"Unconditional love is a powerful force that can move mountains, rivers, and even space-time!"
*Orion*
"Another long day done," I said, stretching my arms towards the sky. The sun was past the halfway mark, soon it was going to be setting.
The other day I was too tired to go to the circle, but now I was ready.
"Follow me," Yuzuki said. She escorted me to the school park. In the center of the five mile track was a white circle. When we arrived the entire track was filled with spectators.
"What's going on?" I said, looking around the place. People were chattering away, but instead of having smiles they were frowning. "Is something bad going on?
"Yuzu, Ori," Tasunke and Tashunka yelled from inside the crowd. The two pushed their way out of the crowd. Their eyes sparkled with excitement. "Kaizuki Amamiya is battling."
I glanced over at Yuzuki for answers as to who that guy was.
Yuzuki rubbed her chin nervously. "Kaizuki is ranked fourteen in this school. In other words, my superior." She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out who he was battling. "Who's his opponent?"
"No one," the twins said in unison. "He's waiting for someone brave enough to challenge him."
I grinned. "So he's one rank higher than Yuzu, in that case..." I pushed my way through the crowd, but instead it ended up being the other way around. I was pushed into the center by the crowd.
Coming to a stop, I dusted off my blazer.
"How rude, no need to push!" I grumbled.
A six foot tall man dressed in ruby-red plated armor stepped toward me. I was already skinny compared to most other guys, but compared to his muscular body I looked more like a twig.
"You're the idiot who decided to challenge me?" he said and he held a hand to the side. A long black wand materialized in his hand. Instantly he transformed it into an equally dark katana that was even taller than he was! He grinned at my reaction. "You're a freshman so you likely don't have a familiar. I guess I won't be able to test it out..."
I summoned my own wand and transformed it into a set of miniature water-blue stiletto knives with a red star on the hilt.
"Orion, don't overuse your time magic," Yuzuki called out.
I stepped back and grinned. "I won't," I yelled back at her. "Aqua Draco." Water danced around me. It shaped itself into a long bodied, legless dragon. I directed the aquatic dragon with my right index finger to attack the ninth highest ranked student.
Kaizaki's katana slashed through my water dragon with ease. The two equal halves splattered to the floor and sent water in all directions.
I grinned and snapped my fingers. The crowd stopped talking. The only one who moved was Yuzuki. I waved at her but all she did was give me a cold stare. Harsh crowd.
"Now, reform!" I commanded. The two ponds rose into the air and reformed into a single water dragon. The draconic spell attacked Kaizaki from behind, and it sent him falling to the ground. I grabbed his sword and forced it to revert back into its wand form.
Though I could only carry that plan out for a bit. I dropped his wand to the ground as I staggered forward. I had to finish this match quickly. My prana wouldn't last much longer.
Time returned to normal. Kaizaki stood up, puzzled by what had happened. Water wrapped around his neck.
"I win," I said with a grin. I kicked him over the barrier, cementing my placement as the ninth rank student in the academy.
"No way," the twins said, their eyes bulging out. "Ori actually defeated Kaizaki."
"Impossible," Ayawamat said, shaking his head. "Yesterday I fought Kaizaki, yet even I couldn't..." He glanced at me with curiosity. "How did you grow to be this strong despite that honey-loving wimp having defeated you days ago?"
"Stop insulting Lei!" Yuzuki yelled, shooting Ayawamat a glare. "He's far stronger than Orion, and likely is stronger than you are."
I winced upon hearing those words. Did she really think so lowly of me? Or simply so highly of Lei?
Yuzuki looked down at the former fourteenth rank. "Time really is an overpowered magic, no wonder they banned it from the Mahoulympics."
"Yeah, it truly is," Nahimana said, her arms crossed. "They should regulate it for these rank battles too, or they'll quickly become lopsided."
"Though you did improve since your match with Lei," Yuzuki said. "Your control over time is better. How did you do it?"
I grinned slightly, trying to push away her earlier words. "I have been trying to concentrate my control to stop time more completely, even at a shorter effect. I'm lucky that the guy underestimated me too. He lowered his guard, thinking he could finish me off with one swing, which likely would've happened if I hadn't acted fast enough."
Yuzuki laughed. "So modest of you."
Kaizaki stood up and walked over to us. "Time magic?"
Everyone, expect for my dorm mates gave me odd looks, though I was already used to such stares.
I walked back into the barrier. "That's right, I used time magic." I fell down to one knee, and caught my breath. I was running dangerously low on prana, yet I still raised my head and proudly said, "I'm a member of the Hos-" The crowd then seemed to fade away as if a gust of wind had blown away their voices.
"Orion," Yuzuki yelled. I felt her catch me once more...
*Yuzuki*
"Where am I?" Orion asked, dazed.
"We're back in the dorm, this is your room," I responded. "You ran out of prana after your battle with Kaizaki."
He scratched his head. "I did?"
I shook my head in disbelief. "You shouldn't have pushed yourself to these limits."
His lips curled into a playful grin. "You were that worried?" His face turned slightly red. "You...didn't have to worry that much about me."
I sighed. "You remind me so much of a certain idiot friend of mine. I would often get him out of trouble."
Orion's smile slightly faded. "You mean Lei? Am I a temporary replacement for him or something? I mean, you're always comparing us." He pulled his blankets closer to his body. "Thanks for caring for me but I'll be fine now." He closed his eyes and turned away from me.
I stood up from my seat. "I didn't mean..."
Or do I? Am I being kind to Orion only because he reminds me of Lei?
I put the seat back by the old pine desk that the former inhabitant of the room had left behind. Walking away, I turned off the lights.
Once I returned to my room I felt my phone vibrate. The call was from Lei!
I jumped down on my fluffy bed and answered. "Finally you call! I was worried about what might've happened to you. I heard from Ona what had happened."
Lei chuckled. "It's only been a few hours since we saw each other. Plus, it's not like I'm Hikaru or Eri."
My face turned red. "You aren't my brother but we grew up as close as siblings."
Lei paused. "I never saw you as a sister. Our bond is different than between Yen and me."
My face flushed. "What...what are you referring to?"
"I don't know how to explain..."
"Woah, talking to your girlfriend?" someone teased Lei on the other side of the line. It sounded like Hal.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Lei protested. "I'm talking to Yuzuki!"
"Right, Adela is," Wanikiya commented.
"She isn't either!"
"Wait, are you talking to my sister?" Hikaru asked.
Adela? Have those two gotten closer during these past few days? Lei's finally in the same school as me again, and yet I'm letting him be snatched away under my nose.
"Sis?" Hikaru asked, likely after having rudely snatched the phone. "How's everything over there?"
"Good," I responded. "Oh yeah, you can't imagine what just happened... Wait, before I continue, move away from the others."
"Alright," Lei yelled back.
"Lei?"
"We're far off now, though I think that Iah is becoming suspicious. He's leering at us right now," Hikaru said.
"Then let me make this fast." Lei already knew about our Hoshi-like powers. "Orion defeated the 15th rank! But that isn't all, the idiot almost announced who he was to everyone. I mean, the clan he belongs to."
"I see," was all that brother responded with, as if too stunned for words. "How did he defeat him?"
"Time! He ended up freezing it entirely this time."
"That's OP!" Lei commented. "Hard to believe that we're talking about the same guy who lost to me a few days ago."
"Hey, what are you two up to?" asked Iah.
"Hikaru is just talking to his sister," Lei responded, likely with a nervous grin. "I'm just watching to make sure that this klutz doesn't drop my phone and break it."
"I'm not a klutz!" Hikaru protested. "You're clumsier than I am!"
I sighed. "It'll be better if we speak tomorrow. Good night!"
"Bye, talk to you tomorrow," called out Lei and my brother.
Closing my eyes, I smiled. Lei actually remembered to call me... I let out a chuckle. Though what is his relationship with Adela right now? Then there's that other teammate of his, Nyima. Those two seemed strangely close back at Mahpiya during the exam.
I turned and stared at my green phone. That fool better remember to meet up with me tomorrow, or at least call me!
**Solar Note: What do you think of Orion's power?**