The sun rays cascaded through the sunroofs of the local street cafés in an annoyingly beautiful manner and embraced my face with their gentle warmth.
I squinted angrily and wiped the sweat off my forehead. Luckily the soft summer breeze was intensified by my vigorous sprinting and prevented me from completely overheating.
My boots grated loudly against the pavement as I skidded to an abrupt halt. The hover-truck driver yelled inaudible swear words at me, furiously gesturing towards the red pedestrian traffic light, before shaking his head and driving off.
I understood his concern. A collision at that speed could have potentially damaged his truck beyond repair and I certainly did not want to be involved in any lawsuit to cover the costs. I sighed. The rational thing to do would be to proceed in a more focused manner and avoid any dangerous maneuvers, but-
My train of thought was cut short by the high-pitched ringing of my phone. It was an obnoxious tune by a group that had been popular during my childhood. I had never bothered to change it.
"Asteria," I heard a voice say and flinched at the mention of my full name. "Did you, by chance, forget how to tell the time?"
An undeniable killing intent radiated from the speaker. I inhaled sharply.
"Ok, this is going to sound like a lie, but I'm really almost there! Bye!"
I pawed the ground like a bull ready to charge. My eyes were fixed on the traffic light.
Red.
Red.
Red.
Green!
All the other pedestrians saw was the blue blur of my hair as I resumed my run. In another world they might have thought I was flying, but here people were just trying their best to evade me.
"Are you insane-" a man narrowly avoided getting run over by me but I could not hear the rest of his angry rant. I was simply too far away.
Gradually the buildings and bustling streets around me became less and less and lush greenery came into view as the forests outside the city emerged around me. I slowed my pace, taking in the fresh air and appreciating the coolness of the shade. At last, I began walking normally, following the main footpath for a while. I could never get over the sharp contrast between the city and the outskirts. Within a few kilometers, the landscape had transformed drastically. The noise and chatter had morphed into serenity and the calls of the local birds soothed my ears.
The vegetation grew thicker and thicker, the further I distanced myself from the city. Eventually I made a sharp turn off the beaten path onto a secret trail that only a few people knew of. I was one of them.
Hidden entirely from view by the surrounding trees, I proceeded with care, not fighting my way through the bushes but gently pushing each branch out of my way. A large bug gracefully landed on my nose, its iridescent exoskeleton bending the sun rays like a kaleidoscope. To be honest I wanted to smack it off, but I chose to remain calm. It was just a harmless creature after all, and I was in its territory. I carried it around for a bit, gradually making my way towards the sound of water rushing along rocks. Finally, I reached a clearing and my hitchhiker sauntered away.
The slim silhouette of a girl came into view. She was sitting on a large rock that had withstood the flow of the river for eons but not without changing its shape. Its once rugged surface had become smooth to the touch. The girl's feet were hanging in the cool water. There was a huge splash as she kicked, the water drops forming a rainbow as they fell. It was a serene image but it did not last.
I had not made a sound, but she sensed me, nonetheless. Her head whipped around as her brown braids sliced through the warm air. As our eyes met her calm expression distorted into a frown. Before she could open her mouth, I spoke.
"Elani! Hi! Isn't it such a lovely day today?" I was visibly nervous, looking right and left and at the ground to avoid her gaze.
"Yes! I know, right? Such beautiful weather today!" she flashed a dazzlingly fake smile at me before her expression turned sour again. "So," she began, her aura growing increasingly cold and sharp. "You're over half an hour late. What's your excuse?"
"Long story," I laughed nervously. "You see, I was on time, definitely!" I raised my hands apologetically, as if to protect me from her icy stare.
"I was at the station and all. But then I had to go back because I forgot my wallet," I glanced at her, then at the ground.
"So long story short: I ended up missing the express and decided to run here instead of waiting for the next one." I fidgeted and smiled awkwardly.
Elani sighed audibly. "I can see that you're not lying. Though I wish you were." Visibly frustrated she added, "Who in their right mind would run instead of waiting for the next express?" She shook her head dismissively.
"I'm just really fast," I mumbled.
"Ok Miss Really Fast," Elani laughed as she hopped off the rock and started rummaging in her backpack. "Drink this!"
With great relief I caught the bottle she had tossed me. It was a popular new drink that was a hit among the younger generation. Natural energy infused water with a hint of fruity freshness. Designed to keep you going for up to 72 hours without needing a break. I shook my head, realizing I had memorized the entire commercial.
I took a sip, enjoying the cooling and calming sensation that spread throughout my body.
"Do you feel refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to get your ass whooped?" Elani questioned me, half-jokingly but there was a glint of fire in her eyes.
I chuckled, calmly setting the bottle down next to Elani's backpack. Typical Elani. She never hesitated and she was always ready for whatever came her way. With a smooth flick of my wrist glowing particles emerged from the atmosphere and materialized into a silvery sword. Its hilt reflected the sunlight beautifully, beckoning me to grab it. I grabbed it firmly and readied myself into a defensive stance while keeping my eye on Elani. I blinked.
"I'm ready," I said, nodding. And in a split second, Elani's figure vanished into thin air.
Above!
My body moved instinctively as I blocked her attack. Clang! The impact of my sword and her dagger sent a subtle but nevertheless impactful shockwave through the environment. The bushes shook their leaves angrily and the nearby birds squawked loudly, insults no doubt.
"You really are too quick!" Elani exclaimed, withdrawing her dagger and leaping backwards to put distance between us.
"Speak for yourself," I rolled my eyes. Elani was unbelievably talented when it came to speed and agility. Granted, she trained tirelessly to improve but she was definitely also blessed genetically. In fact, she would've been top of her year if it wasn't for me. But if Elani moved at the speed of sound, I was able to be as fast as light.
"Be ready," I shouted charging towards Elani. She dodged effortlessly, moving to my left in a smooth motion. I dropped to a crouch as her leg cut through the air mere centimeters above my head.
"Need a haircut?" she asked provocatively.
But she really shouldn't have been making sassy remarks, I thought to myself.
I spun clockwise with my right leg outstretched. A loud bang was heard as it made contact with the area above her ankles, but she stood like a rock and did not fall. A truly impenetrable defense.
"Bitc-!"
"Language!" I taunted her. She grimaced for a few seconds then gathered herself.
"You know, usually I don't mind people trying to sweep me off my feet," she joked, back to her usual self, "but you definitely need practice."
"Obviously!" I retorted. "That's why we're here!"
Indeed, it had been about two years since the first time we sparred together. We had started shortly after we had met during our first year at the academy and instantly hit it off, eventually becoming the best of friends.
In the beginning we had trained together at the academy dojo. However, as our skills developed, we had decided that we needed more real-world experience and moved to the outside.
After searching for a suitable training location for some time, we had stumbled across this clearing in the woods in the City Outskirts.
It was far away from civilization and their judgmental gaze. Here, we were free to experiment with unconventional techniques, embarrass ourselves and evolve our abilities.
Additionally, this spot was an amazing find because it was situated directly above the intersection of two secondary ley lines that channeled the natural energy throughout the world. This was incredibly useful to us as we tried to improve our energy manipulation abilities-
My reminiscence was cut short as a strong current of wind hit me head on, pushing me back several meters.
Elani lowered her palm. "I don't know what you were just thinking about but get your head in the game or I will actually beat your ass!"
My hair was disheveled and the tree behind me had lost several branches due to Elani's attack, but she wasn't done yet.
She materialized a second dagger. Forcefully bringing the two daggers together, she furrowed her brows, deep in focus. As she slowly proceeded to pull the daggers apart, I saw sparks of electricity forming between them until both blades were surrounded by bright purple flashes of light.
"When did I learn that?" Elani voiced my question before I could speak. "While I was waiting for you." She grinned and charged at me.
She morphed into a flash of purple as she accelerated towards me, vanishing into thin air at times. There was no way I'd be able to dodge an attack I couldn't see coming. I had to let her hit me. Deeply hoping my decision was the right one, I shifted into a stance that protected me from most angles. I looked around. Elani really had disappeared into her surroundings. So fast! When had she improved this much?
Then I felt a sharp, burning pain in my side. Of course, Elani had analyzed the situation with great precision and immediately found a weakness in my defense.
"There you are!" I grabbed Elani's hand that had stabbed my waist with the dagger. My wound sizzled painfully. Current surged through me, engulfing my body with a tingling sensation. If this continued, I would surely faint, but I had a plan.
I stretched out my left hand and pointed my index finger. Deeply focused, I concentrated on the electricity that was running through my body. I pictured the current moving through me and directed it to my left hand.
The clearing was illuminated by a flash of purple light as a spark of electricity escaped from my index finger, zapping across the clearing and slicing through the stem of a tree at the far end. With a deafening crack the tree collapsed into itself. The ground rumbled. A flock of birds flapped their wings angrily as they flew away hurriedly.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"Ria, what the fuck?!" Elani exclaimed, withdrawing the dagger from my side. "Every time I try to one up you, you somehow get even better."
"Back to nickname basis, are we?" I chuckled as I looked down at the deep gash Elani's attack had left in my side. I watched as it began to close up until it was completely healed.
"That hurt, Elani!" I complained. "A lightning attack? Really? Are you trying to kill me?"
Elani laughed dismissively. "You handled it, didn't you?"
She readied herself into an offensive stance. "Get ready! I won't hold back this time!"
Electric current reformed around her blades as she charged towards me once more. However, her attacks weren't nearly as quick as before. Her new skill must require a lot of stamina, I thought to myself. Being able to actually see Elani made the fight a lot more fun and more importantly less painful for me. I was able to evade and even block her barrage of swift attacks. However, inch by inch I noticed that she was pushing me back. We were only a few meters away from the river.
"You know, if you touch the water, you lose!" She laughed. "Those are the rules!"
I grimaced. I was clearly losing here and needed something big, a powerful attack to regain the upper hand.
"Should I do that?" I wondered. "I hope she won't be mad at me for copying her."
But Elani's attacks were relentless and I had no intention of losing. We were now only a foot away from the water's edge. It was now or never.
In my mind I pictured Elani's lightning attack. I envisioned how she had manipulated the charges in the atmosphere around her, causing an energy discharge between them. It was much like real lightning in a storm, only on a much smaller scale. I gathered my strength and kicked her in the stomach, pushing her back by a meter. As she cursed at me, I spread my arms wide apart. This would leave me defenseless for a bit but if my attack worked, I would definitely win. Given my current situation it was all or nothing. I inhaled and focused my mind. I felt the abundance of natural energy in the world around me, making out the fabric of energy out of which this world was woven.
And then, I ripped it apart.
At first nothing happened. My eyes met Elani's confused gaze.
And then I saw nothing.
For a split second the world was bathed in a pure white light. I was blinded and staggered backwards, shielding my eyes from the glare. The water splashed as my heels touched it.
"Shit-"
Suddenly, the atmosphere exploded around me with a deafening rumble. Or rather, it imploded.
The huge spark of white light had gathered into a massive, energy orb, which now proceeded to shrink. I fought to keep my balance, but it became increasingly difficult to withstand the invisible force that was pulling me towards the orb.
I heard Elani struggling and screaming at me from the other side of the light.
"Asteria!!!! What the fuck did you do!?"
I gulped. I couldn't hold on for much longer.
"I can't-" I heard Elani, "I'm too weak-"
Seconds later I saw Elani being pulled towards me or rather towards the orb that was between us. Her stamina must have given out from using her new skill.
Her expression was shockingly calm and determined as she made contact with the orb. Her body was engulfed in a bright white light as it absorbed her. Then she was gone, vanished. The last words she had muttered, lay heavily in the air.
"-will kill you."
The silence that followed after Elani's disappearance only amplified my panic.
What have I done!?
Is she gone for good!?
How do I get her back!?
Where did she even go!?
Then it dawned on me. I had made a decision. My panicked expression shifted to a focused one.
I reached out my hand to the light orb which vibrated menacingly upon contact, but my mind was calm, and my decision was clear. I exhaled as the light engulfed me and the world around me faded to white.
The orb vibrated increasingly powerfully and inflated to twice its original size before collapsing into itself.
In the next second the clearing was flattened by a powerful surge of energy radiating from the implosion, as if slapped by the hand of an enormous god. The remaining birds squawked one last time.
Then there was silence, deathly silence.
In the distant city a girl picked a leaf out of her golden-brown hair.
"It really is windy today," she thought, gazing towards the City Outskirts.