Resolve in the Rain

The world was a blur as Itsuki launched himself, rain and wind whipping past him harder than he'd ever thought possible.

He focused on his objective.

If he could just break the wagon's lock and distract the cultists, the prisoners might be able to get to safety.

Now, he wasn't sure if it'd work—in fact, his confidence in it was pretty low given how things had been going for him so far. However, if he were to be frank, it was the only thing he could think of doing amongst all the combat and magic around him.

He would pour his entire being into ensuring this worked out; he would believe.

Because if he didn't…

Memories flashed in his mind: half-efforts, half-assurances, hesitation, 'realism', platitudes. His damning actions swung at his heart like a bat, reminding him sharply of what had failed Kaede two years ago.

He wouldn't repeat those mistakes.

Not again.

Focusing back on his sprint, Itsuki did his best to keep out of the way of the matron and her fight, hoping that he hadn't been spotted by any of them just yet. However, it was an admittedly difficult thing to do, especially as he struggled to control himself now nearly flying across the slickening terrain.

Dirt and gravel tumbled away as he ducked and weaved around obstacles, trying to balance subtlety with speed on the loose ground.

It wasn't working.

Each step felt faster now, each breath lighter, as if he'd just jumped beyond the peak of human fitness. The warmth that centered in his chest was reaching out to every part of his being, and he genuinely felt incredible.

But it was too much for him.

His movements felt over tuned, and it took all of his effort to not trip over himself and slide face first into the ground.

Was this his power? To enhance himself? Maybe even others?

His mind scrambled on it more and how to best use it, but that might've been a mistake.

His eyes widened as they registered what was in front of him.

Crap.

Momentum slammed to a halt as he hurled into the side of the wagon, knocking the air from his lungs. Wood splintered, debris flew, and screams sounded from inside.

"Ugh…" He pulled himself off the cratered wall, his clutched fist moving down to his ribs. It felt like he'd broken something from the stop, and pain bled into his abdomen.

He hadn't expected himself to be going that fast.

Before he could even analyze the damage though, the warmth from his chest abruptly spread throughout his body. It stitched things back together, dispelling any hurt after a brief pang of pain.

In a matter of seconds he was fine, as if he hadn't just body slammed right into solid wood.

Did he just… regenerate?

He didn't have time to explore that sensation though.

Itsuki craned out of the way just in time, evading a sudden attack from the sky.

An explosion shot outward once it hit the ground, blasting Itsuki away and shoving the cart across the gravel.

"Crap!"

His body compensated mid-air, landing safely a few meters away as rubble dotted around him. He looked around to see where that had come from only to glimpse the fractured road.

Lightning flashed as rain began to fall in earnest, realization dawning.

What would have happened had he not dodged that?

"Fufu, now what do we have here?" an energetic voice boomed through the air from all around him. "Velena, is this twink one of yours? He's rather sneaky, isn't he?"

Itsuki paused, caught off guard by the comment.

"…Hold on. Are you referring to me?"

His senses suddenly tensed, body and limbs barely managing to react to near imperceptible projectiles sent his way.

Dirt exploded upward where each hit landed, leaving a precise hole that burrowed deep into the ground.

Laughter sounded again.

"Who else would I be?" Another snicker. "Still, you're rather fast, even with that pose you sport gripping your fist against your chest. Is that a vita technique I'm not aware of? Or does your breast just hurt?"

Several gazes from nearby cultists locked onto Itsuki, all of them now well aware of his presence. However, another wave of earth, root, and watery projectiles from the matron forced them to reconsider their attention as she shouted.

"I understand not why he is here, but keep your gaze on me, fiends!"

She shot threads of water upward like bullets, tracing the voice's movements through the intensifying downpour and into the sky.

Several blasts launched back at her.

"Fiend?" A giggle. "You hurt me, dear Velena. You know my name, do you not?"

A storm of pointed rocks was the matron's response, downing a few cultists in the crossfire.

"Hmph, be that way!" The wind began to pick up, swirling above the battlefield in a cyclone.

"I was trying to have fun with our anticipated reunion, but to think that you're such a spoilsport. Won't let us kill wealth barons. Won't let us kill monarchs. Won't let us change the world. Why am I even surprised? It's almost like you enjoy being under the boot of those devilpigs—"

The sharp sound of metal buckling in on itself echoed in the deluge, interrupting them.

"…What was that noise?"

Itsuki tensed as he motioned for the townsfolk to hurry, throwing the wagon's door open and directing them toward cover. He scanned the area there, and while he didn't see Sayaka or Refi, he trusted they were somewhere close.

He really hoped so at least.

Several feet hit the increasingly damp ground as weary bodies hurried to safety. One by one they disappeared.

The voice sounded again.

"Oh, so that's where you went. You really are a sneaky twink, aren't you?"

"…Twink?" Itsuki muttered to himself, biting back the urge to scoff at the repeated absurdity of the statement.

Instead, he focused on helping the last of the people out. More feet scrambled in the mud until there were just a few left.

If he could just get them to safety—

The air boomed again, a stake of wind hurdling right toward where they were.

Crap.

One person was left now. A young girl. Orange eyes. No way she'd get out of the way in time. She looked at him, fear giving way to hope as if he was some sort of hero, completely oblivious to the incoming attack.

Of course.

He grimaced and gripped his mace, bracing it in front of him as if that'd somehow do any good. He didn't know exactly how durable he was now, but hopefully his body would be enough to soften the blow.

He closed his eyes in anticipation.

However, the impact never came.

Hesitantly opening his eyes again, he saw the remnants of the attack scattering to the wind, unraveling to threads in the rain.

Sayaka was next to him now, panting.

"Idiot!" she yelled, lit palm outstretched to the sky. "Are you actually trying to be careful?!"

Her black hair was drenched and her dress soaked, but there was clearly a fire in her tone.

"I, uh—"

The voice from above tsked. "Oh, I see. So you were the ones Celeandra had taken interest in. I should've figured with how bold you were acting."

Several more stakes of wind descended from above and pierced through the clouds. However, just like before, the moment Sayaka outstretched her hand toward it, they effortlessly unraveled, fading harmlessly into the ether.

Or perhaps not effortlessly. Sayaka's shoulders drooped a bit, arm faltering in the wind.

"Hah, it's a strange technique but not an impervious one perhaps," the voice echoed before stilling. They were clear enough now to glimpse an outline and the fluttering of white hair. Their arm was raised, already posed for another attack.

"There's something interesting about you two, so I think I'll disable you first, observe you later. In the meantime, let's see how well you do against—"

Their voice was splattered mid-monologue, a boulder-sized projectile soaring where it once was.

"I said to keep your gaze on me, fiend."

Both of them looked to the matron in surprise, the woman's magic fading as the rock crashed into the forest nearby. She was breathing heavily now, surrounded by dozens of bodies—all of them stilled.

Itsuki tried not to stare at them as she approached.

"I suppose I did ask too much for non-Ardents," she nearly spat as the ocean surged within her eyes. "To abandon Refi to assist me…? I get the logic, but I don't understand. WHY?"

Sayaka looked like she was about to speak, but the matron continued through gritted teeth.

"Never mind, just get the townsfolk back to safety. Now."

He tried speaking next. "Uh, Matron? If you allow—"

"Save your excuses." Her brows furrowed. "I'll… take it from here. Reathe won't be downed forever, and they'll likely be back before long—maybe even give a parting shot in their failure."

Her breath fogged in the cooling air. "So then, stop dallying. Hasten things with the others before it's too… late…"

She trailed off as she spotted two pairs of orange eyes trudging past them, motioning people back toward the smoking town in the downpour.

Refi noticed them gawking and paused briefly, shooting a pained smile before tugging her sister Eflam back along. They moved quickly but cautious across the wettened ground, careful not to stumble in the urgency.

The matron's lip quirked at the sight, half in relief and half in confusion.

"So…" Itsuki began.

"Just go," she sighed, some softness returning to her. "Find my vice-captain. We'll talk more once this is over."

They didn’t have to be told twice.

Eager to avoid both danger and the rain, Itsuki and Sayaka moved to join the group, bringing up the rear as they neared the gate's threshold.

He scanned over the people he could see, many of them futilely trying to cover themselves from the rain. A few wounds stuck out here and there, but overall, they looked to be okay.

Itsuki let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding once the first of them passed the town's walls. His grip unfurled, left hand drooping weakly to his side as he allowed relief to finally seep in.

However, only a little.

He made a quick glance over the damaged town, then to Sayaka, grey eyes swamped in melancholy watching the two girls with orange ones.

Something told him things were only getting started.