Important notice, Sorry, I was so tired that I actually posted chapter eight instead of chapter 6, please forgive me.
As an apology, have Chapters, six seven and eight all at once!
Isika focused on the palm of her hand, summoning her single bullet. In the week after the first lesson, she had managed to get a rough oval shape, a little lumpy, but otherwise serviceable, to the Point where Marisa had gotten her started on colour.
"Hey I think I saw a little blue that time," Desida said, from her usual spot on the floor.
"Really?" Isika said.
"Not really," Desida admitted. "But I read somewhere that it helps people stay motivated if they feel they are accomplishing something."
"Gee, thanks," Isika said dryly.
It was yet another lunch break, and as was becoming habit, she was spending it in the rec room with Desida. For whatever reason, Desida was an incredibly easy person to get along with, and occasionally could give helpful advice.
Occasionally.
"Instead of focusing on the bullet, try focusing more on the colour you want it to be," Desida offered. "Normal Asari are blue right? Try focusing on Asari Skin."
Even if it could be creepy.
"Could you not phrase it like that?" Isika said, as she nearly lost the bullet in her hands due to a full body shiver.
Nevertheless she did as instructed, trying to focus on the colour of Asari skin.
While she was distracted however, Isika's Bullet nearly lost cohesion.
"Yeah, don't lose focus entirely. You still need the bullet in one piece," Desida said.
"Do you enjoy seeing me struggle?" Isika said irritably.
Desida shrugged. "Demons gotta get her kicks somewhere."
Isika sighed, and the pair lapsed into a comfortable silence.
For about a minute, when Desida looked up at the door, she got up, and floated behind one of the other couches.
"...I'm not here." Was the only explanation she offered.
Before Isika could question her odd behaviour, the door behind her slammed… which is odd considering its an automatic door. Nevertheless it was so sudden that her bullet popped.
"Pardon the intrusion." Came a gruff, unfamiliar voice.
Isika turned to look at the rooms latest occupant. She was a short blue haired Alliance girl. Despite her short stature, she seemed to have a well toned body, and a pair of substantial breasts. She wore some sort of short blue coat with matching blue shorts covered in various pockets, and a white sleeveless shirt, plus heavy looking work boots, thick gloves and a large, bulky backpack. Her Hair was shoulder length, cut with almost mathematical precision, with a fringe that nearly met her gunmetal grey eyes. To top it off she wore a bright green cap.
Isika had a vague recollection of seeing her before, but she couldn't place when.
"Oh, someone else was in here?" the bluette said, looking surprised. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting her to have company."
"Ok?" Isika said.
"Now, where is Desida." The Girl said, casting a suspicious eye around the room.
"Eh?" Isika said, suddenly worried.
She didn't need to say anything, as she immediately traced Isika's flickering eyes. She marched over to the other couch, and leaned over it before pulling out a rather disgruntled looking Desida by her tail.
"Really Desida? Hiding?" The bluette said disapprovingly.
"Can you blame me?" Desida pouted.
"Yes," the girl said, before dragging Desida away, the Demonette half heartedly and ineffectually trying to grip the carpet.
Isika got up and scrambled after them.
"Err, w-what are you doing?" Isika fretted.
"I'm being taken prisoner, help." Desida said, with her characteristic unenthusiasm.
"Sorry about this, I know how weird this must look." The Girl said. "But Desida here is supposed to be helping me with training."
"She is?" Isika said, casting a sceptical eye on the demon.
"Well, not me specifically," The girl admitted. "But She has this… thing going with the headmaster. She has a reduced workload, in exchange for helping other students when asked, she's been here for years as far as I know."
"Most people don't bother though." Desida added, seemingly resigned to her current predicament. "Ya know, on account of how lazy I am."
"Those who know better however." The girl said. "Know that she makes an excellent sparring partner, if you can find her that is. Seriously if she put the same amount of energy into training as she does into avoiding work, she'd be an operative by now."
"A sparring partner?" Isika couldn't hide her sceptical glance at Desida, who had put her pillow under her head, so she could at least be dragged in comfort.
"Don't let her fool you, she is crazy strong." The girl said. "But at the same time, she never puts any more effort than she thinks it will take for her to win. That's what makes her an excellent sparring partner, she's only ever slightly stronger than you."
"Huh." Isika said, looking down on the Demonette, who had actually managed to fall asleep while being dragged. "I never would have thought."
"Don't worry about it, you are probably too early for that kind of thing anyway." The girl said. She seemed to think for a moment. "You know, I've been seeing you around so often, that I forgot we haven't been introduced. I'm Ishi Hirata. I'm a student here in case you haven't guessed."
"I'm... Isika. Isika Valao." Isika supplied, after a moment. "I'm Marisa's new Apprentice."
"Yeah, I heard as much. I've been watching you practice when you go out in the practice hall… In a non creepy way that is. I've just been using the space a lot during the hiatus, mostly reading."
"Oh yeah, I think I remember seeing you." Isika said, wondering if that is where the feeling of vague recollection is coming from.
"So how'd you come to be Marisa's apprentice anyway? No offence, but I didn't think it was possible for Asari to learn magic, you know, on account of it being incredibly hazardous to their health."
"I had an operation," Isika said, and when Ishi raised her eyebrows, she clarified. "To get rid of my Biotics."
"Huh… Is that why you're kinda… pale?" Ishi asked.
Isika nodded. "A side effect."
"Well, I'm impressed at any rate." Ishi said, "not many people would be willing to give up what you did. Even if magic is objectively better."
"Heheh." Isika laughed nervously. "Thanks."
They walked along dragging the comatose Desida. While Isika still nursed the feeling that she has met Ishi somewhere before.
Deciding to open conversation again with the straightforward girl, Isika said. "What species are you- Eh, that is, if you don't mind me asking?"
Ishi gave her a sidelong glance, before shrugging. "Sorry, I guess I'm used to people being able to tell. For future reference, if you see someone dressed like this, nine times out of ten you are looking at a Kappa, blue hair is also pretty common, but it's not as reliable an indicator."
It clicked.
Isika gasped. "You were at Reitaisai!"
Ishi looked at her weird. "Well, yeah, but so were-" Ishi's eyes widen. "Wait were you that Asari bra-I mean, kid that Stopped me and Sammi to ask about magic?"
Isika nodded mutely.
They stared at each other for a while.
"...Contrived." Desida mumbled in her sleep.
"Huh, Small universe." said Ishi, recovering first. "Looks like something good came from my friends big mouth."
"I guess so." Isika said nodding. "I don't suppose she goes here too?"
"Yeah, but she's spending the Hiatus at home. When she comes back I'll introduce you if you like." Ishi said.
"Thanks." Isika said. "I should probably thank her for pointing me in the right direction."
"Yeah, Ignorance has its uses. I would have just told it straight to save you disappointment."
Isika blanched. "I'm glad you didn't."
"Yeah, Life's funny like that." Ishi said. "Want to come watch us spar? I mean you've come this far, so might as well."
"Can I?" Isika asked. If it was anything like the other fight she witnessed, it ought to be pretty cool.
"Don't see why not." Ishi said. "Who knows, you might learn a thing or two…"
"Do we have to do this?" Desida said, stifling a yawn. She was upright, which was rare, but still not standing, floating in the air. Isika was starting to wonder if her legs even worked.
"Considering all the trouble I had to go to find you, I'd say so." Ishi said, her giant energy hammer resting on her shoulder. "Besides I promised to let Isika watch a fight." She gestured to where Isika sat in the stands.
"You two had to get chummy didn't you?" grumbled Desida.
"Yeah yeah. Well you ready?" Ishi said, widening her stance, and gripping her hammer with both hands.
"Just go easy with the swings, I hear you're still on maintenances shit list." Desida said, who made no attempt to change her stance.
"It was one time…" Grumbled Ishi.
"Training duel initialising. Duelists: Desida, Ishi Hirata. Rules: general combat, submission or incapacitation. Spell Card rules are active, are you ready?" came a synthetic voice, though from where Isika couldn't tell.
"Ready." Ishi said, and her gaze seemed to harden.
"Just start already." Desida said, scratching the back of her neck.
"Acknowledged," the computer said "beginning duel in… 3… 2… 1…" A buzzer sounded.
There was a loud boom, and Ishi launched forward as if out of a cannon, hammer already swinging in a wide arc.
With the kind of grace that Isika had not associated with Desida, she swayed out of the way, the hammer passing over her head with centimeters to spare, before floating away from the return swing.
"Your speed's improved a bit, but your frontal assault opener is still too predictable." Desida said dryly. "Either change it up or get faster, otherwise you are not going to hit me." she lifted her hands open palms facing upwards. "Dancing Flames."
About thirty red-tinted black flames appeared floating around Desida, lazily orbiting her. With a flick of her wrist, about 7 broke off and flew in Ishi's direction.
"Talk about predictable." Ishi said, before extending her off hand, and a shimmering blue shield appeared in front of her, made up of six diamond shaped sections, resembling an angular flower.
The flames slammed into it one at a time. Ishi's smirk quickly became a frown. "Six…" she suddenly spun around, but too late as the seventh flame slipped under her guard, and punched her hard in the stomach, going off with a bang.
"Good job on picking that up, reflexes could do with a little work though." Desida intoned listlessly.
Ishi recovered quickly, looking more annoyed than winded. "Yeah yeah." with she brought her off hand again. "Force cannon."
Desida ducked to the side, as the air distorted in a conical shape, extending from Ishi's hand. Ishi was right behind, hammer swinging.
Ishi started pursuing Desida in the air, her hammer swings audible even to Isika in the stands. But Desida seemed to have no trouble keeping ahead of the attacks, dodging with almost lazy ease, blasting Ishi with her fire wisps whenever she sees an opening, and has scored hits with at least twelve out of seventeen, leaving her down to six wisps.
"You are being too aggressive." Desida warned. "You constantly leave yourself full of openings, your speed and power make up for it, but they're useless when you are fighting someone faster than you."
Ishi nodded, looking a little short of breath.
Desida seemed to notice. "Out of gas already? I thought I told you to work on your endurance?"
"Just a little winded is all." Ishi said, before moving her thumb, and pushing a button on the grip of her Hammer. The flap of her back pack shot open and Six strange spheres flew out, taking up positions around her. "I've been meaning to test these out anyway."
One of Desida's eyebrows actually rose. "Combat BITs huh? Never seen these ones before."
"Of course not, they are my own design." Ishi said. "What kind of Kappa wouldn't design their own kit?"
"True." Desida nodded. "Well, let's see them then."
"My pleasure." Ishi said, before charging forward yet again, BITs fanning out around her.
Desida neatly hopped out of the way of Ishi's downward swing, but was forced to course correct as one of the BITs fired what resembled Ishi's force cannon spells from earlier from a magic circle in front of her. She made more distance as two BITs started spraying a deluge of projectiles in her direction. Spotting Ishi attempting to approach from a blind spot, she launched her remaining wisps in her direction.
Ishi didn't change her course, but Another two BITs flew in front of her, creating more shimmering blue shields to intercept the flames. The ensuing smokescreen however made her attack go wide, flying past Desida. Twisting in the air, she smacked one of her shield bits with her hammer, sailing right into Desida's back with a loud crack, causing Desida to yelp in pain.
Using the other Shield BIT as a platform to kick off of, she quickly changed direction, bringing her Hammer down on Desida just as she was turning around.
Then Desida caught the Hammer with a single hand, her hand coated in a weird red-blue glow, without even so much as a sound.
"Wha-" Ishi said, severely caught off balance by the sudden loss of momentum.
"You're improving pretty quick," Desida said, gaining that smug little grin Isika has only seen once before. "That's the first time you got a hit on me. I might have to start taking you seriously." She brought up her other hand, glowing the same way as the other, and rested it on Ishi's forehead.
There was a booming noise, as Ishi suddenly launched backwards, as if shot out by a cannon, her head snapping back. She flew right toward Isika, before impacting against an invisible barrier, separating the stands.
Desida wasn't done though. Bringing her hands above her head, a ball of red-tinted black flame as big as her torso appearing above her. "Sloth sign ~ Demons final rest"
Ishi was still recovering when she heard those words, couldn't stop the massive ball from striking her in the chest, the force of the detonation making her go spread eagle against the boundary wall. It swelled to the size of a large bus, before vanishing after a minute of continuous detonation.
Ishi slid down the boundary wall, before hitting the ground with a thump.
"Ishi." Isika cried out in shock, running down the stands just as the computer announced: "Combatant incapacitated, match called. Winner: Desida."
"Calm down, she's fine." Desida said, floating up to Isika as she turned over the surprisingly heavy Ishi. "Spell card rules are in effect, I couldn't kill her even if I wanted to."
As if to prove her point, Ishi groaned, before slowly opening her eyes. "God... what hit me?" She croaked.
"Well, first it was your own attack redirected back at you." Desida said conversationally, as Isika helped Ishi sit up. "The second one was my 'Demons final rest' spell card."
"Really, you used one of your last word cards in a spar?" Ishi said incredulously.
"Hey that BIT hurt." pouted Desida. "And it isn't as if you would feel anything else."
"So you were just being vindictive?" Ishi asked.
Desida shrugged. "I'm a demon, sue me."
"You know what, never mind." Ishi said. "But what about that first thing, redirecting my attack?" Ishi asked, now sounding more curious than annoyed.
"Well it's more like absorbing the kinetic energy of the strike, and releasing it out the other hand." Desida said. "It's a trick I came up with, but I don't use it too often, because its a pain to use, it gives me pins and needles."
"Could you teach me that?" Ishi asked immediately.
"Don't see why not," Desida said, shrugging. "With your ability it would probably be easier."
"Can I sit in?" Isika asked.
"No offence, but it's probably too advanced for you, you are still learning bullets, maybe later." Desida said. "Speaking of which, weren't you supposed to be back with Mima like..." Desida checks her wrist comp. "...half an hour ago?"
Isika's eyes widened. Before she bolted away. "Sorrygottagobye!"
Ishi watched her go. "Weird kid, but nice enough though."
"I've gotta feeling she's gonna go places." Desida said.
"Maybe." Ishi agreed. "Maybe."
Isika then proceeded to get chewed out by Mima for the next fifteen minutes.
Chapter notes:
And here is the second OC, Ishi, hope you like her, as her and Desida will be the core of Isika's future friend group, there will be very few others until school the Academy opens again, then they will be coming in hard and fast.
In case it isn't clear, from this point on, this story will be a rather slow story, as its a story about learning and growing as a person, meeting people and growing close to them, Helping people through issues, and in doing so, learning about herself.
This story is a journey rather than a quest.
(And I have now fixed my blunder, although there goes all my backlog, but probably worth it)