All throughout the time it took for the Kings to finish their little staged ‘civil war’, an aged but determined, pale – faced woman slowly begins to blink her heavy eyes awake.

Grunt: “It seems you’ve woken up…?”

Aleatha Eseria: “*Coughs blood*

…

Grunt? Exactly where…?”

Grunt: “’Where are we’? Don’t bother asking. *Sigh* I had quite a lot of trouble rescuing you just now. Do you understand? I might’ve been implicated and had my ‘identity’ exposed because you couldn’t help yourself on … rushing this plan of yours. Don’t be so impulsive, please. If you rush, then all of us falter. At least, I end up suffering from a back-up in my missions.”

Aleatha Eseria: “Did you… find anybody to teleport us away? Where are they? Why did they end up leaving so quickly? How much time has passed?”

Grunt: “Haaah. How could I have?? right now, you’re only the newest Board of Trustees member, Aleatha Eseria. Unless I tell them ‘Ms. Evergreen requests their compliance with my sudden urgent summons and demand that they save you’, while showing some type of confirmation on your behalf as proof of your word and order… they would never react so swiftly to save one of this school’s governing staff. I had to use this *Points to watch*.”

Noticing the infamously rare ‘warp watch’ on his wrist, which can be pretty expensive to have recharged once used up, Aleatha Eseria visibly softened her gaze on this shockingly loyal subordinate of hers.

She hadn’t known him for long, but he definitely has been proving himself more capable than her current right hand. This guy...she would first need to test him for a while longer. Once he succeeds, or rather, IF the unknown and forgettable - faced man code - named ‘Grunt’ was able to completely pass her trials for him…

Then she can effectively start reworking some positions towards questionable subordinates who’ve otherwise disappointed her within these past few weeks – and ESPECIALLY within the last few days.

She wonders if she can still hire all of those mercenaries now, after Mr. Abrams and the security captured so many of their men.

But it was never her place to question them. She just had to take care of what she was needed for – afterwards… maybe then, Nilia wouldn’t be forced to undertake those despairing, and heartless missions every so often. Maybe then she wouldn’t be forced to return to a mansion that lacked the two people she held most near and dear…

Maybe then, Nilia would genuinely smile at her again.

But... this was under the premise that she completed her end of the bargain; and set the stage up discreetly enough for …for that guy to make his move. If, even after all of that, they still failed? Then…

…It would no longer be any of her business.

Especially so: since she still has her two trump cards set in place – as well as her back-up operations that successfully pinned many crimes to another… person.. who would have no other choice, except to take the fall for her.

Thus… her pale and weak lips curved up into a relaxed smile and she said:

Aleatha: “You’ve… done well Grunt. Very well, in fact. I thank you for the diligence and loyalty you’ve shown for me back there. If you hadn’t gotten me out in time… I’m afraid I may have been compromised by security’s discovery, before I could entirely absorb their forces under my command…

It’s only a shame… that those stupid ‘Orderly Alliance’ bunch – of – fools prioritized strength over a tactical acquiescence of a more… ‘trustworthy’ and relatable hero, to our cause, for the security personnel that should protect Nilia and the other… child, from whatever that group of declining, passive has-beens is plotting to achieve on that day.

I’ll be counting on you from here on out, Grunt.”

Grunt: “Certainly.

(...Sheesh. I finally did it. Maybe I should… nah. I’ll make my report later. No rush.)”

…

Meanwhile.

Back at the Arena in the center of the school’s stadium dome…

…

..

.

Nilia and Gabby have engaged in what could only be described as an absolutely awe – inspiring and powerful clash of blades. Nilia was entirely coated within a strange and seemingly color – distorted film of energy. It blocked sword strikes that passed by her defense while her own concocted blade accurately parried Gabby’s own.

Similarly, Gabby’s own physical state was not outdone by Nilia in any way, shape or form. She relentlessly pursued Nilia with swift and polished moves from extremely tricky angles. Her whole entire body exuded a ‘Holy’ aura that equally protected her from Nilia’s.

No. in fact – although very subtle…

Gabby’s divine energy was very slightly pushing Nilia’s attacks back!

In terms of sword skill, the two girls were about equal; with neither gaining an advantage over the other.

Yet, in terms of pure energy output for both attacking and defending, Gabby was superior!

Her feathery, white wings extended and outstretched magnificently. The upper parts remained the same as they were while flapping, yet… the feathers attached to the lower area completely shone a brighter white then before. The white light being emitted by each and every individual feather was outstandingly brilliant – so much so, that when the feathery pair of wings reached their peak in brilliance, the result nearly blinded the whole audience into burning wails of agony. For now, only half of the observing crowd has been reduced to puddles of suffering goop, unable to immediately cope with the ocular pain.

In an instant, the magicians cast a particular spell in latin chants.

It wasn’t a very popular spell, but at the same time, being a recently developed one, some people took time to memorize it anyways in case it would come out as useful.

And in fact, it was, in a sense, useful. Which is the very reason why those magic users that specialized in erecting barriers would ‘just in case…’ memorize this peculiar, particular spell.

It was often ridiculed as the barrier tinting spell.

...Because that is exactly what it did. It cast an extremely tinted layer over an already existing barrier, fused with it, and protected the eyes of those within, running on the energy poured into the actual defensive barrier to operate. It was like a ‘window’ for the already existing barrier erected for defensive means against threats. Whether it be to protect against blinding attacks or types of bright phenomena, the tinted film should, if used properly, come in handy.

But with it being a ‘specific situation’ type of spell, it wasn’t too popular.

Exceptions would be for cases like this one, where the magicians knew right away they would be dealing with a barrier and arena matches between super powered children who didn’t know how to control their might. In this sort of case, the contracted mages would definitely learn any and every somewhat useful spell they could, to properly defend the audience from danger.

Anyways, the magicians on standby cast a tinted window over the original barrier. That about sums it up. And this ‘tinted window’ definitely protected the crowd of students from the direct burning feeling that kept scratching at each of their eyeballs, thereby alleviating most of their pain, save for the lasting damage from their initial encounter.

the blinding light - coated feathers shot out of her wings at last; or rather, it was more like each feather charged up enough light within themselves before finally shooting out a beam of light with a an illusory feather at the tip. The beams became similar to spears, in that sense. Deadly, and extremely fast spears.

Nilia also reacted while the feathery bombardment was still in the process of being charged. HER own blade grew dense with an accumulated mass of strange energy that sort of lacked presence and color. Its form was like an overwhelming blob that rested on her blade, yet could never settle on any one specific shape. Finally, the blob condensed at her makeshift sword’s tip and transformed that said tip into what appeared to be an ink brush. If any of Luxor’s fans were watching her do perform this little act, rather than shielding their eyes from Gabby’s brilliance, they would recognize this as being oddly similar to one of his own personal techniques in appearance. He, however, uses divine energy to manifest his creations into reality while Nilia…

Drew a circle with her blade - turned - brush, and formed a gateway to a small, ownerless void.

The instant both attacks finished, those beams of light rushed forth with speed faster than Nilia Eseria could react to!

Luckily, however, she had no need to follow the light-speed movements.

Because the ‘void’ was opened directly in front of her body. Gabby could have controlled their directional trajectory if she had practiced a little more with this move…

But 1: she didn’t have enough time in her life to become as proficient at such attacks and light-working skills as her upperclassmen have. Just condensing so many feathers of light and releasing them all at once in a myriad burst of glory was already pushing the absolute limits of her concentration. There was no way her reactionary skills would be sharp enough to observe them all carefully either, when she was already starting to feel so taxed and strained.

Point number 2: She honestly didn’t believe Nilia could dodge such a move. Its ferocity was just too extreme.

---