Running was good. Running allowed one to progress, even if Junna wasn't certain what her main goal should be. She'd grabbed Aoishii without thinking much on anything. Her mission came first, so securing Aoishii away from the threat of a magic-user was paramount. It was unlikely that she was the direct target, which made it that much more dangerous for her. It was far easier for magic-users to kill or corrupt someone they didn't know, than the person they were seeking. However, each of the exits Junna pulled Aoishii to were under clear guard. They wore pretty concealing armor, probably to hide the Enchantments that magic-altered humans would have. Aoishii was getting annoyed, she tried to speak, and Junna slapped a hand pretty roughly over the taller girl's mouth and face as she moved back slowly from the exit they had approached. Junna's brow would furrow as she felt the girl bite one of her fingers.

  The girls returned to the little empasse, where they'd left Tanaka and her friends. The bully was marking a slip of paper, as she looked at Junna and marked off the last exit they'd have realistic access to at the school. She'd gotten quite a bit more helpful since they'd left the locker room. They'd stumbled upon some of magical warriors, and Junna had disabled them while they were still reacting. Close proxmity meant their side arms weren't useful, and they didn't have a chance to use any active abilities. They could have passive effects, Junna restrained herself from killing them in front of these girls, even though it was smarter. Instead, Tanaka produced rope and handcufffs, and fashioned gags in case they woke. Aoishii had seemed annoyed that the bullies had such things, but it was certainly helpful.

  "The side exits have guns, pointed in, probably a team on the outside as well. We can't rush them with any notion of safety. They also set up three man patrols like this here and here." Junna pointed to the makeshift map that Tanaka had been producing. They'll likely know we disabled this one around now. We cannot remain here. Normally I'd suggest the roof, but in this situation that's a terrible idea."

  "Why?" Aoishii had gotten over her annoyance easily enough, crouching down to look at the map. "Because it's an exit?"

  "Only if you want to fall four levels. This has the hallmarks of a hostage situation. They'll want to keep numbers on or near the roof to deter an infiltration team and to keep watch on Imperial movements. Our best option is to find someplace to hide, but a magic-user could still affect you by accident."

  "Wel that isn't happening-" The bickering began. Junna couldn't be bothered within it as Aoishii was quite elegantly explaining why she would be more use to everyone on the field so she could help save her classmates. A few social jabs here and there trying to illicit a defensive response, but Junna wouldn't bother, she'd stopped really listening. Tanaka seemed to be unconcerned as well, as she'd moved over to her friends trying to explain the situation in a way a normal schoolgirl would understand.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Junna's ear twitched, as her gaze moved down the hall the hall they'd just left. She saw the figure, a tall and slender man. Unlike the others he hadn't bothered to don any armor, making him most likely the magic-user of the group. They tended to have that kind of arrogance. Junna's body rolled to grab Aoishii, as a hand fell over the girl's mouth. A tinge of pain as she realizesd the taller girl had bit her again... though it seemed to be in better spirit than earlier. Aoishii clearly having realized that there was probably a very good reason for Junna's actions. Junna would release the hand, moving to roll in a tight ball under the desk they'd been using, as she head the man's steps growing ever closer. A magic-user would be a danger even if they were incompetent, so this needed to end as quickly as possible. Junna was already weighing the downsides of keeping him alive as a hostage as the next step seemed close enough.

  Junna rolled out of the desk and with a leap forward, she flung herself to her target's legs. Taking him down would disorient him, then she could-

  The crash occured, as Junna felt the man stumble back, before the girl was simply lifted up to the air with a rising leg, before what felt like a steel bar smashed into the top of her head as she was sent spiralling back and onto the floor, enough force to make her roll once as she got a much fuzzier look at the man who'd struck her. He seemed unconcerned with her, his voice droning in his boredom. "Literal children, right... Come little girl, that was a very braze attempt on someone far stronger."

  Not a magic-user. He was not. Too fast, too strong... he was probably a magical creature. Junna picked herself up as she scanned the area between them. She'd been sent across the desk, but Aoishii and Tanaka were both still hidden for the time being. Something like this was too dangerous for their attempts at being heroes, and given that Junna was only just now feeling her body adjust to the pain she was feeling, it was likely too dangerous for her with her lack of any real equipment. Junna would dart to the opposite side, to circle about the man, only to find him seeming to almost slide right in front of her, her arm moved up to elbow him, as a hand caught it. He was likely expecting to easily catch it. Junna's eyes locked onto the gray gaze of the taller man, as she felt her arm sting with pain. Several different bodily controls through machina allowed her to get an adrenaline boost and channel that increased energy to the muscles in her arm, over-extending it, but providing a brief amount of force that she wouldn't be able to match with any amount of mere body building. It always hurt so much, and he would hurt worse later too, but it was the only way to match a cheater like this... someone who just let magic corrupt their entire being...

  The impact was intense, as the man did catch her arm. He wasn't howling in pain, but clearly surprised as his feet slid back on him. He wouldn't leave their locked gaze for a moment. "How have you not changed, Junna?"