Hiiiii Yeah so Rogue is kind of starting to develop feelings for our dear Arya
But we'll see what happens! Enjoy! –
Arya's POV:
I got up slowly. I checked the time on the clock. 8:00. Stretching my arms, I tried to recollect what happened yesterday. Right. I had gone and seen Rogue about my stuff, then –
Wait, where was my stuff?
I got up and gasped as I saw my belt and charm bracelet placed neatly at the foot of my bed. I saw a small note attached to it –
"Arya,
Here's your stuff. I didn't want to wake you up.
-Rogue."
I crinkled up the note and threw it across the room. Was he trying to get FRIENDLY with me? I got up and crossed the bed to see whether the stone bolt was in place. It was. Damn his shadow magic. And what was with his eyes anyway?
"I don't want that idiot sneaking around my room," I muttered. Closing the gap between the floor and door with stone, I turned around and snatched my belt, pulling it across my waist. I checked all the pockets to make sure everything was in place, money, powders, herbs; the usual.
After I was done, I buckled it to my waist and picked up my charm bracelet. Gently taking off one of the charms, two swords crossed, I placed it in my hand and gently applied some magic pressure; the charm grew into a pair of double long swords. Shape-shift magic.
I made sure the rest of the charms were there – a katana, a book, a key, as well as some others.
Time to train I thought as I strapped the swords to my waist. I had to look intimidating; I couldn't show any weakness. The day the master had told me was the 2nd time – I mentally shook my head to get rid of any memories of my sister, the first person whom I had heard that from.
I had heard previously that the Grand Magic Games were coming up, and now that I was part of a guild, I wanted to join. It would be a good incentive for me to train, not that I needed one.
Pulling on a rough brown coat I got from my suitcase, I walked out of the room and down to the main hall. It was surprisingly empty. I approached the door and pushed on it. It wouldn't open. I frowned and turned around as I saw the wizard I had met yesterday, Yukino, walk up to me.
"Master says the doors will remain closed until everyone has been evaluated for their ability to enter the Grand Magic Games."
I nodded. She smiled. "Come, we're meeting at the back, where the stadium is."
"Jeez, how big is this place.? It has a stadium too?" I complained.
"Yup." She said, taking my hand and pulling me towards the end of the building.
I liked her already. Why couldn't everyone in Sabertooth be like her?
We reached the back of the building and I gasped. It was a huge, stone, open-air stadium.
"This is where we stage our battles," Yukino said. "We're getting an evaluation today, to see who's eligible to compete."
"Interesting," I said, smiling. This should be fun. We got a seat near the top just as Master Jiemma stood up. I could see Sting, Rogue, Minerva and the rest of the Saber team in the first row.
"Good Luck," I whispered to Yukino as he began to announce the pairings.
"Usually everyone gets beaten up here," she said winking, "We don't hold back."
I grinned, "Neither do I."
"SILENCE," exclaimed the master, "Minerva, put up the pairings."
A giant table appeared at one end of the stadium –
Competitors:
Arya vs. Minerva, Sting, and Orga
Orga vs. Sting
Rogue vs. Minerva
Orga vs. Minerva
Rufus vs. Yukino
Rogue vs. Yukino
Minerva vs. Sting & Rogue
Orga vs. Rufus
"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. Minerva turned and smirked at me. "How is that possible?" I complained to Yukino. "She can't put me in a battle royale!"
Yukino looked down and said, "Minerva arranged these battles, I'm afraid she can. Besides, you're the strongest wizard now, they expects this of you."
I growled as I turned around to see Orga , Sting and Minerva already in the stadium. Ditching my cloak,
I ran down and stood opposite them in the sand stadium. Yikes, what was Orga's magic again? Oh right – lightning or something. Whatever. I shrunk my swords down and then thought about all I knew about lightning. Sting's was white dragon something I think. And Minerva's? I don't know. But I needed this fight to be quick and easy.
"The match begins in 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… BEGIN!" Jiemma yelled.
As they all simultaneously attacked me, I sunk into the earth. Rising up behind Sting, I managed to hit him in his pressure points to block his chi (magic), but I didn't have enough time to freeze his joints as Orga turned towards me, electrocuting me. I screamed and then sunk into the earth again. I pinpointed Orga's location from below and barraged him with stone blocks. I heard him yell in pain.
"ORGA IS DOWN!" the commentator exclaimed.
Rising up I saw that Sting had intercepted me and started to attack me with hand-to-hand combat. I hated to say it, but he was better than me. He twisted my hand, and I heard a snap. He kicked me and then pushed me into a headlock, dragging me to the floor.
I growled. Picking up sand, I threw it into his eyes and then elbowed him. Causing an iron bar to appear from the ground, I made it rush towards him. Upon contact, he flew to other end of the stadium and collapsed.
I spun forward to face Minerva. Why hadn't she done anything yet? She made a hand sign, and I suddenly found that, well.. I couldn't move. Her wave matter surrounded me, freezing me in its power. My belt and bracelet suddenly disappeared, appearing in her hands.
"Well, well." She smirked. "Looks like someone's in a spot of trouble, hmm? I'm going to have a bit of fun with you."
Rogue's POV:
I watched intently as Minerva seemed to have engulfed Arya in her wave matter. Her arm was at an angle, like it had been broken. Frowning, I stepped forward, only to realize Minerva's intention. She did this with all her opponents. Fighting the urge to scream and warn her, I only watched.
It's not like I didn't see this before – Minerva torturing her opponents. But it wasn't fair; she had been placed against 3 of the strongest mages in Sabertooth.
I grimaced as she began to beat her up. Surprisingly, Arya didn't cry out, but I could see tears running down her face, and her teeth gritting.
Arya's POV:
I think I finally figured out Minerva's weakness. As she pushed me to the ground and stood over me, I sunk into the earth and heard her scream in rage. I came out onto the other side and smirked.
"I think it's my turn to end things."
I knew her weakness now – why she relied on the teleportation and freezing her opponents. She hated fast attacks. I ran towards her then, and then barraged her from all sides with all the earth I could get my hands on; stone, dirt, metal, the works. I heard her try to desperately block it, and screamed with pain as I my magic energy got used up. Tears started running down my cheeks as I kept on exerting myself. After I could go no more, I stood up and was faced with what I wanted to see – an beat up, unconscious Minerva.
"AND THE WINNER OF THE MATCH – ARYA!"
I smiled and then collapsed beside her.
Rogue's POV:
She had won. Against Minerva. Impressive. I saw a guild member run towards the fallen Arya and Minerva, and proclaimed they needed medical attention. I froze and then jumped down to where Arya was. "I'll take her," I said.
I picked her up bridal style, not like how Sting had before.
She opened her eyes halfway, and murmured "Rogue…" before closing her eyes and falling limp.
I took off towards the infirmary at a run.