Freedom

Unfazed by the tension crackling in the air, Isadora continues her odd performance, balancing her sword in one hand and her coconut in the other. Her slurping fills the clearing, "sluuurp... sluuurp... sluuurp..." It's a bizarre contrast to the impending confrontation, rendering the scene almost surreal.

Johnny raises an eyebrow in bemusement. 'This kid is weird, she hasn't shown any form of fear or weakness. The other girl is in a constant state of wariness but this one... is strange,' he muses, intrigued yet unnerved by her calm. With a smirk, he steps forward, "Hmhmhm, I'm going to en—" but finds himself interrupted by the relentless "sluuurp... sluuurp... sluuurp..." of Isadora's drinking.

Growing visibly frustrated, he clenches his fist, pausing to let her finish. When the slurping momentarily ceases, he attempts to assert his threat, "Oh, now you've done it, kid, I—" only to be cut off once more by the maddening sound. He exhales sharply, his patience wearing thin, and in a swift motion he cuts the coconut in half, "You got balls, kid."

Arming himself with aura, Johnny charges at Isadora, determined to make her regret her nonchalance. 'I'm going to enjoy breaking her,' he thinks, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

Isadora coats her legs in aura and deftly jumps back, avoiding his initial strike. As Johnny's sword slices towards her shoulder, she twists her body away, the movement fluid and calculated. It's clear she's treating this dangerous exchange as another form of training.

Johnny's frustration mounts as he realizes Isadora's refusal to take him seriously. Knitting his eyebrows in anger, he snaps, "Do you think this is a game!?" 'Kids shouldn't be this strong.'

Isadora twists her body like a serpent, her gaze fixed intently on Johnny's movements as she evades his relentless attacks. Despite the intensity of the situation, she blinks calmly. Johnny clicks his tongue in annoyance. "You fucking kids and your top-of-the-line training," he sneers, pointing his sword accusingly at Isadora. "You get all your resources and specialized training and easily get strong while the rest of us risk our lives every day for a shred of knowledge." 

In her mind, Isadora's thoughts turn to Kael. A simple, yet firm "no," devoid of any inflection, escapes her lips as images of Kael flash before her. 'He doesn't have specialized training,' she reflects, picturing him diligently working. Another vision of Kael buying his own equipment solidifies her conviction. She nods to herself, an internal agreement reached without a word spoken aloud.

Johnny raises an eyebrow, his skepticism palpable. "You look like a noble girl. You don't know shit," he asserts, his voice dripping with disdain.

Meanwhile, Sera executes a nimble backflip, landing with a grace that belies the urgency of the moment. She pushes off the ground with her hand, narrowly avoiding an attack and positioning herself beside Isadora. "There's no point in talking to her," Sera states bluntly, her eyes not leaving their adversaries.

As Johnny's strike comes, Isadora intervenes, blocking the blow meant for Sera and simultaneously repelling Billy. "Fuck, that hurt my wrist," Billy groans, nursing his injury.

Sera raises her sword, her stance unwavering. "It's true that you need money to get great training. I was lucky a friend sponsored me," she admits coldly, her gaze fixed on Johnny. "However, no matter how tough life is, becoming a criminal is no different than giving up on yourself," she declares, her words slicing through the air with the precision of her sword.

Johnny and Billy burst into laughter, the sound harsh and mocking. "Hahahahahaha. You damn kids don't know shit," they retort, their amusement tinged with bitterness.

The clearing becomes a cacophony of metal clashing against metal, "Clang! Clang! Woosh!" Each collision sends a shockwave rippling through the air, the force palpable. Amidst the chaos, Sera deftly dodges an incoming strike, her body swaying back in a dance of war. In a fluid motion, she lifts her foot and sends a kick straight into Billy's face, the impact resounding with a satisfying "Thud!"

Isadora, seizing her moment, counters Johnny's offensive with a swift attempt to slice at his leg. But Johnny, ever the seasoned fighter, channels his aura into his limb, creating an impregnable shield. The moment her blade makes contact, it bounces off with a "Clang!" In that split second of recoil, Johnny lands a heavy punch to Isadora's gut, sending her spiraling backward with a "Whoosh!"

With smirks plastered on their faces, Johnny and Billy advance towards Isadora. "You kids lack experience," Billy taunts, his voice laced with smugness.

From her position, Sera takes a deep breath and conjures several magical shields around Isadora. Twisting and turning in mid-air, Isadora utilizes the shields to maneuver around the battlefield, creating a ballet of evasion as Johnny and Billy's blades slice through the air where she was moments before.

Meanwhile, Sera's stance shifts as she invokes the power of the wind. The air around her feet stirs, and with a burst of speed propelled by wind enhancements, she rushes forward, parrying and weaving through the duo's attacks.

In the heat of the conflict, a calm blink betrays another intrusion into Isadora's thoughts. Kael's image materializes, his presence as vivid as if he were standing right beside her. "Hey, stop following me everywhere," he says, his tone a mix of annoyance and amusement. He hands her a coconut, his advice clear, "If you want to train with someone, why don't you train with Sera? She's pretty cool, you know. I bet you two would be good friends." His words echo in her mind, providing an unexpected source of comfort amidst the turmoil.

Isadora's usual vigilance over her classmates flickers in her consciousness. While she generally feels a duty to look out for them, even those she doesn't particularly favor, her feelings towards Sera differ. Memories of their confrontation in the arena at the school year's start surface, she didn't go all out, but she understands that she had the advantage during their duel. Nodding to herself, she realizes she doesn't feel the need to watch over Sera.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

-One day ago

Beneath the lush verdancy of the elven lands, hidden from the world's forgiving light, lies a prison shrouded in darkness. The walls, imbued with enchanted seals, hum softly, a haunting lullaby to those contained within. Laughter cuts through the oppressive gloom. "It's almost time~ hahahahahahaha," echoes a voice, manic and unhinged. Another joins, the excitement palpable, "I've been waiting for this day~ This is why I love the elven kingdom, all I have to do is kill a couple of kids and I'm free!" The cells begin to rattle, an orchestra of anticipation as the inmates shake their bars, each clamor a testament to their frenzied eagerness.

Deeper within this subterranean labyrinth, where the air grows colder and the darkness more profound, stands a hooded elf. His eyes, a mere glimpse beneath the shadow of his hood, survey the occupants of a more secluded cell. "You four want to get out, right?" he inquires, voice smooth as silk yet cold as the stone surrounding them.

A man sprawled across the floor, his short spiky purple hair a stark contrast against the dim, looks up with eyes as blue as the clearest sky. "Fuck off, elf. No one wants to hear your shit," he retorts, his disdain as palpable as the chill in the air.

The elf's lips curl into a smirk, unfazed by the hostility. "You're all ranked higher than the permitted rank. You won't be able to join the hunt, but I can get you all in there," he offers, the temptation clear in his voice. "All I need is for you to do me a favor once you're in the forest."

Another prisoner, a demi-human with fur-lined ears and a long, expressive tail, rises and approaches the bars. His grey ears flick, signaling his interest. "Oh, you sick fuck. I thought elves didn't engage in cheating," he chides, cleaning his canines with a casual flick of his finger.

Unperturbed, the hooded elf tosses a picture into the cell. "This is different. This time around, humans were invited. All I need from you is to grab the elf you see there and kill this human in front of her. And you cannot kill the elf whatsoever. However, feel free to kill all the humans," he explains, his instructions as chilling as the environment they inhabit.

From the shadows of the cell, a figure moves. A woman, adorned with nothing but her long dark brown hair and light pink eyes, approaches. She exudes a calm, dangerous beauty, her steps measured and deliberate. Kicking the demi-human aside with disdain, she examines the pictures with her feet, a smirk playing on her lips. "I accept," she declares, her voice carrying a cold, malicious edge.

The elf's gaze shifts to the back of the cell, where a man with black hair shrouding his face has remained silent until now. The other prisoners turn, curiosity and a hint of respect coloring their gaze. "Hey, new guy, what do you say?" prompts the purple-haired man, breaking the tense silence.

The man stands, his movements deliberate, shadows still clinging to his form. "Get me my stuff, and I'll gladly join," he states, his voice a blend of resolve and anticipation.

-

The four figures materialize in the heart of a dense forest, the abrupt transition from darkness to the vibrant hues of nature marking their entrance into a new battleground. The woman, embracing the sunlight as if greeting a long-lost friend, takes a deep, soulful breath. "Aough..." she moans trembling, the sound laced with a mix of satisfaction and relief. "I can't remember the last time I saw the light," she confesses, stretching her hand towards the sun, as if trying to capture its warmth.

Beside her, the demi-human's lips part in a sly grin, his dark gray hair streaked with white dancing in the gentle breeze. His ears, sharp and attentive, flick at the sounds of the forest. Casually, he approaches a tree and, with effortless strength, punches a hole straight through it. "Hmhmhmhmhahahaha, these elves are no different than humans." 

The man adorned in the prison's drab attire, a stark contrast to the vibrant forest around him, yawns widely, stretching his limbs as if shedding the confines of his former cell. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he announces, "Time for introductions. I'm Zelo." 

Turning to face the others, the woman, draped only in an oversized long pink shirt that does little to conceal her form, introduces herself with a confident smirk. "I'm Nia," she states, her voice carrying a tone of undisguised amusement and menace.

The demi-human cracks his neck audibly, his shirtless form showcasing his muscular, stone-like dark brown physique. "I'm Rionhet. But you can call me Ri," he says, the casual flick of his tail underscoring his nonchalant attitude.

Their gazes then shift to the final member of their motley crew, a man shrouded in mystery, his black eyes meeting theirs with an unreadable expression. Clad in leather, he stands apart, a silent observer up until now. With a slight smirk, he breaks his silence, "I got no name."

Nia tilts her head, a playful yet contemplative gesture, as she taps her lip with a slender finger. With a sly smile spreading across her lips, she muses, "But everyone has a name, darling." Her movement is fluid as she glides past a tree only to reappear behind the nameless man. Leaning in, her breath a whisper against his ear, she teases, "You're quite handsome." However, in the midst of her flirtatious antics, she finds herself unexpectedly inverted, her world quite literally turned upside down. "Huh?" she utters, blinking in surprise, a momentary lapse of her usual poise as she thinks, 'When did I get on the ground?'

The man, unfazed by Nia's proximity and antics, lets out a nonchalant whistle. "Let's find these humans," he suggests, his focus shifting from the peculiar dynamics of their group to the task at hand.

Ri, with a deep inhale, takes command of their direction. "The girl he mentioned, I can smell her west," he declares, discarding a piece of fabric he'd been holding—a fragment imbued with the scent they were to follow. His senses, sharp and unerring, guide their mission with an animalistic precision.

Nia rights herself, standing tall and unbothered by her recent disorientation. She approaches Ri with a chirpy, "Yay! What a good tracking dog~" Her hand reaches out to pat his head in a mockingly affectionate gesture.

Ri's reaction is swift, his arm flicking towards her in a swift, powerful motion. Nia, with the agility of a cat, twists her body, narrowly evading his attempted strike. The force behind his move is so immense that when his arm meets only air, the shockwave that follows causes the nearby trees to splinter and crack. "Oh~ Not bad~"