Having been dragged into their sparring session, Naki sought answers.
He stole a glance at Maya's direction. All she could do was smile.
"Wa-wait, Habiki, is that really necessary?" he asked.
"Of course. To even the numbers. There are only 5 of us, you see."
"We needed an extra pair of hands," she replied.
Naki sighed, "Were there really no other promising magicians you could recruit?" he murmured.
"Ah, teach, don't be like that! I wanna see you do the black flame thingy again hehe" Bisky butted in, still chewing on gum.
"I must admit, so do I," Jhun added, adjusting his lenses.
"It's not every day we see power that could rival even the headmaster Frowart's in intensity alone."
The others nodded in agreement.
"There you have it, instructor. Everyone is curious about you. And besides, we're so far ahead of the other classes, only our overseer instructor could fill the 6th spot in terms of ability."
Habiki said and walked towards Naki.
"Think of it as a chance to practice your new abilities too. Don't worry, I'll be your sparring partner, it'll be safe," she whispered softly in a tone only the 2 of them could hear.
"(Well...i did want to test out Lohki's shadow tricks...)"
Naki sighed, "Huhhh, very well, I will join your sparring session," he conceded.
Louise cheered, "Yeahh! we get to train again Maya-bae!! I've been dying to stretch these muscles ever since Sir Zickler bailed on us."
"Sir ZIckler didn't bail on us, Louise. He got sick." Maya corrected.
"Bailed, sick, whatever, he's not here. Naruru is! I can't wait!!"
Louise jubilated, rushing to Habiki.
"Prez!! Let me go first! I call dibs on the instructor."
"Louise, behave! This is a sparring session, not a playground," Habiki replied bluntly
"B-But I called dibs! No fair-"
"As president and prodigy, it's only right I spar with the instructor."
"I call BS." Louise protested
"Louise!" Habiki frowned.
As they carried on their charade, Maya's eyes were fixed on Naki.
"(At first I thought it was just coincidence, but why...why do I get the feeling...I know Sir Naruki...his voice, his mannerisms...)"
She thought, and recalled 3 years ago, when she talked with Naki and left him for the academy.
"(Naki...I miss you so much. It'll be over soon. Soon I'll become a sage and we shall be together again. So please, wait for me.)"
She puts her hand to her chest, offering a silent prayer for Naki's safety.
Then a call interrupted her
"Maya-bae? Mayaaa!!" Louise called with an obnoxious tone.
"Ah, Louise! what is it?"
"Huh...not every day I see you daydream," she grinned.
"I wasn't daydreaming!"
"Yeaah yea, sure. Anyways, Prez is about to start the randomizer."
"Randomizer? I thought our sparring partners were agreed to already?" Maya asked, surprised.
Bisky popped her a bubble before adding to the conversation, "Yea Lou and Prez were makin' such a fuss abour'it, vips decided to pull the randomizer card."
"Not like I cares much though, I've already scored my date with teach hehe"
"Oooohh, for real Bi?" Louise said, chuckling.
"(A date!? N-no, wait! This is Bisky we're talking about, there's no way she's serious)" Maya thought, and then her eyes widened.
"(Wait...why, why I'm I concerned about instructor Naruki's personal affairs?)"
She shook her head dismissively, "(Snap out of it Maya. It's just my longing for Ki messing with me)"
"Quiet, you three. The list is about to be curated."
Jhun commanded as they saw the configuration device in the center display a holographic screen, and each person in the hall saw their name scrolling.
"So much for you being my sparring partner. You sure this is going to work, Habiki?" Naki whispered to Habiki, standing beside him.
"Huhhh, I'm sorry it's come to this, Naki. Had I forced the issue, it would've exposed our teamwork," she replied, maintaining the same tone.
"The power of president can only get you so far, huh?"
"Well, I am president because I make use of power, not abuse it," she said proudly.
"(Even in these circumstances, she remains proud... admirable)" Naki smiled subtly, and looked ahead.
Then the machine beeped, the screen flickered, and suddenly the lineups appeared one by one.
[1] Louise <-> Maya || [2] Jhun <-> Naruki || [3] Habiki <-> Bisky
As soon as the machine paired Bisky with Habiki, Bisky frowned, losing her playful demeanor.
Chewing on the bubble gum suddenly became a chore, so she stopped.
"(tsk, the thought of crossing magic with her, even if it's merely for sparring vexes me)"
Habiki noticed she was not in a good mood. So did Naki.
"(Huh...the randomizer might've just messed up here)" he thought.
"AWWWW! I wanted to spar with the instructor!! no offense, Maya-bae" Louise cried.
"Hmph! The randomizer was a good choice in the end. I get to evaluate the instructor's capabilities to the fullest." Jhun smiled, then pointed to Maya and Louise.
"You two! Hurry up with your bout and clear the area!"
"Muaaah Maya-bae! he's getting scary again," Louise ran and hid behind Maya.
Maya sighed, "Jhun, you don't always have to be so stern, you know."
"Oh, please, we're not children. Now get to it."
Bisky chuckled, "Not children, he says hehe"
Maya sighed once again and grabbed Louise by the hand.
"Come on, Louise, let's go."
As they made their way to the center, the machine sank and a transparent dome covered them.
"hm? what's this?" Naki asked.
"Damage absorption dome. Created by a combination of the 3 legendary sages - Tessa, Ulritch, and our very own headmaster - it ensures any damage you suffered in there, even death, is abated when you step out." Habiki replied.
"I see. So even though it's a spar, those 2 can pretty much go all out if they so decide."
Habiki nodded, "Yes. But that is not the purpose of this exercise."
"Of course. I'm curious, though. Maya specializes in healing while Louise in support magic, do they really make for good sparring partners?"
Habiki sighed, "Say that to Jhun for bringing up this ridiculous randomizer idea in the first place."
"Hahaha, don't worry. I'll try to avoid expending too many of my mercy points against Jhun. Should still have plenty of leftover for our main mission."
"Okay. (Although that's not really what I'm frustrated about right now)"
Habiki muttered, staring in Bisky's direction. She wasn't particularly looking forward to their bout.
Within the dome
Maya and Louise took positions.
"Haha, this reminds me of the first time we met Maya. Year 1, behind the lunch parlor. Do you remember?" she asked.
"I do." Maya nodded, "You were still on your bully streak, trying to nab some poor kid's lunch box."
"Aww, you just had to intervene, too! I tell you, that particular kid always brings the most scrumptious pasta," she said, aggrieved.
"I'm sorry it's not in my nature to sit back and watch. Not when I was a child, and not when I most certainly have the power to do something."
Her silver hair wavered softly in the breeze that awoke from her focus.
Purple translucent particles were orbiting around her. She was getting ready
Louise recalled the event
<><> FLASHBACK <><>
She was kneeling on the floor, beaten up, bleeding from the nose.
Her small crew ran away, leaving her behind, when Maya approached.
She gritted her teeth,
'Tsk, what a bunch of cowards!'
Then she looked up and saw Maya. Her eyes didn't carry disdain or hatred. It carried worry, it carried concern, kindness.
'Grr...what? Don't give me that look. DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT PATRONIZING LOOK!!!' Louise yelled.
Maya was shaken, even though she had succeeded in defeating her, she was still terrified.
'I-...I'm sorry,' she muttered.
Louise stared at her funny.
'Huh? What are you sorry for?'
'I...when I first saw you during our class introductions...I...I wanted to be your friend but instead...I ended up hurting you, Maya said, then bowed.
'So I'm really, really sorry!! I promise I won't get in your way again.
Maya said and turned away, 'That is, if you promise to stop picking on others, okay!'
she said, cheeks red with embarrassment as she ran away.
Louise watched her all the way, mouth gaping. 'She...was worried about hurting me??'
<><> END OF FLASHBACK <><>
Louise smiled at the memories. "I just had to know what was going through your head. Why would you show kindness to one who deserved none?"
"Louise..." Maya murmured.
"Back in my previous school, I was at the top. I got here thinking I could top Listeria, too. Only to get my butt handed a solid beating by the first student I encountered"
"It was embarrassing. IT PISSED ME OFF!!" Louise frowned and stretched her hand forward.
"I'm sorry, Maya-bae!! I do appreciate all you've done for me since then, but this frustration just won't go away."
The earth around Louise was vibrating, then a water geyser erupted in front of her.
"To move on from my past, I have to defeat you. This is not a spar, this is my redemption!"
Maya frowned as she raised her hand,
"Arise from the depths of the deep! Undine!!!" she called out her familiar
Suddenly, an elder water spirit emerged from the water geyser with a splash.
The water from the geyser seethed and synchronized into her body, forming her blue scale armor, and then a blue-stained steel magic lance, her weapon.
"Undine... the elder spirit of water," Maya muttered
Louise brought down her hand as Undine settled, floating by her side with a chilling mist around her
"Prepare yourself, Maya," Louise said, her playful tone replaced with one of intent.
Maya smiled, "I like you better when you're cheerful, Louise, and so-"
She brought her hands together, as if in prayer.
This caused the purple particles around her to transform into tiny, multiple colored butterflies, looming around her in their numbers.
"I shall give this my all and end it quickly!"
Her eyes glinted as the butterflies spread out in awareness.
Louise grinned, satisfied Maya was about to take their battle seriously.