Skysin Rillem-
Before we knew it, a week had passed.
Strolling in the vast forest of the Nova region, master was leading us to some beasts. We approached a wide field, the grass is nearly my height, just below my chest. It's an indistinct color of yellow, as if it was close to perishing soon.
We all ceased movement; master perceived a group of monsters just thirty meters ahead, at least five of them in total.
Breuds; large bear-like creatures, wide bodies with purple fur, regular sized snouts and large fangs. Their eyes are dark blue and had small ears, along with tiny puffy tails.
Master turned to us, "some villagers have been informing me about these breuds, and they're causing a bit too much trouble. But instead of me, you brats are going to fight against these beasts, so remember your training. Do NOT, take them lightly. You'll have until the sun sets, understood?" He instructed.
We all nodded, releasing our aura.
"Go," master spoke.
Prepared for battle, we dashed towards the towering beasts.
As the four of us darted to the colossal beasts, Crim and I had accelerated, confronting the biggest individual monster, standing near at least ten feet high. The Breud became alarmed, lifting its giant paw with black razor-sharp claws, and beard its callous fangs.
While we closed the interval by the second, it made a thunderous roar, notifying its underlings.
The other four turned to our direction as well, erecting onto their hind legs. Just as Crim and I got into striking distance of the monster, the beast swung its ferocious paw. We avoided the attack, jumping back a few feet.
In a split second, we lunged at breud, slamming our fists into its furry stomach and launching it into the other four beasts. As it collided into the other four breuds, Elaine used her telekinesis, smothering the five giant bears together.
Nirvana on the far side of our right, casted a tornado burning in blazes onto the group of monsters.
They were sent high into the air, with bits of fire scorching their purple fur as smoke trailed off them. Crim encased his arms in phoenix blazes, hurling a flurry of punches, hitting them with multiple fireballs.
I took the initiative, using my spatial kinesis to control the gravity, causing the five to crash into ground.
In silence, we all stood near each other, patiently waiting for the smoke and dust to disappear.
The ground began to rumble, and the bears all fiercely charged towards us, roaring in rage. Crim and I ran onwards to the group of carnivores. All while Elaine and Nirvana ran along the sides to surround them.
As I increased my speed, I used the braideferm technique, releasing my cold aura throughout my body into my spline.
I hurdled right to the leading bear, colliding my boot dead onto its snout. I shot the frigid aura through my back into my foot, increasing the power drastically. The bear had howled in pain as its head was knocked backwards.
Unexpectedly, I noticed an incoming paw larger than my own stature, aimed at me. Hastily, I maneuvered my body, spinning to the left of the beast while dodging the attack.
Crim arrived beside the beast, landing his fist onto the side of the bears face that attacked me, leaving it dazed.
With the beast being a bit discombobulated, Crim performed a devastating combo. Crim fired a sidekick to its stomach, punching its waist, then finishing with an upper cut directly under its jaw, ejecting it away from us.
However, two bears pounced at us, one catapulting its paw right at Crim. Crim raised his arms, blocking the attack but was casted afar from me.
The two beasts had united, rapidly slashing their jagged claws at me while I evaded their deadly attacks.
As I continued to dodge their attacks, Nirvana had leapt high above one of them. Diving to it, she plunged her foot on its head, smashing it onto the ground under.
Now I can keep my attention on the alternative monster.
Just as the beast swung once more, I weaved the attack falling under its paw. I used my arms to lift myself off the ground, shooting my feet right at its jaw.
Even though it was heavily damaged, the bear didn't falter its movements, going in for a lethal bite.
In the blink of an eye, Elaine had quickly moved under the beast, upper cutting its mouth closed shut. As its head snapped backwards, she released a roundhouse kick, shooting it further back.
Crim had jumped in front of us and waved his hand, firing chaotic white flames onto the bear. Searing the beast until it was completely disintegrated.
I looked to my side, coming to notice one of the beasts running up to Elaine's back.
"Elaine behind you!" I called out, dashing to Elaine and pushing her out of the way as I got tackled by the massive breud.
"Skysin! Hold on!" Elaine shouted, using her telekinesis and lifted the giant monster from me.
I took a deep breath, then exhaled, watching the frigid air become visible from my mouth. With a simple wave of my arm, glacial winds blew at high speeds, freezing the bear solid in crystal ice.
As I stood up from the ground, Nirvana hurriedly smashed the crystal beast with her fist, shattering it into multiple tiny fragments.
The other three bears seemed to have contemplated about this, eyeing each other with deep grunts.
The leader roared scarcely, signaling them to retreat. Hence, the bears vanished into the autumn forest, only to hear faint solemn bellows as the beasts receded.
Master walked out of the woodlot, clapping his hands, "I have to say, you kids are terrifyingly talented, and your teamwork was good as well. Congrats on not dying."
I placed my arms behind my head, "well, you're the one who taught us master."
"Yes, but regardless of that…good work. It looks like you're all gaining more understanding of the technique. We can head back home now… I'm getting sleepy anyway," master smiled, rotating while waving his hand.
As we strolled through the broad woods as the branches loomed over the setting sun, I looked at Alzar, "y'know master, even though you sleep a lot, it doesn't seem like you get much," I pointed out, observing the deep, darkened bags under his hazel eyes.
We had giggled as master scoffed, "shut it child. You wouldn't even understand boy..."
Only hearing the abundant wildlife in the forest, Alzar had watched a pair of small animals running atop of branches on trees, "you kids know of the crystal phases, right?"
Me, Crim, and Elaine looked at each other, bemused by his question, but we all nodded in response. Nirvana raised her hand excitedly, "oh-oh, yeah…my dad used to be a challenger!"
"What do you know about it?" Master queried her.
Nirvana sat her hand on her hot pink hair, being unsure, "isn't it something that challengers came up with to sort of differentiate their strengths in vital?"
"You're on the right page, but there's more to it though," Alzar chuckled.
"What exactly do you mean, master?" Elaine asked.
Alzar looked down to us, "you see, people came up with this sort of structure not just for themselves, but to also determine if they can go against the beast as well." Alzar continued to explain as we became intrigued, "as you all know, there are ten phases of the crystal. With the lowest starting from talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, feldspar, quartz, along with topaz, corundum, and diamond being the highest."
We all looked at master, not fully grasping his explanation. I questioned him, "but how exactly can they compare their selves against them?"
"Yes - yes, I'm getting there," Master chuckled. "Thousands of years ago, when the challengers were just starting to form, they gave the beasts ten stages, but they're fairly higher than ours. The beasts rank from the lowest being combatant, tyro, warrior, superior, specialist, apex, dragon, all with calamity, demi, and deity being the most dangerous. The challengers use this to determine how strong they are against a beast, such as the ones you four fought. It takes about maybe three talc phases to kill a peak tyro ranked. Monsters are just naturally stronger and durable than us."
Elaine's cinnamon eyes began to gleam with curiousness, "how strong is a deity exactly?"
"At best, they're able to destroy multiple planets, all the way to entire solar systems."
Just as I began to wonder if there was anything stronger, Alzar continued to speak as if he had read my mind, "but…that's not the end of the crystal phases, there's actually three more to my knowledge."
The house finally came into view, and Nirvana had tugged onto the sleeve of Alzar's robe, "what are the other three???"
"The other three starts with ruby being the lowest, jadeite, and blue diamond being the highest. When you get to these phases - if ever possible, you're no longer known as a mortal, but closer to be that of a true deity. The difference in power with these three from the regular diamond phase is astronomical.
Plus, blue diamond is really in a league of its own from stories I heard. Being able to take over multiple galaxies, even universes. It's a true force to be reckoned with… although even getting to diamond stage could take many decades or centuries, it all depends on your own determination and talent," Master happily expressed turning to us.
As master opened the doors to the inside of the house, "you brats should be in the mesial of the gypsum phase because of your talent. The beasts you fought were in the tyro rank."
While we entered the house, I looked over to Alzar, "what phase are you in master?" I asked, remembering how he handled us without breaking a sweat. Besides, he's skinny as a twig.
"I'm in the peak of corundum...but unfortunately, I'm too lazy to train now," Alzar shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
I looked at the man's baggy hazel eyes, "heh - I'm not surprised. It looks like you have endless nightmares."
The man slowly walked to me and chopped the top of my head, "OW!"
"Shut it brat, just for what you said…you'll be washing the dishes," Alzar stated, pointing at the ludicrous number of pots and pans.
"Awe come onn, I was joking master!" I hollered pulling his robe.
"It was just a joke? Too bad, get those dishes done boy. Unless you want another chop to the head," master mocked me, brandishing that dangerous hand once more.
Getting anxious, I motioned my hands, telling him to stop.
"Pffft...good luck with that Sin," Nirvana patted my head while restraining her laughter. I squinted my eyes and poked my tongue out as she laughed at my face.
At that time, all of them went upstairs to rest.
*****
While I was cleaning, I heard footsteps above me on the second floor, then turned around to see Elaine in her white nightgown, walking towards me.
"Oh hey, what're you doing up?" I asked, washing a dirty pan with a sponge.
Elaine walked over to where I stood, sitting her back onto the table behind me, "nothing...just couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd come downstairs to check on you."
"Ohh, so miss princess was worried about me?" I raised a brow jesting her.
Elaine had stuttered, "we-well, I wouldn't necessarily say worried."
I chuckled as she continued trying to find words "I'm just messing with ya Elaine, but why can't you sleep?"
"I'm not really sure honestly, just one of those nights I guess."
"Ever tried counting sheep? It helps me."
Elaine had giggled, "...I'll try that some time Sin."
After a few seconds of quietude, with only the last dish being earshot as I scrubbed the plate with a soft green sponge, Elaine began to slightly fidget, "hey Sin, do you remember what you had asked me? About how I learned to fight?"
I was a bit surprised, but I turned to Elaine, "uh...yeah, I do."
Elaine grew quiet once more, but began to vaguely speak up, "we-well...I learned from my father and mother, plus an institute when I was five, they taught lots of children many techniques in fighting. It was very interesting, as well as fun..." Elaine showed a small smile, but it gradually altered into a deep frown, "but while I was there, I had gotten into a fight with another girl...and... I crippled her."
Elaine opened her hands and looked down, blankly staring at her palms, "I-I didn't mean to hurt her, to cripple her. The instructors told me that it wasn't my fault, but I know it was. And that girl wouldn't be able to function like a normal person again. I stayed there for a few more months, but none of the kids I made friends with wouldn't speak to me, even bat an eye. I was practically an outsider, like some type of monster...so, I decided to leave after another month..."
Elaine clasped her hands, looking down at the hardwood floor with a disheartened expression, "I-I understand if you'll look at me differently, Skysin..."
So, this explains why Elaine seems a bit awkward at times, or shy. I'm really stunned that she had crippled someone. But that's not Elaine, and I'm sure she wouldn't have done it on purpose. I showed a genuine smile, wrapping an arm around Elaine to give her a hug, "I won't look at you any differently Elaine. That was the past, and this is the present. I'm sure - no, I'm positive that you didn't mean to harm her."
Elaine made a passionate smile as her beautiful cinnamon eyes seemed to have glistened, "thank you Skysin, really, I appreciate it a lot."
"Of course Elaine."
Shortly after, we said goodnight to each other as we headed to our rooms.
*****