I land with a thud. Even while I see black, my head spins. Over and over, two voices yell out a name, "Rainen."

The pain, whatever feelings there are, start to fade. The short raspy breaths aren't enough to keep me conscious. The darkness is spreading, taking over, settling me in a cold place. I don't like the cold.

"If you won't give up, I'll force your partner to surrender then."

Hearing those words, all the strength I have left, I summon them in my arms.

"No." I whisper.

-----------------

I rush towards Mordin, the distance quickly closes between us. He attempts to stop my advance by casting three instances of [Fire bolt] in a general area. He no doubt thinks this will halt my progress and put me on the defensive.

Easy enough.

I summon a barrier in front of myself, a layered one. He watches, bewildered, as no time is lost and the barrier holds. I'm glad but he broke through five layers. Creating barriers are easy but casting as many as five at a time will tire out even the toughest of mages if done without rest.

Still, I refuse to slow down. The sooner this is over the better. Blue Hair may have a lot of mana and very strong magic, however, against a more experienced fighter she'll fall easily, especially with the personality she has. The desire to glance over my shoulder is strong, but I can't take my focus off Mordin.

One at a time Rainen, one at a time.

By now, he's realized that his attacks aren't working. He backs away as I inch closer and closer, very very close. In a matter of seconds, I'll be able to reach him. Brushing him with my fingers is all I need to get it over, I just need to be able to pinch his clothing.

Right as my fingers are about to grab on, like a crab snapping its claws around an unsuspecting fish, gravity strengthens its unrelenting pull. It's as if my legs gave out, they didn't. The feeling is about the same, but I'm still standing, even if it is on one leg.

In fact, my one leg is holding up my entire body.

The sudden extra weight and forward momentum send me on a crash course with the ground. I refuse to let myself fall flat on my stomach. Using my arms, I ease myself into a roll and continue running.

"Wow, nice." he comments. "First time someone's done that."

So it wasn't my legs just giving out on me. It was his doing. Now that leaves the question, is it a spell or is it an ability. Not that it matters. If it were a spell, I'd have to rely on him running out of mana and if it were an ability, I'd have to keep going until he runs out of uses, that is, if there is one.

Let's try it again just a bit faster this time. There's no need to use my ability on something like this.

Holding not a single ounce of my physical capabilities back, I dash at him again. If there's at least a cool down, then this is my chance. I'll be able to get him here and now.

I launch fireballs as I continue my advance, he easily deflects them with his mana shield.

Just as my finger's about to brush against the barrier and break through, it disperses into nothing and I'm pulled to the ground. Unlike last time, I'm able to stay standing. I can't go after him yet the pressure is too strong. Taking advantage of my inability to move, he falls back and launches two [Fireballs] at me.

It's hard, but I lift my arms in time to summon a barrier. The impact shatters the barriers and staggers me.

"[Fireball]!"

How many barriers can I make before it hits? How strong will it be? How many do I need? So many questions and almost no time. I pour my mana into creating multiple sturdy barriers. With a voice invocation, it'll be much stronger than without.

Over and over each other the barriers go until finally reaching ten, that's when the fireball hits.

The barriers protect me from burns, but I'm blown away. I tumble and roll multiple times before I stop. I wonder if any of the teachers were about to step in there. If worse came to worse, I could've used my ability. I can use it to get close, but it's no... fun?

No. I shake my head. Revealing too much of my skills would be troublesome in the long run. I can take him out without it. My master always told me to never fight opponents I know I can win against with all my strength. "A trump card is important. Depending on how strong it is and when it's used, the tides of a battle can be turned around in an instant."

Again, I get into a ready position. I'll try it this way, I won't be getting another chance after this and I have to make sure it works. Otherwise, I'll be forced to use my ability.

With my right foot I push off, staying low to the ground, dashing towards Mordin.

I concentrate mana into my right hand. Flames appear and start to engulf it. With my free hand, I silently shoot out fireballs while I make my way over. Without a voice invocation, the fireballs don't even deal enough damage to warrant repair. However, they act as a decent distraction and... as a test.

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I get right up against his barrier, winding my right arm up, I prepare to break through. "Got ya!"

"Not quite!"

His barrier disappears and gravity tugs powerfully on me. I smile. I was right. Placing my hand on the ground I shout, "[Earth Pillar]!"

I'm flung into the air right above him. He immediately follows me with his head, staring wide-eyed.

"Gotcha."

He raises his arms in an attempt to cover himself with a barrier. A fireball won't make it in time.

"[Lightning Bolt]!" I yell.

Relief flashes across his face, however, it's gone when the spell hits.

"GUAAAAAH!"

Now! While he has no time to react.

"[Stun]!"

The green ball of mana flies from my hand and hits Mordin. He instantly locks up and crumples to the ground. Done. One down, one to go.

"Rainen!"

Two voices yell from across the room. I turn to the sound and I'm met with a bewildering scene. Blue Hair, my partner, is being thrashed around in the air as if something large and invisible were using her as a ball. Anger wells up inside of me. It's interrupted by Miss Ein's yell.

Miss Ein yells, "I am going to stop this!"

"Miss Ein no!" Mr. Rune stands in her way. "Miss Wholehart has chosen not to give up! Her partner is also still in the match!"

"Do you see that?" she points to Blue Hair. "That's not something that I can just dismiss. She couldn't even give up if she wanted to right now! At this rate, she may be seriously injured!"

I switch my gaze back to Blue Hair who's finally stopped being thrown around in the air, except, it isn't over yet. An earth pillar rises from underneath and knocks her up even higher.

How long has it been since she last touched the ground? How long has this been going on?

"Rainen!" Blue Hair's friends scream at me from across the room. "Do something!"

"You held back your stupid powers and that ended in someone dying. It's your fault Henry died. All because you were too selfish and worried about yourself to save another!"

As Blue Hair fall onto the ground and lay there motionlessly, I wonder. Maybe Carlyle was right, maybe I am just selfish. She counted on me to take out Mordin quickly so I could assisted her and win. But, instead, I ended up holding back my ability, and there she lies on the ground, almost like a corpse.

If only I hadn't held back or if only I tried harder. None of this would've happened... right?

Slowly but surely, I clench my fists. The third year girl, Cassandra, turns towards me. She looks surprised to see Mordin down but doesn't look bothered. I, on the other hand, am quite bothered. Not with the fact that she took down Blue Hair, but because I let it happen, because I held back.

As a partner, a team player, I'm very, very, very bad. I can, at the very least, do my best to win.

The third year takes another step, and I begin to infuse my fist with mana. I start taking steps towards them, faster and faster I go.

"Let go!" the third year says.

I move my eyes down and stop in my tracks. It's Blue Hair.

-----

I grab onto Cassandra's foot and hold on with all my strength.

"Let go!" she shakes her leg, trying to get me to release my grip.

I slowly raise my head to meet her gaze, "No." I say.

Her face twists into an even harsher anger. She begins to kick my arm, but I hold strong. It hurts but I won't let go, not until he's done with his fight. I have to keep her busy, if even only for a little while longer.

"Rainen!" Iris and Elis yell again. "Help her!"

No. Don't. Keep fighting. If you can take Mordin out first, then you'll have no trouble with Cassandra.

"Rainen! Now's your chance to attack her!"

"Heh." Cassandra lets out a little chuckle as she pushes my head back down with her foot. "You're partner isn't helping you." she's desperate. "He's just watching as I beat you around." I can feel it in her voice. "I'll beat your partner too." she's just trying to make me lose hope.

I wrap my other hand around her leg, and pull. She loses balance for a second before using my head to bare some of her weight.

"Calm down!" she says. "Or I might accidentally put too much force on your head." she increases the pressure.

He needs to attack now if he can.

"I guess I'll have to stun you then."

I need to give him an advantage.

"I was hoping to have knocked you out."

He's just waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

"Too bad."

I want to see it. I want to see when he surprises her with an attack.

"[Stun]."

I turn my head ever so slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him. He'll take her out.

The stun collides with my body and I lock up. Darkness finally takes over and I fall asleep with one question on my mind.

Why is he... just watching?