I was sitting in seiza in the training room with my brother, Taylor, sitting across from me. In between us was a white sheathed katana with a crescent moon embedded to the scabbard. A sacred mark. The Crescent Family Cress.
My brother picked up the sword and handed it to me, "Laura, you've trained hard, you deserve to wield a blade of our family."
Excitedly, I grabbed the sword off his hands and admired it. I unsheathed the blade slightly to see the pristine blade, glistening. It was very well maintained, I can see a perfect reflection of my face. Created to be a sword and a channel of magic.
I sheathed the blade back in the scabbard and looked at my brother's proud smile. I bowed my head, "th- thank you."
"Thank yourself, Laura," he said. "Your efforts weren't for naught."
"Of course, I will use it well."
"Let's practice, shall we?"
"Okay," I nodded excitedly.
I stood up, wrapped the rope from the scabbard around my waist and tighten it. The scabbard now won't fall from my hip. I stood in front of my brother who had his blade drawn out. I draw my own blade out and swung it around a bit.
The sound of the blade cutting the air was satisfying, it was swift and near weightless. The blade was so sharp that it could cut you just by looking at it. As least, that's how I liked to think.
"Ready?" Taylor asked.
"Un," I nodded.
Taylor charges forward, swinging down from above. I lifted the blade in a slanted level, blocking and deflecting his blade. I used the flowing motion to pin Taylor's blade on the ground with mine then I lifted my left leg to kick him in his side. He took a few steps back, away from me. He smiles proudly as I grinned mischievously.
Continuing forward, we clashed blades for the next few minutes. I can feel Taylor's joy resonating with mine. His energy increasing my own, this is what sorcerers call Synergy. When two sorcerers synergize, their mana becomes as if one. If the two sorcerers possess different core elements, they can use each others. A light can use dark. A heat can use cold. A light can use heat. A dark can use light.
A week after that day, Taylor and I went to a park around eight p.m. It was quiet and somewhat scary. The atmosphere especially. It was my first ever mission.
We carried our blades and wearing our uniform. My uniform was a white standardized gym clothes that had a turtle neck. I've been using this model for a while. Taylor's was a white suit. Similar to Dan's now that I think about it. The two went with an easy-wash suit that could fit formal and non formal events.
I was holding Taylor's hand as he guided me to the place where the beast was last sighted.
"Taylor-ne-chan?"
"Yes?"
"What level is the beast?"
"It should be a level 6-Normal. Something you're capable of dealing with alone," Taylor replied. "I'm here to make sure you're okay."
"Is level 6 as strong as me?"
"Nope, you are way stronger than a level 6."
At the time, I didn't know. Sorcerers have a certain range of levels of beast they can handle. Level 1-Normal through 6-Normal is for Low-Rank Sorcerers. Level 7-Normal to 20-Normal is for Mid-Rank sorcerers. Level 21-Normal to 45-Normal and Level 1-Maniacal to 12-Maniacal is for High-Rank. Anything above that would require at least two High-Ranking sorcerers.
Supreme-Rank sorcerers are a rank of sorcerers that equal the strength of a hundred High-Rank sorcerers. They're calculated based off the mana wavelength the sorcerer is able to produce after a full release.
Hinora Shino fits the bill. So does Shujin. So did the Dark Kin from over two decades ago.
When Taylor and I reached the place of the mission, we saw a samurai-like figure. It was weird to me, I didn't know there was a statue of a samurai in this park. Or any statue for that matter.
I looked up at Taylor's face, he was puzzled by the figure.
"Laura, can you sense it?" He asked me ominously.
"Sense? The statue?" I tried sensing the statue and it had a wavelength.
The statue wasn't a statue, it was beast. But it looked human. At least, it's figure. It had one eye that was half its head. It glared at me, I seemed captivated by its eye and can't seem to look away.
Everything after that was blurry. All I could remember was that I was panting heavily as I ran, gripping my sword. I heard echoes of a cry and some roaring explosion. I turned back to see where I was, how far I've gone.
But, nothing looks familiar. Even after a hundred meters walking the way back, there wasn't any sights that made me think I was in the same area.
Then a flash of light illuminated the dark city. I turned around to see a man in nearly all white. His name was Hinora Kai. From that day, he took me in. Raised me as his little sister. Daughter was pushing it too far. He doesn't have that paternal care for me.
It was somewhat distant, like a teacher that cared but doesn't really want to get all sappy with how much they actually care.
He asked me for four years straight, "do you want to go back home?"
Each time he asked, each time I answered, "no, I don't."
The beast in front of me now was probably around a level 7-Maniacal. It charges at me with an intense desire to kill.
My legs were shaking, and my right hand gripped tightly at my sword. Yet, all I could do was grip it tighter, I couldn't draw it.
The beast raised its blade and swung downwards to cleave me in half, I simply raised the whole scabbard to block the oncoming attack. The clash of its blade with my scabbard rang a shockwave through my body and disorienting me.
I took a hop backwards as I look down at my undamaged scabbard.
Come on, Laura! I yelled to the coward inside of me. Just pull out that fucking sword!
In an instant, the beast was swinging both its blade from my right, one aimed for my neck, one aimed at my stomach. If its attack had connected, I'd be split not in two, but three!
I draw out the blade and barely blocked the attack.
Sword's out, time to retaliate! I screamed, thinking I was charging in with a battle cry.
Instead, I was taking several steps back, keeping a distance. Every time there was a gap, the beast closed the distance instantly while delivering heavy blows. I can't keep this up.
What would Dan do? He wouldn't be scared, I thought to myself.
In that instant, I really thought about what Dan would do. I turned on my heel and started running away from the beast. Casting amplification to my legs and evading at high speed as if I was a speedster.
On our first mission, he was somewhat ready to die. His second mission, he froze at the sight of people dying. Then he cried when he couldn't save that family, Then the epiphany hits me. He's a bit of a coward, yet he still pushes forward. He keeps fighting no matter what. I'm not like that. He's brave. Unlike me.
The beast started throwing its blade at the speed of bullets. Piercing the wall and they kept coming back to return to its hand.
It's got a blade, I have a blade. But its sheer strength overpowers mine. I can't fight it.
I'm trying to become a person my mom and Sam can be proud of.
Did you really mean that, Dan? Do you think I can change into a person you can be proud of?
I glanced to my left, seeing the beast wind up its hand to throw the blade again. I waited for it to chuck the blade at me. As it did, I pushed off the wall and head-to-head with the blade. I drew my blade and knocked the blade to the far wall. Using the same momentum, I dropped down and directed my blade to its abdomen. Slashing in a downward motion that split open its stomach.
Organs began spilling out of its stomach.
Wait... Beasts don't have organs... I realized. This thing wasn't a full on beast. It's a human turned into a beast. Just like King Corruption from several hundred years ago.
It didn't look hurt, however. It glared at me and began charging at me, a mistake.
"Moon Rush," I uttered as I burst forward with the might of lightning. After reaching the end of the room, I turned around. What I saw was blood spilling from its upper body. Its arm was on the ground.
I felt a joyful sensation as I gasped. I actually managed to hurt it!
The flowing of blood then stopped and forming from abstract flesh was a new arm.
"Fuck," I slurred. "Cut off its head, rig-"
Its fist touching my face before I even manage to process what happened. I slam to the back wall and caved it in. I feel the whole world disappearing as I start to lose consciousness.
I lifted my head to see a blurry figure walking forward, recalling its blade to my hand. I looked over to my hand to see I had dropped my blade.
I'm going to die... I'm done... I can't fight without my sword. Please. I can't die. I'm scared. Dan, please help me... Kai... Taylor, I'm sorry.
The beast leapt forward swinging its blade downward. I shut my eyes and raised my one hand reflexively, thinking it'd protect me.
I heard a loud sound of metal clashing. My arm suddenly feels heavy and I quickly opened my eyes. A white blade was protecting me.
Thank you, I thought. I looked around to think it was Kai. But there was no one there. It was just the beast.
I blocked it?
An epiphany hit me like a truck. I start to gain my focus and I feel a surge of energy around me and within me. I've never felt like this before. I was able to stand with no trouble, not even swaying in my steps.
"Taylor, I believe you now. Should have from the start," I smirked. "We carry blades as mere extensions of ourselves. We are not swordsmen, we are sorcerers," I recited. A philosophy taught at the Crescent family, one I never believed to be true. An easy misconception that might drop people's guard.
The sword in my hand is very identical to the sword my brother gave me. It filled me with energy. The wavelength I was emitting pressured the cave, the beast was reacting to it. Have I got it scared?
"Hey, Beast," I called. "Or whatever you are, I want you to know, I'll be the one killing you," I swore.
I'm shaking all of a sudden. Was I just all talk? I wondered. No, this is exactly how it feels to fulfill a promise.
The beast dashed forward to attack, it was still to fast for me to see. Yet its attack never landed. I felt a dark wavelength pulling it back.
Dan?! I started to feel relief that he's helping me.
The beast was thrown all the way to the back wall. I saw Dan raising his arm, he really is helping me. A few tears of joy fell to the floor as I looked at him with a smile.
Dan struggled to stand up, I wanted to help him up, but I should use this opportunity to kill the beast. Or at least hurt it.
I swung my blade upwards, slashing the air,' "Tsuki no Michishio!" I yelled, sending a wave of electrifying light at the beast. I dashed forward with a grin on my face, I knew Dan was watching, I have to put on a show.
"Moon Rush!" I uttered.
As the wave hit the beast, slamming it back against the wall, I arrived and caving the beast deep into the wall.
The beast was squashed, but not quite dead yet. I don't know how it's so tough. I leapt of the beast and took a few steps back. The beast tried slashing its blade down but a protective barrier blocked it. It's Dan's spell.
"It won't last, Laura," Dan exclaimed. "Be ready to cut its head off!"
"Wakatta!" I answered.
The beast took another swing at the barrier and it shattered it to pieces. As its blade was lowering to the floor, I took a step to the side and slashed downward, cutting its arm off. Losing balance, the beast fell forward. As it bowed, I lifted my blade up, ready to behead this beast swiftly.
It didn't protect itself. I could tell it wasn't. Some sort of barrier deflected my blade. It didn't came from the beast itself. Its mana was foreign.
The arm regrew and hit me in my stomach, throwing me across the cave. I was able to stop myself from crashing into the wall again. I'm tired of these headaches. I'm losing my braincells every time.
"Hey, asshole! You thought I was dead!?" Dan started yelling.
The beast turned to Dan and was about to run. I didn't know what happened, Dan was suddenly behind the beast. In his hand was the beast's head. It wasn't a beheading, he tore off the beast's head off, revealing neck bone and bits of its spine.
"Dan?" I gasped.
Dan drops the beast's head and walks over to me.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Not as good as you, but yeah, I'm okay," he smiled.
"S- Sorry, I couldn't help out. I wa- scared and I didn't know what to do I froze I-"
He suddenly raised his hand and placed it atop my head, petting my head gently. His smile was wide and he starts to chuckle a little bit, "you did great, Laura."
A blush burned all over my face, all the way to my ears. It felt like I was emitting smoke from my skin. My heart pounded loudly.
Did he always look this good? I questioned as I gaze into his blue eyes. Which now I realize had a bit of purple in them.
After a bit, we gather up Volta and Sam into a corner and we now need to wait for help. We can check on the others but we were very tired as we couldn't walk.
And to our luck, the bad guys arrived.
Shujin, Ri, the man with fire, Cryo, the weird looking girl, and Terry Terror.
We barely managed to make it out alive against that beast, there's no way we can deal with these people.
Shujin approached us from afar slowly whilst applauding, "omedetou, show ga owarida!"
"Nanda iritai?" I asked.
"A party," Shujin replied.
"What fucking party?" Dan asked angrily.
"yasashi mono to warui mono, kiero," Shujin replied, he's being vague on purpose.
"What, just chaos?" Dan asked.
"Souda, souda," Shujin nodded.
"I don't believe you," Dan replied.
"Believe what you will, Daniel. Omae mo kieru ne."
Omedetou, show ga owarida = Congrats, show's over
Nanda iritai = What the hell do you want?
Yasashi mono to warui mono, kiero = Good and bad, vanish
Souda = Yes
Omae mo kieru ne = You'll disappear too
What does Shujin want? Chaos cannot be it. He doesn't need to go through all of this if he wanted it. He alone can cause chaos. He alone can challenge the sorcery world.
Dan and I braced ourselves for a potential confrontation. The weird lady suddenly moved in front of Cryo and held out a shield. In a flash of light, a bursting lighting came and striked.
The fastest sorcerer at his top speed strikes.
How did she see that coming? I wondered.
Kai was able to push back the woman along with Cryo. But Shujin wanted to interfere. I gripped my blade tighter, ready to support him in some way.
Shujin was suddenly encased in an ice box. So was the man with fire and Ri.
Shujin and the man with fire broke out of the case immediately while Ri didn't seem to react yet. Cathy appeared out of thin air and punched the ice box. Ri's face was split apart and he plummets to the far wall.
"Boys, I'm killing you two," Cathy said in a monotone voice.
A wheel of water circulating behind her back. It emits an intense and overwhelming wavelength, yet she emitted none.
"Freeze," she uttered. Freezing Shujin and the man with fire instantly.
Cathy went to land a punch at the man's abdomen and knocked him out of his frozen state. The man tumbled on the floor as he coughed up blood.
Shujin broke out and created an orb of black and white light mixing with each other and shot it at Cathy. Cathy steps to the side and the blast missed completely. As Cathy was trying to continue with the man on the floor, he already disappeared. Shujin gave him an opening to escape.
"John, Shift, Ri, live to fight another day, would you?" Shujin yelled out.
He didn't mention Terry, but apparently he had already left the moment Kai showed up.
The woman grabbed ahold of Cryo and disappeared to light. Ri was also no longer there. They all had teleported away.
"You hesitated, Mcarthy," Shujin teased.
"No, I just wanted to kill you."
"Oh, I'm sure you can. But that's not how this story plays out."
"I write my own book," Cathy said.
She snapped her fingers and enveloped Shujin in a huge ball of water, Shujin didn't seem to be panicking. I guess he doesn't die from drowning either.
"Annihilation Barrage: Ice," Cathy uttered.
From every direction, a blade of ice appeared. I can eyeball about three-hundred of them. In a single second, they all shot towards Shujin twenty-five times. That's seven-thousand-five-hundred blades in a single second.
It created an intense mist that quickly subsided. Shujin was already gone by that point.