Spell vs. steel
Yuri changed his shirt and put his boots on. Tara and Yuri went down the stairs and took a few toasts from the dinner hall and left to class.
-¿which class is first? - asked Yuri to Tara while looking at the clouds with his arms behind the head.
-I usually go to Arcane History- answered Tara with her cold voice- you can follow my schedule today and later make your own, in this academy you can enter in any class, of course, higher ranked classes need a recommendation from the teachers.
Yuri followed Tara into the building and then into a classroom on the last floor. There were around 15 students in there. The students turned to the door and stared to Yuri and Tara.
-¡Hey, you! ¡the guy with the yellow eyes! ¡to the front of the class! - said an old age male.
Yuri went as ordered and stepped in front of the class.
-I´m Dariel Kosh- introduced the old man wearing light blue robes- and you are…
-oh, I´m Yuri Velacer- introduced Yuri with expressionless face.
-Guess what, I don´t care, go take a seat- ordered the old man.
Yuri toured the classroom with his eyes and then spotted Tara pointing a seat beside her with her cold blue eyes. Yuri sited next to Tara and close to the window. The lesson started, it was about the long dead elven tribe, the "Arias".
The class went on and at 9:15 am it finished. Yuri was almost sleeping on the seat with his eyes staring at the void.
-Yuri! - whispered Tara to Yuri´s ear.
-¿ What? - asked Yuri waking up.
-You almost fall asleep, you were semi-conscious…the class finished almost 10 minutes ago- answered Tara with her face close to Yuri´s.
-¿¡ and why didn´t you wake me before!?- asked Yuri with a forced smile.
-You look cute when you are sleeping- said Tara with her quiet looking eyes.
-Sure…- replied Yuri sarcastically.
-¿ Do you want to come with me to armored fight class? - asked Tara still close to Yuri.
-Sure…- answered Yuri with a fearsome tone- ¿ where´s that class?
Tara led Yuri through more stairs leading to the roof.
-¿ the class takes place on the roof? - thought Yuri.
They finally got to the top.
-There- said Tara pointing to the academy´s grounds.
-¿ back on the grounds? ¿and why did you bring me here? - asked Yuri with a fake smile.
- You asked "where" does it takes place, if you wanted to go you should had asked me to take you there- replied Tara with ease on her face.
- You really are a piece of work- said Yuri as he came closer to the rail.
-¿What are you thinking? - asked Tara with a cold voice.
-¿Where does the class takes place? - asked Yuri begging to Tara to point to a landmark.
-In the coliseum, next to the dormitories- answered Tara pointing to a huge coliseum close to their dormitory.
-¿ How didn´t I see that? - Asked Yuri to himself- it's huge.
- I'll ask again, ¿ what are you thinking? - asked Tara once again.
-Allow me to spice things up… how about a race to the coliseum? - said Yuri.
- ¿ a…race? - Asked Tara to herself in her mind while she remembered a scene of her trying to get close to a group whose ran away as soon as she got close- ¿ like a child´s game?- asked Tara to Yuri with a shine on her eyes.
-Yes…¡Let´s go! - said Yuri out loud as he jumped off the roof from the rail.
Tara poke over the rail to see Yuri falling as he screamed. Yuri sliced the air as he fall, and when he was about to land he snapped his fingers and some kind of invisible force cushioned the fall, then he ran full speed into the grounds going through groups of students and jumping over them.
Yuri finally arrived to the coliseum out of breathe, he looked to his left, and Tara was already there with no sign of weariness. Then both of them got into the coliseum. Erin was already there, recumbent on a great sword a little bit smaller than Erin whose height was 1.65 meters.
-¿Yuri? ¿Tara?-thought Erin looking on their direction.
A woman of thin confection short black hair and light green eyes was the instructor.
-Yuri Velacer, I´ve been waiting for you- said the woman with a big smile.
-¿To me? - asked Yuri pointing at himself.
-Yes- answered the instructor- I´m Amy Yahori, welcome to armed combat level 1.
Yuri and Tara mixed with the students and the class started. The class was about fight using spears and shields, it wasn´t Yuri´s best subject. The class was almost over when Amy asked Yuri to step forward.
-Show me what you´re made of- said Amy.
-¿ what do you mean? - asked Yuri stepping back.
- Just a small spar with a partner- answered Amy with a sinister smile- Bromel, step forward.
A guy at least 1 year older than Yuri, tall and bold, with huge muscles moved through the crowd and came close to Yuri.
-So, ¿which weapon do you want? - asked Amy to Yuri holding a straight sword and a spear.
-I´ll take the sword- answered Yuri taking the sword and waving it as Bromel waved his great sword.
-Ok, don´t hurt yourselves too much- said Amy leaving the two combatants in the middle of the arena.
Erin and Tara were watching from the crowd.
-This is weird- said Erin quietly looking at Yuri.
-¿ what do you mean? - asked Tara looking at Erin.
-Amy usually matches the fighting partners according to their fighting skills- explained Erin holding his great sword tight.
-Looks like Bromel could be in a higher class- noted Tara looking carefully at Bromel and his evil face.
-He could…¿what is Amy thinking? - thought Erin looking deeply into Amy, who was smiling.
-¿ Do you think that Yuri stands a chance? - asked a student to another.
-Don't think so, Bromel´s like a bull- answered the student.
- I wonder if Yuri knows of what he is capable of…well… I wonder how far Evan trained him- thought Amy while Yuri dodged one of Bromel´s slashes.
Bromel quickly took the lead on the fight as he tried to slice and smash Yuri with powerful attacks. Even if Yuri dodged an attack and tried to respond he had stop the attack and dodge in order to avoid Bromel´s sword.
-¡he´s way too strong! - thought Yuri blocking an attack.
They locked swords, then Bromel stepped back and Yuri almost fall, in that precise moment Bromel hit Yuri on the stomach with the knee. Bromel was so strong that the attack lifted Yuri from the ground and left him there.
-¡You don´t stand a chance! - claimed Bromel.
Yuri got up with a face more serious and calmed, but over all with those cat-like crimson eyes.
-Maybe he DOES stands a chance- thought Amy smiling at Yuri.
Yuri started to attack and block instead of running away.
-¿¡ you think yourself too good, huh!? – Asked Bromel in an occasion when they locked swords again. But Yuri didn´t answer, which only upset Bromel even more.
-it´s normal that Yuri doesn´t speaks, it's his first fight like that I can tell-thought Amy with a smile on her face.
-There´s something different about Yuri- commented Erin looking at the sudden change on Yuri´s behavior.
-He´s more…direct- said Tara.
Bromel performed a descending cut, and even though Yuri blocked it Bromel´s strength was bigger and the attack drilled through Yuri´s defense and cutting on his left cheek.
Amy stopped the fight announcing Bromel as victor. Yuri´s eyes went back to normal and his friend went over to see him.
-not bad…not bad at all- whispered Amy.
Erin looked over and managed to see Amy smiling.
-Yuri, ¿ are you all right? - asked Erin.
-yeah, ¿how did I perform? - asked Yuri back.
-Quite well- answered Tara helping Yuri to get back on his feet- I´m heading over to Spells 1, ¿ want to come with me?- asked Tara.
-Sure, ¿ Erin, want to join? - asked Yuri to Erin but he replied saying that he would stay for another lesson.
Yuri and Tara left the coliseum.
As soon as both of them were out of range Erin went over to Amy.
-Professor, when Yuri got up from Bromel´s attack there was something different about him. I know what I saw and I know you wanted it to happen, you were expecting it, that´s why you matched him with Bromel- said Erin with a serious face- but I want to know what was that change.
-Those are very strong assumptions- answered Amy with a serene face- you know what, I can´t talk about those themes with you, but if you prove to have a slight clue of what happened I will give you a small clue.
Back on the academy building, Tara and Yuri got to a big classroom on the second floor.
-¡Yuri! - said a familiar voice.
-¿How many persons know I´m in this school? - thought Yuri looking for the one who called him.
It was Evangeline, with her typical innocent smile.
-I´m glad you decided to join us- said Evangeline with open arms.
-Yeah, me too- answered Yuri.
The class started when everyone sit on the ground.
-Today we´ll start with the "fire ball" spell- announced Evangeline creating a small fire ball between her hands.
-Oh, perfect…- whispered Tara sarcastically.
-I don´t expect you to create a fire ball level 4, so let´s start with rising the temperature around you- said Evangeline with a cheerful voice.
The students began to focus and to slightly rise the temperature around them. However, Tara managed to decrease the temperature to -6°c. Nevertheless, Yuri, who already had experience on the subject managed to increase the heat more than the other students.
-¡Wow, wow! - said Evangeline out loud while applauding.
26 minutes later, when everybody managed to rise the temperature, Evangeline decided that it was time to move forward.
-¡ All right! - Exclaimed Evangeline- now I want you to create a real fire ball and throw it to the practice doll behind me, it´s not very different to throw a rubber ball.
The students began to step forward and try to create a fire ball, some of them managed to create sparks and other to really throw an actual fire ball.
-all right, here´s a little tip, looks like you can´t even light a bonfire up- said Evangeline looking to their students quite disappointed- imagine a Sun on your hands.
Tara´s turn finally arrived. She had a couple of troubles to create the ball, but she did and threw it… but instead of burn the doll it froze it.
-¿ How is that even possible? - asked a student confused.
-¿ "winter ball" spell? Classic from a witch from the Cold Wastes- said Evangeline quite disconcerted.
Yuri stepped forward and created a fire ball and casted it to the doll, reducing it to ashes.
-¡great! I expected no less from him- thought Evangeline looking at the ashes.
-Professor, tell us about the "lapse" spell- said one of the students.
-¿Lapse spell? ¿What is that? - asked another student.
- also known as the Span or Clock spell, is a spell that once casted allows the user to slow time for a short time, which makes him look like if it were moving to high speed to the eyes of the spectators, you can even cast it to people and turn them slow- explained Evangeline drawing the image of a sand clock on a board.
-I know it- said Yuri with complete calm.
-¿ is that so? It´s a high rank spell; even cast it at level 1 is hard- said Evangeline.
- I can use it- said Yuri once again.
-Well then, ¿ what would happen if 2 casters used the same spell?- asked Evangeline to Yuri.
- the spectators would think that the casters are moving at high speed, but the casters would see each other at normal speed- answered Yuri.
-Then…- Evangeline was interrupted, Yuri was standing just beside her.
- I told you that I can use it- said Yuri a third time.
And then the hours flew like leaves on the wind.
-Hunger- said Tara as she was walking back to the bedroom with Yuri.
- Let´s go get some lunch, at long at last the classes are over for today, isn´t it? - asked Yuri getting closer to Tara, she nod.
As they were walking back they met Erin carrying his great sword on the back.
-Erin, let´s go eat something- said Yuri with a smile.
-yeah, sure- answered Erin looking carefully at Yuri.
-¿ is there something wrong? - asked Yuri, but Erin said no and they walked back to the bedroom.
When they got to the entrance of the bedroom, they heard the sound of something cutting the air.
-¡Yuriiiii!- said a feminine voice, it was Mefis, who land on Yuri.
-¿Who is she? - asked Tara pointing at the feline.
-You should know it better than anyone- answered Yuri when he finally managed to get Mefis off him.
Mefis was wearing a tight white robe and a black coat.
-Those are my clothes- said Tara.
-yeah, but they are a little bit tight- answered Mefis in complete calm.
- I guess you can keep them- said Tara with her cold voice.
Then they got into the dinner hall had ate a complete turkey between the five of them.
Yuri got up and said he was leaving, heading to get some rest.
-Carry me- said Mefis extending her arms o Yuri
-¿what?- Asked Yuri, but he agreed after he saw Mefis with shiny sad eyes- fine- agreed reluctantly.
Yuri finally arrived to his bedroom and left Mefis on the bed, then headed down to the bath to take a shower. The bathroom was like a huge sauna with a big pool in it. Yuri undressed and got into the water.
-It´s colder than I thought- said Yuri a few minutes later.
-Yuri- said Tara coming out of the water with her usual cold tone.
-¡Ta-Tara! - Said Yuri astonished- ¿what are you doing here?
-¿ would you help me with the fire ball spell? - asked Tara pulling Yuri by his arm.
-Su-Sure- answered Yuri- as soon as you your bath.
Tara got out of the water, Yuri blushed and covered his eyes, and then she dressed and left. Yuri stayed for 10 minutes and then dressed again and went back to his room, for his surprise Tara was already there, sitting on the bed.
-¿ Ready? - asked Tara.
Tara tried to increase the heat, but it was futile-
-Let me help you- said Yuri taking her by the hands and rising her temperature.
Finally Tara managed to create a fire ball, but it was blue.
-wait, that´s not…. - said Yuri, but the fireball exploded, covering the room with snow.
And just like that the hours flew and sands of time fall in the glass. Yuri woke up hugged from Tara and with Mefis on his legs. He slowly woke up his crazy friends and got dressed.
-¿ to what class are you going first?- asked Tara to Yuri while they were walking back to the academy.
-I don´t know, I´ll try if there´s something like alchemy, but would you catch me up at combat? - asked Yuri with a smile.
Tara blushed with a small smile, and then they took different paths. Yuri head over to the classroom on the back of the school. The time passed and Yuri head over to the coliseum. Yuri found with Tara on the way.
-Tara, hey- said Yuri getting close to the witch.
-I was wondering, ¿ are you going to ask for a rematch? - asked Tara as they walked into the coliseum, Yuri nod.
-Yuri, I thought that you wouldn´t come here today- said Amy in a mocking way.
-Very funny- answered Yuri with sarcastic tone.
The class began, it was about curved swords, but Yuri wouldn´t, well, couldn't focus on the lesson, he was too focused on the fight. Just before the class finished Yuri raised his hand.
-¿ Yes? - asked Amy, she knew what he was going to ask.
- I want to battle Bromel again- said Yuri.
Amy nod with a small sinister smile- I knew it; it was a matter of time.
Yuri stepped on the center of the arena and Bromel stood in front of him.
-¡Hey, kid!¿¡do you want to…- Bromel´s voice seemed to fade as Yuri closed his eyes and focused on his last fight.
-¡come on! Think about his movements, remember that his attacks are not very fast, you can do this, just do it, humiliate him…wait…do I really want to fight him this bad- said Yuri to himself inside his mind.
Tara and Erin were watching Yuri carefully with expectative.
-You can use any kind of attack- heard Yuri from Amy.
-So any kind…that makes things easier- thought Yuri-
-Yuri…¿what are you thinking? - asked Amy in her mind.
Bromel´s voice slowly regained strength.
-…you heard me? ¿gnome? - said Bromal in an insulting way.
-Your voice…- said Yuri in complete calm.
-¿ huh? - asked Bromel.
-…annoys me- completed Yuri opening his eyes and showing his crimson eyes.
A dark silence took over the arena.
-¡You are pissing me off!- exclaimed Bromes as he drew his great sword and charged against Yuri.
Yuri watched him and limited himself to step back and avoid the attack like nothing.
-You are predictable- said Yuri to Bromel in complete serenity.
Bromel performed a lot of slashes which Yuri avoided and deviated with his sword, which really drove Bromel mad.
-¡Stop running away and face me! - exclaimed Bromel in rage without stopping his attacks.
-It´s not running away, I´m just avoiding your stupid movements- said Yuri in midair.
-¡ You´re a complete coward, you faggot! - yelled Bromel as he launched another attack.
Yuri blocked the attack with no sign of effort. Both swords locked.
-¡He stopped it!- exclaimed Erin astonished.
- I already know the result of this fight- said Tara completely calmed.
-he´s showing off, just to make Bromel mad- thought Amy- when the one of his kind fight their darkest side arise to the surface.
-¡dodge this! - said Bromel full of rage as he thrust against Yuri.
-¡ It doesn´t matters if Yuri blocks it, Bromel is way stronger!- exclaimed Erin.
-Yuri is aware of that fact,that´s why he´s not using strength against Bromel- answered Tara.
Bromel reached Yuri and drilled his defense.
-¡he did it! - said Erin out loud.
-¡you´re mine!- thought Bromel in joy.
But without any kind of warning Yuri vanished. Leaving Brome puzzled.
-¡he- he vanished! - thought Bromel amazed.
-¡ you, conceited bastard! - thought Amy with a big smile.
- You are going to lose- said Yuri with a cold voice, he was at the right side of Bromel.
- I supposed he´d use it, he did yesterday- said Tara.
-¡I´ll tear you to shreds!- yelled Bromel full of rage while turning in himself trying to catch Yuri.
-Dah- (push, in draconian) was the only word that came out of Yuri´s mouth, and Bromel flew for over 4 meters.
-¿ what happened? - asked many students puzzled.
- of course, he used a Pulse attack to gain distance, clever- thought Amy.
Bromel got back on his feet.
-Come on, Bromel, attack me- said Yuri with a calmed face and piercing eyes trying to incite Bromel.
-no…it´s a trap, come on, think- thought Bromel.
-if you don´t, I will- said Yuri completely serene, raising his sword above him.
Silver light covered the sword and from it a manna sword appeared, staying in the air.
-¿ What is that? - asked some students.
-Azeroth- said Tara very quietly.
.Azeroth- answered Amy quietly- the steel spell "Azeroth", created by Azeroth de Royale, swords created from manna, they do what their caster demands and aim to any close threat…its extremely hard to create and to cast…besides…it costs a lot of manna…it embarrasses me to say it but…not even me can cast that spell…
-¿ what is he going to do with that? - Thought Bromel- ¡I won´t leave him!
Bromel charged against Yuri, then Yuri pointed at Bromel with his sword, and just like if he said something to the manna sword it moved the tip to the massive human and then launched to him. The spell crashed against Bromel´s great sword and it flew through the air and fall in the middle of Yuri and Bromel, the massive human fall, but before he could get up Yuri appeared behind him.
-I told you that you would lose- said Yuri slowly as he performed a slight cut on Bromel´s left cheek.
-¡He won!-exclaimed Erin-¡Yuri won!
Yuri´s eyes turned back to normal.