"Understanding others is knowledge, Understanding oneself is enlightenment; Conquering others is power, and Conquering oneself is strength."
---------------------------------------------
"Father?" Eriko speaks.
"Am sorry Vincent I couldn't get Markos, killer, he already escaped the area when we arrived " a young male with a mullet haircut, black hair, short in stature around 5 ft 5, looked very young, with a black coat, integrated with a unique design throughout the coat wings that seem to resemble pinwheels with lines going in one direction, with federations cursive F, decagon logo being filled to 6 with that same pinwheel wing in the middle.
[Squad 6 Captain Javin Landres]
"He was at the funeral for Marko," Eriko says as she continues to view the events that transpired while she was at home that night.
Vincent grips his fists tight "It's alright Captain Landres you did the best you could. Sigh There are too many tragedies in one night how can this be" in a troubled and confused tone.
"Sir Vincent I also just got an update on Valerus Marina he is in stable condition and will be alright Captain Tenmu has tended to his wounds but there is now a scar on his face, the weapon that cut him was an ancient one from many years ago. Whoever we are dealing with knows of that knowledge. " Captain Landres speaks.
"Thank you for the update" as he takes a deep breath. Vincent then turns his attention to the five girls without a home and mother.
He kneels and speaks calmly and nicely, "Hey girls, are you ok?" A complete 180 from the way he was speaking earlier. "What are your names?"
The five still shaken about what had transpired had complete defeat and loss on their faces. However one stood to answer "A-am Rose. Rose Providence" She said in a weak and tired voice. "These girls behind me are my sisters. Azalea, Bella, Lily, and Sunneta" "Wow beautiful names. Dont worry everything will be alright" Vincent calmly reassures the girls.
"Sir Vincent" a female voice calls with green eyes, medium-length wavy black hair, a beauty mark under her left eye, big circle glasses, a white dress shirt, and black slacks.
Eriko looks to see who coming "Wait isn't that the school nurse."
"Ms.Aisaki how are you?"
"Doing great sir. Working in Squad 7 isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Mr.Valerus is doing fine Ms. Okina just tended to him."
"Thank you for the update but Captain Landres here already told me that information"
"I beat you to it again Aisaki," Javin says playfully.
"Well it can't be helped, Captain Landres you are indeed the fastest mage in Aiz so. You should be worried about growing an inch taller"
"Hey."
Vincent gives them both a look.
"I'll be back Sir Vincent I'll report to the head captain regarding this girl"
ZIP
STEP STEP
Aisakai heads over to the girls sitting on the cold street "Girls are you alright let me heal you guys real quick. Anything hurting? Broken bones?"
SHINE
The bright light shines once more. "I didn't even get to see the rest of it" Eriko gets hit by light once more however it was the sunlight shining on her. She gets up with the fog now gone.
Eriko stares at the ground "If I were present during this would I have made a difference? If they were to come again would I be able to defend myself?" Eriko plants some seeds of self-doubt in her mind as she views that memory."
"Your up," a voice says.
Eriko looks to her far left there Rose sitting down leaning against a tree.
SIGH
"You saw it didn't you?" Rose asks Eriko as she sighs.
"Yeah I am sorry I didn't know"
"Cut it I know it was pretty rough. I viewed you as well. I say a very stark contrast to mine"
Eriko looked at Rose intently with a sad and afflicted expression.
"You had it all a nice house, parents who wanted you and loved you for who you are. And a friend in Mr. I dont have magic."
Eriko wanted to respond to that but just allowed her to speak.
"One thing above it all you were blessed and bestowed raw talent. Not me I had to work almost all my life even now to get here to be an exempt mage. I honed my crafts every day until I got noticed by the academy which presented me with an exemption mage. I thought that I would finally be recognized for my efforts but no it was all gone down the drain when you showed up. I worked my ass off but no you had to ruin it. Everything I worked for gone in an incident!" In a passionate outrage.
HUFF HUFF
STEP STEP STEP
Eriko stands up and walks to Rose.
"Am sorry that everything has happened to your Mother, being an orphan, working so hard only for it to be taken in an instant. Am sorry I got your exemption taken away from this test. You're a great mage Rose with a unique ability that I didn't get to see the full use of. I am, not a perfect and gifted mage. There are instances where I doubt my own abilities as well."
Rose stands there with a fixed expression listening to how Eriko feels. She slowly rises to her feet.
With the two now standing face to face.
"We're not all perfect but we can do our best" Eriko says with a determined face and strong resolve.
"I hate you. You knew exactly what to say" Rose says as he gets emotional and gets teary-eyed.
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"I know that but I will need you to win this thing and move on to the next round. Then we can finally settle it" Eriko says with confidence as she extends her hand out to Rose.
Rose finally extends her hand as the two finally see eye to eye and their goal is to make it past this round.
"I told the other girls to meet at the center of this map I would like to go there but let how much-"
"What!"
"What the hell happened?!"
They both look up at the timer.
[5 minute 10 duos remain]
"We were out for that long what the hell happened what took out more than half of the duos" Rose says.
ROARRRRRRRRRRRRR
A loud roar echoes throughout the forest as the ground begins to shake.
"What was that? And an earthquake?" Rose questions.
"Lets hurry before the ring closes lets follow that roar. It seems to be coming from the northern part.
"Alright let's go," Eriko says as the two sprint to the North
"Valerus Ezekiel I hope you both doing alright"
"Girls please be safe."
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In the headmaster's room at Aurora Saint Academy
"The girls. They are finally awake." Ariana says with an excited voice.
"Yeah but can they make it in time?" Taz says in a concerned voice.
"They will," Celeste Carmen says in a calm tone.
-----------------------------------------
Northern Section of the Greater Forest of Aiz
"How the hell did it come down to this?"
-----------------------------------------
15 minutes ago
Northeast in the Greater Forest of Aiz
"HEEEEEEEEEEELPPPPPPPPP"
"WERE SO SCREEEWED"
I watched the colors of Purple and White draw closer to us with the shadow of a giant 8-legged monster following from behind.
I rush towards the enemy with my weapon in my right hand. This feeling is different because I usually carry my weapon with two hands. For this instance, I carry this weapon in my right hand.
"Bianca!" I yelled out.
"RIGHT" Placing both her hands out Bianca glows a dim yellow as he eyes change into a dark yellow as well.
"AHH" The two girls nearly escape death as the earth around their feet changes its form, creating an arch in the ground and preventing the monster from getting them.
As I moved closer to the monster. The roots of the trees in front of me form a cage around the beasts. One by one they hold one leg of the beasts. I leap over the arch created by Bianca. I place my left hand under my right hand as I go for a downward slash using both hands.
AHHHH
SLICE
The monster stopped moving after I delivered the slash. It froze for a moment as I watched its entire body split into 2.
"Got it" I turn my back to Bianca and the two girls to be met with a shocked expression"
"Tha-a-t w-wasnt the main one" Lily cried.
"VALERUS RUN" Bianca yelled at me.
CRASH CREAK CRASH
I slowly turned around as I watched a giant leg swipe me
SMACK
Before I knew I got knocked down and smashed a couple of trees in the process. I t was too fast for me to see.
"That was just a baby one huh" I said to myself as I slowly got up and struggled to find the blade that I was holding. I felt a liquid fall from my head was it raining? I placed my right hand on my head as I sat on the forest grounds.
TCH ARGH
"Am bleeding"
The blood poured from my head as it slowly got into my right eye.
"Valerus!" Bianca's voice called out as I saw her running in the distance being followed by Lily and Bella.
STEP STEP
The two girls gasped seeing the state I was in.
"Oh my gosh. Stay still let me heal you" Bianca in a concerned tone. A green hue glows from her body she slowly examines my body up and down "am surprised you didn't break any bones or suffer any more injuries."
The bleeding and pain from my head subsided however I noticed my uniform was now thrashed and with bits being taken out. My sleeves were all cut up, my black slacks were stained with dirt from the ground, my hair was messed up, and the only thing still intact was my Grade Pin.
BOOM CRASH BOOM
The Giant spider begins to move as it sends out more baby spiders. "Here's the plan I want you two to find help any would be fine" I slowly rise to my feet spotting the blade I thought I lost.
"Using my senses there is a lake up ahead I felt a lot of motion up there perhaps you may find help there"
"You got it" "We're on it" The two girls left in a heartbeat as they rushed towards the direction they were told to go. I wasn't sure if they were going to get help or just straight up left us to die.
Bianca with a determined look stands by my side as the hordes of Spiders come rushing towards us "I'll create a wall to hold as much as I can back." As once more she glowed a dark yellow hue as the environment and land begins change
EARTH CREATION MAGIC: GREAT WALL
The wall was thick and made from the dirt, the green, the trees, The colors were all mixed creating this earth-tone brown with specks of green and other shades of it. Binca then made a little opening within the wall so the spiders could come through slowly.
I pick up the blade with my right hand as I rush towards the spiders. "I'll kill them all you just focus on that wall," I tell Bianca.
"You got it"
-----------------------------------
In the headmaster's room at Aurora Saint Academy
"They're going to have to deal with that out there," Ariana says.
"Your girls seemed to have handled it well running away and finding help" Taz comments with a smug expression.
Ariana with a nervous smile on her face "Hey they'll find them help. I think. Haha"
Celeste Carmen watches as Valerus fights the hordes of spiders by himself.
Ariana notices "Celeste arent you feeling a little worried for your student? He's facing those spiders by himself?"
"He'll be fine" Celeste in a calm manner.
The door opens with Professor Lop hopping in.
"Ah, Professor Lop it's good to see you again old friend" Alfred speaks as he kneels and greets him.
"The pleasure's mine Alfred" as he takes off his hat.
"Professor Lop" Professor Kayneth and Professor Deximar are next to greet him.
"Kazarian, Randall please to meet you again"
"Ah, Professor Lop great you see you" Colt steps forward.
"Colt, how are you boy How is your magic doing?"
"I can control up to 100 animals now sir"
"That's fantastic"
"It is but it seems something has been taking out my sky animals only a couple remain now"
"Really. If they are being targeted it must be a skilled mage. Only the eyes of a trained mage can detect the difference from a normal wildlife animal to a tamed" Professor Lop then thinks about it as he watches the broadcast.
"Memories remember when we had to save you Ceaser" Faith with a comic tone.
Ceaser nods in agreement.
"Good thing we were close by to help you," Axel says.
Luna then speaks "It would've been bad"
BZZT
"Another one goes down," Luna says.
"Strange," Faith says.
Ceaser tilts his head in confusion.
"A white hawk? "Captain Caldwell says softly.
"Captain?" Alekzander asks.
"Did you see that?"
"I did see something too what appeared to be a bird"
"Hmm," Captain Percival responds.
Alekzander looks at his Captain expression as he looks at another section of the exam "Hey look the Pearson kid is on the move"
Captain Caldwell looks up.
-------------------------
West Bed of Mushrooms
"I realized at the selection of Duos that you are the other 4 friends you with had the same last name. Are you guys sisters perhaps?"
"Yes. Bella, Lily, Sunneta, and Rose. Rose is our leader. Ever since our adopted mother died she placed Rose in charge of taking care of us. She worked hard every day to hone her skills and get Quill for us."
"I see I never expected you guys to be sisters" Jericho responds in an empathetic voice.
BOOM
"More explosions coming from that direction"
"How about we start heading there?" Jericho insists.
"Uhh maybe not we should just relax by these mushrooms" Azalea suggests
"Your sisters may be in trouble and need your magnificent healing. Moreover, Valerus Marina might be there. Come" Jericho takes Azalea's hand.
"Alright for my sister but what your business with Valerus-"
DASH
Jericho scoped Azalea in his arms as they started to fly over the tall trees of the forest to bolt toward the commotion.
--------------------------
Southside of the Greater Forest of Aiz
Jonathan and Sunneta just wait and listen to what's going on around them.
"What if that's the other girls," Sunneta thinks to herself.
"Are you worried about your sisters?"
"Of course"
"Well going to the place that causes a lot of distractions isn't my thing but we should be in the lead now"
10 mages were knocked out in the area around them.
ZIP ZIP ZIP
They all get teleported back to the school.
"That ability his personality what a monster," Suneeta says with a smile.
"I told you that laying low and attacking at the right moment is key in this"
[15 minute 35 duos remain]
Northside of the Greater Forest of Aiz
Ezekiel and Albeck stare at the lake as the trees get destroyed.
"Wow those trees are getting destroyed"
"Yeah"
"Hmm. Hey, look down there."
Those two look down on the lake.
Eriko & Rose
[Location: South West The Fog of Eternal Memories Rings: 2]
Valerus & Bianca
[Location: North East Rings: 4]
Ezekiel & Albeck
[Location: North East Rings: 8]
Bella & Lily
[Location: North East Rings: 6]
Suneeta & Jonathan
[Location: South Rings: 10]
Azalea & Jericho
[Location: Heading to North East Spiders Rings: 2]
