Confused Fight

Kazuya turned to face us with a wry smile on his face, exuding unbridled confidence as he regarded his young pupil. He leaned on one leg, relaxed. “Really now, I’m curious to see this ‘real fight’ you are only able to show after being supported.” He welcomed Audrey Genia with open arms, the golden disks around his abdomen shimmering in the sunlight.

“Don’t you worry, Master,” Audrey Genia spat. “I’ll kill you soon enough.”

Kazuya laughed. “Hilarious. Since when did you become such a comedian, girl?”

“I don’t jest,” Audrey Genia said, energy charging her sword.

Before Audrey Genia could attack, Myadin emerged into existence before her with Nathan, the serpent-elf levitating in the air as Nathan’s feet tapped the street below. Terra arrived a second later, carrying Tiffany as he flew over, allowing my sister to stand once they were both on the ivory road.

“Wait a moment, Audrey Genia, let’s not be impulsive,” Myadin said. “We need to work together.”

“This is my fight!” Audrey Genia argued, her face twisting in rage at Myadin.

“So disrespectful,” Kazuya lamented. “How do you have that much vitriol for your very own master? You should learn to be more like Arden. She knows how to treat her elders, at least.”

I swallowed, knowing that mentioning Audrey Genia’s sister was a sore spot for her. But she wasn’t provoked, she only looked down, unable to face the Valterian fox.

“You’ve always liked her better, you had nothing to say when Father chose her to be king.” Bitter, Audrey Genia added, “Over me.”

Kazuya hummed, thoughtful.”You know your father cannot be denied once he has made up his mind.”

“But to say nothing⁠—”

“And I agree with him,” Kazuya said. “Arden has proven her worth, mastering herself in mind, body, and spirit. She’s a level-headed leader. Unlike another pupil of mind.” He gave Audrey Genia a pointed look.

“I can be a sensible leader,” Audrey Genia muttered.

“But of course,” Kazuya drawled. “That’s why you failed at removing Arden from the throne twice. Was all that death and destruction worth it, child? You only proved your father’s choice right. You’d be nothing but a war-monger.”

Ouch. I cringed. harsh.

Audrey Genia lifted her head up. “Like Father isn’t?”

Kazuya shook his head, entertained by Audrey Genia’s distress. “You know better, Decimatus has started many wars but not for anything as petty as sibling jealousy.”

There were two?

The rebellions Terra asked her about. Audrey Genia mentioned war but I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe she actually led an army against her sister. No wonder why she seemed so conflicted every time her older sibling was brought up. I knew she cared for Arden, I could hear it her voice when she talked to me about her. It was like Audrey Genia admired Arden but was frustrated with her at the same time. I could only imagine how betrayed she felt when his sister was chosen to be king over her, with how prideful she was. I knew that if Tiffany ascended to a position out of reach, I’d be devastated.

But to go to war over it, though? I’d never involve innocent people. What the hell, Ash.

Audrey Genia head was bowed, her teeth gritted as she tried her best to control her anger. “The royal family and even the clan leaders didn’t agree with Father leaving the throne. They may lie in public to save face and show Father support but I’ve heard things. Rumblings throughout the kingdom. They don’t approve of Arden’s leadership.”

Kazuya huffed. “Those old bags-of-bones, too married to tradition. After all this time, they still don’t understand you cannot always have what you desire. It’s understandable, but… those fools would complain about anything. They criticized your father when he first brought Valteria under his rule. They wouldn’t know a good leader if they were beheaded by one.”

I frowned. That definitely wasn’t the correct way to use that phrase.

Audrey Genia gave a humorous laugh. “Is that how you feel about Amaterasu? Jun?”

Kazuya shook his head. “No. Jun actually has sense and Amaterasu would never go behind your father, whether she agreed about his decision or not. Regardless, I don’t play favorites when it comes to you and Arden. Even though you haven’t finished your training, both of you still qualify to be my true disciple.” Kazuya surveyed the white cityscape. “Ahhh, such a nostalgic view. The amount of vapor in the air reminds me of old times.”

“Really?” Myadin asked, getting Kazuya’s attention. “It does the same for me.”

“Indeed. Atlantis, the last city of that old age, when the magic of the heavens was once again brought down to Earth. This land is a remnant of the gods.”

“It’s pretty impressive,” Terra commented, examining the various buildings surrounding us.

“It’s a faulty representation though,” Kazuya said with a chuckle. “This is your unbounded eternal realm, serpent-elf? Though it looks like how I remember, this city is empty. A far cry from how it used to be. What do you expect to do with such barren landscape?”

Myadin was silent for a moment. “This world doesn’t hold any people or things. Only me, my magic, and my memories.”

“I see.” Kazuya grinned. “So an abandoned Atlantis is the physical representation of your inner world, most interesting.”

“I started my magic journey here in this city when I left Aryva Vasta for the first time.” Myadin paused. “But didn’t finish my studies until I went to Magic Crafters after.”

Kazuya hummed. “You know, I remember teaching here for quite a while,” he said, warmth in his eyes. “I heard tales of a fairly persistent serpent-elf, one that used to pester the librarians about my old sigils.”

Myadin let out a giggle, her gaze wistful. “Those were the days. I’m surprised you heard of me at all. Your classes were fairly popular, legends of your magical ability and magecraft were told all throughout the temples and libraries. It was only by blind luck that I had gotten into your magical calligraphy course, even if you had left by then. Shame I didn’t get to learn directly from you.”

“You may learn something yet. Now let’s see what you lot can do.” Kazuya pulled on his gold montsuki and stored the fabric in a golden portal. He removed his arms from the kimono underneath⁠—the robes hanging at his waist with his golden disks, revealing his shredded chest. A deadly aura exuded from him as he cracked his neck. “I think there will be much more gold from here on in.”

Hundreds of golden portals emerged behind Kazuya, tips of gold swords poking out of each rippling gateway. Before I could blink, the blades were launched—showering out of every portal like cannons!

“Behind me!” Myadin ordered. While brandishing her staff, light ejected from the eight-pointed star-shaped hole in the center of the scepter’s disk. The petals of a huge translucent flower opened before us. More flowers bloomed in the middle of the giant lily adding layers to it.

“Oh?” Kazuya sounded pleased. “You’ve mastered high-speed divine words and incantation? I’m impressed.”

A shower of golden swords clattered against the layers of the transparent shield, in front of the flower. Kazuya continued to shoot blades from his portals like they were giant machine guns, they wore down Myadin’s protection by the second.

“Terra!” Audrey Genia called while gripping her blade hard. “Go. I’ll cover you.”

Determined, Terra nodded. He shot out from beside Myadin’s shields, dodging the rain of blades as he flew through the air. Audrey Genia moved as well, stepping out into the open. Golden portals materialized behind her and they propelled silver blades into the air, clashing against Kazuya’s swords. I covered my ears as the weapons exploded into pieces, the shattering swords sounding like fireworks.

Audrey Genia flung herself into the sky, moving in on Kazuya while providing Terra cover. Terra maneuvered and rolled through the air, avoiding Kazuya’s tails as Audrey Genia rushed the Fox God from the front. Audrey Genia rained down her sword, ready to bisect him in half. Kazuya lifted his hand, his extended nails blocking Audrey Genia’s sword. Terra popped up behind Kazuya ready to strike, able to avoid his glowing tails. Golden energy burst from a fissure in the ground, swallowing Terra whole before he could punch.

Myadin dispelled her flower shield, weapons of gold no longer pouring upon us. She raised a palm and over a dozen purple crosshairs emerged in the air, ahead of her. Lilac beams of light were ejected from the reticles, reaching Kazuya faster than I could see. Kazuya separated from Audrey Genia and vanished. Both Terra and Audrey Genia swerved out the way of Myadin’s barrage, explosions of energy and stone debris flying everywhere as her vibrating lasers blew straight through alabaster towers⁠—causing them to collapse.

With the wave of her staff, Myadin covered us with a protective sphere. She levitated me, Tiffany, and Nathan, into the air—making us float behind her as she chased Kazuya through the ancient city. Kazuya continued to appear and disappear out of existence as he dodged Myadin’s bullets of light, Audrey Genia and Terra zipped ahead of our teacher to continue the assault.

Myadin stopped shooting as they reached Kazuya, Audrey Genia again using Kazuya’s own tactic against him. Barely moving, Kazuya avoided ten gigantic swords hurtled from Audrey Genia’s portals. He made it look so effortless. Terra teleported behind him as Audrey Genia provided an opening. Kazuya parried Terra’s first punch with his wrist and the back of his hand. Terra opened his fist and blasted Kazuya with a loud wave of energy at point-blank.

The smoke let up but Kazuya seemed stunned. He moved, narrowly avoiding a gold sword that aimed to claim his leg. Terra and Audrey Genia engaged Kazuya in a cyclone of speed, all three capes flying through the city in a blur. Vanishing in the air, my eyes couldn’t keep up. I could only hear the echoing clashes and slogging blows of their attacks. It was like Kazuya’s fight against Shekhinah but more destructive.

Myadin followed them, bringing the rest of us with her. The three fighters came back into view around the city entrance. They slowed down, still engaged in combat as they skated across the water. Terra and Kazuya broke away from each other, finishing their exchange of hand-to-hand and Audrey Genia descended on the Valterian fox, reptilian wings sprouting from her shoulder blades. She opened a few golden portals above Kazuya’s head as he skidded onto an ivory bridge.

Kazuya flicked his index and middle finger toward his lips in a shushing motion. “Enough.” His echoing command sounded like a whisper and yet I could still hear him.

Audrey Genia’s portals of weapons closed and she staggered back, but it was to late. Kazuya took advantage of her surprise grabbing her by the throat. Audrey Genia didn’t panic this time, she opened her mouth and released a miasma of gold dust—a burning mist that disintegrated Kazuya’s sleeve and seared his arm.

“Terra! Flush him out!” Myadin yelled as Kazuya let go of Audrey Genia. As she wielded her staff, water began to rise in the sky from the five rings of interlocking moats surrounding the middle island. A gigantic chute of pouring water formed above us in the air.

“Hoooly fuck,” Nathan blurted.

Tiffany was busy gawking with me. “Yeah, no kidding.”

Below, Terra rushed Kazuya again and he managed to punch him through a pair of towers, launching him out into the open.

“υδατόπτωση.”

Myadin said something in a foreign tongue and lowered her scepter toward the ground, aiming at Kazuya. The chute of liquid cascaded like a waterfall, Kazuya glanced up wide-eyed unable to escape as the entire sea crashed down on him. The entire city was flooded, the temple at the highest point was completely submerged.

“Ice,” Myadin said.

Within seconds, the entire spout of water froze into a spiral of crystal.

After taking some time to observe and feel proud of her work, Myadin floated down with us to the base of the ice tower and we met Audrey Genia and Terra on the way. Myadin inspected the ice once closer before allowing the rest of us to stand on the makeshift iceberg.

Myadin sagged and exhaled deeply once her sandals hit the ice. “Phew… I knew containing him would be difficult, but still, that was rough.”

“Ice isn’t enough to stop him,” Audrey Genia warned, her eyes narrowed at Kazuya frozen in place.

“I’m well aware. I’m thinking about a good place to move him.”

Audrey Genia folded her arms and glanced at the rest of the sky spire.

Terra walked next to her, standing side-by-side. “Audrey, what happened between you and Kazuya? He was able to close your portals?”

Audrey Genia closed her eyes, lips thin. “He is the reason I am able to use void sword in such a manner. We both share access to our dimensional treasury, he cut me from the connection.”

“I’m surprised he allowed you to use it against him in the first place,” Terra said.

“You have no idea the depth of Kazuya’s pride.”

“You’d be surprised,” Tiffany said, hands on her waist.

I agreed, shivering from the cold. “Yeah.”

“He always thinks he can win, no matter the situation,” Audrey Genia said. “He cannot help but think of himself as superior.”

A creaking sound from the ice caused everyone to pause. With a deafening crack, Kazuya erupted from the frozen crystal—steaming with vengeance. He stabbed Myadin through the chest with his elongated claws before she could react.

Nathan yelled our teacher’s name as the rest of us stared, stunned.

“Fool.” Kazuya smirked. “The first rule of a battle-mage is to stay in the background.” He examined the rest of the glacier island, ignoring the rest of us. “Now, this view is even more nostalgic. Reminds me of the flood, when those foolish magi betrayed the people and enslaved the ruling class.” Kazuya returned his attention to an impaled Myadin. “Were you a part of that, I wonder.”

Myadin let out a choked cough and her body exploded, unraveling into a bundle of robes, binding Kazuya’s hands and feet before he could move. The blankets of cloth wrapped around Kazuya, squeezing the life out of him and then the entire world collapsed on itself, the submerged city fading out of existence.

I looked around, my mouth hanging as I found myself back in my basement with my friends. Nothing was wet, there was no sign of flooding anywhere. It was like nothing happened.

“That’s enough out of you,” Myadin rebuked, scrutinizing a trapped Kazuya, still held within an entanglement of robes. She was unharmed. Somehow.

“You can even use blood runes. Interesting. Most interesting,” Kazuya drawled, examining the runes of blood smeared over the robes that tied him up. His eyes were changed, the color purplish-blue, his irises were like flowers with a thousand petals. I remembered those eyes from when he fought Shekhinah.

“Your vapor was amplified by your eternal realm, making your magic more potent.”

“You can see everything with those mystic eyes of yours, can’t you?” Myadin asked. She floated closer to Kazuya. “I just might want to take them for myself.”

“You can try.”

“Wait!” I spoke up unable to help myself. I took a deep breath. With everyone looking at me I didn’t have a choice but to step forward. ” What are we doing…? All this fighting and for what? So stupid…” My eyes met Kazuya’s. “All I wanted was for you to explain yourself!”

Kazuya gave me an even expression. “I might have if you approached me civilly.”

“Bull—fucking—shit,” Tiffany said, beside me. “You’ve always been full of it. You’ve never given us a straight answer, so what difference would it make if dragon princess over there—” She motioned at Audrey Genia, “—didn’t try to cut your head off?”

I raised my hand to keep Tiffany back.

“I wanted to believe in you. That even with how you acted… that you were a good person. I could feel that deep inside. I’m mean, you’re just a god with a god complex.” I chuckled. “That’s understandable, isn’t it? I could overlook that. I had dreams before with you and Shekhinah, and my parents—of you taking care of me and my sister. But maybe Shekhinah was right. That was some kind of lie you stuck in my head, like freaking mind control.”

Kazuya brow furrowed. “You—” He huffed. “I will show you mind control.” His eyes glowed violet.

“Mercy!” Myadin turned around, worried.

Foreign energy flooded my veins and an unspeakable rage bubbled in my chest as I ran toward Myadin ready to clobber her. Nathan and Terra grabbed me, holding me back as I tried to fight them off kicking and screaming.

“Mercy, Jesus-fucking-Christ, Mercy! Calm down,” Nathan said, his arm around my waist, as I tried to elbow him. “Terra—help me out, man.”

“I got you.”

Why was Tiffany looking at me weird? “Ems, no…” she muttered before snapping her head toward Kazuya. “Let her go, fucker!”

Wait.

What was I even doing?

I stopped struggling against my friends, allowing them to hold me back. The fog I didn’t realize I had over mind was lifted, at once.

Kazuya ripped through Myadin’s cloth prison, his tails spread outward as he landed on all fours. Arm extended, Myadin shot out a beam of light from her palm. Kazuya raised his hand absorbing the laser and then reflected it, increasing the energy.

“Show me your true magic,” he exclaimed.

Myadin backhanded the blast, the wave of energy transforming into a flurry of monarch butterflies.

“Ems, are you alright?” Tiffany asked, coming to my side as Nathan and Terra let go. I noticed the Butterflies slowly fading away.

“Gave us a bit of a scare there,” Nathan said, trying to reassure me with a smile.

I appreciated it, but I still felt weary with Kazuya right there. ” Yeah. I don’t know what came over me.”

Tiffany marched toward Kazuya but Myadin’s arm blocked her, our teacher’s draped robes hiding Tiffany from Kazuya’s sight.

That didn’t stop my sister though. “Get the fuck out of our house!” she yelled. “Get the fuck out, you psychotic cuntbag!”

Kazuya stood up and we tensed, Nathan and Terra guarded me and my sister. Myadin raised her wooden scepter at him and Audrey Genia readied her sword. Kazuya paused. He chuckled before opening up a golden portal and stepping halfway through.

“Fine. I will leave. But, you’ll do well to remember, the Arcadians will return. And when they do, there will be no one here to protect you.”

He slipped through the golden gateway and it vanished.