Chapter 9: Stay Awake

Chapter 9: Stay Awake

∮ BREEZE ∮ Shinpei exhaled.

Making use of simple wind magic, he thrust himself backward and away from the ice blades, the same blades which bobbed up and down, encircling Ayasturi like a spiked roman shield.

Sing Sing—the rain droplets separating the two solidified into a wave of frozen shards. Swiftly, they cut through the air, forcing shinpei to flee.

∮ DAM ∮

Shinpei saw no cover so in a quick spurt of action he slammed the ground, deploying a five meter wall of thick rock.

Shinpei slid, hiding behind the wall, gasping for breath. He then looked down at his staff as he pondered:

H–He doesn’t even need incantations. It…
It shouldn’t be possible! I’m Helfer and I still struggle with that!

The rain’s intensity stagnated into a stubborn shower, the weather broadcast displaying clearly faulty skies.

“Have you seen a young girl in a yellow dress?” Ayatsuri started, his voice warped by the raging storm.

A young girl? What type of mind games is he playing? Well, screw that.

The lack of incantations clearly sets him at Helfer, maybe even higher… I’ve gotta tread with care.

“I’m not here to fight,” Ayatsuri added, stepping forward, “I’m just voicing my threat for Nahara to see, maybe hear.”

That part I really understand. But keep speaking.

“State your rank!” Shinpei threw. I just need to buy time.

“My rank?” Ayatsuri tilted his head, “Why would that matter?” his brows rose.

“Why does it matter… Well–SAFETY! It’s a safety protocol!” Shinpei whimpered.

“In simple terms, I don't know my rank, I'd rather not hinder myself with meaningless titles. Perhaps?”

Meaningless? You're not making this conversation easy. Until the rain stops my goal is to simply keep him in place. I’m not the best at winter magic but I've got a couple tricks up my sleeve.

“I did see the girl!” Shinpei peeked his head from behind the wall, “And she’s somewhere very close” he began stepping forward and away from the wall, his staff hissing with mana.

“Brilliant!” Ayatsuri smiled, “Speaking with Nahara should be easier now.” His scarf blew intensely like a flag on a pole.

“But she’s unsafe,” Shinpei’s right hand raised to a thinking pose, covering his lips. “If you don’t cooperate, that is!” He looked up at the blue-haired man standing on the open street.

Yeah keep on speaking, we have all the time in the world… Shinpei glanced at the police officers with their pistols drawn out. Shiro himself might show up at any moment.

“Unsafe you say?” Ayatsuri closed his eyes.

“Do you take me for a—”

Thud.

He suddenly fell to his knees, his hands clutching his mouth in what seemed like clear signs of pain.

Shinpei was taken aback for a second, but he saw an opportunity.

What’s going on—No! No time for questions.

This is my chance to end this!

He ran, skipping a step or two. He then jumped.

His staff flew in front of him as he chanted:

∮ Gunpowder! ∮

A rare spell that turned the pre-existing mana particles in the rain droplets into small sacks stacked with highly reactive gunpowder.

He then followed with,

∮ Breeze! ∮

Manipulating the wind currents into a gust exclusively aimed at the kneeling Ayatsuri, a gust of wind that carried the explosive load at an immense speed.

In mere seconds the many small explosions illuminated the dark street. One after the other they combined into a deafeningly flashy,

Booooooom!

In the silence that followed, ash and smoke filled the atmosphere.

…

Shinpei waved the smoke away from his nose as he coughed. Did I get him?

The police officer behind him began walking forward eyeing down the damage, he then pulled his radio up to his mouth. 

Tchh “From LR5 to all units. Suspect down, I repeat suspect do—

BOOM! The officer exploded into red mist and shrapnel of flesh!

Hsssss His radio caught on fire as it dangled from the disfigured remains plastered on the car door, slowly spreading fire into the entire vehicle.

“WHAT HAPPENED! WHAT’S GOING ON?” Shinpei yelled. As the disturbed eyes of the officers turned back towards the smoke, their fingers shaking on the trigger of their pistols and assault rifles.

Shinpei noticed the fact and turned himself, the staff in between his fingers trembling.

Two purple eyes glowed from between the threads of smoke, behind them the figure of Ayatsuri slowly emerged, clearer and clearer every second, a grey bandage seemingly hanging off a wooden hand, a hand that rose up unshakingly, as if asking the heavens themselves for submission.

Its shadow flickered between sizes as sparks of a crimson flame danced around it like a serpent. A strange distorted feminine voice sang from between the sound pollution:

> Artifact number 13 used, Craftsman's fingers.

Ayatsuri’s familiar voice then sighed, “I’ve always told you Pirouette. Don’t use artifacts without my signal, it’s impolite.”

“What… What are you! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU EVEN DO THAT?" Shinpei’s professional composure had finally shattered, falling back behind the rock wall at the side in a fit of ugly panic.

I’m feeling lightheaded,

stay awake,

stay awake,

stay awake,

stay awake!

Shinpei begged his own body as his eyes began to doze off.

Ayatsuri’s hunter-like eyes though, locked hard onto the stone wall, his steps the only noise echoing louder than the rain on the empty street.

Bang!

A young officer fired a shot at Ayatsuri, no damage, just a streak of gunpowder on the wet pavement.

Ayatsuri sighed, “Pirouette, can the gentleman and I have some privacy?”

That same voice that isn't his then followed from within his mouth:

> Mana density and atmospheric influences calculated. 

> Ready for activation signal.

Silence.

“Pirouette,

"∮ Icelandic Breeze. ∮"

…

The hospital lobby felt too warm, then too cold.

The fans and the heaters were as confused as we were. What's going on? Nature's playing a trick?

A man nervously paced around in front of me that day, his blonde hair mirrored mine.

It was a man I admired, maybe hated, I can't remember much of him, except for the cold food he'd bring late every night.

My father.

Oh yeah footsteps, similar to Ayatsuri’s, maybe not, I can still somewhat hear his.

His are much slower.

Years ago. That day, we heard squeaks of panicked steps, nurses in white robes that smelled of alcohol, ran but slowed down before they opened the door to the lobby, the blonde man rushed to speak with them.

I was bored and didn't understand too much. I wiped my droopy nose and grabbed at his shirt from behind, standing on the tips of my toes to spy on their conversation.

"W● ha% @$₩€n¥ed---€×¥ €eed ×÷ pe!f÷rm @ C-secti^^" Some nurse held a paper.

"Do what you need, I'll sign anything!"

My father's nervous words surprised me, he was the type to laugh it off when a bee stung him, he never panicked.

Is this why I still recall them?

Those words I managed to remember,

were the last words I'd ever hear him say.

Why am I remembering this now?

S-stay awake damn it…