Aomuri, Southern side. Near lake, the largest lake in this city. The sun had already set. A cool pleasant wind was blowing, giving some respite to the people enjoying an evening walk. The fresh breeze was doing its best blowing away the oppressive summer heat. Just like everyday, the crowd started thickening at that time. Because of the gentle breeze empowered by the nearby lake, the surroundings never felt congested.
Friends are happily chatting with each others, couples are enjoying a nice evening, with their arms linked, the elderly people were either sitting on benches or strolling slowly. Normalcy was everywhere one could lay their eyes on.
However, the girl who was sitting near the steps leading down to the lake surface was wearing a hoodie. It was a crazy thing to do so, wearing such a hot garment in summer. But nobody except a few paid attention to her. The girl appeared to be unfazed by the occasional curious stares directed at her. But in reality, she was not.
[Everyone is looking at me... I thought mingling inside the crowd would help me... but it seems I am wrong. Wait I think I should put my hoodie down. That seems viable but it will expose my face. Is it okay? Damn... I really want to enjoy the breeze though...]
Arguing with herself in her mind, she decided to give in to her selfishness. She unchained her jacket and took of her hoodie. It revealed a very beautiful girl. Predominantly light, her skin was pink because of the heat. Long eyelashes hid a sharp pair of inky blue eyes.
That inky blue colour was the exact same as the colour of the evening sky, looking into them would calm you down and give you a vague feeling of fear. She had an air of nobility around her, despite being dressed in a tank top and simple trousers. Once again, she gathered attention. This time for a completely different reason though. Many boys were gawking at her, and even girls were not exempt from that royal charm. With her blue-black hair fluttering in the breeze, she stood up gracefully.
[Jeez, no matter where I am, every place is the same. They are so similar to us... yet so different. In my twenty one years of life... I don't think I have met anyone who hasn't looked at me in admiration. Even though many fellow girls were jealous of my looks, they still admired it.]
Sighing, she decided to head over to the bench where an old woman was sitting.
"Excuse me granny."
"Sure... ah!"
The old woman's face suddenly brightened up. She flashed a bright smile like that of a small kid and spoke up.
"Its been quite some time that a stranger has called me granny... everyone refers to me as miss and ma'am... thank you for this kind gesture young girl. What is your name?"
The girl smiled upon hearing her words. Sitting beside her, she also started talking.
"I am called Yaleena."
"Ooo... a rare name I see. Are you new here?"
The old woman was talking while facing forwards, hands on her lap.
"Yes. This place is quite new to me. The street vendors are quite interesting."
"So you are a foreigner? Let me look at your face please, Yaleena."
Both of turned their faces and looked at each other. Looking at her face, the old woman gasped.
"Anything wrong?!"
Yaleena was shocked by the sudden strange response from her.
The old woman said, "No. You are so beautiful that I was momentarily stunned. How lucky the man will be, who gets such a rare treasure like you..."
"M...man?!"
She couldn't help but speak it out loudly when she heard her bring up this topic so casually.
"Oh... so you are not into men? That's a pity you know. But of course, don't be worried by what others say. Follow your preferences. This world..."
"W...wait...granny stop....STOP!!!"
The woman opened her eyes wide. She noticed that Yaleena's cheeks were even redder than before and her forehead was sweaty. She clearly looked shaken.
"Ah sorry... seems like I went overboard teasing this small inexperienced kid here haha."
Chuckling heartily, she took advantage of her reaction.
[Damn, she utterly demolished me...]
Thinking that, she took a look at the watch and muttered, "Its about time she came here..."
"Waiting for someone Yaleena-dear? Oh I see, a boy is it?!"
The old lady flashed a grin while saying this.
"No, a girl."
"A girl you say... so Yaleena really is into..."
"I said its not like that!"
"Hey leader!"
A girl was ran up to her and seated herself beside her.
"Oh! I was looking for you everywhere. You told me to look for the purple hoodie and now you are sitting here without putting it on, you meanie!"
She pouted her lips in a cute manner. Yaleena and even the old woman couldn't help but smile.
She was nobody other than Barnie, wearing a cute apple green one piece.
"Hi there leader! Will we talk here or find some other place for a chat?"
"Hn? No don't worry, talking here is fine. I will put up a sound barrier so that this old lady won't be able to hear us."
"But won't she be suspicious if she can't hear us despite sitting so close to you, leader?"
Yes, Yaleena's the other leader of
"Do you think I'm stupid and silly like a certain someone?!"
She said while chuckling, soliciting a dissatisfied voice from the girl.
"I'll tone down the barrier which will perform two functions. It will considerably dampen the voice, therefore making whispers completely inaudible. Old lady won't get suspicious if she hears our normal voice from time to time and she won't get to hear our whispers too.
Actually you will be able to whisper quite loudly."
"And the other function?"
"Guess!" She winked.
"Mu... I think its to prevent detection?"
"Ah correct! What a girl you are! Dumb and smart a the same time!"
"Okay then, come a bit closer. I'll cast now."
Barnie slid over to Yaleena. Then she muttered just a single word.
"[Wind Conjuration] Sound Barrier"
*Whoosh*
As the air around them was modified, a whooshing sound greeted their ears. Probably that old lady had noticed it too, since she was looking here and there.
"Oh young ladies! Did you hear the sound of wind rushing past?"
"Hn? No I didn't Must be your imagination granny. Did you hear anything Barnie?"
Yaleena sent Barnie an elbow jab together with the question.
"Ouch! Ah sorry... I didn't hear anything too."
"What? Ah... I am growing so old that my senses have started to play tricks on me. Your voice seems to have gotten softer..."
"Umm really? Are you sure?"
"Haaaahhh... don't mind this old one here. Her time is quite close. Even her senses started playing tricks on her..."
Barnie felt sorry for this woman but didn't say anything.
"Well then, can you update me with what happened these five years since we have arrived here?"
"One very important observation, I have come to know of the fact that each and every sentient being of this universe... can use Conjurations. "
Barnie opened her eyes in wonder.
"My spell proficiency has improved. At least now we can afford to hold a candle to the extreme might of those goddamned monsters. Also, I have gotten myself familiar with [Spatial Conjuration] and have prepared an escape method, a teleportation scroll to our world."
"So you're having the feeling too, that we are gonna have an all-out battle? Won't it drag innocent people in it? What are we even gonna do?"
"Once confirmed we can't beat them, we buy off time and then we escape using the scroll. As for dragging innocents... I will guarantee that none of us will attack civilians, but I can't protect someone if they are a victim of the hunters."
"Let's gather everyone together and discuss a common plan of action. I'll act as the buffer for now. Your group should preferably move into our place since its hard to detect, spacious and well maintained."
"Hm... I'll think about that..." for a moment she looked lost in thought... and then her eyes fell.
"So not all things which have taken place in these five years were good I guess? Umm... its natural... not everything which happens to us is good y'know..."
'You sure are perceptible... though you don't look like one!"
"Seriously leader? Just what do I look like!!"
"Wait don't change the topic here. Tell me what you were about to say, the thing you are sad about!!"
"Barnie dear, something wrong?"
"Oh crap..." Barnie couldn't help but mutter it. She had entirely forgotten about the old lady sitting by their side perhaps voiced out something she shouldn't have had.
"No granny... it's nothing, just a bit of an argument..."
Her leader came to the rescue. So reliable!! But the next moment she was subjected to a sharp glare.
"Sorry... there.." She could only produce a feeble apology.
"Sorry you say... Okay I'm letting you off for now. And as for what you wanted to know..."
She again faced downwards... if one observed carefully, they could see the corners of her eyes glistening.
"Leader Yaleena..."
"Well... you see... you know Kelvin don't you?"
"Brother Kelvin, the lightning expert?"
"Yeah he..." Her voice was turning more and more pained and muffled, as if the tears were choking her throat.
"He was... struck down..."
[The...fuck...]
Barnie was flabbergasted. The fast and flashy Kelvin... dead? It was hardly imaginable. One of the ten members of their small organization
Their leader was crying. Silently, with no emotion whatsoever. However it was not sorrow but boundless rage. And what was the cause of his rage?
"During the tropical cyclone in the Andaman sea two years ago... the five of us were actually fighting the hunters, all three of them.
It was Kelvin's battleground... he was performing well, holding them off to allow us to escape. We fully knew he would be able to escape at a moment's notice, harnessing the storm. But everything was not bound to go how we wanted it to. That burly man was a skilled wielder of wind element. We were trapped within a cage of wind were struck with that mage's one of the strongest spells. [Lightning Conjuration]
Saying this, she closed her eyes.
The scene played out in front of her eyes once again.
They were fighting above a sea. The massive waves were raised and they crashed down into the sea, giving rise to another wave. The wind was howling loudly, the noise enough to damage one's eardrums. Once in a while, fishes were thrown into the air by the enraged winds and tidal waves. The sea had patches of red on it, which were nothing but puddles of blood of the unfortunate sea creatures caught up in the fight. About a kilometer over the water, near the dark clouds, there were eight figures to be seen.
Four of them were close together, afraid to move. That was natural, for they were cornered. Surrounded by a high level cage, there was no escape for them.
"[Wind Conjuration]
[Shit. Fucking Shit.]
This was the only thought Yaleena had in her mind. Every one of them were massively wounded. The only person outside the cage was Kelvin.
"Ahahahahahahah! See? You guys thought you stood a chance? Chance my ass!"
A hysterical laughter resounded, clearly audible despite the raging winds. It belonged to a girl.
"Finish them quickly. We have no time to waste."
A cool, calm yet loud voice entered their ears.
"Guuh... shit... I would've liked to finish these bastards down myself... but I can't. How the hell did these mutts manage to injure me this badly..."
A hoarse voice booming with anger was the last one to be heard.
"Well then... hihihihi... how would you guys like to die? Haha... you seriously think I am gonna give you a choice? Die you fools!
Those who oppose us hunters! [Lightning Conjuration]
O' Majestic thunder, let these impudent rebels face the wrath of the dark sky...
The fact the dedicated mage had to chant before casting a spell, this went to show that they had taken a beating as well.
*Gulp*
Every one of the people trapped in the cage audibly gulped.
They knew it was the end. Lightning enhanced with Astra gave it a special extra effect rather than a power boost. After striking the target, it would cause an explosion. They knew all too well how dangerous it was, since once of their very own team members had utilized multiple times it to overcome many dangerous situations.
As the chant was proceeding...
["Reinard? Can you do anything?"]
Yaleena's voice resounded through the telepathic connection between them.
[Am nearly out of steam. That Mr. Cool would surely intercept my interference if I try to slow down the spell casting. I would be able to cast a
*Tsk*
She audibly clicked her tongue. Mira was unconscious and was currently out of commission.
["Marcun?"]
"The other two are watching like hawks. They are also protected by a strong barrier of wind. In my current condition, I don't think any of my attacks will even scratch them. But I can create a long lasting flash."]
[All we can do is escape... but how do we even escape from this? I have prepared my short distance spatial rift to escape... but that Mr. Cool can detect spells, interfere and debuff. What am I supposed to do in such a situation...]
As she racked her brain for a solution, an idea flashed past her mind. But it was extremely risky.
["Hey..."]
["What?"]
["I have a plan"]
["Again something fucking reckless?"]
Bullseye.
Smiling wryly, Yaleena said ["Yes."]
["I'll ask Kelvin to prepare a
["Good suicidal method. But I think its better to kill ourselves with our own hands rather than give these bastards the satisfaction of landing the finisher."]
["I'm okay with it. At least you came up with something."]
She reported this to Kelvin too, who said.
["Actually I was going to do this even if you didn't tell me."]
["Why you..."]
["Now here it comes!"]
["...!.....!!...."]
Prompted by Kelvin, she finally noticed that Malay had finished chanting the spell. All that conversation took only a few seconds, thanks to [Thought Acceleration].
"Hahaha! Enjoy!"
The dark clouds split apart, revealing a golden crack. Just looking at the crack and the sheer amount of mana and astra it contained was enough to send chills down their spines. It really seemed that they were being punished for angering someone they shouldn't have. The crack slowly enlarged, giving out crackling sounds and tracing golden arcs in the air. After spreading out in the form of a circle just similar to the circular cage they were trapped in, it shot down.