Chapter 51: In the Grasp of the Fog

I make my way to the medical ward where Quinn and the others follow me inside as I get some light treatment. Quinn says in a stern tone, "I thought we told you to hold back? What was that, Lucius?" I shrugged, "Hey man, sometimes you've got to answer a challenge. It's a man's pride." Altaria was in the room with us; she laid her hands on me, channeling magic into me to restore my power for the next match. Price Sorbek was passed out, seemingly still recovering. The medical staff carted in a half-conscious Pilot who was full of holes; he got treatment right away. As she healed me, Altaria smiled, "You've improved a lot since you came to this city. If it were up to me, I would have sent you out already, but this was the deal we made. I have half a mind to slug you, though Pilot is still my adopted son. Firing lava at him, come on, Lucius."

I pouted, "I knew it wouldn't kill him; otherwise, I would have tried something else. Plus, he threw a ball of metal at me. I am fairly certain if that had hit, I would have died." Lysandra smacked me on the back, "That lava was amazing. You burned red hot today, kiddo." Lulith sighed, "Even if you did the exact opposite of what we told you." Yuna chimed in, "And you didn't even die." Pilot seemed to begin waking up; his face went from confusion to realization quickly. Small tears formed in both of his eyes, "Dammit, it's not fair; that was my best spell." I guess he was still just a small boy; a loss like that must have been a shock. Altaria tried to comfort him, "Pilot, you both did your best out there; that is all that matters."

Pilot pouted, "It's not enough. I wanted more." I walked up to him with a smile, "Hey, you're strong, Pilot. This loss doesn't diminish your abilities. Use it as motivation to come back even stronger." The boy nodded, "Next time, it will be your loss." He got up, mostly healed, and left the room using his cane as a guide. Altaria patted me on the back, "Thanks; I am afraid he really defines his worth based on his powers. I think his parents really drilled it into him that being powerful is all that matters."

I nodded, "He's strong. I would rank him close to the top of people I have personally faced. A boy that strong, I would want as an ally one day." Altaria frowned, "Please don't go recruiting my son into your party..." I felt a lot better as we made our way back to the stands, but before we got there, a familiar face was leaning up against the wall. It was Professor Castweaver. She was taking puffs out of a small wooden pipe, and she gave us a grin when she saw us. Professor Castweaver stated, "I hope you don't think our battle will go like it did before. My students underestimated your group; that won't happen again. You might want to get Altaria on your team if you hope to beat me now." I nodded, "Challenge accepted. I hope you don't get too conceited, though, because Team Dream has our own heavy hitters. We'll be bringing the next best thing to Altaria: her niece, Gwen."

Professor Castweaver began walking back towards the gym and said amused, "She still lacks refinement. I will be watching you more, young man. Oh, and Altaria, you might want to strengthen the barriers; this could get ugly. I will tell you one thing: I want to go to the finals, so don't expect me to pull my punches anymore." Altaria looked a little bit worried, "Jeez, my barriers have been broken twice already; I can't afford a third time." I walked towards the gym myself to join the next match. Quinn patted me on the back, "Hey, remember, take it easy; we've got to be at our best for the finals. Let your team put in the work." I nodded, "I won't showcase too much of my spells; I have one spell left that I am saving for the finals."

I made my way back to Team Dream; we were on the east side of the gym this time. We decided to mirror our last formation. I was standing in the middle. Gwen was next to me in the middle to my right, and Berkley was in front of me center with Pylus to his right and Mynus at his left. On the other side, it would appear that Team Pyrotechnics would be doing a mix-up. Eris announced, "This is our last losers bracket match, folks. Get ready; these two teams have clawed their way back with the grand finals in their sights. With the newly formed Team Dream and the ever-ferocious Team Pyrotechnics, with explosive Professor Castweaver and her students: Light, Atom, Isaac, and April! Get ready for a real explosive match!" The formations for the other team was unexpected: Professor Castweaver was in the back next to the boy Atom with the red hair. The center had Light, who seemed to be playing a more considerate game plan than last time. The two in front were unexpectedly the boy with the orange hair, Isaac, and the purple-haired girl April.

I was caught off guard; this team looked very different than before, no wonder Professor Castweaver was so confident. With the barrier defense in front with Isaac and Light in the middle, and Castweaver in the back, we would be at a loss if she unleashed her fog. Before I had time to think of a counter, Eris shouted, "Let the last semi-finals battle start!" We got into battle stances without waiting; Gwen decided she should start things off. Gwen smiled, "Don't give them a chance to fight back. Aurora Beam!" Light magic and dark magic converged to form her usual deadly beam, but the boy Isaac merely laughed. Isaac said in his naturally deep voice, "So careless. Here, take this one back. Barrier to the Underworld!" Fire and darkness ate the beam from Gwen, and it was sent back towards her, catching her head on. The beam shot her down to the ground effortlessly.

Professor Berkeley tried to get an attack of his own in, "Gyro ball!" Light was ready; his red eyes no longer glowing with laughter, but a more serious gaze on his face. He frowned, "For the humiliation I have suffered today, I will have to grace you with a quick loss." The ball disappeared in front of Light; before any of us could react, the ball was redirected towards Mynus. The ball hit Mynus, knocking him to the ground; next, the girl in the front, April, threw out her knives. It was directed at me; I yelled out, "Bacura." A barrier blocked some of the knives, but a few grazed my skin, causing blood to pour out painfully.

Professor Castweaver then made her move; she laughed, "This match is over. You should have attacked when you had a chance, boy." She yelled out, "Running won't do you any good now, Steam Shower!" The gym was covered in the fog from before; we were separated, unable to see in front of us; we would be taken out one by one. I closed my eyes; I readied a spell. The scene before me slowed as I thought to myself. Professor Castweaver would likely have the students hunt us down with her to make her spell more effective. Some of us will likely fall right away, but this was the turning point I needed to find a way out of this. I waited with my eyes closed, concentrating on sounds, as I readied a spell in my hands. I heard slamming sounds as some of the others seemed to be doing battle with enemies they couldn't see.

I had a prediction in mind for someone that seemed likely to attack me; someone we had already beaten before. Someone I had helped beat myself. I listened for my moment to attack, and then I heard it – footsteps. They were making their way beside me slowly in the fog; I had a plan, something that would also be risky, but a high reward should it work. They were using magic to disguise their true location even in the fog, but I could hear them. I would use their own medicine against them; finally, the person stalking me decided to attack. I heard the footsteps take a leap towards me; like a lion in the dark, I readied my gauntlet; this is the first time I have tried this. I yelled, "Cosmodine!" My fist heated up with fire in it, but instead of immediately shooting it out, I held it in my hands. A dagger came down ready to stab me brutally, but I was ready; I yelled out, "Meteor Fist!" I mimicked the way I had seen Professor Castweaver do it as I punched the attacker in the stomach.

They were sent flying out of the fog as the punch had more weight behind it than a regular attack. I heard them land and then let out a moan of pain as I had hopefully knocked them out of the match. I sighed; we were in a pickle though; that enemy that attacked me wasn't the Professor; it was Light. I heard more fighting in the fog, but we needed something to wipe away the fog. That was when it happened; a blade struck me on the knee. I got to one knee now as blood poured out. The next blade flew into my arm as I yelled out in pain; this was it, it was over for me. The next shot would be aimed at a critical spot; I could already feel myself fading away as the blood poured down my arm. I waited in the fog for the next blade to come, half resigning myself to my inevitable loss here.