"Am I allowed to use my weapons?" Mane asked the woman with a cold expression standing several feet away from him. This woman had beautiful silver blonde hair with red streaks running through the numerous locks that adorned her delicate head.
"You are," Rose nodded her head with a serene expression on her face. She was dressed in a long gown not suited for battle, but it didn't look like she was going to change. There were a few other people in the room with them. Two ladies who had similar facial features to Rose and two beasts. The beasts were Sasha and Silver who had finally been spotted by Daisy after a three hour search. Silver sat on the floor with his knees to his chest and his eyes glued to Mane's figure with a bit of anticipation and excitement. On top of his shoulder sat Sasha, who was still in her miniaturized state. She lazily licked her paws and only cast her eyes to Mane's figure once in a while. She didn't seem that interested in the duel that was about to take place. As for the two ladies, they were naturally Daisy and Sunflower.
"Sister seems to dislike the boy," Daisy had a calm expression on her face as she spoke. Both she and Sunflower were seated on the ground just like Silver. Yet even such lowly position didn't reflect on them.
"Yeah," Sunflower sighed and briefly informed Daisy of what happened in Ashera's hall.
"Just that?" Daisy shook her head with a wry expression on her face.
"Yes," Sunflower smiled bitterly as well. "You know how sister is when it comes to Mistress Ashera," Sunflower added.
"Indeed,' Daisy nodded her head in understanding. "But considering that Mistress Ashera has likely told Rose of the boy's identity, you would think that she would be more considerate towards his emotions after whatever it was that Mistress told him," Daisy yawned lightly and said. She also wasn't naïve enough to think that Rose didn't know what their Mistress knew.
"I know right," Sunflower smirked and said. "But when it comes to Mistress Rose's logical mind becomes nothing but a rigid plane," Sunflower giggled and Daisy chuckled as well.
"I hope that she doesn't go hard on him," Daisy smiled and said. "He's just an initial stage Pseudo Nightmare after all," she added.
"He's not merely at such a level," Sunflower shook her head and informed her sister of what happened when Mane lost his cool.
"He was able to breach your Law Coat?" Daisy asked with a stunned expression.
"Yeah," Sunflower nodded. "Whatever this boy is, he is Mistress's greatest hope to break through the Curse of the Hundred," Sunflower frowned and said. Daisy seemed to agree as she did nothing but clench her fists and stare straight ahead.
Although their Mistress didn't reveal everything troubling her to them, they knew of her greatest desire. This tower was not a haven, but a prison.
"Mistress says you would be serving the boy. Are you okay with that?" Daisy switched the topic since the atmosphere had grown grim because of the mention of the Curse of the Hundred.
"I guess. I spoke to him earlier. He is a good lad." Sunflower stated with a small smile.
"I see," Daisy smiled knowingly and nudged Sunflower lightly.
"What?" seeing her sister's teasing smile Sunflower raised one of her brows and kissed her teeth.
"Nothing," Daisy replied with the teasing smile still etched across her face.
"If you don't stop that I'd punch that smile off your face," Sunflower smiled brightly and said. As she spoke her hair began to rise as her fist gave off a soft yellow glow.
"I've stopped!" Daisy hurriedly lifted her hands in surrender with a slight look of panic on her lovely face. "Jeez," she mumbled once Sunflower's aura died down. Sunflower might be the youngest, but of the three she was the most violent – and powerful.
"Sasha," Sunflower turned to look at the lazy cat atop Silver's shoulder and called her name.
"Cone down," she beckoned Sasha to descend while patting her lap.
*Meow*
For a Heavenly Nether Beast Sasha sure was easy to befriend. Sunflower had already gotten into the good books of the beast by offering it a very expensive morsel only a few minutes ago. Now Sasha was an eager follower of Sunflower. The beautiful cat flapped her small wings and leaped off Silver's shoulder. She glided through the air elegantly and landed gently on Sunflower's lap.
*Purr*
Sasha purred in contentment as Sunflower stroked her fur. Daisy smiled slightly and then turned her attention to the two facing off against each other.
"Before we start, there are a few things that you should know," Rose stated calmly as the air around her turned violent and the winds began to howl. Her gown fluttered gently in the violent tempest that was raised as a result of her aura, and her eyes grew colder.
"My technique is the Emotionless Sutra. And I am a Wind Elemental." As Rose spoke a soft green glow enveloped her frame, and she was detached from the mess her own aura was creating. Although the space around her was still violently affected, her gown was now stable and her hair was as still as a rock.
"Secondly, I am aware that you can use multiple elements. For the purpose of your training, you are only allowed to use the element of the one before you. In this case, wind."
"Alright," Mane frowned slightly after hearing the second point. But knowing that it was for his own good, he didn't argue with it.
"Thirdly, my strength would not be depleted to an acceptable level for your sake. This is training, not a baby camp. I would however, not be allowed to move. I would stay where I am no matter what. If I do move, I would have lost." Rose stated coldly.
"However, your objective is only to breach the barrier around me without resorting to any other technique or skill." Rose added.
"I presume you know what a Law Coat is?" Rose asked.
"Yes," Mane replied. How insulting! His masters were all Ascenders and Gods.
"She doesn't like you much," Hildegarde stated from atop Mane's shoulder.
"I could care less," came the irritated reply of the young Supreme. Of course he knew what a Law Coat was. And he could naturally sense Rose's hostility towards him. And honestly, he didn't care. He may look calm, but he was even more pissed off than she was.
"All you have to do is breach it without resorting to anything but wind," Rose explained.
"How is that possible? There is no way he would be able to breach a Law Coat with nothing but elemental force!" Daisy frowned. Her sister was going overboard.
"It isn't sister's intention," Sunflower was frowning too, but this time she came to Rose's defense.
"You mean…" Daisy's frown deepened for she understood what her sister was implying.
"Yes. Those were Mistress Ashera's orders." Sunflower confirmed her sister's thoughts.
"What is Mistress thinking?" Daisy mumbled, wishing that she could worm her way into her Mistress's mind to see what exactly it was that made her give such an order.
"Who knows?" Sunflower shrugged nonchalantly whilst stroking Sasha's fur. Yet within her beautiful fiery eyes was a hint of worry.
"Shall we begin?" Rose stated calmly as he aura took form fully. Several wind whips formed around her and smashed into the ground she stood on. Large cracks were formed on the sturdy floor, causing Mane's brows to wrinkle in worry. But that didn't dissuade him from the challenge at hand.
"Sure," Mane stated and stretched out both arms. Night's Kiss and Night Mare which were next to Silver shook and flew off the ground. Like dark arrows they flew towards Mane and came to a stop right before his opened palms. Each sword's hilt rested perfectly in the hands of the Young Supreme, before his aura was fully unleashed. Hildegarde hastily flew off his shoulder. This duel was different from any other Mane had been embroiled in since she joined him. He was facing someone as strong as herself. She couldn't nonchalantly sit on his shoulder like she was taking a Christmas vacation.
A green light covered Mane's body, just like Rose. But his light was much paler, and was far weaker in comparison to Rose's.
"This is nothing compared to his use of fire and lightning from before. It's pitifully weak." Sunflower noted with a small frown on her face.
"Yes. He can't even sharpen his wind. It's too generalized. It seems he isn't that skilled with it." Daisy stated what she observed.
"Looks like this match has a foregone conclusion," Daisy added. If the boy couldn't use any technique and only had to rely on wind, there was no suspense behind this duel. Not like there was any in the first place.
"Yeah," Sunflower sighed and said.
"Begin," Rose stated calmly and a large wind whip came crushing down on Mane.
"I may not have my techniques," Mane mumbled as his feet shifted underneath him and propelled him away from the dangerous wind vine coming his way.
*Boom*
A loud crashing sound followed by a massive dent on the ground resounded.
"But I have years of battle experience," Mane's eyes flashed as he retreated from yet another wind whip.
*Bang*
"I may not be able to do much with wind," Mane smiled.
"But evading isn't one of them," he chuckled as a small green light enveloped his boots and pushed him out of the way of yet another wind whip. Using his swords as anchors Mane twisted his body and changed directions smoothly, rushing towards Rose.
"Good," Rose couldn't help but nod her head in acknowledgement of the boy's skill. She wasn't going all out, but being able to evade the blows of a Noble was a precious skill.
"Let's see how you would be able to handle two at once," her voice found its way to Mane and two large wind whips sneaked up on him.
*Boom*