Storm

Chapter Fourteen

The Storm (arashi)

Kagami came out of the library as the last ray of autumn sun withdrew from the spires atop the central tower of Phoenix hall. The four years she had spent in this world felt like a roller coaster. Maybe the ride had finally ended, and she could step out onto the platform, to continue her life peacefully on steady footing. To save time, she packed a simple lunch with her every morning, so she could maximize her time reading books on magic. The days when she attended classes seemed rather distant, and the time outside had sped past while her life between bookshelves felt still.

The campus was abuzz.

It took a few attempts, but eventually Kagami understood what she had missed out on by staying in the library from dawn to dusk:

Himeyama is shutting down Kageyama, and Arashi Oneesama has left by herself to challenge that!

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dearie dearie dear...”

Channeling Piglet from Winnie the Pooh, Kagami ran to the cafeteria to grab some bread, and immediately ran back to the library.

Kagami went straight to the top floor where titles forbidden elsewhere were housed. Kagami had not succeeded in ‘seeing’ divine power into magic yet, and time was running out.

(“Dire circumstance calls for dire measures. Akishi Oneechan told me that the Five could easily mow down any instructor here and Arashi Oneesama is no match, either. The time might come when I have no choice but to do something reckless...”)

**********

Arashi took all her money with her, put food into a bag, and left her dorm as the sun was setting. She did not want to use the transportation matrix at Kageyama now that she had severed her ties with the academy.

(“I have cut my ties to Kageyama, so whatever repercussions there might be because of my action, Himeyama will not bring harm to Kageyama as a result.”) Arashi walked on to the main road when night fell. (“If I caused the turmoil, I should end it. I will not let Himeyama harm my family.”)

Arashi drew a spell on the ground. Since every student took introductory magic courses, magic wasn’t alien to Arashi. However, since she had taken those courses almost eight years ago, she drew it slowly and with great care, in case she made an error.

After some effort, Arashi managed, with a certain degree of difficulty, to finish the spell on the ground. She channeled some magic into it, and with swirling white light, she disappeared from the foot of the mountain of shadows.

An impulsive beam of white light shot skyward from the foot of Himeyama, lighting up the night sky. Guards and attendants quickly surrounded the site with their weapons ready.

“I am Arashi.” She proclaimed as she stepped out of the glowing circle on the ground. The light from the spell slowly faded, then finally disappeared.

“I, Arashi, am no longer a member of Kageyama. I do not acknowledge Himeyama as the one with justifiable authority to determine my fate. I am here to challenge the Five.”

Guards and attendants replaced their weapons, and the captain of the guards ascended the Mountain of Imperial Princess [himeyama] to deliver the news.

“Your Highness”, the Captain stood outside the doors of Yukari’s meeting room, and waited for the maids to relay the message of his intrusion.

“Her Highness is already aware of the situation. No action is to be expected from the guards.” The maid’s voice sounded from inside.

“I respectfully take my leave.”

**********

A glowing kitten of pink magic took shape in Yukari’s sleeping chamber, and from it, Ryō’s voice was transmitted for Yukari’s audience.

“May I, Your Highness, please? Pretty please?”

“You would slaughter her and break her sword. No. You may not.”

“So Your Highness would show presence?”

“If I show my presence, then she would die as she is not yet able to withstand my strength. A magic doll will represent myself and accept her challenge.”

Arashi waited at the foot of the mountain, with the guards of Himeyama standing alert at a short distance. She imagined that maybe she would be invited to the training field for an honorable battle, or maybe the Five would come down the mountain themselves to accept her challenge.

Arashi expected to fight Ryō first, and slowly move her way up the hierarchy. She was fairly certain that she could defeat Ryō, and if she could rid all magic elements in her surroundings, then Yayoi would lose the medium necessary for her spell.

She had enough reasons to believe that her battle against Kasumi and Midori would be extremely difficult. She might die. If she was fortunate, in the end she might survive to face Yukari. At that stage, all she could possibly manage might be simply to get up from the ground, stand on her two feet, hold her sword, and keep breathing until Yukari delivered her attack. She would be obliterated, but she would die standing, as a fighter, and remove Kageyama from the shadow of impending doom.

If her sword managed to survive, even if it was just a small fragment of it, Arashi would like it to be returned to Kageyama. She thought about how to make the request without incurring further complications.

The captain of the guards arrived, and with a few short orders, guards and attendants retreated to keep a safe distance. Arashi looked up at the mountain path, expecting a messenger, or maybe the Five themselves, but saw no one.

Magic elements started to glow. Emitting pale purple sparkles of light, they gathered together, assembled into a human-like figure, and assumed the likeness of Yukari.

“What is the meaning of this? I challenged the Five to a battle, and now I am looking at a magic doll? Are you trying to humiliate me!”

“First defeat the doll, then you will take on an attack from myself. I am treating you with respect by having you face me as your sole opponent.” Yukari’s voice sounded through the doll.

Arashi drew her sword and readied herself.

The doll raised her right hand, and a spherical bolt of lightning formed immediately. The doll shot the lightning, which sizzled the air as it was hurled toward Arashi, with light purple sparks jumping on its surface.

Arashi’s aura began to glow in faint silver, and it covered her entire body, along with her sword. In one swift and smooth move, Arashi deflected the attack, and the lightning flew to the side. Her aura was enough; the lightning did not even manage to touch the surface of her sword.

Arashi expected to hear a crash or an explosion once the pale purple lightning hit a tree or the ground, but it simply dissipated without any outside action.

The doll then raised her hand slightly upward, and a spell began to take shape. Arashi swung her sword at the torso of the doll, and her aura dashed forth from the tip of her sword, forming a cutting blast as it lashed out at the doll.

The doll jumped up to evade the attack, and with both hands, cast spells beneath and above Arashi. An enormous matrix was instantly completed, and it would imprison Arashi, then magic lightning would char Arashi’s skin to a crisp.

Arashi concentrated all her might onto her sword, and attacked the matrix. She and her sword were meant to be lifelong companions; they had faith in each other.

The magic complex was sliced open, and the aftershocks pushed away all the magic elements to the perimeter.

Seizing the opportunity, Arashi leapt toward the doll, which was just about to land from its previous jump. Arashi aimed at its waist; this would be an attack that would be more difficult to evade.

Neck would be too mobile, and the attack could be avoided by bending backwards, by tilting to the sides, and by bending one’s knees.

A stab aimed at the chest could be avoided by turning to one’s side.

The waist, situated right in the middle, would be perfect for this occasion.

Arashi closed in on the doll, and swung her blade horizontally, with enough energy to start a whirlwind.

The doll did not try to escape by blocking the attack with a spell, which would be quite easy, given the magnitude of magic that was poured into this doll when Yukari formed it with a simple incantation.

The doll casually knocked Arashi on her chest with its left hand as the sword sliced it in half.

The doll did not explode -- it was just like the previous spherical bolt of purple lightning -- instead it gently vanished, disintegrating back to the elements that had formed it a few moments ago.

Arashi did not get to enjoy a victory celebration. As the doll seemingly hit her lightly on her chest, with such relaxing movements that one might even wonder if it was actually intentional, Arashi flew backward through the air. Her aura had protected her sufficiently that the blow did not incur broken rib bones, but she heard cracking noise from all over her ribcage due to stress fractures.

Her lungs completely collapsed upon impact, and blood was filling the microscopic air sacs [alveoli]. Lying on her back, Arashi tried her best to cough, lest she suffocate from drowning in her own blood.

At last, she managed to push with her abdomen with enough force to spew out the blood with a violent hacking cough. Arashi gasped and gasped, her arms and hands shaking.

Slowly, the taste of sickening sweetness and rust subsided in her mouth, and supporting her upper body with her arms, Arashi sat up.

She grasped her sword with her right hand, and stuck its tip into the ground. Leaning on her sword, Arashi managed to lift her head up.

Gathering up the last of her strength, Arashi spoke loudly with clear determination.

“Your Highness can do to me whatever Your Highness would desire, but I ask Your Highness to refrain from bringing harm to Kageyama. I alone am responsible for all my actions.”

“You had never been a part of my reasoning concerning Kageyama.” Night wind carried Yukari’s reply to Arashi from the top of the mountain. “I have no interest in you since the beginning. Depart, and live your life. Grow up to be honorable with strength and valor.”

All the guards and attendants withdrew into the dark fold of the night as Arashi lay on the ground.

Every so often an owl howled, sometimes a lone cry of a crow, and all of a sudden Arashi started to cry. She yelled and wailed. She didn’t need mercy from her enemy. She didn’t want pity from Himeyama.

Arashi couldn’t accept the fact that her sword and Yukari’s magic existed on different planes.

By day break, Arashi stood up. Her eyes unfocused, her hands weak, her sword almost touching the ground, Arashi slowly walked out of sight.

A week later, Arashi managed to make her way back, and arrived at the town near Kageyama, about twenty minutes away from the academy by walking.

She had to pay carriage drivers for her transportation due to her extensive injuries, and she had to make a short trip on each day, as she was unable to bear the stress on her body from long hours on the road.

Every morning, Arashi had to arrange for a short carriage ride to the next town, proceeding to spend her time recovering from the brief journey. Much of her savings disappeared along the way.

Treatment and potions for restoring her lungs devoured the rest of her savings. Arashi only had enough coins left to stay in an unwanted attic of a guesthouse for one month. She had to wash dishes, hang up laundry, and sweep the floor in exchange for food.

She was unsure of what career to pursue. Arashi didn’t have the peace of mind to ponder the question either, for very soon after, the first snow fell on the town. The day of the winter solstice was quickly approaching.