"Hey, the end semester's competition is starting in 2 weeks. Have you made any preparations?"

Larian overheard some interesting chatter from the nearby students as he sat by the shadow of a pillar.

'End of semester competition? While quite simple, this competition tests the students ability to adapt in a dangerous environment. As the main purpose of the Academy is to prepare humanity for War, the exams come in the form of a hunt.'

Larian was munching on a solid block of bread that was sold cheaply the earlier morning.

'Students are released into different parts of the forest to hunt monsters and other students for points which will be graded. Since the emphasis is on the Forest, I have to warn Master Shiro about students.'

While the scope of the Test covers the southern quadrant of the Forest, Master Shiro's hut resided somewhere in the North of the deep forest

'While students might not head too far north, I can't discount the possibility.'

That evening Larian sat with Shiro and discussed the matters in regards to the competition.

"Lu man, In school you are regarded as one of the weakest because of your trait that holds you back right?"

Larian nodded in confirmation

"Then it is time for me to repay you for the secret technique you've taught me. "

Larian tilted his head slightly.

"Master Shiro, teaching me Shinki Style is enough of a repayment."

Almost annoyed at Larian, Mrs Shiro gripped her fist and it shook slightly.

"You are my disciple, I won't let you be bullied while you are under me. Got it? Shut it and take what I'm offering to teach."

Larian laughed in embarrassment.

"Haha, then I won't be shy. Please teach me, Master."

Satisfied that Larian is finally serious, Shiro started explaining.

"I never taught you this because your limited Qi has made this impossible to pull off. That was the case previously, but with how you was able to overcome this threshold with your own knowledge I am confident you would master this quickly."

Lifting her non dominant arm Shiro explained.

"As you know Shinki Style mainly focuses on your dominant arm as it is a One-handed sword art. What I'm teaching you is how to manipulate Qi in your off hand, like this."

Shiro grabbed a rectangular paper from the table and held it upright in between her index and middle finger. Light gathered into Shiro's fingers and the paper started forming the paper into the shape of a dagger.

"This is called the Divine Arms Talisman. What's important here is the control and manipulation you can exert on this talisman. Since it is a manifestation of one's own Qi, the shape and form is only limited to your imagination."

Larian picked a piece of paper from the table, he peered into the writing on it. The paper had red text which looked akin to scribbles written in a circle with a blank centre

'A talisman? Usually such writings are reserved for praying to God where one would draw the symbol of the church and such talismans would then have certain effects depending on the text that was written.'

"Memorise the text on the paper, this is a special incantation that allows you to draw power into the paper. For this to work it has to be written in blood of anything with Qi, be it animals or your own, both will work. But in the middle of the paper you need a drop your own blood to mark yourself as the target of power."

Larian did as he was told and there was no change in the paper.

"Now with draw the power from the air around you and shape it to the symbols on the paper. Under normal circumstances, one would simply pour their Qi in to fill it up. But you must be more resourceful. Do it."

Larian spread his webs out and realigned them into the image of the shapes in his mind, slowly the the webs shifted until it formed the text on paper. Then he slowly let it decent onto the paper.

The paper unlike Shiro's paper only had the text shine, on it Larian got see his Mafic spread out like vines all around the paper.

'This is like a nervous system in our human body! I can feel and move the paper.'

"Good job, I can see your control training has not been in vain. Now try shifting it to any shape you want."

Larian, intrigued by his new senses on the paper, started moulding it into the shape of a gun.

"What a peculiar shape, is this a wand of some sort?"

Larian seemed embarrassed that the gun didn't fire, he knew the basics of how guns worked. But his Qi was not flammable and had nothing he could blast to provide the propulsion he needed. And he wasn't a gunsmith, so he could only imagine the shape out. So this was just akin to a piece of brick.

"Ah no I was just messing around. I'll do it properly this time."

The gun slowly wiggled as it changed shape. Since Shiro had mentioned a wand, Larian drew inspiration of a castle from a show about wizards he remembered.

"Amazing… You are able to imagine the fine details of a castle? Maybe you should have chosen to be a stonemason instead."

Larian, pleased with the compliment, wanted to challenge himself.

'What is something I'm very familiar with, something that I see everyday?'

Larian imagined his clearest memory, something that he would always remember.

The castle squirmed as it formed a figure in Futuristic Mecha Armour. This came from a game Larian played in the past where the Player would slaughter hordes of Aliens invading Earth.

Satisfied, Larian shifted the designs multiple times, Each armour coming from different designs of different era.

Shiro though initially stunned, came to terms with Larian's Imaginative mind and slowly watched he's creativity go on.

"Luman, you really are talented, do you know what?"

Not agreeing with her master's statement Larian thought he was midgudged.

"N-no way, this are all just things from different culture I learned in school."

Shiro shook her head.

"No, what I meant was your control of Qi to project what's on your mind into this talisman. Have you drawn Luman?"

Larian, not understanding, shook his head.

"It's like imagining an artwork in your mind, you see the details, the colours, the shape. But to paint it onto a piece of canvas is close to impossible without constant practice. What you've shone, is the equivalent of an artist perfectly painting an image from his head into his canvas."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Larian pondered.

'But I did try painting, back in school. Though it was just for a school project, it wasn't as proficient as Master Shiro claims it to be. My talent in art and music wasn't anything outstanding.'

"What I mean is your control of Qi, your mastery of its use has exceeded what is capable of most people. I'm sure your Control is already on par with me and you are only 16 this year. If you weren't suppressed I'm sure your prowess would be unmatched in your age group"

Larian gulped at the thought.

'Yes. This is what I've always want. To know that I would have been great if I wasn't held back. This shows what I've done has been worth it…'

"Thank you. It means so much to me for you to say that."

Shiro patted Larian on the head.

"Idiot disciple, it's all through your own efforts. Be proud of yourself, as I am proud of you."

Larian continued with his study on the new technique under Shiro's watch for the next few days.

***

***

A week later, Larian can be seen running in the forest. To the keen sighted, there was a thin needle shaped blade swirling around him, it emitted a blue hue as it flew.

Following the blade was a near invisible thin string that connected to Larian's off hand. As the blade shot out and struck a bunny. Larian drew back his magic string, pulling the animal's carcass towards Larian.

This was Larian's Idea of a reusable throwing blade.

'I had hoped to swing from it like a spider but my magic is so abysmally low that many ideas are unable to come into fruition. But at least a throwing blade is still usable.'

Throughout the week Larian has familiarised himself with the Divine Arms Talisman, with it he was capable of putting many ideas into his arsenal. Many of which have impressed Shiro.

And with how Larian only needed to manifest the blade once, he only needed to exhaust his Magic pool with the extension and pull of the string. With his control, this was easily becoming a habit.

'With a versatile toolkit I can finally show the others how much I progressed. At least Master won't be disappointed with the results once the test starts in 2 days.'

On his way back to the hut, Larian noticed the sky start to darken.

'It's going to rain soon, how rare after so many days. In a few more months winter would come, by then snow would be falling instead of rain. I wonder how master thinks of the snow since she was named after it.'

Not wanting his uniform to get wet, Larian hurriedly sped up to return to the Hut.

"Master?... Master Shiro! I'm back."

Larian looked around the hut to notice it empty, this was a rare sight since Shiro would always await Larian by the table for him to prepare the tea every afternoon.

"Strange… No one is at home, and it's starting to rain soon. Master should be making her way back soon."

Larian chose to sit down and wait. In the meantime he prepared the hot water for the tea.

*Shaaaa…

The rain was especially heavy today, and the absence of Shiro was starting to worry Larian.

'Has master gotten into an accident in the rain? Maybe I should go check.'

Resolving himself Larian grabbed a large piece of leaf as an umbrella as he headed out.

"Master! Where are you! Master, can you hear me!"

Larian kept shouting periodically. But he was met only with the sound of silent downpour.

'Fuck. Where has Master gone? I've checked all around for an hour already. Something serious must have happened.'

As he decided to keep searching, Larian sensed something.

This feeling was familiar, he felt the Qi of a certain ritual technique. His ritual technique.

'Master? Shit! The situation must be really dire for her to activate this. I must hurry!'

Larian made a beeline to the sensation he felt. Eventually he reached his destination. Here he saw no sight of his master. Instead the sensation he felt was through the space in front of him.

The air wobbled and rippled, it looked to be some illusion that distorted the air.

'Is this… a portal?'

Larian never wrote about portals in his book but still managed to guess what he was seeing from his impression on novels he read back on Earth.

Sticking his hand into the ripple, Larian traversed the illusion and entered the portal.

'The sound of rain stopped. Where am I?'

*SCREECH

A magnifying roar caused the entire ground to shake. Larian, shocked, looked around. He was in a dark cave and the walls seem to stretch infinitely out. Dark rocks can be seen elevated around him forming an Large space for the Dragon.

As he shifted his head up he noticed a terrifying figure above him. Towering as big as modern buildings, A black dragon slammed the ground in rage with its right arm. Its figure resembled a western dragon but its scales were crystalized like the rocks around the cave and its limbs slim. On the creature's left side a stump was in place of where an arm would've been.

Beneath the Dragon, a grey figured dashed away as it dodge the relentless attack of the dragon.

"Master!"

Capturing the attention of his Master, Shiro's eye's widened in shock.

"Luman, do as I say! Grab those students and leave where you came. Hurry!"

Not far away Larian spotted 5 students spotting the same uniform lying unconscious.

*SCREECH

The dragon's eyes were filled with so much Malice the area around it seemed to quiver, It swiped its claw towards Shiro in an attempt to rip her to pieces. As it swung the air vibrated from its might.

As the claw reached Shiro's blade, it curved slamming down onto the ground beside her. Although not a direct hit, the impact sent her flying.

As she landed Shiro thumbled before quickly recovering, assuming her battle stance once again.

Larian, plastered in worry, didn't hesitate as he sprinted straight towards the students.

As he slung two students to each of his shoulders, he heard another roar. This made Larian sweat as his nerves caused his legs to quake.

He quickly stacked one more on his head over the two on his shoulders and grabbed the last 2 with his hands. Like this he expended all his strength as he dragged them all towards the exit.

The battlefield constantly shook with the Roar of the dragon, It constantly screamed as it attacked which can be felt through the ground like an earthquake.

Larian's entire head perspired with sweat, either from exhaustion or nervousness, he didn't know. As he reached the entrance he dragged the bodies out, into the rain.

Here he finally relaxed, the intense fear slowly washing away with the rain.

'Wew, master must be capable of fighting that thing right?.... Right?'

Larian, still tense, looked back to the portal. He could bring the students back to the academy to safety.

Or…

Go back in to check on the battle.

The heavy downpour was almost silent after escaping from that hell. Larian tightened his fist as thoughts raced in his mind.

'This is a battle on another level, I have no right to be around… I would be a hindrance to my Master even if I go back.'

Logic told Larian that he should quickly seek help. But Instinct… instinct told him if he left now, he would come back to a sight he will regret for the rest of his life.

'God Damn it! I won't be able to get help in time! I have to go back in!'

Entering the portal, Larian now had a clear view as a spectator of the fight. Amidst the clash of Shiro's Turquoise blade against the Dragon's skin.

Larian could immediately see, Shiro was exhausted while the dragon, though missing an arm and bearing many wounds, continued to roar in rage. One would feel the wrath from the Dragon that it still had a lot of energy left.

Larian swallowed whatever that was at the back of his throat. This… was not a battle he could join. He could only watch, watch the battle unfold and eventually. His master's downfall.

It was almost so clear. It could be the next minute, or the one after that. The dragon would eventually land a clear hit, it was an inevitable outcome.

Larian held himself back.

'This is stupid, I can't do anything. I… can't… There is nothing I can do.'

Larian was at the edge of the battlefield, surprisingly he had come this close. Any more and he would be noticed by the legendary creature.

'What can I do!'

The dragon eye's gleamed as it spread its wings out wide, the magic in the air gathered and form thousands of tiny lights. The lights drawn into the wings gathered into its mouth.

Shiro tracing the beasts eyes realised the Dragon was not looking towards her, but somewhere else…

'!!!'

A dark ball concentrated into the dragon's mouth; its blue hue seems to contain a dark sky. As the ball shot out like a beam it flew towards Larian.

Or it should have. But Shiro in a split moment dash ahead into the dragon's line of fire meeting the shot with her blade.

"NOOOOO!!!"

Larian screamed, realising the situation.

By the time the beam subsided, a body could be seen in the ditch, where the dragon targeted.

There Shiro lay, drained and injured.

Larian palm bled, his gums blood red and its eyes bloodshot.

Didn't even think twice, he barely blinked.

Larian sprinted out, his eyes with the Dragon in sight.

The dragon seemed to gather another breath as it reeled back in preparation to attack.

Larian's web of Qi spread out and with the talisman, gave them realness. With all his strength Larian pulled, sending him flying forward.

'If it cost me my life, I will do it! To even have a slim chance of saving her, I have to!'

Larian reached the ditch, in it he could see his master's body and robes smouldered in dark soot.

*SCREECH

With no time to grab her, Larian turned towards the noise. In Front of him he saw not the dragon, but a wave of infernal Fire. Stretching high and wide, there was no escape.

'To even preserve her body, I'll have to sacrifice everything!'

Stabbing the blade into the stone floor to ground himself, Larian stood in front of the torrent of flames.

As the flames struck like a storm of spears. The force so unstoppable Larians left arm was ripped clean off as it flew with the attack. Then the wave enveloped Larian, slipping past his face, his eyes, his arms, his fingers, his groin and his whole chest. Everything was ablaze.

'IT BURNS, EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING HURTS!'

The fire kept going, his skin cooked and melted. In the flame the Larian was surround by the presence of death, this torture was more painful than any cut, any cruelty he has experienced before. The only thing keeping Larian alive was the fire, the fire in his heart that burned brighter than the flames around him.

'I…WILL…DIE… FIGHTING…BACK!'

For his Master, Larian would sacrifice everything. This was his purpose and destiny, to die fighting for whom he Loved. As the flames burned on and on… Larian realised this torrent of flames was pushing him back and he couldn't hold on, his soles dragged on the rocks forming a trail.

'TOO… WEAK..'

If he couldn't push the flames back, his master would take the full force of this wave. There was no way Larian would accept such an outcome.

In his mind he saw chains that bound his legs to a wheelchair.

This was how Larian visualised the Ability Suppression. Even when he walked he had never forgotten his past. This wheelchair was always haunting him.

'DON'T… FUCK WITH ME!'

Larian stretched out with all his might and the chair bent as he did. With his full force Larian pulled, tearing the metal into pieces. In the real world, Larian gained the strength to take a step forward.

One step… Two steps… Larian kept pushing against the fire until finally…

.

.

.

The flames subsided. Larian bore no resemblance to his previous look. His entire skin was turned black with a thick layer of soot, there were lingering flames beneath the burnt flesh like streams of lava. His eyelids and hair were burnt clean off, making his bloodshot eyes look wide open.

Larian turned towards Shiro. She laid in the ditch, slightly burnt but still recognisable. In his relief Larian's eyes would have moistened if his tear ducts still worked but no tears welled up. His mouth opened but no words came out.

Shiro seemed to recover her consciousness and saw Larian, from Larian lips she read.

"Thank…you…for… Everything."

Larian fell forward, his body lay broken and completely still.

***

*Badum…*Badum…

Shiro's heart churned so loud it as audible all around.

Her hands gripped her blade with Fury as she rose from the ditch.

The rage in her cannot be quelled.

The air around bent and twisted. Shiro's Qi reserves were empty but Qi seeped out nonetheless. This Qi… it was different…

The Qi shine dark red like the blood that once spread on her robes.

The entire cave started to swirl and condense with Shiro's blade as its center.

The dragon was quick to notice the anomaly. Fear started to grip this raging beast. Now instead of fighting, it spread its battered wings in an attempt to fly. It flapped once… twice and it was lifted off the ground.

But it was too late. The blade was ready. In one swipe, the entire cave cracked like mirrors. Time seem to stop as the cracks were much clearer and distinct.

Unlike before, these "mirrors" bent, giving clear reflections of the dragon's expression. It was a face of intense fear and demise.

*Click

The blade had returned to its sheath. Only then did time seem to return to normal and the dragon split in half. Its carcass slowly started to fade.

Its body disintegrated as it conjugated into a tiny block of stone the size of a pill, It shone with intense redness. One would feel the boiling rage from within as it formed.

Shiro, wobbled as she went to pick the stone up.

Coming back to Larian's body. She didn't hesitate.

Putting the stone in her mouth its surface melted into Qi. The energy from the stone seems to give some life to Shiro.

But she brought her mouth to Larian's, she controlled the melted Qi down his throat.

Once it fully melted, it ended up beneath his heart.

Shiro's eyes were starting to turn hollow, she was spacing in and out of consciousness as she controlled the stone.

In the Forgotten Isle, Red Qi symbolized immense strength and sacrifice. Even the fiercest Generals who see the sight of Red Qi would always know to flee, or avoid it.

In her final strike, the Red Qi was her life force.

Shiro's eyes closed as she understood this was her end. Bringing herself closer to Larian, with whatever meager strength left, she spoke into his ear.

"Luman, you and I are astonishingly similar. When you spoke of your past with me, in truth it resonated in me. Because I… I was the same… Betrayed my family I thought the world was against me and that I was all alone…"

Losing strength in her chest Shiro laid down beside Larian.

"You. You showed me that there was something worth living for in this cruel world. So… Thank you…"

From Shiro's eyes, tears streamed down and her heart slowed to a stop.