"So is this secret path of yours really this way? We did sort of get moved away from the original path." I asked Rose as my patience for all this walking reached its end.
"J-Just, trust me, please. I know where we need to go..." Rose snapped in a peculiar manner before she pulled out that thing of hers again. It flashed gently quite a lot and whatever it was displaying moved quite a bit.
"So what is that thing, anyway?" I asked mostly out of boredom as this path was rather quiet. Like, there were moments we walked over in-progress fights. Yet, this path itself was very uneventful. I mean, I could have hopped down at points, but, Rose said she had a plan.
"It's something I was able to get." she answered unhelpfully before she jumped in fright when I walked near her. It was clear she was hiding something, but, I did not know what to call her out on. Yet, I also just wanted to see what it was that she was leading me into. It could be useful to me, after all.
But, it wasn't like I was apathetic to the issue of her clearly lying to me. It did concern me as her encouraging me to do something, only to reveal her aid to the offender was not new. It was what made us grow distant, after all. And it was only since I got back that she has started speaking to me again.
Yet, I was sure she did watch me on occasion even before I left for...
"Rose...?" I asked in concern when she suddenly dropped to the floor when we passed into this peculiar room. It was rimmed by grooved pillars and it was as if it was built on a mountain. Clouds could be seen through the pillars and the dark stone floor below made us stand out. Because, for some reason, these clouds were like mirrors.
"I'm fine... Just a little tired..." she panted out before she groaned in pain.
"Okay, we're getting you out of this place." I say with uncertainty before I pick her up and place her down outside the room. And, when we got out of it, she and I both felt better. Because for the moment we were in there, I felt weaker. Oddly enough, it felt like I had a blocked nose that applied to my magic.
"Th-Thank you..." she breathed out slowly before I felt magic in the distance. Her device as well began to get a lot more active. So, whatever she had led me into was just about to start.
"I have no idea what to do." I try to joke while I nervously shift my position about. I had no idea what was coming, so, I did not know what to do. Yet, I could guess that whatever was lighting up the distant hallway was not friendly.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" a voice roared as this distant magic suddenly rocketed forward even quicker than before. And, soon, very soon, I was watching a magic-covered foot come slamming into my face.
"GAH!" I let out in pain before I went flying back into the strange room. And, as I got up, I began to realise just how hard I had been hit. There was a strange taste in my mouth and there was a painful wetness dripping down my face. I also couldn't help but seethe as sharp stings kept rippling around my skull.
"I'm-I-"
"Don't apologize to it, Roseli, it's alright, I'm here now." this individual told her with heroic confidence that left me pissed. I may have been more focused on the blow I had just received, but, I remembered that magic.
"You..." I growled once my vision cleared up and I saw his face again. That blonde prick was back again to humiliate me once more!? Well, I sure hoped he didn't have a brain, because I have grown since then!
"Back off." he casually warned before he struck me away again after I tried to charge him.
"W-Wait!" Rose interrupted before she got between him and me. And, even now, I was confused as to what Rose was doing. I could get that she was in league with this guy, but, why was she interfering...? If she led me to him so he could beat me down again, why was she doing this...?
"What is the meaning of this, Rose!?" I asked her angrily, barely holding back a roar. Yet, either way, she still jumped and collapsed in fright. And, whoever this guy was, that only made him angrier. But, it did not matter.
I had no intention of losing this time so I tried to launch myself at him. Yet, I was intercepted each and every time I tried to grab him. He was just too fast and agile despite the relatively narrow space we were in. Any time I was close to taking hold of him, he spun or twirled around me.
A kick was not far behind each time and I kept finding myself on the floor. And it only made me more enraged each time. Surely I had grown since the last time I fought him!? I made it into the school, didn't I!?
I fought and survived against Salahma, a powerful wyvern! I overcame the horrors of an osibindah hive once again! So why was he beating me so easily!? Why did I keep feeling shockwaves travel across my face!?
"STOP IT!" Rose screamed before this guy stopped to comfort her.
"Roseli, listen to me, this isn't you. Okay? I'm here to help, just stay back and let me handle it." he affectionately told her before I heard a quick smack of the lips.
"You shit..." I growled as yellow blood flowed from the cracks in my carapace.
"Get back!" he warned Rose before my chin was struck and I was sent somersaulting.
A loud bang filled the air once I crashed into the ground, yet, my retaliatory spell did not come out. Was I scared of hurting Rose? Why would I be scared of that!? She had led me into another trap where I would be humiliated!
"No... That's not it." I sniffled before I spat out some blood and caressed my jaw. He had sent me back into this room, and this room stopped spells being cast! So, I just needed to get him into this place and I would be able to...
"Whatever you think you have planned, bug, it won't work!" he told me as he kept himself in position so he could defend his whore. That traitorous, vapid whore...
"Oh, I think it will!" I snapped before I made one last desperate charge. And, even though I was probably vulnerable anyway to him. I made sure I myself felt vulnerable. So that he would go for the blatant opening I left him.
"Told you!" he said when he suddenly appeared behind me before his magic began to drill into my nape.
"GET OFF!" I roared in desperation as I felt that magic did into my flesh. Yet, it was that desperation that drove me to grab his leg after suddenly flipping over.
"Huh!?" he let out in shock before I threw him into the room, screaming all the while. For, despite me having landed my first blow on him... That magic around his feet still shredded up my claw. It was a cracked, bloody mess.
Yet, its sacrifice gave me what I needed. He no longer had his magic and his sudden, clumsy fall made me cackle. He wasn't so tough now, was he? He was just some witch who had a good spell, yet, it was now gone!
"For my sake, I hope you don't know how to fight." I try to confidently taunt, despite myself not knowing how to fight either. I may try my hardest, but, I just hadn't learned yet.
"I didn't get into my position just with a few spells. I did not leave record for Student Vapooliar to break just because I knew how to fight with proper magic!" he taunted while waving me closer with a confident smirk. Yet, before I stepped closer to fight him, I looked back at Rose.
And she was looking on at this man with hope... Why was she looking at him with hope!? I had done nothing to her!? I had kept her safe all this time...
"SO WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM OVER ME!?" I roared while already knowing the answer. Her kind were fickle, she left that bark thing for me. And, she in turn left me alone in my time of need for him.
All because the other one was stronger... Yet, I suppose it did not matter, I could ask her all I wanted when I beat him!