Noah Habiki
Russian Institute - Blue Settlement
Monday - Morning
Left, right, right, left, kick, swing.
Time and time again throughout the exchanges of blows did he show signs of weariness. It was to be expected, of course, that man was as he proclaims “Blue” and judging from the earlier reaction concerning the penguin, a class system was in place. Those who started out begin with Red while the upper tier was considered Blue.
How many battles did this man have to endure? One or thousandths to reach where he’s at? The movements of his arms weren’t wasted on fanciful tricks or overextension. Each one was precise and meant to deal a lethal blow if connected.
The only reason I was even able to endure and keep up was knowing his turn by three seconds each time.
Kuh!
It isn’t enough. This body may know his patterns, but it’s too slow to keep up. In a battle of endurance stamina is the critical difference between living and dying, and so far he got me beat.
“You aren’t half bad, kid!”
The tone he used was that of a being merely having fun rather than someone getting into a severe fight. The grin he wore and the relaxation in his shoulders as he swung with precision was almost contradictory.
His eyes weren’t looking at me. They weren’t looking at someone worth going all out. What they saw was a means to an end. A stepping stone for their goal.
My mind begun cracking as the images of the future penetrated my skull. No matter how many flashes pass through my body reacted as though being on autopilot. Clairvoyance had probably been an ability I relied on too much through the time I’ve had this spell.
“Don’t rely on such a cheap clutch,” was what that woman said many years ago.
If she saw me now, then she’d probably facepalm before lecturing me on ignoring her lessons. I hadn’t realized til now, but I was very fortunate to have met her then and there. I couldn’t say for sure how I’d feel if we met again but I can definitely say with clarity.
“You were one hell of a bitch, ya know?”
“You put up a good fight but…”
His tone suggested that he won, but so far all that could from this was a stalemate….
Hold on for a second. His eyes just now weren’t looking in my direction but behind m---
“Four-Eyes!”
I messed up.
I messed up without even realizing it. Deep in my thought, I consider the possibility of leaving the girl to fight while supporting her with Pandora. By all means, taking down the other one would be easy. Yet, I forgot a crucial thing in battle.
Always keep track of your enemies numbers.
When this fight started, I failed to take in the fact that there were more than just the two of these bullies once the battle began. One more remained unseen since the field was dropped and now…
I recalled Pandora’s Tears, but I doubt there was time to provide a shield. M body immediately adjusted as the second before an unknown third opponent revealed himself, already in position as his sword struck down to bisect her.
!!!!
What was bisected wasn’t four-eyes but the damn blue penguin whom she took into her arms!
I couldn’t even comprehend the sheer coincidence of the mascot saving her or perhaps this is what they called a “miracle.”
...It doesn’t matter though!
While the event within seconds had distracted us both from the sheer shock, I recovered first before the Bokken wielder did and time had slowed down by mere fractions of a second.
Move...move...move...move!
My arm launched forward faster than I could predict whether due to instinct and eyes met for half a second… the victory was ours!
“Intrusion Penalty: 50%.”
What?
The reality that encompassed us collapse almost immediately without delay and my miracle had collapsed along with it.
“Ah!”
Without my miracle, I plummeted to the ground and almost suffered a bruise on my back. It was too painful, but the sudden shift in scenery, as well as the loss of weapons, were a bit abrupt for me to take in. Brushing my back and rubbing my eyes to remove dirt I looked up and saw a new entry into the mixed.
"Igarashi, I am disappointed in you. To use stolen technology for something you can achieve on your own... Worse, for you're... 'clique' to do so badly against these newbies... Certainly, you've hit a new low. Expect a demotion once the Opening Ceremony concludes."
It was like being in one of those old-school military movies with the outfit she wore, but something tells me that she drills anyone harder than any general ever would. Her posture, her aura ooze of authority and the coldness within her eyes spoke of horrors she’d inflict on anyone who disobeyed. The worst was that the possibility of her being a teacher her was of a higher chance than anything else.
Out the corner were the men who prayer to her arrival was ready to take us down now stood in line with a nervous look in their pupils.
“So they know just how screwed they are. Huh?”
I looked back for four-eyes and sigh as she was back to her energetic self while even trying to grab the penguin once again.
Good grief, this girl really is out of place…
I admit that a small, tiny fragment of a smile appeared on my face. However, it was banished from the cold stare of the women who glanced at me.
"Try not invade other dorm's territories, if you would. You might not be so lucky next time."
An invasion? I couldn’t understand what she means--- ah. I see now.
What I was about to say may spell the end of me and potentially have me endure more pain than ever, but I couldn’t let the misunderstanding go for any longer than necessary. I bowed my head and replied.
“Forgive me for my rudeness, Ma’am. Me and… four-eyes over there was sent flying here by accident due to a mishap. We never intended nor had any knowledge of invading dorms. If anything we simply acted in self-defense. Please don’t take this as means of mischief.”
I took a breath of air after having said that. My lungs felt like it was about to explode just from being in her presence for so long.
This is what it’s like being in front of someone far more superior than you. The feeling of dread and frightfulness cams settled in my stomach the longer I was here. Although there was something else I wanted to say, and it wasn’t towards her but the idiot who decided to start these in the first place.
That girl was strong, stronger than me but it wasn’t insulting or anything. I knew that I may have just as well been the weakest in these school. Everyone here came from a prestige family or from a higher position looking for power and here I am from an ordinary town. Anyway, that girl summoned a golem in the shape of a wolf, and she might have more than that up her sleeves. It was best to keep track of this knowledge as well as the battle altogether.
The man known as Igarashi Yuji wields a Bokken far too durable and excels in melee combat.
My first opponent wields a whip with omnidirectional control and has yet to show anything else.
The last one attacked only when her back was turned while wearing some sort of camouflage. An assassination-type then?
I kept this in mind while waiting for the instructor's reaction---
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Something broke in my left eye.
My left eye was crushed like glass, yet it was still there moving without injury.
This is what I hated more than anything else!
If there’s one drawback, it’s the feedback and potential risk of overusing Clairvoyance more than I can take. The spell has always been a pain to rely on, and it came down to luck on whether or not I get hit by it at all.
It was like playing Russian roulette.
I immediately bit the inside of my cheek and held my face from becoming ugly due to the pain that arrives from this. I didn't want to draw attention to that, yet the more I thought about it, the more apparent it became that showing weakness could perhaps be an advantage all on its own. Besides...
I'm self-aware that I am less than what people expect me to be...
...Although those same people might not be aware...
...That I can be more than what they might not see.
Originally Posted by Bird of Hermes
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