"Tiyaaaaaaaaaa!" I called out to my sister, dragging it on so she would be more likely to hear it. Spinning around on a doorframe just before she came into my field of vision.
"What do you want, Lari? I am busy right now." she said back to me in a grumpy tone. A grumpy tone I would have wanted to fix had I not been focused on someone else right now.
"Have you seen Ninno-Nin? He was not in his room or on the roof."
"Why would he be on the roof...? Never mind, but yes, I have seen him. The Head of our House was speaking to him about something." she told me before her finger pointed in the direction he was supposed to be in. Her finger having been extended artificially because of her ice magic.
"Thank you!" I responded back with before I went down the path she had laid before me. Coming to a halt when I finally began to hear the signs that he was nearby.
"My progress is awful...? Yeah, no shit, no teacher wants to do their job when I am around. Everyone mocks me and attacks me and you expect me to just get through all that and still have a healthy development in my ability to read and write this gods-forsaken language of yours on top of magic!? Get out of my sight you piece of shit!" I heard him growl out angrily to what must have been our House Head.
"I don't care what you are dealing with, I made sure the City-Guard cannot bother you within the confines of a building. So the least you can do is actually ensure your enrollment!"
"DID YOU EVEN JUST LISTEN TO ME!? NO ONE WANTS TO HELP ME YOU DENSE PIECE OF IRON! IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN... I AM AN OSIBINDAH!" Nin roared out with enough force to shake the nearby walls. Walls I was currently pressed up against.
"You are running out of time, so make sure you get a passing grade. I won't remind you of what will happen if you don't." our House Head said to Nin calmly and flatly before he walked off. Likely leaving the building and perhaps it was a good thing, too.
"YOU JUST DID!" Nin had then shouted after smashing what must have been the table in that room they were in. But, I did not let it at all bother me, so I made sure my smile was clear and present and I went into the room. Joyfully waving at the man trembling in anger and fury before he steadily calmed down. A half-hearted wave coming from him before he sat down.
And broke the chair because he went down on it too hard.
"I think you can get adjustable chairs from the Academy if you ask nicely." I teased him with before I dropped to the floor and crossed my legs. Maintaining that smile I had until his expression had lightened up. Even if I did not like how he was like an underwater volcano in calm seas. Just because the water was calm did not mean he wasn't ready to go off again.
"Not like they'd give me one..." he muttered quietly before looking away with a blast of hot air leaving his nose.
"So, are you not likely to get a passing grade?" I asked him as one hand of mine moved to rub one of his. Shuffling slightly closer just in case he wanted to answer me in a quiet tone.
He shook his head, "No... He even has... Concerns... That I won't even get a passing grade even with the joint application thingy this place does." he explained somewhat sarcastically at first before getting serious. My spare hand rubbing my chin as I thought on that last bit.
"Joint application?" I repeated to myself, "Ah! I remember. The score sharing you can apply for before you do your exam. Have you already applied?"
"No... The people I might have applied to it with don't care anymore. So I am on my own."
"I don't believe you." I said with a tilt of my head. His own snapping up slightly at the misinterpreted comment of mine.
"Are you...?" he began to say as his eye twitched.
"No, I am not calling you a liar, I just think you are wrong about no one wanting to help you."
His head looked down, "Yeah, right. The people whose lives I had saved on several occasions want nothing to do with me anymore. If I can't even keep them on my side what chance do I have!?" he said to me while getting increasingly upset.
"I don't think that is the case, I think they are just busy and stressed out. Just give them some tim-"
"TIME!? I DON'T HAVE ANY IF YOU CAN'T TELL YOU STUPID GIRL!" he then roared in my face which left me frowning. His teeth having got dangerously close to my face.
"Please don't shout at me." I told him quietly, notably upset by what he had just done. An upside-down smile having formed in the process. And thankfully, he was quick to notice it and apologize for it, not verbally. But with a small gesture, one that was enough to put a smile back on my face.
"So what do I do then? Hm? What do I do... Because even with your help regarding my magic, I am not going to be getting anywhere anytime soon."
"Do you know how many people can be signed on together?" I then asked him as I did not know. Me and my sister were going to sign up together later in the year as per the wishes of our family. But, if I can, maybe I can attach us to Nin? Or him to us if we can't get too many people on board.
"I don't know, I assume two because Frihdeicalkbr's example was two lovers going here together. Something about how their magic was designed to bounce off of each other in his example."
I let out a long noise of thought, "Wait right here, okay? Do not even get up!" I tell him before springing to my feet. Dashing off along the route the Head of our House likely went before finding myself outside. Going into a brief moment of just thinking before dashing off again. Sliding to a stop along freshly made mud, stopping right before my target.
"Can I help?" he asked me as his eyes focused on where my magic was most concentrated.
"Yes, the... Joint point thing for the entrance exams, how many people are allowed in it?"
"The system was designed for two-people."
"Oh..." I found myself saying as my expression almost became foul.
"But, there is no limit to how many people can join and share points. It just wasn't added to the legislature."
"So as long as I can get someone to agree to join in then I can bring in lots and lots?" I asked with growing excitement.
"Ye-" he began to say before I shot upwards into the sky. A light shower of bright blue water raining down from me before I landed. Large splashes of water coming from me until I went back inside with a large smile on my face.
"WE CAN HAVE AS MANY AS WE WANT!" I yelled in happiness as I came back to the room Nin should have been in. A trail of slightly muddy footprints having followed me on the way in. A sheepish grin overtaking me as my eyes met my sister's as she was just by the entrance.
"Clean this u-" she began to say before I locked the door behind me. Humming a tune before a bewildered and floor-based Nin as my sister banged on the door. A frustrated sigh leaving her before she disappeared.
"As many as we want!" I then repeated to Nin with a smile.
"Right... And who is willing to help?"
"Me, obviously!"
"At this rate, I am going to need more than just you."
"What about that sparkling you look at a lot?"
"Einervaene? No, she is one of the ones I was on about earlier." he said to me grouchily.
"Alright, that's two, now, let me just ask my sister!" I said to him, opening the door and going up to my sister so I could get her in on it. Only to slip up on some ice and bang my head.
"OW!" I cried out as I clutched the back of my head.
"Now you know not to run around soaked in your magic!"
"You're so mean to me..." I cried out with fake tears before getting up and going up to her.
"What?"
"Can you please join me and Nin in sharing our exam points so he can get into the Academy and not risk being shot for doing nothing? Remember, a noble is meant to always be generous in both wealth and effort! You have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than you!" I began to ramble on as she looked on at me blankly.
"Alright." was all she had to say. Something that left me making a noise as my mouth opened wide in joy.
"Thank you!" I sang out before dashing off to another part of the building in hopes of getting others on board. Then, when that was done, I would solve Nin's issues with Einervaene and get her on board. Soon hopping to a halt as I found two others I could ask regarding it all.
"Put some clothes on." Quinshuu commented while he sat at the kitchen island alongside Tiya's Errakurdish friend. The one who had helped her learn ice magic, even though he was a user of fire magic! I had no interest in the theory, I just found it funny my sister learnt cold magic from a hot source. His name was Omb Ur-Nace and he was a big boy with a big gut.
"Can I ask you two something?"
"Is it related to food?" Ombbo chuckled out before he took a bite from a pastry he had in his hand. Its fatty juices dripping out onto his chin before it then hit the napkin he had on.
"It will be if you accept my offer." I said to him with a grin.
"Very well." Ombbo said as a curious hand drummed his belly.
"What is this even about?" Quinshuu then asked as he got up and walked over to me. His body stern in its movements until he loosened up upon stopping in front of me.
"I am looking for people to help Nin pass the entrance exam by sharing their points."
"Sharing points?" Quinshuu repeated.
"Yeah, you don't lose any, your spare points that go past the passing grade just get added on to the one who might not have passed and it helps them get through."
"I see, and who is Nin?"
"My friend! You are usually drinking your milk when I make him breakfast." Ombbo clarified to him.
"Ah, the bug."
"So will you two help?" I then asked.
"Sure, be nice to see what a bug might find tasty." Ombbo said to me, reassuring his previous answer. Quinshuu, on the other hand, said nothing, he just moved to leave.
"I will see him first, take me to him." he ordered, something I was happy to comply with.
"You aren't going to cause any issues are you?" I asked him before I began to guide him, however. I did not want him causing any trouble with Nin.
"I seek to inspect him, to see how he compares to the stories and tales the others of this land have of his kind. I wish to see if he is worthy prey."
"I just implied that I did not want you causing issues."
"Relax, Harlot, I do not want to fight him. Not now at the very least." he explained before he began to follow my water trails. And soon, we were in front of Nin and he was in the process of getting up.
"Well...?" Nin then asked expectingly as Quinshuu began to walk around him. Much like how a more nimble predator might circle something it might be able to kill.
"So, do you live up to the tales I hear of your kind?"
Nin looked about nervously, "What tales...?"
"Of how settlements were swallowed into the earth. Of how a formerly triumphant battle turned into a disaster because of a well-timed ambush. The tale of the creature so determined to survive that it lives on despite efforts to utterly genocide it."
"No..." Nin said with a lack of certainty, however, he was slightly jumpy at the first bit.
Quinshuu then turned to look at me, "You want me to help this creature become a student here, at no detriment to myself?" he then asked with that same hard, seemingly blank stare of his.
"You can only benefit from it." was all I really had to say and it was true! You did not lose points to another, you merely had your disposable points added on to a struggling someone.
Quinshuu breathed in and out deeply, "I will make my decision, after seeing what he is capable of."
"You want to fight me...?" Nin asked hopelessly.
"No, I want to see you fight what you have hunted before. If you are in need of being polished or sharpened, I have no issue with that. But, I wish to see what your kind is capable of with my own eyes." he said as he walked closer to Nin. His unyielding stare making Nin back away despite the size advantage he had.
"You are going to be disappointed..." Nin then muttered.
"I will be the one to determine that, not you. Besides, if I wanted to be impressed, I would seek demonstrations elsewhere."
Nin's brow went down before he began to walk away, "So is that everyone we are likely to get?" he then asked me as he came to a stop. However, he quickly backed off into the room upon seeing something beyond me. And, as I was curious to see what caused him to do that, I turned around.
The soft-tail and the mother, it was.
"Can you two come here for a second!" I then called out to them with a smile as I skipped on over. Bouncing up and down as I stood before them. Much to the delight of the child in the hands of the mother on my right. But, the child was easily distracted and soon wanted the soft tail waving near it.
"What do you want?" the one with the soft tail asked me cautiously. The mother, however, did the opposite, she straightened up and gave me a soft smile.
"I am here to ask if you two will be willing to help me with something."
"Don't you have a sister you can ask?" the soft-tail said to me, her tone implying certain things I wasn't going to focus on.
"And she has agreed to help, but, I need more help with it."
"What do you need help with?" the mother said with a raspy voice, a quiet cough leaving her shortly after.
"You two aren't bothered by Nin are you?" I then asked the pair, the one with the tail getting who I was on about. But the other did not get it, she seemed a little confused.
"Nin...?" she whispered to her companion.
"Bug." was all her companion said, something that was more than enough to make her back away shaking her head. Her hands clutching her son protectively as she began to panic.
"Hey, it's alright." I then said to her as I went up to her and held her close. Humming a gentle tune as my magic aura wrapped around them to help ease them. My gentle tone along with a strong magic presence should have been able to keep her calm. Luckily, it did.
"So what is this about the H- Nin?" the other one asked while I was cradling the mother and her son.
"I am looking for people to join the entrance exam point-sharing thing."
"We wouldn't be able to, anyway, we signed up with someone else."
"Oh..." I found myself saying in disappointment before dancing away a little. My mind stuck on the topic as I was hoping to get a wide variety of people. Not only would Nin be more likely to pass, but, so would everyone else!
"Have you tried asking those from other dorms?"
I shook my head, "No, it would not work, it seems Nin is not very popular. I was lucky so far, I guess." I said with a shrug. My face rather blank as I tried to think of people who I could get on board to help us out. Then, I remembered we had at least two potential people.
The friends he had a falling out with.
"We really have to get going..." the soft-tail then said before I then sprang in front of her.
"Wait! I want to know your names first!"
"I'm Vadei and that is Dandel'lhia, now, if you'll excuse us." Vadei said to me as she tried to get past me. But, I would not let her, I just kept scooting in front until I had said my name.
"And I am Lari-" I began to say before a loud bang caught my attention. That bang bringing me back to Nin who was once again in a state of violent anger. Quinshuu, however, was looking on with that same stare. Had he provoked him while I was gone?
He better have not!
"Hey, hey!" I said to Nin as I came up to him and brought his face towards mine. A smile on my face contrasting the glare on his until it warped into a more acceptable expression.
"Now what?" he then asked me before I turned to Quinshuu.
"Can you go and get us a training room prepared? We'll be along shortly." I said as I grabbed Nin's hand and brought him upstairs. Coming to a stop once we had reached them before I then moved away. Knocking on a door before opening it and walking out as no one was there.
"You are looking for Einervaene?" Nin asked me, his mood fouling again before he went into his own room.
"Do you happen to know where she might be? I want to speak with her."
"I don't know... Why would I know or care for that matter?" he said to me, agitated. His door soon being closed by him personally before I heard the bed creak loudly. I smiled a little, just at the joke in my head. I would never smile at his frustrations, not these kind, anyway. Yet, I was not here to laugh at jokes made in my head, I was here to help.
So I went back to Einervaene's room and looked about for anything that might be a useful or telling clue. Soon letting out a ponderous sound as I found something rather quickly. It was a notetablet, and it was filled with details regarding the ability to fly and Mechanical House. Then, with a rough idea of where I would need to go, I leapt out the window.
A splash of water indicating my arrival to the ground below before I danced about a little. Slowing down until I reached a standstill and going completely still with a blank face. I had gotten so used to leaving through the roof with Nin that being on the ground felt odd. I even had to spend a little time trying to get my bearings!
Which was rather embarrassing, actually.
But, I got an idea of where I would need to go after some deliberation. Even using some of my magical water to serve as a guide in hopes it would pick up on the lightning-magic she used. I assume so, anyway, all of her notes were written within that context and I did see some Eusorochiian stuff in her room. I just hope she had no issues with me, our two people did have a notable history.
"Okay... Which one is her...?" I soon found myself saying as I tapped my finger against nothing. Having found several Eusorochiians on my way to Mechanical house. But, luckily, only one that was trying to fly. And I really had to put on the emphasis that she was trying because she was not doing very well.
"Oh? Am I bothering you, sorry! I'll just move..." the distracted woman said to me after I had approached her. Her eyes red and puffy and movements all over the place.
"Are you by any chance Einervaene?" I then asked which got her attention instantly.
"Y-Yeah... Can I help you?" she then asked me as she slowly stumbled upwards. A smile on my face as I soon felt strange sensations go over me when I started to hold her. She must of been letting off a lot of magic recently as it was like one of those false gum toys.
"I am here to speak to you about Nin-" I started up with before she forced herself away from me.
"What about him..." she said to me bitterly, notably upset about something. Was it related to that ruckus I heard after I left Nin to shower on that day? Couldn't remember what day, mind you, but, I do remember the ruckus. A formerly happy Nin being very angry when I next saw him.
"I am looking to ask if you want to sign up to the entrance exam point share, to help him pass, obviously." I explained to her which then caused her to shoot up in worry.
"Of course... The entrance exam... Me and Rossie-chira did say we would..." she began to say before she started crying. Clearly again going by how her face was when I found her.
"Is Rossie-chira another one of his friends?" I asked but she turned away from me.
"I don't know what any of us are to him anymore... Rossie-chira wants nothing to do with him for some reason and Urtuoi-kischu seems to think I have been ignoring him... I haven't! I have just been busy! I haven't..." she said before she curled up into her knees and whimpered. My hand soon rubbing her back gently so I could calm her down.
"I don't think so, I think he has just been lonely lately and he isn't sure how to word it."
"He worded it quite well from what I have seen..." a glare likely forming on her face as she turned away from me.
"He also likely did not mean it, you must surely understand he is under a lot of pressure right now. Have you ever been through a lot of stuff at once and found yourself getting angry easier?"
She went quiet and put more distance between us, "I have..." she then said to me quietly.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
"Then you understand, come on, let's go back to the dorm, he can apologize for what he had said and then we can help him." a smile growing on my lips as I reached the end of my sentence. Hopefully, I had won Einervaene over and she would be willing to help us out. If not, then... Well, I guess I would have to give it another go.
Einervaene then looked off in the distance, mumbling something, but, then she suddenly gained fortitude in her words and her attitude changed, "Alright, let's go see him... I want to see my friend."
My finger soon helping hers clean her eyes as my smile passed on to her, "Great! Let's go!" I said to her as we began to move away from here. Her posture, however, remained nervous so I did what I could to try and get the anxiety out of her. Be it just smiling at her or trying to tickle her.
"S-Stop it!" she giggled out as she smacked my hands away. One of my fingers catching itself on the copper in her clothes by accident. A sharp shock travelling through my fingers as a result of this.
"Ow!" I let out as the lightning reacted with the water-influenced magic I had in and around me. A web of blue lightning arcing around me before it disappeared. My eyes wide in amazement before I giggled.
"You are Ibenorrocon?" I was then asked once I was done enjoying the way her magic reacted with mine.
"I am indeed!"
"Would I perhaps be able to borrow you then at some point? I need to try something with someone with good water magic control."
"Sure! But, it might have to wait until after the entrance exams." I told her, however, I made sure to make it clear to her what my priorities were. As such, a frown formed on her face and her mood lost its former joy.
"You're really dedicated to helping him, huh?" she asked me quietly before looking away.
"I was never one for standing by idly when others were sad. So, here I am, helping him get back on his feet." I said with a small smile as I twisted a foot around.
"Did... Did you know Urtuoi-kischu before coming here." she then asked me to which I shook my head. Her mood only getting worse as a result.
"Something bothering you?"
"I feel like me expecting an apology from him is wrong..." she muttered quietly to which I raised a brow. If Nin had hurt her feelings then he should apologise!
"Why?" I asked anyway, I would like to hear her reasoning after all.
"He's my friend... One I haven't known long, admittedly, but, we have done quite a bit together. Yet, here you are, someone who was not or might not be his friend and you have been more of one to him than I have since coming here..."
"You have been busy, you can't always expect to be there for him."
"No... I know... But I should of at least tried to be there for h-him. I saw what it was like when we first got here, how he was when all that... Happened. Yet, I told him, despite being his friend... That... That I did not want to be seen near him..."
"I see..." I quietly said in response, my eyes widening slightly after I heard that. It was such a horrible thing to hear, but I would not judge her for it. I can understand perfectly fine why someone might try to distance themselves from someone so infamous. Someone so despised with such vigour.
"M-Maybe I sho-" she stuttered out as she tried to leave.
"No. You will still come, you will apologize to him, he will apologise to you. And you can both be friends again!" I told her loudly before grabbing her hand and running. Laughing as she stumbled about, barely able to get herself sorted as I dragged her along with haste. Her words not even being registered before we got back to the dorm.
"I... I need..." Einervaene panted out as she bent over somewhat. Her form seemingly stiff as she did so.
"Can you not bend that much?" I then asked her as I dropped down backwards. My body forming an arch for the right side of something before my head bent down further. A smug grin present as I looked at her from an upside-down view. A small smile coming to her face before it then disappeared again.
"No, not much. But, my current attire isn't very flexible either."
"It's to do with the metal?" I asked as I hovered a finger near the copper again.
"Yeah, I can explain the details later if you want."
"That would be nice, but, for now, let us go and see him!" I loudly declared as I shot up and pointed at the door. Taking wide strides into the building and shortening them down as we got closer to Nin. Then, once we got to where he was, I knocked on the door.
"What?" he called out grouchily, "You can let yourself in, you know that." he then bitterly added in reference to his door and lock.
"It's just me!" I said rather trickily as it wasn't just me. But, at the same time, it was just me, because who else could I be... But me?
"Let yourself in then." he then said in a rather nonchalant tone, clearly not caring if I came in. Soon, however, he would very much care. He'd care a lot and I'd get to see him be happy!
"Do you have the key?" I then whispered to Einervaene as I failed to grab it on the way here. She shook her head rapidly before hurrying off. The key bouncing about her hands as she rushed back.
Then, after letting her prepare herself, I opened the door.
"So what do you... Want..." Nin began to say before Einervaene followed me in through the door. Her posture showing how nervous she was while Nin had risen to his feet with a snarl behind his lips.
"Nin, calm down, she is just here for a couple of things."
"Those couple of things best be a want to be shoved away and a fist to the gut!" he threatened as he marched closer. Something that caused the poor girl to be frightened enough to back up towards the wall. And, with that, it was clear I needed to be more assertive.
"Sit down!" I then ordered him like a scolding mother, firmly planting both hands on my hips after getting in his way. Letting my magic aura and external-magic flow do most of the talking even if it made me uncomfortable. It felt wrong to treat him like this. But, it was needed for the current moments.
"Why is she here?" he then asked me after sitting down following a snort of annoyance.
"To apologise and be apologised to."
"Apologised to? Excuse me? She is getting no such thing!" he responded back with, barely keeping himself from smashing something. Another problem for another time that was, his violent responses...
"You shoved past her after being incredibly rude and mean to her." I told him before crossing my arms.
"Aw? Did I be mean to her? Did I make her sad? Did I shove her? Aw... Too bad." he mockingly said in a childish tone while performing certain poses. His mind likely a torrent of all his memories of abuse by the staff and students of this Academy and whatever the guards do.
My first response was to make myself more intimidating to get him to watch his mouth, then, I sighed, "Nin, do you like what the guards and everyone else do to you?"
"What do you think?" he replied sarcastically before looking away, his gaze only looking down at me.
"If you don't like it, then why would anyone else like it?"
"Why should I care what others think? They all condemn me for crimes of bugs who can't even think for themselves! People whose bodies were taken over like a puppet is stuffed full of the puppeteer's hand!"
"That doesn't make your actions right Nin, even if they are easy to understand."
He growled some more, "I'm not apologizing..." he grumbled while glaring at the woman who has been silent since we came in.
Until now, "L-Look... Urtu... Nin... I'm..." she sniffled out as some tears formed, "I'm sorry I said those hurtful things to you. That I'd rather be seen nowhere near you and so on... It was not right of me... You are my friend and you have done so much for me and it was not fair for me to just abandon you like that in your time of need..." she said at first clearly, albeit frequently interrupted by tears and eye rubs. But, she became quieter towards the end, sizzling out like a candle wick going into the melted wax.
"Bit late n-"
"Nin!" I sternly said to him, that action making him seemingly lose his anger before he then walked off. Not out of the room, I would not let him, but, towards the window.
"I'm sorry for what I did as well." he then sighed out, not even looking at Einervaene when he said it. But, even if I was to try and force it, it likely would not have happened as shown by the fact his fists curled when he said it. Maybe later I could get a proper apology from him, but not now. Right now there was too much resentment in him.
He was just too angry...
"Well, now that, that is done, let's go!" I then said cheerfully in an effort to change the general mood of the room.
"Where were we going to go again?" Nin then asked as he clearly remembered what it was.
"Quinshuu the Excessively Dressed was going to test you, remember?"
"Right... But where?"
"I dunno." I said to him with a shrug before I opened the window.
Nin then smiled slightly, "Time to see if I can learn I suppose." he said before going up to the roof. My eyes soon focusing on Einervaene as she waited there, still crying. An arm rubbing the other one before it tried to throw her hat away in rage for some reason.
"Hey, hey, none of that now, let's go and have some fun." I coo to her after having interrupted her moment of anger. Her body gently swaying about in mine as I hugged her tightly until she calmed down. Then, when I deemed her calm enough, I grabbed her hand and brought us both to the roof. Much to her shock and more literally, mine.
"Ah!" I squealed out as what happened earlier happened again. Only this time for longer and this time Nin got to see it too.
"What was that about?" he asked as he carefully inspected what remained of the lightning webbing before backing away.
"That, my good friend, is what happened when two magical auras largely incompatible with each other cross paths." I explained from the floor, or roof, rather.
"Oh... Alright..." he said to me with his confusion clear. It once again making it clear that he did not understand magic very well.
"And here is what happens if I do it to you!" I cheerfully said, hoping to get something to happen with his... But nothing did happen, nothing at all, didn't even get my water making misty gusts.
"Nothing is happening..." he pointed out with a raised brow.
"What element are you, anyway?" I then found myself asking as I had never seen him cast magic. Only use what was in his body.
"Couldn't tell you. Could not tell you..." he said as his mind went distant, a curious action following it, however. He was pressing his hand against some of the brickwork on the roof, but, nothing came of it. Nothing at all. So I could only wonder what it was about.
"W-What about if I try?" Einervaene then asked as she cautiously stepped closer to him.
"Yeah, whatever." he said with notable hostility, but, it was still nowhere near as bad as when we were in the room.
"Alright... I'll be careful, alright?" Einervaene said to him, her words clearly showing she thought something awful. Something I frankly did not want to hear.
"Get on with it." he nearly snapped at her, causing her to jump. Lose spine, however, she did not, and thusly, we got to see the result of what her own aura would do with his.
"Wow, you're boring..." I joked as I noted the amazing nothing that happened as a result of it.
"If my theory is correct, you won't get anything anyway. Lightning doesn't do anything to rock."
"Rock?" me and Einervaene both found ourselves saying at once.
"Bugs use some kind of rock magic in my experience." he said with noted distaste.
"But do you?" I then asked him as I got up.
"Not since I ended up like this."
"So you don't use rock magic." I said with a smile, wanting to make it clear, or, well, at least encourage something. That something being that I wanted him to distance himself from the idea he was a bug. He wasn't, he was Nin.
"I don't know what I use." he sighed out before heading towards the edge of the roof. Or, well, near it, he did not want to be seen after all.
"Any of you two know which way we are going?" I then asked with a knowing smile. Their following gazes making me break out in laughter before I went about to figuring out where we would need to go. And soon, I was hopping over to another roof and waving them over. Nin would go on to jump awkwardly, but Einervaene did not jump at all, she just stayed still.
"Just jump?" she then asked as she cautiously peaked over the roof.
"Yeah, don't know how to jump?"
"I know how to jump!" she started off loudly, "I just don't jump far..." she then said quietly. A roll of my eyes then preceded my next actions, actions that involved jumping back over and picking her up. Then jumping back over again!
"You are very soft." I commented which led to her going completely red in the face.
"I'm sorry for making you get me." she said to me after I put her down.
"No worries! I'm here to help, but, how come you didn't jump?"
"I have not trained my internal-magic very well if at all. Mostly because I have been able to travel without jumping far like Urtuoi-kischu sometimes do. I used a spell, but that spell can't be used up here."
"How come? Is the city getting in the way of it?" I asked as I pointed over at the brass city.
"I think that plays a part, yes, but not an entirely correct one. It seems to be more of the case that the spell relied on clouds and well..." she explained before looking up at the cloudless sky.
"What was the spell anyway? Did you climb along them?"
"I suppose? I technically transmute myself into lightning and shoot back down from the clouds."
"That sounds quite cool! All I do is manipulate water into objects I use to have fun with!" I tell her as I showed off a few small, well-rounded orbs. Orbs I then I threw so we could watch them bounce like a pebble before they popped when they got too far away. My external-magic control not being good enough to reach as far as they did. Well, here at the very least.
Magic was very hard to control up here in comparison to the safety measures our ships had. Safety measures they desperate needed otherwise the ship would blow up along with its occupants. Magic got very dangerous in magicless areas like the open waters of the All-Coast. Something I quite enjoyed seeing as you could tell when your magic left the safe areas as it would erupt into an arcane fireball.
"Your magic is more impressive if I am being honest..." Einervaene said as her arm which she had just used to show off her own abilities went limp.
"Why does it do that?"
"Because I ended up learning to do it sacrificially rather than how you would do it. So I need to switch over to the proper way. Which, is what this new outfit is meant to help with. But, I have also found new ways that it can be useful."
"Ooooo..." I let out with a wince upon hearing the first part, "Well, good luck to getting out of that mess. Personally, I never did any sacrificial magic casting but I know it can be quite bad if it doesn't get dealt with." I said to her before looking over at Nin. Hoping to see if he had anything to contribute to the conversation. But he was on the other side of the building just watching his fingers.
Then, he shook his head and turned around, "Can we get going now?" he asked impatiently. His foot tapping the roof aggressively but still gently.
"Sure!" was my answer before I grabbed Einervaene's hand again and then Nin's. Following it up by just dragging them through the air as I propelled us through it. Large splashes of water following every landing until I finally brought us to a training centre after a series of jumps.
"A little warning next time..." Nin grumbled before he hopped down into a bush. A smile on my face as I watched Einervaene regain her footing.
"An agile one, aren't you?" she commented as she finally got some steadiness into her legs. Her hand warding mine off as she too got down. But me? I jumped into the sky first and landed with such force as to soak them both in water.
"P-P-Plea..." Einervaene said with much difficulty as she fell to the floor in a series of spasms. The amount of water she got soaked with having mixed badly with her own magic. And, well, I had just shortcircuited her.
"Don't worry, I got her." Nin said as he went to grab her before going inside quickly with me following her.
"Let me see..." I said as I tried to pull as much water as I could off of her. My eyes steadily widening with worry and embarrassment as I watched her continue to short-circuit.
"Do the training rooms have a means to dry her off? We mostly used them for physical tasks before."
"Yeah, they have the means, let us find Quinshuu quickly, however." I said to him before running ahead. My eyes open as far as they would go as I looked about for any possible means to indicate which room Quinshuu had got for us. Luckily, I found it quickly, unfortunately, it was at the far end of the building and it was crowded so Nin was having to get through everyone.
So, in a brief panic to get him over here, I shot out some of my magic to wall him off from everyone. Then, I scooped him over to me as quickly as I could which led to me nearly being crushed against a wall by his body.
"Are you alright?" he asked me as he had stopped himself by planting an open palm somewhat into the wall. And I was indeed fine, so I looked up at his face and smiled. Something he followed up with by looking away with embarrassment, a new thing for him.
"He's just in that one." I pointed out to him, gesturing to both the sign he had personally left out and the one handled by the Academy. And I don't think I had ever seen him to quick to move away from me. But, I had a slight idea as to what might have caused it which made me happy. Yet, soon, I was quickly frowning when I looked down the hall.
"Please don't be what I think it is." I muttered under my breath before going through the portal. A smile having been put back on my face before I slid along the pitch-white chamber.
"What took you so long, Harlot?" Quinshuu called out to me as he got down from the device he must have been using to pass the time. Or, going by the burning targets in the distance, what he had used to train. But is training not a means to pass the time.
"I was getting someone and solving problems!" I cheered out as I went over to him. First getting lost in the strange way his eyes were behaving before paying attention to what he was going on about.
"What do I need to press to get something to dry her off?" Nin then called out from over by the console. So, I went over to him while humming a tune, happy to help and happy to get away from Quinshuu as I had not listened to him at all. So, he would have to explain to Nin personally what he wanted to do with him.
"Press this, that, this, that, this, twist that, turn that, flick this and then bop this one right here." I told him while doing it all for him and not letting him watch. He would have made a comment, but what he wanted soon appeared and he was quick to put Einervaene over there. And yet, despite how angry he was at her, he still showed delicacy and gentleness when handling her.
"Now, what is it you wanted from me?" Nin then asked Quinshuu as I walked passed him. Heading straight on towards Einervaene so I could make sure she was okay and ensure she lived up to her end of the bargain. I wanted to know what she was doing earlier and how her clothes supposedly worked so bad!
"Sorry for getting you wet." I sheepishly said as I joined her in the red glow of this machine. Its warmth soon getting into me with it leaving me nostalgic. I felt like I was on a pearly white beach back on my home continent. The halo just letting it all out as it passed by us in its orbit.
"It's fine, at least it wasn't my fault this time." she said with a smile as she clearly entertained herself with old memories.
"This happens often?"
"More than I'd like it too, especially if I am around others."
"Sounds more like it is a good thing it happens around others, that way they can help you."
"Yeah..." she said before looking on at Nin. A twitch of her lips happening before she looked back at me along with the subtlest of relaxations.
"So... What were you going to say before? About your outfit?"
"Outfit? Oh! Yes, I was going to explain what I had discovered regarding it, yes?"
"Yes!"
A smile came to her face properly this time, "So, as I said, my magic involves me transmuting myself into lightning. But, with this outfit of mine, that I originally intended as a means to help me cast magic in general. It turns out I can transmute myself and maintain a physical form!" her body nearly moving up and down in joy while my mouth opened to express it.
"So you can turn yourself into a lightning woman!?" I nearly yelled out in excitement as now I really wanted to see her do it.
"More like a lightning blob, outside anyway, I still have not gotten over the effects that Thrurstradtur has on me. But, once I start casting properly, I believe I will be able to do it just fine!"
"Well, in here, the city can't affect you, so how about it then? Let's see it."
"Maybe when I am a bit drier... I don't want to even imagine what would happen if I went near water like this."
"Fair, but, have you ever considered training in or near water? If water affects you this badly then surely it would be a good idea to...?"
She frowned and moved her body closer together, "I... I think I have aquaphobia, so I don't think that will work."
"A fear of water? Then why are you not terrified of me?"
"Well, it might not be entirely true to say that. I think it is less a fear of water and more so a fear of using magic near lots of it. I nearly drowned once when I was travelling, see. Our ship got attacked by these creatures with hooves and..."
"Ah, no need to explain further, I understand." I say to her as I rub a hand on her. Making sure all my magic was safely tucked away and under control when I did so.
"Thank you."
"But... Now that you say it, maybe I should help you get over it? If you can start coming along to when I am helping Nin then we can start trying to get your magic under control near water?"
"I think that is a bit too big of a step for me right now."
"We don't have to put you in a lake or anything, just a puddle maybe, we can keep going until no lightning goes across it. Besides, you have high-heeled boots, you'll be fine in a puddle." I tell her as I tapped the copper base to her black boots.
"I'll think I will pass on that offer for now." she answered, still displaying that same nervousness. Her hands and fingers soon moving all her clothes about to sort them out and to air them out.
"You can pass on that if you want, but you won't pass on training with us!" I tell her as I jokingly grab her firmly.
A slow nod coming from her soon after, "I will see what I can do, I've been spending a lot of time with various teachers for feedback. But, I think I am ready for a more solitary experience so I can visit then?"
I grinned as I moved closer, "As long as you are there for him." I said which led to her going slightly red as she looked over at Nin.
"So you wanted to see my spell?" she then said suddenly as she shot up to her feet. A dry laugh leaving me as she left the drying machine and walked a notable distance away from Nin and into a quieter part of the room.
"Yep! Do you want me to do anything first, however?" I then asked as I went over to the console.
"Some walls please, just enough to hide us..." she said as her fingers got pressed together. Small sparks going between them and off of them.
"Sure, I can do that." I said with smirk as I carefully looked at where her eyes were looking before I brought the walls into existence. Letting the wall that stopped her view appear last just so I could have some fun with it later. Then, I hopped over the console and ran through the gap so I could see her again. Skidding to a stop before then running up the wall to flip as otherwise I would have crashed.
Not that it admittedly mattered, these walls were low in magic so I might have actually just gone straight through them.
"I am fully dry, yes?" Einervaene asked initially as she looked about her body. The copper plating on her gloves being carefully inspected each time it went over something.
"Nope, not getting anything." I said to her after I was done trying to tug any of my magical water off of her.
"Alright, here I go..." she said with a gulp before she casted her spell. And I was left shocked, not literally, but the emotional kind. She was made of skin and bone one moment but now she was a crude outline of a well-developed woman made of light-blue lightning!
"Wo-oh-oh-oh!" I said as I shot closer towards her so I could look at her more closely. The sound of snapping and crackling filling my ears as I heard all those bolts that made up her new body arced about. But then a mischievous glint went into my eyes when I noticed some peculiar details. She was naked, and not just because her clothes converted with her, this form of hers was a one-to-one of her naked self!
She even had little points on her chest right where her nipples would otherwise be.
"So, what do you think?" she then asked me, completely unaware of how detailed her new form was to her body. Yet, her actions did draw my attention away from the more erotic aspects of her new body. Instead, I found myself properly looking at the copper frame of her outfit which had not transmuted. It was like a skeleton now, a skeleton mixed with a net as not bolts went past the copper.
"Very impressive, but, what is the main purpose of this spell?" I then found myself asking while thinking of how my magic developed. I liked to move about and dance, so my magic became a beneficiary to it. Giving me means to enhance my dancing with spectacle and give my body more ways to move about.
"I never really thought about it. It was just something I figured out recently." she said to me with a shrug as she moved her feet about. The tap of her high heels causing bright orange and yellow droplets to shoot out from them. The sight of them causing her to become stationary so as to not create more of them. Sounds were different too, less so a tap and more like two severed but live wires being jammed together.
"Do you think you would ever be able to modify this spell?" I then asked as I walked around her. Nearly being tempted into pinching her bottom were it not for my prior experiences with my water and her lightning.
"I figured it out while failing to fly. So I guess I might try something along those lines."
"Ah, a beautiful maiden straight from the realms of Thurnamourer." I complimented while thinking of her dancing through the sky. And, while I knew it was a stereotype my people had of hers, I couldn't help but imagine it as a certain kind of dance. One where the pole was replaced with golden lightning bolts and the building was the dark cloud backdropping it all.
"Well, one way I might take it is a means to protect myself and others. I never really did much fighting on my way to this land. But, a lot of fighting did happen around me and I usually just ran away. It's only been recently that I ever tried to fight and even then I just sort of..." she explained to me before a wave of concentrated bolts left her palms when she stuck them out.
"Now that you do that, have you considered how you might try and use your magic to heal others? You are quite strong so there will be lots of people you could potentially heal up."
"That's a fair point." she said while looking at her hands. A few more pulses leaving them before she let them fall to her sides.
"I will be honest, though, I have not a clue how you might be able to heal someone with lightning." I giggled out while thinking of what many of my countrymen do. They usually just rubbed water onto a wound or poured it into a cup or glass. And, from what I knew of this land, they just let it be breathed in.
"Some of our most famous healers do it like they are stitching someone up with a thread and needle."
"Peculiar way of doing it." I found myself saying as I tilted my head.
"I find it rather normal, I even practised sewing to get an idea of how to do it. But, I also just like sewing and making clothes."
"You'll have to find the time to make me some then!" I said to her as I moved to check on Nin and Quinshuu. My eyes soon looking on with curiosity as I watched on in amusement. It seems that Quinshuu was putting Nin through the paces against various forms of animals. Some of them were rather frightening as one had a rotating jaw that worked just like a saw!
"It looks like he needs some help..." Einervaene commented as she came to stand behind me. A safe distance away, but still rather close.
I smirked, "Then go help him with that new form of yours." I said to her.
"Are you sure? This is a new spell of mine and I'd rather no-"
"Go!" I interrupted, nearly moving to shove her out before switching out at the last minute. Just barely avoiding the shock of a lifetime when she shot out towards him. A series of barely contained laughs building up in me as I watched the naked lightning woman run off to help Nin. I would be enjoying the following moments quite a bit by the looks of it.
And as I had plenty of time, I initially walked after Einervaene. But, she ended up going straight for the monster rather riskily and was put straight into its path when Nin had moved away. His confusion at Einervaene's form preventing any kind of warning when the monster moved to snap down on her. And then it seemed like she had been bitten into two pieces.
However, much to the benefit of my heart, she was fine and was instead now in a state of fifty-fifty. Some of her body having returned to normal while the core of her body stayed as lightning. Lightning that then surged through the saliva of the monster and shocked it black. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room before the creature then disappeared as it was just a construct.
"You alright!?" I called out while holding my chest. A pale-faced Einervaene giving her response in the form of a nod before she collapsed to the ground panting.
"I... I need to be more careful in future..." Einervaene said as her gloved hand went against her lightning boobs until she calmed down.
"Why did you interfere!?" Quinshuu then demanded as he went up to her before backing away in disgust.
"Putting an end to your insanity is what she did." Nin commented with annoyance as he went up to the light-magic user. His head then doing a double-take on Einervaene before he just started staring. The previous laugh I had building up again as Einervaene looked on in confusion.
"What? Some of my body is made of lightning, so what?" she commented with an embarrassed pout.
"Yeah, it is. You are made of lightning, and so are your bare breasts and a more private area." Nin said while nodding over and over again before looking away.
Einervaene went redder and redder until she stopped the spell, clothes having returned to her body fully as well, "Ca-Ca-Can we p-please change the subject?" she then asked in embarrassment before fidgeting. Her efforts to hide her chest and lower half not being enough and she would just not stop moving.
"So... How come only part of your body turned back proper?" I then asked once the laughter was out of my system. Much to Einervaene's dispair.
It took her a while to respond as she needed to compose herself first, "It's because the spell involves me transferring and focusing my magic along the copper. But, as it got severed, my body went back to normal."
"So if we cut the copper about here," gesturing at a finger, "then you'd otherwise maintain a full lightning body so long as there were no other severs in your frame?"
She nodded, "That is how it seems to work, yes."
"Well, I know one thing we can certainly improve on then, having seen that."
"What is your suggestion?" she then asked me as she stood up.
"We make it so you are not giving us such an accurate showing of what you look like underneath." I chuckle out through a closed and bloated mouth. This laughter easily bringing back the red to Einervaene's face as she started to become annoyed.
"Well, as long as Urtuoi-kischu enjoyed it." she then said with a pout, seemingly unaware she specified Nin himself who was looking at her again.
"Can't say I did, lightning isn't really attractive, you know?" he said with mild amusement.
"I am ashamed of the fact I ever met you." Quinshuu then commented harshly as he turned his back on Einervaene and began to walk off.
"Where are you going?"
"I have seen enough from the one you want me to help."
"And will you help him?"
"I will, because I wish to battle a more confident version of him. To battle him and defeat him so I may return to my tribe with one more story to pass on." he said before stumbling when he bumped into the console.
"I think he might be blind," Nin then said as he walked over to me, "So how many does that make it?"
"Well, there's me, her, him, my sister, Ombbo... Me, him, her, Ombbo... My sister..." I began to say over and over again. Not sure if I had gotten all of them named.