Chapter 3: Shattered Confidence

A whirlwind of flowers surrounded us as we landed on the top floor of a business building.

"That was exhilarating," Sephiria said. "However, I imagine that such a feat much have consumed much of your strength, Ayra."

To have discovered my weakness so easily, but something bothered me even more.

"Stop calling me that. You have no right to call me by my name," I shouted angrily.

"My apologies," she said, curtsying. "Well then, shall we get started."

She brandished her sabre and I flinched at the glint of the black metal in the dark sky. I concentrated quietly and a flower-shaped gun erupted from both my hands.

Sephiria laughed heartily.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"That man, he was also a gun wielder," she said.

Like I cared.

I sensed as she made a sudden move forward. I instinctively jumped back and shot once at her. She carefully eyed the trajectory of the bullet and sliced it in half.

I gasped. She's been trained well.

She leapt after me and I quickly teleported behind her, knowing full well that I could not have avoided her attack in mid-air. She landed quietly as soon as she saw that I was gone.

I teleported directly behind her as she landed and pointed my guns at her face. However, in that split second, she turned around and pointed her sabre at my neck.

We were locked in a stalemate.

"Your speed won't help you here," she said. "My movements are much more agile than Baldor's."

That was true, and I thought about escaping but their were several reasons why that wasn't a viable option. One, her attitude ticked me off. Two, she knew way too much about me. If information were leaked to the press, I would be finished. Three, I knew I could win.

We both jumped back from the stalemate and landed gracefully, facing each other. The wind blew ominously.

"I'm not going to waste anymore time here," she finally decided, after what looked like a debate with herself. "Prepare to be decimated."

"It's not going to be that easy," I said.

"Mekkai reduces your opponent to ashes before the Buddha," she explained. "Knowing this, do you still wish to continue?"

Ashes, yikes. But I'd be fine if I could avoid it.

"Bring it on," I challenged.

And all of a sudden I sensed an overwhelming destructive force emanating from her body. I immediately panicked and absorbed the guns back into myself. I began to procure a large shield to defend myself with.

Energy like this must come at a great expense too. I would get her after she was done.

Just as I was finished with the massive shield, I felt the sudden force of energy increase and smash against my shield. It was holding! The shield had defended the attack successfully. Now I just had to get ready to counterattack after...

The energy increased even more.

CRACK!

I cocked my head towards the source of the noise, and I saw a large crack in the shield where I had heard the sound.

No way.

Another large crack appeared.

Oh crud.

I felt a large surge of energy rush through the thin cracks in the shield.

A large gash opened around my stomach. And another one. And another one.

I stared down quickly and I was paralyzed by the blood flowing down my side.

Pain... Is this what it feels like?

I spat blood.

My right hand quickly moved up to cover my mouth, and my left hand caressed my other injuries. I shuddered as I saw myself all covered in blood. I'd experienced this kind of sensation before, but only on other people, not on myself.

There was no way I was going to survive this. The shield cracked a bit more. Another laceration formed on my elbow. Dammit. I had to get out of there, now.

I mustered up the last of my strength and teleported off the building, leaving a whirlwind of flowers behind.

I didn't manage to make it that far though. With the strength I had left, I could only teleport myself a few blocks down from the building. I crawled into the corner of the alleyway and sat against the wall. The blood was still rapidly flowing out of my injuries. Even if I tried to conjure a first aid kit, I wouldn't know how to use it anyways.

I felt myself getting dizzier, and dizzier.

Is this, where it ends?

A small yellow car passed by on the street, and I saw the image of a little girl staring out the window.

"Why? Why does she look so happy?" I asked myself. "I...wish I was like her."

I groaned as the build up of pain became unbearable. I was all ready to let the darkness overcome me and pass into the void, but then, a miracle occurred.

The yellow buggy pulled back and the girl stepped off the car and took a step in my direction.

"There," she said pointing.

But the man was already running towards me. When I first saw his head turned up, I gasped.

His eyes...they're like mine.

My vision shifted to the gun holster strapped to his thigh and eventually back up to his face. For the first time in my life, I smiled wholeheartedly.

"You're...him," I acknowledged.

"Don't worry," he said smiling. "We'll help you."