Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 35
Kalego was begrudgingly being inspected by Nene before class. She wanted to ensure his curse mark hadn't reappeared as it had done in the past. The raven hue of her wings made it obvious that she was still in possession of the vile mana, but she had to be sure. After all, she had promised him this time.
She smiled at an unexpected visitor as she nodded in approval, giving him a clean bill of health with a tender head pat before leaving them to speak in private. Pandora grinned pleasantly as she leaned from around his side to see his face. He knew that look; It was the same expression she used in their school days when she wanted to borrow his notes.
He smirked to himself as he buttoned up his clothing. "What do you need?", he asked, amused. She clearly wanted something. Waiting for him to finish redressing, she maintained her innocent smile, her arms tucked politely behind her back.
"Kalego-kun, would it be all right if I joined your group today?", she asked. He was a little surprised, but ceded with a fond grin. She did previously state she wanted to see him work. "As long as you can keep up, it's fine", he agreed. She beamed excitedly, but quickly calmed herself. She had an ulterior motive at work.
As they walked outside where training was scheduled to start, she seemed to stare at him in thought. He wondered if she was still questioning his relationship with her cousin, but thankfully that wasn't the case. Besides, she could easily get details from Persephone if she really wanted them. What she had on her mind, she felt only he could help with.
"Whatever it is, spit it out", he said with a taunting grin. Pandora was never very good at hiding her thoughts. She fidgeted nervously, causing Kalego to stare at her in question. "Well?", he prompted.
"I need your help, Kalego-kun. I have a problem that I'm hoping you can help me fix", she admitted with pink cheeks. "What is it?", he inquired, glad she was finally leaning on him again. He had worried about how much Shichiro had taken on alone recently.
Averting her gaze, she explained her issue. "It's about Victoria...", she trailed. He stiffened at that name, narrowing his gaze. It was obvious that his friend was still haunted despite her freedom. Looking back at him, she spoke with feeling.
"Can you teach me how to face her?...I mean, finding out we have a traitor really got to me, but you've met her toe to toe without so much as a flinch countless times. I really admire that… Please show me how to conquer my fears!"
She bowed deeply as she finished her request. His wide eyes looked over her lowered head fondly. She was finally asking him for something. The fact that it was the momentum to move forward eased his mind. He grinned to himself as he realized he didn't have to worry about her quite so much anymore.
A little relieved, he replied, "Just clear your eyes and see her for what she truly is. She isn't some godlike devil with untold power; She's a thief, desperately hoarding the power she's stolen from others... When it comes down to it, Victoria is still the scared little girl that she's always been."
Pandora looked as if she'd had an epiphany at his words as she stood up straight again. She clutched her hands in front of her chest in appreciation as she smiled gratefully. Then she almost looked sad again as she thought about it.
Kalego sighed in mild annoyance. She was completely hopeless. Fighting off an eye twitch, he glanced away from her emotional stare. "Don't feel sorry for her, idiot; She doesn't deserve it. Just remember that she's mortal and deranged. She can be beaten", he said.
Affectionately patting her head as he looked back at her thankful face, he smiled softly. "You're just like Shichiro - too soft for your own good", he said. She smiled bashfully at his comparison. He was right, of course, but she didn't mind that. To her, Balam was genuinely amazing. Having such a quality in common couldn't be a bad thing.
Withdrawing his hand, he resumed a dark expression. "Pandora…" She glanced up in question at his concerned tone. Meeting his gaze, she listened closely. "You have to keep in mind that Victoria doesn't deserve your concern. Think of everything she's done to you and everyone else. Just because you may hesitate to strike back doesn't mean she will… Keep your guard up. We can't lose you again."
She nodded, well aware of the suppressed sadness in his last words. Persephone, Kalego, and Shichiro had gone through a notable hell at her previous loss. She couldn't do that to them again; She refused. Resolutely, she said, "Don't worry about me. I'll catch up with you soon enough."
He grinned at her fervor, pleased she was serious about raising her rank. She had a lot of work to do, but she was also surrounded by those who would be happy to help her get there.
In the main living room, Persephone waited impatiently for her delivery. She had sent Opera and Valiant on an errand, knowing it would be completed quickly with his portals. One such portal opened and the duo stepped out.
Valiant looked happy to help, even if he was clueless as to the true purpose of the excursion. All he knew was that his precious Lamya-sama had asked him for a favor. Thus he eagerly obliged.
Opera obediently handed over a box. It had been tied shut with a fancy ribbon from the clothing store. They had been the only trusted with the sealed note as to what she wanted. She looked at them suspiciously, not wanting her schemes revealed.
"You didn't look inside, did you?", she asked carefully. "Of course not", replied Opera, glancing aside to avoid her stern gaze with a subdued grin.
"I'm sure Opera-san respects the privacy of a lady. Whatever it is, I'm sure it will look stunning on such a lovely demoness", ventured Valiant, lost to his imagination as to what kind of dress it could be.
Rolling her eye faintly, she clutched the box close. "It isn't for me. It's a gift for Pan-chan… Don't tell anyone; It's a surprise."
Vincente nodded in agreement, pleased she was so giving, while Opera blushed faintly in mild surprise with widening eyes. Seeing their reaction, Persephone looked at them with intense scrutiny. "You definitely looked", she calmly accused.
A guilty grin graced Opera's face as they excused themselves to their duties. A firm grip to their shoulder stopped them in their tracks. "Hold it!", she called. A chill ran down their spine as her nails dug into them in warning. Leaning close with a menacing tone, she whispered something. Once she let go, she vanished with the mystery box while Opera grinned to themself.
Valiant had no idea what the secret was, but as a gentleman, he wasn't going to ask. Still, he was curious as to what she had said. Understanding his narrowed eyes, Opera held up a single finger in a 'hush' motion against their lips. "Don't tell Balam-kun."
Back on campus, Babylus was on alert. Dali-sensei was speaking with Suzie and Robin, mentally taking notes of their reports. Both the botany tower and the biology lab had been compromised overnight.
His expression grew dark as Suzie worriedly reminded him how rare the stolen items were. The missing herbs and ingredients were exceedingly scarce. Just being able to obtain them in the first place was a mark of pride for the faculty.
"What would anyone want with them?", asked Robin, unaware of their combined potential. "Alone, there are powerful catalysts for potions, but in the right hands, they can be refined into something that could radically boost a spell's power. Yis", explained the botany teacher.
Sensing his kouhai's confusion, Dali simplified it. "It would be like throwing fuel on a fire. In the event of it being offensive magic, the effect could be devastating. For example - instead of a slight char, it could bolster the attacking flames into a massive explosion."
Robin stared with wide eyes. "That sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?", he uttered. Dali offered a reassuring grin, but it was true. "Since we're most likely dealing with Victoria, yes, very bad", he replied.
"And neither of you saw anything at all last night?", he asked, double checking. Robin shook his head while Suzie looked a little disappointed in herself. "Not a thing. The door was still locked this morning. It was like someone had just slipped through it", offered Robin.
"Or it was an inside job", stated Dali darkly. "I will test for residual magic. If there were any spells using teleportation or physical impermanence, we'll find traces. Yis", offered Suzie. She was determined to find out who was responsible. She was not taking her duty lightly.
Thinking it over, Robin remembered Vincente's portals from the other day. "Hey, senpai, do you really think it was someone working for Victoria?", he inquired. Seeing no reason to hide it, Dali answered honestly.
"Yes. In fact, it's recently come to light that we likely have a mole. We haven't narrowed it down enough to make a good guess yet, but I want you to keep your senses sharp. It could be anyone - either here at Babylus or among Kalego's group. If you see or hear anything, I want to be the first to know about it. Understand? We absolutely can't let Ai cause any further harm to our students."
The news of a traitor worried Robin, but it seemed Suzie was already aware. Both nodded firmly in agreement. As teachers, they were sworn to protect the young alumni of the school. The students were their top priority, knowing Kalego would be able to hold his own in a pinch and had good allies at his side. At least, they hoped he did.
They ended up discussing each team member at Sullivan's estate and on the Babylus protection team. No one wanted to point a finger at a trusted comrade, but those under the most scrutiny on Kalego's team were Pandora and Vincente. One was likely unable to stop herself and the other was gambling with exceedingly high stakes if involved. As for the Babylus team, there were still far too many variables to make an educated guess.
In consideration of potentially cursed students, they focused on the stolen files. After a long talk, the trio had boiled down the most likely double agents as Lied, Purson, and Elizabetta. Even Asmodeus was being considered since his mother could be a prime puppet target as one of the thirteen.
Once the meeting was over and the others had been dismissed, Dali stared darkly at his hands folded idly in front of his face as he leaned onto his elbows. He had a lot to think about. He only hoped Kalego's team could truly prepare the abnormal class for what was coming for them. They were undoubtedly running out of time.
Back at Sullivan's, the second day's training had begun. The misfits were involved in deep conversation when the teachers arrived. The rumor mill was alive and well.
Separating into their assigned teams after warm ups, Persephone was clearly unamused by the keen faces staring at her. The imaginations of young girls were something to be feared indeed.
She held an even glare as innocent yet curious smiles surrounded her closer than before. She had anticipated them being unnerved by her promise of a tough day after their team had come in last the day before, but Clara and Elizabetta eagerly stared at her. Even the aloof Kerori observed carefully from a safer distance.
"What's wrong with you three?", asked Persephone, mildly annoyed. The two nearest girls glanced at one another with giddy grins. "Sensei, are you involved with anyone?", inquired Elizabetta as politely as possible. Clara quickly popped up with less reserve. "Are you really dating Eggy-sensei?!", she asked excitedly.
A mild eye twinge met their questions. Irritated, Persephone rubbed her temples. She should have known the interruption earlier that morning would come back to bite her. Mostly though, she blamed Kalego and his damned kabedon.
Resuming her calm yet imposing nature, she evenly met their curious expressions. "Is there something wrong with that? He's a capable, strong, and reliable man", she replied. The girls were thoroughly impressed with her maturity. They blushed at her candor.
"Though I don't see how either of our personal lives are of any interest to you. Don't you have more interesting things to think about than your teachers?", she teased. Her smug expression faltered as Clara got very close, looking ready to explode with questions. Without warning, about fifty spilled out.
Dragging her away from their annoyed sensei's face, Elizabetta grinned. "We're sorry to pry. It's just such an unexpected side of our homeroom teacher. We can't help, but be curious", she said, trying to soothe Persephone's simmering irritation.
By then, even Kerori had joined them, intrigued to learn more. Persephone sighed, practically grumbling, ready to dismiss the topic entirely. She wasn't the type to flaunt her personal affairs amid her work, let alone with students.
"I know your heads are filled with various ideas of what love and romance are, but if you want to waste time talking about such things, go back to Raim. We have work to do", she said almost coldly.
The young trio looked deflated by her words. Their disappointed expressions were almost pitiful and reminded her of Pandora. Feeling a little bad for being so harsh, Persephone added, "But I will admit Kalego is rather important to me… Now, get ready to move. You have some catching up to do with your peers."
Pleased with the compromise, the teens happily agreed to put in the work. "Yes, ma'am!", they saluted. Persephone grinned at their enthusiasm. She would be sure to test their dedication.
Across the field, Kalego and Vincente were temporarily merging their teams. Kalego seemed more irritated than usual, but there was something he had to do. He tried to choose his words carefully, knowing Pandora was there. She cheerfully smiled to herself, behind the gathered teens in silence, not wanting to interrupt or undermine his authority.
Valiant happily beckoned his group closer. "All right, team. We have a very special assignment today. Kalego-sensei will explain it in more detail, but remember that you can count on me to push you along the right path. Ready?" The trio nodded.
As they united with the infantry team, Kalego sent Iruma a warning glance. The "king" would need to remain silent. He was ignorant of the mole, but Iruma knew too much of the truth already.
"Listen up. There's a new piece to your assignments today. This will primarily affect the spy team, but you soldiers will also need to remain observant", began their sensei.
The mood was tense. Lied, Camui, and Jazz hoped they weren't about to be severely punished for their morning escapades. As Kalego looked over both teams evenly, they let out a breath of relief; They weren't his target. As their teacher focused his stare, he poured a certain darkness forth. He glanced briefly at the group's addition before continuing.
"This is your new assignment. You are already aware that one of your classmates is playing the role of a double agent. Today, you're going to start working toward solving who that is", he began.
Jumping in, Valiant grinned amusedly. "That's the easy part anyway", he teased. The teens exchanged various looks as their teacher irritatedly moved him out of his personal space. Obviously there was more. Kalego smirked darkly as they connected the dots.
"To really test you brats, another spy has been added. This second agent could potentially be anyone - a student, a teacher, or even Lord Sullivan himself", he said. Of course he didn't really think the principal was the mole, but he needed his class to look at every possibility. Besides, it was entirely possible that Victoria had gotten to more than one ally in their ranks.
"Anyone?", repeated Camui, intrigued. Understanding, Allocer sharpened his eyes as he added, "That means it could even be you, then." Their sensei grinned, glad they understood. Purson observed each reaction carefully. He was literally born for this sort of work. He was determined to crack the case.
Stepping up, Vincente explained next. "I know you're wondering why both teams are participating for this. There's a very good reason, really. Simply put, the infantry are the ears and eyes of the army's spies. They frequently come across important information without even being aware of it. Agents, listen carefully to your soldiers. Infantry, be sure to funnel anything useful to your spies. You're both vital to the army's survival. Together, you're the left and right hands. The generals are your heart and lungs and your king is the brain. Got it?"
Each teen grinned in understanding. Every member of the group had a role to play. Just like their own bodies, the army could fail if enough vital parts crumbled. After a few more questions, the teams diverged again.
Alone, Valiant huddled close with his students. "Everything I said before is true, but it's also our job to move about unnoticed. You each have to eavesdrop on those you trust to verify their loyalties. If you are caught doing this, it will hurt your standing with them... A spy's life is like walking on the edge of a sharp blade. You have to balance everything perfectly; If you slip, you can potentially sever a limb or vital alliance, even wind up dead… You must maintain political and personal loyalties while being able to objectively choose which is more useful for each situation. Like an assassin, you'll need to keep your hand concealed until just before you strike. You are both everyone's friend and their nemesis. You alone will hold the information needed to stop or perpetuate a war. Do not take your duty lightly."
Camui tensed at such a responsibility, Allocer seemed intrigued by such a challenge, and Purson already knew how delicate this line of work could be. Seeing each reaction, Vincente was looking forward to molding his students. It was certainly an interesting prospect for him. He hadn't had this much fun in years.
Back in Kalego's group, his team was a little more confused. He spoke with Pandora off to the side about what to expect for the day as the boys discussed the new development. Three looked excited and Iruma, alone, looked worried. He had a sinking feeling that this wasn't merely part of the training act.
"Hey, Iruma-kun, are you okay?", asked Lied, pulling him from his thoughts. "Yeah, you look like somebody died", added Jazz, a little concerned. Iruma quickly smiled, trying to reassure his friends he was fine. Gaap came to his defense with, "The king should seriously consider every angle, degozaru."
"I guess that's true", ceded Jazz. Lied nodded as he thought out loud. He'd played many strategy games. "Iruma-kun has it rough here. He has to protect us while potentially sending us to die", he uttered. Of course, he was only thinking objectively, but in a real war, that was uncomfortably close to the truth.
"So, we have to question each other now? Man, that sucks", sighed Jazz, annoyed. "We don't even know which classmate is the first double agent yet. I mean, at least it's been narrowed down to Crocell and Neesan", said Lied. "Unless Clara is pulling both roles", offered Gaap. His friends gaped mildly. They hadn't considered that.
"Iruma-kun, who do you think it is?", asked Lied. Iruma looked deep in thought again. "I think we need to gather more information. The spy team will really be the ones to weed out the traitor, but we'll have to be careful. It's entirely possible it could be one of our generals, but I have a feeling we'll need to look at the teachers for the second", he explained.
"I can only hope you'd be that cautious", taunted Kalego. The boys looked up in surprise at his intrusion. With an irritated glare, he said, "You had no idea I was here, did you?".
"This is why I worry… You all need to think more carefully. Plan each move thoroughly and always have a back up plan. You three are responsible for keeping the king safe while simultaneously manning the front lines. Don't forget that", he chided darkly.
Beside him, Pandora quietly watched. The students glanced at her presence in question. "We're also guarding a known double agent, right? How do we know Hekate-san is really on our side?", offered Jazz. Kalego smirked in response. "You don't...but this exercise, I will vouch for her."
"But if you're the traitor, then we can't trust anything you say…Argh! This is so annoying!", complained Lied, holding his head as he tried to reason it all out.
"Kalego-kun would never help Victoria!", said Pandora. Her unexpected outburst shocked those around her. She bashfully covered her mouth. "I'm sorry. I'm only supposed to be watching", she said meekly. Her friend grinned at her fervor, glad she still had faith in him despite his own doubts. "It's fine. They should suspect everyone, even me. Just let them figure it out", said Kalego.
"Come on, sensei, at least give us a clue", said Jazz. His teacher's glower made him withdraw his comment. They were on their own.
The day went on with a full training regimen, both physically and mentally. Team Vincente had dispersed after their physical training. They had retreated to an agreed base where each student could report their findings to their spymaster in private while Valiant kept a watchful eye over each of them.
Meanwhile, Balam pushed his team hard. Azz and Sabnock were used to the rigors of their master's lessons, but Agares was surprisingly keeping up for the most part. He whined about being tired, but still put in the work. He'd done well to protect so many during the harvest festival and being considered a leader was an honorable feat. He wasn't going to waste it.
Team Lamya was put through the wringer badly. The girls had to make up for their poor performance the day before and their morning questions had only dug them into a deeper hole yet Persephone was impressed with Kerori's stamina. Her secret life as an akudol was showing her hard work. Clara, of course, was a bundle of energy, but even Elizabetta was determined to win their new master's respect.
Kalego's team focused heavily on combat. He knew his group was under scrutiny by Victoria's spy, whoever it may be. They had to be able to defend themselves. Gaap's bloodline ability gave him an edge, but also painted a target on his back.
Kalego watched each of them carefully. He'd be damned if Ai was going to devour any one of them. He was currently watching the boys pair off in practice bouts. For the sake of fairness, he'd paired them off by physique to begin with. Iruma and Lied, Jazz and Goemon.
He observed each move they made with keen eyes. Beside him, Pandora occasionally whispered in his ear with notes. She knew Victoria just as well, if not better, than him. She would easily see any weaknesses in their defense.
"That's enough. Trade partners. You'll have to be able to defend against a lot of different skills and styles. Those who are taller, make use of your extended range. Lied and Iruma, make up for it with speed. Stay nimble... Now move! After this round, we'll introduce weapons. Ideally, you need to be prepared for hand to hand, but with luck, you will be armed", instructed Kalego.
After that round ended, the boys flopped onto the ground, exhausted. He was pushing them hard. "Come on, sensei, give us a break! We can barely breathe!", complained Lied. The others huffed as they pleadingly stared in agreement. The entire day was one giant training montage.
"Hmph. Do you really think the enemy would agree to a 'time out'?", glared Kalego. Pandora understood his motivation, but she also felt bad for the teens. "I know I said I wouldn't intere, but they're just kids, Kalego-kun. Maybe you and I could show them something while they catch their breath?", she ventured.
Kalego glanced at her in question. He wasn't sure she could hold her own just yet and he was barely pulling his punches with the boys. If he went easy on her, it would be glaringly obvious and undoubtedly stir up a lot of whining. Reading his expression, she smiled pleasantly.
"Senpai and Shichiro have been working with me. I can handle it, promise!", she assured. He stared briefly, struggling to imagine Balam making any form of aggressive move toward her, but he knew Opera wouldn't be so gentle. Maybe she was right.
He smirked as he ceded. "All right, but don't say I didn't warn you", he grinned. Setting his cloak aside, he took his place across from her. The boys excitedly watched. They were looking forward to this.
Kalego suppressed a grin as Pandora stretched to get ready. She wasn't exactly weak in school, but he doubted she was as ready to fight as she promised. When did she even have time to face off with Shichiro, anyway?
Taking her stance, she smiled as she beckoned him to come at her. She looked irritatingly smug in confidence. With a smirk, he decided to respect her dedication. He wasn't going to hold back...much.
In a flurry of motion, the dust settled as Kalego stared at the sky in shock. She'd laid him flat on his back in a powerful flip. Though embarrassed to be seen by his class, he grinned in approval. Shichiro had clearly shown her how to deflect an attacker's power and use it against them.
Dusting himself off, he conceded, "Not bad." The noise from their audience annoyed him. "Go, Hekate-san!" "Stop going easy on her!" "Get him, degozaru!" A menacing glare quickly shut them up.
This time, he egged her on. With a nod, Pandora attacked. She was faster than he recalled. Opera had done well to retrain her muscles. He could see some of their senpai's moves mirrored in hers, but she didn't have nearly the same level of power behind them.
Pinning her arms against her sides with a grab, he held her squirming body against his own. He smirked as she slowly stopped wiggling. He had her held tightly against himself. He then made the mistake of thinking she only had two teachers.
With a bashful smile, Pandora quietly uttered, "Sorry about this." He barely had time to register her warning before she slipped one arm out. He'd pinned her back against his torso as he stifled her ability to move. A split second before impact, he realized he'd soon recognize this move as Persephone's.
A quick elbow to his ribs staggered him in surprise, followed by an uppercut to his chin. Then, a quick sweep of her leg kicked his own out from under him before he had a chance to recover. Frantically fussing over him on the ground, Pandora apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Persephone said it was okay to fight dirty...I'm so sorry!"
The boys all gaped at the shocked look on their sensei's face, almost mirroring the expression. They could only imagine his coming wrath, but they still had to root for the underdog.
Dismissing her help, Kalego forced a grin as he sat up again, genuinely impressed. "I'll be fine. Just give me some air." Nodding, Pandora sat beside him in the dirt. She looked more upset than he was. In fact, he was mildly amused despite the injury to his ego.
Persephone, Shichiro, and Opera had all taken the time to work with her. Such a move was unexpected of such a dainty fighter, but it drove home that a soldier should expect absolutely anything from their foe.
After a moment to recover his pride, they both got up. Kalego sent a dark grin to his students, warning them to mention what they had seen again for their own safety. Clearing his throat, he picked up the lesson.
"As you saw, my mistake was not anticipating that type of move in practice, but make a mental note. In a real fight, do whatever it takes to stay alive… Now you'll each be facing me one on one. You're first", he said, pointing to Jazz.
Jazz slowly got up, wondering if his teacher was really okay with his defeat, but the menacing look on his face dared him to say anything. Swallowing his concern, he took his place across from Kalego as Pandora sat beside Iruma. She looked ridden with guilt, having hurt her friend, but Iruma offered a support smile, reminding her Kalego was a lot tougher than he looked.
Kalego tossed his student a wooden sword. Weapons training had just begun. Jazz's turn was over quickly. He slowly got off of the ground as he cracked his shoulder back into place. "Again", he said with determination. Kalego grinned in approval. He'd anticipated a forfeiture. "All right."
The rest of his class took mental notes of every move. After his third defeat, Jazz ceded. Gaap went next. He had much more practice wielding swords, but still went down. They were clearly no match for their teacher's wounded pride. He wasn't about to lose again.
Lied nervously took his place, readying his bokken. "When are we getting back to finding the traitor?", he asked, hoping to cause a distraction. It didn't work. Kalego smirked at the attempt.
"You need to suspect everyone of being the traitor, even me. For all you know, I've purposely trained your combat stance with an exploitable blind spot for when I turn on you", he warned.
"Eehhhh???! You really are dastardly, sensei!", said Lied, barely defending himself against the barrage of blows. Kalego smiled wickedly, well aware the lad was likely nearing his limit. Then a pleasant surprise.
Kalego had suddenly gone blind, but still held off his attacker. Lied grinned with his stolen sense of sight. "So, you can still hear my movements? All right." He sealed off his teacher's hearing as well.
The others watched with interest. No one said he was allowed to use his bloodline ability, but no one had said it was forbidden either. "Go, Lied!" "Get him!"
"Finally using your head", smirked Kalego. A near strike nicked his cheek. Having had enough, he ended the match with a strong counter strike.
Lied fell on his butt in shock. As he released his teacher's senses, he uttered, "How did you - ?". Kalego grinned as he helped him up, a sure sign of respect at his attempt to outfox him. "Keep practicing and you'll figure it out. Iruma, you're next."
Iruma nervously took his place. Pandora sent him a thumbs up. She had tied his hair back out of the way. It was nice having a big sister figure. He nodded to her in appreciation of her support.
"Come", ordered Kalego. The scuffle lasted longer than the others. Iruma's danger avoidance was flawless, after all. "Fight back!", shouted Lied. "You can do it! Long live the king!", offered Jazz.
Feeding off their resolve, Iruma went for it. Kalego smirked in approval as he blocked an attack just in front of his body. It was a close one. "Not bad, but I know you can do better… If you don't have the physical strength, find a way to make up for it", he instructed.
Understanding, Iruma jumped back as he dodged his counter move. "Raffire!" It was a weak, low level spell. He didn't really want to hurt anyone. Kalego easily knocked the spell aside to the dirt. "You're still holding back", he chided.
The sound of approaching footsteps garnered the group's attention. Team Balam had come over in interest. The generals looked rough. Balam-sensei hadn't cut them any slack in their combat training. They gratefully took their seats beside their friends. It felt good to finally rest. They'd been at it for hours.
Balam affectionately pat Iruma's head. "I'll take it from here", he offered with a hidden grin. Glancing toward Kalego, Iruma ceded, handing over his weapon. The misfits stared in wonder at the rapidly climbing tension before them.
"So, Shichiro, you're next?", grinned Kalego, amused. "Make sure you don't go easy on me. These kids need to see what they can really expect in a battle", replied Balam. Kalego had no qualms with that. They were evenly matched, after all. With a nod of understanding, each discarded their weapon.
The teens were eager to watch the match. "Are they really going to fight?" "This is gonna be good!" "Go sensei!" "Lay him flat, master!"
Distracted, team Lamya had joined the massive group, too. "Ooohhhh, Eggy-sensei is gonna get him!", said Clara, playfully leaning over Azz's head. "Don't be stupid! Master Balam is physically stronger", he argued. Sabnock grinned, intrigued. "Could go either way", he ventured, well aware of their sensei's magical proficiency.
Persephone simply grinned to herself as she silently watched them face off. The brats were in for a treat. Besides, she could easily treat their inevitable injuries. Meanwhile, Pandora looked nervous. She didn't want them to hurt each other. Still, she was eager to see what they could really do after so long.
Opera had materialized from seemingly nowhere between the two high ranking demons. It seemed they planned to play referee. "No familiars or constricting vines will be permitted, but both offensive and defensive spells will be allowed. Ready?", they said, glancing between the contenders.
Balam and Kalego each nodded briefly in agreement. As they took their stances, Sullivan had come up beside Persephone. "I hope they don't destroy my house", he said meekly. Nene grinned as she patted his hand in reassurance. "Don't worry, Sa-chan. You can always bunk with me", she winked. Persephone hid a grin at his nervous response.
On the battlefield, Opera stepped back, giving the fighters room. Raising their arm, they called, "Ready?...Go!". As their arm fell, both demons jumped into action. They were looking forward to this little bit of fun. They both really needed to cut loose to relieve some stress. At rank eight, they were even adversaries. This was going to be enjoyable for both of them.
Their audience called out excitedly as blows were exchanged. Despite training their students all day, they each had ample strength and stamina remaining. Opera got out of their way, but stayed ready to grab any student out of harm's way if needed. Even Ameri watched eagerly nearby. Watching such a match was a rare treat. Understanding her interest, her father let her observe.
The air pressure changed drastically as various spells were unleashed, one after another while physical attacks stirred up the dirt into a cloud of dramatic dust. Both teachers had vocal supporters in the crowd yet they couldn't really hear them. They were far too busy having fun. It had been way too long since they could really cut loose in a fight.
After several intense minutes, Kalego and Shichiro grinned at one another, short of breath. "Should we finish this?", asked Balam, glancing at their eager students. "Bring it", smirked Kalego. He was enjoying the diversion.
Both went in for a heavy attack. Just as their fists met to exchange blows, a massive swirl of dust and energy blew out around them. The misfits coughed at the debris, struggling to see. "Who won?", asked Sabnock, unable to visually confirm it.
As the air cleared, both demons were frozen in mid attack with Sullivan standing between them, blocking each with one of his hands. "It's a tie", he said cheerfully.
"Aww!" "No fair!" "Come on, principal, let them finish!" "Hey, I had money riding on the outcome!"
Sullivan met the teens' complaints with a smile. "I think that's enough. Much more and someone was going to get hurt...probably my house", he explained. "Besides, we need to conserve our energy for our actual enemies", agreed Nene.
Each backing down, Balam and Kalego stepped back. They'd had their fun, but Sullivan was right. If they really cut loose, someone would likely be badly injured, if not both of them, and Nene had a valid point.
"I was hoping to see who would win", uttered Purson, suddenly appearing behind Iruma and Pandora. "Eh?! You were here the whole time?", asked Iruma. He was so focused on the fight, he hadn't noticed.
"We all were", smiled Vincente, seated happily beside them. Iruma jolted at the shock of his sudden presence. He didn't notice at all, but sure enough, the entire spy team had joined the spectators unseen. It made perfect sense for Purson, but Valiant was a better instructor than expected for the other two.
"I think that's quite enough for today, don't you?", said Sullivan, carefully eying Kalego. It was already turning to late afternoon and dark clouds were starting to roll in. As thunder sounded in the distance, he conceded.
Turning to the abnormal class, Kalego grinned, clearly in a better mood after his fun. "I hope you brats were watching closely. That is the level of dedication we teachers are expecting of you. Don't disappoint us."
Balam spoke up next. "Tomorrow will begin weapons training and aerial combat, so make sure you get plenty of rest tonight", he announced. The teens were both excited and exhausted by the prospect. Persephone and Nene readied themselves to treat the inevitable wing injuries in the meantime.
"When is the final exam?" "How much longer is this training going to go on?! " "Until school reopens?" "I sure hope not! I can't take much more!"
Balam grinned faintly as Kalego's eye twitched in irritation. "It's only been two days, you brats", he grumbled, annoyed by their lack of dedication. "You're going to train until we think you're ready. You won't know when the final exam will take place until it happens. A real battlefield seldom gives you time to plan and tactics are changed without warning. Now stop whining and line up for showers. Get moving!", called Persephone.
Kalego grinned at her control of the situation and Pandora smiled at his pleased expression. She'd never heard either Kalego or Persephone say the word 'love', but their bond was evident in their small interactions and she was happy to see it. Still, she was glad Shichiro was the more openly affectionate kind. She always looked forward to their private time. Tonight's watch would be Persephone, Azazel, and Vincente. Tonight, Shichiro was hers for all of the snuggling she could get.
to be continued...