*
"GUGHH?!!"
As the sense of pain kicked in, another sense... An overwhelming feeling that something was not right overcame my throat. It felt like the words were right at the tip of my tongue, and when I opened my lips to let them out, only a deep dark crimson fluid released. The shimmering green grass shone in a painted blood red under the setting sun, the rest of the area glowed like glittering gold.
Though all of that was happening, I could barely concentrate. The loss of blood was too absurd, but I made it in the end. Kenzi fiur, she had tried to run away. If I let her escape the higher ups would be suspicious of me. An incompetent leader. It was all too late now to change that, from their view I had already lost 5 magical girls in our very first mission. The squads in other stations may have started calling me a failure, my plan to gather influence went into shambles when I realised something this obvious. Well, the plan was only formulated just now. In the end, I forgot something as obvious as my own reputation.
I had become conceited, just like Ray did. My work has been very half-assed, quite a disappointment huh. Even then, I've come to understand a bit of myself now. And I won't stop trying to learn more, find more, take more, use more, grow more, fight more, protect more, cherish more,.... Live more. It was clear the girl in front of me was crying. What kind of guy would I be to ignore that. Even though my goal was just to cover up any loose ends that may jeopardise this half rotten plan.
It was precisely in a time like this that I understood. Even though the girl in front of me was crying, I didn't one but. She punched me so hard I spat out blood, it really hurt. But even then what I was doing here was for myself. So I ignored my surroundings and only focused on my goal, focused on her face. I can't help but grimace through the pain, it may seem like I'm glaring at her but I still have to do what I set out to do. What I came here and chased her to do. It was that determination that lead to this conclusion, when she punched me I could easily saw through it. Even though we were flying at high speed I could still see her. It was like watching a vehicle coming closer to crash into you. So I grabbed her arm after she punched me.
She must have been suffering a lot to let out this much stress. I secured my grip on her wrist, her fist was still in contact with my torso. Now she couldn't run. I can get through whatever words I want now.
".... I don't care why you ran. I need you."
They were all I could utter out. I was no longer running but prioritising my healing. Her pucnh may have set back the recovery a week. But it would be worth it if she stopped being this sad.
"... You.... You let them run away, but I have to suffer and stay here?" (Kenzi) Her long brown hair was in a mess, perhaps they bundled up during her fervour. She was in her own magical combat dress, it was a beautiful lavender dress with frills lining the edge of her skirt, brown strings and a corset. The base colour of white emphasised the image of her purity. Well whether she was really pure or not didn't matter, to make matters short her outfit seemed more like a magical girl's than mine did. It made me a little jealous, but I can look past that. In the end, maybe even her skill was more suited for a magical girl. Enhancing senses may seem drab for now, perhaps she could even create new senses in the future, such as the ability to sense hate and love and all that clichéd stuff.
"... I didn't let them run away. You understand don't you? These past few months.... We've spent more time here than back home already!!!
You think I'm not sick of this place? You think I'm not tired of training everyday just for some impossible mission I have to do layer? Did you honestly think that I was happy to be elected the leader of this small group?
It looks fancy on paper but essentially all the bad parts and bad things that happen to this group will be attributed to me!
.... I have been searching for MONTHS!! Spent all this time just to find a way to deal with general Frena.... Just finding a method to deal with her took all of my time... And the conclusion was... Nothing. "
She shook her head vigorously, denying my words with her body motion as if her own throat had been choked out.
".... No, I've had enough of your excuses. I just... Want to be happy with my friends and go back home....
It's one thing to have the very concept of countries dissolve and lose a place called home, but it's another to get kidnapped across a continent.
Bearing with the wait for your so called Great plan to be developed. That's too much. If you want me to go back, you'll have to convince me. " (Kenzi)
Her furled brown hair bounced in the wind of the open plains. She had ran past the rows of border patrol stations. In a physical sense, there were no longer any eyes on us. I doubt that my amateur efforts of usurping General Frena's position haven't reached the person herself. I had already lost the battle and the initiative when I agreed to be one of her soldiers. Yeah, her assistant, Walk didn't even hide her presence outside our station. It was like a pillar of dense light that blinded everything around her. Even her assistant had such power.
Nevertheless, it's all as I have told Myuu. If she were to have faith in me, what use would it be for me not to have faith in myself? I have to start first, over here.
"Convince you huh? Am I guessing correctly what you mean?"
"... Yeah, I'm tired of waiting. You like these don't you, you blood thirsty scum." (Kenzi)
Launching my right fist, I twisted my wrist as I applied my skill over my entire body. [Hollow calamity] - base technique, wind cladded drill punch. [The gap of impermanence is a cage], cover my face and torso with a thin but unyielding barrier. The ground gave out under my strength as I swung my fist, whipping a large cloud of soil and wind as my knuckles travelled through the air.
As if seeing through my attack, her back twisted to shift her head out of the way, unflinching all the way. Despite kicking up a storm, my fist didn't even graze her at all. Manipulating my skills, I did a quick switch of where my skills applied before launching my other fist. This time her body completely shifted to the left side, executing another clean dodge. Taking a leap back, I got ready to launch long distance attacks, though she saw through that too before as she rapidly closed the distance.
Most of my 'well' stat is back after the months of recovery, so I had much more magical particles to go around than long before. With the anti-magic injury, it strained my body's magic properties, causing to grow slightly every day, eventually it got to a B-grade 2 months after fighting Ray. It looked to be a useful way of growth instead, but it was ridiculous how other magical girls simply awakened with better 'well' grades than me, and it was far too little of a stat growth to reach the A-grade. Even now I would be roughly around halfway there, and it's been roughly 3 months since I reached the B-grade.
With more magical particles to work with, battles were far easier. But in the end it was better to save instead of using them wastefully. However, her dodging was really irritating. So I'll use a large area of effect attack and see if it does well.
[Hollow calamity], wrapping my legs in destructive wind, I flung a high kick at the Kenzi that was closing the distance. As expected, she shifted her whole body to the right. Since I was using my right leg, it swung towards the left which completely missed her body. But this makes it easier, unlike physical attacks that could be read and deduced, magical attacks occur as fast as thought. If I cover a wider area, it also prevents her from dodging after the attack has been launch. [Hollow calamity], a wall of air slams in from the top. It was built to be a thick wall to my right.
As it was a wall of air, it had no unique scent or any sensory stimuli that would trigger her senses. It was also perfectly transparent and came down in an instant to take her out. It struck her skull like a fast moving truck before dissipating back into magical particles. Dropping like a doll, she passed out. [The gap of impermanence is a cage], solidifying a thin sheet of air, I made a seat. General Frena's goal likely would be my eradication, I don't think she'd lay a hand on the rest or rush to our station so quickly. I'll deal with Kenzi first.
After waiting a few minutes, a soft crackling sound came from around Kenzi. Before long a few coughs had escaped her throat and her slim arms propped her into a sitting position.
"You didn't... Kill me?" (Kenzi)
"Are you dumb? I told you I needed you. Now do you still want to continue this or do you want to come back with me? Your friends are waiting."
"...." (Kenzi)
Not uttering her word, her well defined face stared at mine. She had an expression of deep thought as her eyes swam around in their sockets. I wonder what she's thinking of right now? I move closer to see if I could possible read her face. A slight flush colours her cheeks as her eyebrows furrowed.
"...!?!!" (Kenzi)
"... You're still hesitating even after I beat you. There's more to it huh. I'm sorry."
"Huh?" (Kenzi) Surprise had painted her face like a clear canvas, there was no doubt to it that she was shocked. Her lips quivered, her throat struggling to vocalise her thoughts. Just as quick as she got surprised, she had returned to a composed state.
If it got any more complicated, it would just be troublesome. Being honest here was far more convenient in getting one thought's across, there was no point in deceit anyway. We've spent enough time to guess each other's thoughts... Well in battle anyways.
"I'm sorry I didn't notice. Not even now, I still don't understand what's going on with you. But as the leader, I'll have to take on your burdens too, huh."
"... How can you take on something as irrational as fear? Beating me in that fight or any more fights would do nothing! I'm just a normal high school girl! Is staying safe and living a normal life so much to ask for?! " (Kenzi)
"... I don't know. "
" You DON'T KNOW!?!!! Then what was the point of that fight!!! Just what the hell was the point of letting me live?! You aren't even sure of yourself! So what gives you the right to order me!!! I'd be better off killing myself than be under you leadership! " (Kenzi)
Her cheeks now had a different tone of flush, a bright cherry red that accompanied her haggard uneven breathing. Her cheeks had gone stiff from the shouting, her fist clenched uncontrollably. Picking herself up, she walked closer and closer before barely being 20 cm from my face. Even her glare felt like it was pricking my skin, her anger and body heat carried over through the air.
'PA!'
A weak slap, my left cheek may have felt a little pain and gone red from the impact, but it was so devoid of strength that my head acted like a wall without shifting an inch. I... Don't understand. The slap didn't do anything at all, if anything her palm should hurt more right now.
"?! Is your palm okay...?"
Tears welled up at the corner of her eyes as she held her wrist to the palm that she used, but not once did she lift off her glare off of me.
".... Are you stupid? I just slapped your face and you asked if my palm is okay?! Are you perhaps taunting me?!" (Kenzi)
"... I just wanted to show concern. If you don't like it I'll stop. In any case, let's go back. Garion and Barius have showed their resolve and stuck to it in the end. I'll stop holding off, the enemy probably knows about my plan already anyway."
" And you are sure that I'll be useful? What if I betray you? "(Kenzi)
" Hahah! Who knows? I'll welcome any attempts, I'll take on all of it, all of you and even that general herself. "