- - one year ago on a random island in the central isles - -
"You know the surefire way of killing an ashkin Ezra?"
Pedro's voice slurred as he danced around the fireplace with the locals. Bare feet on the frost nipped grass. He looked worse for wear with every spin.
"The number one way…" he jabbed a finger in the air.
"… the number one way is mastering your martial arts I tell you?… And… and … FORTIFICATION."
Ezra sighed. It was way past midnight, yet the locals refused to wind down. Pedro had healed one of their horses earlier; maybe they just wanted an excuse to celebrate.
"You said I naturally fortify. And I wasn't great in the academy but fighting… I've always been decent at it."
Pedro threw a drunken kick toward him, stopping mid air. Ezra flinched anyway, which made Pedro cackle like a gleeful child or a drunken uncle— hard to tell the difference.
"You can always be better. Yes you're decent… No, wait… you're not. But imagine if you had intention behind it. Some real fort. That's the problem with kids these days, no intention—"
"Okay, okay. I get it, teach me."
- - present - -
As soon as the netting burned away into literal ash, Ezra closed in on the ashkin.
His speed was unnatural. To Gia he wasn't running— he was shifting, flickering like light between rain drops. If she blinked, she lost him. And before she could lift her head—
Ezra, already in the air behind the creature, kicked it down with enough force to create a crater on the docks.
He reappeared a heartbeat later, standing over it as it tried to swipe. He pressed a foot into its chest, pinning it like it weighed nothing.
"So you don't talk huh? Your ability's decent and you're pretty strong…" he titled his head.
"But you're not sentient."
Still stepping in its chest, he punched the air— never touching the ashkin but each striker reached regardless, slamming invisible force into its body.
"Aahhhh!"
Ezra's head snapped upward.
The net around the civilians had tightened, moments away from crushing them like meat in a grinder.
"Ezra!" Gia screamed.
The ashkin fired a blast of water at him whilst he was distracted.
Ezra whipped his arm up, blocking the attack. Water sprayed outward, splitting around his forearm like a hose slamming into a wall.
Phew…
If Gia hadn't shouted I would have been a goner.
Ezra threw her a thumbs up with his free hand, still holding back the blast with the other. Gia sent him back a nervous smile.
Using cos fortification sorcerers enhance every aspect of their physical abilities. Separating the divine from the average person.
I can match this blast without emptying even half of my reserves. And hopefully this thing doesn't notice what I'm about to do with all the water flying around.
Conversion—
Release—
Hydro.
A surge of cosmic water erupted from Ezra's palm— the same one he was using to block the attack.
Like a garden hose against a jet washer… the ashkins ash made water never stood a chance.
Ezra's beam punched a perfect hole through its chest.
The distortion flickered.
And collapsed.
Ezra sucked in a ragged breath, the last of his adrenaline bleeding out. Then he heard it— a wet splash behind him.
He turned around just in time to see the civilians once suspended in the net falling into the water below.
"They'll be fine." Gia muttered, though even she sounded unsure.
- - A few hours later, Hanazaki Estate - -
"And then he shot a massive blast of water from his hand. Oh and guess what… from the same hand he was using to block the attack."
Gia dramatically acted out her retelling of the events. Ezra buried his face in embarrassment as Ciro patted his back.
"Sounds like you're a better sorcerer than me." Ciro laughed.
The group had gathered in a room that looked completely out of place compared to the rest of the estate. While the castle was all wood and tradition, this room resembled a cheap supermarket security office— fluorescent lighting, a cluttered desk and a wall of surveillance monitors each showing different parts of the island.
Omi sat hunched over the controls, scrolling through the footage with growing frustration.
"Damn it… still nothing."
"That is not how a king should articulate himself, my young sir."
A woman stepped into the room— small but far from fragile. Her hair was pure white, as if it had been bleached a thousand times over. A large katana rested on her back, yet her posture remained perfect. But what stood out most was a missing arm.
She bowed with effortless grace, even with the weight of the blade on her back.
"Irs time for your kenjutsu."
Omi shot to his feet and returned the bow.
"Sensei, these are sorcerers sent by the SOL."
She gave them all a quick glance, the. Another small bow.
"I see."
She returned to the doorway, pausing beneath the frame before leaving.
"To stay in the estate you must take lessons in swordsmanship."
She stepped out and the room froze.
"… What kind of rule is that?" Gia blurted.
Omi scratched his cheek, flustered.
"Dont worry about it. You guys are already helping enough."
He hurried after her, leaving the others in quiet confusion.
Ciro moved to the desk plugging his thumb drive.
"Omi said there's nothing in the feed, but Dex is good at catching things other miss. I'll get this over to him."
Before anyone noticed Re was already standing by the door.
"I'm gonna find somewhere to chill." He said walking out mid sentence.
Gia jogged after him.
"Catch you later guys!"
" I guess I don't get an invite." Ezra muttered under his breath.
Ciro slipped the thumb drive into his pocket and headed for the exit.
"Hopefully they don't mind me taking this… Anyway, what are you doing now? Wanna come with?"
" I think I'm going to check out those lessons that woman was talking about."
"Cool. Have fun."
Ciro waved then disappeared down the hallway.
Maybe I can find out something about light conversion from that lady…
Pedro always did say a lesson missed is a harder lesson learnt.