Blooming In Shadows

Cynthia's Viewpoint: Two Years Ago

'What makes a shadow a shadow? is it a reflection of one's true malevolent self or just a way to know where you stand? A whole other person that seems alive and does what you do. Only there's no recognition since it was already done by them. The shadow is always following in your footsteps, always looking up to you but you never look back.'

"Isn't that right sister? I'm just you're shadow so what should I do? Why did you have to go first?"

A large tombstone stood on the edge of a grassy cliff. The trees swayed as the wind danced in every direction and so did my emotions.

"Without you i'm nothing so please, come back!!!"

My scream echoed out but nothing except the shadows heard my plea. The rest of the day I cried tears for my sister but also for her lost shadow.

***

Nova's Viewpoint: Present Day

Cynthia stood in her spot anticipating my move. She looked at me filled with concentration but that wouldn't get her anywhere. My clone crumbled to the floor.

"What-!"

I punched her in the stomach and she fell to one knee.

"What's the matter? I thought you weren't going to go easy on me?"

Cynthia stood from the blow and got into her stance again, "Is that the best you got?"

I smiled, "Not by a long shot."

I disappeared from view again this time not using air to cloak myself but to increase my speed. I ran in all directions connecting a hit every few moves. Cynthia sat there and took them, only guarding.

'I see what you're trying to do but I won't let you.'

I stopped my running and stood in my spot from before.

Cynthia smirked, "Why'd you stop? Out of breath?"

"I don't want to admit it but if I went in for another hit you would have countered, am I right?"

"So what if you were?"

"I told you to fight with everything, didn't I? Why haven't you used your magic?"

"I could say the same to you."

I winced in pain. 'What?'

I looked at my hand but nothing was there.

'What did she do?'

Cynthia smiled like this was playtime for her, "What happened? I thought you were better than me~"

'She used something unordinary,' I thought. 'Getting into close combat with her is probably a bad choice. If that's the case...'

"Air Block: Bow and Arrow."

I grabbed the air that was in front of me and held it like a bow while using my other hand to grab an arrow made of air as well. I placed the arrow on the bowstring and pulled back. I created Air Block: Bow and Arrow as a way to make a concentrated air flow impact upon the target dealing high damage on the place it hits. This way, I won't kill anyone by accident.

I lined up my shot and released my grip on the bowstring. The arrow flew through the air as if it were a cheetah chasing an antelope. Except the antelope was expecting it.

Cynthia casted a spell, "Wood Wall."

From the floor sprouted a wall made entirely of wood that blocked my arrow like it were nothing. The wall went back in the ground and Cynthia was seen again, this time looking a bit annoyed.

"You made me use my magic and here I thought I could win without it."

"I'm sorry to tell you but you've already lost."

"Why do you say that?"

"I now know you're magic type."

I used air magic again to accelerate my speed. This time though I wasn't aiming to land a punch. I sped around her until she finally got fed up.

"Running won't do anything. You lose."

Cynthia raised her arm and a log appeared from the palm of her hand. She sent the wood log flying right towards me. I accelerated even faster and dodged her attack.

"What!"

I cut some of the wood off of the log and stabbed it into Cynthia's arm.

"Did you know that wood is a good conductor of electricity? Game over."

I sent an electrical current through the wood and directly into her body causing her to fall unconscious. As she was falling past my ear I heard her mumble something, "I really am... just a shadow..."

Cynthia's body flopped to the floor without movement.

"Winner by knockout, Nova Orchid!"

All of a sudden I heard cheering coming from the side closest to my area. Breathing heavily, I gave a thumbs up to the crowd and walked off to get healed by the referee. Cynthia's unconscious body was rushed out of the area and led to what I would assume to be a clinic. Even though she was a jerk, I wished her a fast recovery because in my mind she's still a friend.

After he had healed me, the referee started a conversation.

"It's quite rare to see a tri-mage, especially around here."

"Is it really that rare?"

"Usually tri-mages are born of the elite nobility but around here are the lower nobles that mostly get their wealth by working as merchants. They're technically not nobles since they are not of royal lineage but they have the wealth of one."

'I wonder what he would say if I told him I was a tetra-mage?'

"Your next opponent is here so make your preparations."

He left and took his place by the side of the area when Jack appeared in front of me.

"Hey, Nova, looks like you're my next opponent."

Jack didn't meet my eyes but I could tell he was happy to have me as his opponent.

"We're already in the quarterfinals so let's do our best okay?"

I stuck out my fist and he did the same, "I'm sorry in advance for hurting you."

"Only if you can."

'Quarterfinals already, huh? Lot's of people are going to be watching this fight so let's give them something to remember.'

We both went to opposite side and the referee counted us in, "Ready... Fight!"

As soon as it started people were cheering from all directions. To my surprise Jack made the first move, "Gravity Swell."

I could feel the gravity around me becoming stronger and stronger but I didn't fall, that's because the only I can counter Jack's magic is by sheer force of will. I walked forward slowly, "Is that all you got?"

Soon the ground around me started to crack from the pressure until it indented but still I didn't fall. I won't fall. The indent I stood in got deeper and deeper until I couldn't be seen anymore.

"I'm sorry Nova, but I had to win."

***

Jack's Viewpoint: Two Years Ago

"Mama! Look at what I can do!"

I stood in front of my mom and showed her my gravity magic. I struggled to lift a chair but it lifted off the ground just barely.

"Is that it? You're sixteen and you can barely even lift a chair? I use my money to hire a personal trainer and yet you're magic is still absolute rubbish. You're a disappoint, Jack. You have an ancient hex and that's all? A waste of my time and money. Don't show yourself before me again until you're less of a failure."

One of my mother's bodyguards took me by the arm and led me toward a carriage.

"M-mama, where is he taking me? Mama, i'm scared. No, stop it I don't want to go! Mama, please help me!"

She turned around to face me but her face was full of disgust.

"Wh-what's with that look, mama! I'm being taken away! Please ma... ma?"

'What? Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't I family? Oh. I get it now. That look is for me, right? All I wanted was to impress you but to you i'm just a disappointment.'

I was forced into the carriage by the bodyguard and the driver left my estate. I never saw mother again.

***

Nova's Viewpoint: Present Day

"I'm sorry..."

My arrow flew and connected with Jack's forehead. His feet scraped against the floor as he got pushed back to the edge of the ring. The force of the arrow pushed him as far as to teeter over the ledge but he caught his balance before he could fall.

"It's over."

"Wha-!"

A second arrow impacted with his stomach and he got propelled out of the ring and into the wall creating a crater where he landed.

There was complete silence because no one knew what had happened. I stepped out of the hole sweating and breathing more heavily than I did in my match with Cynthia. The referee looked at me and made the call, "Winner by ring knockout, Nova Orchid!"

The crowd erupted with cheers but I was more focused on Jack. I jogged over to where Jack landed and stuck out my hand to help him up.

"Any longer and you probably would have won. That was some impressive magic. Maybe teach me sometime, yeah?"

Jack stared up at me with warm eyes and laughed a bit, "Yeah."

He grabbed my hand and I helped him off the floor but as I tried to let go he brung me into an embrace.

"Thanks, Nova."

He left for the school clinic without another word.