The Third Party - Chapter 101

3rd Person’s POV (12 yrs., 9 months)

“Fall in Line!” commanded Allen, to which the group hurried to enter the formation. Lana smiled satisfactorily, it looks like the newcomers are slowly integrating themselves into the group.

“O-“ she fell off short as a rolling object suddenly passed in front of them, redirecting its course to the side of the formation and to the back, then a figure popped out. A messy Ken smiling so confidently.

He snapped his fingers lightly, effectively dusting off the dirt on his face and clothes from rolling around.

“Your little nap’s finished?” asked Lana, Ken nodded in response. “Good, so glad you could join us.” she redirected her attention onto the group, not minding the weird stares they were subtly giving Ken.

“Okay, to finish off this afternoon’s classes, everyone will engage in the activity of by pair sparring.” that raised a brow/ widened eyes for the eleven who just had that activity yesterday.

“I know that we just finished this exercise yesterday, but seeing that we have newcomers in the group it would be best to ease them in on one of the exciting activities we do here, understood?” a series of ‘Yes Ma’am’ chorused.

“Good, now do it upon yourself to partner up with the seven newcomers, and proceed to every master spread out on the field.” instructed Lana, leaving the group after another ‘Yes Ma’am.’

The group proceeded to pair with one another after Allen formally dismissed them, immediately the enthusiastic ones approached the bunch, overwhelming them from the eagerness from the crowd.

The other four who liked to just watch-

nope wait, it was just the three of them now, it looks like the Princess is eager to spar with the newcomers, Ken joined the silent group of the bunch.

Saber not reacting to his friend standing beside him, Lila giving Ken a once over before blinking then returning her gaze on the conversing people before her, and Allen giving Ken a look before turning his gaze on the field looking at the Masters waiting for them.

‘I hope they’d be able to decide quickly.’ -Allen-

‘Wonder what they’d be able to offer in the battlefield.’ -Lila-

‘….’ -Saber-

A few minutes later the group dispersed, finally, to walk out to the field each with their respective partner, seeking out a Master that will be their referee for their match.

Glen paired up with Neo, Celine with Heath, Wilbert with Hendrix, Flin with Gill, Icarus with Mar, Riyah with Erick, and Ace with Princess Lang. Ken quickly approaching Riyah, whispering to her side.

“I thought you guys are not in good terms with them?” a confused but interrogating look on his face, Riyah could only awkwardly scratch her head.

“Well, we’ve talked and it was not within their sense of will following after Ace’s orders, and it was just Ace whom we are not in good terms with, the others are our good friends.” Ken noticed that expression of hers falling at the last part his friend mentioned.

Ken’s brain made up assumptions giving him a vague idea of what might have happened.

“I see, then I hope you show that guy how much you’ve grown stronger, but seriously, you better have an explanation for me about what happened earlier.” Riyah chuckled at that, and gave the guy a yes, satisfying this overbearing friend of hers.

Ken hurriedly returning to Saber’s side.

“What did you guys talk about?” asked Lila.

“Nothing much, just me asking her about this morning.” replied Ken.

“What about it?” interjected Allen.

“A bit of a commotion, but we’ve resolved it, for now.” even with that ending statement, Allen knew that it would still be up for discussion anytime the guy would open it, but it isn’t their right to pry.

“Come, Allen you will be my partner for this exercise.” declared Ken, that excited smile evident on his face.

“Huh? You’re gonna leave me with him?” seconded Lila.

“What’s so bad about it?” Ken chuckled.

“I’m getting tired fighting my brother all the time, can’t we exchange partners?” inquired Lila.

“What she said.” Saber deadpanned.

“Well….” that got Ken thinking, a hand on his chin. “I am looking forward to loosening up today, so…” Lila’s eyes showed her excitement, but quickly realized something.

“Oh, you won’t be able to hold back.” Ken nodded cheerfully. “Okay, you can have my brother then, have fun.” Lila then walked towards Allen’s side.

Saber whom was left without no choice could only sigh once, before his countenance returned, this time with a determined and serious look on his face.

“I do need to let loose a bit.” he commented more so to himself than for the others, Ken who heard it, smiled in excitement.

Chatter filled the way to the respective Masters waiting for them, their own way of getting to know one another more, it would be awkward if they did not ask one another questions and just jump into conclusions as to what they thought the other wanted them to do.

Or at least that’s the case for the former students, the new ones just went along with the conversation, not so more on Hendrix and Wilbert’s side, the former just staring out-front while the latter continued to chat with him.

A certain thought formulating inside his mind thinking that this person is annoying, but glancing slightly at Wilbert, Hendrix could not bring himself to shut the guy up when he could feel that the other was just making an effort to have a conversation.

The pleasant kind, filled with curiosity, nothing else. Wilbert felt losing hope trying to talk to the guy, but thankfully, the other knows how to answer simple questions of yes or no, regaining his confidence in befriending the guy.

Save for the pairing Princess Lang and Ace, whom had just walked, giving the others a mixture between confident or just blind to the other impression, they can’t help but think how opposite their energies seem.

What was the Princess thinking offering the guy to be her partner, and what was Ace thinking of accepting the offer, seriously, look at them… going to different masters, only to find out that the other didn’t follow them.

Princess Lang sighed, and walked towards Ace, the guy showing a satisfactory smile seeing as he ‘reigned’ in over a ‘Princess’, Princess Lang noticing this, felt her forehead twitch, somehow she understands what that look the other is giving her.

She clutched onto Ace’s arm, albeit tightly causing the other to flinch, and tugged the other way. The other seemingly understood her intent and tugged on his arm.

“H-Hey! What are you doing!?” he said.

“Pulling you to our Master.” she said, in a matter of fact tone.

“But isn’t there a Master here already?” he said, more so in a loud tone, that almost made her snap, she tugged even harder on the guy’s arm, making him stumble forward, unable to resist the brutal strength the girl has.

He braced his face for impact, seeing as the motion propelled him to the ground, but nothing came, he looked up into the girls eyes, even though this was supposed to be a magical encounter for both of them since they are directly looking into each other’s eyes,

There was nothing remotely romantic in those eyes, all the Princess is giving him is contempt, someone looking down upon a lowly species than her, he felt his scalp go numb, as a shiver ran down his spine, he unconsciously gulped.

“I said, we’re going to the Master.” she said, tugging the boy to stand upright, Ace snapping out of his trance, and resort to complaining, but did little to no effect on the person pulling him, he looked like Icarus the first time Ken treated him as such.

The others familiar with the situation, can’t help but thought, while the person in discussion can’t help but feel nostalgic of the scenario.

Princess Lang brought her partner to Master Oldin, Glen and Neo to Master Mira, Wilbert and Hendrix to Master Kilean, Celine and Heath to Master Harth, Flin and Gill to Master Kara, Icarus and Mar to Master Ulysses, Riyah and Erick to Master Nazir, Saber and Ken to Master Ras, lastly, Allen and Lila to Master Lana.

With Masters Abel, Rena, and Dawn standing at the side to spectate.

“How do you think this exercise will go out?” asked Dawn to her two co-Masters.

“I don’t know, but maybe something interesting will come out of it, maybe.” replied Rena, their outfits complementing their soft features, reminisce that of beautiful oriental women, minus that of make-up.

Abel at the side nodded in agreement, for there was nothing much he could offer to the conversation. Just as the two of the ladies at the side engaged in more conversation, an explosion of magic occurred to their left.

There they saw the shocked face of Ras, whose eyes widened at the situation before him, hair straightening at the back of his head from the explosion. The three wanted to laugh at their friend’s reaction but quickly stopped themselves.

The two culprit of the explosion were floating on mid-air.

“You ready?” asked Ken.

“Ready.” replied the other, both abruptly landing on the ground, dashing forward, and clashed weapons in front of Ras, a little bit further from the guy but still in front of him.

Twin daggers pushing against the large blade of a scythe, both backed up after a short while.

“Water Magic: Tidal Surge.” five blue magic circles appeared before Ken sending torrents of water towards Saber, and landing on the ground to follow up on the attack. Saber casually landed on the ground, dashed forward and intercepted the spell.

“Shadow Magic: Shadow Arts of the Shade.” casually casting the spell on himself, his movements took on a different speed as he almost seemed invisible to the naked eye, piercing and destroying the torrents of water within seconds.

His figure appearing behind Ken, his countenance exerting killing intent as a shade of red light passed through his eyes, both blades ready to strike. Ken smirked.

*SLASH*

The attack did not connect as Ken teleported himself behind his adversary, pointing his scythe on Saber’s back.

“Lightning Magic: Plasma Gun.” A yellow magic circle formed at the tip of his scythe, perpendicular to the scythe’s circumference, sending out a condensed bolt of energy towards Saber.

But the guy also casually dodged in smoke and appearing at the side, blades ready to attack once again, but Ken pointed the scythe at the same direction causing Saber to avoid or get caught.

The process repeated several times, at first creating a slow rhythm in Ken and Saber’s actions, the former predicting every location his friend would appear, while the latter tried his best to appear on unpredictable places.

He smirked when he thought of an idea. He reappeared in smoke but this time, ten copies of himself appeared besides him. Ken eyes widened slightly, but returned to that playful glint, feeling adrenaline rush through his veins from the sensation outside.

Ken flipped backwards, but this time he whirled his scythe along his trajectory of movement sending out bolts upon bolts of compressed energy everywhere, a tactic to ensure that encirclement would not work on him.

But Saber was also persistent and determined to fight, for every clone of himself that poofed, they would be replaced by two or more clones of himself, while he tried his best to close the gap on his friend, using the smoke as cover.

The people watching this scene were left stunned on their feet, they’ve never seen someone fight like this before, as if this was their final battle, a dance to the death, even more so shocking to the people whom are not used to such kind of violence and execution of spells simultaneously.

Saber blinked in smoke atop Ken both blades facing downward.

“Shadow Magic: Shadow Assault.” Ken only stared as Saber plunged his daggers on the ground before him, sending a burst of shadow magic around the guy.

The area turned into a stalemate, waiting for the dark covering to pass, in their hearts, they concluded that Ken had been defeated by that shadow user, but there was an inkling in their hearts that it was not over yet.

Soon it came in the form of another magic pulse, so obvious that it almost made those not paying attention, woke up a start and caught themselves before they could fall.

“More!!!!” shouted Ken revealing himself from the cover of darkness, hand ready with an icy blue magic circle, Saber jumping away from his friend.

Ken pushed his hand sending another torrent of magic in front of him but in the form of an ice wave, quickly creating a big cone of frost in front of him. Saber casually perching on top of the formed ice.

Ken spat out some blood, but that amused and playful expression stayed glued on his face, spun his scythe once, before holding it with both hands. He jumped towards Saber, weapons clashing.

The people almost wanted to sigh in distress, but the next scenario made their mouths open wide, or at least for those who think that their mouths are wide open right now.

Both were engaging in what looks to be a weapons fight since both were using different weapons, it could not be called a sword fight, but the odd one is that, Ken seems to be winning.

Pushing Saber any chance he could get, and matching the guys speed in exchanging parries after parries, blows after blows, slashes after slashes, even with that seeming disadvantageous weapon in close combat.

‘Just who is this kid?!’ a similar thought coursing through the newcomers.

——-