"Lyra!" Issac exclaimed, his voice filled with horror as he saw her lifeless body. "I can't hear a heartbeat... This is my fault. I should have watched her every move. Now she's done this."
Lyra immediately snapped out of it, her fingernails transforming into sharp claws. With a swift movement, she lunged at Issac. He barely managed to dodge her attack, a deep gash appearing on the wall behind him.
"How did she..." Issac muttered, astonished by the sudden transformation. Before he could finish his thought, Lyra launched another attack, three crimson claws slicing through the air. Issac sidestepped, but one of the claws grazed his hand, drawing blood.
"Damn it!" he cursed, his arm throbbing. "I have no choice. Kentsu, first stage!"
*******************************
Aiden entered the healer's ward, his heart heavy with concern. He spotted Pelia sitting beside Peter's bed, her eyes red and puffy.
"Hey," Pelia greeted him, her voice barely a whisper.
"How is he?" Aiden asked, his voice filled with worry.
"He's stable for now, thanks to Mr. Ironheart," Pelia replied.
"Did he find out what caused Peter's outburst? I mean, the mark... what did he say?" Aiden pressed.
"Lady Lagertha said it was Lyra who implanted the mark," Pelia explained, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Lady Lagertha? Wait, that was the reason she came here?" Aiden asked, his mind racing.
Pelia nodded.
Aiden couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I heard she couldn't control herself, her abilities. If this keeps happening, she might kill an innocent person," Pelia said, her voice filled with fear.
Aiden reassured her, "No, don't talk like that. She'll learn to control herself. She's in one of the best academies in the kingdom."
Pelia nodded, but her eyes remained filled with worry. She knew the stakes were high, and Lyra's future hung in the balance.
As the silence stretched between them, Aiden couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. He knew that he had to do something to help Lyra, but he wasn't sure where to start.
"You're not going back to the training hall?" Pelia asked, surprised.
"No, I want to look out for Peter," Aiden replied.
"Why? You guys aren't that close," Pelia questioned.
"He's my friend," Aiden said simply. "Friends look out for each other."
"Friends, huh? We barely had one back in Witherlands. My father was the only companion we had," Pelia explained, her voice filled with sadness.
"Your father? What about your mother? Did she..." Aiden began, but he trailed off, realizing he had crossed a line.
"She died after our birth," Pelia said, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up," Aiden apologized, feeling guilty.
"No, no, it's fine," Pelia said, wiping away her tears.
Aiden wanted to ask about her father and their life in Witherlands, but he decided to hold back.
"Hey, I want you to do something for me," Pelia said, changing the subject.
"What is it?" Aiden asked.
"Protect him," she replied, gesturing towards Peter. "He likes taking stupid risks."
"I don't think I can..." Aiden began, but he was interrupted by a sudden rumbling.
The academy began to shake violently.
"Is that an earthquake?" Pelia asked, his voice filled with alarm.
"No, Aiden replied. "It's something else."
**************************
Five lines of white energy erupted from Isaac's fingertips as he activated the first stage of Kentsu. He clenched his fist, preparing to strike.
Lyra, her eyes glowing an ominous red, was enveloped in a dark aura. Five menacing tentacles emerged from her body, writhing and twisting in the air.
A clash of light and darkness ensued. Isaac's white energy met Lyra's dark tendrils, a battle of wills and power. The room shook as their forces collided, a silent testament to the intensity of their confrontation.
Isaac, bracing himself, reached out to grab one of the tendrils. The moment his skin touched the inky blackness, a jolt of pain shot through his arm. He quickly retracted his hand, his eyes widening in surprise.
Seizing the opportunity, Lyra lunged at him, her claws extended. Isaac, agile and swift, dodged the attack, leaping backward. As he soared through the air, he channeled Kentsu into his feet, propelling himself further away from Lyra's reach.
Lyra, undeterred, launched three tendrils at the airborne Isaac. With a swift motion, Isaac activated the second stage and slashed through them, his hands glowing with Kentsu energy. He landed gracefully on the ground, his eyes locked on Lyra.
"If I end up going all out, she will die in the process," Isaac thought to himself. He couldn't risk using the third stage of Kentsu; the power unleashed would be devastating, potentially killing Lyra. He needed to find a way to subdue her without resorting to such drastic measures.
He focused his energy, channeling Kentsu into his arms and legs. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his movements a blur. He aimed a powerful strike at Lyra, hoping to disable her without causing fatal harm.
Lyra managed to dodge the attack, but she wasn't unscathed. A deep cut marred her shoulder, a testament to Isaac's strength. However, her body began to heal almost instantly, the wound closing rapidly. She took a few steps back, her eyes glowing a sinister red.
Raising her left hand, she began to channel a dark energy. A small, glowing red orb formed in her palm, steadily growing larger and more menacing. Isaac's eyes widened in alarm. He knew that this was a dangerous move, a desperate gamble.
He charged forward, his Kentsu energy surging through his veins. But before he could reach Lyra, she unleashed the orb of darkness. It hurtled towards him, growing larger with each passing moment. Isaac braced himself, preparing to meet the oncoming attack.
Isaac, bracing himself, absorbed the full force of the red orb. His clothes were slightly singed, but otherwise unharmed.
"She got stronger..." Isaac muttered, his eyes narrowed. Lyra, undeterred, raised her hand once more, ready to unleash another attack. But before she could, Isaac closed the distance between them, delivering a powerful punch to her stomach. The impact sent Lyra flying, crashing into a nearby wall.
Issac wanted to move but he stopped in his tracks.
"Wait a minute... The tentacles!" Isaac exclaimed, his eyes widening in realization. "I cut three of them. Now there are only two. It's slowly regenerating. This is it. If I cut the remaining tentacles, I can knock her out."
With a burst of speed, Isaac charged towards Lyra. She was still reeling from the impact of his punch, trying to regain her footing. He managed to cut through the remaining tentacles, leaving Lyra vulnerable.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Isaac delivered a powerful blow, knocking Lyra unconscious. As he stood over her defeated form, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and exhaustion.
"I won," he breathed heavily, relief washing over him. He had managed to defeat Lyra without resorting to the destructive power of Kentsu's third stage.