I look down the cliff to our left… at least 80 meters, the only easy way down there. Water rushed on the uneven, rocky terrain like a pack of crazed animals fleeing from certain death, the frothing waves forming whirlpools and reaching out of the riverbed occasionally.
“Any chance we can just avoid this thing?” I ask before another explosion goes off way too close for comfort. “Okay, we need to cross over right fucking now.”
“Yeah? How?” Comes from Victor.
“Don’t be ridiculous, the flow is too fast and we can’t just fly.” August is as pessimistic as ever, even if correct.
“Can’t I just throw you over?” Hugo proposes. A cute idea but let's not get delusional.
Ideas zip through my brain, like freezing the water to walk across, slowing the flow with magic, changing the shape of the riverbed, cutting down a tree to use as a bridge… All of them are instantly swatted away because of the size and speed of the river. It’s just too much.
It would make this so much easier if that dumbass of a mage just stayed with us. He could just… wait, could I? The water isn't especially deep, it’s just the flow that is rough.
I raise a small pillar about a meter into the river to see if my idea is even feasible. Unsurprisingly the flow crushes my puny attempt, smashing into the earth and crushing the pillar before it can even surface so I have to put a little more effort into it. With a wider base and a wedge shape to be less affected by the forces of the river, the second pillar rises above the water and thanks to my constant focus remains in one piece.
My plan is simple, close to the cliff the water is more shallow and there’s a tiny patch of land about halfway through so… Hopscotch. The deadliest game of hopscotch across the water that seemingly wants to swallow us on shaky platforms that might collapse at any second. That or the fight growing closer again.
I jump onto the first platform, however, when my feet leave the ground my hold on the earth weakens for a second and the water almost wins. Almost. I repeat the trick three more times till I reach the halfway mark where I have just enough space to comfortably stand on a piece of wet rock. My range of control barely allows me to hold onto the first pillar I made, while Focus is already struggling with only four and I doubt maintaining a fifth would be possible.
“Will it work?” Victor shouts after me.
A bit too late to ask after I’m already invested to be honest, although I did forget to ask any of them about my plan as I was super focused.
“It’s gonna be tight…” I chew on my lips before another flash of explosions happens, now in sight. “I can hold it, go!” I shout back.
Victor jumps first, a little uncertain, still, I value the trust he puts in me. Not like he has any other choice… August and then Hugo follow after Victor and when they leave the last pillar I let it collapse. Now I can build another one towards the other side, our goal getting closer. Soon Victor passes me nodding in my direction, then August, and lastly Hugo.
My mana pool empties quickly as I’m basically expending everything each second to create our route of escape and since there’s no way back anymore it’s useless to worry about. I repeat the same steps a few times. Pillar, all of us jumping, collapsing the last pillar.
Reaching close to the other side I raise the next pillar but the water there is either much deeper or the underwater flow is just outstandingly strong so the current washes away the column as if it were a toothpick. This should be the last one and my mana has already reached the dangerous twenty percent mark. If I hesitate too long our chances of ending up in the waves will only increase.
As if to reinforce my conviction, a ray of darkness flies past me within arm’s reach. I think they’ve given up on taking us alive...
I jump on the pillar behind Hugo to get a little closer, relinquishing control over the one I was just standing on.
“I’ll need a bigger one here.” I mumble and start raising a wider and sturdier earth platform.
An expensive and difficult one.
“Move!” I shout while straining against the force of nature with all my will.
The strain on my mind is so immense I feel blood dripping down my nose and my limbs weakening every second. Every wave bashing into the pillars feels like a blow to my head, making me groan and blink in rapid succession.
Just a little more.
Victor makes it, then August, however when Hugo lands on the foothold with his and Kayla’s combined weight even the strengthened earth can’t hold and cracks form beneath their feet.
Fuck!
I don’t know why or moved by what but my body acts on its own, leaping forward without any regard for my own life. Mid leap I use all the mana I can scrape together and release a gust of wind right towards Hugo focusing all my control. Everything.
The pillars collapse. The one I was standing on, the ones in front of me… The bridge is burned…
It doesn’t matter really, I’m spent on mana anyway, probably wouldn’t have made it even if everything went well. Victor catches the flying Kayla and Hugo crashes on the other side with a hefty thud.
Two for one? I’ll take it. Logically speaking this was the right choice. But why throw myself away… were we that close? And why does this situation remind me of William again? It was my idea, my choice, my responsibility… At least I didn’t fail it this time.
No regrets…
Who am I kidding? I have plenty of regrets. Only regrets, there was so much more.
“Eli!” Victor shouts after me, his eyes wide, mouth wide open.
August looks up at me from where he landed and sprints towards the edge of the river, his eyes resolute.
“Don’t you dare!” I shout at both of them.
Losing a friend is difficult, I know, Milara was what I would consider a barely friend so I can imagine this will be even harder to accept for the others. Deal with it boys or I’ll haunt you.
As soon as my feet touch the waves it almost grabs me, pulling me down below, dragging me along with the devilish flow. Under the water, it feels like being pushed around, like being beaten from all sides, like nature ganging up on me for how tyrannical I have been over it for years.
Soon the pressure disappears and everything turns light and quiet. It's peaceful for a moment, before gravity butts in.
I claw at the air helplessly, plummeting toward the bottom of the waterfall with nothing I can do. It’s not the same helplessness as back home when we got robbed… No, this was my decision, an impulsive and stupid decision and one I would probably make again in the same situation.
I managed to squeeze a little backstory out of both Kayla and Victor. They had it rough. Kayla was abandoned by her parents in a forest when she was young while Victor lived like the textbook definition of a streetrat. They deserve a little more from life. Fuck August.
Vapor and rainbows envelop me on the way down like a glittering blanket making the scenery from up high even more beautiful with all the colors and gleam. Developing a way to fly was always high on my to-do list and this one definitely doesn’t count. Just how cool would it be if I could fly to safety right now…
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My light show isn’t very long, not the happiest one either but better than going out alone in the dark.
It had to be cool.
As the sound of water crashing down with the force to shatter rocks grows closer I close my eyes and do something I've never done before. Pray. Pray for someone, something to reach out a hand and help me.
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Victor falls to his knees. This is too much, I lost another.
Victor was a child without the freedom of an orphan yet also never receiving the care of a parent either. Child of a prostitute and a gambling addict, a son of the slums, and an outcast among his peers. No matter the effort he put in, the light at the end of the tunnel, the promise of love and care was always just a lure by someone. Everything was fake and cold.
He had to resort to stealing and begging to survive, his father providing nothing else than a roof above his head. The drunkard probably never realized his son was taken away, or rather left voluntarily with Bennett.
In the Fort, he had a chance to start anew. A stable life without beatings at home, no longer in constant danger, no more solitude. Making friends came easily, with the deception tactics he learned from the streets, his instincts still raging inside him despite his new environment. He searched for the talented ones, the children who he could benefit from, the special ones like him.
This changed with time. Kindness did reach his heart, and years of wariness were melted away by the genuine goodwill. He cherished this happiness and became willing to fight for it, or rather to fight against his previous life.
He worked diligently, doing his best to be ready, and still, it wasn’t enough. Why? Why can’t things just go simply? Why did they have to go? Why couldn’t I do anything for them?
Then the subject of his anger changes from the world and the cruel hands of fate, to people. It’s not the sword that kills, it’s the one wielding the sword.
Why can’t those high and mighty noble bastards leave us some happiness? Why must they always take? Why did they enjoy life while I searched for food in the gutter? Why must they come for my friend now…
They remain frozen near the river where another one of their friends perished until a bright line of energy lacerates the ground, taking a chuck of the ground on the other side with it down the cliff. After a silent agreement, the remaining three boys start running along the cliff again to avoid adding a third name to the people they will have to mourn once this is over. They keep running until their legs can't carry them anymore, and the emotions catch up to them. One after another they collapse onto the ground, sobbing silently for minutes if not hours.
“What’s the situation here?” Bennett lands by their side.
Even in his wildest dream, Victor could not imagine seeing the old veteran as wounded as he is right now. His left shoulder has a hole as wide as a finger going through it, while his right thigh has a deep cut running across it, he lost an ear, and even half of his beard is gone. He looks beaten yet just as dangerous.
Being left without an answer Bennett’s eyes wander around. “Only four?” He asks, aghast.
The implication is clear.
“Where are the others?” Muted silence. “Speak, damn you!” The old warrior roars.
This time August raises his head and answers with puffy red eyes. “Milara lays dead beneath what’s left of the carriage and Elyssia is down there.” He points towards the edge of the cliff where the waterfall is still visible.
As they all fall silent again the mage of the Academy lands next to them. Despite his haughty attitude and amateur moves, he held his ground remarkably well even after losing an arm in the fight.
He looks at the dwindled number of kids and sighs after downing another bottle of glowing liquid. “The chancellor’s going to kill me.” He mutters.
Bennett grabs his collar and pulls the man closer, his face distorted by rage. “Explain why the carriage exploded! Explain why I lost one of my comrades! Explain why your partner attacked us and explain to me why I shouldn't kill you right here!” He shakes the man like a piece of rag.
“Unhand me barbarian, I know just as much as you do.” The mage pulls away, dusting off his clothes with his remaining hand. “I’ve worked with Zene for five years now and he has never been the aggressive type, let alone have connections with whoever those masked people were. This is as much a mystery to me as it is to you and in case you forgot, our mission is far from over.”
Bennet paces around scratching his beard and frantically looking around.
“FUCK!” He shouts.
“Save her!” Hugo yells weakly. “Can’t you just go down there and save her?” His eyes are begging for a reaffirming answer.
Bennett almost yells at him for his stupid wish but the teary eyes begging him make him stop. He shakes his head and sighs. “The chance of her surviving this,” He points at the cliff. “is abysmal, besides we don’t have time. The Ranger is still around so we can’t afford to split up now. Up on your feet and follow, we have to reach a city by daybreak or we might soon follow the girls in their fate.” Professional coldness is exactly what this situation requires, even if it's difficult.
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After making sure the kids were safe within Sereban’s walls, protected in the safe house, and giving a brief report to local authorities Bennett returned to Granhall. Spreading the word of what happened to the local authorities was the first thing he did when arriving even if some of that information was to be silenced by the perpetrators.
The chancellor of the Academy was furious at the news, as the incident reflected poorly on their institute and tried to restrict Bennett’s right to share the information. A distasteful joke. Sending the kids to study after this incident is probably safer than ever since if anything happens to them within those walls, the Academy will be the first suspect and the target of all the scrutiny. It's within their best interest to keep them safe more than anyone at the moment.
He really didn’t look forward to returning to the Fort with news like this but this time the people pulling the strings went too far. They killed a member and caused the death of two cadets, children under their protection.
When he arrives at their home the first person who welcomes him is the last one he wants to confront right now.
“Why do you look so gloomy you old fart, do you miss the little devil and gang already?” Martha calls out.
He’s never been able to hide his thoughts from the woman, her perception Skills are especially effective against him. That’s what decades of marriage does to a man.
Bennett can’t find the strength in himself to share the news, not because of Bellard, no, the man was the loner type, but because of the kids, Elyssia especially. His reluctance becomes clear to the woman and her smile fades, overtaken by worry.
“What happened?” She steps closer.
Bennett gulps and tries to avoid her. “Later. I need to report.”
Martha just stands in his way and pulls his face closer by his collar. “SPEAK!” She commands.
Bennett frowns and looks away. He’s unable to look her in the eye, to see her reaction. “We were attacked on the way there… professionals and an insider. The carriage got damaged and Milara didn’t make it.” Martha gasps, her grip weakening on his shirt. “They were good, we were forced to retreat after Bellard got taken out.” Bennett continues.
“Losing a member and a cadet… There will be blood.” Martha’s face turns grim. “The higher-ups won’t let this go…”
“I told the kids to retreat into the nearby forest for cover, told them to run. The bastards obviously targeted them. It was dangerous but-” The rest of the words don't seem to leave his mouth.
“Bennett, speak!” Martha whispers. “Who?”
“The kids ran into a large rapid, they…”
“WHO?” Martha yells.
“Elyssia didn't make it.” He blurts out.
At first, Martha seems frozen, expressionless, only her eyes moving from left to right flashing purple and blue like a reflection of the skies above her. Storm clouds begin to gather above Granhall, flashing purple and with increasing frequency. A single tear runs down her face, then she strikes the wall by the gate in rage.
A punch from a mage is rarely impressive, not even from one at Martha’s level, much less against a master-crafted fortress wall yet the hit is louder than any normal punch. A crack resounds and the sky groans as the storm rages overhead, dancing purple and white, lightning crackling furiously as if mirroring the emotions of their wielder.
“Tell me you did your best.” She hisses through clenched teeth and with storm in her eyes. “Tell me it's not your fault!
Her ever-energetic visage now seems tired and ready to give up. Sorrow written on her face.
“I’m sorry, I fought with everything I had…” Bennett answers and envelops the now frail-looking woman.
They lost more than students, those kids are like grandchildren to them, raised, scolded, and guided by their hands and even though the two elderly fighters can’t stand each other ever since their divorce, this is an exception.
“I don’t play favorites,” Martha whispers. “but I-I, the little devil was…”
“She was so much like you.” Bennett finishes.
“They’ll pay!” Martha mutters words of vengeance. “Retirement? What a stupid joke. Nobility? Imperial Decree?” She huffs and wipes at the corner of her eyes. “They started it and we’ll sure as hell see it to the end!”
The Thunderous Magister and the Radiant Juggernaut. Quite the notorious combatants of their time who just vanished from the stage of warfare decades ago, fading into oblivion as the years went by.
“May Malor grant her some well-deserved rest and may he show those bastards the mercy of death before I get my hands on them.”Whispers Martha.