be pretty honourable girls though. What did they do to annoy Rin?” Cherry asks.
“I agreed to give them a fair fight, so I figured we should fight two against two.” I tell Cherry and her eyes go wide.
“So who are you going to take with you?” Cherry asks nervously.
“I’ll still take four people with me, but only one will fight. I’ll decide who once I see the battlefield. Unless it is a bad one for our element though, I’d like you to fight alongside me. Are you willing?” I ask Cherry.
“Of course!” Cherry answers enthusiastically.
“Then we’ll be training together all week, except the day before the match. Make sure not to waste power that day.” I tell her.
“Thank you. I look forward to it.” Cherry says with a grin. Then she heads off with a jealous looking Sherry to eat lunch. The afternoon lesson passes as quickly as the morning lesson.
I have Cherry come with me into the forest for her training. She seems a little nervous, but is far more nervous when I explain that, “Basically we’re going to fight each other. You need to dodge my attacks and hit me with your own. Don’t use any attacks that can kill though. Just like when we fight the Rainbow twins the aim is to defeat, not kill, our opponent.”
“They aren’t wind mages though.” Cherry remind me.
“No, but if you can fight me and dodge my attacks then you should be able to dodge their attacks too.” I tell her.
“Ok, but please go easy on me.” Cherry says worried.
“I’m not going to kill you, but if I go too easy it isn’t going to be training.” I tell her.
“I know, but…”
“I’m going to count to five. When I reach five we’re going to start. You don’t need to worry about fighting fair against me. Just beat me anyway you can, as long as it doesn’t kill me. Don’t leave the forest or go too far though. The point is to fight, not to run away. One, two, three, four, five.” I count and dodge Cherry’s first attack by porting behind her. I then strike her with a light lightning.
“Agh!” Cherry protests but I made sure to avoid hurting her too badly so she is just a bit shocked. Then I fly up and avoid her next attacks just with flight magic. We were training for an hour and I hit Cherry with lots of light attacks but was not hit once. I must admit I am a little disappointed. Not that I want to be hurt but I was sure Cherry would be able to hit me, and I didn’t expect to hit Cherry anywhere near as often.
“That’s enough!” I call and land. Cherry lands too but looks as frustrated as I feel. I hand her a small potion. She sniffs it and then drinks it. Her wounds weren’t bad but now they are completely gone. “Were you going easy on me?”
“No.” Cherry says with a sigh. “You’re just too hard to hit, or dodge.”
“You dodged the attacks of nine wind mages when we fought Gillian’s team.” I remind her.
“I thought that was hard, but your attacks are much less predictable.” Cherry says.
“Rest for ten minutes and then we will continue.” I tell her. It is dark by the time we finish and I have given Cherry all the healing potions. I’ll need to get some more from Rin. Unfortunately Cherry still hasn’t landed a single hit on me, but she seems to be getting better at dodging, which is the main aim of our training.
“Is tomorrow going to be the same?” Cherry asks tiredly.
“No. I’m going to have Jenny and Charlotte attack us tomorrow. We will work together to fight them.” I tell Cherry.
“That sounds fun.” Cherry says but from her tone it sounds anything but fun to her.
“Fighting Lily and Rose is going to be much harder. Both Charlotte and Jenny are probably at least almost as good at their elements, but Lily and Rose work very well together.” I tell her.
In class the next day before the lesson starts I walk up to the Rainbow Twins before going to my seat. I tell them the plan to fight two against two and surprised but happy they agree. The lessons go quickly again and before I know it the day has passed and it is time to train.
Charlotte and Jenny both agree to help. Obviously they have to tone down their attacks to avoid hurting us too badly. At first we have difficulty but by the end of our training we are easily able to dodge all their attacks and can get some of our own through their defences.
The week seems to pass quickly but each day we do different training ready for the battle at the end of the week. By the last day of our training we have made great progress and are fairly confident. At the very least I am sure Cherry will not be my weakness. On our last day I decide to see if Cherry can learn my technique to port lightning inside someone. The first part is to port the lightning at all, but despite trying for hours Cherry just isn’t able to master it.
“Don’t worry. You’ve done enough. We should be fine. Just try to save your power for the match, and get plenty of sleep.” I tell Cherry.
“The odds are they’ll have a port shield up and if they don’t I can use the technique, so it shouldn’t make any difference to our fight.” I tell her.
“I know, but it would have been so cool to learn that technique.” Cherry says with a sigh.
The next day is the last day before our match. The lessons go quickly and before I know it they are over. I am getting up to go back to my room when Rin whispers to me. “Reika Hoshi needs to see us.”
“Great timing…” I say with a sigh. “Fine, Asuna port all of us to your home.”
“Everyone gather round.” Asuna says quietly and then ports us as we all hang onto her. The sight that greets me is shocking to say the least. The town is in flames and people are running in every direction. Then I see Hinata kneeling there in tears and covered in blood. In front of her rests Reika’s severed head and a bloody mess that may once have been her body.
“That’s the Divine Flame colours!” Emma exclaims and points at five mages above us. They are sending flames everywhere and laughing as they do it. Before worrying about who they are my first concern is stopping them.
“Rin, Emma, ice. Hermes, Asuna, Yu Kii earth.” I say and then I send wind slices at the mages. They have a port barrier up so I can’t port lightning into them. Ice and earth attacks quickly follow my wind attack. Then the mages turn their attention and their flames on us.
I was ready for their attack but not for the strength of it. Stealing the air from it does nothing but Rin and Emma block the flames with water. I am glad they did because otherwise we would be dead.
“Rin, you’re in charge.” I say and then quickly jump into the air. Airborne I easily dodge their attacks. Weaving erratically I charge at one of them. My hand on her leg I blast with lightning. She falls from the sky but I only just dodge the other mages’ counter attacks. Distracted though they are unable to block one of Yu Kii’s attacks and another mage falls to the ground unconscious. With only three mages left they have a hard time defending and the port block drops. As it does I port lightning into all three of them.
“They definitely look like Divine Flame mages.” Asuna says kneeling over one of them.
“Yu Kii, use these on those worst hurt. I’m porting back to get more.” Rin says handing a few healing potions to Yu Kii.
“I’ll guard the prisoners. Everyone else help put out the fires and do what you can for the wounded.” I say urgently and so they do. Reika is of course not the only person who died, but I am grateful that at least Hinata and most of the town’s people survived. I keep up a port block and ensure the prisoners don’t have enough air to wake. I will want to question them, but not yet. For now making sure they can’t escape or cause any more trouble is the priority.
Rin returns with enough healing potions to help everyone who needs it. Once the chaos is resolved Rin places a collar round the neck of each of the enemy mages. I can tell it is enchanted but not what the enchantment does.
“They can’t use magic so it is safe to drop the port block and wake them.” Rin says. I wake one and they look none too happy.
“Who are you and why are you here?” I ask her.
“Like I’d tell scum like you.” She laughs and spits on my face.
“Can I kill her?” Rin asks furiously.
“No, but you can freeze one of her arms.” I say calmly. The woman glares at me even as her arm is frozen. “You have five seconds to answer before we smash your arm.”
“You’re bluffing.” She says with a laugh.
“Fine. Rin, smash it.”
“Wait!” She protests. “We were sent by Trinity Divine Flame! We’re part of the house guard! The Hoshi attacked a village in our land so we decided to return the favour.”
“You’re lying. I can tell when you lie.” I say calmly. “Last chance to tell us the truth…”
“He’ll kill me if I tell you!” The woman says desperately. Then her voice and aura change. “I’m going to kill you anyway woman, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“You should be dead. I killed you.” I say in disbelief.
“What are you talking about?” Rin asks nervously.
“That is impossible, but I will have fun throwing you into despair. I’ll give you a choice. Would you rather I killed Rin next, or Aventurine, or perhaps Cherry?” The woman says in the same voice.
“Kill yourself David, because if you don’t I’m going to kill you again until you stay dead.” I answer.
“Then Rin it is.” The woman laughs and suddenly Rin is on fire and screaming. I slash the woman with wind and she dies instantly. The fire magic disappears and Emma’s water drenches Rin. Emma throws a healing potion down Rin’s throat and Rin’s burns disappear.
“Was that David Ishki?” Rin asks gasping for breath.
“Yes.” I answer glaring at the dead woman.
“We should wake the others and…” Rin starts to say.
“No. We should send them to the Queen to question.” I say.
“Why did he reveal himself?” Rin asks. “You blew up his head so there’s no way we would believe he was alive if he hadn’t just revealed himself to you.”
“Perhaps he wants revenge, or maybe he wants something else from me.” I say thinking of this brother he claimed was in me.
“How can someone survive having their head blown up?” Emma asks incredulously.
“That is something I’d like to know, not least so I can make sure he doesn’t survive next time.” I say.
“Perhaps what you killed before was just a body he had possessed.” Rin says and that would make sense.
“If so then it must have been a very powerful mage he possessed.” I say. Then I look around. “Asuna remain here and deal with the situation as best you can. If anything happens be sure to call to me through the chain immediately. Yu Kii, stay with Asuna and assist her as best you can. I’ll return after the match tomorrow. Emma, please port everyone else, other than me and the prisoners, back to the academy.”
“Ok.” Emma says and does so. I then grab the prisoners and port outside Lucy’s home. The guards are surprised to see me arrive and even more so given the prisoners.
“Fetch Lady Fillia immediately.” I order them. They look at each other for a moment and then one ports away. A few moments later Lucy’s mother ports in front of me with the guard.
“Who are they?” She asks abruptly.
“Prisoners that the Queen will want to interrogate urgently. I need your help getting quickly to the palace to see the Queen. It is too far for me to port.” I tell her.
“You are just like Lucy.” She sighs but nods and ports us.
“Who are you?” A guard asks.
“Peter of the Wind. I have prisoners that the Queen needs to see urgently.” I say pointing at the mages on the floor. The guard’s eyes glaze over for a moment.
“The Queen will see you and your prisoners.” The guard says and so I pick them up with magic and carry them into the audience chamber. Lucy’s mother enters with me.
“So who are these mages?” The Queen asks.
“I am not sure, but the one I woke and had to kill was possessed by David Ishki. The man I thought I killed.” I tell the Queen. Her eyes go wide.
“I saw his corpse.” The Queen says in disbelief.
“I blew his head up. Not something you’d normally survive.” I say.
“What makes you think it was him?” The Queen asks.
“His voice, but more importantly his aura.” I answer.
“Peter! Help!” I hear through the chain. It is Cherry’s voice.
“Where are you?” I ask her.
“My room! Hurry!”
“My friend is in danger. It may be David. Please could you port with me to her room?” I urgently ask the Queen interrupting what she is saying.
“Yes.” The Queen says and jumping out of her throne grabs my hand. I s
hare the location and she ports us outside Cherry’s room. She then burns the door to ash in an instant despite the protection. Inside Cherry is dangling in the air from the hands of a familiar looking woman. After a moment I recognise the young woman that I tried to save from David Ishki when I first met him. The magical creation that Elucia brought back to life by sharing her power.
“Hello little Emily.” She says in David’s voice. “I didn’t think it would be this easy.” Then she crushes Cherry’s throat and throws her at me. The Queen throws fire at the woman as I catch Cherry and using wind magic I supply her body and mind with air despite the crushed throat. I throw a healing potion down her throat and am relieved that it works.
I look up and see Emily thrown against the wall like a doll in the wind. Not having stocked up on power I know that there is little I can do against an enemy that can threaten the Queen, but I cannot do nothing. I push Cherry out of the room and charge the woman. The woman laughs at me and throws me backwards. As I hit the wall it feels like every bone in my body breaks.
Then Alumia and other guards appear. They attack but like me they are thrown aside. The Queen’s flames strike again but again they are resisted. I have an idea and call for Dairon. Right now he is probably of more help than I am. Dairon appears and for the first time I see fear in the woman’s eyes.
“Traitor!” She screams. Dairon says one word and she falls to the floor lifeless. Every eye is on Dairon including my own.
“It moved to another host.” Dairon says.
“Who?!” I ask urgently but as I do so my body screams at me in agony. I barely hear his words, but they fill me with terror.
“The one that kept this host alive.”
“Elucia.” The Queen says through obvious pain of her own. “Where is she?”
I call through the chain. “Rin. Cherry’s room, now.” I almost lose consciousness. I use the chain again to tell her. “Take the chain.” Then I really do lose consciousness.
I wake in an unfamiliar bed. Looking around I remember what happened and realise I am in Cherry and Sherry’s room. Cherry is hovering over me nervously but otherwise we are alone. With her door burnt to ash it isn’t very private though, because anyone passing by can see inside.