Part Thirteen

As Nyssa and Sera approach the base of a towering mountain, a sense of urgency fills the air. The mountain, standing like a silent guardian, seems to echo their solemn purpose.

Sera, her hands twitching with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, surveys the area. "Nyssa, are you sure we're in the right place?" she asks, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Nyssa, reaching into her pouch, retrieves a vial and hands it to Sera. "You can ask me whenever you need it. It is part of your growth process," she says, her tone gentle yet firm. Sera, without a word, chugs the contents of the vial. A visible calm washes over her, and she sighs in relief, her twitching hands steadying. "T-thanks," she murmurs, rubbing her head as the tension leaves her body.

Nyssa, turning her attention back to the mountain, is about to speak when she glances down at her watch and clicks her tongue in frustration. "Change of plans. He needs to come here immediately," she declares, tapping on her watch with a sense of impatience.

Sera, picking up on the sudden shift in Nyssa's demeanor, looks at her with concern. "W-what is going on?" she inquires, her confusion evident.

Nyssa, after sending a message through her watch, turns to Sera with a resolute expression. "The plan has changed. There seems to be complications, but our goal won't change. Today, we are going to get the key no matter what," she states, her voice embodying the unwavering determination of their mission.

She then faces the mountain again, her gaze fixed on its imposing form. Walking up to the rock face with a look of utter indifference, Nyssa raises her hand. With a single, precise knock, she applies enough pressure to easily create a hole in the solid structure. The impact resonates through the air, a testament to her immense strength and the power she wields in pursuit of their sacred objective.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

-Azura's POV

I crash into the ground far from the lake, the impact sending shockwaves through my body. I cough, tasting blood. "Ugh... that hurt," I mumble to myself. Damn, Isadora is a crazy fighter. How in the world is she just a freshman?

Turning my head, I see Eliot, standing a little distance away, seemingly talking to himself. What has this guy been doing the whole time? He's been nothing but a shadow during the fight. Not that he could have done much anyway, with his skinny frame and bookish demeanor.

Eliot glances at his watch, speaking softly yet firmly, "I see, I'll head there immediately. Our lord awaits." His words catch me off guard. Our lord? What's he on about?

Painfully, I sit up, feeling every bruise and cut. "Oi! What the hell are you saying, you little twerp! Get over here and help me up," I call out to him. Seriously, what's gotten into him?

Eliot turns to face me, his usual shy and apprehensive look completely gone. "Ah, I didn't see you there, girl," he says nonchalantly. Girl? My blood boils at his comment.

"Girl!? You dare call me that! Did you lose your fucking mind!?" I snap at him, slowly standing up, despite the pain. His disrespect is unlike anything I've seen from him before.

Sighing, Eliot removes his glasses and breaks them in his hand. He runs his hand through his hair, pushing it back, completely transforming his appearance. His usual shyness and timidity are gone, replaced by a confidence that's as surprising as it is unsettling.

"Of course, are you telling me you're not a girl? Look at your body for crying out loud. You don't get to choose whether you're a girl or boy; it's decided at birth," he says confidently, his voice steady and sure.

I stand there, stunned. This is not the Eliot I know. His transformation, both in demeanor and attitude, is jarring. What the hell is going on? What's gotten into him? And what's this about a lord he's talking about? The Eliot I knew was always in the background, never one to stand out. But now, he's like a completely different person.

Eliot gazes skyward, his voice detached. "Ah, it looks like the professors have started panicking. Well, unfortunately, they can't leave the area until the test is over, no matter what." His words make no sense to me.

"Oi, Eliot, what the hell are you talking about? What's wrong with you?" I demand, my voice strained as I struggle to my feet, glaring at him. The pain is excruciating, but my confusion and anger overshadow it.

Eliot smirks, an unsettling expression on his face. "Eliot, Eliot, Eliot... Ugh, I'm tired of that fake name." Fake name? My mind reels with confusion. What's he implying?

He strides closer, his smirk widening. "If I leave now, I won't feel good unless I hurt you just a bit, after all the annoying things you made me do," he taunts. I can't wrap my head around his sudden change in demeanor.

"I don't know what's going on with you, but you're nowhere near my strength," I retort, smirking back despite the pain and confusion. His next words, however, send a chill down my spine.

"You are a weak girl," he says, placing his hand gently on my shoulder. The next moment, I'm pushed to the ground with a force that knocks the wind out of me. The pain is sharp and immediate.

Gritting my teeth, I try to make sense of the situation. Eliot continues, his tone cold and calculating. "I can't stay for long, but I'll at least break your arms." Before I can react, he dislocates my arms with a sickening ease and snaps all my fingers. The pain is excruciating, almost unbearable, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

"How boring. I thought it would be more entertaining. Too bad I have to leave," Eliot says nonchalantly, his smirk still in place. He pulls out a scroll and rips it apart, disappearing in a flash of teleportation magic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

In a remote location near the base of a towering mountain, Nyssa and Sera's solemn mission is suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Eliot, or as Nyssa knows him, Orion. The atmosphere changes as he materializes, bringing a new dynamic to the already tense situation.

Nyssa's face breaks into a sly smirk as she greets him. "Orion, it's been a while," she says with a hint of mischief in her voice. Orion, with a warm smile, embraces her. "Lia, come on, you see my clone all the time," he replies, his tone light yet filled with an unspoken understanding of their shared mission.

Sera, observing the interaction, looks puzzled. "Lia? Orion?" she questions, her voice laced with confusion. The names and the familiarity between the two are a mystery to her.

Nyssa, still smirking, clarifies for Sera. "Those are our true names," she reveals, a sense of pride evident in her tone. Orion, joining in on the revelation, turns to Sera and appraises her. "Not bad. I know you're the best at everything, Lia, but to get someone this good quickly... our lord will be pleased," he compliments, his words reflecting both admiration for Nyssa's skills and satisfaction with Sera's progress.

The trio then proceeds into the cave, with Nyssa leading the way. She briefs Orion on the change of plans. "The plan has drastically changed. Start moving the others already," she instructs, her voice carrying the weight of urgency and authority.

Orion nods in agreement and begins to rub his temples, focusing intently. He is controlling the clones he has placed within the academy, a task that requires concentration and skill.

Sera, still trying to grasp the situation, leans closer to Nyssa and whispers, "Is he as strong as you?" Her curiosity is evident, as she tries to understand the hierarchy of power within their group.

Nyssa laughs softly, a sound that carries both warmth and confidence. Patting Sera's back, she responds, "No need to whisper, Sera. He doesn't get offended easily. There is only one person stronger than me, and he won't be arriving until we get the key."

-

Orion breaks the silence with a concerned tone. "This is a problem... Kuza is being distracted by a third party. He opened the rift in advance." The urgency in his voice underscores the seriousness of the situation.

Lia, her expression turning thoughtful, acknowledges the issue. "He hasn't been able to deal with the attacker. This is a bit frustrating. If he ends up switching into Alik, we'll have to pick up his tasks," she says, her words reflecting both a strategic mind and a readiness to adapt.

Sera, still trying to piece together the nuances of their plan, interjects with a question. "Huh? What do you mean, turn into Alik?" Her curiosity is evident, and her desire to understand their complex dynamics is clear.

Orion takes a moment to explain, his voice carrying a hint of respect for the complexities of their comrade's nature. "Kuza and Alik are the same person... kind of. You see, Kuza and Alik are two separate personalities. While Kuza is calm, smart, composed, and trustworthy, Alik is a bit of a wild card," he begins, laying out the stark contrasts between the two personas.

He continues, "Alik changes as a person entirely, with his hair turning red and becoming all muscular. When Kuza fights against a bad matchup, he will switch with Alik since Alik is more muscular and physically stronger. He can deal with threats Kuza struggles with." Orion's explanation paints a picture of a unique individual with a dual nature, each side tailored to handle different aspects of their mission.

"The only problem is that Alik won't switch back until he's had his fun."

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

In the midst of their intense confrontation, the man makes a bold move, hurling his glowing black dagger towards Kuza with astounding speed. Kuza reacts in an instant. A magic circle materializes in front of him, intercepting the incoming weapon. The moment the dagger makes contact with the circle, a powerful shockwave erupts, the force so immense that it shatters the air around them, causing nearby walls, floors, and pillars to crumble under the strain.

As the debris settles, the magic circle begins to show signs of corruption, its once stable form now warping under the influence of the man's dark magic. Kuza, recognizing the danger, quickly leaps back to create distance. "Your corruption magic is very bothersome," he comments, his voice maintaining a cold, uncaring tone despite the escalating situation.

The man grins, unfazed by Kuza's remark. "Hmhmhmhm... That's nothing. Come on, show me something interesting," he challenges, his demeanor one of twisted curiosity and anticipation.

Rising to the challenge, Kuza conjures a large magic circle above them. Suddenly, flames begin to cascade down like rain, a fiery deluge that seems to target random spots around them. The man observes this display with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "Hmhmhmhmhahaha! What a neat trick," he laughs, his eyes following the unpredictable pattern of the falling fire.

Kuza, not content with mere spectacle, begins to weave a more complex spell. He manipulates the falling fire to form a secondary magic circle on the ground. The flames within this circle glow brighter, hinting at the buildup of immense heat and energy, typically culminating in a devastating blast of fire.

However, the man, ever resourceful, counters this tactic in a surprising manner. Biting his finger, he draws blood, which he spits onto the ground. The blood immediately corrupts the fire, turning it a dark purple shade. The once-dangerous flames are now under his control, twisting and morphing to his will.

With a casual gesture, the man shapes the corrupted fire into a makeshift seat, lounging on it with an air of nonchalance. "I've never tried playing with fire before," he remarks, a sardonic grin spreading across his face.

The corrupted fire, which he had been manipulating with ease, begins to glow with an ominous intensity. He raises an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity mingling with his usual confidence. However, this curiosity quickly turns to surprise as the fire, now glowing brighter than ever, explodes in a massive conflagration.

Kuza, observing the explosion with a cold, calculated gaze, remarks, "Dark magic is only bothersome if you don't understand it." His tone is one of quiet triumph, suggesting he had anticipated and manipulated this outcome.

With deliberate precision, Kuza then conjures a vast magic circle above them, from which emerges a creature of immense size and presence. Unlike the previous beasts, this one stands out not merely for its size, but for the palpable sense of intelligence that emanates from it. Its eyes, filled with a cunning and knowing gleam, scan the surroundings, assessing the situation with a level of understanding far beyond that of a typical magical creature.

Kuza, his voice resonating with authority, commands the creature, "Finish him off," before turning to walk away. His departure is unhurried, exuding a confidence that the creature he has summoned is more than capable of handling the situation.