Nestor: Yes.
Ariel: What about one-on-one practice? I want to fight you! That's why I took you as my teacher, — she said demandingly, warming up.
Nestor: Right now you need to focus on your goal — handling corruptions on your own. That's the reason I agreed to teach you.
Ariel: No, I want to fight you, — she said, stepping into the center of the arena. — Come on, — she added, planting her hands on her hips as if reproaching me for making her ask.
I stepped into the arena, but only to get closer to her.
Nestor: We don't have time. We recently agreed you would obey me, and yet once again you're doing whatever you want.
Ariel: I expected you to train me fully, not just for corruptions. That's unfair! I only agreed back then because you suddenly forced it through. I didn't even have time to say a word, — she said with dissatisfaction, waving her hand as if criticizing badly served food in a restaurant. — And one more thing! I wanted to say this back then too! — she stomped her foot. — Never touch me like that again, understood? It hurt a lot, — she finished seriously, looking at me.
Nestor: That was the whole point, — I replied in my unchanging tone. — That strike saved you weeks of idling and forced you to take the problem seriously. And the side effects of fear will fade soon enough.
Ariel: You could have done it some other way! I'm a girl, you can't treat me like that. I'm already not in the best condition right now. Anyway, let's fight!
Nestor: Sigh, as you wish. We've already made a lot of progress today. Luckily, you're an extraordinarily talented girl, so we have some time.
Ariel: What? — she said, completely confused by my unexpected compliment, especially since it was delivered without the slightest trace of shyness. — What do you mean?
Nestor: I mean that you identified the problem in just a few minutes and regained the ability to use Ta. Your mind is a mess, but you know how to sort it out.
Ariel: And how am I supposed to react to a compliment-insult like that? — she looked at me with a comically critical tone. — Ugh, whatever. I want to restore all my other spells, — she said, keeping her hands together before her and then starting to move side to side. — Get ready, I'm going to attack.
I looked at Ariel, who was smiling brightly and preparing for battle, sighed, and thought. What am I even doing? Helping someone, tolerating her antics... In my previous world, helping anyone, wasting time in vain, meant death. The moment you stop moving — and moving only in your own best interest — you die.
Nestor: Fine. But not for long, we still need time to deal with corruptions, — I said and took position opposite her.
Ariel: Perfect! Ha-ha. Finally!
The last spell of the lower style is called Ira. It allows a mage to create clones capable of speaking, fighting, and even casting spells. The higher the mage's mastery, the more clones can be summoned, the more precise and complete the control over them becomes, and the farther they can remain active. If a clone moves too far away, it dissolves back into mana. They possess no intelligence of their own: every word or action must first be formed in your mind and then transmitted to them as a command.
That was the spell Ariel was casting right now. So she lied about being unable to cast other spell? Or maybe she wasn't sure she could pull it off? Who knows…
Nestor, in thought: Ah, so that's what you're trying to do. Do you really think such a cheap trick will work on me?
Since the spell left no visual trace, it could catch an ordinary mage off guard. But I am no ordinary mage.
The fifth spell of the higher style is Aita. It allows a mage to scan the flows of mana around themselves. Among its many functions, Aita makes it possible to distinguish a real person from a clone, since between a mage and their clone there is always a difference: a clone leaves behind a trace of mana that can be sensed. Unfortunately, simply looking at a clone is not enough to determine the exact location of the mage, but at the very least you can tell them apart from a real human.
By the way, if a mage isn't casting any spells, Aita cannot detect them at all. Even I can't do it, and I doubt there is anyone who can.
That was the spell I constantly cast around myself. Always. Even in my sleep, I scan the mana around me for danger. And right now I felt a cluster of mana appear behind me — Ariel's clone.
Ariel: Okay, on the count of three. One, two… — she said excitedly, as if preparing for an attack.
In reality, she wanted to strike me from behind with her clone, which was carefully creeping closer. The clone's expression was emotionless — and of course it was. I would have been surprised if she wasted mana controlling facial expressions in such a situation. That would have been pointless.
Ariel: Three!
The clone behind me jumped in close. Does she really think she can catch me like that? I dislike revealing my abilities without necessity, but sooner or later I'll have to show them anyway. So I timed the moment her clone struck, spun around sharply, grabbed its arm, and hurled it straight at Ariel. It crashed into her, Ariel lost control of the spell in surprise — and it scattered into streams of blue mana around her.
Ariel: That's not fair! How did you guess? — she said, smiling with genuine curiosity.
Nestor: Congratulations, you remembered how to perform Ira. What do you want to try next? — I asked with a smile, igorning her question.
Ariel: I don't know… what would be best? — she stood up, fire blazing in her eyes and across her whole body.
Nestor: It doesn't matter. Whatever you like.
Ariel: Fine then, fire! — she pressed her hands together and concentrated, trying to summon flames in her palms. At first a tiny flame appeared, then… the same tiny flame which remained just a little flicker.
Ariel: Ugh, damn it, — she lowered her hands. — That's not fair. I really wanted to hit you with the clone. How did you even figure out to use Aita?
Nestor: I always do. That's what it's for.
Ariel: Always?!
Nestor: Yes, I constantly scan the surroundings. For me it's like breathing. Just as a person glances around when walking down the street.
Ariel: It's boring! — she said, putting her hands on her hips with dissatisfaction. — You ruined all the fun. Fine, then at least let's train Ta.
Nestor: No. You still don't know how to properly use your mana reserves. If you drain yourself here, you won't have strength left for the corruptions.
Ariel: But just once! — she pleaded with wide, round eyes. — Just once. I really want to! One round, two minutes, okay? I'll attack.
Nestor: No, we don't have time.
Ariel: I'm attacking, — she declared, cutting me off midsentence. Casting Ta on her body, she lunged forward.
She started with a strike from her right hand, then her left. Blow after blow, she tried to hit me, but I easily dodged every move. No matter how hard she attacked — fists, kicks — I kept dodging, deliberately at the last moment, so it seemed to her as if she was just a breath away from landing a hit.
Ariel: Ah—hah… — she gasped, completely out of breath after exhausting herself. — That's not fair.
Nestor: What can you do. Now then… — I was about to continue when suddenly I felt a surge of mana nearby. — Looks like we have company.
I turned and saw two boys behind me, not in school uniform. From the other side, three more approached, surrounding us from two directions. I scanned the mana again and sensed that two of them had covered their bodies with barriers. They didn't look friendly.
The one in front had the strongest barrier. His hair was slicked back and tied into a small braid. I recognized this boy — he was a second-year student. The three men approaching from the other side were not smiling and were looking around as they came toward us.
Michael: Hello, princess, — he said in a sycophantic tone.
Ariel: Michael? Hi, how are you? — she asked, glancing at the three boys who had stopped right behind her.
Michael: Fine, fine. Training? That's good.
Ariel: What are you doing here?
Michael: Just passing by and saw you. Thought I'd say hi, — he lied in a casual tone.
Ariel: Oh. And who are they? — she asked in surprise, a bit wary, glancing back at the three men with stony, somewhat stupid faces.
Michael: Just servants. Listen, don't you want to walk with us for a moment? I want to ask you something about attendance. The teachers are about to eat me alive for skipping classes, — he said with a smile, feigning insecurity.
For some reason Ariel gave an awkward smile before answering.
Ariel: Not really, to be honest.
Nestor: She doesn't want to. I don't know what you wanted to talk about, but she's not going with you, — I cut in with my usual tone.
Michael glanced at me and went silent for a brief moment, as if assessing the situation. His barrier was still active, though Ariel couldn't see it, since she didn't know how to scan mana.
Michael: I think she said yes. Just for a moment. Nothing serious, — he shot me a look, as if undecided whether to make it threatening or patronizing.
Yes, fear me, friend. Fear me. I looked at Ariel to decide what to do. She was watching me with an uncertain, already frightened gaze. Well then, so be it. I wanted to have some fun, but if this went too far, she might panic — and that would harm her growth in sorcery.
Nestor: Ariel, let's beat them all up. I think it'll be excellent training for you, — I said, stepping closer to her, using the tone of someone suggesting a casual bike ride in the park.
Michael: What the hell did you just say?! — he shouted in anger.
Nestor: What do you say? If you want, I can take care of them myself, but this is a great opportunity for you to practice.
Ariel looked at me, and suddenly her fearful face turned hopeful, joyful, and calm.
Ariel: I can't imagine how you manage to stay calm in any situation. But I'm definitely going to learn everything I can from you, — she said in an inspired tone.
Nestor: I take that as a "yes." You take that skinny one in the back, and I'll cover you. Let's go! — I commanded quickly and excitedly, blinking toward my first victim.
Three men stood on one side of us. Michael and another guy on the opposite. I blinked behind the first three. Let's call them Biba and Boba. Activating Ta and grabbing them by the collars, I hurled them at Michael and the boy next to him (let's call him Crooked). Michael instantly blinked and appeared before me, dodging Biba and Boba's bodies as they flew toward him, while at the same time closing the distance to me. A charged lightning bolt was already glowing in his hands.
With a wicked grin, I grabbed his arm at impossible speed and redirected the strike at Crooked. A great bolt of lightning lit up the space around us and struck him, his whole body covered in black burns as he collapsed to the ground.
I glanced at Ariel, who still stood frozen where I had left her. She seemed paralyzed by fear or uncertainty. The Skinny one also didn't know what to do. He stood just a step from Ariel, and for a moment they just stared at each other, unsure of what came next.
Michael: Kill her, you idiot!
At last the Skinny one swung a knife at her, which he seemed to have just drawn. Ariel threw her arms up in front of herself to block the strike. She didn't cast any spell, confused by her own uncontrollable fear. I blinked forward and smashed him right in the jaw.
Nestor: All right, change of plans. Just stand still, I'll handle them, — I said. She didn't even look at me. Maybe she hadn't heard, just staring at the ones still standing.
Biba, Boba, and Michael rushed at me. All three charged from different directions: Ariel in the center, me right beside her. For the next minute she did nothing but stand frozen, watching as I struck down enemies around us.
Biba came first — I kicked him in the head. Then Boba, who took a punch to the teeth and flew aside. Then Michael — Ariel started to cast a spell, but I blinked in front of him and struck his chest so hard he flew several meters back. I felt him use his barrier, but I broke through it with ease.
Turning, I saw Crooked (the one I'd hit with lightning) already back on his feet. Apparently, he had healed himself. He and Skinny charged at us again. In their palms burned concentrated explosions — Vi spells. I swept my fingers across the horizon before me, and with the spell Ara sent two concentrated mana scythes slicing their necks like sharp blades. Two heads flew into the air and thudded to the ground.
The spell Ara — the ability to summon condensed, compressed, dark-gray, razor-sharp mana clusters that slice your enemy. Some consider Ara an advanced form of the Vi, Ra, and Ivi spells. With Ara you shape destructive mana into whatever form you prefer — almost always resembling a scythe or giant needle that the mage drives into their foe. These clusters are dark gray with multicolored mana streams inside, creating a mystical, cold, precise atmosphere. Of course, the form is always symbolic — more a suggestion of a scythe or sword blade, designed for precision and destructive force.
Seeing the severed heads of their comrades, Biba and Boba — already battered by me — turned and fled. Only Michael remained.
Michael: You're dead!
Nestor: Ariel, should I kill him? Or is he some important figure?
Ariel: Uh… — she stammered in a trembling voice, clasping her hands together. — No, better not.
Nestor: Fine.
I rushed him, and he immediately prepared an explosion, unleashing it at me. A massive dark-gray blast tore through the air, cascading with multicolored lights on the gray backdrop. But in just a moment, Michael realized his attack hadn't hurt me at all. My barrier had absorbed it completely.
Michael bared his teeth and kept attacking me — fire, lightning, explosions — but I dodged every strike. Finally, when I grew tired of it, I flicked my finger — and he collapsed unconscious before me.
Ariel ran up to me.
Ariel: Is he alive?
Nestor: Yes. I just tore a bit of mana out of him to knock him out.
Ariel: Good. Phew. I'll call my mother now.
She said "call my mother," but what she really meant was the Queen of Elarion — ruler of a vast empire who would soon be signing several death warrants for the attempted assassination of the Princess of Elarion.