Chapter 17 - CHAPTER 16: MEMORIES

"This just in, the elite Mana Academy has been reported to be occupied by a mana beast... this is—"

The TV abruptly shut off, and the room fell silent. The woman's hands shook vigorously as she clutched the phone to her ear, her knuckles white from the strain. Her breath hitched, the rising panic in her chest almost too much to bear.

The line cut off, leaving her in a deafening silence. She slowly put the phone down, her hands trembling uncontrollably. It revealed her tear-streaked face, the anguish etched into every line. This was Yonu's mother.

"Yonu... please be safe," she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the phone in her lap. She clutched it as if it were a lifeline, her whole body wracked with silent sobs, her heart heavy with fear and despair.

. . . (Few Weeks Ago) . . .

"Territory: Ice Palace."

"Earthen Sinkhole," Kazami declared, stomping his foot. Instantly, the quickly forming ice cracked, revealing a gaping void beneath. The fragile ice palace shattered and cascaded into the abyss. As Arashi plummeted, a strong hand grabbed him, pulling him back onto a floating rock.

"What are you doing?" Arashi demanded, breathless from the fall.

"I'm not here to win, just to see my positioning," Kazami replied calmly, guiding the rock back to solid ground where a stream flowed gently nearby.

"Shall we continue?"

. . .

"In the end, there was nothing I could do. The Quon-specific techniques were insane," Arashi sighed, frustration evident in their voice.

"Perhaps we haven't faced such a strong earth manacian before—sorry, Shijin and Magi, but…"

"No, I understand," Shijin replied, shaking his head. "From what I can see, it's overwhelming. I'd also like to know more about this field skill."

"It seems to have control similar to a territory but without the same restrictions. This Kinetic Fortress, for example, is a Field. It allows people to control their mana freely within the zones despite the field controller having a much larger range of control over what happens in that area, potentially trapping others. Conversely, a territory not only traps the person but also restricts their ability to use mana within it."

"I see... so it's a less mana-intensive territory that's also less deadly," another mused.

"Pretty much…"

"Even so, this is insane." They looked up and around at their majestic surroundings, where boxes moved systematically. The walls began to retract, reshaping the room.

"Magi, Shijin," one of them called out.

"On it," they responded, extending their hands to halt the walls' upward movement, but their efforts were futile.

"The messed-up person or people doing this have an immense mana pool… insane," Warabi muttered.

They watched the last sliver of light disappear before darkness enveloped them again, and the rooms began to separate once more.

. . .

We zoom into room after room, observing groups of students struggling for their lives, desperately trying to survive against a single member of the formidable Quon family. The air is thick with fear and tension. Many have already perished, their bodies reminders of the stakes at hand. Yet, those who remain continue to fight, driven by the primal instinct to improve, get better, and ultimately survive.

The students' mastery of their elements has grown exponentially under this relentless pressure. Their mana pools and regeneration capabilities have been stretched to their absolute limits. In this dire situation, the remaining students and teachers have forged a bond of mutual reliance, each one a crucial cog in the machinery of survival. Groups have encountered one another and traded members to optimize their chances. Ensuring each group has a water manacian for hydration and a fire manacian for illumination and warmth has become a strategic necessity.

It has been 72 gruelling hours since they were trapped within these unforgiving rooms. Exhaustion is etched into their faces, but the fight has only intensified. The initial 72 hours, though brutal, now seem like a distant "honeymoon period" compared to what they face next.

Now, 48 hours after the entry of the Subjugation team, the atmosphere has become even more charged. The surviving students are on edge, their senses heightened.

Soon, our main characters will encounter each other, but their meeting far from pleasant. The stakes are higher, the danger more palpable, and the resolve of each individual is tested to its breaking point. This encounter, born out of desperation and necessity, will reshape their perceptions and challenge their endurance in ways they never imagined.

. . .

"Secretary Gaeun, we cannot communicate with the outside… the mana in the walls is jamming the signals."

"HAISSS… FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK." Gaeun kicked the wall in frustration. They stood beneath the constantly shifting blocks, their makeshift HQ camp a substantial distance from where the beast lurked. They had visual contact with the beast, but every attempt to destroy the blocks had failed. Even earth manacians attempting the minister's method met with no success. Occasionally, the blocks were sliced in half from the inside, providing fleeting glimpses of the trapped students before sealing shut again.

"The blocks are designed to be impenetrable from the outside and seal up so quickly that escaping from the inside is practically impossible… and this beast has been at it for 72 hours…" Gaeun muttered, sinking into her chair.

She rubbed her eyes, trying to fight off the overwhelming fatigue. She hadn't slept in days, driven by the relentless need to rescue the students and meet the minister's expectations. But the physical and mental exhaustion was catching up with her.

"Any updates on the beast?" she asked, her voice strained.

"No… it's doing what it usually does. It's still sleeping."

"Alright then… we'll continue to prioritize the students for now. I want suggestions, ways that we can get them out quickly," she ordered, her tone betraying her desperation.

"Yes, Ma'am," came the reply, the team just as weary but determined.

Gaeun's mind raced as she listened to the others. The weight of the situation pressed down on her. The students' lives, the minister's hopes, and the seemingly insurmountable challenge of breaching the blocks all compounded her stress. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a sinking dread. Failure was not an option, but the path to success seemed impossibly narrow.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The fate of the students depended on her ability to stay focused and find a solution. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of hope or inspiration. Each passing second felt like an eternity, the urgency of the situation gnawing at her sanity.

"Think, Gaeun, think," she whispered to herself, fighting the crushing weight of exhaustion and stress that threatened to overwhelm her.

. . .

Boom

The room shook violently, a sensation they had grown accustomed to. Everyone rose to their feet, assuming their defensive positions. However, this time, the figure before them was not a member of the Quon family.

"Vice Captain!" Mizu called out urgently.

While Ran observed cautiously from the sidelines, Gino, Mizu, and Jun hurried over. Mr. Kim regained his composure after the tremor subsided.

"Good to see you all," he greeted, his tone serious and focused.

"I hate to dampen the mood, Hyun, but are you proficient in blood manipulation?" Mr. Kim inquired, his gaze shifting to Furata's unconscious form.

"It isn't really my strong suit," Hyun admitted.

Mr. Kim nodded, turning back to Furata.

"This is the renowned water manacian?" Hyun asked.

"Yes, typically, he could control any bleeding, but he pushed too hard during our match and lost consciousness," Mr. Kim explained, concern etched on his face.

"We barely survived; the blood sphere he created nearly overwhelmed us. We were fortunate to encounter Mr. Kim early on; his blood control techniques saved us," Ran interjected.

"I'm not as skilled in that area," Mr. Kim confessed.

"We'll rotate, keep his blood circulating. Can you breach the wall? Evacuation is urgent," Mr Kim pressed, his voice urgent.

"I've breached walls before, but here's the issue: outside is a void, and the structures are demolished," Hyun mentioned grimly, shaking his head.

"You've endured alone all this time?" Gino asked,

"I got lucky haha…" Hyun gave a forced laugh

"I don't care; we must evacuate Inio Furata," Mr Kim insisted firmly.

"Even if I breach the wall, there's nothing beyond but more enclosures. We're trapped," Hyun lamented, his frustration palpable.

"Damn it."

. . .

"Guys..." Kana uttered as she stood upright. The wall creaked dreadfully as it lowered. The group, bearing blood stains, bruises, and torn shirts, rose to their feet. Yunosuke readied his weapons, twin daggers gleaming, while Fuji assumed a defensive stance.

However, as the wall descended, they were greeted by familiar faces.

'Hino Kana?' I murmured, lowering my bloodied fists.

'Yunosuke! Fuji!!!' I rushed over and embraced them tightly. They returned the gesture with equal enthusiasm.

"Oh my God, you're alright… I almost thought everyone else was gone…"

"Captain."

"Kana. It's good to have you back," Yatagarasu said warmly.

"Same to you," Kana replied quietly.

'Haha, why don't we all gather in one room?' I suggested.

"Why not!" Jin stepped forward.

"Sure, it works better for me, too," Kazami stated.

'Guys, this is Kazami Quon.'

"Quon?" Kana muttered.

"Yes, I'm from the Quon family. And this... predicament... is my fault."

"Huh?" They all exclaimed.

"I'll explain."

. . .

"I still can't believe how you figured it out," Kana said as she played with the orange orb in her fingers.

'It's a coincidence, I swear haha!' I scratched my head, 'I just wanted to absorb the pill faster so I could go back to the fight. I didn't think it would enhance my physical capabilities as well…'

"Well! Now that you've created it, what will you name the skill, Mr. Founder?"

'Hmmm…' We were both reclining against the wall, gazing up at our ceiling illuminated by the flames. I inadvertently touched her hand as I settled it back beside me.

"Apologies," we both withdrew our hands and exchanged a brief glance. In the flickering light of the flames, our faces hinted at a shared moment of surprise.

'Yeah, uh… Ignition Pill?'

"Holy… that's a good name," she said with a nod, and we resumed our relaxed positions. "Anyway, I still can't believe our whole predicament is because of Kazami…"

'Same… in fact, this whole situation still feels surreal to me.'

"Talk about it... we've seen countless people die... and many more dead before we can even try to save them... I can't, I can't begin to fathom how weak I am..." A tear flowed down her cheek.

"I tried my best to help and save them, but... I just couldn't overpower the Quons... AHHHH!!!" She smashed the floor, her fist shaking from the painful impact. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, hoping to provide any solace. 

'It's okay... we aren't invincible... you know, in a twist of fate... I wouldn't even be here... I'm only here because my mother decided to enrol me in this school, and she thought it would be nice to get into a prestigious school. When, in fact, I could be back in the countryside, helping my parents with their shop... the cicadas crying as that nostalgic summer warmth beamed down as I sat outside the store..." A tear rolled down my eyes as well as I thought of my family and the inevitable fact that we might not make it out of this alive.

"Tell me more." She got back up and said, rubbing her eyes and cheek dry, "Keep me entertained." She broke into an ugly smile.

'Haha... I was in Yamanashi, living in a slightly big town that is very close to Wizma's borders. I went to middle school there with all my friends and whatnot. I awakened early in my life, always using my fire in school with no good reason. Haha... I remember every time the school bell rang and the countless screams of children echoed through the perhaps 1.5-meter-wide corridor, my friends and I would stay back and play card games on the wooden table. Curtains waved in the wind as we laughed on and off. I have played with fire in the school science lab, experimenting with heating random liquids and almost causing explosions. Maybe after this, I'll go back to see them...' I muttered.

"Haha... sounds nice! I spent my earlier days just training... My family is one of the top four, as you know, so I had an expectation to meet. I was able to graduate at the top of the school and comfortably get a job as a mana beast Subjugator. Of course, I never really wanted all that... I just wanted to have fun! Your life would've been what I always wanted, but... all I got was training and studying... I mostly played with my siblings... Yeah, 2 of them. I have a brother and another younger sister. Both are infinitely more talented than me."

'Oh come, you are quite talented yourself!'

"Haha... well sure... as talented as a fire manacian can be, haha... except not as good as my siblings... besides, I'm not even as good as you!" She shook my shoulder, "So what are you on about!!!" She pouted. Cute...

'Haha... the Ignition Pill was a coincidence!' I said, smiling. She grasped the pill with her fingers.

"Then how about the fact your flames are not orange?"

'I just... okay, I mean for that, I really tried to get inspiration from water manacians. I asked my friends how they changed the states of their water, and it seemed that it was through imagining the changes at the atomic level. So, I tried it out, and it worked. But it required a lot of effort at first, then that high temperature slowly became the default temperature, and so it became that. At first, I always thought that I had to pour a lot more mana, but apparently not...'

"Atomic-level, huh... that's some mad control."

'No no just some imagination trust me!! uh... how about this!' I formed a blue fireball and passed it over to her, floating above her palm.

"...Oh, the atoms are so much faster... how did you make a flame and suddenly have that temperature..."

'I started low and went high. But remember to regulate the mana supplied, as too much mana might just result in... well, boom.'

"Haha... thanks... For cheering me up." She punched my shoulder as a gesture.

'No problem...' I punched back on her shoulder, but the truth is I'm still trying to cope with the situation, and I'm barely hanging on…

'Also, can I ask...? What's the tattoo on your forearm?'

"This is the official Hino Family mark. For the Hino Family move... which I cannot do as it involves setting up a territory... The other one is a move that's quite devastating... I can do the move but it requires so much mana."

'I can't imagine a fire manacian's territory, haha!' I laughed to myself.

"Well, it's all passed down in my generation. And unfortunately, I can't reveal it to anyone! Unless you're part of the family."

'Oh... I thought the eye tattoo was one too.'

"Oh, it is, but the eye tattoo is for born Hino members. The hand tattoo is for family members in general such as husbands and wives... so! Want the tattoos? You can become a part of our family!"

'Haha! How? Sign me up now! Haha!' But she suddenly blushed. She is pretty cute; the menacing forearm tattoos juxtapose her adorable appearance. 

'Alright alright I'm kidding.'

"Mean... besides, it's not that easy actually! Must be a fire manacian and someone acknowledged by the family members."

'Wow, so they must go through a meeting with the parent's session.'

"Essentially, haha!"

"Ay guys, another room is coming; get ready," Kazami says as he senses another.

We both stood up alongside the many others. Now we have Kazami, Jin, Yatagarasu, Me, Kana, Yunosuke, and Fuji. I honestly don't think it is possible to lose this...

Boom

The same old sound once again.

###