12 A Sparring Match

The video ended leaving Waze feeling slightly less confident about her newfound 'goal'. The match they had watched was only from round 3. She had a long way to go if she wanted to even have a chance county wide.

"Now, how about we do a sparring match? We haven't in a while and you all could use the practice." Norris looked at her students expectedly.

"Hmm... really? I suppose we should show the new kid just exactly what we do here." Marco gave her a sly grin. Waze could guess they didn't mean a martial arts sparring match. This would involve abilities. Hence: not her forte.

"I was thinking Waze could join us in a match."

"What?! She'd die!" Marco looked incredulous. The others gave similar nods of support. It was true, a gift-less in a spar against a trained gifted would not go well. However, Waze had somehow recovered a substantial amount during the video. It was almost as if the workout had energized her, and helped her pain. Not only that, but at the sound of a fight she could feel her power flaring up inside her.

"I can try... no promises though." It probably sounded absolutely ridiculous to the others, but Waze couldn't just yet tell them she had a godly power hidden inside of her.

"Well thats that! If Waze is fine with it, we will proceed. Cassidy, since you have such ill will towards her, how would you like to join Waze in a match?" Uh oh. Just what exactly had Waze agreed to?

"Fine! If she wants to get her ass beat thats her choice. I'll just end it quick and teach her a lesson." Cassidy stormed to the center of the room. The others pushed the workout equipment to the edge of the room and Waze saw it was a lot more spacious than it seemed. She joined Cassidy in the center.

"Hope you're prepared, Ms. Waze." The way Cassidy said her name made Waze grit her teeth. Plus, those words were familiar. Many high-steps had said similar things to her before they beat her ass. This time was different though, right?

"Alright. Whenever you're ready girls." Norris gave them the go ahead to start. For a moment there was a silent tension before Cassidy stood up straight. Waze was slightly confused for a moment, then realized that Cassidy probably didn't need to hold a fighting stance considering she had a powerful ability and was fighting, well, someone who definitely did not have an ability.

Before Waze could make any moves, Cassidy used her ability.

Most might have been terrified, most might have frozen or ran or screamed, but Waze was... amazed. That was the best way to put it. Wonder and awe filled her eyes as the scene unfolded before her.

Dark black snakes swirling with energy crawled out from around Cassidy's body. They came slowly, examining Waze like prey. They were... beautiful. Waze wasn't quite sure what to do. She couldn't run, there was no where to go. And she probably couldn't fight them.

Waze charged forward, it seemed as if she was planning to fight the snakes head on. The others stiffened, and even Cassidy looked extremely surprised. She took a step back before tightening her expression. The snakes launched at her, but right as the first one neared her body, Waze side stepped and rolled around it. No, her target wasn't the snakes, but her master. Waze knew she could never beat the snakes. To be fair, she could probably never beat Cassidy in hand to hand combat either. But she would at least put up a fight. As in her fight with James, her main weapon was the element of surprise. Waze tackled Cassidy. She managed to put Cassidy in a chokehold before the snakes enveloped her body. Cassidy stumbled up and out of her reach. Waze struggled to stand again, but the snakes coiled around her, holding her back.

"Nice try, but a person like you could really never win against me."

That's right. A 'person like you', a gift-less like Waze could never win against Cassidy. But that's not all Waze was anymore. Waze relaxed her posture and looked to the back of her mind. Right now she couldn't see the pitying faces of her teammates, Cassidy's triumphant glare, or Norris's knowing smile. It was just her and her power.

Her and the god.

'Make me strong', she asked.

'Are you prepared?' the voice said.

'I'll do whatever it takes'.

'Then, I will make you strong.'

Waze felt the god's power flowing through her body. The blue flames engulfed her once more. She stood up, and she could feel the snakes melt away as they scrambled from the light. There Waze stood, energy radiating from her body. Shock was the only thing written on her teammates faces. She walked forward slowly to her trembling opponent. Maybe, if Cassidy was in her right mind, she would've said something. Asked Waze why and how she could do this. She was gift-less, was she not? Instead, she stared into the eyes of a god. That's what she was. A god.

Waze calmly took her fighting stance. After all, that's what this was, right? A fight? Waze hit Cassidy square in the face. Blue energy exploded from her fist as Cassidy crumpled on the ground, her snakes burning away in Waze's blinding light. Waze turned to Norris, who gave her a wise smile, before turning back to her teammates.

"I... t-thought you were... gift-less...?" Duke stuttered out. Everyone seemed to hold the same expression.

"I am." Waze collapsed on the ground.