*
With a single step, she teleported into another angle, always remaining in the Traces blind spot. Without much resistance, she grabbed a wing and teleported away. It was indestructible, undying, an immortal creature of unfettered violence and wholesale destruction. A diminished force of ceaseless disaster.
Yet, she found a way. She found something only she could do. Sariel didn't count on any external power but her own, {Swap}. By switch places between two coordinates, she effortlessly severed the Traces' wing. For now, it seemed she could overpower the magic resistance of any being below a certain level of intelligence. It couldn't consciously resist her for it didn't comprehend her ability or its dangers.
The stump where its wing used to be began to grow back at a visible rate. It stretched outwards like dough, already attempting to trace the outline of its missing appendage. It stared at its own wing in suspense, not noticing the nimble fingers grasped around its neck.
She wouldn't be deterred anymore, her mind was fully thrown into battle more than anyone else. At this moment, she saw the path forward.
"{Swap}." (Sariel)
A chunk of its neck vanishes. Slowly, gradually. Each inch was sent somewhere else, unable to dissipate immediately they remain. This was the sort of Trace, unkillable, that was perfect for forging a weapon. It looks like she just got way better material to improve herself.
Colour returns to the world, simultaneously they released their transformations. Lastia and Arin appeared abruptly, as if having been there all along. They couldn't see each other during battle, because Sariel got pulled into a space that resembled the theme park, she was singled out for being the weakest. It had intended to whittle them down one by one, but Sariel's ability was too absurd. It evolved at an absurd rate, now capable of violating the opponent's resistance to the arcane as long as they aren't intelligent.
Lastia tapped Arin's shoulder with her fist, a faint wavy smile between her cheeks. The setting sun blazed behind her, creating a hole of brilliance like a biblical halo that spread in all directions. It painted the rest of the theme park in an eery dark orange, the never fading willfulness etched on Lastia's face said it all. At least for a moment, her eyes only held Sariel.
"Good job. You beat an A grade." (Lastia)
Arin stood off to the side, showing an uncharacteristic consideration. Usually she was the type to budge in without coy regard. Maybe she also recognised what Sariel had just achieved, even if only slightly, she wanted to acknowledge it. 'You did it', she couldn't bring herself to say, but her hiding her face said it all.
"I... I could have died...!" (Sariel)
It's as if all the tension crashed into her at once, her nerves flared with stimulation, her pores freshly perspired.
"And yet you didn't. You won!" (Lastia)
'You've worked hard, didn't you?', she couldn't say something so simple. Had Yggdrasil learned what shyness was? It felt like the words were on the tip of her tongue, threatening to leave her throat, but never actually committing. She couldn't contain her joy, that was the unbridled smile she was flashing right now.
"Fu... Fufuhahaha! I did it! Let's go get some ice cream!" (Sariel)
This time Arin joined in, ready with a recommendation. She had been eyeing a certain shop for quite a while and naturally Sariel noticed. The sparkles in Arin's eyes were unmistakable, she was all too eager to use words. Her big grin did the talking for her. Once Sariel walked slightly in front, Yggdrasil eyed Arin, clearly intent to speak to her.
Softly, she gripped her collar and pulled her closer. To others it might seem like a passionate kiss, but it couldn't be any different.
"The curse... The Traces... I'm sure it's not all a coincidence even if it's convenient to blame everything on you.
What did you pull?" (Lastia)
"... Nothing. I haven't done anything." (Arin)
She looked visibly disheartened. Her eyes darted to the sight, almost mute. It sounded like she didn't whisper because she wanted to, her voice was barely able to squeak out. Was she really sad that she wasn't trusted? Or was it guilt? Yggdrasil let go of her collar and began walking forward again. After a couple steps she spoke once more.
"... Sorry. I'll pay for your ice cream." (Lastia)
She had to remind herself that the peace they stood on was precarious. If she dug too deep into it, it will all collapse. Nobody needed to be taught that everything was a facade, even the current happiness... No, perhaps she really felt content with her current life. Why else would she cling onto this exact facade? Whether she appreciated it or not, it looks like she had come to be attached to Arin.
"Please don't hate me..." (Yggdrasil)
She put her raw feelings into words, unable to understand them herself. Like grasping a small amount of water through cupped hands, desperate not to let any of it spill. Yet it slips through the gaps in her fingers ever so slightly.
"It's okay. I don't have the right to." (Arin)
Yggdrasil swerved her gaze towards Arin, her eyes widened and her heart beat fell silent for a moment. How Arin felt only mattered halfway to Yggdrasil, the other half of this matter was her fear of Arin vanishing from her life. She blinked and her view returned to the front.
"...? What are you guys whispering about?" (Sariel)
"... I lost a bet and now I have to get ice cream for Arin..." (Lastia)
"Aaah!? What was the bet about? Don't tell me!" (Arin)
"Not telling you anyway!" (Lastia)
Arin walked leisurely as the conversation between the two devolved into screams. A warm smile graced her face as she watched them from behind. Was it envy? Just what stirred her heart so? Her lips clasped together and her teeth grit tighter. Sariel might like sweets a lot, this was the second time they ate ice cream that day... Maybe days like this, were meant to be celebrated with something sweet.
A Trace occurrence violated the monotone of their daily lives. It was unforgivable. Perhaps Yggdrasil believed they finally achieved a quiet life, determined to live out the rest of her life as Lastia... That's why it was all the more heart wrenching when a single occurrence could cause Yggdrasil to exude that much hostility. Arin told herself to play the role of the villain, the individual who placed the curse.
Yet underneath all the lies, both Lastia and Yggdrasil couldn't bear to mount any I'll will onto her or her actions...
By the time you kill me... When your grudge is so overbearing you could no longer hold yourself back... You might finally remember everything.