II.

Madoka tensed up at the Princess's stance, but stood defiantly. Before she knew it, her hand was already on her axe's handle and her instincts to fight were on the prowl. Audrey's core flickered off and she let out a laugh, something that caught Madoka off guard. She hasn't heard the girl laugh as pure like that in awhile.

"You're so serious!" Audrey buckled over. Madoka rolled her eyes, but her hand's grip remained on her axe. Her expression changed abruptly and her laughing stopped. "But yeah, we are going to have a bit of an exercise."

"Here? Of all places?" Madoka whined.

"Yeah," Audrey rummaged through her bag and produced the storage talisman. "There's a number of reasons why, but I can tell you are rarin' to go by your hand on your axe."

She closed her eyes.

"Firstly, no weapons," she opened the storage portal up. Madoka groaned even more, but after a sharp look from her Princess she obeyed. Her crude axe went in first, then the Serpent's Blade, then the two Esmeralda swords, and a small dagger went in. Audrey gawked at each weapon that passed by, before looking at her. "How are you not overencumbered? Are your Stamina points really that high?"

"Eh?"

"Don't you 'eh' me!" Audrey shook her head. The portal closed and she quietly placed the talisman back into her pouch. "This exercise should loosen us up quite a bit. Considering, well, I want to go up to the tippity top of that spiraling anti-gravity well."

"The top of there?" Madoka gulped. The more she studied the rocks and debris floating upwards, the more she supposed they could climb up there. "But I don't think we should go up there!"

"You can stay down here," Audrey sighed. "Like I said, if I can't get a gauge on how well we're doing physically right now then it's not worth it. Ah, well, it can't be right. If I wasn't ready for it, that God would not be calling me up there. It's all speculation, of course. But you know, I'm worthless in battle, all I do is dodge and run away while you do most of the work."

"That's not true!" Madoka blurted. Audrey was a lot more powerful than she was.

"That's just how the formation is," she explained. The matter-of-fact tone bothered the maid. "If someone gets to me, I'm good as dead. Therefore! I have to get better at magic and running away!"

"D-Dead," Madoka trembled at the thought of her princess being dead. Audrey has been killed before she herself died. She glanced at the stormy cloud and remembered the nightmarish climb up those ancient steps to the mountain's summit with the ruins, where Audrey nearly killed herself doing that strange cultivating thing she called it. That climb was bad, but this seemed worse somehow. "Say, Audrey."

"Wha—" Audrey had been rambling the entire time. "Were you even listening to me?"

"Does that God... Up there," Madoka pointed at the black hole piercing the daylight's blue sky. "Did the Kind god say its name to you?"

Audrey fell quiet, but she could tell the girl was hesitating on being honest with her. Or perhaps she was measuring how much information she could give to the maid. All Madoka wanted to know is if she was serious or not — if there was a sign of honesty inside her to begin with. What has shaken her faith in her princess? Was it the voice speaking to her, urging her to go on?

"He, well, maybe she," Audrey fidgeted her fingers into little knots. "The god wants you to know that you mean a lot to them. They don't want to reveal their name to you — you gotta trust me on that. I couldn't get the answer out of them even if I begged them for it, okay? Madoka, I swear—"

"Okay," Madoka heard the sincerity in her princess's voice. Therefore, it was her turn to be sincere. She clenched her fist and loosened it up again. It was not like she wanted to see magic again, but if Audrey wasn't lying then she will face her challenges truthfully. Knotting Strands began to shimmer and zigzag like the storm's bolts from her open palm.

"Oh, well, ah," Audrey studied her for a moment. "So the game I have is a simple and complicated concept: Simple, as in you have to get to me on my mark. Complicated, as in you have to get me on my mark."

She emphasized the complicated part, though it was the same as the simple part. Madoka groaned. Audrey was always complicated.

"You can use your magic. I won't use fire magic or the concept that I'm thinking of, though I'll use it if we're ready to climb up to the top. The point of this is to freshen up on our battling technique. Or something."

"Up to... And did I just hear you say fire?" Madoka narrowed her eyes on the girl, but she was already a few paces away.

"This is a live fire exercise, get ready for this epic game of tag!" Audrey's core flashed brightly, with the dark hole in the heavens lining up perfectly above her. Did she plan that appearance like that? "Prepare yourself! On... Three!"

Madoka prepared her Cherish style movement.

"Two!"

Her boots pushed aside floating specks of dust and dug into the dirt for a headstart. The pause was palpable, and the beating of her heart caused the Knotting strands to ricochet off her chest and returned to her like yarn on a wheel. The jolts were distracting just enough to keep her—

"One!"

Madoka pushed herself towards the princess, but as soon as her foot landed on the grass Audrey unleashed her magic. A large spear of water lashed out at Madoka, reminding her of the time she fought the King Slime. Knotting Strands ripped away as the beam tore a moat in the plains, but Madoka managed to leap out of its huge radius. She caught a glimpse of Audrey who remained still and concentrated, but that meant the princess was aware of her location!

Shit, this is no good.

Madoka saw the core flash again as heat gathered in front of the girl. This wasn't fair! Her magic gave her no warning, unlike the Domineering Strands with their Spell Circles or purple needles of that God of Tomorrow's magic. Audrey was a monster in her own right, the maid fumed. A torrent of water was surging towards her in a massive wave, while the beam of her first spell still shattered the forest opening where they came from. Another moat tore through, cutting her escape though she saw no Water magic. It was Wind magic! Wind and Water covering both of her sides, and there was too much distance. Too much magic, not enough time to avoid any of it. Therefore, she must jump higher up!

Her boots lifted her up with her stomach following as she soared into the air, although she was much higher than the waves of Audrey's Water magic. She took a moment to search for any opening to land on, but only roiling seas blasted beneath her. There was no sign that there was ground anywhere. Thank the kind gods she was slowly sinking instead of falling back down.

Danger.

Watch out.

Beneath you.

I will guide you.

That voice...! Madoka twisted in the air for the new attacker's voice. I do not need an extra distraction or an enemy!

Careful.

I am not your foe.

Trust me.

To your left!

And enemies below.

As she floated, the surging tide began to rapidly foam in huge circles. Those were going to burst! Through the other waves flowing out of the princess's massive bubbles, she could make out a green gust of magic charging on her left. She's ruthless! Madoka thought. The Knotting Strands shyed away from all of Audrey's magic, but she refused to back away from it in fear!

Water blasted like geysers from the foamy circles, but Madoka managed to grab a meager golden strand and smooth it beneath her in a solid arc. The Knotting magic surrounding her reacted, forming the golden arc into a rocky platform for her to stand on. It was bumpy, but flat enough to be a footing to stand on and a shield to block her from the treacherous sea under her. The geyser struck her platform, but the wind magic sent her flying!

Madoka untangled more knots of magic as she soared upwards, finally creating a floating island large enough to hide on. The chaos grew, her mind and heart struggled to come up with a plan to make it back to the earth. This was the girl holding back, which made her fighting spirit shake. She should fill the sky with floating rocks for cover, but that could spell trouble for her if the princess breaks them apart or pushes her into them with Wind gusts. The beams of waters began to swirl, held up by the Leyline's wild magic and exacerbated by Audrey's Wind blades. They were typhoons, smacking her face with spray. Madoka had no choice. What can she do before she is swept away in these magic storms?

Okay, voice in my head, Madoka would sigh at her thoughts, but a gust of Wind jerked her up even higher. Guide me.

I'm with you.

Madoka felt a tingling sensation scratch her neck, then a sharp sting made her vision blurry. Many small shard of ice particles pelted her sides, each like the bites of small insects. The giant pit's own dark storm was pulling her in! Trapped between Audrey's typhoons and the massive black storm... Madoka gritted her teeth. She'll have to use the crystal in her heart if she were to survive this! A blast of water hissed by her ear. Taking that out would take too much time! Where are you, mysterious voice? The tingling stopped and suddenly Madoka felt something inside her mind release. She could now see thousands of purple needles spread out against the wind's currents. Was this the mysterious voice's power?

The enemy's thoughts expand.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Each spell before you.

They're rendered useless if you desire.

Reach out for them.

Make them yours.

Madoka wasn't sure what that meant, but she could make out tiny electrical chains wrapping around the needles. The waves of water vanished beneath her, revealing a shattered earth that used to be peaceful. Each of Audrey's spells were laced with the purple needles now, dangerous thoughts. Madoka shall rebuke the foolish girl, even if there were new bolts of her Water lances flying towards her. She keeps going overboard!

Madoka noticed that the needles only formed where Audrey's magic materialized. It was a helpful trick in tracking where her magic was coming from, although she did not know what else she could do with it. For now, she noticed safety was within the small typhoons' eyes where no purple needles existed. There was no choice, really, for the other tornados of water and wind were closing in on her. She formed a new arc of Knotting strands beneath her feet and kicked herself into the coming whirlwind of water and rocks. The cold water sliced past her, destroying many of the floating rocks she created. Does she think I'm made out of impenetrable steel? Madoka growled, but soon she was dunked into the stormy tornado's water.

She sputtered, but she was safe in the eye of this tornado temporarily. Madoka considered falling back down to the earth, which was even further away. The damn storm pushed her upward once again. The voice wasn't speaking, but it wasn't helpful anyways. The Knotting Magic swirled around inside, escaping out of her watery cage through the purple needles' mist. She checked her surroundings, but there was no sign of any incoming attacks. The princess would find her eventually so she better act quickly! She saw a needle close enough to scratch her face whirling towards her at a blinding speed, protruding out just enough to pluck it from the stormy orbit. It was going to hurt grabbing it, Madoka steeled herself, but it was the way out of this magic hell.

Caught it, Madoka reached out. It stung, but she nearly could not believe she managed to hold onto it. Immediately her palm sizzled from the hot magic and her mind was struck with an odd feeling. A memory? Someone's face and strange symbols flashed within her vision. Was that her own unworthy face? Was this needle one of Audrey's thoughts? Shake out of it! She scolded herself. The needle was the size of a large dagger; it was lightweight enough to sit perfectly within her palm. Once again, Knotting strands danced along its jagged edges.

"I might be your servant, Princess," Madoka gripped it hard enough to shatter. The strands pulled it back together. Make your enemy's thoughts yours, the voice repeated in her head. The lightweight dagger suddenly shifted with a hum and became slightly heavier in her grasp. A sword? No, Madoka remembered the girl said no weapons, even though all these waves and water tornadoes seemed unfair to her. The sword reformed into something heavier - a simple rod. "But that won't stop me from disciplining you when I get back down there!"

Madoka roared, but suddenly another Water beam sliced her wrist. No! The maid watched the javelin she was about to throw fall all the way straight down to the ground below her, but realized she still had her hand attached to her body. Her magic hurt but didn't kill her, despite how chaotic it was. Wait, Madoka heard the muffled thud of the metal rod. It hardly left a mark, but her new tool outweighed the Leyline's wild magical effects? This could be useful. The tornadoes vanished, as well as the voluminous waves spraying from them. Was she out of magic? Or was she trying to find where she was? Madoka hid on a floating rock she didn't even remember creating, peering over the edge and scanning for more of Audrey's magic through the clouds. She was closer to the earth, but not close enough.

I am with you.

The enemy is searching for you.

Remember its memories.

Make them yours.

She is not my— Madoka's shoulder exploded with heat. Immediately fury filled her, causing her vision to blur. The wind whipped her bare skin. One of Audrey's Water jets slashed her shoulders while the voice distracted her. She was struck again. "Audrey!"

She screamed, but doubted the princess could hear her from up here. More purple needles were slicing the air, launching straight to her. They were Wind gusts and Water jets! The wind whistled as Madoka ducked under one, but thanks to the purple daggers lacing Audrey's magic she could predict their trajectory.

Make them yours, the voice urged her once more.

"Shut it," Madoka stood up, leaning and tilting precisely to dodge more jets flying by her at impossible speeds. "I know."

With a Cherish style dodge, she seized two of the needles and ignored the strange thoughts they contained. The platform was losing chunks of itself with each new blast of magic, but she could still stand on it. They were as large as spears this time, perfect for weighing herself down so she can get back at Audrey. A red glow caught the corner of her eye as she ducked beneath a third beam of water. Her rune was on fire? Was it because she got hit? Something else was wrong with her — with every needle she grabbed to add to her projectile's size, she felt herself growing angrier. Hatred, discomfort, and separation flooded into her like the roiling sea that girl released. The hum rattled the platform and shattered the whirlpool's magic to pieces.

"You... can... take..." Madoka rose the massive metal beam above her head and lept off the floating rock she was on with it. "Your stupid training back!"

She grabbed several more transformed needles of Water magic and hurled them down at Audrey for good measure as she began her descent back to the ground, riding on top of the heavy metal needle. Those ought to keep her busy, Madoka predicted. Her grip rattled and the wind howled faster, making her wonder if it was Audrey making the platform's descent accelerate. The lack of Water missiles launching at her and the explosive noise beneath her said otherwise. Explosions?

Plumes of smoke and fire rushed above the misty shreds of ground. Her missiles were exploding? There were not any needles or any sign of Audrey's magic anymore. Has she gone too far? Her shoulder hurt, but the ground was approaching faster than her lurching stomach or rune could handle.

I'll protect you.

The enemy still yet lives.

"She's not—" Madoka was about to argue, but her cheek suddenly bled. A shard of ice nicked her? Fine, she wiped the blood off and plunged her fist into her heart. "You better do it, whoever you are."

The crystal slid out of her chest effortlessly and the first thing Madoka thought of was... wings? The crystal's form melted and sure enough, a massive pair of wings suspended her descent for a moment. It felt like the sun was at her back, rather than all of Audrey's magic and floating debris shadowing the sky. She grinned, satisfied with the results and dove into a swoop. That glowing core was hers to grab and then she will finally show her the error of her destructive ways!

The wings flapped on their own, eventually sharpening as she soared down, as her needle caused a calamity far greater than the small rods she dropped before. Smoke covered her vision and she was certainly descending rapidly, but she felt no pain or resistance from the wind. Was this the work of the mysterious voice? A golden and translucent barrier formed in front of her, blocking the dust and ice. Through her own explosion, she saw the girl's shining core in the dark and aimed for it! Take this, Audrey!

For a moment the world went silent. She missed by a longshot or maybe the girl used magic and dodged her, but she was under the earth for a moment as her crystal's Divine wings shattered back into dust. They served their purpose and so did the voice. Madoka listened in the barrier as the crater collapsed in on itself and buried her, waiting for footsteps to approach. The explosions also calmed down and the dirt still had those thought needles inside of them, remnants of Audrey's magic. Like a quiet heartbeat, she heard the princess approaching. A mistake! Madoka reached for a needle and pulled herself along with the earth asunder. Her burning hand caught a neck.

"Wretched enemy," Madoka roared, tightening her grip. "I think you caused enough of a mess!"

"Ka..."

Her ears barely registered anything, only the pounding of her own heartbeat and the searing magic fueling her rage from her shoulder. She could have killed me! Madoka furiously thought. Culd have destroyed this whole Leyline! What does this fool have to say that will make her listen?

"Madoka."

That was not the voice inside of her head, nor did it sound like Audrey. Her eyes felt weak, as if she had stayed up for a hundred nights and the dirt dug into her knees before she realized she collapsed. Madoka's world went dark, where suddenly there was no storm, plains or floating trees and rocks. It was deathly silent and a cold sweat poured over her. Alone, bitter, and so very weak! Instantly, her rage emptied and fear overwhelmed her. What was this horrifying presence?

"F-Forgive me," Madoka cried out and buried her head and felt dirt smear her face, even though she was still inside a pitch black void. Her senses returned, hearing first the winds calming down and then she felt the rain drizzling on her unworthy self.

"Blegh!" Audrey suddenly broke into her fear and pulled her out. Madoka dared not face her, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt for what she has done. "You can get up, Madoka. You won."

Madoka stood up and faced away. She sensed Audrey was about to touch her, but she was hesitating. So the hand's shadow hovered over her shoulder before it slumped back to its owner's side.

"I should be the one apologizing to you," Audrey's voice faltered. "I got carried away and it was a shitty thing for me to do to get lost in my magic again."

"I hurt you," Madoka whimpered. "I'm your servant, and yet I hurt you. I should be—"

"Naw," Audrey suddenly sat next to her. Madoka was horrified. The bruise marks and damage she inflicted marred her pretty skin like the burns on her own. Darkened and purple, but strangely the princess didn't seem bothered by it. Her cheeks... were pink? Audrey eyed her, but looked away. Her voice quickened. "Consider it on the job training, fast pace environment, and a highly competitive work space. You... beat me anyways. Beat me in my own game, even though I nerfed you by taking away your weapons. Tsk!"

She scoffed.

"I didn't know it was a competition," Madoka groaned.

"Competition? What? Naw. Who said it was a competition? Naw, not me," Audrey trailed off. "I didn't lose, y-you got lucky!"

"Is that marking on your neck bothering you?" Madoka poked her own shoulder and realized the fear completely dismantled the crimson rune's effects. She was herself, finally. "Because it shows that you lost."

A chuckle escaped Audrey's lips, then a beautiful laugh into an ugly cough. Madoka avoided the welts on her neck as she supported her as she bent over and laughed. Something shifted the girls as they sat. It was then Madoka noticed that the plains they were resting on were not much of a solid ground anymore. They were on a slice of it, floating and bumping against other slices.

"Yeah, I lost," Audrey sighed. "I don't know how you did it, but you turned my newly patented Water Beam attacks into freaking bombs."

"Not so fun dodging magic, isn't it?" Madoka groaned.

"Actually?" Audrey perked up. "You know what? It kind of was. Wasn't it fun letting loose like that?"

It was Madoka's turn to scoff. The plain's floting island collided with another part of the mainland, causing her to shift into Audrey's shoulders. She watched the collision's aftermath shatter at the edges into big chunks of rocks and dirt, then drift skyward. She'll never admit that fighting the princess was actually fun. Audrey peeked at her, but then jerked away before yelping.

"Ach," She tried to rub her neck, but that evidently made things worse for her.

"F-Forgive me," Madoka immediately became consumed by the guilt again.

"Oh, stop it," Audrey sighed. "It hurts, but I totally deserved it. This concludes the Great Duel! Madoka: One! Me: Big fat zero."

She stood up, seemingly over the pain in her neck. Madoka had a memory of her own reach out to her, like a spector that she suppressed to death long ago. The girl, chained up and bloody, all alone in that chamber of the palace. Audrey has gone through worse things then a squeeze on the neck, but it still felt like Madoka lost a part of herself during their supposed duel.

Could she really be forgiven for what she had done? Is the princess just brushing her own pain and embarrassment by acting like it was a game? A quiet storm brewed, turning into the towering water typhoons stretching from Audrey's magic. Why was it so difficult, yet so simple to defeat her once she accepted help from that stranger. She noticed a pair of unwanted eyes were staring at her quietly the whole time.

"F-Forgive me," Madoka stammered out of habit. "I was lost in my own thoughts."

"It's okay, Madoka," Audrey stroked her neck bruises, as if they were a lovely gift to cherish. "I was giving you time to think before we go."

"Well, the thinking's done," Madoka sighed. Her thoughts already fled away from her like those trees in the storm the moment she said that. "Wait, go where?"

"Up there, of course!" She pointed to the hole in the heavens. Madoka suddenly felt nervous as she stared up at the spiral of ice and rocks. Each massive island shrunk the higher up they were. "It's climbing time! Yeah!"