Chapter 4: Not quite paradise.
The events in America have taken cruel turns and now half of the nations are under Rikishin control, again. Meanwhile our heroes are participating at a new training session within a small mountain chain that resides in the midst of New Zealand.
Looking at a beautiful landscape, fresh trees and crystal blue rivers spread all over it, Nila and her friends stand aside to admire the view. "Wow, I didn't know that there are such beautiful places left in times like this." comments Momo.
Mikune motions along the clear river and enjoys the fresh air. "I thought it's a rumor coming from the ones who seek peace." replies Damion whilst looking after Mikune. Nila jumps into her fighting stance and with a grim expression she faces the skyline.
"Guys watch out, there's someone else in here." A pale-skinned, blue-eyed woman, with black hair in uneven twin tails. The right lock of her hair is shorter than her left. She bears two scars on her midriff. Her clothes consist of a string bikini top under a black jacket.
The jacket has a white stripe running along the length of each of her sleeves and has a white tribal design on the front (left side) and back. She also wears a pair of tight-fitting shorts and black knee-high boots.
"Ho-holy shit." mutters Damion with widened eyes. Mikune looks to her partner and becomes puzzled. "What? You know her?" Kenji also looks at Damion with surprise and eagerly awaits a fast response as the mysterious woman closes in.
"Th-that's Notiic T. Skarachi. She's widely credited as the most powerful autonomous weapon after the fall of South America." Shock and disturbance drug the atmosphere for not longer than mere seconds before the woman's clear voice hits their ears.
"Fresh meat huh? How cute." chuckles Notiic, as she takes a precise look at every one in front of her. She slowly waltzes towards Nila and quietly observers her target. Nila wears a flowing dress made out of perpetually frozen ice, which is enhanced with witch magic so that it is extremely flexible.
It also provides a kind of armor. She wears white fingerless gloves made out of rabbit fur. Around her neck is a silver chain that her mother once wore, with a pendant in the shape of a sparrow hanging from it.
Her skin is a dark rosy color, much in contrast to the whites and blues of her attire. Nila has soft ice-colored eyes, sharp cheekbones, full lips and a petite nose. Her hair is orange-red and is about shoulder-length. Her body is relatively average, with the exception of her well-developed muscles.
The next victim seems to be Damion. Notiic slowly scans his attire and appearance and then precedes with Kenji, a tall, broad-shouldered boy who is about fourteen years old. He has a handsome but cold face, dirt-brown hair, and rather emotionless black eyes.
Kenji has a tattered, forest-green hoodie with him. His skin is a light caramel color. His sister, Momo, already awaits her superficial interrogation. She wears a red sundress with a little autumn leaf pattern around the hem.
Her eyes are ivy-green and her pupils are horizontal slits. She wears her black hair in ponytails that reach to her waist and shares the same skin color as her brother.
Before Mikune would also receive the same treatment, Nila steps forward and voices her thoughts.
"What is this about?" Notiic slowly motions her head to face the girl and as her bored and sleepy expression clashes into Nila's face, Notiic shrugs. "Can't I get a clue at how my new footmen look?" The Pre-Kishin's face turns angrily red and she stomps the ground.
"Hey! We are no footmen damnit!" The others agree via nodding. "Students perhaps but no lackeys." adds Mikune. "Oh … students only know theory though. This is practice." smiles the woman with an evil grin.
"We rock at practice!" declares Momo. "Oh really?" the semi-quiet response of Notiic almost literally bites the atmosphere with sarcasm and provocation. However, her plan works to its fullest as Nila can't take it any longer.
"That's it. I'll show you how good we are. Momo! Kenji!" Mikune and Damion slowly step back as the situation becomes tense and somewhat dangerous. "This is bad. She wants Nila to fight her. She's testing us right here and now." says Damion whilst protectively standing before Mikune.
"Then why don't you tell Nila to stop and not play how Notiic wants her to?" Damion looks at his Meister with slight disappointment and shock. "Seriously? We are talking about Nila, probably the most furious and thickheaded Pre-Kishin we've ever met. There is no way I'm going to tell that girl anything. Let's just hope she doesn't get hurt."
The opponents slowly motion within an imaginary circle which serves as the fighting arena. Shielded from the powerful mountains, shifting on dancing grass and calm sun rays, Notiic and Nila exchange fierce looks.
"Nila Mizushima. 16 years old and a Pre-Kishin Meister. I'm really curious what you got to offer." states Notiic with an amused smile. "Oh, doing studies before facing your enemy hu? Scared to face unexpected defeat!" Nila's response sounds more like a bite than a good answer.
"Well … what are you waiting for? Scared to fail? Not ready to attack? Anxieties dominating you?" riles Notiic. Nila slowly enters her usual fighting stance and prepares for her first attack. Momo's weapon form appears to be a kerambit, a claw-like knife that serves very well for close combat and is being wielded with deadly precision in Nila's left hand. Kenji's form is a Kris, a dagger with a little longer than average, ornate, wavy blade.
Suddenly the Meister charges forth and a forceful slash charges down on Notiic. The silence crawls through the scenery without stoppages. The tension, the danger and the umcomfortable feelings have disappeared, for now. "Did we hit her?" asks Momo. "No. Dodged. Trace."
Nila's compact responses clearly bring in the advantage of faster management within the tense of battles, at least for practice within the academy. "I can't sense anything except the weak gusts of the wind." complains Kenji. "Nila, watch out!" shrieks Momo and Nila almost instantly bends down.
Before the Meister could fully realize it a powerful blow smashes against her legs and takes her to the ground. As Nila's face clumsily kisses the ground, Mikune and Damion are barely able to keep their jaws attached to their craniums. "Wffaft fthef?" Nila's muffled shout received no reply and she angrily lifted her body again.
"Aaah!" Suddenly Nila kneels down and reaches for her left shin which seems to have swollen to twice its normal size. "Bone fracture. We can't continue like this Nila!" worries Kenji as he immediately analyzed the situation.
"Shut up. I won't let her get away with this!" snarls Nila and as she ignores the pain the Meister slowly comes back on her feet. Notiic, aware and watching, still residing in her stance with the left leg outstretched and not in weapon form. "Cute. Ignoring that wound will not win you the fight." comments Notiic with a calm and darkish vox.
Nila's anger knows no halt any longer and the Pre-Kishin accepts her rage. Skarachi lefts her eyebrow and begins to chuckle. "Ah yes. The infamous potential of the Kishin Meisters. Unlocking and releasing powers." Mikune slowly steps back as she suddenly senses an immense surge of madness and rage.
"Hey, what's going on with her?" asks Damion with a very worried expression. "I-I don't know. Something terrible is going on here!" replies Mikune and gives Damion the sign to turn into a scythe. As the powerful blade elegantly speeds around Meko, the duo also shifts into battle stance. "C'mon Mizushima. Show me your true form." provokes Notiic.
"Nila. Hold on, you aren't thinking right anymore! NILA!" The shouts of Kenji and Momo hit on deaf ears as the Meister blindly charges towards their opponent. "RAAAAAGH!" yells Nila whilst she hurls Kenji at Notiic. "Kenji. We need to do something, she's lost herself!" urges Momo through the soul connection the three had established earlier.
"I don't know what is going on with her. She won't list-" Before Kenji could finish his sentence, both feel how their connection is ruptured and Nila's hands begin to turn red from the intense heat that radiates from her Weapon's grips. Shock and frustration charge through Nila's mind. "What the-. Whatever! I'll finish you off anyway!" roars the Meister.
"As … if …" replies Notiic and begins to sprint towards Nila. Within mere moments Notiic's right leg smashes against the Meister's temple and renders Nila K.O.. "NILA!" cries Momo as she runs towards her injured friend and Meister. "You bitch!" Kenji turns his right arm into a wavy blade and begins to slash at Notiic, however his attempts are futile.
Without the tiniest of efforts the Weapon dodges the attacks and with one well placed kick into his stomach, Kenji kneels down with pain. "She will be okay, I simply did her a favor. Gather your stuff together. Training will begin tomorrow, 6 am.
Delay will not be tolerated." The carefree voice vanished and a stern, strict and cold one echoes through the mountain chain. Notiic's orders were clear.
A few hours after the "introduction", the friends are making beds within a small house. "How are Nila and Kenji doing?" asks Mikune whilst being the first to finish. "Nila is still sleeping, recovering. Kenji is okay too, just needs some food and he'll be back up again." breathes Momo.
Damion looks up from his work and watches how Momo looks down to the ground with a sad expression glued to her. "Hey, don't worry. They'll be fine." With a weak smile, Momo lifts her head. "Yeah! I just hope Notiic won't be like this all the time." comments Mikune. "This is going to be one hell of a training session." sighs Damion.
Yours faithfully,
Skadow