Chapter 19: Courage of the Strong
What does it mean to be strong?
"Kyahahaha~! C'mon, cmon~! If you keep running like that this game will get boring!"
Everyone has their definitions of what it meant to be strong. Or what strength was, or where it comes from. What it meant to other people, so on, so forth. To Nala, she didn't really have an answer to that question. Or rather, she didn't have one that felt right. She knew she was strong, she knew why she was strong... but what did all that strength truly mean?
In the face of a powerful opponent that was stronger than herself, she found herself falling back to that question in the heat of battle.
What does it mean to be strong?
"GOTCHA!"
She snapped out of her contemplation. Her catlike ears twitched, and, with feline grace, she leaped into the air and flipped over a deadly swipe from Momiji and her Phantom Claw spell. She prepped her bow and channeled her magic, notching a fire arrow and firing it with precision. The burning construct hissed as it flew through the air, causing the girl to leap back to avoid getting struck. That's when Cana swooped in.
"Card Magic: Prayer's Fountain!"
Gousts of water exploded behind Momiji, carrying enough force to send her tumbling forward and dousing her in it. Nala landed nimbly on her feet, already in the motion of creating another arrow.
"... Arrow Magic: Thunder Arrow."
A bolt of lightning struck the ground in between Momiji's feet, and before the girl could react, it discharged a powerful burst of electricity. And with her drenched state, it made it far easier for her to become susceptible to damage. The ghostly girl cried out in pain as her body was violently riddled with painful shocks.
Arrow Magic. A magic that Nala personally created herself. It was simple in context, but a bit difficult in practice. She had to shape and mold her own ether into the shape of an arrow, and then give that formless energy physical form. To give the desired effect of what that arrow can do, like create an arrow made of lightning magic, she needed to understand the fundamentals of how that specific magic operates.
It required months of studying, practice, and application. But she cultivated something that she could take pride in. Something she could call her own...
... something she wouldn't have to fear.
'Focus.' she chastised herself and notched another bolt of energy onto her steel bow.
Momiji twitched, and, through gritted teeth, broke out into a smile as her body became incorporeal. Nala fired an arrow, and cursed when she saw the ghost girl phase into the ground, avoiding her attack entirely. She looked around with a frown, keeping her guard up.
"Of course she can phase through solid ground," she heard Cana grumble. "Why wouldn't she be able to?"
"She can come from anywhere." Nala informed, narrowing her eyes.
Standing back to back with the archer, Cana eyed her deck with trepidation. She had no cards that could properly deal with Momiji. Elemental spells could damage her in her spectral form, but that was a temporary solution. She was fast and slippery; and possessed strength and fortitude that could withstand some of her strongest attacks.
The girl seemed like she was just warming up, meanwhile, she was already running on fumes... not to mention her entire body was in pain after blowing herself up...!
'So how do we identify where she comes from...?' Cana bit her lip and cautiously sweeped the area with her eyes.
She heard the girl's telltale giggle and yelped as a claw sweeped upwards in a rising uppercut. Cana stumbled back, bumping against Nala and tumbling to the floor. Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched the claw sink into the ground.
"You've both been pretty fun so far! I think it's time we kick this game up to the next level~!" Momiji's voice echoed from all around the two, followed by an airy giggle. "I'll be getting serious now~"
A haunting wail filled their ears, sending a chill down Cana and Nala's spines. The sounds of faint whispers and screams. Momiji rose from the shadows, black smoke swirling around her form as a crooked smile creeped it's way onto her face. The black smoke began to take the form of tall, shadow-like figures that were disproportionately off. Tall like trees, with thin, boney arms and skeletal frames; thin legs like toothpicks and ghastly expressions with two glowing red pits for eyes.
"Spectral Magic: Geist Swarm." Momiji floated above the monsters of her own making, leaning against the air and twirling a finger through her messy dark hair. "My magic doesn't just give me the properties of a ghost, y'know~? It allows me to commune with the spirits of the departed..."
Her cheerful eyes took on a menacing gleam.
"And use them as my puppets."
Nala's hairs stood on end. Cana stepped back and shook her head in disbelief, the horrifying realization dawning on her; as if someone had doused her in ice cold water. Gritting her teeth, Cana snapped at the girl. "What is WRONG with you?! Using the spirits of people that have already died like that is inhumane!"
"It's not my fault that this village has a lot of skeletons in their closet..." Momiji pouted, "And besides! They're all my friends! Right, guys?"
She hugged two of her Geists, nuzzling her cheek against their faces as they let out gargled, distorted groans. The action made Cana cringe.
"Ugh... why did I have to fight the psycho...!"
"Focus. We'll just plow through them and then take her out quickly." Nala raised her bow, her ears twitching. "Get ready."
"R-Right..." Cana bit her lip and pulled more cards from her deck.
"Now then..." Momiji smiled pleasantly, clapping her hands. "Get them."
The Geists lunged forth with frightening speed. Cana and Nala leapt out of the way as razor sharp claws raked across their skin, leaving thin bloody gashes on their bodies. Cana stifled a pained whimper and threw a card into the center of the horde.
"Card Magic: Wind's Edge!"
A gust of wind exploded in the center of the horde, sending the Geists spiraling into the air. Nala fired her arrows, nailing them all in the head with pinpoint accuracy. They watched as the Geists dispersed into ethernano...
Cana stepped back, sweat rolling down her cheek. "That wasn't so bad..."
Nala frowned. "They were made of ethernano..."
"Observant~" Momiji smiled. "Every living being has ethernano coursing through their bodies. And when a person dies, traces of their magical energy linger. Typically in places that are close to their hearts."
A layer of mist rose from the earth, surrounding them in a dense fog. Nala narrowed her eyes. The air buzzed with power, and a out of dread formed in her stomach. This wasn't normal mist...
"So much ethernano..." Cana whispered in horrified shock, confirming Nala's thoughts.
She silently grit her teeth in frustration.
"As I've said before, this village has a lot of skeletons in their closet..." Momiji snickered, as more Geists slowly began to pull themselves out of the ground. "... which means the ethernano here is abundant. And I have plenty of Geists to conjure~"
She grinned. "This is my favorite part of the game! We're gonna have so much fun~!"
Momiji disappeared into the cloud of ether, her laughter echoing in their ears with sadistic glee. Cana's heart pounded against her ribs as the Geists began to converge from all sides.
'This has officially gone from bad to WORSE!'
Unbeknownst to Cana, Nala was having similar thoughts herself. As her eyes scanned the approaching swarm, her senses picked up a stronger pulse of magic from with the sea of writhing specters. A familiar magic.
She went ghostly pale when a bone-rattling roar shook the very ground beneath her feet, and a massive shadow leaped out of the swarm, landing in front of them. A colossal beast bared it's fangs, looking to be a mix between a tiger and a lion. It's fur was pitch black much like the Geists, but possessed a much more powerful and intimidating frame. It's mane was like that of fire, burning a deep crimson that matched it's glowing eyes.
Cana yelped. "W-What the heck is THAT?!"
"Ooh~! Looks like we've got ourselves an uber powerful Geist this time around! Kitty is feisty~!" Momiji's voice cooed from the dense mist, followed by a series of giggles.
Cana grit her teeth. The magic energy coming off that thing was immense. It was akin to some of the magic beasts she had to deal with on extermination quests, but ten times worse.
She turned to Nala. "We have to spread these things out and make a break for it-!"
She flinched, her eyes going wide with shock. Nala remained unresponsive. The normally stoic and reserved girl had become ghostly pale, her eyes dilating and her catlike ears flattening against her head. Her body was wracked with shivers; and her horrified gaze was focused solely on...
The beast-like Geist.
"Hey!" Cana firmly grasped her shoulder and began shaking the girl. "What's with you?! Snap out of it!"
"G-Grandmother..." Nala whispered.
"Huh?"
"T-That Geist's magic energy feels like Grandmother..."
The Beast roared and lunged at them. The ground cracked under the force of it's ascent. Cana kicked off the ground and tackled Nala out of the way, crying out in pain as razor sharp claws dug into her back, splattering her blood across the dirt.
Both girls tumbled to the floor in a tangled heap. Nala's eyes widened in further horror at the wound Cana sustained. She stammered out a response, "I-I'm sorr-"
"Whatever that thing is, it isn't your Grandma!" Cana said, cutting her off with a pained grimace. She gave Nala meaningful look. "I need the calm and collected Nala right now! The one that Maiya has faith in! The one that Taruko's fighting for!"
"Cana..."
"We can't win this on our own, but we can together!" Cana grit her teeth and slapped a card beneath them. "But right now, we need to MOVE!"
As the Beast and Geist's converged on the two girls, the card glowed with a blinding green light. A dense spire of wind erupted from the card, sending Cana and Nala flying out of the cloud of ethernano and into the air. As the wind whipped against her face, Cana grit her teeth and grabbed Nala and her bow, pushing Reinforcement to the limit as they plummeted towarrs the ground.
CRASH!*
"GAH!" Cana squeaked as she stumbled over her feet, rolling across the dirt and dropping Nala in the process. She groaned, spitting out a clump of dirt and shaking grass out of her hair. "Ugh... I could have pulled off a better landing than that..."
She blinked in surprise when an arrow whizzed past her cheek, clipping her bangs. She craned her head over her shoulder to see it lodged in the head of a Geist, before both constructs dissipated into tiny clumps of ethernano.
She looked back to see Nala, still shaken, but her expression hardened, as she maintained a steady grip on her steel bow. She gave Cana a nod, causing her to smile.
Cana's smile faltered as she felt a chill run up her spine. The air had gone cold, as though she were standing next to Gray when he was emitting his magic. Colder than the crisp night air that brushed against her skin. She found herself looking down to her feet. The grass...
It was withering.
"...no..." Nala whispered in horror, her eyes shrinking to pinpricks.
"What? What is it!" Cana asked worriedly.
As the Geists converged on their location, the Beast stood within the center of the chaos, it's jaws unhinged at an unnatural angle as tendrils of energy were pulled into its mouth by an invisible force. All around it, the grass began to wither and decay; as though their very life was being drained. Its jaws snapped shut and it's eyes blazed with fury as it released a deafening roar...
Vrrrr...SHWOOOOOOOOM!!!*
And unleashed a devastating ray of raw magic power, tearing a deep trench into the earth. Cana screamed in alarm as both she and Nala leapt out of the way of the beam. The young Card Wizard could only watch on in horrified awe as it left nothing but destruction in it's path.
"D-Did it just...?! what was THAT?!"
"She can devour energy... and either apply it to herself or release it all for powerful spells," Nala muttered, gripping her bow and taking aim. "We can't let her do it again!"
"What kind of magic is that?!" Cana grit her teeth and pulled out her deck.
"A curse." Nala muttered blithely, surprising Cana with the vitriol dripping from her lips. "Arrow Magic: Elemental Scattershot!"
Fire, lightning, water, and wind lanced through the air at lightning speeds, twisting around the Geists and aiming directly for the Beast. It snarled at swiped at the arrows with it's mighty claws, destroying the constructs in one fell swoop. Nala clicked her tongue in frustration.
"Card Magic: Explosion Cards!" Cana tossed her cards into the rampaging horde, creating a chain of explosions that encompassed them in a swirling mass of fire and destruction. She flashed another card and pointed it at the cloud of smoke and debris. "Card Magic: Wind's Edge!"
A miniature tornado manifested itself, dispersing the smoke and sending the remaining Geists flying into the air. Nala took some and fired several shots in rapid succession. The Beast charged at them, cracking the earth under its mighty paws. The muscles in it's limbs grew taut as he leaped towards them, swinging it's claws in a downward arc.
'Fast!' Cana and Nala thought in shock as they leapt out of the way, only to be nailed in the gut by it's tail. "GUH!"
Cana felt a rib crack as she tumbled across the dirt. She let out a pained wheeze and staggered to her feet, groaning. "T-That hurt..."
"Didn't forget about me, did you~?"
She shivered, whirling around and using Reinforcement on one of her blank cards, sharpening its edges. It passed through Momiji harmlessly before she was kicked in the stomach by her. Cana rolled with the impact and bounced back.
"Why are you doing this?! Hurting the people of this village! Working with Crimson Thorn?!" Cana snapped, glaring at Momiji. "Are you really okay with all of this?!"
Momiji pouted, twirling some of her hair around her finger. "You sure do talk a lot. You're not making this any fun for me..."
"This isn't a game!"
"Sure it is! You're the enemy and I have to beat you! When I beat you I win! And when I beat you, I'll get a reward!" Momiji beamed, clapping her hands together. "Seems like a game to me~!"
A bead of sweat rolled down Cana's cheek. "And what kind of reward warrants all of this?" she asked, gesturing to the destruction their battle was causing to the fields.
"A perfect world! A world where I can have all the fun I want..." Momiji's eyes sharpened like daggers, the chilling whispers of the departed swirling around her. A symphony of haunting, shrill voices, and pleading screams. "Without pain... or judgment. Without neglect."
A lump formed in Cana's throat at her words. It struck a chord with her.
The image of a man in a cloak with slick brown hair flashed in her mind.
"CANA!"
Cana snapped out of her reverie; Nala's voice washing over her like ice cold water. Jumping away from The Beast, who snapped its jaws shut in an attempt to bite her cleanly in two. She stumbled over her feet and fell backward. That slip-up was her saving grace as several translucent chains whipped past her face.
Her eyes snapped over to Momiji, the perpetrator.
The Beast swung its claws in an arc, rending the earth and unleashing a wave of ether in the form of jagged claws. Cana scrambled to her feet to dodge, but the attack was too fast, she wouldn't make it in time-!
Something crashed into her, sending her tumbling across the floor. Disoriented, Cana blinked dizzily as she was hauled to her feet and dragged away into a spirit. She soon found out that it was Nala who had saved her and was currently pulling her along.
"Nala...-?!"
"We have to move," Nala said with urgency, her eyes frantic.
"What?! But-!"
"Move. Now."
Momiji watched the girls run away with cold eyes. Raising her hand, she summoned more Geists and snapped her fingers.
"I don't like quitters... get them."
Deathly wails pierced the night sky.
X-X-X-X-X-X
"Why are we running?!"
Cana's frustration cut through the silence as they ran towards the edge of the village. Nala remained quiet, which frustrated the Card Mage. She yanked her hand out of Nala's wrist and stopped herself in her tracks, causing the other girl to pause, her back turned to her.
"... we aren't strong enough," Nala whispered.
Cana narrowed her eyes. "So you decide to just run away? Where'd that resolve from earlier go?!"
"She has an army of the dead on her side!" Nala glared at Cana, swiping her hand through the air. "So long as their ethernano lingers, she can recreate them as many times as she wants! And she- she turned my Grandmother..."
She bit her lip, anguish flashing in her eyes as she averted her gaze. "We are not strong enough. I'm not strong enough. This endeavor was stupid... we're going to get ourselves killed-"
"We all went into this knowing the risks. I wasn't expecting to fight a dark guild today, but I'm here! Fighting!" Cana said, placing a hand on her chest. "We can't just give up!"
"I CAN'T!" Nala snapped, throwing her bow to the ground in a fit of frustration. "I can't... fight. I was never cut out for this - how can I fight when I can't even trust myself-!"
She choked on her own words and stepped back, a wave of fear and trepidation crashing over her. She gripped onto her arm as her gaze fell towards the ground. Cana's expression softened slightly.
"... Nala." when the girl didn't respond, Cana stepped forward. "What do you mean? Why can't you trust yourself...?"
"..." Nala closed her eyes and took in a shaky breath. "...there was an incident a few years back..."
X-X-X-X-X-X
X-X-X-X-X-X
The air carried a sharp sting, the crisp morning cold biting at her skin. The smell of morning dew and a fresh, minty scent graced her senses. Nala, no older than eight years old, stood in the middle of her family's training compound. Standing at her side was an elderly woman with a messy mane of grey hair and catlike ears. She dressed herself in traditional robes, her amber eyes twinkling with warmth and kindness that made the girl's heart flutter. Her grandmother, Kaede.
Her hands hovered over Nala's calming her trembling fingers and steadying her aim. "You mustn't tremble so much, dear. You do not need to be so nervous..."
Nala grimaced. "I-I can't help it..." she let out a shaky breath "This is scary..."
"Your magic responds to your emotions, Nala... you must maintain a steady heart. Do not let your fear control you." Grandmother said softly. "Breathe..."
Nala took in a deep breath and exhaled.
"Good. Now... watch." Grandmother raised a hand. Black tendrils of wispy smoke secreted from her palm, coiling through the air like snakes. They dug into the ground and pulled. The green grass began to wither, light seeping into the black tendrils and shining with golden energy. She drew upon it, molding it into a ball of light and holding it up for Nala to see.
Her eyes sparkled with awe. "Wow..."
Grandmother smiled and redirected the energy back to the patch of grass, restoring its life and luster. "Now it is your turn."
"... O-Okay," Nala murmured, taking in another breath to soothe her nerves. She held up her hand and called upon her magic, shivering as inky black tendrils oozed from it. "It feels... alive."
Her Grandmother chuckled, squeezing Nala's hand reassuringly. "Devour Magic is unique in that way. It does not simply take—it transforms, repurposes. If you listen closely, it will tell you how to use it."
The energy pulsed, akin to a beating heartbeat. Nala gasped as the black energy turned to gold, appearing as flickering embers. "... I did it!" she beamed.
Grandmother smiled, "Yes, you did." she brushed a strand of hair away from Nala's face. "And one day, you will be stronger than me. But strength alone isn't without purpose."
Nala tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
The woman stared up at the morning sky, her expression distant. "Power must always serve something greater than itself. It is not about what you can do, but why you choose to do it."
Nala didn't understand what her Grandmother was trying to tell her. But she figured she'd understand... one day. Her Grandmother always gave her good advice like that. It came off cryptic at first, but it made sense once she tackled whatever plagued her from a different perspective.
She loved her Grandmother.
Her parents passed away when she was just a child. She didn't remember much about them. Only that they were Wizards, and set out to pursue fame and fortune. She had heard rumors that they may have potentially perished taking on a dangerous quest.
But she didn't feel much about them. She was grateful for them, being the reason she was born. But they didn't care enough about her to stay in her life. So why should she care?
She only needed her Grandmother.
The days turned into weeks and Nala's training advanced. Her family possessed a rare magic—Devour Magic. It allowed them to devour ethernano, stockpiling the energy. With it, they could then redistribute that built-up energy, using it to make themselves stronger or to expel the power. They could even pass the energy onto others. But they would always need a source of ethernano to pull from first.
But there were also its dangers. Her Grandmother warned her of many that had succumbed to its power. She never elaborated on the details and specifics... but it was ominous enough to send a chill down Nala's spine.
Nala grew quickly. Grandmother told her that her growth was nothing short of extraordinary. She was strong. She was proud to be strong. And she'd keep getting stronger, to make Grandmother proud. To make her happy
Speaking of happiness, Nala was excited. Today was her Grandmother's birthday... and she was setting out to grab her a gift. She just didn't expect to be tailed by her friends while she did so.
"How much more walking are we gonna be doing?" Lance grumbled from the back of the group, letting out a yawn. "We've been here for hours!"
"You didn't have to come," Nala responded with a dry tone.
Maiya smacked Lance upside the head. "Lance, could you be respectful for a few minutes? It's Ms. Kaede's birthday!"
Taruko snorted. "The day Lance is respectful about anything is the day the world freezes over."
Lance glared at his rival with a small growl, "The hell did you say? You mind repeating that?"
"I think you heard me loud and clear."
"Oh yeah?! Let's see you talk crap when I kick your ass, then!"
Boota sighed softly. Nala had to admit, for how big and strong the boy looked, he was rather... withdrawn. "Guys... please don't fight in a public space."
Maiya chopped the two on the head with a blank look. "Enough." sighing, she looked over at Nala, who was walking at the front of the group. "So, any ideas on a present that Ms. Kaede might want?"
Nala pursed her lips as her eyes wandered the shopping district. "... she isn't exactly one that cares much for expensive or extravagant items... she'll want something simple."
"Maybe some jewelry?" Maiya suggested.
"Yeah, like a necklace." Boota nodded in agreement.
"I don't think I have enough money to afford something like that... the stuff around here is really expensive."
"Swords." Taruko and Lance uttered.
"No." Nala, Maiya, and Boota all said in unison, causing the boys to pout.
Huffing, Taruko frowned and scratched the back of his head, looking around. "Okay... then, how about some flowers?" he pointed over to a nearby flower shop.
Nala paused, blinking. "That... might actually work. I think she'd appreciate flowers in her room. It'd brighten up the place!"
Maiya clapped her hands together with a smile. "It's decided, then!"
Nala walked inside and came out a few minutes later, carrying a bouquet of dandelions in her hands. The cat-eared girl smiled, hugging it close to her chest. Maiya clasped her hands at her waist, smiling back. "Dandelions? That's a good choice."
"Yeah. Grandmother loves the color yellow, so this feels right."
"A sword would've been better," Lance mumbled quietly, receiving a smack upside the head from Taruko.
"It's a nice set of flowers, Nala." he gave her a thumbs up and a grin.
Nala beamed and began walking. "Okay, then let's—"
Nala grunted when she bumped into something, tumbling to the ground and dropping her flowers. Her friends scrambled to her side in an instant.
"Nala, are you okay?!" Maiya asked in alarm.
"I'm, I'm fine..." Nala murmured, rubbing her head. She glanced up to who she bumped into, stammering. "I-I'm sorry—"
She flinched. Two men towered over her, wearing gear and equipment fitting for an adventurer. One of them wore a cloak and clutched a wooden staff, while the other wore dented armor with a sword strapped to his hip. Both men were glaring at her.
The Wizard in the cloak gruffly spoke, "Watch where you're going, kid."
Nala: softly, as she scrambles to gather the flowers "I'm sorry... I wasn't looking..."
The man in armor shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Yeah, well, some people need to pay attention." with a scoff, he walked passed her.
The Wizard followed after his partner, nonchalantly stomping on the flowers as he passes. "That's what you get for being careless."
Nala froze, staring at her trampled flowers.
Taruko stood up, scowling with righteous anger. "Hey, what the hell is your problem?!"
Ba-dump.
Maiya frowned. "That was just unnecessary...!"
The man in armor turned to them with a sneer. "What's the big deal? It's just some flowers."
"Those were for her Grandmother! Are you that heartless?!" Boota snapped, clenching her fists.
Ba-dump.
"Are you trying to get your asses kicked?!" Lance glowered at the two careless adventurers.
Everything else fell on deaf ears. She could faintly hear the sound of her friends arguing with the two men that desecrated her gift. The numb, cold feeling in her stomach was replaced with a burning, seething anger. A spark of hatred...
Ba-dump.
Something snapped inside of her. Like a dam bursting, the floodgates opened, and her magic ran rampant. She let out a wordless scream and whirled around, her heated gaze locking onto the two Wizards who disrespected her—no, disrespected her Grandmother.
She heard her friends call out to her, but it fell on deaf ears. She was blinded by rage. The world was tinted with red, and the rest was a blur. She remembered lunging the two, her magic spreading like a plague. She could feel it, absorbing the ambient ether in the air. Searching for stronger sources of energy to devour. There was a pulse of magic, colliding with the rampant black aura that swirled around her. It only fed her power and anger.
Those two men... she could feel their energy seeping into her. It was delicious. The power... this was what it felt like to absorb the energy of another living being, wasn't it? It was... intoxicating. She couldn't get enough of it!
'More!'
She needed to gather more energy... more POWER!
'More! More! MORE! MOREMOREMOREMORE—!'
"Nala..."
Nala broke out of her daze with a startled gasp as a pair of arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a warm embrace. The red haze that clouded her world faded and she regained clarity. She could see her magic running wild. She looked up to see her Grandmother, her face pale and sweat dripping down her cheek.
"G-Grandmother...?" Nala murmured in confusion. When did she get here? A horrified gasp escaped her lips a mere few seconds afterwards.
Tendrils of her Devour Magic had pierced her Grandmother. They didn't inflict physical wounds, but spiritual—she could feel them feeding off of her energy. Nala let out a shriek, and stumbled back, trying to reign in her magic.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Nala cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched her own hair. No matter how hard she tried to reign it in, it didn't work. It only got worse.
She could see her friends from her peripheral, standing cautiously off to the side. Frozen. Unsure of whether or not they should help her or stay clear of the danger. They were afraid.
Afraid of her.
'Monster...'
Taruko took a hesitant step forward. "...Nala-"
Grandmother held out a hand to stop him, shakily standing up to her feet and shambling towards Nala. The girl whimpered, curling into herself and clenching her eyes shut.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Nala..." Grandmother whispered softly, kneeling in front of her granddaughter. Even as her magic tried to absorb more of her energy, she caressed Nala's cheek with love and care. "You must control yourself."
"I-I can't-"
"You can." Grandmother said firmly, cupping her face in her calloused hands. "Breathe in... and out. Your magic does not control you. You control it. Focus..."
Nala took in a shuddering breath. She followed her Grandmother's words. She needed to calm down. She didn't want to hurt anyone more than she already did. She caused enough damage as is. Breathe in... breathe out...
Inhale...
Exhale...
The black aura began to recede with every breath. Nala let out one final breath, placing a lid on the torrent of magic energy flowing through her veins. Grandmother smiled, beads of sweat dripping down her face as she stroked Nala's cheek with her thumb.
"Good... you did very well... N-Nala..." she trailed off, collapsing onto her side with a dull thud, startling Nala.
"Grandmother...? GRANDMOTHER!!!"
X-X-X-X-X-X
X-X-X-X-X-X
The memory faded. Nala bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, glaring at the ground with teary eyes. "After that... my Grandmother's condition had gotten worse. She got weaker and weaker... until she passed away."
Cana stared at Nala in shock as she stepped back and picked up her bow, trailing a finger along its steel coating. "She died because of me. So I vowed to use that cursed magic again... and picked up Kyoudo instead."
Cana swallowed the lump in her throat. "...Nala... I'm... I'm so sorry-"
"It's okay," Nala said with a bitter smile. "This is karma for my actions, I guess. It was about time..."
Cana frowned, placing her hands on Nala's shoulders. "That isn't true, though. None of that is your fault."
"It is. If I didn't lose control-"
"No. It isn't." Cana firmly denied her words, shaking her head. "It was those guys' fault for provoking a little girl. Nobody blames you for losing control. Do you know how many times Natsu has destroyed something or got into a fight because of his short temper?"
She smiled. "One mistake doesn't define you! I'm sure your Grandma would tell you the same thing. You don't have to shoulder the blame... when you've got friends to help with the pain."
Cana pulled her hands away and giggled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "Well, at least, that's something Master Makarov would say."
Nala's expression softened. "...Cana..."
The ground rumbled, followed by the familiar sound of horrifying shrieks. Cana reached for her deck and swallowed the lump nestled in her throat. She gave Nala a cautious glance. "Will you fight?"
Nala went quiet. Staring at Cana, and then at her bow. Would she fight?
Nala grasped at the ethernano in the air and formed it into an arrow, notching it. With a calm exhale, she let the arrow fly. Cana watched as the glowing arrow split into several smaller ones, reaching the tens, to the hundreds, to the thousands—light so blinding the approaching darkness in the distance was engulfed by it. They crossed several miles in a couple of seconds.
Followed by a dazzling explosion.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!*
The shockwave reached them from miles away, forcing Cana to cover her eyes as the wind buffeted her hair. Slowly, she lowered her eyes and blinked in surprise, before looking to Nala.
Nala returned her gaze. "Does that answer your question?"
GRROOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!!!!!!!*
The Beast burst through the smoke,itss footsteps shaking the earth. Momiji rode on its back, spreading her arms out like an eagle with an elated grin on her face. "Hey~! Thought you could get away, huh!?"
"Do you have a plan?" Nala asked Cana, not taking her eyes off the approaching threat.
"I've got one... dunno if it'll work," Cana muttered.
"Having a plan you're not confident in is better than having none at all."
"Fair point." Cana smiled. "We need to separate them. Once that's done, I can handle Momiji."
'... which means I have to keep Grandmother busy.' Nala thought with a grim frown.
The Beast roared and lunged at them, causing Momiji to squeal in glee. Cana and Nala split up in opposite directions. The Beast collided with the ground, kicking up chunks of debris. Cana threw Explosion Cards their way, but the Geist's speed made it so they detonated and hit nothing.
She leaped away when several Phantom Claws shot toward her, threatening to ensnare her in their wicked grip. They were shot down by Nala's arrows, allowing Cana to use Wind's Edge to hurl her into the air—
Momiji blinked. "Wha-?"
WHAM!*
—and directly into Momiji's path. Cana crashed into her, sending them flying off The Beast's back and tumbling across the dirt. Before the Geist could whirl around to help it's master, it was pelted by several arrows. They sunk into it's side, but didn't cause any lasting damage.
What it did succeed in doing was draw its aggression towards Nala. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gripped her bow to steady her shaking arms. If there was a time to fight, it was now...
Cana rolled to her feet and stumbled. Momiji did the same, grinning dangerously at the Card Wizard. "Not gonna run anymore?"
"Nope," Cana smirked, flashing her cards. "I told you, I'm a Fairy Tail Wizard and I was gonna kick your butt. So I'll play your little game - but if I win, you've gotta tell me what I wanna know."
Momiji blinked, before a look of elation flashed within her dull irises and a creepy grin tugged at her lips. "Okay! But if I win, I'll kill you and make you my puppet~! Then we can play games forever!"
A bead of sweat rolled down Cana's cheek, but her resolve didn't waver.
They stood at a crossroads, the world was silent save for the sound of Nala battling The Beast. The sweat dripping down Cana's cheek fell, hitting the grass beneath their feet and sinking into the soil...
And then they moved.
"Heaven, Reverse Death, Mountain!" Cana cried out, pulling three cards from her deck and and channeling her magic into them. They flashed green, and she launched them at Momiji. "Card Magic: Summoned Lightning!!"
Bolts of green electricity zipped through the air. Momiji reacted quickly, raising her hands up and pulling on the ethernano around her. "Spectral Magic: Geist Swarm!" the Geist's took form, allowing Momiji to use them as meat shields taking the brunt of the attack.
They exploded in a shower of sparks and ether. Momiji weaved through the smoke and lunged at Cana with a manic grin. "Spectral Magic: Phantom Strikes!" she became incorporeal, invisible to the naked eye. Cana gasped in pain when Momiji suddenly appeared in front of her and drove her fist into her stomach, causing her to stomach.
She stumbled back and reached for her cards, only for Momiji to vanish and appear at her side, delivering an elbow strike to her ribcage. She dropped her cards and received an uppercut that caused her head to spin and left her jaw sore. A palm strike to the chest left her winded and crashing into the dirt with a pained cough.
'What the heck was thaaaaaat...?' Cana groaned and stood to her feet, watching as Momiji smirked at her and vanished from thin air again. 'This is going to be harder than I initially thought...'
Nala dodged a vicious swipe from The Beast and flipped backwards to avoid getting bitten by it's massive jaws. She twirled through the air and unloaded one-hundred arrows upon the Geist within the span of a second. It's jaws split open, devouring the arrows and causing them to dissolve. Nala clicked her tongue as The Beast roared, releasing a wave of fiery energy at her.
Nala dropped low and slid across the ground, barely giving the scorched earth behind her a second glance as she notched another arrow. "Arrow Magic: Thunder Arrow." she fired. It cut through the air struck the ground near its feet and erupted, generating a blinding array of crackling thunder that caused it to roar in pain as its body twitched and spasmed.
Nala narrowed her eyes. "Arrow Magic: Scorched Rain."
She aimed at the sky and let a flaming arrow fly; watching as it divided itself into several smaller arrows. Gravity took control, causing them to plummet towards the earth and collide with The Beast. Each arrow detonated upon impact, giving off the power and force of a small-scale bomb.
Nala shielded her eyes from the light with a soft grimace. When the light and intense winds settled, Nala lowered her arm and at the smoke cloud with bated breath.
Her ears twitched at the sound of a growl. A pair of red dots glared at her through the smoke.
She exhaled. 'Should've known it wouldn't be that easy...'
Inky black tendrils shot forth with lightning speed, forcing Nala to move as they tried to ensnare her and sap at her energy. As she backpedaled, The Beast burst through the smoke and charged at her, bringing its claws down in a downward arc. Blades of energy tore into the ground and Nala rolled out of the way while creating another arrow, preparing to fire—
WHAM!
"GUH!!" Nala coughed as The Beast's tail whipped through the air, slamming into her chest and knocking the wind out of her. She rolled across the ground in a painful heap as her bow clattered to the ground. "Gaah..."
She spat up a glob of blood, shakily reaching out for her weapon. A shadow loomed overhead, and she looked up with a sharp gasp. She forced her body to move out of the way as The Beast descended upon her with a thunderous crash, kicking up a massive plume of dirt.
She fell onto her backside and shakily notched another arrow. The ether crackled as she packed as much magic power into it as possible, gritting her teeth and letting it fly. The Beast simply bites down on the construct, swallowing it whole. A lot of dread formed in her stomach as it began charging up another blast.
"There's no way I can beat this thing... too strong... it's too strong..." Nala bit her bottom lip and stared at her hand. "M-Maybe if I-"
...
She wavered. No. She couldn't... she'd just lose control again. There was no way she was ever going to use it again! She couldn't...
"GAH!!"
She flinched, her ears swiveling in Cana's direction. The girl was covered in cuts and bruises, being assaulted by brutal attacks by Momiji. Every time she tried to counter, Momiji would disappear and reappear at a different angle. She couldn't keep up.
She had to help, but... but—
She stared at the sphere of light forming in The Beast's jaws.
She couldn't even handle something like this. Every time she thought of using that power, she froze up. Cana was fighting for her life, for a cause she had no reason to be in. She was giving it her all...
Why couldn't she?!
X-X-X-X-X-X
X-X-X-X-X-X
Days passed. Then weeks. Nala refused to use magic again. Her Grandmother's vitality seemed to lessen. They'd already been visited by doctors... it was something that could not be cured with traditional medicine. It was as though something was eating away at not just her magic - but her life.
Nala knew the reason. It was because of her. Devour Magic was just that. It devoured. Energy. Life... an endless, neverending hunger. And it was eating away at her Grandmother from the inside.
Despite this, her Grandmother remained unperturbed. As though she didn't care that her life was fading. Even when she grew weak, she appeared so strong... so composed. She never blamed her for her condition. Not once.
That only made Nala feel worse. The guilt gnawed at her, threatening to swallow her whole.
Then, one evening, she approached her Grandmother, who sat on their porch, gazing at the stars.
"I don't want to use it anymore," Nala said quietly.
There was a beat of silence.
The old woman sighed, nodding as if she had expected this. "Then what will you do?"
Nala clenched her fists. "I'll find another way to be strong. A way that doesn't hurt anyone."
Her grandmother studied her for a long time before finally smiling. "Then I will support you."
Nala blinked. "You're not mad?"
"No, child. Because true strength is not in magic alone." She tapped Nala's chest. "It is in here. And you must walk your own path."
Nala felt tears well up in her eyes. "G-Grandmother..."
"You are a strong girl, Nala... and one day, I hope that you can overcome this fear, this guilt." Kaede cupped her granddaughter's face in her hands delicately, wiping away the tears with her thumbs. "And when that day comes... you can use that power to protect. Not harm."
X-X-X-X-X-X
X-X-X-X-X-X
The sudden memory faded, causing Nala to blink and her stomach to twist into knots. As she stared at the terrifying aberration of her Grandmother's essence, Nala found herself asking that same question once more.
What does it mean to be strong?
Cana's words echoed through her ears.
"One mistake doesn't define you! I'm sure your Grandma would tell you the same thing. You don't have to shoulder the blame... when you've got friends to help with the pain."
And then her Grandmother's.
"You are a strong girl, Nala... and one day, I hope that you can overcome this fear, this guilt. And when that day comes... you can use that power to protect. Not harm."
"What does strength mean to me..." Nala murmured slowly, the words heavy on her tongue as she grabbed her bow and stood on shaky legs. "...I don't really know myself, but..."
She raised her bow and created another arrow, notching it on the drawstring. Then, she dug deeper. The sounds of battle were drowned out by silence. She was no longer in a field fighting for her life but in darkness.
The foundation of Arrow Magic came from the art of kyoudo. The Way of the Bow. And the eight steps of kyoudo... Shahou Hassetsu. The Eight Stages of Shooting. It wasn't simply about shooting the arrow. To Nala, it was more about harmony. Harmony between the archer, the bow, and the target. All are unified as one.
In a way... it was like a Wizard using magic... no?
Ashibumi. Setting the stance.
Nala stood straight with feet shoulder-width apart and positioned herself at a 60 angle to the target. This creates a stable and balanced foundation.
Dozukuri. Forming the posture.
She aligns her posture, ensuring her spine is straight, her shoulders relaxed, and her body centered. This step focuses on physical and mental readiness.
Yugamae. Readying the bow.
She hooked the string between her thumb and fingers, gripped her bow, and set her gaze on the target. The bow and arrow are lifted.
Uchiokoshi. Raising the bow.
The bow is raised smoothly to eye level, preparing for the draw. This helps set the energy and focus for the next steps.
Hikiwake. Drawing the bow.
The bowstring is drawn apart smoothly and evenly. The movement expands both of her arms outward, creating a full draw while maintaining posture and balance.
Kai. The full draw.
The most meditative aspect of the ritual. Nala holds her bow at full draw, focusing deeply on her form, breathing, and the target. Nothing else matters. Her mind is ready.
Hanare. Releasing the arrow.
The release happens naturally and effortlessly, with no tension or hesitation. Nala's focus remains on her form, not just the target.
Zanzhin. Remaining spirit.
After the arrow is released, Nala maintains their posture, awareness, and composure. This step symbolizes the continuation of focus and mindfulness beyond the act of shooting.
These eight steps came to Nala as naturally as breathing. Without realizing it, she had already gone through them all. The Beast was ready to fire. But so was she. She drew upon a power that had been dormant within her for years. A power she vowed to never use again.
A vow she was about to break.
"...so long as I use the strength I have at my disposal to defend my home and friends, I am content with not knowing the answer right now."
She narrowed her eyes as the golden-glowing arrow was overcome with writhing, black energy. Her resolve never wavered. Her mind was clear and her focus sharp. Even as the magic threatened to overwhelm her, she refused to buckle...
She knew what she had to do.
"Arrow Magic x Devour Magic: Howling Fang."
She released the arrow. The Beast fired a roaring blast of raw, untamed magic power. Both attacks clashed. Nala stood without fear, watching as the beam's energy splashed outwards upon collision. Then, the energy began to erode away, shattering like glass. The output of energy The Beast unleashed was stronger than Nala's spell, that there was no doubt...
But it was the nature of Howling Fang that gave Nala the edge. An arrow that breaks down the spell of the opponent's, sapping away at the ethernano powering it, and using the stolen energy to power itself up. Perfect against an enemy like this...
Her arrow pierced through the attack without losing momentum, hissing through the air. Before The Beast could react, the arrow struck its target, directly into it's forehead. There was silence, as the Geist let out a strangled gurgle.
Nala smiled. "An apparition composed entirely of ethernano, struck by an attack that does nothing but swallow it up? Not a good matchup."
Glowing cracks spread along The Beast's body as though it were made of porcelain. The light within grew brighter as it let out one final roar and exploded in a shower of sparkling light. Nala watched the ethernano partials drift into the night sky, her expression softened.
For just a moment, she could see those particles form into the silhouette of Grandmother. She could see it as clear as day.
She was smiling down at her.
Nala swallowed the lump in her throat and allowed herself to lower her bow, clasping her hands together in prayer.
"...rest now, Grandmother."
Cana grunted as she endured another punch, managing to block it this time. As Momiji vanished again, the Card Mage narrowed her eyes and jumped back just in time to see the girl swipe at nothing but air. Momiji blinked languidly, turning to Cana.
"You dodged."
"I caught onto the pattern quickly enough. There's always a brief pause between your reappearances and your attacks. You ain't for the front first, then dip to my left. Then my right. Then back to the front." Cana wiped her bloody lip. "It got repetitive after a while."
"Ooh~! You're smart!" Momiji smiled, preparing another spell. "Let's see how you handle this, then—"
Something was wrong.
Momiji froze, a startled frown replacing the grin she once had. Her connection to The Beast was gone. She couldn't reform it anymore. That's never happened... "W-What, that's not...!"
Cana found her opportunity, grinning and pulling out another card. "I've got you right where I want you! Card Magic: Reverse Harem Card!"
POOF!*
Momiji yelped as she was surrounded by a cloud of smoke. Coughing and waving it away, she glowered. "GUH! What was that supposed to do, huh? I'm not—"
She froze. "Eh?"
Men surrounded her. A bunch of handsome, shirtless men. Smiling at her with sparkling grins and warm gazes. Momiji's heart fluttered in her chest. An inexplicable feeling arose. One that she never felt before... her face was heating up. It was like she was on fire! Was she sick?!
There was a beat of silence—
"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
Followed by a flustered screech. Cana grinned smugly and rushed forward, using Reinforcement on her fist. "Game... OVER!"
She leaped over the illusion she cast and landed in front of Momiji, cocking her arm back and throwing a wild haymaker into her jaw with all the force she could muster. Momiji yelped in pain as she was knocked to the floor in a daze, groaning.
The men conjured up by her Reverse Harem Card vanished in a puff of sparkling smoke. Cana let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she lowered her fist, chuckling. "Can't believe that worked..!"
"You're telling me..." she turned to see Nala walking over. The cat-eared girl gave her a dry stare. "Why do you even have a spell like that?"
Cana felt her cheeks warm up and she stuck her tongue out. "None of your business! My plan worked anyway, so don't question me!"
"...uh-huh." Nala nodded. Deciding not to open that can of worms, she looked down at Momiji's blushing, unconscious form. "We won."
"Yeah." Cana smiled, then shot Nala a cheeky grin and playfully nudged her. "Told ya we could do it~!"
"Yeah..." Nala allowed a small smile to form. "... thank you. For believing in me, I mean."
"No problem! Until we finish things up here, we're all a team. So we have to look out for each other." Cana pulled out another card, holding it over Momiji. "Card Magic: Card Conversion."
Momiji was engulfed in a flash of white light. When it faded, she was gone, and trapped within the card in Cana's hand. She tucked it safely into her pocket, before turning to Nala. "Plus, friends always have each other's backs."
Nala's expression softened. "... Yeah. Friends."
"Speaking of which..." Cana mumbled, turning around. "We should go... regroup—"
She trailed off and stumbled. She would have fallen over if it weren't for Nala catching her in time and propping her against her shoulder. The archer frowned. "You've sustained a lot of damage and expended a lot of energy. Don't push yourself."
"R-Right..." Cana's face scrunched up in pain as she finally began to feel the effects of the wounds she endured. "Oooh, I'm gonna feel that in the morning..."
Nala shook her head in amusement, adjusting her grip on Cana and helping her walk. "... you Fairy Tail Wizards are something else."
Cana grinned wryly. "Don't I know it..."
A/N.
Man. Been a while.
You know, I've had this chapter written around late November and December. But I've just been so unmotivated lately and suffering from writer's block that getting to it was honestly a friggin' SLOG! I wanted to initially get this out on January to start the year off strong, but... well, y'know.
Sorry for the wait. To be perfectly honest, I'm still not super satisfied with how this turned out? But I didn't wanna keep you guys waiting, so here we are. In any case, I'd rather take my time than pump out chapters like a maniac and burn myself out. Quality over quantity and all that.
I won't be replying to reviews today. I'm kind of worn out... I'll make sure to get to them next time! I just want to apologize again for the late update. I'm not gonna make any promises but I was working on Chapter 20 alongside this one, so, hopefully, that'll come out much quicker.
I'll be rewriting and updating older chapters in between too. Kind of forgot to do that before. Gotta hop to it. On another note, we hit 1k favorites and 1k followers for this story! That's freaking AWESOME! It's a pretty big milestone for me. The fact thousands of people like this goofy ass story warms my heart. Especially since it isn't the most original or thought-provoking thing out there.
I'm glad people enjoy it though and find it fun. And I'm grateful for the support! A goal I wanna set for this story is to get to canon before this year ends. On paper, that shouldn't be too hard. But I tend to procrastinate, and life gets in the way. So - here's to hoping!
Have a good day, y'all. And God bless you.