It has two days since I talked to Angele that night. I've been practicing with Oz since that day and now I've somehow added Alice into it. She helps as a warm-up before Oz and I spar. Gilbert disapproved of it, of course; the moment he found out the 'brutal'-his words- way I was training his dear Master he totally freaked.
"Don't worry," I say after he kept on hissing and whinning at me. "He's my master now too remember? I'll train him hard just not enough to kill him." And as a little joke I added, "Trust me, if I want to kill him you'll see the aura spreading out of me. It'll be menacing." He...didn't take it that well. Either way he let me go on with it...under his supervision. C'mon it wasn't like I was going to kill the guy.
On the other hand neither Break nor Liam had woken from their slumbers. The two sleeping beauties were, however, sound and safe and that's all that matter to all of us. These past three days I've come to remember some other things from my childhood before my time with the Baskervilles. With this I am certain I've got everything back. Except for when I arrived at the House of the White Angel. That is still kind of blurry.
On the third day, while he and I were sparring, I heard annoying clapping behind us. It made me turn alongside with him. It was Angele and he had company. It was four other people. Two of almost my age, another a little bit older, and the last was like Gilbert's age. All stuck out for some reason or another.
"Claire," since after that attempt, that night Angele seemed to have taken a liking to me and has started calling me by my nickname. "Our invitees have arrived." It was the middle of the afternoon. Gilbert and Alice were there, Oz had been sparring with me; all three where here. He planned this maticulously.
"You came just in the right time," I call nodding Oz to go back with Gil and Alice. He stared at me, then at them, then back at me as he nodded and left. "Seems you couldn't have caught me in any better moment."
"Very funny brat," the redheaded girl called. Brat? She looks the same age as me! Maybe she's even younger! "Don't make fun of us. We're the five lords and we'll manage this little test with efficeincy and mercilessly, hear me?"
"Loud and clear," I said nonchalantly. Crap, that bratty tone from Oz rubbed off on me. "Who's planning on going first then?"
"Have you forgotten your manners?" the boy with red hair called a bit jokingly I'd say. "What about we introduce ourselves first?"
"Okay, fine," I respond liking his attitude a bit more than the girl's. "Go ahea-"
"Master Derek!" a girl called as she was followed by plenty of other people.
"Oh, Pamela," the guy-Derek?- answered the panting and tired girl. "You brought all of the other attendants too? Nice job." He turned to me, "We'll introduce ourselves from youngest to oldest, how about it. You being the last to introduce yourself."
I shrugged my shoulders as I pierced my blade on the ground and leaned on it, "Shoot."
The shortest girl, the one in green, came out first, "My name's Talis Hollegram. I am thirteen years of age and am the Lord of the Forest. I like spicy foods and I love ani-" she got hit by the red headed girl. "We're introducing ourselves not having a chat, Talis," she frowned.
"Shut up, I know," she mumbled. Then two of the bunch that followed Pamela stood up and bowed. "We're Mistress Talis' attendants." They were two boys one with long hair and the other with shorter hair. Both green and green eyes. Forest...green...figures.
The girl from beofore placed her hands on her hips and with the same frown said, "The name's Envier Falcon. Fifteen is my age and I'm the Lord of Fire. Better watch it bitch, I'm gonna burn you to ashes."
"No need for the foul language in this place," I interupt. After Oz's constant lecture of 'how a lady should behave like a lady'-along with Sharon- I got used to not cursing again. Then again, I might boil over the edge and it my slip my tongue. Eh, who'll blame me? An old man and young girl came behind her bowing.
"We're her attendants, my name's Kana Mei," she said bowing low. The guy next to her was smoking, hah, another Gil. He puffed out a cloud of smoke and said, "Name's Kujo Hunter," he ruffled Envier's hair, "This brat's attendant? Nah more like her babysitter." I laughed a bit and regain composure soon.
The boy older than me stepped out, "My name's Derek. Derek Dragon. Seventeen and the Lord of the Spirits. Nice meeting ya and hope we'll have a nice spar." Behind him two girl's came out both gorgeous tanned ladies. "We're Lord Derek's attendants." The oldest girl called, "My name's Adin." The youngest called, "Mine is Visulle."
Then came the boy with the awkward blue hair short and eyes the color of the sea, "My name's Arbestruis Artemis. Call me Arby. I'm tweny-one and I'm the Lord of Water. Nice to meet your acqquantance."
"Likewise to both," I said responding to the genltemen in front of me.
Last but not least, Angele stepped out. "My name's Angele Apostles. Age," he thought about it, "I look younger than I really am is all I am going to say."
"Seeing his Duke Barma's friend he must be quite old," Oz chuckled, hearing him I snorted. Angele noticed, I waved it off motioning him to continue.
"I am the Lord of the Shadow and as the oldest of the five I must design who you will battle first," I raised my hand to stop him.
When it was silent I went on, "How about you just go in the order that you just went by. I really wanted to do a one-vs.-five but the thing seems way more complicated if you don't work as a team. Seeing as one is more fired up than the rest," I say referring to Envier. "First, I am Clarice Luna Florence Dawn, recently turned sixteen and I thank you for coming so far form the four corners. It was to my understanding that Angele only takes care of the Court of Miracles here. So tell me, now,the how, the rules, and we'll start and hopefully be done by tea time." I stretched out as I pulled the blade out.
"Sharon-chan's got all the preparations for your celebration!" Oz called.
I smiled his way, "Is she that confident in me?" He only smriked and I scoffed.
"Then I'll explain," Angele said. "The rules are simple: you'll have to defeat each Lord on it's own terms. The overall rules are as follow: First, you cannot use powers that are not yours. Meaning no Chains, the same would go for the Lords. Second, no helping hands, and this is for the Lords as well. Your attendants cannot rush into the battle. Finally, and most importantly, you must learn the teachings by the end of the battle. If you defeat the Lord but do not gain the knowledge they've got to offer, you will fail. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," I answered. "No Chains. No handy-mans. Learn the lesson. Three steps for each of 'em."
"Excellent," he turned to the young one. "Talis, you're up first."
"Yeah!" she called jumping into the grounds.
"Just to be sure," Angele called. "I'll pull a barrier against the grounds. No one goes in or out."
~X~
"What was so important that you needed for me to come here, Ruf?" Cheryl asked him.
"It's to witness this child's true power," Rufus called nonchalant. "And the reason why I don't personally like the Canus or the Court itself." Both were far from any eyes under the shade.
"Seems like some fun to watch," Oscar Vessalius said coming from nowhere.
"Oh Oscar-sama," Cheryl said perkily. "Well it seems all of us are here. This might actually turn to be amusing."
"Ready?" Angele asked both sides.
"Sure," Claire answered.
"Yes~" Talis chanted.
"Start!"
Talis went on first charging up to her with a wooden broad sword. 'Are you serious?' Claire thought. But as the girl clashed swords with her, she noticed the sword wasn't as fragile as it looked. Claire stepped back for a break, "Pretty rough for a little girl!"
"Thanks!" she called before disappearing again. 'Fast!' she thought as seconds before the clash, she figured where Talis would land her attack. "You're keeping up good too!" She jumped and landed far from me.
"Why's Talis playing around with her?" Derek asked.
"It's the first round," Angele explained. "Probably getting her used to it first."
Talis' wooden sword suddenly changed into a wooden slingshot. "Are you serious?" Claire's unwanted comment slipped right through her tongue at seeing the child's toy.
"It's not a kid's toy," she said aiming and shooting a nutshell. As it turned out it was a blinding light. Claire shielded her eyes from the rays and at opening them she saw no one with her.
~X~
"Nice," I mumbled. Powers that are not mine. I can't use the powers to control time or space to stop this girl. Not without breaking the limiter that spaces my own powers from my Chains. Then...
~X~
She placed the saber back into it's sheath.
Envier laughed, "Is she stupid? Is she going to fight unarmed?"
"Don't underestimate her," Angele said smiling.
"If I can't stop time," she said stretching her hands out. "I'll stop the earth itself." The massive battle hammer appeared in my palms. She raised it and knocked the ground hard. And with the magnitude of the force, on the corner of her eyes, she saw Talis shaking from the impact. "Gotcha," she hissed as the hammer in her hands changed into her old trustworthy kukri blades. Charging at her while she was still shaky, she managed to at least scratch her before she disappeared again.
She appeared behind her, "Guess it's time to get serious!" Suddenly three more of her appeared from her body as they estended around Claire following her around. She trapped her. "Hey, hey~" the four said as they jumped, twirled, and chanted at the exact same time. "Can you guess who the real one is?"
"That trick's new?" Arby asked Angele.
Angele sighed, "She's the Lord of the Forest from the East and is also the protector of the Albine Ruins. That ols castle has been also the house of the Aoe Sisters. Four ghosts who have been a mischievous quartet in those woods. Talis must've learned that from them."
"So~" she asked. "You can't stop time and you can't seem to stop a little girl like me?" Claire looked around and suddenly saw it. The cut. One of them didn't have it. She checked and two more were clean. Only one...
"I don't to stop time," she says as she gets Excelion out. "I just need to not be blind!" She wrapped the one around the silk and bashed her to the ground head first. the fake Talises diappeared as the real one wept in the floor. The barrier broke instantly. One down...
"How?" she cried.
Claire pointed at her own face signaling the cut, "The others didn't have it. You showed me that illusions can seem dicieving but the real human nature cannot be copied. It's simply impossible."
"Wow," Talis said. "You're good!"
"Moved out of the way," Envier said comming from behind Talis and pushing out of the arena. "It's my turn." Oz and the others were clapping. "Don't get cocky. I'm the last one your fighting."
"We'll see," she said.
"Start!"
Envier pulled out two swords with no tips and directly charged at her. With No time to draw her own, she protected herself with Seiren. Envier instantly disappeared and charged again not letting her do much of anything.
"Damn, you're fast," she hissed.
"Ready to give up!" Envier called as she kept going on.
"Hardly!" she called as she saw the right oppurtunity and slided from Envier's grasp just in time to get away from her attack and getting behind. Drawing the saber as Envier turned Claire caught her wide open and went for it. But just as she was about to a fire wall escaped from under the ground. "What?" Claire back stepped away from the fire as it went out and Envier grinned.
"I'm the Lord of Fire remember," she caled as she shifted her blades and they caught on fire.
"Well then," she said using my reverse grip instead of the normal she'd been using with Oz. "Let's fight fire with fire." They clashed for several more times. Until Envier stopped and pierced one of her blades on the floor. A small crater erupted from underneath her. Envier went into the one she formed and hid underground.
"Great," she hissed as she looked around. If she created one out of nowhere...then she can- Too late one had erupted from underneath Claire's feet as Envier herself attack.
"Got you!" she called as she attack the arm she held the sword with and drew back. "You're unable to proceed," she called overconfident.
"Not quite," Claire said as she held the saber with her left hand and used the reverse grip.
"You're ambidextrous," she said surprised. "So what?"
"Alright then," Claire said diappearing and landing behind her. Shcoked at the speed, Envier had no time to counterattack and was left vulnerable. But just as she was about to land a hit, Claire stopped and simply hit Envier's forehead with the hilt of the saber. "Game over~" the barrier broke. Three to go.
"What?" Envier called in rage. She turned mad at Angele, "Why? She didn't attack me in the least!"
"Exactly, why she won over you," Angele called motioning to Claire to explain.
"I said I'd fight fire with fire," Claire said scratching the back of her head. "But seeing how she was so outraged. I decided to just let her go with it. If you play with fire, you'll get burned, right?" Envier wasn't surprised like Talis and simply stormed off with her attendants as they treated the mere scratches she had.
"Shall we continue?" he asked Claire seeing the wound on her shoulder.
"I'll fight all of you continously," she answered merely healing the wound with Lacrimosa's space control as much as she could.
"Then Derek, it's your turn," he called as Derek took the arena. The barrier reappeared.
"Start!" "You seemed shaken up a bit," he chatted with her as she held her saber in her right as best as she could. "Won't you leave the three of us for next time?"
"Thanks for the offer but no," she answered. "I'd rather finish this up as soon as possible."
"Your choice," he said taking his bow out but no arrows. He pulled the string as a visible and shimering arrow appeared. "But don't blame me if you die, okay?" He let the arrow fly at her, she evaded it easily but when she jumped out of its way another hit her right shoulder disappear at impact. She landed on her knees but stood up quickly holding the saber on her left.
'Another illusion,' she realized. The shimmering is a mirror. It took her attention from the real arrow. He shot again and she coverd herself with Seiren and watched the arrows. She saw immediately the mirror arrow disappear as the real one was comming from behind her. She jumped in time to let the arrow fly back to its owner. Derek pulled another in time and stopped the arrow in midair.
"You figured the Mirror Arrow's illusion?" he asked quite impressed. He raised the bow again, "But will you see the real one from the thousands?" He shot it and from it more and more arrows appeared in mid air shooting at her.
'There is only one real one,' she told herself. But as the arrows appeared she recieved each as if the real one had hit her. "What?"
"Didn't think I'd used the same trick twice, right?" he said pulling the string again and letting more arrows fly out.
"Seiren!" she called as she protected herself. She saw the arrows shimmer, so they were real. But why were they still hurting her? That's when she noticed the shimmer on the bow's string and as she looked over to his hand she saw the same glow from the tops of the arrows. 'I get it!' At the end of his attacks she disbanned Seiren and went for Derek straight on.
"Too cocky!" he called going again with the thousands of arrows.
"Not really!" she called back as she evaded every single one of them. At the last she ducked and summoned an Hour, the spears that dug from underground and trapped him on the barrier only by his clothes. Unable to move his arms, he let go of the bow and something else from his other hand. Claire went and picked it up, an orichalcum rock. "You were using this as your real weapon. the arrowheads were rocks and the arrow's body was only an illusion. That's how you tricked me the first time. But the sun showed me the shinning in your hand and the shinning on the string. You were cutting the rock and launching the pieces at me. Sometimes you did and sometimes you threw the illusions. Thanks to you I see that the shadows hide and mist the truth but with a little bit of sunlight," she brought the rock up to the sun as it glimmered showing her deduction correct, "It all clears up." She stopmed her foot as the spears disappear and Derek landed like a cat. He ran his hand through his hair and smiled.
"You're pretty good," he said getting the bow. He went over to her and extended his hand, "It was a pleasure."
Claire grinned and shook his hand while givin gthe rock back, "Same here." She turned to the remaining two: Arby and Angele. "Who's next?"