"How far out are they planning to take us?" Jasper asked Lucy as they peered past the bow of the ship to the endless stretch of water ahead.
For the second round of the tourney, the students had been loaded onto a quite a large ship and were currently an hour into a sail with no idea of their destination. Of roughly the 30 students who made it through the second round, 20 of them were fourth and fifth years, and as a surprising turn or events the majority of the underclass were freshmen. A fact the second and third years fiercely resented considering it made them look bad in comparison. And they made sure the most lacking of the freshmen felt their full disdain.
"I don't know," Lucy softly replied, trying to ignore their eyes. But what unsettled her most was the golden hair boy that had approached her in the first games strange smirk as he eyed her over. At least the dagger strapped to her thigh gave her some sense of support. Besides that, she dressed in a corset tight enough to keep her chest in place and a skirt down to her knees. The other students wore more form-fitting clothes, but Lucy felt there was more movement in a loose skirt than tight leather pants.
"What you should really be wondering is why we're taking a boat to get there," Pecilia chimed in as she checked out her freshly sharpened nails. "They had everything pre-planned so why wouldn't we be using a transportation stone to get to the next round?"
Lucy's and Jasper's mouth fell open as they realized what that meant, while Freya's mouth bit down on the few slices of Asiago cheese she snuck along.
"Students!" Ulmonwood addressed from the helm of the small ship. "Congratulations on making it to the next round of the tourney." The sun was painfully bright, and the professor had to shield his eyes to address the contestants. Algernon felt the draining presence of the sun the most as his all-black outfit absorbed the harshness. "As you can see, we're making our way to that island over there." Lucy followed Ulmonwood's gesture where she could just make out the faintest outline of small mountains across miles of water. "There we will have our third trial for the tournament."
"Third?" Freya repeated confused. "When did we have our second?"
"Professor." Inglewood, the fourth year's destruction magic teacher, said. "We have to hurry this up."
"Oh right, of course," Ulmonwood said. "Well, then the second round begins-" A huge explosion burst out the side of the ship and almost all the students lost their footing from the blast. "Now."
"Make it to the island and you've passed the next round," Ulmonwood announced as Inglewood handed the professor a transportation stone. "And there is only one lifeboat."
With those final destructive words, the professors vanished in a flash.
A second explosion erupted somewhere in the bottom of the ship and sent the students into a frenzied search for the lifeboat, which was on the left side of the ship and could at most hold ten.
One of the third-year students started to climb inside but was shot overboard by a fourth-year, declaring, "We'll be taking that."
A different third-year shot at her, but she dodged it and in doing so it sailed right towards Lucy where it would have landed if Algernon hadn't nulled the attack.
"Thank you," Lucy said, her body pumping with adrenaline, though she had no idea what to do with that extra energy yet.
Algernon just looked at her, not giving a response as he tried to calm down his own extra heart beats. Though it wasn't from an adrenaline high even when a third bomb drastically expedited the sinking.
The fourth years won the battle for the life raft and started to lower themselves, but the watchful fifth-years severed the ropes and joined together to flip it upside down, emptying the fourth years into the sea, and taking the boat for themselves.
Algernon turned to Jasper, barely keeping his feet steady with the rocking boat. "Tear this ship to pieces." He ordered. Jasper got right to work ripping apart the ship with creation magic.
Pecilia followed suit, grasping the plan.
"You come with me," Algernon ordered Freya as he started to fuse the pieces Jasper and Pecilia tore off into a small ship of their own. Freya immediately helped by taking the sails.
One of the second years noticed what they were doing and came over intending to steal the life raft for themselves.
"Stop," Lucy warned as her hands prepped with light magic.
"Out of the way." The only surviving second-year girl said as she shot dark energy at Lucy.
"Know your place already." Spat the girl, annoyed to see Lucy had successfully defended herself. Her next attack was intended to do much more damage than necessary but Lucy had experienced much worse and stopped it once again, though this time it was significantly harder.
"Tena! That's too much." The only other second year to pass said. "The goal isn't to kill each other."
"Reed, shut up," Tena replied as she shot at Lucy again. "And help me!"
"I'm sorry about this," Reed apologized, his hands sparking with light energy as he joined in on the attack.
Lucy started to panic. The only way to defend against light and dark attacks at the same time was with destruction magic and she could only summon the bare minimum.
Before Lucy could fall to them both a shot sent from behind hit the boy in the chest as Jasper came to stand beside Lucy.
"Agh first years are always so annoying." Tena moaned as she threw shards of broken floorboards at Lucy.
Jasper incinerated it with his magic but it took all of his focus and Reed took the opening shot. Lucy stepped in front of Jasper and met his light attack with one of her own. They collided causing a sound like thunder to break free as bolts of light energy chaotically ricocheted around them.
"Are you trying to kill us all!" Tena yelled covering her head.
One of the flaying bolts hit Jasper's leg, knocking him to the ground and when Lucy turned around to check on her friends, Tena shot dark magic at her. Lucy was only saved when Algernon's light magic broke through the attack to hurl Tena backward into her partner where he was knocked unconscious.
"Get on," Algernon said pushing Lucy in the direction of the boat Freya had just finished piecing together.
Lucy helped Jasper to his feet and to the raft.
Algernon stood before the second-year girl ready to defend them but when Tena saw the cluster of powerful dark magic radiating from his hands, she backed down. Algernon thought as much and made his way to the boat.
Tena instead tried to wake up her friend by shaking him, but Reed wouldn't so much as open his eyes as water started spill onto the deck.
Lucy watched the girl desperately trying to wake her friend and didn't even stop to think as she climbed off their raft back towards the two second years and past Algernon who failed at stopping her.
Algernon cursed under his breath, "Get it in the water now." He told the rest of the first years as he chased after Lucy.
Pecilia destroyed part of the railing and the reaming three freshmen shoved the raft into the water.
"Take his other side," Lucy said to Tena. She looked apprehensive but accepted the help and together they dragged the passed-out boy across the sinking ship.
Algernon made it to them just as the ship started to collapse in on itself. He threw the boy's weight over one shoulder and yelled at the girls to get to the raft as the wood started to break open from the ground up like the teeth of a huge monster trying to swallow them.
Tena tripped over the splitting floorboards and Lucy pushed her back up for stability.
"Pecilia!" Jasper called out, seeing that they were too far for the girls to jump onto the raft.
"I already know," Pecilia growled as she hovered a large piece of wood in the air for a stepping stone.
Lucy and Tina jumped onto the wood as Jasper and Pecilia struggled to keep it afloat but the girls were able to launch quickly off of it and onto the raft.
Past them, Algernon still dodged breaking floorboards with Reed's limp body and everyone watched on in worry as the ship was seconds away from complete collapse.
Jasper and Pecilia concentrated with all their power on keeping the floor bored up as Algernon stepped onto the floating plank. They both grunted from the physical toll it took, but they managed to keep it up as Algernon threw Reed at the other second year and followed right after him, landing on a knee and huffing.
But Algernon couldn't take even a second rest as their craft was being sucked into the whirlpool created by the sinking ship. He shot dark magic off the side of the boat and into the water trying to push them away from the sinkhole. Lucy joined him and gritted her teeth as it felt like they were trying to move a mountain.
Freya manned the sails, trying to use the power of the wind to help but it wasn't enough and anyone left that could help joined in with their own magic streaming into the water.
The ship sank right before their eyes and tried to drag them under with it, but Freya caught a strong gust of wind that finally pulled them free. Everyone collapsed in exhaustion, but they were safe for now.
"Don't ever," Algernon said, between struggling breaths as he landed next to Lucy. "Go against what I tell you to do again." His dark eyes reflecting just how deadly serious he was.
A cold shiver lit up Lucy's spine. It was an intimidating look, to say the least, and Lucy nodded her head. She then turned to where Tena tended to a huge gash across her friend's arm.
Lucy used the small amount of strength she still had to walk over to the boy as she reached for her crystal dagger. Algernon just happened to turn around as she did, and his eyes opened wide to see her drag her skirt far up her leg until the tops of her thighs showed. He swallowed but couldn't make himself look away.
Lucy used the dagger to cut away some of the fabric of her skirt and tied it tightly around his wound.
"Thank you," Tena said reluctantly. "But you didn't have to save us."
"Why wouldn't I?" Lucy said with a smile, one the girl was too ashamed to face. "After all, we're all students, we should help each other."
Tena pursed her lips and looked away as her friend started to moan.
"Reed!" Tina said, shaking him awake.
"Are we alive?" He asked.
"Momentarily," Pecilia said. "But isn't that the most exciting part about our fragile lives?"
The boy looked up slightly scared by Pecilia.
"Land Hoooo!" Freya yelled as she expertly navigated them to the island.
"Great job, Freya!" Jasper said, getting to his feet though he wondered what kind of background she had to be able to command the ropes of a ship so well.
"Don't speak so soon." A voice called from behind them.
Out of the blue, a huge boulder of hardened sand hurled at the craft.
Freya tried to steer them away, but it was launched too powerfully to dodge, until Algernon used his scythe to shatter it midair. The sand poured down on them like rain, but Lucy managed to look through it to the attacker and recognized him as the strange upperclassman from the first round.
"Luke!" One of the fifth years screamed, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him back and forth. "What are you doing bullying the first years!"
"It's only a little teasing," Luke said, looking over to where Algernon was standing at the front lines of their makeshift raft. "They can handle it." A smile cracked across his face as his eyes locked onto Algernon. "Especially the Algernon Black. You wouldn't mind a little fight now, would you?"
"Not at all. But wait until we get to shore, and I'll show you a real one," Algernon warned, his ring starting to vibrate.
Luke's smile didn't falter. "No thanks," The upperclassmen sang, his wrists tingling in anticipation, "I only want a fight with you I can win." He jumped over the side of his boat and Lucy looked on thinking he was going to sink, but in the next second, he flew up into the sky with metal wings flapping.
"Freya, get to shore," Algernon commanded as he charged his scythe with magic.
"Aye Captain," Freya said, pulling on the sails.
"Stand back," Algernon ordered everyone else. Pecilia shoved Lucy behind her, and Jasper stood in front them both.
Luke circled the craft once before landing on the railing of their little ship. As soon as he did the wings curled into two halves of an extremely sharp shield that fell down the length of his arm until he grabbed the weapons between his fists.
Luke charged Algernon who raised his scythe to block the attack as Lucy felt the immense energy surge off the colliding weapons.
"Does that boy..." Lucy asked with eyes wide taking in Luke's shimmering weapon "Does he also have a known?"
"Do you not know who he is?" Reed asked, getting himself to a sitting position as far away from the fight as he could.
Lucy shook her head no. Except for that one vague interaction in the forest she had no idea who he was, or why something about him seemed familiar.
"He's Emora's artifact holder of the twin golden cuffs," Pecilia informed Lucy while covering her ears.
Lucy's eyes opened wider as the fighting took on a new level of danger.
Luke and Algernon struggled to overcome the other, but Luke's artifact was better for close combat, and he was able to push Algernon off with one and use the other razor-sharp weapon to slice through his side. Algernon's winced from the pain but kept his stance.
"This boat isn't big enough for you to swing around that big thing," Luke said throwing his advantage into Algernon's face. "Not without hurting the rest of your team." Algernon took one quick look back to check on them, specifically, Lucy who was gripping her hands so tight they turned white. "Or maybe there is just one you don't want to hurt," Luke teased noticing the half-a-second glance. Algernon's eye trained back on him in bitter rage. Interesting, Luke thought, and for the first time in their fight, Algernon attacked first.
Luke dodged as his scythe ripped apart the railing of the raft.
"Careful." Luke laughed, looking back at the damage. "Too many of those and your ship will sink." Algernon was getting infuriated by his cockiness and swung his scythe horizontally across which Luke dodge by jumping into the air and coming down to slice his weapon across Algernon's back. Algernon staggered forward and pressed against the wounds. They weren't deep, only meant to irritate him like paper cuts, which they did immensely. Luke rushed Algernon with both of his weapons drawn, one slicing his chest and the other rising up to slice his leg.
Algernon's teeth clenched, but Luke was close enough that he could swing the other end of his scythe up, and just about pierce his thigh, before Luke noticed and jumped back.
"I guess you might be half as good as the rumors say you are." Luke conceded as he felt a drop of blood drip down his leg.
"I'm sure I only need to be a tenth as good to beat you."
Luke smirked and charged Algernon once again. "There was another rumor I've heard of you as well. It was actually pretty interesting." Algernon's face flushed as he predicted where he was going. "Something about a boy born to the black of night..."
"Shut up!" Algernon yelled through clenched teeth as anger fueled his attack with more power but less skill.
"How did that end anyways?" Luke teased loud enough for the others on the raft to hear. "With the death of light?" Luke glanced over to Lucy and absolute rage overtook Algernon. He started relentlessly attacking Luke, using up way more energy than he needed as he swung the heavy scythe around with all his might damaging the craft as he did.
"Calm down!" Pecilia yelled as their ship paid the price of his temper.
"I didn't think you'd get so angry." Luke continued to prod as he easily dodged the less accurate swings of his scythe. "You must really have reason to believe it."
Algernon kept up the unyielding attacks as Luck was very much entertained to have broken his cool demeanor with a few words. But his smile fell when Algernon cornered him to the end of their raft and all he saw was Algernon's scythe coming towards his face.
"That's a scary look in your eyes," Luke said, with Algernon's scythe positioned to his throat, but no inflections in his voice to show that he felt defeated.
"I bet I could make it scarier." Luke's smile cocked to one side, and he jumped overboard.
Algernon figured out what he was planning but wasn't faster than Luke's speed in the air as the fifth year appeared on the opposite side of the boat and pulled Lucy off the raft by her wrists with his metal wings flapping as he flew away. It happened so fast Lucy didn't even know to react until she was already hovering feet above the water.
"Sorry about this," Luke said to Lucy but grinned back at Algernon who looked like he would have murdered Luke if he was close enough. "He's just too fun not to tease." He trained his smile back down and it rang familiar to Lucy.
"Do I know you?"
"Did I never properly introduce myself?" Luke smiled as Lucy struggled to keep her arm from getting pulled out of her socket. "I'm Luke," He said with a mock bow, "Bellmounte,"
Recognition flashed across Lucy's face as she remembered Aloysius but that went to dread when the metal wing attached to Luke's shoulder shrank into a small golden cuff and fell straight down the line of Luke's arm and onto Lucy's. The weapon tightly wrapped around Lucy's wrist and the second that it did, Luke let go. Lucy fell ten feet into the water, faster than she should have as the weight of the cuff, which was almost half her own, dragged her deep into the water. She tried to swim up, but the heaviness of the artifact pulled her down and when she tried to rip the thing off it wouldn't budge. It took only a couple of seconds before Lucy started losing her vision as water rushed past her, and the pressure built.
"No!" Pecilia yelled as she went to the edge of the ship to see where Lucy had disappeared. She turned around to yell at Algernon to go after her, but he was already gone.
Algernon fought through the sting of the saltwater in his many cuts to look for Lucy's quickly diminishing form. He spotted wisps of blond hair 30 feet below as he used the weight and sharpness of his scythe to propel towards her.
"Luke!" Rowland yelled, slamming his head into the back of his the second he landed back on their boat. "You asshole!"
"Ow!" Luke yelled, rubbing at the spot. "How is your head so dense?"
Rowland picked Luke up by his collar with a red bump forming on his forehead. "Don't bully the freshmen."
"I wasn't bullying her," Luke said with his hands up. "I was testing a theory of mine." Luke turned his head back to the water where Algernon had already jumped in after Lucy as he wondered more about the authenticity of the rumor than ever. Luke closed his eyes and concentrated, sensing where the other cuff was in the water. Its twin started to vibrate on his wrist calling for its other half. In a few seconds, it came crashing out of the water at an unbearably fast speed. Luke grabbed it out of the air like it was nothing.
Lucy was losing consciousness as her eyesight slowly blurred at the edges until everything went black. Algernon watched her eyes close and panicked. Just as she fell unconscious the cuff on her arm started to drag her back up towards the surface and as soon as Algernon grabbed a hold of her the artifact unlocked from her wrist and cut past them up to shore.
Pecilia and Jasper's distressed gazes were glued to the water but lost sight of their friends quickly as Freya couldn't control the current or the wind to turn them around with such a little boat and were forced to sail away while praying for Algernon to save Lucy.