The dust settled, the clouds huffed away into the maelstrom. A victorious quietness. Kitty knew it. The Zheng had been so smug and had stayed so close to the Wild Rift. Now, even by a lucky miscalculation on her part, it had been barraged with rays and beams. "Shit, I hope it's not dead…" She was holding her breath just a bit that Disco ball explosion had been truly a light show. A deadly one. Her chest was slowing down with every breath and she rubbed over her forehead to erase some sweat as her eyes pinned down where the dome had been.
Speechless.
Utterly speechless.
"WHAT!?" Kitty didn't understand.
Deep groves left and right of that dome deep as she was tall even the melted ground bubbling as it grew cold again. The dome still stood those northern lights in all their calm demeanour like vapour around it. Not even a crack a hopeful shimmer of that shield being damaged.
"How?... But…" Kitty stared at it called already back her Tide Snake from hiding. "It's a fake out!" Her head spun around and searched but there was no other magic presence around that could belong to the Zheng. "You got to be kidding me!" She clenched her fists crunched her teeth, and hissed as her eyes pinned down that dome again. 'If that didn't work nothing will! If I can't even destroy one measly shield?! I-' All that work, the preparation, the sneaking around to get the books without people knowing not to spoil her plan. She wanted to rub it in without her tribe even knowing what she sought out. All that... For. NOTHING.
"Woah…" The boys and girls stared at the settling dust's revelation equally surprised. Some were still on their asses. They were unsure what to be amazed at here. Kitty not getting herself killed. The Zheng's shield unscratched or how freaking skilled Votzaak was to hold one shield up all on his own. And what the heck was Karim doing out there? When had he even taken off?! He was just flying back to them.
Riven whistled, "That's one tough shield spell. Better than yours." He smirked at Votzaak as he eyed that Wild Magic dome.
"No, that was magic manipulation my dear little inexperienced Head Hunter," Votzaak superiorly commented the tone of a seasoned Wizard. "The groves make it very obvious. That is the power of one very old and skilled Zheng. His connection to that Wild Rift is impeccable. He simply redirected the flow of magic from behind the dome and used the same power to fortify the brunt side." He nodded approvingly. "Now that be a Zheng worthy to have in any Order."
Birdy sighed, "Also means it will never relinquish that power to go with any Sorceress no matter who… once it leaves this place…"
"Yeah…all that power would be gone," Blade clung to the Green Jade neckless. She didn't need voice of nature to come to that conclusion. 'Props for trying, Kitty…'
Kitty trembled. Even now not one dent. He hadn't even shown himself. 'You little bastard...' The gap was huge, sure, but it didn't even fight her didn't even give her the chance to prove herself. 'Other ways to break a shield, huh…' Kitty clicked her tongue. She was as furious as that Wild Rift was raging in fluctuating magic. "Ridiculous! You're NOTHING BUT A SCARED LITTLE UNICORN KITTEN! PATHETIC!" Her voice hollered through the mountaintop. 'If not by force than by pride….' She ground her teeth so hard.
Silence.
Only the cooling-off earth bubbles bobbled in the light of the Wild Rift. Like steam, the dome sizzled the northern lights vanishing into a gleam as the shield in magic swirls got drawn back into the rift revealing iron-hot burning orange dots on the blackish fur. "You… You…" A snarling snout as a booming growl echoed throughout the mountain range.
'YES!' Kitty rejoiced. "GET HIM!" She sicced her Tide Snake on the Zheng. "You'll regret ignoring me, you, stupid unicorn cat!" The shield was gone, now she could land her strikes and squash that Zheng to make it hers, 'What a waste of magic and time, but now's my chance!' The winds ruffled under her cut-out leopard top as she stretched her arms wide to muster more magic. "ANSWER…"
With one deep breath dusky clouds of Dark magic evaporated from the Zhengs mouth granting those razor-sharp teeth an extra white shine in contrast. The Orange dots hummed in intensity with one paw before the other the Zheng majestically sauntered in Kitty's direction barely a side glance at the rushing-in snake from the flank, "YOU. WILL. LEARN."
The shadowy ginormous Tide Snake slithered at high speed across the mountain ridge flaring up in more Dark magic itself since Kitty had powered it up even further. A piercing hiss as jaws wide it came down like a cracking whip on the Zheng that was on its slow stroll.
"…my call, DEERBEETLE!" Kitty shouted out as next to her a storm cloud of those aggressive and sturdy creatures formed darkening the sky. Big antlers to the sides of the head and one rhinoceros beetle horn to the front in Dark Magic flickering bodies adorned by knee plating with spikes. "Shut up and submit already!" Kitty let her herd of Deerbeetles assault the Zheng from above in the form of a stampede. 'In an air battle, I have the upper hand with my free hands, heh, and with his laziness, I'll hit every attack.' Kitty was more than pleased that the fighting style the Zheng chose would help her immensely creating so many opportunities for her. 'He's not even using Wild Magic, fool.'
The Zheng crouched down as the Tide Snake went in for the kill. However, before the snake's jaws clamped around him he flared up his Dark Magic to cloak himself. When Kitty's snake touched Zheng's Dark Magic it shattered from the teeth onward like porcelain on concrete. "You're DONE! MISSY!" The Fairy Animal roared and jumped right into the air his tails whipping around and darted directly at the incoming Deerbeetle herd to face their lowered rhinoceros horns that aimed to impale him. He grunted amused, "You should have tucked your tail when you had the chance!"
"What the fuck!?" Her Tide Snake nothing but magic sparkles gone with the next gust of wind drawn into the rift. Kitty gulped the maelstrom was affecting her speed way more than his in the air. 'He can walk on air?!' She retreated into the sky, 'I thought the notes were joking! Fairy Animals only can do that when in a pact! Magic platforms…smartass. No, this isn't over just yet! I have the numbers. Just gotta deplete that cloak. Yes. I already summoned the herd.' She in horror and annoyance watched him amble into the sky approaching her. He pretended to have all the time in the world. Yet that aura, that intended one of a killer he didn't come to chat. Kitty's heart pounded the Wild Magic tingling on her skin and the smell of burned earth still strong. Her Deerbeetles were only moments away from clashing with it. "Answer my call, Ter-" She groaned as her summoning didn't ignite. Only magic sparks at her fingertips. 'Not enough left…shit.' She panted heavily she had used quality over quantity in this battle something she regretted now dearly cause even a simple Terror Wolf would cost her the ability to fly. "…Deal with what you have," she bit her lips, instead, she ripped her hands apart as they burned in darkness and guided the Deerbeetles herd to part.
"Oh," the Zheng continued to set one paw after the other an ever so slow ascension towards that magic huff-puff grasping for straws. "Already out of magic? Now that's PATHATIC," he grinned his fangs flashing through. "Don't think you can run now…" A few of those Deerbeetle copies were still on a direct intercept course. The Zheng halted shortly raised one front leg and extended his claws. A deep chuckle as he pushed his body up onto his hindlegs built up a claw strike high above his head his tails flinging around to counter the weight and in one rapid motion hammered his razor-sharp claws down.
Dark sickles shot out and cut through those deers like butter they broke apart into puzzle pieces with the sound of shattering glass and turned to magical dust just like the snake to join the maelstrom behind them all.
Kitty started at the particles as they got blown away and sucked in by the Wild Rift. She felt her hand tremble before she truly realised those sickles raced towards her. 'Oh, shit… get your head into the game!' Just barely she turned mid-air and spiralled to avoid and promptly was faced with even more sickles.
"Come here, you magic huff-puff," the Zheng swiped his claws and charged at lightning speed towards her turning into a streak of red orange and black.
'Oh… crap!' This felt so familiar, like a little purple blur she knew all too well from the tests. Kitty ripped her hands around guiding her Deerbeetles to intercept and attack from all directions the herd split even more on her command. Their hoofs resounded in swelling noise as they dashed through the sky.
"Feeble!" The Zheng broke hard skitting over another magic platform he created and roared deafeningly loud. His mane and fur whipped in the sound shockwaves that made the air tremor sending even the maelstrom into turmoil. A roar filled with Wild Magic and it wrecked and tore through anything in range. The Deerbeetles on the verge of surrounding him and piercing him broke like waves against a cliff. A repeating image, Dark Magic sparkles like snow before being drawn in by the Wild Rift forming black clouds before they got sucked in completely.
Kitty was taken aback and ground her teeth, "Impossible…how…I reinforced them." Wide eyed she stared at the Zheng sweat dripping from her body in buckets. She had used so much magic so many of her summons all for nothing? 'Did I ever had a chance?! Fairy animals are supposed to be weaker than a Fair! With one stupid roar…' She hovered in the air amazed yet also knew, "I'm so screwed…" Her instinct commanded her to run as high and fast as she possibly could if he got into range to pounce her. Doom.
"I told you, one forty-seven," Karim noted. Yet he like the other grown-ups was a bit tenser or rather on high alert and ready to intervene. This as expected had met its turning point fast. "Zheng's losing it… a bit…" So far, the Zheng was 'kind' and had stuck to the deal he had struck with Votzaak but he hadn't taken well to being name-called.
"Nerrocean, water slingshot. NOW," Votzaak drew his arm back to amass magic quickly 'She'll never escape, urgh, she had to insult him…' If he could, he simply would teleport her out but the Zheng was using Wild Magic in the battle on top of that a lot of the excess Wild Magic from the Rift was scattered across the sky and could distort any attempt to place swapping. 'Boy, that cat is livid, ahhh crap, there's no guarantee that he keeps his word…' His eyes darted to Nerrocean whose Red Jade Tattoos brimmed before he began to turn his body into water. "Vortex-!" Votzaak started off his spell his magic converting into water creating a rapidly swirling disc at the drawn back arm.
Karim knew that spell and directly joined in, "WARTH!" With ease, he turned the spell into a convergence. His staff behind him just like Votzaak had his arm. Nerrocean now morphed fully into water merged with their water disc and they shot him as part of the water disk right towards Kitty. It was mind-boggling how fast he had joined in the effort. "Riven, the kids!"
The Head hunter had his orders. "Fun's over," Riven coursed his Light Magic in his veins. His senses sharpened he was ready for anything. "STAY." He ordered the class he would punch anyone screwing around. A close eye especially on the boys as they had loaded magic weapons.
Kitty raced higher and higher. She had lost her cool, "If I get far enough from the Wild Rift…" She felt so sick she could feel the claws of death that awaited her skin a mountain range of Goosebumps. Her breath staggered. 'I should have won this…' Her heart was racing. Sure, death was a possible outcome that's how nature worked. 'But not mine!' Higher and faster than ever she soared she just wanted to flee nothing else mattered. The air got so thin and cold that her breath condensed.
No matter how fast the Sorceress went he was faster. Zheng was a dooming blur as he shot past her, "And where are you going BABY MONKEY!?" The Zheng's claws hammered down and five sickles thrashed towards the overwhelmed Sorceress as he simultaneously drew on the Wild Magic around them to prepare. In the corner of his eye, he caught the water disc.
"OOOH SH-" Kitty thought her last hour had rung.
"HOLD POSITION!" Nerrocean's arm and head pulled out of the water projectile first as he solidified again out of the Vortex Wrath spell. In all his might he swung his water scythe and activated it drawing in the water from the convergences spell to enhance his counterattack. A water sickle of his own right into the line for fire. It clashed with the claw sickles right before him a truly close but calculated call.
'Nerrocean's crazy!' Kitty had not trusted that timing to stay there was madness! Now she was in a dead drop. She felt the magic explosions.
A giant water explosion as claw sickles smashed into Nerrocean's water sickle creating a massive explosion mid-air of colliding Dark and Wild Magic but some magic got deflected within the Wild Magic haze that surrounded them here and shot out in different directions not much of a problem for Nerrocean to counter however Kitty's dead drop had moved her below his already wide block. "Stupid kid!" Nerrocean cursed he had used the speed to stop right where Kitty should have halted.
Kitty's eyes went wide as one of the astray claw sickles came right at her. 'FUCK!' A jolt through her leg as unexpectedly she got yanked out of the way by a string of Wild Magic. The claw strike still impacted the top of her shoulder but at least didn't take her head off. Kitty clenched her teeth that tingling sensation in her face the warm blood that trenched her top. "Crap, I screw…up…" Her senses dimmed as the gales whipped her pigtails around and her limps and magic didn't react like a shooting star she descended from the sky.
Karim from below darted right at her just like the red and black blur rushed in. The Zheng was way faster than either Nerrocean and snatched the girl away right under their noses. "Look who got a conscience," Karim breathed out deeply he hadn't gone for the kill, but still he didn't leave the proud Zheng out of his sight. His hand was still tense around his own magic staff while his silver and green fur was ruffled by the maelstrom just like the Zheng's mane.
"You're mistaken," The Zheng growled and set down Kitty on his magic platform he expanded while that string of Wild Magic faded. "I couldn't care less about this magic huff-puff. The Leprechaun warned me not to kill her, I simply don't want any wrong interpretations here. I have no intention of fig-" With a hiss, he flinched back as a scythe strike cut through the air right before his face it never would have hit. Still… A lowly rumble as he crouched down his fur all bristled ready to defend himself.
Just as planned Nerrocean threatened the Zheng with his scythe swipe to make sure he would back off without attacking He created so much magic pressure one could feel it even through the Wild Rift's gales even diverting their course. All so he could steel Kitty back within a second, "You got some nerves attacking her like that…" Pleased he held the girl tucked under his arm. "Karim," He hurled the girl into the Werefox's arms with a commanding voice.
Karim grunted as he caught her but didn't waste any time. "Stay nice!" He commented before he dashed right towards the ground where he could see Votzaak's teleportation circle forming.
The Zheng repositioned on his bloodied magic platform, "She ain't dead. Besides you crashed the party. I had a plan. WE had a deal," he snarled back annoyed that Merman was no joke though he had the upper hand up here. Nervously he scratched his platform, "Hey! Don't you dare blame me! She came here prancing around like she owned the place. I have agreed not to kill her but nature demands its pay." His claws scratched through the blood. "…You should thank me she won't be as stupid as she was today ever again," the beast offended turned his chin high but also self-serving. But he never let his guard down.
"Then better run before my nature calls for retribution!" More for show than anything else Nerrocean swiped his scythe at the Zheng again, who retreated with a jump back. Nerrocean raced at him but the Fair Animal simply bolted higher into the air using his platforms to also block Nerrcean's way, "Be glad I know how much of a reckless annoyance she is!" He still was considering to smack that beast. This wasn't the time though and Kitty… well… the unicorn cat wasn't wrong.
Truly pissed off the Zheng roared back, "Be glad, I honoured the request. By nature's law, she deserves death not… this crap." The teleportation circle from the Leprechaun went off below them both. The Werefox vanished with that girl. "Her skull should have belonged to me just like all those other obnoxious Witches and Wizards. I'm playing nice here don't try my patients. LEAVE," his bloodlust boiling up yet he also knew that he would lose against them. He paced a bit up and down that, Merman was more than ready to strike. "Tch. Fine! Do your kind a favour and spread the message. I'M NOT INTERESTED. If SHE ever comes back I'll rip her in half through and through." The Zheng bellowed and with the most deafening roar yet, filled with all the power he could infuse from the Wild Rift, sent Nerrocean crashing towards the mountain ridge ground in its shockwaves.
Nerroean caught himself as his scales scraped against the rock and his scythe dug a grove, "That cat is asking for-" He cracked his knuckles but this wasn't the time and the Zheng had vanished from sight. "… this furball's no pushover…" Even he had to admit. The beast was gone from sight, "Probably vanished up high or is merging his presence with the Wild Rift… Anyways…" his focus switched to the rest of the class if that thing were to pounce at them… he wasn't sure if they would locate it in time to stop it.
"Kitty!" Blade's head snapped around her head trying to find the Zheng. Kitty was safe but they weren't, or were they? "Is it?... are we? Where is it?" Her eyes searched but she couldn't see it and with the Green Jade around her neck there was no way for her to locate it magically. Still, like all the others, she could see Votzaak's tension just like Riven's and Nerrocean's. They were on high alert. Votzaak already restarted from the beginning with another teleportation spell.
"Riven, cover," Votzaak ordered and directly hurried on the next one. "Nerrocean, lookout." His trusty Master gave him only a nod as he created a water circle around them. Which he could use for an attack no matter the direction.
"On it," Riven was more than ready to face that mountain beast luckily though no imminent threat presented itself. The class was a turmoil of fear, agitation and confusion. 'If one of them plays hero…' Riven grinned at the kids reassuringly. "Not to worry, you're safe."
"As if!" Breeze drew on her magic she unlike Blade, Nebula and Birdy could draw on her magic since she had no Green Jade pendant on. Yet she was stuck with having it at hand just like Nerrocean as there was no clear target.
Michael was ready to pull up his crossbow spooked by the Sorceress, "Is it going to attack us!?" He got so twitchy. Everything had been so fast they had no clue what exactly had happened.
Riven groaned annoyed as he quickly pulled the crossbow down, "I swear if you freeze us, I'll throw your toy into that Wild Rift." He was in no mood to have an astray ice bolt of that calibre especially not with water magic from the Merman around.
But before even another student could speak up. Votzaak's second teleportation circle lit up and the surroundings swapped out.
"Report," Votzaak looked to Nabu who already awaited them in the Black Box. He wasn't fazed by the sight of a normal low-level Black Magic Hunter Division compound like the kids who were stunned and staggered. They were a bit slow on the uptake where they were.
"Faragonda will have your head," Nabu deadpan stared at his Grandmaster and Master ready to give an update on Kitty's status.
"Right, gotta bring flowers… note that down Nerrocean," Votzaak nodded leisurely as he pushed his long white hair back,
"Of course," Nerrocean chuckled. "Anything of importance happening on Melody, Nabu?" Nerrocean cut him off from reporting anything further about Kitty.
Nabu sighed at him, "…" And simply shook his head. "Kitty's fine." He crossed his arms as he stared first at Nerrocean and then at Votzaak. He could see how riled up the kids were and their smack talk wasn't helping.
"Of course, she is if you have time to scold our Grandmaster first," Nerrocean smirked at Slayer Nabu.
"So, nothing worth noting on Melody either? Good to hear," Votzaak was too amused by tripping the Winx Club member up and turned proudly around to the students. "Welcome to your first Division compound, kids. Questions?"
"Yeah, where is Kitty?" Julius tightened his ponytail again and asked calmly as Mercury already was growing more fed up by the second, but like most, he still was a bit stunned by all those runes and stuff going on in the chamber they had ended up in.
Nebula scratched her head, "Where's the door?" Lion just shrugged at her. She knew if Votzaak was chill Kitty that maniac was fine. After all, he had saved Blade from dying once in the Desertia hearing and this all felt really premeditated.
Votzaak was so smug, "Kitty's in good hands of one of the Sorceress medical team stationed here. Don't worry, the two Ladies will take good care of her, give them one or two spells. Those were just some cuts easily fixed," He answered the Specialist team leader first. "The door-"
"Just some cuts my ass! Those were deep gashes! That thing nearly killed her!" Birdy disagreed heavily. "That's nothing to joke about! You should have called it off way before this!" Her pink dress by far wasn't as fancy looking anymore with all that dirt and tiny gashes in it from the maelstrom.
"True," Nabu gently took over as Votzaak's attitude made it hard to calm the kids down. They weren't used to him yet. His age gave him unimaginable accuracy in evaluating a situation that it was uncanny. "In the field wounds are a huge problem depending on how skilled your healer is. You should all learn healing spells once you are able to use one. Even simple ones can be imperative. Of course, deep gushes like Kitty's need a true healer with elaborate knowledge of how spells work which to use and anatomy. So, yeah, Kitty," Nabu glared at Votzaak. "Would have bled out faster than you could look without a decent healer."
"BUT," Votzaak fired a bit back, "We had not only three healers with us. On top, we had Sorceresses on stand-by here. You won't get better healers in any public hospital for combat wounds. Not to mention, it was the girl's fault for not following orders. Nerrocean told her to stay put. She moved."
"Like any untrained combatant would…" Nabu strongly disagreed yet knew his Grandmaster wasn't per se wrong. He just knew how catastrophically their teamwork had been back in the school days compared to what the Winx Club was capable of now though the gap had widened a lot between them depending on what they did now. Faragonda had urged him to keep an eye out for the kids since the Leprechaun and Merman were a bit too willing to see the kids' limits. And having someone with deep gashes in the first lesson wasn't all too reassuring. "Was there no way to swap out or shield her? Faragonda…" Most students were just relieved that Kitty was in medical care that wasn't Votzaak and shortly left the two gentlemen to their little squabble.
"Untrained?" Nerrocean growled, "She knows how to fight. Griffin always makes sure of that."
"Yes, in single combat," Nabu held against it. "It was the same back then and it still is. Griffin trains fighters, not soldiers and you know that. These are students, they don't have your or even mine or an aspirant's experience. I know you know that but you got to understand it. You're not just scolding students about their hick ups now. You're training them…Riven…"But his dear old friends simply turned on his heels whistling 'exploring' the Black Box as well with the students in question.
While those three got into a poetic scuffle the kids reassured that Kitty was fine went into exploring mode. After all, without a door, they'd never get to Kitty anyway and it felt like every inch of this room was covered or carved with runes a delicate net. Lion traced some inactive ones. "Wow, so many runes…"
Max flicked against the wall, "Seems like… what's that Ore called?"
"Dragon Ore?" Blade tilted her head a bit unsure this colour scale was none she had seen in Lunarsteel before.
"Isn't that dragon poop?" Seth frowned confused scratching his taint skin.
Max gave them the weirdest side gaze. "Say, what?"
Mercury snickered, "Yeah, but Dragon Ore qualities depend on the metal components fed to the dragon, its race and diet."
Damon from Team A glanced at the wall with his red eyes a bit disgusted, "Yum…" and took a step back.
"Look at who hit the school bank," Lion was more focused on all those runes some inactive others lit up. "You're taking forger class seriously, huh?"
"Unlike us, I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years… Dragon ore has different resistances if I remember correctly." Michael pondered but even now he had no clue, "So, Blade, what dragon?"
Blade stared at him, "I have no idea."
"What?! But you're Lunarsteel!" Breeze was dazzled. Though she got more nervous as this room had no freaking door.
Riven suddenly was behind her, "And there is still something called trade secret." His husky voice in Breeze's ear and got the biggest jump scare out of her and every one of the Specialists drew their weapons. "Ahahaha, you, kids gotta shape up if I can sneak up on you that easily. You're way too slow."
Max ruffled through his grey punk hair as he dropped his two-handed hammer to just one hand, "Gesh…wait… why isn't the lava crystal energising? I'm sure I…"
"Anti-magic runes!" Mercury had felt it too his axes weren't responding as usual and with a quick look around one could see some new runes ever so slightly shimmering.
"Give the boy ten points," Votzaak leisurely waved his hand at Nabu as he turned away from him. Nerrocean gave the poor young Wizard a consoling pat on the head. The Sorcerer wasn't happy apparently. "Where was I, ah, yes, welcome to the Black Box. Every emergency teleportation ends up in such a room so you all better get used to it in our courses. Its main purpose is to block magic from unauthorised personnel and secure or seal any Black Magic that snuck in or to contain infected victims as well as Order members." He elaborated as he finally had time to sort out his hat a bit.
"But the one Blade and I ended up in during the award ceremony had a door…" Nebula still searched for one or some fitting runes.
"Ah, yes, but back then I teleported you into the anti-psychic room," Votzaak nodded.
Lion tried his best to get a knot out of his hair mane. "And a mind-controlled person is fine to have a door to walk through?"
"Yes, cause with psychic attacks there are many triggers being boxed in a room with no escape often triggers mind orders as there is no way to go through with the instilled mission. And most assholes put in some sort of killing fail-safe if a 'mission' is impossible to fulfil. Also, a reason why there were more people there as guards. The Black Box is a trap essentially. There is no need to leave someone else inside here that isn't infected with Black Magic." Proudly Votzaak explained but also didn't go all too much into details.
"So, this, here, is a prison," Seth nodded it made sense still he scratched his hair and a bit anxious tilted his arm checking his blue Paladin armour over somehow that prison thought still made him uncomfortable.
Birdy shook her head, "But denying the use of Magic for a person infected by Black Magic is madness without magic one has no chance to counter Black Magic." The crown princess disagreed heavily with this practice.
"These rooms are really time-consuming and costly to build and are reactive. Not to mention there are cleansing runes as well and personnel on stand-by. It is much more dangerous to have someone try to fight Black Magic when the person has no clue about magic versus someone who is trained in magic combat everyone needs different kinds of help to free themselves from the clutches of Black Magic," Nabu went a bit more into the theoretical side of it his voice kind and gentle.
"Okay…so… how do we get out of a Black Box?" Damon searched the room for the rune sets mentioned but he was utterly clueless as to what he was even looking at.
Riven snickered, "YOU don't." He strolled around the walls as well.
One could hear a finger snap and promptly they were in the streets of Song Wharf, one of Melody's ports, and no longer in the Black Box. The drastic weather change to that of one could describe as tropical and the high stacking rooftops of the port town in the mid-day sun was a hard contrast to both the Black Box and the mountain ridge.
"Well, well, Nabu, get the kids home. Lesson's over," Votzaak already turned around to leave.
The students of course protested heavily, "Hey, we gotta see Kitty!" But the Leprechaun already vanished in another portal.
"That, that!" Breeze huffed annoyed and stomped her foot, "UUURGH!"
Riven stretched his arms, "Ah, don't worry she'll be back before evening. See ya, around!" He sneakily waved his goodbye and vanished around a corner.
"… They will be the true death of me one day…" Nabu closed his eyes for a second but he couldn't help but smile as well. It was good to see Riven outside of danger or screaming for backup over the intercom. "Well then, you got half an hour before I have my shift start so get the souvenir you want and then it's off to the teleportation station."
"Uh, I want an ice cream," Michael quickly stated.
"Yeah," Breeze was up for it, "Nabu's treat!"
Nabu raised an eyebrow, "… Sure, why not." He agreed to the surprise of all. "Come on, I know a good one, Musa always goes there." He was so different from his superiors it confused the kids which made him chuckle even more.
Kitty wasn't sure when exactly had woken up but she did with a pounding head. The Sorceress sat up in the infirmary her clothes all bloodied and one healer pressing some sort of herb compress onto her shoulder while another bandaged it around her upper body.
"Hmmm…." Kitty felt so exhausted but even worse frustrated beyond belief. 'How the fuck could I mess up so badly… how did it even beat me!?' She clawed into the blanket that covered her.
"Please relax your shoulder," Fiora, one of the healer Sorceresses, noted as she was so focused on getting the bandage right.
Nerrocean pushed off the wall. Votzaak had gotten a backup request but one of them had to stay behind. Nabu was a bit of a soft spot but he was right Kitty was young and foolish and was missing a lot of life lessons, but more importantly wisdom. Nerrocean had waited patiently so far yet once the girl was conscious and awake again... "HAVE YOU NO EARS!" He roared loudly right into her face as he approached the bedside. "I SAID STAY PUT! This could have cost you your head if the Zheng had dishonoured his agreement with Votzaak. I had you covered and you went screw it I'm better! Just because we're powerful doesn't mean we can save everyone!" The air vibrated around them. Nerrocean had held his breath back there himself in an army especially their Order people listened, they understood it meant death if they didn't.
"Nobody asked you to! I was well aware, that death was an opt-" hissed Kitty back in defence.
Nerrocean stared at her shaking his head and took a deep breath raising his voice with her was the wrong tactic it would only escalate things, "You didn't need to ask. You're not only my student I'm from the Black Magic Hunter Division we always put our lives on the line to save people. That's the way we choose to live our lives every day." He fell into silence. She was hard to get through. Normally such a person wouldn't pass the applicant exam.
Kitty was a bit taken aback by his change of attitude he was different than Griffin who simply would have raged on, grounded her or would have expelled her.
"Those were deep gashes you know," Nerrocean raised his finger in warning yet not oppressively, "You got off lightly. We did prepare even for resurrection here, the only reason we didn't need to was because we were so fast. WE PREPARED." He pulled his hand back and turned around to give his two healer Sorceresses more space again.
"Tch," Kitty growled offended, "I did prepare, too!"
"Really? How much bigger can a rift go before it becomes unstable?" Nerrocean asked straight forward. That girl was oblivious.
"Not much bigger, it was high level," Kitty smugly answered. Her tribe knew Wild Magic. Sure, she hadn't earned the right to all the knowledge yet but she knew her stuff.
Nerrocean shook his head, "Wrong. It was a level ten. On the official council scale, that means one that should be out of control but isn't because of external forces. There was no chance of you ever winning. Zheng can manipulate Wild Magic."
"Duh," Kitty rolled her eyes, "Any Fair Animal can do that. Why did you think I went for a Zheng? They're the best at it…. Or so they say…"
"Or so they say…" Nerrocean was a bit speechless and rubbed his forehead before he turned around again. Her tribe notes weren't wrong but that wasn't the problem here. "Kitty, you have no grasp of power scales. You only ever learned the more powerful comes out on top. And sure, that's true yet power lies not just with magic but also in knowledge." Nerrocean crossed his arms behind his back pressing down his backfin a bit. "Grandmaster Votzaak had this trip figured out before we even ended up on that mountain ridge."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it I'm weak, stupid and pathetic…I'll never be enough…" Kitty bit her lip and twitched shortly as the bandage was fastened by Fiora who gave her a pitying look. This had been a hard hit to Kitty's ego already hearing it from the old fish wasn't making it any better.
Nerrocean slithered closer and bowed down a bit as Fiora and Chandra were done and left the room. "You're not weak compared with peers; or stupid; or pathetic. And if I would give my life for you, you're definitely worth it, dummy." He knocked on Kitty's head before his posture loosened up a bit yet his tone grew more serious. "You're reckless. Votzaak gathered information you wouldn't even consider to be worth knowing. You just went straight for the biggest badass on your tribe's list. The moment you arrived you should have known you were outmatched and asked for us to teleport all out of there. A level ten rift is no joke and any being living next to one isn't either."
"When why didn't you just call it off!? You, oh, so smart-" Kitty exploded in a ball of rage and frustration.
Nerrocean deadpan stared at Kitty, "Cause you had every second to butt out and give up. What are you four? You shouldn't need me to tell you you're screwed seeing all that." He was adamant. "You're smart."
"Apparently not…" Kitty only avoided his gaze. The words sank in and yet she knew he was right but she just had to get that Zheng the next Tribe tournament was around the corner and she yet again had no bonded Fairy Animal. Bitter she mumbled, "Tch. Easy for you to say… your worth-"
"Your worth? Kitty…" Nerrocean's voice died down before ever so softly he looked her straight in the eye. "Worth is what's in here," he tipped at her heart, "and in there," he tipped on her forehead. "You are worthy no matter what place you make in a tribal tournament. By the Great Dragon how many more crude covens and tribes are out there…" He couldn't believe the crap that came out of Kitty's mouth but he knew from his Order there were many, many, MANY such strange and bizarre outlooks on life and magic.
"Right? And I always swore royalty was the blackest Phoenix of them all. Den of all evils," Karim chuckled lightly as he brought in some water and something to snack on. "You got your own pack, Kitty. You're part of the Joined Track you're not some grumpy loner Shapeshifting W-Sorceress… The most important rule of nature is adaptability. What was strong doesn't have to be the best solution indefinitely. Family is where the people are who love you." He sat the plate down next to the bed. "In all honesty though you do understand that you ONLY survived because of the bargain Votzaak struck with the Zheng?" They needed to get that point across. Kitty was a hot head and they couldn't be there twenty-four-seven for the rest of her life.
Kitty ground her teeth, "…"
Karim looked at her worried, "Please, child, I need to hear it. You wouldn't want me tailing you. I am a Head Hunter I can do whatever I want with my time." He tried to ease up the tension a bit more. And indeed, he would tail her if necessary.
"You'd die starving," Kitty grumbled back.
"You'd be surprised," Karim chuckled before he laid his hands on hers. "Kitty. It's okay to be different or think differently than your family. The fruits of your actions and inactions will show how well you grow and what impact you have on others."
Nerrocean gazed at the young Sorceress, "Karim's right you know. I am pretty sure you didn't go to Cloud Tower on a whim. After all your tribe runs around in the wilderness being all snarly and too proud to ask for help. It has grown out of touch. Do even your tribe leaders know how many there are of you? There are surely more who don't come to that smack festival of yours." Nerrocean shook his head that was a different matter entirely. "You already broke through of that narrow-minded view of what grants worth. Staying with others is frowned upon by your tribe yet you still stick around, Kitty. You're different, you want to be THE best and you enjoy company. You know the strength a group presents most of your summons are all pack, swarm or herd creatures. And yet you also have a Tide Snake. You can have both. Be independently strong and still be part of something greater. Honestly, that is my favourite way to train." Nerrocean smiled at her. "If you think Fane is a pain in the ass alone, wait till you see her in group combat."
"Stop poking the bear…please…." Karim sighed deeply, but he could see Kitty's brain work. "He's right, young Sorceress, learn from and work with your chaos crew and once you have a solid plan, a TRULY SOLID plan, try another time when you are ready to face a Zheng. Find one that fits you, that one wouldn't have submitted even if you'd won. You can't impress any Fairy Animal if you're not true to yourself and don't understand the nature of the one you want to bond with. Why should anyone follow you if you can't even be honest with yourself," Karim ruffled through her hair and pressed the plate with snacks into her hands. "Oh, and show some respect…goes a long way you know. At least if you want to impress someone and try to establish a life-long bond." He grinned at Nerrocean, "Well, then, I gotta buy some pink ribbons."
"Pink ribbons?" Kitty tilted her head, "If you get even near me with that crap…" But Karim just waved his goodbyes to her.
