"Are you okay?" Sora sat still on the bed and didn't respond. He tuned out for most of their conversation and instead, studied her with keen eyes. Whether or not she minded his silence, she didn't show it because she kept talking. She had to be at least twice his age, maybe thrice. She would have been in the Academy for a very long time because he could see the aging lines that were starting to form across her face and her lips which had started to give a slight bow. A thick portion of her hair on the left was a sharp gray color that stood out amongst her brunette hair which had been neatly styled into a low bun but her petite figure and soft voice could throw anyone off when guessing her age, it still had him guessing. She had come in to examine him again but unlike the previous times, she stayed to talk to him today. Today, the eleventh day since he died, and four days since he woke up. He still had no intentions of speaking, but something about Laya drew him in. He decided he m
Explaining to the Ivy Masters about all that happened in hopes that they would believe him didn't seem like a good plan either.Sora put his hood over his head looking down as he made his way to his room whilst preparing to face the reality of Ryo's absence when he heard a loud shout from across the hallway."Halfling!"Not today, gods!Sora turned and began to walk back the way he had come without looking up to see who had shouted. He didn't need to.He could hear the sounds of the footsteps that approached, and he quickened his steps too.Sora broke into a run but he was knocked off balance as a strong force tangled his legs, making him trip and fall to the ground and it gave enough time for them to catch up to him.Dai grabbed him from behind and pulled him up as Marce broke the water force still tangled around his legs."Hello
I didn'tI didn't kill himHe's not deadTears poured down Sora's face as several thoughts ran through his mind.I killed someone. I killed Konan.Gods how!?Sora ran into the woods and kept running till his legs gave out and he crashed to the ground. He lay on the wet floor and tried not to process anything but the thoughts kept coming.Sora struggled and pushed himself up, staggering through the woods till he found a clearing and sat underneath a tree.He buried his face in his hands and closed his eyes, but the image of Konan's lifeless body didn't leave his head. "What have I done?"His life couldn't be any worse. From being attacked by a soul eater and losing Ryo to battling for his life, now he had killed a mage and would get kicked out of the Academy."I didn't kill him." He repeated
"Come along young man."Z walked ahead of Sora who seemed too stunned by his surroundings. Never in his life had he thought he would walk through the Hunters' area. It was completely different from what he had imagined. For some reason he expected the area to be fully dark-themed and had imagined seeing dark creatures with very serious-looking mages everywhere but this was different. The Hunters he saw looked like normal mages. Even Z seemed normal compared to what he has imagined.They walked until they came to a large room with a serving stand by the entrance. The Hunters' dining hall was small compared to the hall he was used to in the academy, but it was functional.They got meals, and both sat at a table close to the door. They ate in silence, but Z seemed more interested in getting her day over with. Sora wanted to ask questions about the mission she had been on, but he kept quiet.After she wa
"Hey"Sora held Ryo's hand in his and squeezed tightly. His hands were cold against his but he did not mind."I miss you and I wish you were here… I try to imagine you're out on your first mission and I'm just here waiting till you will get back. You will get back won't you?""My life has been crazy wild since you went on your mission and you'd be so shocked by how much change there has been since then… I went to the Hunters' area. Can you believe it? I took the route through the woods… it's tricky actually, I see why we couldn't find it easily, and I'm not sure I even know the route anymore."Sora smiled to ease the tightness in his throat."and I almost killed someone, too.""Guess who?" After a quick dramatic pause, Sora added; "Konan."The thought of killing anyone has never crossed his mind. Asides not bein
He struggled to get out of bed and moved to open the door.Seeing Z at the door in uniform awakened his senses completely.She glanced at him from head to toe. "Meet me in the training area in ten minutes."She walked away immediately, and he was left standing dumbfounded. He hurried and freshened up before hurrying out of the room.He had moved into the Hunters' area the day before, after seeing Ryo. The move had been quick and effortless, as a result of not having much to do.Sora walked quickly until he came to the open area they had passed through his first time in the Hunters' area.Z stood there already waiting and before her was a bowl on a stand. It reminded him of the first practical class he attended. The beginning of his shame and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.Quickly adjusting himself, he went and stood before Z, bowing his head slig
Days had passed, and with training after training but nothing changed. Sora could tell Z was getting frustrated with him from the amount of times she would put her hair in a ponytail and take it out within the time frame of their training sessions. She also did a thing with her energy when she was getting impatient, she would create the tiniest string of water from the air and twirl it around her fingers as she stood anxiously waiting for him to channel energy then she wound flick it across the room out of frustration before storming out of the training area.They had tried several techniques, from breathing exercises to meditations to physical training, all to help jolt his energy from within but nothing changed. Sora himself was getting frustrated. Maybe he had imagined his energy but the images of Konan's lifeless body in the ground after his energy charge was still burned in his memory and was enough evidence to prove he had not imagined his energy.&
She shook her head; "too slow dumbass."Then she sent another and then another. Sora was alert now and moved out of the way dodging the first charge but Z's second charge met him exactly where he stepped as though it knew where he'd land.""Stop being so predictable. Do something unexpected." Z yelled from across him.More hits followed and Sora was hit with more charges than he dodged."Will you hit me already you twart! I'm getting bored."It took a while for Sora to come to terms with the fact that he could use his powers too and he sent his first charge but Z deflected it with another charge."Even a Depender would hit better than that."Sora formed a bigger water force and shot it straight at Z. She simply formed an energy shield and blocked the hit."If you think size is matters, you are even dumber than I thoug