Chapter 13: Awakening of new Powers
'I could do that I'll do that right now" Marici said as she left them room.
Kale walked over to the sleeping Kara who was still healing at a slow rate. "Soon my daughter you will awaken and once you do. You will have your revenge on those scum" Kale answered. He left the room and headed with Marici to the basement of the estate.
The basement was a large underground chamber located 100 feet underground. A wide open field lay over a pit of molten fire. Various statues of ravens could be seen around the field and Marici went over and stood in the middle of the field.
"Oh, great Agni spirit of flame who I offered up myself to thee to form our contract I summon thee here" Marici called out.
A howl could be heard a circle of divine flames erupted from the ground before. Marici a nine-tailed fox appeared before her it had white fur all over its body and its eyes, ears and tail were all on fire.
"Why have you summoned me?" Agni asked.
Kale watched the events and then left the room. He walked into a side room and sat at a small desk. He turned on a monitor within the room as he was trying to contract. One of the members of the council who ruled over the empowered ones within the city.
"Sound fun!" Haley replied with a smile.
"Along with new powers and titles, we also move up the ranks of empowered ones as well." Lilly continued.
The group were chatting while eating their ice cream.
"So, what's this about ranks?" Holly asked.
"Well, each empowered one is given a rank based upon how many other empowered ones they've executed. It's kind of like a rating for our overall power." Lilly explained.
"I don't get it."
"Well, let's look at it this way. At the moment I'm ranked Rank 37 out of the 70 empowered ones in this country. The members of our class at school also have ranks based on their notoriety."
"What rank are Haley and I?"
"Considering you're new to this all, you, Holly are ranked Rank 69 and Haley's Rank 70."
"Wait, why am I last place?!" Haley asked, a little annoyed at her ranking.
"Well, Holly's a little kinder than you and the public like her bunny ears and tail and, considering you both awakened at the same time, they chose Holly over you as she's what the public like." Lilly answered.
"But aren't tigers cute as well?"
"Until they rip your throat out, sure."
Haley was a little put off by it all so she ate her ice cream in silence. Everyone finished their ice cream.
"These two we're looking for, they're ranked Rank 35 and Rank 36. The illusion master is Rank 36 and the truth seeker is Rank 35. If we can take these two out, I'll jump up to Rank 35, Holly will become the new Truth Seeker at Rank 36 and Haley the new Illusion Master at Rank 37, unless Haley contributes a lot and takes out the old Rank 35 then she'll swap places with Holly." Lilly continued.
"So, it's a rating game as well as a power struggle?" Holly asked.
"Pretty much."
Lilly paid for the ice cream and said goodbye to the manager and went off back home.
"Yes I wish to fight against you to become stronger." Marici said.
'Why is it that you wish to become stronger, you already have great power within though if you wish to be stronger than you may challenge me to a duel" Angi replied. The fires upon his body burned brighter.
Marici nodded her head and her clothes changed back into her battle armour.
Angi's form changed from a simple fox spirit into that of a young man. Agni is a well built person who stands close to the six foot range. His black hair goes down just past his ears and his red and golden eyes seem to have the ability to stare into a person's soul. His tanned skin shows that he has spent countless hours out in the sun, mainly due to training. His basic attire consists of a pair of boots that have small metal plates around the tip of the shoe. His black pants are simple to sight; however, the material used to make them is unknown to many. This material is light as a feather yet strong as steel. His crimson red, long sleeved shirt is made of the same material. Over his clothes Angi wears a black trenchcoat that travels all the way down to his calf with his long and characteristic red fire crosses on both sleeves. On the shoulder-area of his coat, there lies an almost shoulder-padding of sorts on both sides, and on the corner of that lies three buttons.
Any other empowered ones within the city could feel a tremendous amount of magical power had gathered at the Ravenclaw estate those this power was that of flame.
Kale finally got through to one of the council members. "Ah, If it isn't Kale Ravenclaw the number 2 ranked empowered within the country what do I owe this pleasure?" A voice asked.
"Excuse me Master Chronos, but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you" Kale said.
"That matter is?" Chronos asked.
"It's about my daughters Kara and Marici along with the Seras"
A sudden blast of power struck all the girls on their way home. Lilly instantly knew that it was a greater fire spirit. Chanki as well seemed to be roused by it.
"Ah, unexpected." Chanki said to himself. "Someone wishes greater power unto themselves?"
"Ravenclaw Estate." Lilly said with a nod. "It's her."
"The other fire user?"
"Yes."
"Ignore her. Spirits are not easy to take down. Regardless, if she somehow does manage to win, then she'll be ripe for killing. She'll likely die trying, though."
Lilly did as Chanki suggested and just headed home. She'd deal with Marici later.
Marici watched as Angi took on a human form dressed in armour. "I'll give this everything I've got" Marici explained. As she charged towards Agni and their battle began.
Kale was still busy talking with Chronos about the recent events. Of the battle between the both sisters and the Seras about Marici's reawakening. And how both her and Kara would want to grow much stronger.
"Well tomorrow there is a battle to be held at the old magical arena at the school between Lilly Sera and Yukina Silvermain it's a friendly battle but there will be special stipulates added to the fight" Chronos said.
Upon Lilly and Yukina's bed a magical letter appeared.
Lilly arrived home and was not surprised to see that her mother wasn't home. It was around half one anyway so she wouldn't be home just yet.
Lilly entered the house with the girls and they all went up to Lilly's room.
"Let's get ready for the bath." Lilly told her sisters.
Each girl removed their clothes and headed down to the bathroom with nothing more than a towel wrapped around them from Lilly's en suite. They entered the large bath and began to relax. They'll be in the bath for at least an hour.
The fighting between both Agni and Marici lasted for an hour the fight was epic though throughout most of the fight Agni had the upper hand as he easily baited Marici's attacks to the side. She had to change tactics against him. She had to some how on the spot start to combine her powers of gravity and fire together to form now attacks. This took Agni by surprise at first but he came back with renewed fury. He beat Marici down who lost the fight but Marici did seemed to come out stronger.
Agni decided to bestow a small amount of power upon Marici and told her to use it wisely.
Kale and Chronos talked for an hour about the battle tomorrow. They talked more about Kara then anything else about how the dark half of her was far stronger than the others. That once fully awakened would put Kara at a power of Rank 31 even though she was only Rank 34.
They spoke of the battle with Lilly and Yukina. Some more before Kale signed off for the time being.
Kara on the other hand seemed to wake up.
During the bath, the girls took part in 'girl talk' and played around with one another a little by having a water fight. Haley was the winner as both Lilly and Holly gave in as the water made them rather uncomfortable. Haley just chuckled and said that she was feeling the same way. All three girls left the bath and went to the toilet before cleaning the soap of themselves with the showers surrounding the bath. They dried themselves off and went back upstairs to change into their home clothes.
Kara had slowly walked from her bed and moved to the window she looked out of it. At the open sky and the ground below she thought of her fight with Lilly and the others and was overcome with sheer anger and them for their betrayal of her trust and love. The wind started to blow stronger at those thoughts.
As the wind raged outside Kale came Kara's room. He told to to forget about those old times with them. The Sera's were just yesterday's garbage and would be taken care of in time.
Haley and Holly's home outfits for today were a red dress for Haley and a matching blue dress for Holly. Lilly went for a more casual White t-shirt and matching mini-skirt.
Considering they still had a little while before dinner, the girls decided to talk a little more about the ranking matches. Lilly explained the rules as best as she could and said that any formal challenges had to be passed to an agent to be sent to the challenged party. The challenged party then decided the location and the rules of engagement which would be monitored by an executive from the agent's business. The first side to be executed would be the loser and the winner would replace their rank and take a portion of their power as a reward. They may also be bestowed a new title if they do really well but titles were decided by the business behind the agent. If the higher party won, then they'd get a premium at the expense on the loser. The premium could be anything from a piece of the loser or their equipment to be kept as a trophy or a fraction of the money given to the agent to have the ranking match go through.
The wind still blew strongly outside as she looked out the window. She again wanted what the others were doing. Yet Marici came into her room and told her of her battle with Agni and how she had gotten stronger. Even if it wasn't much it was still something. She explained to Kara that their father wished when she was better to make contact with Beltran and challenge him to a fight. He also wanted her to fully awaken her dark powers. And only Beltran could allow that to happen once it was unleashed she would be far stronger than. The Seras and more of a match for anyone else.
Lilly explained that the currency behind all of these matches was something called 'Conquest Points', or 'CP' for short. CP could be earned through the Agencies in their friendly matches and monster bashing matches. CP could be used to unlock basic utility abilities which each empowered one had access to or to partake in ranking matches. The CP needed for ranking matches changed based upon what rank was being challenged. Naturally, the higher ranks required more CP than the lower ranks. The amount of CP needed to Challenge the ranks Lilly wanted was a total of 74800CP. 34700CP was needed for rank 36 and 40100CP was needed for rank 35. All of this went over Holly and Haley's heads but Lilly explained that they'd learn better through experience.
Kara wasn't really a fan of awakening her dark half yet it it meant to get her stronger she'd agree to it. She got up off the bed and left the room with Marici she went to the arena in the basement and called to Beltran who appeared before her. She asked if he could help her awaken her darker half as she was indeed of its powers. Beltran agreed to this but total Kara there was dangers to this. It would take a great deal of time and that was something they did have. So he decided to fight Kara here and now.
He changed into a human form. Raven silver locks cascade down to his lower back. While his bangs drop to his broad shoulders his face is incredibly handsome each feature chiseled to perfection. Someone looking into his mako-eyes can get lost within them ocean deep his eyes are blue green like the very ocean. His skin is fine tanned and pale looking almost making him look like a vampire.
His basic attire consists of a pair of boots that have small metal. Plates around the tip of the shoe his leg guards are black in color and have small raven-like. Markings at the knees around his waist there is a belt covered in dragon-like carvings with a raven one in the middle. Beltran's chest plate has been crafted to resemble a raven the eyes can glow yellow from time to time. On the back of his armor there are slits where his wings stick out.
Beltran's arms are covered with the same black armor like the rest. Of his body his gauntlets are adorned with two inch spikes between each knuckle and a raven carving upon the back of each gauntlet.
He started to battle against Kara who was still in no condition to fight.
Lilly herself only had enough CP to issue the challenge so she couldn't share any with the girls. Lilly suggested that they went and got up some CP after school tomorrow through monster bashing matches. This would also give the girls a good opportunity to get to grips with how battles worked in the Empowered world. The girls said that this would be a great idea as long as they entered as a trio. Holly thought that they;d die if they lost the monster fight but Lilly reassured her by saying that they were protected from death while fighting practice battles.
The girls talked some more and time passed quickly. It was now half past three so they decided to take a little nap before dinner. Holly, Haley and Lilly all fell asleep on Lilly's bed hugging one another. Haley was forced to wear a pair of pyjama pants underneath her panties just in case.
For over three hours Kara battled Beltran the best that she could yet she seemed to be losing. He was playing mind game with her. Showing Kara images of her dead mom and of the three girls that she had killed. More images of Lilly and the twins entered her mind. She cowered in fear at these memories at first and then started to get angry. He powers jumped a little but it still wasn't enough. Beltran decided to play dirty he called upon a hail of blood and told Kara this was her mother's very own blood.
As it rained down upon Kara she seemed to snap. A darkness over took her and she screamed in rage. The whole Ravenclaw estate shook from the increase in power. Kara who was now bathed in the blood of her mother attacked Beltran with renewed fury. Her attack's seemed to become stronger and faster. Beltran tried a different approached his form changed into that of a image of Lilly. Kara halted at first and yet tore into Lilly without second thought.
Her hands wrapped around Lilly's neck as she choked the life out of her. Beltran was ok as he had created this image through magic. More and more of her dark magic was unleashed and could clearly be felt all across town. Soon the image of Lilly was choked to death and Kara had fully awakened. As the darkness within her seemed to fade away Kara walked away from the fight she went back to her room.
Once in her room she looked out the window sitting on the bed near it. She shielded herself from being detected by any sort of magic. She felt the helix-es of Lilly and the others and looked at them as they slept peacefully in her bed. Even though they were enemies part of her longed to return to those days when she was friends with the girls. Everything she had told them and done with them had been truthful she told them her true feelings she had even had sex with Haley something which wasn't right yet she enjoyed,
Since if she used her wind magic she was sure they'd know it was her. She just watched them sleep and started to cry and then left them alone.
At around half five, Lilly woke up. She woke her sisters up as well before using the toilet and told them to do the same. Lilly was surprised when she looked out of her bathroom window and didn't see her Mother's car. She initially thought that her Mother would be late home for work like normal. She saw an envelope on her bedside table addressed to her and decided to read it after dinner. Once all the girls were finished in the toilet, then went downstairs for dinner and asked the maid about their Mother. The maid said she hadn't a clue where she was. Lilly was starting to worry a little now. She'll ring her Mother's workplace after dinner.
Kara went around her room she remembered one thing which she needed to do. She went to the small cupboard in her room and took out some various snacks, sweets and drinks she placed them. Into a small bag then opened the window and flew through the air to the Sera manor landing on the ground. She went over to the door and rang the doorbell while placing the bag with open snacks on the ground in front of the door.
Kara then flew away from the manor a small note in the bag said. "Snacks to Lilly Sera".
Yukina arrived in her room and noticed a small letter sitting on her bed going over to it she opened. It up and read it the letter told about how both she, and Lilly would be facing each other. In the new school battle arena, there were some rules listed which included. No killing, no dirty fighting, no injuring the other person, and a few others. The letter also listened that a major announcement would be made tomorrow as well.
Dinner was finished quietly and Lilly went to ring her Mother's workplace. While she was waiting on hold, the doorbell rang and a maid went to answer it. She brought the bag of snacks in and asked Lilly where to put them. Lilly, still waiting on hold, said to put them on her bed.
After ten minutes on hold, Lilly finally got through. She introduced herself and asked about her Mother. The person on the phone told Lilly all about what had happened earlier and Lilly doubted her at first. She never remembered any secret deals going on and she couldn't read anything of the sort off her Mother. She covered the mouthpiece of the phone and asked Haley if she'd read anything from her Mother about these deals. Haley said she hadn't a clue what she was talking about so Lilly let it slide. She thanked the person who answered the phone and hung up. She told the twins all about the conversation and they were also shocked, scared and a little relieved at it as well. Lily said they'll all sleep together tonight as their Mother wasn't home. She worried a little about what might happen to them if the authorities caught on that they were home alone. They all went back up to Lilly's room.
On her bed, Lilly found the bag of snacks and wondered where they came from. She saw the note and recognised Kara's handwriting. She was a little uneasy about it all but her mind told her it was all okay and nothing was out of the ordinary. She opened up her phone and text a single word to Kara.
Lilly to Kara: 'Thanks.
Lilly then looked at the letter on her desk. It detailed that she was having a friendly duel with Yukina tomorrow. She wasn't so sure it would be 'friendly', though. She read the rules and took them all in:
No Killing
No Dirty Fighting
No injuries to either combatant aside from minor wounds
No pre-buffing
No Outside interference/assistance
No hidden weapons/abilities. All must be announced prior to combat.
The Judge's rules are law
No betting of CP or other items/currencies
'Any negligence of these rules will result in instant disqualification and a fine of 500,000CP must be paid in full to the agencies involved.'
Kara arrived back home just in time to feel her phone buzz she went and checked the message. It was one from Lilly she read it.
Kara to Lilly: 'You're Welcome'
She walked back into the house and went to her room she didn't feel like having dinner at all. She closed the door behind her and locked it. She went over to her bed and laid down upon it. She felt very lonely right now she really missed Lilly and the twins. She was suppose to spend time with Lilly alone tonight but if she even tried to do so. Lilly would try and kill her outright again sure even with Marici back things just weren't right anymore.
"Lilly" Kara whispered.
Marici was busy further training and trying out her new found powers. She was busy trying to get ahold of things. It seemed in her 'awakened' state she got some new clothes. Her boots are made up of some unknown metal that are red in color and made up of silver runes and are tipped around the foot and the heel. Little spikes come out of the armor in the front of her boots. Marici's legs are completely covered with the red armor and at the knee joints there are a pair of spikes that stick out about two inches.
Covering her small breasts is a single red and white silk shirt this has been created by fire magic. Across her lower crotch area in a pair of red and white silk panties that and covered by a red and white short skirt. That barely covers her crotch area this has also been created by fire magic.
The armor on upon both of Marici's arms are much like the armor on her legs. The color is red and made up of diamond and the armor covers all of her arms with ancient runes placed upon them. At the elbow joint there is a pair of spikes that stick out four inches. Her gauntlets are white and have a symbol of a fox on the back side of the hand and hold a pentagram upon the inside of the palm the tip of each fingertip has been shaped into points so they can be used in melee combat. Between each knuckle of the gauntlet there are one inch spikes that have a slight tint of white in them. Her boots contain ancient runes and symbols to increase her speed and movement.
Marici gains what appears to be a pair two small fox ears atop her head. Behind her are what appears to be nine fox tails each one is covered in pure white fur. Yet there are patches of fur around the end of the tail, The tail ends are alight with green flames attached to her waist is her sword named Seika which means 'Sacred Flame' A divine aura of flames is usually seen around Marici as green flames ripple across her armour.
Marici liked her new clothes and power and was busy fighting against Agni.
Yukina read over the last of the letter. It said that the first two classes for all magic users were canceled and they were to attend the duel to watch and take notes. Along with that the match itself will start at 9:00am.
According to the letter, Lilly was scheduled for this battle at 9:00am tomorrow. She decided to ignore it for now and spend some quality time with her sisters, which she didn't get to do that often at home with her Mother ordering them all to study. Either way, Lilly liked spending time with them and they loved it as well. Lilly gave them a brief refresher over all that they didn't understand about their newfound powers and everything in between
Kara went to sleep early that day as she didn't want to be with anyone and didn't wake up until the morning hours which she went about her normal means of getting ready for school. She took a short shower and got dressed in her uniform. She just seemed to be going about things like a robot would.
Marici for the rest of the evening trained further with Agni. She got a better understanding of her new power. She stopped around 9pm and decided to get some sleep she checked in on her sister but Kara demanded to be alone. So around 10 Marici went to sleep and woke up in the morning.
After a nice evening of talking, Lilly and her sisters went to bed at 9pm, the usual time the twins went to bed. There was the usual battle with Haley to try and get her to calm down enough to sleep and not fight against having her night protection put on but Lilly came out the winner. After a nice sleep, each girl hugging one another with Lilly in the middle, they woke up nice and refreshed at half seven the next morning.
They all took a bath together and went about the usual morning routine before having their breakfast. There Mother was still in for questioning as far as they knew so they'd, once again, have to walk to school.
Kara got a ride to school in the family limo. Marici was staying at home since it'd take time for her to be worked into the school. Kara was just in a sour mood and around twenty minutes later they arrived at the school. Kara got out and walked over to the local tree where she had first seen Lilly at when she entered the school on the first day of school.
Yukina awoke refreshed today was the day where she'd show that brat Lilly who was boss. She went about her normal morning routine and showered, got dressed and ate breakfast before leaving for school. She wanted a short walk to school since she wasn't in the mood for a ride.
Like normal, the girls arrived at school at around twenty to nine. Lilly said goodbye to her sisters and saw a nostalgic view. She noticed that Kara was, once again, under her little tree and overlooking the entrance. Still not too pleased with her, Lilly ignored Kara. It'll take more than a bag of snacks to buy her back.
Lilly went down the pathway towards the school and ran through what she'll be using during the battle in her head. She got a few dirty looks from the other students and she was sure she could hear whispering behind her back but she paid it no attention.
Kara saw Lilly and the twins arrive she saw as she ignored her, And went down the pathway towards the school she wanted to go to her. But Lilly would just try to kill her or act like a bitch. She followed behind and once in the school stayed by the main opening.
Yukina arrived at the school. Around 15 till nine she decided to head towards the main. Arena of where their battle was going to take place. She already knew how she wanted to handle things in this fight. She had quite a few new powers she wanted to try on Lilly.
Once she was sure she was ready, Lilly went towards the predetermined battle location. If this battle was following the normal rules of engagement along with the pre-explained rules then Lilly would be at a minor advantage. She was sure that Yukina would try one or more dirty tricks during combat and she'd be waiting to pick them out and report them.
At the Arena, Lilly saw something which took her by surprise a little. She thought that the twins would have to miss this as it conflicted with a core lesson they had no choice but to do but they were both there.
"Haven't you got English now?" Lilly asked them.
"We got let out on good behaviour." Haley answered.
"What she meant to say was that we were excused as this time was listed as 'Extra-Curricular Obligation'." Holly explained.
Kara didn't know what to do she felt very lonely and sad. She decided to try it she needed to talk with them she turned away from the main doors. She remembered the way where Lilly had walked and followed the same path. She soon came upon both twins and Lilly who were busy talking. "I know I'm the last person you three want to see right now but can we talk say at lunch if you still wish to kill me. You can then but I'd really like you guys to hear me out first?" Kara asked, Most likely knowing they'd kill her here and now.
Yukina arrived at the Arena which was your basic coliseum, As she walked inside she spotted various statues of of fire, water, earth and air spirits. Each one seemed to be made out of white marble and lined the hallway, She walked along the hall until she reached a wide open area in the center was a small circle stage. Where both warriors would stand upon before they were carried off to a pocket dimension to do battle. In a circle around the stage were rows upon rows of chairs.
Several students and adults were busy filling into the rows and taking their seats. Yukina walked down towards the center stage and walked up upon it,
As soon as Kara came close, both of the twins drew their swords and crossed their blades in front of Lilly.
"Come to try and finish what you failed?" Holly asked with clear distaste.
"Run away before I hack your legs off!" Haley threatened.
Lilly could sense no malice from Kara.
"Let's hear her out. If she's rogue, we can just hack her to pieces like we did yesterday." Lilly told the twins. They dismissed their weapons and stood to either side of Lilly. Holly was not even looking at Kara and Haley shot a glare which could pierce through stone at Kara.
Kara explained herself.
"Guess I can spare time for scum like you." Lilly replied.
Suddenly, Haley drew her sword again and darted towards Kara, axe blade first. Lilly only just managed to put up a wall before Haley's blade reached Kara's throat.
"Put the wall down!" Haley shouted to Lilly. "She'll kill you if we don't kill her!"
The black fire started to form on Haley's blade again.
"What's gotten into you?!" Lilly asked Haley angrily.
"I saw her killing you! But, it wasn't you!" Haley answered.
"You're making no sense!"
"She made a deal with her crow thing and it created something which looked like you and Kara cloaked herself in darkness and choked you to death!"
Lilly was shocked, angered and ready to kill at the moment. She drew her own sword and pointed it at Kara.
"Explain yourself before I cut the answers from you." Lilly coldly ordered Kara. "Haley lies a lot but I know when she's telling the truth and she wouldn't lie about what she reads off people."
'It was true I did make a deal with Beltran for more power but the thing he created was nothing more than illusions. As a means to trick me so he can gain the upper hand in our fight and win" Kara said.
She looked at both Haley and Holly. Yet said nothing to them she walked up closer to Lilly. "Other than my death Lilly what is it you truly want, did I ever once try and kill you or your sister before all this happened?" Kara asked.
"What about your dreams Lilly I know what you really thought of me you can ask Haley for the truth in that regard" Kara says as she pointed at Haley.
"I told you things about me, I told you what happened to my mother. I invited you to my house I did everything as a friend and maybe something more which is what I wanted" Kara explained.
She turned on her heel then walked away from them. "If you truly wish to kill me than go ahead, as I won't fight you" Kara said walking away. Not knowing what was about to happen next or that Marici had secretly followed her sister to school and was hiding on the roof cloaked in flames.
Marici had been watching the events and shook her head. "She goes crawling back to them" She says in disgust. The fiery image she looked through seemed to focus on Haley. Marici then cast both 'Soul Burn and Betrayal' Upon Haley this would increase her hatred of Kara to new levels. And the person she choose as the target was Kara herself.
"Goodbye dear sister even though I love you, You've done the one thing father wished you not to do" Marici said with a laugh.
Kara went about her blatant lying, in all the girls' eye.
"Point 1: If he wanted to gain the upper hand, why did you go about it? That would suggest that he did it and your natural response, if he wanted to gain the upper hand, would be to ignore it but you seemed rather happy doing it." Haley answered coldly. "Point2: You tried to kill Lilly a little while ago, twice! You also tried to kill us back at the park and you seemed rather happy beating us about in your duels. If you really liked us you would never have done that. Point 3: Dreams are no reflection of a person's soul. They are random pictures and scenes experienced prior to sleep which just happen to stick in a person's' mind and form into an incoherent random picture sequence. Point 4: How do we know that's the truth? You could have been lying through your teeth like you're doing now in hopes of getting on our side so you can kill us easily." Haley continued.
"In short, you're nothing more than a lying sack of- " Holly tried to say.
"Why would we want to give you an easy death? You've caused us enough suffering and you deserve the same!" Lilly cut Holly off.
Spells went off. Holly and Lilly sensed them but Haley was oblivious. Being the brunt of the spells, they hit Haley and caused her to lose all her cool. She bounded off after Kara but was cut off by Lilly trapping her in a flame sphere. Lilly called the sphere back and Holly dispelled the effects of the mind control.
"So the misguided siscon has come to school?" Lilly asked herself as she traced the magical helix back to Marici's. "Be careful. Keep your mind closed and free from negative thoughts." She told her sisters.
"Mind control?" Haley asked, still not knowing what had come over her.
"The very same thing she tried yesterday." Holly answered with a nod.
Kara listened to everything all the girls had said.
"Answer 1: I tried to resist at first but in all I gave into as I was feeling angry and betrayed I wanted to lash out and I did just that and to tell the truth I did feel happy about it at the time" Kara answered. "Answer 2: That was before I became friends we you all and the second was because I was angry, in the duels I was happy because I was having fun and fighting you guys was a challenge. Answer 3: So, you're telling me when we entered Lilly's dream world together Haley and everything we saw were just random scenes and pictures and Lilly really didn't want me to dominate her?" Kara asked. "Answer 4: I would never lie about that it was all the truth but that's for you three to find the answer to" Kara replied.
When Holly said she was nothing more than a lying piece of shit Kara wanted nothing more than to. Backhand her across the room and make her eat those words. But as she shielded her emotions and other matters from the three they'd never know it.
"Because since I know all the answers I just gave you a moment ago. You won't believe so I'm left with one option left Lily Sera I challenge you to a..." Kara says but her words are cut off when she sees Haley charge forward towards her.
"What's the meaning of this I came here to talk and you sick Haley on me when my guard was lowered!" Kara snapped.
She then saw as Haley came to and Lilly mention something about Marici and mind control. She then located Marci's magical helix and slowly put things together.
"Damn her" Kara said to herself.
"Lilly Sera please report to the arena stage your match begins in one minute" A female voice rang out over the speakers.
Lilly didn't really understand anything which Kara replied with. What dream world? What kind of things did Kara and Haley see? When did they enter? HOW did they enter?
After everything else, it was now time for the duel, which Lilly completely forgot about.
"Damn, I forgot I have to fight her!" Lilly said to herself as she ran off towards the Arena.
Lilly arrived just in time to arrive on stage and see Yukina standing there looking rather egotistical.
"Perfect. We have an audience to see you getting your ass handed to you!" Lilly taunted Yukina.
"I see you don't understand ask Haley because you will only think I'm lying to you" Kara told her. Before she walked away from the group.
Yukina was annoyed at having to wait so long for Lilly to show up who finally did.
"Going to wet yourself in fear again?" Yukina taunted back.
A voice rang out among the crowd.
"Both shall have 30 mana shields small attacks will count as 1 loss and big attacks will count as 2 shield losses. This is the first of what we hope to be many a fight" The voice replied which was the same voice which called Lilly to the arena.
"We also in the next few days will be hosting a team tournament where our young rank members will. Have a chance to team up with a more experienced member and form a team. Whoever wins this tournament will get a reward of 10,000 CP"
"You must be joking." Lilly laughed. "I'm not backing out of a chance to knock you down!"
The rules were stated and an announcement for a upcoming tournament was given. The thought of it didn't really interest Lilly that much but she decided that she'd go for it as it would provide a good experience for her sisters. Nothing beats fighting in real combat to prepare for a potential ranking match in the future.
"So, who starts?" Lilly asked.
"Well, you're welcome to try and I shall begin" Yukina called out.
The thought of entering this upcoming tournament meant she'd have another chance to beat. Lilly done if she were to enter but having an extra 10,000 Cp would help her for her next ranked match.
A white dome was then formed over the stage where both Lilly and Yukina were. They were both transported to a vast deserted yet ruined city. Which just happened to be a copy of their very own town,
A small light rain began to fall over the entire area the rain was a light sprinkle at first. Yet ever so slowly the sprinkle turned into a light rain and then that of a heavy down pour. Overhead a small cry was heard from within the pouring rain. Another small cry was heard and then another was heard. The cried began louder and louder as the very rain itself seemed to turn into icy crystals that fell upon the ground and shattered into pieces.
The icy remains began to form into several large ice crystal dragons. They roared a challenge and flapped their icy wings and took to the sky. They flew around the small figure upon the ground who opened their hands and a rather small icy crystal phoenix was formed. It was a clear blue colour and flapped its long wings and took to the sky. A single cry escaped its beak while as it flew through the air small ice crystals fell from its tail to land on the ground forming ever tiny icy trees.
The very ice dragons themselves then seemed to burst apart in a shower of icy snow that fell and sparkled in the morning sunlight. As the icy snow fell upon her body she welcomed the water as if were a blessing. She rose a arm and the icy phoenix soon landed upon her right arm. She reached up and gave its head a small pet.
"So, my pet we shall have our fun" She said in a voice that was bitter sweet.
Black locks cascade to her lower back. While her bangs drop to her shoulders speaking of eyes, she has cold black eyes that glow an eerie yellow. Her eyelashes are neatly carved, and her thin, curved eyebrows fit perfectly on her beautiful face. A small, sharp and well-formed nose and thin, pinkish lips completed her beautiful face she wears a pair of violet earrings on her ears; the earrings are in the shape of a single crystal.
Around her neck rested a small blue crystal said to have been carved out of diamond. Upon both her shoulders were. Chrome and silver metal shoulder guards stretching down to the middle
of the upper arm, light and versatile with ease of movement which defies their looks. She wears a glove upon her left hand that is black in colour and has a few runes inscribed upon it; however, upon her right hand she wears a gauntlet that holds an ancient rune upon it, The gauntlet is adorned with one inch spikes between each knuckle and a pentagram upon the back of the gauntlet.
Behind her back is a small black a silver cape. It's made of a single strong material that was created by ancient water mystics in ages past. It's said that the cape can be used as a weapon if she so wishes it.
Small black and silver armour covers her torso yet only seems to covers her large breasts. Leaving her flat and toned stomach bare. A pair of crystal blue silk panties covers her crotch area. It hugs her tightly and her mound can clearly be seen. Along with the outline of her sacred treasure.
On both her legs are a pair of thigh-high silver boots. The boots are in the shape of armour that was enchanted with spells to increase her movement speed.
She started to move both her arms around in a complex pattern the icy trees break apart and fill. The air with small snowflakes they fly around in a display of beautiful colour. They burst apart in a shower of icy shards that then fall to the ground. Yet as the rain kept on falling on her little droplets ran down her skin like little streams of water. They slowly made their way between her breasts and down to her panties forming a small water spot before looking like they were soaked.
"How flashy." Lilly flatly stated, unimpressed by the waste of time which that transformation took. "That'll score you points in coliseum matches but I don't think this applies here."
Lilly sighed and changed her outfit. She used her plume of fire to melt the ice around her and create a huge mist of evaporated water to mask her presence. Not really that keen on messing around and looking good, she used the mist to perform a surprise attack. Still cloaked in it, she flashed forward and quickly performed a three hit combo. Her first slash was aimed at Yukina's right side, her second was aimed at Yukina's left and the final one was a double overhead slash with both swords.
Little did Lilly know that Yukina was able to track her in the mist, Though she couldn't fully track her. Yukina dodged to the side to avoid the first attack, Then felt a strike against her left side but jumped backwards to avoid the double slash. She reached down and pulled her single sword from its sheath. She ran her hand along the length of the blade and slashed down. Sending a wave of water shooting off a Lilly.
Lilly managed to get the first strike in but knew she should not underestimate Yukina. After having her downward slash evaded, Lilly quickly jumped back just in time to see a wave of water being launched at her. She slashed the wave in half but the water still managed to splash her a little. Her shield fizzled in response.
Knowing now that close combat would most likely case her to be blasted by water, Lilly shot a large fireball towards Yukina.
With the large fireball coming towards her Yukina decided to try one of her new spells out. "Frozen Dragon's Stardust Reversal" Yukina cast a unique counter spell that one is able to use. Yukina is able to freeze most incoming spells where it will become a solid block of ice. Yuknia can then make the block of ice unleash a flurry of icy shards as a counterattacks; these shards will then cut the opponent with a great amount of fierceness. A wave of ice shards shot back at Lilly.
Not expecting her own attack to be knocked back like that, Lilly only just managed to summon up a wall big enough to melt the majority of the ice but 10 shards managed to break through before the barrier was formed and crash into Lilly's shield. Having lost a third of her total shield strength in one attack, Lilly knew this battle was not in her favour.
Knowing now that resistance was mostly futile, Lilly decided to put up some of a fight to make it official. She thrust both of her swords into the ground in front of her and set them alight. From the flames of the swords, Lilly created a fire sword blade barrier.
The fight seemed to be going in her favor. Yukina knew the could try and finish Lilly off by going into her new spirit unison. But didn't want to just yet she planned to save that ace in the hole for later when she needed it. Seeing as Lilly created some sort of fire sword blade barrier Yukina held off attacking her.
The blade barrier was complete and 12 swords circled Lilly. Until all twelve of these swords were taken down by either attacks or spells, they will remain around Lilly. Any unit which came within melee range of Lilly would take the damage from the swords as they orbited her. These could not be countered as they are incorporeal until they are either struck or have struck a unit.
Yukina did not make any attempt at combat since her counter. Lilly assumed she was basking in her glory. Instead of putting up a focused resistance. Lilly held her action and slowly made her way towards Yukina. She knew it was a foolish move but she placed faith in her barrier.
"Is that all you can do?" Yukina taunted as she saw the swords encircling Lilly. There was 12 of them in total she looked up into the sky. "Rain" She enchants this using these words: "You who crosses between sky and earth, gently flowing water, gather in my hand and give me thy power rain " First small droplets of water rain down from the sky after each minute it gets heavier and heavier until it would become a vicious storm like weather.
As the rain fell it wouldn't harm Lilly but she directed the rain at Lilly's sword barrier hoping to take them out.
"Couldn't you have picked better weather conditions?" Lilly sighed. "Thankfully, I've come prepared."
Lilly clicked her fingers and a small orb of fire appeared above her head. The fire orb soon intensified its glow before it became a mist which cloaked Lilly. The rain around her hit into the mist and was evaporated. The blade barrier was still intact as a simple rainstorm wouldn't hurt it.
"Let's kiss and makeup." Lilly said with a smile as she reached Yukina. She then placed her arms around her and held her in a tight hug. The blade circling Lilly would now hit into Yukina until they were all gone or until the grapple was broken.
"Is that all you can do?" Yukina asked.
She lost sight of Lilly inside of another mist only to then feel her grab onto her. She then felt as some of the blades around Lilly started to strike her. "Hey, let go of me" Yukina cried out as she tried to free her, Two more blades struck Yukina. "Freeze" Yukina cast. While the spell is in effect she can conjure another spell with the incantation " Oh heavenly rain waiting upon the heavens tear thy sky and open them wide, make it Freeze" the droplets become large shards of ice and it becomes a blizzard or a hail like situation where in every shard is directly focused on the opponent. It is difficult to avoid.
Yet this spell wasn't aimed at Lilly it was aimed at her fire blades the shards struck six of them. Destroying them and leaving six left. "I must thank you now for being this close to me" Yukina says, "Frozen Dragon's Blooming Ice Lotus" Yukina will placed both of her hands on Lilly's sides, making sure to have a good grip around said area. They will then coat her sides in a thin layer of ice; this ice will then began to feed of the magic around it, allowing the ice to spread more along the opponent's body, restricting their movements to the point where they ail be unable to move at all. This spell can also cause frostbite if the opponent is exposed to the ice for too long; they can escape this spell if they produce enough heat to cause the ice to melt.
Lilly's plan worked but now she was in quit the disadvantaging position. She knew what she had to do now. Some of the ice shards hit Lilly, totalling at around 5, before she managed to pull off her next move to melt both the ice forming on her and damage her opponent.
"Sharing body heat has been known to fight the cold but I've got a better plan." Lilly answered with a smile. "Inferno!"
A plume of fire erupted around Lilly and cloaked both her and Yukina in the flames, if Yukina failed to resist the grapple and break out to further than five foot.
Yukina let go of Lilly but still felt herself being grappled by her. She knew of a way to get out of this but she wasn't doing that yet. She then felt a plume of fire erupt around her. "Ice Dragon's Scales" Yukina quickly cast. As the surrounding climate begins its inevitable decline in temperature due to continued use of Yukina's spells, the strength of any of her later spells continue to increase to the point that armor composed from ice begins to form. These collections of ice are initially most prominent on the lower portion of her arms and entire back but these formations soon progress to the rest of her body as the fight drags on. This armor is able to take multiple hits from an opponent and can even start to cause an opponent who maintains contact for too long to begin freezing.
Yet the armour didn't form fast enough and Yukina felt herself being burned alive. She felt herself get hit three times.
After the heated hug, Lilly pulled off from Yukina before her armour formed.
"A little love never hurt but I think it melted your frozen heart a little too much." Lilly taunted.
Lilly disengaged 10 feet with a backflip and drew her blades from the floor. They were still alight.
The armor was still around Yukina though some or it had melted a little. She knew she'd have to do something about Lilly's movements so she knew what she would so, "Double Wave" Yukina swipes both of her hands toward each other, her right hand over her left hand, creating two waves that come at the target from both sides, engulfing it in water and restraining its movements.
"You're actually better than I thought you'd be"
Seeing the waves coming at her, Lilly jumped and air hiked above them so they just crashed into one another.
"I've not actually done much. You've pretty much got me trapped with counters." Lilly answered. "I've just got lucky so far."
Lilly began to form the fires of her blades into a miniature lizard. The flames gradually got bigger.
"Yet I'm also surprised you can keep up with me" Yukina answered back.
She decided not to attack this round but Kneeled down and started breathing hard. In attempts to get Lilly to think that she was weakening yet Yukina had a plan for her next attack.
Lilly was not fooled by the act. She knew she hadn't hit Yukina that much and the shield should have prevented any real damage to each combatant so it was most definitely and act to cause her to drop her guard.
Lilly continued to channel fire into her tiny lizard, which soon became the size of a crocodile before starting to fill out a little more.
Yukina got up to her feet and pointed both hands at Lilly. "Water Nebula" Yukina cast two waves of water rush up to Lilly and tried blasting her in the air with tremendous force. She then looked at the fire lizard that was still forming. "Cascada": Yukina launches a rushing surge of water at her enemy. Which was the fire lizard the torrent of high pressure water is large enough to cover several town blocks.
The forming Crocodile appeared to block all of the water fired at Lilly and a roar of anger was heard a little while later as the Crocodile grew wings and increased in size. It was still a long creature but it had much more bulk to it. The crocodile shape changed into that of a sleek salamander.
"Not a good idea to shoot water at a fire dragon, you know." Lilly said with a malicious grin. "Especially when the water is nothing more than a speck of rain to it."
The Dragon grew in size and looked more like a Chinese dragon now.
"Dragon Surge!" Lilly said as she slashed the blades forward and let the dragon free. The Dragon shot forth from the blades and headed straight for Yukina to perform a constriction and flame bath. The dragon itself was cloaked in pure fire and emanated a heat which rivalled that of a furnace for melting metal.
It seemed that the water she cast upon the Crocodile was just blocked by it and it then grew wings. It seemed to be turning into a dragon. "Is that the best you can come up with a dragon?" Yukina says."Frozen Dragon's Woven-Ice Wall" Yukina cast a defensive spell. Yukina will place the palm of her hands on the ground and cause a massive wall of ice to sprout out of the ground. This wall is able to come out fast, allowing the user to defend against attacks quickly. This wall is incredibly durable and solid, standing up to devastating attacks without breaking.
The dragon slammed into the ice wall she had created. And even though the wall was said not to melt it started to do just that. Yukina call forth more power to the ice wall.
The dragon provided a worthy distraction for Yukina as it melted its way through Yukina's ice prison. Lilly quickly flashed up to Yukina and placed a hand on her chest.
"Explosion!" Lilly cast. A small orb of fire appeared in Lilly's palm before it blasted out in a dazzling array of flames and light. The dragon would be immune to it and it would likely blow up the wall as well.
Yukina was still too busy blocking the dragon with her ice wall. She didn't see Lilly appear until the last moment. She then was caught in a massive explosion as the area around her, Blew up the dragon blew up as well and so did the ice wall. Yukina screamed in pain as she lost a total of ten shields thanks to that attack.
She staggered out of the was upon her body. She looked at Lilly with hate filled eyes. ""Permafrost, construct a frozen coffin and deliver eternal sleep unto this beast Eternal Coffin" When casting this spell, Yukina would spread out her arms to over as much area as possible. Snow and ice would then blow out of the area slowly weakening the enemy, and finally freeze the enemy.
Yukina was greatly weakening.
The Dragon was still up and running and about to grapple Yukina. A Dragon's grapple was a little different from a normal one so it'll be harder to break. Like an Adder, a dragon like Lilly's would coil its whole body around the victim and gradually squeeze the life out of them. It began to coil itself around Yukina as she chanted. The dragon's heat alone was enough to keep it going in the permafrost.
Remembering this attack from the bridge, Lilly knew what she had to do to avoid it. She flashed three times away from the area in which the permafrost was in influence so she would be on the outskirts of the effect. She'd leave the rest to her dragon. As far as Lilly was concerned, the dragon had this battle in the bag.
The dragon was about to grapple her and Yukina knew what was bound to happen once it happened. "I won't be beaten, I won't lose!" Yukina screamed as she closed her eyes and screamed out she called upon her lightning started to flash across the sky and a heavy rain started to fall. Yukina was suddenly engulfed within a sphere of water as lightning struck the sphere soon it exploded outwards and Yukina could be seen once again.
Yukina wears a fancy dress consisting of dark blue, white, red, and small amounts of gold lining and buttons. The dress part covers a red with black spiked lining cloth while the breast part is white, along with the skirt which has black lining on both layers. Behind this is a blue bow, matching a smaller one worn around her neck attached to a black and white collar. In the center is a gold piece. Underneath her dress is a battle uniform which consists of black shorts and garters, allowing her more freedom of movement.
Lighting surged around her body, as she had awakened her spirit unison she felt the power surging through her and laughed, "Lightning Beam" Yukina fires a blue beam of lightning towards her the dragon. The bolt tore through it destroying it utterly. She then looked over at Lilly.
"Scarlet Phoenix's Shred" Yukina creates a hexagon shield out of blood magic, but then, fires a barrage of energy bullets from her shield. Shield launches explosive blasts, which produce a whistling noise similar to fireworks, whenever this ability is used. These blasts also have great penetrating power. She shot six energy bullets at Lilly in total.
Lilly knew that Yukina had been breaking a few rules while fighting but so had she. This newest move was an outright violation of rules 2,3,5, and 6. It violated rule 2 as it instantly killed her little pet, which was considered dirty fighting, and it also used lightening, which Lilly was terrified of. She'd be cowering in a corner without the magic enhancements placed on the pair prior to the battle. It violated rule 3 as awakening was a mode for killing so it could also be counted as a violation of rule 1. It violated rule 5 as it was counted as outside assistance through spirit bonding and, finally, they had both violated rule 6 through not announcing abilities/weapons prior to combat.
"That's cheating!" Lilly shouted as she narrowly avoided a whole array of attacks. Several scathed her and she lost a good deal of shield. She was now only left with a mere 5 strength on her shield.
The judges had been watching the fight and and noticed that both girls had been cheated quite a bit. They talked about it amongst themselves before voice rang out throughout the arena. "Yukina Silvemain and Lily Sera are hereby DQ'd for rule breaking" The voice spoke out. Both girls were taken out of the arena and returned to the stage. When Yukina heard she was dq'd she nearly lost it. "God damn it" Yukina shouted as she stormed out of the arena.
"Knew we'd be found out." Lilly chuckled. "Oh well. Doesn't matter."
The twins had been watching the fight. Once it was over, they went over to Lilly.
"What happened?" Holly asked.
"You didn't cheat!" Haley protested. She was about to start an argument with the judges when Lilly patted her on the head.
"I forgot to announce what I was going to be using before the fight." Lilly explained. "It wasn't much compared to what ice-witch did but it was still a violation of the rules."
"So what!? I still think you should've won!" Haley continued.
"As I lost, it just means that I need more practice." Lilly answered. "It's break time now so why don't we grab a bite to eat?"
Lilly set off with the twins towards the canteen. She was quite annoyed that she'd failed to wipe the floor with Yukina but that only meant that she'd have to try harder next time.
Kara had been watching the fight and was surprised to find out that Lilly had cheated. She just thought it was a waste. Plus she decided to skip out on the rest of the day. Since Lilly and the others would try and kill her again let alone act like bitches again to her. So once out of the arena she flew home.
Yukina was still angry over the fact that she had been dq'd she went over to the judges and paid the 500,000 CP needed, "Great there goes me challenging rank 29" Yukina said to herself. As she was planning on challenging her. Now she had no choice but to enter the tournament and win the 10,000 Cp.
Lilly's fine was automatically deducted from her card and she was left with a mere 24,800 CP. She didn't have enough to challenge the rank 36, let alone the rank 35. She was actually quite thankful she'd agreed to show the girls the ropes later so she could earn up some of her losses. The tournament actually sounded a whole lot more appealing now as that would give her a good boost to getting her CP back.
Break time went by with the girls milling about attending to their needs and the next lesson of the day began. It was an English lesson for Lilly so she was fine with attending it.
Yvraine who had English with Lilly seemed to notice as change had come over her and her sisters along with Kara who she had seen. Always hanging out with them "so how have you been doing?" Yvraine asked Lilly before the lesson began.
Yukina before she left the arena also signed up for the tournament. Yet she needed to find a partner first.
While in class a young girl came walking up to Lilly and handed her a note. "This is for you" She said before walking away from Lilly. Inside the note it read.
"I Kara Ravenclaw hereby challenge you Lilly Sera to a rank match at a time and place of your choosing. Being as you're the one who's being challenged you can name the rules to the match"
Yvraine was in Lilly's English lesson and she seemed rather interested in something.
"How have I been doing in what?" Lilly asked.
Lilly was handed a note by another student. She opened it up and read it. According to the note, Kara had challenged Lilly to a ranking match. Lilly wasn't really interested in that. She already had her targets in sight and something within her prevented her from accepting as well. Lilly wrote, in block capitals, over the note 'I DECLINE' before she burnt it to ash in her hands and blew it out the window.
"I've noticed your little friend Kara hasn't been around lately something happen between you two?" Yvraine asked,
Kara had been keeping an eye on Lilly using magic she was surprised to see. That Lilly declined the match she had thought Lilly still wanted her dead. Truthfully she didn't want the match herself either as she still wanted to at least set things right. But she didn't know how anything she said to them they thought was a lie.
Since she was shielded they wouldn't know it was her "I'm friendless"
"A lot of things." Lilly simply stated. "To summarise, we're no longer friends until further notice."
The English lesson began and Lilly started on the work set.
"Oh" Yvraine said as she moved away from Lilly.
The work set was putting misspelled sentences back together in the right order. And fix the misspelled words.
The English lesson came and went by and the class was dismissed for lunch. Lilly went back to the quad to join up with her sisters and have lunch with them.
Kara was feeling a little hungry so she decided to go get some lunch. She went down to the kitchen to find her sister already there waiting. "Why did you try to attack me through Haley?" Kara asked. Marici listened for a moment. "Because you need not go crawling back to them"
Lilly and her sisters went to the cafeteria for lunch. They chatted about their day and Lilly ran through her plans for later with them again just to make sure they knew what they were going to do. Holly was still not very keen on the aspect of being able to die in the arena fights. She'd already felt like she'd come close to that once before when Haley set the illusionary battle axe on her.
'What if I want to?" Kara countered as she stared hard at her sister. Marici just shook her head and laughed. "Because if you do you die it was Father's orders" Marici stated, Kara took this in was this more revenge for what the Sera's had done to him if what Marie had done was really true and not lies?. "He has plans for you Kara big plans and he doesn't need your so called ex friends messing it up"
Holly was starting to second guess her choice. She believed that she'd be more of a hindrance than a help in the fights. She just couldn't overcome her fear of dying. Lilly offered her words of encouragement and comfort to try and make her feel better whereas Haley just agreed fully with how Holly was putting herself down. She was promptly set in her place by Lilly, who gave her a quick jab to her arm.
Both Marici and Kara argued back and forth about the Sera's and what their fathers plans. For Kara would be Marici didn't say what they were since she fully didn't know. As Kale was keeping them to himself. All he said was that he wanted Kara to stay away from the Seras and train like normal just like she used to do.
The girls ate their lunch and the lunch break finished. Holly and Haley went back to their lessons and Lilly went along to her own. She had French now and wasn't looking forward to it. She'd just read through it like normal.
Both sisters ate their own lunch like normal but went their separate ways once finished Marici. Went to go train once again and Kara left the house to just go about wherever outside she had no clear place in mind.
Lilly read through French class and went to her last lesson of the day, which was cookery. Lilly wasn't the greatest Chef but she was passable. After Cookery had finished, Lilly met up with her sisters outside the school and started to head towards 'Dessert Paradise' for her training plan for the girls.
Kara had went to the park and remembered that this was the first place where she had first met the girls. She walked around for a while but didn't do much she left the area and decided one last time to try them again. She flew towards the Sera house and landed in front of the house and waited for the girls.
Marie Sera was released from police custody later that day.
Lilly and her sisters arrived at 'Dessert Paradise'. They went inside and Lilly headed over to the counter to speak to the Manager. They were the only customers at the moment.
"No new information yet." The Manager told Lilly.
"Good. I've just lost a bomb of CP from a random contest so I've gotta earn it all up again." Lilly answered.
"Foul Play?"
"Pretty much. Anyway, is the Arena taking bookings at the moment?"
"I think so. Only monster battles at the moment. The other Empowered ones are all busy with something."
"Perfect! I need CP and my sisters need a little 'personal experience' with fighting."
"The little ones behind you?" The Manager asked as he looked at the twins. "They're only kids. Are they really Empowered ones?"
"Got a problem with that?!" Haley asked with a frown.
"Yes, Mister. We are Empowered ones. We're still kinda new to it all so we're not that good yet." Holly answered.
The manager shrugged and unlocked a door behind the counter.
"Better hurry." The manager told the girls.
Lilly started off towards the door before she was stopped by Holly tugging at her shirt. She was swaying around a little from side to side.
"Um, can I go toilet first?" Holly asked.
"Didn't you go before we left school?" Lilly sighed.
"Yes. It's just that I'm so nervous about this all that I...um..."
Lilly took Holly's hand and led her into the toilets.
As Kara waited around the Sera manor for the girls to return.
Yvraine came into the 'Desert Paradise' Just as the girls left to go to the restrooms. She asked the manager id she could sign up for some of the monster battles. She waited as he went about starting matters up. So there wasn't much that she could do at the time and just took a seat like normal.
Once Holly had finished up in the toilets, she left them with Lilly, who then noticed Yvraine in the seating area.
"Fancy seeing you here." Lilly said with a small smile to Yvraine. "Any reason you're here?"
"Spy!" Haley quickly cut in.
"She's not a spy." Holly answered back.
Yvraine noticed the other girls.
"I wanted to sign up for some monster battles as I could use some more training, plus the extra CP would help me out as I plan to challenge Rank 31 one day" Yvraine told Lilly.
She looked over at Haley. "I'm not a spy"
"Same reason I'm here then." Lilly answered. "I've also got to run the girls through a few drills."
"Um, Ms Yvraine?" Holly asked. "Can we really die in these fights?"
Holly was trembling a little while she asked the question.
"Of course we can!" Haley cut in. "Didn't you listen to Lilly? We can die! That just adds to the fun! If we die, then we can say we've actually faced death and won!"
"Would you like some help on that?" Yvraine asked to Lilly.
She looked back at Holly. "Yes, you can if you're not careful but it's not a real death you will just be taken out of the fight but you will be healed later. By others like us I'm guess you don't like that fact" Yvraine said.
"I'm staying with Lilly." Haley pouted as she hugged Lilly's arm. "I don't trust spies."
"Um, I wouldn't want to burden you so I'll stay with Lilly as well." Holly answered.
Yvraine explained the situation with death and the Arena.
"Lilly told me we do actually die but we get brought back by other empowered ones." Holly replied. "I don't wanna die."
"I'm not a spy" Yvraine replied again but she soon gave up on it. "You wouldn't be a burden but do as you wish"
"You don't have to take part in them but as it's the only way to get Cp then you will have to think really hard on it"
Haley just stuck her tongue out at Yvraine and turned her head away.
"I-I don't want to be like this forever." Holly answered. "I want to get stronger and braver so I can help Lilly. I don't want to be sacred all the time."
"Lovely chat you girls are having but you'd better move along now. The portal will close any minute." The manager cut the conversation short.
Lilly quickly headed off in the direction of the door behind the counter.
"We'll continue this in the Coliseum. Haley, as you didn't go to the bathroom when you had the chance, we're not stopping for you in the Coliseum. You'll just have to hold it until we're done." Lilly said as she quickly left through the back door.
Instead of going into a back storage room, Lilly and her group appeared in an old Greek style vestibule for the Coliseum. Everything was made from stone and fashioned like a true Greek fighting arena with statues of Ares, the Greek God of War, dotting the hallways and causing their crossed spears to make a small tunnel down into a large waiting area. Lilly and her group moved down into the waiting room.
"Well take it how you want to" Yvraine told Holly as she went over and stepped into the portal ignoring Haley.
Yvraine went into the waiting room where several others girls like herself and the others were. They were sitting around chatting among themselves. Near her she heard something mentioned about Kara who had been doing this for a while for about a month but then stopped. She heard mention of the Rank 30 fighter and how powerful they were.
Lilly signed the girls and herself up for the next monster match. They were told they had 20 minutes to prepare. Lilly took a seat in the waiting area on the stone benches, which were actually much more comfortable than they looked, and her sisters joined her.
"Now, girls." Lilly started. "Arena matches are all based on how good you look taking the enemies out. We can't just rush them down as that's not very nice to watch. We have to make it all look as stylish and extravagant as possible."
"So, kill cool and kill fast?" Haley asked.
"Pretty much, doing it quickly and flamboyantly will earn us a lot of points. At the end of the matches, the points are tallied up and we get a cut of the total in CP. The rest of the cut goes to the Coliseum for actually organising the event."
"How much do we get?"
"We get 70%, they get 30%."
Haley was swaying a little on the bench. Lilly paid it no attention as Haley often does that when sitting still for a while.
"Does this place have toilets?" Holly asked. "Just in case I need to go later?"
"Yes it does but they're almost always full. Do you see the crowd out there?" Lilly asked as she pointed to the circular seating area overlooking the fighting pit. All the seats were packed by a mass of onlookers.
"So we're fighting, in front of THEM?!" Holly asked, her voice trembling a little with fear.
"I know you don't like crowds but as soon as we're fighting, we'll forget all about them."