"Ohohoho!" I let out with quiet eagerness as my hands came together. Something that went completely unnoticed as the room was alive with excitement and awe. We had just witnessed the greatest of Exceptional House go against our greatest. Yet, even in his defeat, Omb had envigorated the audiance with his power.

But, I was not excited because of the fight, at least, not directly. My excitement came from something tangential to it all. How the arena reacted during their fight and the build-up to it. A true marvel of engineering that I would be sure to praise Mechanical House for!

"Now," I started to ask as I brought all the screens to a halt, "can anyone tell me what happened?" I asked them nebulously at first to see if any were paying attention. There was a condition to being an observer after all. One still had to make an attempt to study.

Even if we staff as a whole made a point of being lax in regards to it.

"One of the best fights ever!?" one of the students who had been enthralled in the crowd's energy answered. His ecstatic behaviour continued to show even as I shook my bemused head. And I could not fault that at all. It was an impressive fight, after all.

Even I could admit that especially given how our dear Student Vapooliar used no spells. All of that power she showed, it was entirely her internal-magic. Even her flight capabilities contrasted with Student Omb's need for firey propulsion! She really was fit to wear the badge of her house!

"Is it perhaps something do with the arena?" one student asked with concern and nervousness. Yet, it went away when I snapped towards her with a grin.

"Indeed it is, can you perhaps explain?" I asked her as some of that caution left her.

"I don't think I can, no... But, I was getting confused as to why the arena was so violently destroyed when their magic was not triggering any of the usual reactions...?"

"You are on track, so don't worry. Now, for those who haven't figured it out. What you saw was an arena that replicated all the usual results of a near-zero magic environment without any of the usual problems." I explain to them. Some of them getting just as excited as I was.

"S-So... That is how powerful they both would've been if we were to watch them in the distant lowlands!?" one student asked as they let out a laugh of their own.

"Indeed! Indeed..." I told them as I chuckled some more. I just could not get over how impressive that one room was out of everything. Whoever was directly responsible for it would go far in their life! That might've actually been a technological breakthrough in and of itself!

Even our training chambers, isolated pockets of reality separated from our own! They were created from understandings we gained over the years from our ancient, windless ancestors! But this wasn't like that at all! It was made from the ground up by one of our very own students!

"Head of Oddity House Frihdeicalkbr, come with me, please." someone then asked of me. And it ruined my mood completely as that meant I could not discuss this room any further.

"Is there an issue?" I, however, asked without displaying any mild annoyance or anything similar. If I was suddenly requested to be elsewhere, there would surely be a reason, no?

"I have not been told, I am onl-"

"Here to get me." I finished for them before I took the portal key from them. Soon reappearing in the main council chamber for us staff to discuss things. But, this was the one for the Inter-House Talent Display itself, so, it would be rather unimportant.

"Good, you're here." one of a very small selection of staff we had here said as I arrived. But, I did not take a seat as her gestures suggested I do. If it was here, then it could be over and done with quickly.

"Is there a disproportionately high amount of fatalities this time?" I asked them at first. We did have quite the line-up this time around, after all.

"No, we are actually doing quite well with no deaths so far." someone answered as my expression turned dour.

"This council was actually called because the student collective of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding has reacted very well to the recent battle between Student Vapooliar and Student Omb."

And, with that, some joy came back to my face, "You want to make sure Student Vapooliar can keep showing her strength?"

"Rather, the observing students of Mechanical House, Traditional House and Exceptional House want to see the rest of Student Omb's dorm take his place."

And that made me cock a brow, "None of them are on his level, you know that, yes?" I remind them as I call upon the list we made entirely to stroke egos, really. And I immediately searched up the strongest out of their listed group. Student Larishazza and Student Tiyanat were nowhere near his level.

"It is what the students want." one says with a smirk as their eyes look towards the casualties list. Only injuries and potentially fatal wounds right now...

"You wish to use this as an excuse to get rid of Student Nin?" I asked them as it was obvious as to why this might be the case. His acceptance never went well with many here and I quite remember his return in the data after that wyvern attack. Their disappointment at his persistence to live appalled many who looked at the data.

And each time he reappeared in that data, their rage grew. Its only offset perhaps being Student Liadanann when she first entered the data. But, that reminded me of something terrifying... If they wanted Omb's dorm to fight Student Vapooliar then...

"Absolutely not!" I told them as I put my foot down. If I was brought in here then it was clearly because they needed my permission. I would not and will never put one of our rarest students in such a harmful setting. Not while I had the power to intervene.

"The choice is not up to you, we brought you here to let you know a vote has been handed out to students seeking a greater thrill."

"Then I will cease this Inter-House Talent Display in its entirety!" I angrily told them as my fist slammed into the table. Denting it and putting a fist-shaped warp in its structure.

"Not without good cause you can't." one scoffed.

"The safety of Student Liadanann is most certainly a good cause. Not one of our founding tenets at all supports putting such a rare specimen in such a dangerous situation!" I told them with increasingly restrained anger. The initial reaction was unprofessional and unbecoming of me, but, the justification remained.

"Then take her out!"

"I HAVE TRIED!" I roared to them in a rare display of unrestrained rage. Something that made many of them lose their smirks as they all knew it relied on the consent of the student. I could not just take them out of the event if I wanted to.

"What about if we only insert the parameters that exclude Student Liadanann?"

"We can't, we set down the condition of Student Omb's dormitory before he even arrived." a woman said as her hand flicked casually at me. So, I slowly walked over to her until I was right behind her.

"Then I suggest you take heed not to do so again." I quietly told her as I made sure my aura was condensed around her. This was completely unacceptable!

"Head of Oddity House Frihdeicalkbr!" one of my seniors spoke loudly just after I made the threatening gesture.

"You best hope for your sakes that Student Liadanann does not meet an undeserved fate because of your reckless hastiness with my students!" I tell them as I slam my palms down once again. Storming off to where I had been prior so I could watch their foolishness play before me. And, in fact, I made it just in time to watch it occur. Because each of the screens meant for my observing students was now saying what was about to happen.

"That can happen?" one asked in confusion as I quietly growled at the message.

"But, why is this happening?" another asked as we all watched the layout of the greater arena warp and twist about. New pathways had suddenly appeared in the arenas where everyone was. But, that was it, they were just pathways. They took no care as to the fact many of them were badly injured right now.

Yet, I was not content to just wait for this to happen, so, I started an illegal process. We were not meant to be doing this as it came with the implication of undermining other students. But, I was not doing this to give aid or advice or tactics. I was here to implore a particular student...

"Student Liadanann?" I asked the magic construct before me once I found a quiet room to sit down in.

"Who's- What do you want!?" the spooked student asked me aggressively as they walked their altered pathway. They had been in one when the change had occurred so it stands to reason that she went through a bumpy experience...

"Press the primary button on your bracelet. Take yourself out of the event." I told her, laying it out as plainly as I could while keeping a sense of severity in my words.

"Are you the one that kept pestering me earlier!?"

"Yes, now please, hit that button. Whatever you felt a moment ago, it's a trap. You have a high chance of death if you carry on, so, please, exit now!"

"What happened a moment ago?" she asked me as it sounded like she came to a stop.

"It has been decided by the rest of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding to put Student Omb's dormitory in direct contact with Student Vapooliar who recently bested him."

"So you want me to leave because they're too strong?"

"Yes."

"And the rest of those going will include Nin?"

"Yes."

"Then I am going to make sure he is safe!" she snapped before I was left sighing as she tried to make me go away.

"Student Liadanann, please, listen. Death is a very likely circumstance for you!" I told her. Putting as much emphasis on death as I could. Surely that very common, very rightfully placed fear would ward her out of this, no!? We could potentially replicate Student Nin's circumstances.

We could not replace her...

"So what!? If a chance of death exists for me, it also exists for him! And I will make sure I pay him back for what he did for me!"

"Then I will..." I began to say before I was left angered by my conclusion. There was no way I could get Student Nin out of something orchestrated to get rid of him.

"You will what? Oh, right, nothing." Student Liadanann snorts before I exit the call of my own volition. There was no way I was going to get to her like this... And I also had no power to alter the arena myself...

"I guess I am a pious man now..." I groan before leaning back into my chair. If I could not get this situation resolved, then it was up to the will of the gods. And, perhaps I could eek a favour out of them. Yet, there was also a chance I would not be able to...

So, I then got up and quickly headed on my way to the nearest portal. The gods might hear me here, but they would hear me in their temples. So, I had to rush as quickly as I could to the area reserved for the religious aspects of our daily lives. If I could just get there quick enough!

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"I know it is odd." I told my sister as I slowly guided her down this hallway that had suddenly appeared.

"Can't we just find another way?"

"The other exits are all closed now and I am not dragging you across the water just to find another closed one." I tell her as she moans childishly against my ear. Yet, it wasn't just her usual antics. So I could forgive her this time as she had some nasty wounds.

"Can't you just slide us down here, then?"

"Neither of us can tell if this is a trap, Larishazza, to waste magic like that..." I say before we suddenly came upon a light. And, it confused me because moments ago it was just pitch black. So where did this light come from? Better yet, why was it slowly filling with smoke!?

"Blegh." my sister let out after that thick stench hit us.

"Okay, some magic is required." I comment quietly before I start to push away at the smoke. Slowly taking us through the exit and getting us below the thick clouds of it. There was something very off about the ground, however. It felt oddly familiar.

Which made no sense at all until a sudden thought crossed my mind. Was this Omb's magic residue that we were walking in? I guess it made some sense as to why everything was hot enough to cook food on. It even explained the strange familiarity about the place.

"Ombbo! Ombbo!" my sister began to call out before I covered her mouth. Only to jump when someone suddenly appeared before us. And they were most certainly not him...

"Why'd you have to do that...?" I ask my sister as I slowly start bringing us both back towards the exit. Something I kept on doing even as we went back into it. If this individual wanted to fight, we'd have a better chance surrounded by water...

"How did you do that?" this girl then asks us in confusion as her pursuit met a very solid wall that kept her away from us.

"D-Do what?" I ask as I slowly let my sister stand on her own in the event this was a trick.

"Get through here." the girl clarified before she knocked on the invisible wall as if it were a door.

"I just walked...?" I tell her as ice begins to build up around my wrists.

"I guess that must mean there's someone else here." the girl said before she suddenly shot off out of sight. And all the smoke in the area suddenly washed over us. Leaving me and my sister both covering our faces before we watched it carry on behind us.

"Go find Omb now?" my sister asked as she placed her hand at the edge of the pathway exit. It made me uncomfortable as if that girl was truly trapped in there, she could be dragged in now.

"Stop that!" I snapped on my way to her before I tried to sense where my teacher was. Yet, with all this residue, it was hard to find him. And, when I did find someone amongst the magic that wasn't flying all over the place, it still couldn't have been him. The way it felt, they were too small and too weak to have been him!

"You look confused."

"Omb's not in there, but he has certainly gone through here." I tell Larishazza before I take a tentative step back into the arena. Then, a sudden step forward when she lunged onto my back.

"Let's go!" she cheerfully lets out before she cries in pain yet again.

"Stupid..." I mumble quietly after I finally stabilise myself.

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"IT'S ABOUT TIME I FOUND SOMEONE ELSE!" I scream at Einervaene after suddenly rushing at her. Heavy pants left me as I tightly clutched my loot from the one battle I did have to fight.

"C-Calm down! You're scaring me..." Einervaene says to me as she nervously looks behind her. Then, she suddenly jumps up in fright when the heavy sound of metal hitting stone fills our ears.

"Where is he!?" Liadanann asked us aggressively as she tightly clutches a broken piece of her armour.

"Nin? We don't know..." Einervaene squeaks before she finally calms down.

"What's the matter?" I ask the armoured fighter as she hurries off without a care given to us.

"That human with the messy hair, the one who reminds me of them, he's just warned me that something bad is going to happen to Nin!"

"So it is coming here?" Vapooliar asks out of nowhere as she suddenly appears next to Liadanann. An action that terrified all the colour out of her. Yet, her reactive aggression was not even acknowledged by my old travel companion.

Something about her tone worried me, however, "I-I don't know..." I answer on Liadanann's behalf as she was currently in the process of backing off. Nothing but terror on her face that quickly spread to me. If she was in this place...

There was no way we'd win...

"Why do you want to know!?" Einervaene asked as she stepped forward. Her body a patchwork assembly of flesh and lightning.

"Why do I want to know indeed." Vapooliar answered with a low growl as she subtlely clenched her fists. Then, she was gone again and I came rushing out in an attempt to pull Liadanann back.

"WE HAVE TO GET TO HIM!" she screams at me as she struggles against my strength.

"EH! CLOUDS!" Einervaene lets out with hopeful excitement before she just goes and disappears into them. And, whilst her actions had me surprised, Liadanann broke from my grip.

"HEY! HEY!" I shouted as I tried to chase after her while blocking my nose.

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"My love, all of them are gone." Rose told me as she came back from circling the room after that strange series of shudders and bangs.

"So that one is the only one left?" I rather pointlessly asked given what she just told me.

"It would seem so..." she answered. Thankfully, without any of the snark or snappiness that I might've given if asked the same.

"Bask in this a little longer, then." I say with a shrug as I kick up my feet and relax against the large healing crystal. Only for it to suddenly flicker quiet, leaving us both in the dark. Until Rose turned on her light-bulbs, that is.

"Nin!" she suddenly snaps with unwarranted aggression.

"What?" I asked before her expression turned even more sour.

"Why aren't you listening to me!?"

"You haven't been saying anything!" I point out with an uncertain tone. Had this room suddenly changed what it could do...?

"Oh, right, sorry..." Rose let out with embarrassment while making sure I could see her smile.

"Yeah, you speak with those, don't you?" I ask her before I bring a claw near one which she takes hold off so it does not go near it.

"Yes, sorry..." she repeats before we start to walk down the only available doorway.

And she quite happily takes ahold of my arm in the process, "Taking bets now."

"There's only one thing I can offer if that is the case." she sultrily answers as her hand rubs a thankfully sealed away friend.

"Taking no bets." I correct myself with before we start to come across drifting smoke.

"What's happening in there?" Rose then asks me when we get close enough to look inside the next room. And, I felt a sense of dread build up inside of me. Memories were flashing through my mind and I quickly backpedalled away from the exit.

"Whatever it is, I want no part! NO PART!" I nervously start off with before I yell in terror as dreadful thoughts start to plague me. Inside that place were burning cities and towns or something. And I had no intention of ever walking in a place like that again!

Not after I failed to... Not after I...

"Nin!?" Rose lets out in worry before I start to hear the quiet sounds of dripping water. Or, rather, tears.

"No..." I say with a trembling voice before the exit suddenly exploded with violent force. An aggressive predator on the other side until it became clear who it was.

"Get out here, bug!" Vapooliar orders as she tries to break down the invisible force keeping us separated. Yet, there was nothing she could do that would make me go out there. I just could not stand to see such a landscape again...

The worst part wasn't even the fire or the ruins, it was the quiet... Just like my home in the immediate aftermath of that beast's actions... It was all so quiet. All of them were just gone, and this place was just like it!

"Valkinvar, stand down!" Rose barks at her without much displayed fear. Her tail meanwhile couldn't stop moving and it sought safety behind someone as weak as me...

"Bring it." Vapooliar growled, albeit, not in challenge... She was referring to me when she said 'it.'

"OKAY!" the lightning bolt that suddenly crashed down roared before Vapooliar suddenly disappeared from our sight.

"I need to get away from here..." I barely get out as I scramble to my feet. Only to run straight into a defiant Rose who had preemptively got in my way. Yet, my fear of the sight behind me made me forget my strength. And she pushed me against the wall with a glare.

"Have I not spoken to you about this before!?" she asks me aggressively as her bulbs nearly blind me.

"WE HAVE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT THAT! NEVER!" I roar at her as I start to break down and hear a different kind of roar.

"It's okay, my love... You know you can tell me." Rose asks as I slowly slip down the wall before I fall to my rear. My tearful eyes were then quickly hidden behind my claws as it all just starts to flash before my eyes. Why here and why now!?

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"I..."

"Nin, it's okay." Rose soothingly whispers before her soft lips touch my snout.

"I failed to protect my home..." I then eventually sobbed out as the tears come out in force. And, despite what she tried to do, I heard that gasp of hers. I heard that disappointment and disgust...

How could she have thought that just because I...

"No, you didn't." Rose tells me as her lips move away from mine. A smile on her face while I continued to show her my most pathetic side.

"YES, I DID! IT BURNED JUST LIKE THE ONE OUT THERE! ALL BECAUSE OF ME!" I roared in her face. Making sure she could see each little needle tooth I had in the hopes it would scare her off.

"I haven't been scared of you in a while." was all she had to say before she snuggled up against me and nuzzled my neck.

"L-Leave m-me alone..." I struggle to get out as the trembles in my body get worse.

"I have no intention of ever doing that again." she reminds me as she clearly tries to reaffirm me by reminding me of a petty victory...

"I'm not going out there, so go!" I snap so very close to her ear. Yet, she held her ground and kept on giving me affection.

"Why? Your home never burned in fire, Nin. Your home is with me and all the others trying to steal you from me." she confidently tells me with a smile that somehow made me stop crying.

"Wh-What...?"

"Your home, it is with me and everyone else." she repeats before I suddenly scramble to my feet.

"My home is with you and the others...?" I ask her as my body struggles to stay frozen. I don't know what was going on. But, whatever she was doing, it seemed to be working.

"It always has been since the day we met, my love." she whispers into my ear as she comes up behind me. And, when those words were spoken, I saw the distant flash of familiar magic.

Lightning and water...

"My home..." I mutter nervously before I slowly start to move forward. Then, I stopped all of a sudden before I looked back at her. Was I understanding this properly...?

"Your home is in danger, my love." she says when she notices my hesitation. And, I don't know how to describe it, but, I lunged out into the burning landscape and ran. Panting intensely while closing the gap between me and the booming power. However, I could not just run there.

I had to avoid spells that had missed and breakthrough shockwaves. Whatever was going on beyond the fires I had to brave, it was terrifying. I have seen first-hand how powerful Vapooliar was. Yet, that was when she was terribly injured...

Now, she no longer had those wounds. She was not being held back by anything but herself.

"AH!" I heard Einervaene screech before lightning shot up into the sky once again. A flash of blue that was accompanied by the sound of something shattering.

"Hold on..." I muttered under my breath when I finally came upon a canyon of sorts before the land they were fighting on. Then, I took a few steps back before I shot myself over to the other side. A leap that was quickly interrupted by something latching onto my neck. And I soon felt the ground again.

"I have you now!" Vapooliar growled as she tightly clenched my neck while pushing me into the ground.

"NO!" I roared in her face. And, it seemed to have triggered her fears. For I was able to shove her off. Then, before she had a moment to calm herself I struck her in the chest. Roaring in defiance as she soared away.

Einervaene then came down and crashed into her with a whole storm! And as she backed off with a quick transformation. Larishazza and her sister trapped her in water that attracted further bolts of lightning. Yet, I wasn't content to just stand around as they desperately tried to fight Vapooliar.

But, what could I do...?

"Hello, Nin!" Larishazza waved without a care in the world before she fell to the ground in pain.

"Get out of here!" I urged her before her water exploded. A sudden force having struck me away from her.

"SHE'S FOCUSING ON HIM!" someone pointed out before I was shoved against and through a ruined building. I did not even get a chance to recover before I was slammed to the ground.

Yet, same as last time, my roar broke Vapooliar's resolve and she backed away. And as much as I regretted targetting her fears like this. Them being so close to my own. It was the only way I could stand against her.

It was the only way I could soften her incredible blows and impossible speed. Even now, as I slugged it out with her. I felt my body tremble and crack as her clearly sloppy blow hit me. Yet, even as she grew enraged before me, her fears kept her blows soft.

"OUT THERE!" I roared in her face just before I sent her into the sky. With it quickly lighting up with thunderbolts. But, their creator would soon fall from the sky without even being struck back.

And I quickly moved to catch her, "Nin..." she let out in thanks before she clenched her bleeding arm.

"We need to get you..." I began to say as I quickly remembered the room from which I came from. It might be back on now! I could only hope so...

"LOOK OUT!" she then screamed in my face before we suddenly rematerialised elsewhere. Our distant view is dominated by explosions and massive bursts of water and ice magic.

"You are in no shape to fight!" I tell her before I forced to suddenly react to my hunter. And I was wrestling with her in the sky before I punched her away. Thankfully, Larishazza was just able to make a construct for me. And I whipped side to side until I was rolling along the dirt.

What was immediately before me soon exploded as well. And I dug my heels in with the help of my magic. Groaning in excrutiating pain when I caught Vapooliar as she tried to tackle me. A lot of that pain was focused on my legs too.

Very soon, the ground even started to give way and I was slowly ploughing the earth. Yet, help arrived soon after and I was just as quickly spat out of a cloud of smoke. Then, I just tried to get my bearings again. What Einervaene had just done was an experience alright.

"Don't worry, I'm here!" Liadanann let out with hurried panic before she collapsed from exhaustion in front of me.

"Why is everyone trying to fight Vapooliar like this!?" I asked her as I clutched her shattered and broken armour. Something she had made so skillfully was a complete mess now...

"Because unlike you, we have had to fight!" Vadei presumptuously snaps as she comes to a stop a respectable distance away from us.

"I've fought too!" I angrily tell her as I most certainly did not dream my prior fight.

"Get us out of here!" Vadei then snapped, her fears made her cut to the chase alright.

"There's no way Vapooliar will just let us g-" I start to tell her before a green barrier erupts around us just in time.

"GET OUT HERE!" Vapooliar viciously screams as she slams harmlessly against my friend's power.

"Keep that up..." I sigh in relief to a smiling Liadanann. Yet, it did not take long for me to notice a draft under this shield.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Vapooliar screamed in my face before she suddenly turned that shield against me.

"I DO NOT INTEND TO DIE AGAIN!" I inform her as I struggle to find a grip on this barrier. Not that it mattered, because Liadanann got rid of it just now. So I was now flying into the sky instead.

Thankfully, lightning came by to save me and I was once again spat out. Yet, I was struggling to move about now. The problem Einervaene's magic normally caused was still there. But, I needed it not to be.

I could not hold my own and protect the others if I was on the ground clutching my gut!

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How powerful was this girl!? I have been striking her over and over with my magic and she just kept getting up! I was more of a nuisance than anything... This shouldn't stop me from trying, though!

If I kept going at her, surely I would wear her down? I was lightning for some god's sake! I was the fury of a storm in one attack! An attack that would not stop coming!

And, it was even helpful. Because I needed to learn patience and this battle would teach me it. So, whenever I had a moment to do so. I struck down and took this girl into the clouds with me.

If I could just get her to clutch her stomach and vomit or something! I could give everyone the room they needed to fight more effectively. And, maybe, I could keep Nin safe as this girl clearly had a thing against Nin! I just had to keep my focus.

Not even the tiniest lapse in my judgement was acceptable in these circumstances! If I did not keep the pressure on her, Nin would be seriously hurt! Just then, as well, I had a breakthrough in my attacks.

"D-Dammit..." she groaned as she clenched her stomach before she fell to her knees. I was finally having an affect on her!

"Perfect!" I found myself saying with a smirk as I crashed down just before her. Sending her off in the resulting explosion before I held my staff at her. Then, with a moment finally here, I used its other purpose. And I launched an unrelenting bolt of blue lightning at her!

Groaning and nearly screaming as I focused a never-ending bolt at her. Only for dread to fill me as it was clearly having no affect. Yet, my injury from earlier was there to remind me of my limits. And I quickly collapsed as it spurted blood.

"Some help would be welcome about now..." I squeaked as I watched this witch rise to her feet. An aura of incredible strength pushed down on me until another met it. And, when she was distracted, I hobbled into the cover created by her power and I hid there.

Who was this, exactly? They were clearly powerful yet I had never seen them before! And maybe it was a good idea that I ran away too. Because, unlike the girl, his power burned even worse than both the wyverns I have fought.

"Warrior, I am not done with you!" they said before this girl just up and left! Was he perhaps stronger than her!? No, from what I have seen...

"Nin...!" I let out as I tried to hobble out into the open so I could get to the sky uninterrupted. Yet, my injuries got the better of me and I fell to the ground. Terror filled me and I desperately tried to get back to my feet.

"Do not worry, I am here to help." this man says to me before he helps me to my feet. His immense power then surged into me and my wounds vanished. A nod then came from him before he threw me into the sky. If I wasn't in such a rush to find Nin as well, my screams would've embarrassed me out of the fight.

Yet, I had a good cause to focus on. So I, thankfully, intercepted this woman before she likely found Nin again. And I must have been doing something right because she was getting annoyed by me! So maybe I was finally wearing her down!

However, her attention went elsewhere, "A lot of power is in you, no?" she asked no one as she briefly looked behind her.

"What do you want with Nin!?" I then demanded to know. This wasn't the first time she has shown up to pick a fight... Only this time, I had good cause to fight back. I was allowed to do so too.

"That... Is not! NIN!" she screamed with hysterical rage before she ran at me without any of the speed from before. But, when she made that mistake. I pointed it out by turning into my lightning form!

"IT IS! IT COULD NEVER NOT BE HIM!" I shout at her when she grabbed my staff. Thousands of little volts surged into her yet she still pushed back against me.

"NIN IS NOT A BUG!" she screams back at me as she starts to overpower me until she was on top of me. Yet, thankfully, her blows did not have the effect they might've normally had. It was still a painful experience, however.

"GET OFF MY FRIEND!" Larishazza screams as she leaps out from the smoke and twirls this witch off of me!

"Lari..." I said in thanks as she helped me up before a hastily made barrier was smashed against.

"FOCUS YOU TWO!" Larishazza's sister roared before she let the sky rain icy doom upon this witch.

"I'LL TRY AND MAKE AN OPENING!" I shouted over the hail of ice magic before picking up my staff. Aiming it around the quickly failing barrier and reappearing on the other side. Lancing straight at this woman and pinning her to the ice until she growled in pain. Just then, the ice began to grow once again.

My power only melted some of it until I was forced to let go. Lest I be trapped in the forming mountain Tiyanat was making. However, when I stumbled along the dry earth upon getting out. I did not relax.

There was no way that would hold this woman! And, to prove me right, all that ice just suddenly exploded outwards before a blast of fire melted it. That man had come back and she quickly took the fight to Nin's enemy. This did not mean I would give up, however.

Even as Nin came running back to join the fight. My attempts to stop him, however, failed, and he quickly punched the woman.

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"HAHA!" I laughed as I started to land blow after blow on the warrior with the help of my friends. Nin especially was quite a treat as he was the only one to trade blows as well. I even got to see his magic first-hand!

"TAKE THAT!" he roared in relief as blue fire enveloped my immediate surroundings before the warrior vanished.

"An impressive blow!" I cheered, much to his confusion before I went at the warrior again. Striking her with my finally revealed musculature and sending her deep into the melted earth. However, unfortunately, with so many of us here. We kept stepping on each other's toes.

My magic melted my students and evaporated the jolly sister's water! However, the one I healed first was not impacted by this. And when I and Nin finally caught this warrior in a vice. She came in and lunged her staff upwards.

"Careful!" I tease as the warrior starts to spasm in pain as all that lightning magic flowed into her. Yet, as if a switch had been hit, she suddenly stopped spasming and we went back to trading blows.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" she roared before she faltered before Nin's inhuman growls. Was this potentially it? Our key to victory was the age-old weakness of fear!? A shame, but a welcome one either way.

"CAN ANY OF YOU AMPLIFY HIS VOICE!?" I asked as I made sure I was the one holding back the warrior.

"I CAN TRY!" our tailed friend answered as she scurried in close under the cover of our newest friend's shield! I would not be able to watch from beyond that glance, however. I needed to focus on besting this impressive warrior as she buckled in fear. And, I could only wish she bested her fears. So she had a prayer from me to the gods!

A warrior had to best their fears if they were to be great! It wasn't power alone nor was it savagery! It was their willingness to fight that made them warriors! So, I could only beg in my mind that she overcame this fear!

"STOP IT!" she cried as she backed away upon hearing a monstrous roar. Whatever Nin and the other one had done, it had broken this warrior. Terror was covering her face and the prior confidence was gone. And I exploited it to the extreme!

"NOW!" I shouted back to everyone before I sent her flying into the sky on a spire of fire! And, in its path, a rapidly growing iceberg of immense size was created. The skies even lashed out in challenge in the moments before that mighty mountain of ice broke! And when it did, Larishazza leapt into the sky and took hold of her unfrozen magic.

Which she then used to drive this warrior into the former seabed which quickly found itself filling up again. Yet, the warrior broke free and tore apart what remained of the coast with a single blow. But, her strength was made to yield before Nin's! And she was quickly put on the run again!

Nin, however, did not pursue like the others... "I think we might be overdoing it..." he let out nervously before I forced him to keep ongoing. If his fears were at all correct, we needed to press forth now more than ever!

"GO THAT WAY!" I ordered as I kept my pace slow so he could keep up with me. Then, to time it just right, I ran in a wide arc. Making a sudden turn that washed away a molten countryside before I shot towards her again. My power streaking behind me as the world before me erupted into a blue fireball.

"Enough..." I somehow heard the warrior say before our well-timed strike hit her.

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"Enough..." I repeated just before caught two blows coming straight for me. Fire and pure magic washed over me, yet, I held my ground. Even if my legs trembled initially before their power started to die down.

"THEY DID IT!" someone pre-emptively cheered before two pairs of bloodcurdling screams filled the air. And, when the smoke finally parted. That joy left their faces and I was holding two bloody hands.

"I SAID ENOUGH!" I roar with such force as to force all the smoke and clouds to make way for thousand of halfmans around. Then, I suddenly twisted in the air and sent the pair flying away. That beast's claw still in my grip while the other had flown off. And as I took in their gazes, I crushed what remained of that torn off hand before I ran at them.

Smashing straight through the hastily erected barricades until I had one of them pinned against the ground. But, not even the angle of my attack would slow me down. And I slowly flew up and struck down at them until their magic finally gave in. I then flew up and avoided lightning before I struck the earth.

"This is not the real world..." I reminded myself as my body remembered that my fastest speed was far greater in here. Even if it was deceptive. And, to the surprise of the most annoying of them, I wrestled the lightning as it shot off.

"HUH!?" it screeched before I started to pull its screaming form apart until a human was revealed. Yet, her body suddenly turning into lightning made me let go. But, its weakness was quickly made apparent. So I shot down and picked her up.

Catching her just before she turned into lightning once again. And, once I got a good enough grip despite the minor spasms I was experiencing. I tore that copper frame right off her to the backdrop of raining blood. A scream so terrible then drowned out the thunder as she fell to the ground.

The annoying piece of equipment I had in my hands still was then tossed aside. Then, I stared at the ones who remained. If I was to kill that beast. I would need to make sure these lot could not fight on its behalf.

So I shot straight down into the rubble before them. The shock on their faces left them vulnerable. And I made sure to exploit it. But, I was still somewhat cautious.

And that caution cost me my freedom as I was quickly ensnared in ice once again. I could even tell as I was starting to lose room to move in that they were putting more into it this time. But, I waited. If they wanted to provide me with so much cover, I would let them.

Eventually, when it had built up enough, I began to rumble about until I could sense cracks. And, with one single push, I split their mountain apart into two clean bits. Surprising both of them before terror filled one of them. I had grown tired of her dancing and prancing...

So I gripped her by the shoulder on one side and the arm by the other. And I pushed up. Her screams were all it took for more ice to come my way. But, I was no easy target.

She didn't even sense me having appeared behind her until it was too late as well. Her blood was soon splattered along the earth and even a few teeth. Yet, her rage drove her back up and she growled. This, however, left her even more open.

And I drove her up into the sky before I pursued. Blow after blow ruptured the sky until we reached the limits of the room. Then, it became a case of who would break first. The room, or this girl.

Eventually, however, I was left with her bloodied body in my hands. A fireball surged right up towards me before I forced its dissipation with the girl's limp body. And, as I let go of her, I clashed with him yet again. Even crushing his hand had not been enough to take him out.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" he boomed with his fiery breath before we fell to the ground again. All that water once again evaporated when we landed. Yet, he was not out yet. And I duelled him with my fists just as he did with me.

Yet, not one of his blows landed. As I was weaving and ducking around each one. And it only got easier. As each bone I broke or muscle I tore only made him more sluggish.

Then, with one final uppercut to the jaw, I sent him away. And his magic disappeared completely as he disappeared in a flash of blue. Now, I turned around and hovered into the sky. But, I did not head for him.

Instead, I landed next to the bloodied body of the Eusorochiian. She even made one last desperate attempt to hurt me. Yet, crushing her hand with a swift stomp silenced any further actions. Even if it made her scream for help with such desperation.

I could even hear it roar... It was coming for me once again. Just like in the aelenvari flower. It wanted to kill me just like it did then...

"I do not fear you." I simply said quietly as I picked up a staff from the ground. Clearly, it belonged to the screaming girl. Yet, now it was my javelin. And I threw it at the beast when I saw him.

Roars of rage quickly turned into roars of pain and I saw a leg separate from its body. From there, I slowly advanced on it as the last two who dared oppose me caught up to Nin. Yet, one of them was Vadei... And I could not bring myself to hurt her, not even under these circumstances.

Yet, she was still in my way. And I saw all her fear and terror as I began to slam away once again at the strong, green shield. Yet, like last time, I quickly destroyed enough of the earth to get around it.

And I flipped it over my head with the sound of crashing metal sounding behind me...

"St-Stay back!" Vadei whimpered as the beast tried to hobble back to its foot.

"Stay out of my way." was all I planned on telling Vadei before I rocketed past her.

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"NIN!" I cried. I have feared for many things. Yet, now, I was fearing for Nin's life as Vapooliar was clearly trying to kill him! And why wasn't his thing working!?

I have seen others leave from much lighter injuries! Why was he still here!? Had Vapooliar broken his!? No, she couldn't have.

"NIN!" I cried again as I started to try and copy the girl who I took this staff from. And I repeated what she said over and over again as tears streamed down my face. Pathetic blast of magic after pathetic blast. Not one getting past the sheer strength of Vapooliar's aura.

"Down." she ordered before I collapsed to my knees as her fingers dug into Nin's neck. Sickly, yellow blood-soaked both his body and her hand. Yet, I heard no snap come. All I felt was terrible boom after terrible boom as she punched him over and over.

All the way until his very neck flesh gave out and he was sent flying away. Somehow, though, he managed to get up again despite his injuries. But, Vapooliar soon brought him down again and his other leg was beginning to break as his magic idiotically kept him standing. That idiot...

"NIN!" I cried again as blood kept on splattering from what was left of his jaw. But, unlike me, Liadanann had not given up and she was happy to charge her down. Despite my protests.

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"Va..." I struggled to say before I basically vomited blood. Yet, my mere act of speaking made another blow strike me. And I felt an eye slowly pop out as my skull started to cave under the restrained attack.

And, that made it all the worse... Vapooliar could end it right here... She could stop it all right now... Yet she was torturing me with as much pain as possible...!

"GET OFF HIM!" Liada roared as jabbed straight at Vapooliar's face. Her strange magic had as well drawn blood where mine had not. Yet, she quickly vanished when Vapooliar slapped her away.

"You die now, bug." Vapooliar spat before she suddenly left me on my own. Yet, I could clearly see what was coming. That dot in the distance was growing and the power around it was immense. Then, something stopped it just before her fist killed me.

"Thank you..." I barely got out as I started to cry as I stared at my potential death. Some kind of alarm was blaring and all kinds of bells were ringing.

"TRADITIONAL HOUSE HAS WON THE INTER-HOUSE TALENT DISPLAY!" a voice roared with excitement. All the while, my limbs flailed helplessly about as Vapooliar's built up power suddenly washed over me. All that strength that was meant for me...

It was terrifying...

And even in my most pitiful, broken state... She did not so much as see me as who I was. I was still a bug to her. Even as I cried very human pain and sobbed like any other might do.

But, when all that power finally went passed me, I saw Vapooliar back down. I then watched as she became blurry. And, I was surprised I could see at all. Yet, despite my efforts, my claws could not turn on that device...

I was clicking it with a body that ran on fear-filled adrenaline and it still wasn't working. It only became apparent after as to why it wasn't working. Yet, I couldn't figure it out during the moment as I was too busy sobbing as smoke piled around me. Then, finally, that spell I had made to support my one-legged body finally failed.

And I fell to the ground and was soon consumed by a pool of my blood. I swear I could even see the outline of a shadowy hound in the smoke as well.

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"NIN!" I cry once more as I rush on over to him. Not paying even the slightest bit of attention to all the blood around me. The smoke in my nose or the soreness in my throat. None of it mattered right now.

And, no matter how many times I pressed it, nothing was happening. Why wasn't his thing working!? I saw it take a girl away who had a grenade under her! I've heard how it has saved people from being vaporised!

So why wasn't it doing its job!? Why was Nin still here!? Yet, I suppose it did not matter. If his one was broken, my one should still.

"COME OFF YOU STUPID THING! COME OFF!" I screamed desperately as I tried to claw my own device off my wrist. Yet, despite all the magic I tried to focus on it. It would not budge. It was impervious to anything I could do right now...

"Don't." Vapooliar tells me after she stops me from reaching for the staff.

"GET OFF! GET OFF!" I screamed as I tried to reach for the staff before I went quiet when she broke it. And, I did not know how to react to that... A chance to save my friend was just taken away by her.

"Leave it."

"I WILL NOT ABANDON MY FRIEND!" I scream at her before I shatter my magic-filled claws on her face. Yet, that did not stop me from using the other hand either. And even when all my claws became stubby, bleeding messes, I still kept hitting her.

"Stop it." she says as she stops me from throwing any more attacks at her.

"GET OFF ME!" I scream as I use her strength to position several kicks to her chest. Only to suddenly drop with a resounding thud.

"Leave it." she says.

"I JUST TOLD YOU, YOU STUPID, VALKINVAR! OH, WAIT! I FORGOT! YOU DON'T HAVE ONE IT TAKES TO BE ONE ANYMORE, DO YOU!?" I scream at her before I slam her chest. And even as I watched her features contort with anger. I still let mine show. Fear would not overtake me now, not now...

"Why do you defend this thing..."

"WHAT THING!? THE ONLY ONE HERE IS NIN! MY FRIEND!" I point out before I run down to his side so I could at least pass on some of my magic. Yet, even I knew in this state that my magic was not strong enough to even heal a cut on his body... I was too weak in comparison...

"Nin..." someone said as they desperately hopped over to us before they fell down. A fall that made them scream with such ferocity as to unnerve me where Vapooliar's anger had not.

"Larishazza?" I said before I helped her off of her broken arm.

"It might... Hurt, but..." she began to say as she started to soak my wrist.

"No!" Vapooliar said as she forced my arm away.

"STOP INTERFERING AND GO AWAY! IF YOU WANTED HIM TO DIE SO MUCH, WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO IT NOW!? GO ON! MURDER HIM!"

"I can't... My chance has passed..." she spits out down to me.

"THEN GO AWAY! YOUR MOMENT IS GONE!" I scream at her before she finally leaves, albeit slowly.

"Ready?" Larishazza asks me with uncertainty as her eyes stay glued to Nin's bloodied body.

"Yeah... Just pull..." I tell her with a tearful gulp before I grit my teeth as I feel my skin tear. A light huff and stutter then left me as it slipped off along with a few drops of blood.

"Uh..." Larishazza let out as she tried to figure out how to get it around Nin's wrist or even a finger.

"It's too small..." I whisper in despair as my crying becomes more intense. We just went through all of that to get the stupid thing off and we could not even adjust it.

"H-Hold on to the other side!" Larishazza tells me as her trembling arm shoots up before me.

"I can't!" I tell her as even her dwindled strength was enough to pull me about with ease.

"JUST STAY STILL!" she yells at me. Her tears even seemed to take on a magical aspect.

"YOU KNOW I CAN'T!" I tell her before I start to viciously smash the device against a piece of hot rock. Even that, though, did not do anything...

"Grr... GIVE IT!" Vapooliar then roars before she snatches it out of my grip. With such force as well that she nearly broke my fingers. Yet, once it was in her grip, she started to pull at it. All kinds of warnings and alerts then blared as it began to show the strain.

But, she got it wide enough and I thanklessly snatched it from her before I shoved it onto Nin. Pushing the button over and over until he finally disappeared to the safety of the hospital... And, I just fell to the ground after that. Crying and shaking until a boom in the air made me flinch.

"Can all remaining students of the victorious Traditional House and the failure Houses please make their way to the original objective." someone then clearly and loudly said as the battlefield began to simply wash away. And soon, we were left with a peculiar sight as everything was just vanishing.

"Tiya..." Larishazza let out in worry after I helped her to her feet. No one else was here... Liadanann, Nin, that guy from moments ago. Even her sister.

They were all gone.

"Einervaene!" I said all of a sudden as the loss of the smoke made her scent stick out all the more. Yet, when we got to her, I started to panic. She had several serious serrations that had gone deep into her... An odd pattern was there as well...

"H-Help..." she weakly cried before me and Larishazza helped her up. Yet, that only made her cry and whimper more.

"I know, I know..." I said to her, trying to soothe her with words Mom might've used if I hurt myself. Yet, nothing came of it and Einervaene kept on howling in pain as we agitated her wounds.

"Where is he...?" someone I had not expected to see asked as she stopped before us.

"Out of our way..." I spat out to the aelenvari before I tried to get my friend somewhere safe.

"You need to calm down." the aelenvari then said as she weaved around us and made Einervaene disappear.

"CALM DOWN!?" I shouted at her before she threatened me with magic.

"Yes." she utters as I back away from her magic. Despite how much I had grown, even she was still my superior... That useless, pampered creature...

"Can we just go?" Larishazza asks as she steps between us. And, as I stared at her broken, dislocated arm. I nodded and just kept ongoing. There was no need for any more fighting...

It was all over now...

And soon, we came upon many more students who were also on their way there. Some were as injured as Larishazza or even worse. Others were trying to ignore the sights of the wounded while some were even bullying the others... But, we had no interest in solving any issue we saw.

"OH, I'M SORRY!? EXCEPTIONAL HOUSE WAS IT!?" someone cackled from high above as we finally reached the goal we should've headed towards. Whatever it was, it was glowing and shining brightly and anyone from that House seemed to instantly heal...

"Ignore it." Larishazza whispers to me before she guides me down the final pathway out of this place. Then, with a flash of light, our surroundings changed and we were surrounded by uniformed people.

"If you have no major injuries, go this way!" a man dressed in clear white spoke through an amplifier. And, as I was mostly fine, I just gave Larishazza a reassuring brush of my tail before I was then stopped by someone.

"Name, please." a woman dressed in similar white clothes asked me as she began to unpack a bag filled with bottles...?

"Vadei..." I say before I am suddenly handed one of these bottles and gently guided onwards. She then did the same with another student before I then found myself outside in the daylight. And, after taking a brief look around at all the gagging people around me. I unscrewed my own bottle and drank from it.

Nearly spitting it out when I felt how much magic was in the water inside it. It was almost alcohol it was that bad... Yet, I managed to drink it all eventually and I just dropped the bottle. My pain might've been rapidly going away, but I needed some time on my own.

Besides, it wasn't like I could go and make sure Nin was okay... The main hospital building was surrounded by guards and it was clearly packed to the brim with emergency staff. So, after spending a few moments looking at a random window in that building. I hobbled back to our dorm.

I was on my own for the moment it would seem...

"Will he be alright?" the aelenvari then asks me as she uncovers her eyes for some reason.

"I... I don't know..." I say with a whimper as I could so clearly remember what he looked like before he disappeared. I was even still stained with his blood and the thick stench of it...