Walter covered his eyes, reclining against the wall of the cave. The sound of dripping water echoing throughout. His eyelids were heavy sheets that could blanket his eyes at any moment. Yet, he couldn't let them. Not yet at least.
It has already been three days since last I saw Alexander. But why—why do the memories of their death keep playing in my mind each time I relax? I thought I had already accepted it. Accepted that I will just rewrite this world…..
He looked to the ceiling, his eyes blinking slower and slower. A gentle breeze brushed against his ears, carrying in them the sound of footsteps. The sound of sparks ricocheted before he lunged. Pinning down his target, he raised his hands, forming a fist before lightning coated it.
"….Walter….."
He opened his eyes, hyperventilating. It is Anemone. No, calling her that does not feel normal. I doubt it ever will. "Miss...why did you not speak? I thought someone got passed me."
"You looked like you were sleeping so I never wanted to disturb you."
He got off her, letting the lightning that had accumulated dissipate. A silver aura coated his eyes before dissipating. A desperate attempt to keep him awake a little longer.
"Are you okay? You look exhausted—you have bugs under your eyes." A faint gold traced her eyes when she reached out her hand.
He grabbed her wrist, "I am fine." He sighed, "Your magic release….you need to leave that state immediately." Her temperature is irregular….I can feel her cooling and warming up at the same time.
She pulled back her hand, "I never noticed." She took a series of deep breaths before her eyes returned to brown. "You should hurry and get some rest, I will stand guard." She got up, heading toward the entrance. Before she could exit the cave, he interrupted her.
"Before that—that black feather. What was it?" You took it out of me the moment you opened your eyes three days ago.
"What are you talking about? Was there a black feather?" Anemone wondered what he was going on about. A black feather, she had no memory of that as far as she could recall.
"Never mind then." No dice then. She has no recollection. I suppose I was right to suspect….she was possessed. By her unique ability no less…for how long then. "Miss. About Kano…"
She quickly turned around, "Did you find him? I have been able to sense his presence vaguely this whole time. So where is he?"
"I never found him," She seems to be aware of our current situation . Wait, huh, She can sense his presence. As far as I can tell, we are the only ones here. Is she losing it?
"I see," she looked down before adding, "How come I can sense his presence if he is not here."
My curiosity exactly…. "You may be worried. I mean, he is an idiot."
"Yeah, we need to find him quickly. I don't know for how long he can hold out…."
"He will be fine. Unlike the two of us, he has a shadow nature." Walter sat up.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, grabbing her sleeves tightly.
"You saw it. If push comes to shove, I would hate to be the one going against him. He is a different kind of monster." I hope that sounds reassuring. Having her mind scattered will hinder her strategic prospects…I can not have that. She excels at magic theory whereas I only have information on medical prospects….that…
"Don't call him that! Sure he may seem unstable but he is nothing at all like that. You don't know him enough to care, do you?" Walter dusted his clothes, "Say what you will….but rip off my arm he did." Even though I just let him.
"You know what, I will just go and look for him myself." She turned before she felt a hand grab her shoulder. "You will not." I can not have her go with him as well. Realistically speaking, having her will only be a shackle. He will not be able to do what he can this way. It probably even ties down to why he can not so much as summon a single familiar.
A golden glow coated her eyes, "What's your problem? You aren't making any sense." He let out a sigh before saying, "Having you there will only suppress him. Remember when he lost control, he nearly murdered us both. That is proof enough that he can do it. He does not need you to baby sit. If you tried being rational, you would instantly realize how right I am." Damn it, I am starting to sound sensible. A silver glow coated his eyes before he saw flaming feathers.
A storm of crimson feathers was heading their way. A feather fell on Anemone's head before she brushed it off. "What the hell? Spirit magic." Walter looked toward the trees, Of this magnitude as well. "Miss…we will finish this some other time. Where is this magic coming from?"
"South West I believe." A silver aura coated his body before he blitzed in that direction. Running faster with each step he took. "Walter wait!" Before she could follow him, a sudden wave of pain befell her. A splitting headache that brought her to her knees. Her breath ran shallow, making her wonder what was going wrong.
Thunder clapped as lightning descended. A silver light was flung in her direction. It crashed into the cave before the feathers increased in number. She looked behind her seeing the cave collapse. "Walter…Walter!" The golden glow in her eyes got brighter as her pain only grew. She turned, looking south west. A visage of crimson flames fading into a bright azure emerged from the forest.
Accompanying it was a man dressed in black. He wore a black jacket which had silver stripes running down its arms. He yawned before covering his head in a hood. The debris that became the crash site suddenly began to move. They fell to the side before Walter stood up. Bones protruded from his joints before he fell down. Each breath he took, more unbearable than the last. A silver aura coated his wounds forcing the bones back into his body.
"Silvo…on a serious note though. You may have flung him too hard." The visage spoke. The flames that clad it began to fade away.
"You expected any different…the lightning he wielded was rather threatening." He said before returning his hands into his pockets.
"What do you mean, threatening? Your null concept was active the whole time. His magic couldn't even harm you." Twenty blades gathered about twenty meters above them. They assumed a curricular formation, revolving about the two. Silvo looked to the sky. "What might this be?" He raised his hand.
Anemone, who was directing the blades, exclaimed, "Wind Art: Rampaging Blades; Spirit Zephyr!" The blades released a massive gale. Its target, the two beneath it.
A tower of flames rose in its opposition, consuming the gale. The tower then shrunk becoming a concentrated sphere of flames.
"What just happened?" Anemone looked on watching as her art was reduced to naught in what appeared to be mere seconds. Their situation—only more dire. "Now, Flame art: Aurora Array; Song of Submission." The sphere of flames pulsed before propelling itself toward Anemone and Walter.
Silvo spoke, "Wouldn't negating the magic have been easier?" The flames flew, hoping to consume all when a silver aura consumed Walter's body. He got back to his feet before all his aura became concentrated in his arms.
He could hardly stand when he formed fists. "Now, full power. Shatter!" He jumped towards the flames before delivering a single blow. His silver aura erupted before the flames cracked. The flames exploded, consuming him. He was blown away.
Anemone watched as the visage drew closer. It stood towering over her.
"Anemone.....that was you." It held its flame coated face before removing a mask.
"Calida…"