School was about to start in 5 mins and I was getting late as hell. Damn that Azrail. Why didn't she wake me up? I hurriedly took my bag and stuffed a cream bread into my mouth. On top of this Azrail literally left without me. HOW SO RUDE!!! Where is my sword? Oh wait, I left it beside the bed. The thing is, when we don't need to use our weapon, it automatically transfers itself into the storage section but my sword, well, unless and until I want it to go back, it won't go. So I sort of forgot to put it back.
I rushed back inside to get it. Just great, now I approximately have just 1.2 minutes to reach class. Well, at times like this I am really glad that I have a magic sword. I didn't really get to experience Quick Speed properly, so well here it goes.
I lift my sword up," Quick Speed, now to class." I yelled. Nothing happened. I fell a bit blank now and think that I will be seriously late. I wont give up though.
"Quick Speed, now to class." why isn't anything happening? Hmm.
Flashback course:
"This sword has a will of it's own so it won't exactly do what you say."
Now I get it. This sword has it's own soul. This is a last time I am doing this.
"Quick Speed, now to class. Please, I need your help." maybe I need to be a bit more polite. Suddenly within a fraction of seconds I sort of reached class and was standing right in front of my desk holding my sword.
"Heeehhh?" I yelled surprised. Now all eyes were on me.
"Seems like you are adjusting quite well with your new sword, Wisteria." said Azrail. Sorry I didn't mention before but Azrail actually sits beside me in class. How that happened is all still a mystery. But, really who cares now?
"It was just as if I teleported and right on time. Mrs. Cyclone must be coming."
"You nuthead, you don't use Quick Speed for coming to class. Do you even know how much energy it consumes?" scolded Azrail.
" I have no idea." I smile.
" Says the person, who aced the entrance exam. Pff! Quick Speed puts 30% of your total energy into those fraction of seconds to commence the travel. It gives a person a lot more advantages in combats as the person will never know which direction you will be appearing from. Also, it allows a disadvantage to you that your whole concentration will be on that one shot from where you strike, so if the opponent dodges, it will take time for you to revert back into your original state. Within this , it will give the opponent enough time to strike his/her weapon and dead. You will be executed!" tells Azrail.
"That's correct," says a familiar voice.
"Mrs. Cyclone," I say.
"Ralia dear, you are correct. I award you a point for your descriptive knowledge."
"It's Azrail," yells the snake lady. who really despises the name 'Ralia'. How vandalizing.
"Well well, shall we start class now students? Blaze dearie, put your weapon inside and concentrate." I just realized I had my weapon in my hand. Silly me.
"Today we will be learning about teleportation. I know some of you may not have this ability but don't worry, learning the cons will help your execution power up, right Blaze?" she must have noticed the puzzled look on my face because I don't have the Teleportation power. Actually, my sword does not support it, so I am somewhat hopeless in that.
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Class was finally over and I was overjoyed to go and relax at the dorms but I found Azrail approaching me.
Inside Azrail's head before she approached Blaze:
"Azrail, nobody is right in this world. It's everyman for himself. Don't you know that by now? "
I don't know what to do anymore. I need time.
You don't have time. Defeat him so you can prove your brother that you are more that a coward.
Is this right then?
Yes, it is. Challenge him and slaughter him till death. You are the most strongest spirit holder, not him.
Yes, you're right.....
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"So Blaze, ready for the mock battle?" I felt a million arrows hitting me with the speed of light.
"Whaaat?" I screamed.
"I am here to challenge you to a mock battle like I said yesterday," she said.
"Azrail, it's not correct." I warn her.
"Shut up, Blaze. I Azrail Ven-," she coughed the last part. " I Azrail, challenge you to a mock battle." My wristband pulled up a notification of the duel challenge.
" Azrail, this is not right. It's an illegal battle without a Depleter. Also what do want to prove with this? Come on, we aren't kids", I said.
"What I want to prove? By defeating you I can prove gamers that having a better sword does not make you a swordsman. I have better skills than you do and I will prove it. "
"Azrail, you're crossing the limit here. What about a Depleter? And I have never boasted my weapon, and I don't intend to either. I don't want to suffer anymore consequences than I already have. "
"Accept it already dimwit. I challenge your familial status on this. If you win, I will do whatever you will say for a month but if I win you will submit your sword to me, agreed? "
I could see her vicious smile through her face. Though I know I would be betting on my sword and my family status but I need to win this duel. Yulisandrea, please help me.
"Fine, I accept your challenge but remember if I win I will make you strip naked and pole dance for me. " That is sure to keep her under caution.
"With pleasure. If only you'll win, duh", she smirked.
I pushed the accept button on our microbot laserband. " What if it's a tie? " I asked.
"Then we both get to do one thing that the other person wants."
"I am fine with that, thank you very much. But what about inviting a Depleted over here? You know the ground rules, right? " I said.
"Yeah, don't worry. They are a pain anyways. "
"I don't like the sound of that. "I said sternly.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. " she replied.
We headed towards the arena. I was not sure if she was doing the right thing. She is an advanced, experienced swordswoman and I hardly know how to use my new out of control, super nosy and high streaked will power sword. It's sort of unfair if I tell you. Yulisandrea died in a battle, but this won't happen with me. For my sister.....
We stood opposite to each other, she equipped her Black Serpent Sword and I my Thundershard Lightningscale Sword . The monitor started the countdown. 3... 2... 1... Go. Azrail rushed in front, sword in hand, looking exactly like an agitated snake. Anger and the thirst of winning overpowering her, she slashed swords with me.
"Mist, demon hunter activate! " Azrail shouted. Suddenly the whole arena was surrounded with fog. This is a sneak attack. Her demon hunter casting can not only paralyze me but also deteriorate my energy, exactly fulfilling the main objective of the mock battle but if misses the I will have a chance to slash her out.
" Blade hammer, Solar retractor activate. " I whispered. Now all I have to do is dodge.
The mist started to grow thicker. I feel a presence in 4 meters exactly turned 68 degrees towards my head, sword in left hand.
"I won't let you win today, Wisteria! "
"Don't worry, I know your strategy. "I smirked. Her hit missed me by a few millimeters and here goes my hit. Little did I know she had a little trick up her sleeve. Just seconds before I was about to knock her down, she said her casting.
"Transfiguration to black mamba. " and she transformed into a snake. Her trump card shocked it. Just when I was about to win-"shit! "
She slithered round and round and strapped me from the shoulder.
"You know Black Mamba venom is impossible to suck out, " she hissed and was about to bite me to cièlo when a blade shot out of nowhere and hit Azrail's snake version tail.
"Ahhh, who was that? " she transformed back to her human form. A crowd of people had formed and they were watching our match. I realized it just now because I was too engrossed in dueling and out of the crowd came out a lady wearing a Black and Red robe. "D... D.. Depleter," stammered Azrail nervously. We both knew something was gonna happen. Something bad...
"Seems like none of you planned on inviting me over here."
"And why should I, " said the egoistic Snake lady. Is she planning to get us both imprisoned?
"Keep it low, Ms. Venestella, " hearing that everybody gasped in shock. Azrail looked paralyzed.
"Venestella? " I asked.
I could hear a few murmuring from the audience.
"That Venestella? The one who murdered an elite? "
"Yeah, it's her alright. That's why she didn't reveal her identity and never bothered to talk with us and gave us the cold shoulder. "
"She deserves being punished! "
"Murderer! "
How can Azrail be a murderer and what's with the sudden behavior of the Depleter? Azrail bent her head down in shame.
"As mentioned in the guidelines, a mock battle should always be held under the supervision of a Depleter. Do you know that, Ms. Venestella? " thundered the Depleter.
"And on the other hand as you proudly stated that Black Mamba venom is impossible to suck out, did you plan on killing him? Has your status fallen so low as that you will kill your equalized opponent to rank 1. You're wrong. "
"No my intention was not to kill him, I just wanted to prove that, "
"To prove that having a better sword does not make you a better swordsman? Yes I know that very well but having an illegal battle is equalized as a crime. For once I know Wisteria here, opposed your thoughts on this fight from the very beginning and only agreed to it as his family reputation and sword was at stake. "
"I am sorry, please forgive me. I am at fault here, please do not reveal any more disclosed matter on my family. " she pleaded to the Depleter.
"Fine then, as you are a rookie, I will spare you once a but your sword will be confiscated for a week. Also I declare Blaze the winner of this Duel. " she announced.
"Thank you, " said Azrail tearing up. The Depleter left the arena and the crowd also started leaving. Azrail couldn't hold it any longer. She burst into tears, shouting and sniffing. I approached her.
"Azrail-, "I began.
"Leave me the fuck alone. " saying this she rushed out of the arena too.
I sat in the battlefield looking at my sword. Is this how my life is? I don't know. I feel soo damn miserable.
"Ahhhhhhrrggg! " I yelled out of frustration.
"I feel bad for her and I surely do pity you. " said a voice.
"Hey, you are Ash Silvani right? "
"I sure am. " he smiles sadly.
"Why would you pity me? " I asked Ash.
"Man, she was gonna kill you for real. You just got saved by that Depleter big time." he said.
"I am glad she didn't win. My practical family's status and my sword was at stake? And who dosen't wanna win?" I said.
"Winning isn't everything, friend."
"Actually it is. I mean how do you prove yourself if you can't win."
"There are a million ways," said Ash smiling sadly. "Unfortunately you're like everybody else I have talked to. Thirst for winning. What is your reason for fighting and struggling so hard?"
"It's for my sister, Yulisandrea Wisteria. She passed away."
"Ohhh, I know how you feel. I'll tell you something about me. A year ago, I completed my highschool with my diploma at the age of 16. Trust me, I was way more intelligent as a student than any one else of my age," said Ash.
"You and I share the same fate, dude." I said. It's true, I am an exceptional, not to brag.
"After that I had no idea of what I was supposed to be doing. My dream was to become an adventurer but my family didn't support that. But I was reluctant and left the house without saying a word. On my journey I thought of camping in the Plamatorian Forest. So I went inside, set up my tent and started reading a book. But not a few minutes later, I heard voices. Whoever it was sounded hurt. I equipped my Glacier Macro Daggers, for protection and was surprised to find a girl, clothes half torn and a deep cut on the thighs. She had dragged herself all the way from the main road and fainted on my arms. I treated her. Soon after she woke up after 14 hours, I gave her apples and grapes that I had brought along. "What's your name?" I asked her. " Athena." she replied. She didn't tell me anything more about herself and said that she was a traveler. Come on, to me it was love at first sight. She was beautiful, even more than our Aphrodite friend," he smirked.
"After 3 months , I asked her why she chose travelling, she said she wanted to be free and not live under captivity. I was glad to know that there were people who wanted to be free and not care about winning. I decided I would confess to her, that I had fallen in love with her, that day. Evening approached and I went to prepare for the confession. I gave her an excuse that I had to go look for timberwood. As I practised my dialogue I heard screaming noises from our base camp. I rushed back inside to find her beaten up badly and a knife piercing her stomach. I was horrified. " Athena, what happened? Hang in there, you be just fine." I wept like a mad man. " no no no no, please listen to me. Ash, I hid something from you," she wept." I am a student at The Vermillion School of Dark Arts and Magic and I only came here to hide from few people who were trying to kill me. S...s..s..orry, Ash.I failed your expectations. To t..tell you it was a mission. But p..please forgive me. I know I toyed your feeling but please forgive me. I'll b..be honest, I love you Ash." she yelled. " Please don't die, I forgive you, please please. Somebody please help me!" I yelled but nobody came. The last thing she said to me was," Ash, please go back to your family. They need you. Do what they say. Try to enroll in The School of Pledges, they'll guide you through everything. B..before, I go, tell me do you feel the same for me?" "I do, I soo damn do." I cried. She died that day. I went into depression but returned back to my family. After all I have to obey what she said. She was my first love, after all. That's when I understood that there was so much more in life than winning. So here I am at this Academy focused on having fun and giving advises. " finished Ash.
His story had brought tears to my eyes. I know how it feels to loose loved ones. I've lost three of them. But still, his story hurts much more than I expected it would.
"Sorry,that really must have been hard on you." I spoke with my head bent low.
"It sure was, but the past is the past. Let us focus on the future and I guess you have a heartbroken friend to attend to." He smirked.
"Shit, I forgot about Azrail. But she told me to leave her alone," I said.
"You are so dense. When a girl says leave me alone, she definitly does not want that." Ash laughed.
"Maybe you're right, after all, it wasn't my fault." I said.
"It wasn't, now go to her, she needs you more right now."
"Thanks dude, meet you in class again. " I waved him goodbye and headed back to the dorms.
As soon as I reached there, I found Azrail sitting outside on the door mat.
"What are you doing here, you'll catch a cold." I picked her up and brought her inside the house.
"I forgot the k..keys." she stammered.
"Holy heavens, you're burning up." I laid her onto her bed.
"Azrail, strip your clothes. I am going outside, do it quick." She changed back to her pajamas. I made her hot porridge and bought few medicines. Yeah folks, I can cook!
"I'm sorry about today, I didn't realize what I could have done," Azrail apologized. That's the first time I heard her say 'Sorry".
"Well it's better to rest right now, you can apologize later on. Don't make me anymore worried for you." I said smiling.
"Well, thanks for everything. Maybe we could be acquaintances from now on." she laughed.
"Yeah, I hope we can. "
That's how today ended. Honestly, she isn't a bad person by heart but she gets carried away at times. Thank you Yulisandrea, your blessing must have saved me. All for once this Game of Survival has begun. Hopefully we could be better than what we are now and all can say is that " I will be waiting for you, cause everything depends on execution"
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Note: Winning mock battles add upto 30% rise in the Gamer's HP.
Secret Note: Claudion's father is the chief executive administrator of the WWMSA [ Worls Wide Magic School Association] Therefore all the event patters are already known to her before anybody else.
- Ernesta
Game of Survival: The march towards Execution
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Author: Twilight Mukherjee
Username: Mita_Latte
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