Chapter 40 - Checkmate

Leyhna had a pretty funny expression on her face when she saw me copy her spell, but immediately snapped out of it.

"How… How do you know that spell?!" [Leyhna]

She yelled angrily, so much so that I wasn't sure that my |Sound Interference| was able to block that.

("Agh… My ears… I hope that didn't wake Fina.") [Solace]

Seeing as how Leyhna was pretty agitated, I decided to tease her a bit.

"I'll tell you if you beat me." [Solace]

"Say less." [Leyhna]

She zoomed towards me, fast enough that I barely had enough time to think.

"Holy…!" [Solace]

Leyhna threw three punches, and feinted them. Then, she threw a kick, also feinting it. She continuously attacked me, all while feinting every single attack.

("Which one's the real one?!") [Solace]

I was wobbling back and forth, attempting to dodge attacks that Leyhna wasn't even going to hit me with. It confused me more and more as time went on, causing me to feel a bit impatient.

("If it's just going to be all feints, I'll just attack!") [Solace]

I raised an arm to strike, but was met with a kick to the face.

"Gah!" [Solace]

I stumbled backwards, far enough for me to hit my back against the wall.

("Urgh…! Really?! She hits me as soon as I start to move?!") [Solace]

Thinking that she wasn't going to do it again, I lunged at her.

"Heh." [Leyhna]

Once again, I got the pleasure of getting smacked in the face by a foot again. Also, it really wasn't a pleasure.

("Uh oh.") [Solace]

My vision became blurred. I've only heard about it a few times, but I've never actually imagined I would be experiencing it.

("Am I having a concussion?") [Solace]

I tried to blink away the little lights in my eyes, but they danced their little dance and remained in my vision.

"Damn… You sure hit harder than you look." [Solace]

"And you look sturdier than you look." [Leyhna]

"Hey, I take pride in that." [Solace]

Jokes aside, my face felt like it was burning. Maybe it was because Leyhna hit me with her limbs covered in flames, or it could be the natural response of being hit. I honestly didn't care.

"Let's finish this." [Leyhna]

Just as she began to approach me, I raised my hands to stop her.

"Wait! Wait! Time out!" [Solace]

"No." [Leyhna]

She came at me with a kick, which I thought would come to my side, but I was sorely mistaken. Leyhna twisted the kick upwards, somehow managing to strike my head and forcing me to the ground.

"Urgh!" [Solace]

("My god, am I hallucinating?! I could've sworn I blocked that!") [Solace]

Leyhna seeing me on the ground was apparently a moment she didn't want to waste. Before I could even get up, She immediately sat on me to push me back down.

"Ayo, this is kinda sus!" [Solace]

"..." [Leyhna]

Without even uttering a word, she then proceeded to beat the ever living crap out of me with her fists.

"Aaah! I yield! I yield!" [Solace]

The beating stopped, I finally got to take a breather.

"Ow… You really don't pull your punches do you?" [Solace]

"I'm surprised you're not burnt." [Leyhna]

"Am I…?" [Solace]

Looking down at my body, it appeared I was completely fine. Now that I actually thought about it, the flames that enveloped Leyhna's body didn't feel hot at all.

"You have acquired |Fire Resistance|." [Spirit Guide]

("...Did I really just get that now?") [Solace]

"Response: You acquired |Fire Resistance| ten minutes ago." [Spirit Guide]

Now that I thought about it, I think the spirit guide was trying to say something last chapter...

("So basically when I casted |Enchant Flame|.") [Solace]

I sighed with relief, but was woken up by another punch to the face.

"Ouch! Not the face!" [Solace]

"Tell me how you learned |Enchant Flame|." [Leyhna]

I didn't really want to tell her that I basically stole it from her, so I decided to change her question.

"Don't you want to know who I am first?" [Solace]

"...That's fair. Who are you?" [Leyhna]

"I'm Alt. A uh… new student here." [Solace]

Leyhna looked at me as if I was a liar, and well, I was.

"Is that so? Let me check up on that." [Leyhna]

"Eh?" [Solace]

Leyhna then took out some weird transparent crystal looking thing from her skirt pocket, which I didn't know existed until today. The crystal lit up a bright blue, and she began to talk to it.

"Hey, Maddie? Are you there?" [Leyhna]

A little buzz sound came from the crystal, and I heard a voice come from it.

"Leyhna? Do you need something?" [???]

"Yeah, you mind doing me a favor?" [Leyhna]

There was a strange pause. Probably because Leyhna had some kind of… history with the person on the other side.

"...Sure. As long as it's not… TOO weird." [???]

"Thanks! Mind looking up a student named Alt?" [Leyhna]

"Okay, just give me a moment." [???]

("I'm screwed aren't I?") [Solace]

I was getting the gist of the situation. It was only a matter of time before I was busted.

"I've got three matches." [???]

"Descriptions?" [Leyhna]

"The first one, Alt Fae. Female, long brown-" [???]

"Next." [Leyhna]

"...Second, Alt Tell. Male, short blonde-" [???]

"Next." [Leyhna]

"...Third, Alt Stoin. Male, short green-" [???]

"That's all I needed, Maddie. Thanks!" [Leyhna]

And like that, the crystal's color faded back to transparent.

"...I think they missed someone." [Solace]

"I don't think so." [Leyhna]

She stuffed the crystal back into her pocket, all while relighting the flames around her fist.

"Well then, you better spill before I make your guts do it first." [Leyhna]

("Huh, I just got checkmated.") [Solace]