9 Something Never Before Seen
"You're here," upon returning to the academy they went their own ways and Raven went to the physical training area.
"You're done with your errands?" Eureka asked as she put back her sword in its sheath.
"Yeah, it was not something that would take us a lot of time," he replied as he unsheathed his own sword.
"Let's go for a round," he then said.
She unsheathed her sword once again to spar with him.
"The guys are curious about your past," he said as he blocks her attack.
"But I suppose I have the answer already. No matter who asks about it you wouldn't reply."
"Aren't you curious?" Eureka asked.
"How about you, not curious about what happened last night?" he asked in return.
"The girls are," she answered parrying another attack from him.
"I am asking you," he repeated.
"Why are ou all asking if I am urious or not? In the end, I am no asking any question about it. Doesn't that answer everything? It won't affect me why would I bother?" she asked with a bit of irritation in her tone.
Raven noticed this but ony shook his head.
"That is also my answer," he then said pertaining to her question if he was not curious.
"It wouldn't affect me whether I found out or not so why bother?" he added.
Eureka's movement momentarily stopped something Raven did not notice.
'I wonder if you really won't be affected though.'
She thought as they continue sparring with each other.
*****
Having only a week left before the finals.
"So how are we going to fight against Kyro's group? Looking at their members they have the same ability construction as us except their sixth is a fire ability user," Feena started.
"Looking at the mechanics, it says here that there would be two tandem battle and two individual battles," Mamoru read the mechanics to the others.
First will be two individual battles then two tandem battles.
Winning an individual battle will grant you 1 point while 2 points for the tandem battle.
But if only one person remains after the tandem battle then a point will be granted to the losing team. So there could be a tie when a group won 2 individual battle but lost one tandem battle and lost one person on another.
Another individual battle will determine the winner.
"Kinda complicated, so who will be on the tandem and who will be on the individual?" Hideyoshi asked.
They all looked at Raven.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Raven."
They all wanted to roll their eyes when Kyro walked towards them.
"Well, well, well, small world to meet the scaredy cat group," Karen mockingly replied.
"Tsk I'm not talking to you," snubbing Karen he then faced Raven handing a piece of paper to him.
"This will be our arrangement, I really do want to fight against you so I'm giving it in advance."
"I won't be on the individual battle," Raven plainly said while looking at the paper.
"That can't be. Who will you tandem with?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Seriously, I really do want to battle against you. I'm taking my revenge on you in this battle," Kyro seriously announced.
He was speaking as if Raven must take his revenge.
"I-"
"Why don't you just exchange with one of your team members? I'll be Raven's partner. If you insist that you want to battle him shouldn't you be the one compromising?"
Before Raven could answer, Eureka butted in.
"You? How funny. You may have won against the other six but let me tell you they were nothing. They're just insects," Kyro scoffed hearing what she had said.
"If that's what you want then so be it. You can just battle one of our members. You see our captain is very very stubborn. Once he makes his decision he won't change it no matter what," Eureka continued.
Kyro's face darken.
"Fine, Suzuki exchange with me," he said finally relenting and facing his member.
"Then see you on stage," after saying so he leads his group away from where the others are.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Feena couldn't stop but shout at Eureka who didn't even ask their opinion.
"Why?" as if she didn't find anything wrong with what she did, she asked calmly.
"Why? You're asking why? You didn't get the leader's permission, you didn't ask the members," Feena felt like pulling her own hair from Eureka's answer.
"And now we have to face their fire element users on two different tandem battle. If it's individual that would be fine, we can lose just one point."
"Why are you saying stuff as if you have no confidence to your own abilities? Saying something like losing from the get-go. Are you trying to lower the spirit of the team?" Eureka retorted as she frowned.
She never expected that this group could be a pessimist.
And she was even more irked that she was shouted at, she indeed did things her own way but it was because she has a plan.
"You-You're impossible," Feena said walking out.
Karen looked at Eureka then followed Feena.
"Did your victory went up to your head?" Hideyoshi said following the girls.
Eureka faced Raven and Mamoru ignoring the fact that three had walked out on her, she was the least bit affected.
"Are you going to walk out without hearing my reason?" she has no qualms even if they do.
"Go on say it. Then we'll decide."
Raven answered her but with a stern voice.
"Looking at their arrangement I know that if he is asked to battle in the tandem he will never be with another fire ability user," she started.
"He has pride on his ability for it being the strongest among the other elements, if he fights alongside one he won't be able to show off. So with that my first plan was set in place when he accepted the condition."
"What plan?" Raven inquired.
"For Feena and Hideyoshi to face the other tandem, the one with another fire ability user."
"Why those two?" they had their brows furrowed.
"Isn't it obvious? They held the water and wind ability. With proper combinations of attack and defense they would be able to weaken the other two and in one swift attack they would be able to defeat them."
She had forgotten that this place wasn't as advance yet.
"Excuse me are we on the same page here? The other team has a fire ability user," Mamoru sarcastically replied.
"Why does it seem like you all don't trust one another?" Eureka exasperatedly said.
She really felt like dealing with children.
"Feena is the strongest water ability user among the graduating class, the others are only half of her. The other fire user was at half the level of Raven," she tried to patiently explain.
"You all have been practicing with Raven and have fought with him, with all these edge. You all still don't believe on yourselves?" she added in a matter of fact tone.
Mamoru was rendered speechless by her retort. And her tone that was filled with disbelief.
"So what is that swift attack you're saying?" Raven butted in and asked this time.
"Something never before seen."
*****
"That was the first time I saw you so out of it Feena," Karen said as the three of them sat beside the lake.
"Because she knows why Raven said he'd be in tandem battle after seeing where Kyro would be. She was indifferent but I didn't expect that she would be insensitive," she said in disbelief.
"And what is she planning? Letting two fire ability user fight in the tandem battles? Is she throwing our game?" she added in exasperation.
"I think she knows it too well that's why she wanted me to fight against Kyro in that tandem battle," Raven and Mamoru walked towards them.
Raven looked at each of them before sighing, "When we spoke with her, I felt like she was speaking with kids. It's like in her eyes we are all spoiled brats."
Feena and Karen looked at him incredulously.
He really was saying this right now? They were thinking for him.
"I know you are thinking things for my sake. But you're putting too much emotion on what you are doing. And I wouldn't blame her for thinking that way," he added with a shake of his head.
"If you really are planning to be a knight you have to harden yourselves. People die in war, people important to you or people who you don't even know. Stop being too soft at everything."
Raven understood full well the reason why Eureka sees them as children. They are still too soft and would live with their emotions.
"Plus you guys, what the hell was that?" Raven said with a hint of anger to his voice.
Everyone looked at him quietly.
They were a bit unsettled at him berating them so suddenly.
