Chapter 35: Ren Akari P5
~35.5~
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The next Monday, Ren was scheduled to begin classes at the academy. Zen's absence was already announced and the story the royals crafted was included. Ren's presence was announced on Sunday, stating that she, like Rei and the others, underwent the time-skip magic and also went to the past with the rest of the group. It was also included that the reason she did not start school sooner and that information about her was withheld, was that she wasn't ready to enter the public, but that she was now.
Morning classes went by with the usual oohs and ahhs over a newly introduced royal. Once afternoon classes arrived, Kye immediately took her class to the Farlands. Ren joined the same class as Joey, Rei, and the other first year royals.
"Before we begin class properly," Kye said, "I want to give Ren the opportunity to showcase what she is capable of." She held up her right hand with her middle, ring, and pinky fingers extended. She lowered a finger for each thing she named off. "One magic-based attack, one mana-based attack, and a sparring match with me."
Ren nodded and raised her right hand. She began channeling mana and prepared her spell. A swirling mass of black fire formed around her body and coalesced into four points in front of her. Kye smirked as Ren formed the catalysts.
"Don't worry about anything but your spell," Kye said. "There's nobody except our class in this hemisphere. And they are well protected." She glanced behind to where the class was standing. Liliana was standing among the class with a golden barrier protecting them.
"Right." As Ren focused, she began to chant. "Form. Compress. Resonate." Soon, the catalysts were ready. She had learned Detonation in her time doing missions. She knew who Kye was and did her best to learn about her aunt while she was away. She learned Detonation specifically to impress Kye when she met her. "Now, go forth and leave nothing in your wake." She flick her wrist and the four catalysts rocketed forward, far into the distance. They traveled extremely quickly to the point that nobody could track them by sight after a couple of seconds. "<
The catalysts clashed, and an enormous explosion filled the sky. Unlike when Kye used the spell, the flames were black, but that was the only difference. She executed the spell perfectly.
The class clapped for her as soon as the flames faded. Kye smiled and congratulated her. "Well done! That is one of my favorites, and you've displayed it spectacularly."
Ren giggled. She was overcome with the rush of praise, couldn't form a word, and couldn't help but laugh and smile.
"That was your magic-based attack. Now I want to see a mana-based attack."
The girl, now brimming with confidence, nodded and began preparing for her next performance. She placed her hand on the hilt of her katana and poured mana into it. She and her weapon glowed with black mana as she prepared herself. Sparks of purple mana crackled in the surrounding air like lightning.
"Her mana is so intense!" "But that is mana sparks, not actual lightning?"
"Yes," Laila answered. "Her power is incredible." Kye's children knew that Ren had gone through a lot, but none of them had seen her power first hand yet. Only Kye, Sanae, and their attendants had seen it, but even they hadn't seen the purple mana sparks.
When she was ready, she drew the blade and simultaneously launched a horizontal wave of mana into the distance. "<
"Void mana and Radiance. Unconsciously used at that," Liliana said telepathically.
"Indeed. It will harmlessly soar into the sky beyond and fizzle out, but this is an unexpected development."
The crescent-shaped wave of purple-black mana rocketed across the landscape and soon impacted the mountains in the distance, cutting off the tops as it passed through, a feat even Kye's children were surprised to see.
Even Ren was surprised. "That's never happened before."
The wave of mana continued on into the sky and faded away harmlessly in the upper atmosphere. Ren was surprised, and she thought her performance was even better than she expected, but Kye was looking at Ren not with congratulatory eyes, but with concern. "Do you feel okay?
"Huh?"
Kye stepped closer to her and put her hand on the girl's forehead. "Do you feel well?"
"I feel fine. W-why?"
"You just accidentally wielded void mana." She patted the girl's hand. "And you fueled it with Radiance, rather than regular mana or even aether. Normally, not even void mana can cut through terrain, given the world magic that protects the planet from damage. That protect only applies to mana and aether. Radiance is too pure for it. That was extraordinary."
"Was it that out of the ordinary?"
"You are the fourth person I've seen that can do that. It's a short list. I could add myself to the list if I bothered with it, but you did so unconsciously." Kye smiled. "What do you think about training for that with Aliana? She's the expert in it. You have a lot of untapped potential."
"Do you mean it?" Ren was practically jumping for joy. "I'm not in trouble for damaging those mountains?"
"Huh?" Kye looked at her quizzingly. "Why would you be in trouble for that?"
"Phantom and Shiro always scolded me when I did something crazy like that, even if it was by accident."
"I'm not stupid. The terrain can be repaired if anyone cares enough. The mere fact that you could damage the terrain in the first place is an incredible feat. I prefer to focus on the positive side and reinforce how significant of an achievement that is, rather than focus on the negative and scold you for breaking something. Things can be fixed. You did very good, Ren. Remember that you are safe now. You are in an environment where it's okay to make mistakes, not that I consider this a mistake. You are in an environment now where the fact that you can do this is something to celebrate."
She smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Aunt Kye. I will train with Aliana or whoever you think I should train with. I trust you."
Kye nodded at her and gave her another pat on the head. "Nice work, Ren. Do you want to take a minute to rest or shall we move on to the sparring match?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm not fatigued in the slightest."
Her aunt smirked. "Very well. We shall-"
"No," came Rei's voice as she stepped closer to them.
"Rei?" Kye said, eyeing her daughter.
"I want to do it."
Ren was taken aback. "Rei?"
Rei eyed Liliana, who knew immediately what the girl wanted.
"I don't trust you. You were a baby a week ago and now you're nearly three centuries old."
Ren's eyes hardened. "Aunt Kye trusts me. She brought me here. Should you not consider that?"
Rei shook her head. "Yes and no. You've had less than a week with her. I've had over a hundred years with her just in this life."
"In this life?"
"I was a nuisance to her in a past life. And I know what your former boss is capable of. He got into my head in that life."
Ren gasped. She had an idea of what Rei meant. "Are you perhaps the one named Celia Archembault, Suzuka Sakaguchi, or maybe Marie De La Fontaine? Phantom told me about his success in corrupting one of Elysia's daughters a long time ago."
"I was Suzuka. I don't know who the other two are. To think I have sisters that were warped by that monster, too…"
"I'm sorry, Rei. I didn't mean-"
"No." Rei shook her head. "It's fine. It's not as if I thought I was the only one. But you. You've been touched by him in this life. None before have survived Phantom's influence. How do we know you aren't a plant? We don't."
"So then, what? What do you mean to do? If it's my life you're-"
"No. I don't want to harm you. Mom would never allow that in the first place, and my past… killing another person is not something I want to do ever again. I don't trust you, and I was raised to overcome that distrust. If I can't, you and I will talk to mom privately."
"So you mean to gauge me in combat?"
"Yes."
"Very well. I accept."
Kye clapped, having listening in on the entire conversation. "Good. I approve."
Both girls turned and looked at her, shocked and embarrassed. ""You were listening?""
Kye smirked. "Of course! Ren, Rei is correct. If she is having trouble trusting you, it's best that you two work this out with each other without my intervention. I am willing to mediate, but this would be best."
"I understand."
"Good." "You two are allowed to use everything at your disposal." Kye pulled out a pair of rings and gestured at each of them. Kye slipped a ring on Rei's right middle finger, then Ren's. "These rings will protect you. My mana will be spent by these rings every time either of you lands a blow on the other, so don't hold back. You will not be able to harm each other in this duel."
"How in the world?" Ren asked. She shook her head, accepting that Kye could do what she said. "Okay."
"Go ahead, girls. Get into position."
Both nodded and jumped away from the group into the open space before them. Rei held her hands out, and Sora disappeared, transforming into Tenrai and Tenshi.
Ren smirked. "So that's how it is."
Rei smirked back at her. "I know what your weapon is."
Kye held her hand up and quickly brought it down. "Begin!"
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Revision: 2024-12-2