Everyone

“Uhm yeah… sure.”

“Unless you need to go to class tomorrow to train your blessing.”

“I don’t really need to go to class tomorrow since I already know what to train when it comes to my blessing.”

“Alright then,” I quickly stood up and reached out my hand. “Let’s get outta here and get some rest for tomorrow.”

On the way back to my dorm, doubt clawed at me. Had I just made the wrong choice? He told me not to trust anyone, but did that include her, too? Maybe it did. She was still part of “everyone.” And yet… something about her felt safe. Maybe that was just my desperation talking. Maybe I just wanted a friend badly enough to mistake it for trust.

Ugh, why do I have to go through all of this? Can’t I just be reincarnated and become overpowered?

I prepared to split step, celestial mana building in my body, then I froze. I felt a presence looming over me. Someone was watching me.

“Come out! I know you’re watching me!”

“I’m surprised you picked up on me.”

A boy stepped out from around the corner. He had white spiky hair and a sword at his hip.

That uniform he’s wearing, he’s another student.

“What do you want?”

“Just observing.”

“Observing?”

“You’re an interesting person, being powerful enough to beat Nensho with ease, all while having no blessing.”

“And what about it?”

“It’s just fascinating, that’s all.”

My jaw tightened. “Do you work for Vaeltharion?”

“That’s an interesting question, don’t we all work for him?”

“Just answer my question.”

“And if I said I did, what would you do?”

“I’d find out what you’re planning.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you don’t know, then there’s no point in telling you,” I said.

If he isn’t connected to Vaeltharion or that vision, then I do not need to bother with him.

I moved past him until his next words froze me in place.

“Could it be about your vision?”

An overwhelming sense of anger built up in me.

This guy is an enemy!

I gripped onto the hilt of my sword and swung it at him. Mana surged through my body and into the weapon. He vanished in a split step.

He’s quick; I need to be on guard.

Even though I was fatigued from my training, that attack was by no means slow. In fact, I realized that he reacted to my attack even before I unsheathed my blade. Could he have picked up on my bloodlust that easily?

“Woah there,” he said lightly. “That could hurt someone.”

“That was the point…”

“What’s with the hostility? I didn’t cause your vision.”

“But you have some involvement in it. That’s enough to make you my enemy.”

“Then show me what you’d do to an enemy, and don’t you dare hold back.”

Is he trying to aggravate me? He must be setting up some kind of trap.

I knew that I wasn’t at my best because of the training, so I couldn’t just mindlessly charge in. On top of that, I could tell that he was powerful. The build of his mana, the presence he’s giving off, this guy is at a totally different caliber compared to Nensho. He may even rival someone like Akiko.

“Are you going to make a move? Aren’t you itching to get some info out of me?”

Dammit, this guy is definitely trying to aggravate me. But I’m not in any condition to fight someone head-on.

“If you’re not going to do anything, THEN I WILL!”

Then he blurred forward. The split step he used was to get in front of me and close the gap; it was predictable. It made him way too open for an attack. As I swung my blade at his body, he phased right through it, and he disappeared.

Was that an illusion?

Pain exploded in my ribs from the side. I staggered but was reinforced just in time, absorbing most of the blow. It sent me flying, but I was able to land on my feet and prepare for his next attack.

“You lightened the blow just in time, very impressive. I’ve only met a handful of people who can do that, and they’re all old warriors with a ton of fighting experience. Good job.”

He then disappeared again and reappeared in front of me.

This must be another illusion.

I turned to my side and found him, attacking me the same way he did the first time.

“There you are!”

I swung at him again, and my attack went through him again.

Shit, this one was the illusion.

Before he hit me, I split-stepped out of the way.

“You’re quick. By the way, are you just guessing which one is the illusion?”

“So what if I am?”

“You know that when you apply celestial magic to yourself, your senses will be heightened. It’ll help you perceive me like how you did earlier.”

“W-what?”

“Isn’t that what you did earlier, when you sensed my presence?”

“Not intentionally. I was ready to split-step my way back home until I picked up on your presence.”

“Very impressive. You were planning to split step, but the moment you sensed an enemy, you stopped your ability. What impressive control of your mana.”

“Are you here to attack me or compliment me?”

He grinned. “I’m here for fun.”

He disappeared again. I focused on using celestial mana; this time, three of them appeared in front of me. But this presence was much weaker than what I sensed from him earlier.

They’re all illusions. He’s behind me.

I immediately turned around and swung my blade at him, but he was able to parry my attack.

“You pick up on things quickly, but right now I’m not interested in fighting you at your weakened state. I’ll just end the fight real quick.”

He appeared in front of my face, then went in for a punch.

Dammit, when did he get so fast?

His fist rammed into my stomach nd sent me flying. Even though I was able to focus mana into my core, his attack is still powerful. There was something imbued into it, primordial magic along with the fire attribute. It caused a huge explosion.

I skidded back, barely standing. As the smoke cleared, he strolled towards me, laughing.

“Still conscious? Good. One more and you’re done. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you,” he smiled.

Roots erupted, intercepting his strike.

“Now, now, Yuno. Why are you attacking a friend of mine?”

That voice is familiar; it’s Tsubaki.

“Oh, hey there! Sorry to bother you, but would you mind getting your roots out of the way?”

“Sorry, can’t do that for you.”

“You’re roots are starting to wrap around my arm, it’s kind of disgusting. And they’re draining my mana, can you call them off?”

“Just back, split step out of the way.”

“Fine.”

He disappeared and reappeared a few feet in front of me.

“Why did you choose to attack him?” Tsubaki asked.

“He’s the one who attacked me.”

“Is that true?” Tsubaki looked down at me.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “But… never mind.”

She sighed, “You guys are going to get into big trouble for this.”

“Not if we say nothing?” Yuno said.

“I can always tell on you guys,” Tsubaki said.

“No way, please don’t do that,” Yuno said.

“Then step away from this fight.”

“How about I fight you instead?”

“Then I’ll simply tell on you.”

“Aw, that’s so lame. Just give me a good fight.”

“Maybe another day.”

“You promise?”

“Maybe.”

“Sweet, I’ll take it! And Yakusei, I expect to fight you when you’re at your full strength. Until then, I’ll see ya!” He vanished with a grin.

“Yeah, see ya.” Tsubaki reached out a hand. “Sorry. He’s… obsessed with fighting.”

“Tsubaki… is that a friend of yours?”

“More like an acquaintance, he grew up with me and Haruki.”

“Would you say that he’s your enemy?”

Her hand hovered. “Even though he’s caused me a lot of trouble, I wouldn’t say that he’s my enemy.”

I slapped it away, forcing myself upright with my sword. “Which makes you my enemy too.”

“What are you doing? You’re in no condition to fight right now.”

“Who decided that?”

I focused all the remaining malif I had left and turned it into nature mana to heal myself. It was risky and could have caused my death, but I was certain that my control over mana wouldn’t allow that. For a moment, everything went black, and I could feel myself falling over.

That’s all my malif, NOW HEAL.

I felt a sudden rush of energy coursing through my body, and I was able to catch myself before I could fall. I wasn’t at my full strength, but healing this much should be enough to put up a decent fight.

“Now tell me everything you know about Vaeltharion or the vision.”

“You used life force to heal? That could’ve killed you. I could’ve—”

“I don’t need help from you people, I need answers.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me! I know you guys are in on it, all of you!”

“You’re crazy, what are you saying?”

Dammit, I’m not getting anywhere. I’ll beat the answers out of her.

I lunged at her while imbuing my blade with mana. Roots burst from the ground, wrapping my blade, draining its mana. I dropped it and swung with my fist. She dodged, countering with a jab. I split-stepped away, avoiding her attack. My palm then crackled with mana.

“Ryu!” A dragon flew out of my palm and directly towards her.

“Calm down! Let’s talk it through; we don’t have to fight here.”

A wall of vines was put up to block Ryu, but I used a split step to appear behind her. I stuck my fist onto the ground, but she jumped out of the way. I used the momentum of my attack to punch the ground, where I imbued mana, causing molten spikes to come out. She put up a barrier in time, but the force of the attack sent her higher into the air. I focused on the mana within the molten spikes and fired it all at her. Each spike was like a gun firing bits of molten rock.

“You’re being a pain in my ass!”

She surrounded herself with the barrier spell. But I didn’t stop the barrage. She’d run out of mana before me, so I just needed to keep up the pressure. While I kept my hand on the ground and put more mana into the spikes, I used my other hand to launch another Ryu at her.

“Ryu!”

“STOP!” a voice shouted.

Suddenly, Ryu dissipated.

That ability, it's Akiko’s.

“Yakusei, why are you attacking your friends?” Akiko demanded. There she stood with Haruki by her side,

Is everyone here my enemy?

“Yeah, man, what the hell?” Haruki said.

“Stay out of it. This isn’t your concern. I don’t want to hurt you…”

“Yakusei… I knew something was going on with you!” Akiko’s eyes widened. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can help.”

Her voice carried so much passion that I was taken aback by it. Could someone so worried about me truly be the enemy?

“I don’t need any help from you, so back off! The answer is right in front of me.”

“Why’re you pointing at me?” Tsubaki said. “I think you’ve lost it. We have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie!”

I focused more mana into my hand; it was a new spell I wanted to test out. The attack used celestial and radiant mana. It was a blast that, if it hit the target, then it could disrupt the flow of their mana. I used the speed and power of radiance to disrupt their mana, and the flow of spatial magic to disrupt their mana, and atronoical for a potent attack.

“Disruptive light!”

I shot the blast at her, but it dissipated in the air.

“Yakusei! Please stop it!” she cried.

With Akiko here, I won’t be able to fire off any spells. There’s only one option now.

I leapt at her with my fist cocked. Her barrier shattered under the blow, but roots lashed around me before my fist could connect. I immediately burned all the roots with fire and burst through them. But Haruki was there.

“Dude!” Haruki winded up a punch, “CUT IT OUT!”

As I prepared an attack for Haruki, I was immediately wrapped by roots again. But this time it was different; the roots were disrupting the flow of my mana, making it hard to break free.

I need to split-step out of the way.

I wasn’t able to. This spell directly disrupts the flow of radiant and celestial mana, targeting the split step ability.

The roots, they're reinforced with so much mana, it feels like I’m being wrapped by a binding spell. I need to—

Haruki’s fist slammed into me. The world blurred. My body hit the ground, vision fading.

Dammit, I lost again. First to Gareth, now to them, I won’t ever be strong enough to save my parents.