Inoua leaped into the air then rolled into the landing as she narrowly avoided the icicles that were flying straight towards her. She nimbly dodged and twisted out of the way of the whizzing ice cones as they regrouped and attacked in formation.
The constant barrage kept her a distance away from Ala, the poised merperson at the other end of the ring. She was tall and lithe, her aquablue skin shimmering translucent in the early morning light. In contrast, Inoua was a panting sweaty mess as the speed of the attacks increased. This could not go on any longer.
She could barely focus on sensing the moisture in the air, her breath coming out in hot dry pants as she wove back and forth along the edge of the ring. She strained, barely giving a sliver of attention toward forcing the barely there humidity to slowly come together into droplets that slid along the metal edge of the ring. Almost there. A slight puddle formed on the railing beyond Ala.
She had just let out a small sigh of relief before her smooth ebony skin broke out in goosebumps.
Duck!
The droplets fell apart as she slid into a split and the first icicle whipped past and drew an arc back to Ala's side. The second icicle came from above, targeting the top of her head. She whipped her legs together rolling over her head and out of the way only to came face to face with the sharp point of the third icicle hovering icicle inches from her eyeball. She let out a groan, her head drooping, conceding her loss. She turned to look at Ala and gave her a pitiful look.
"You said not to hold back." Ala said sheepishly, slowly sweeping her arm down in an arc as the ice cones retreated behind her and formed a ring before slowly melting into a light mist around her.
Though she knew it did nothing but affect her composure she couldn't help but compare the two. The contrast of their levels of control and strategy had her chest becoming stuffy. For Ala the water was simply a natural extension of her body. Using it was as easy as reaching outa hand. On the other hand, the water felt like a foreign piece of mud in her hands, unresponsive and heavy, difficult to mould to her will. She needed to practice her connection with the water more deeply. Her limited understanding hindered her speed and concentration.
"I lose." She finally admitted as she got up and stretched then bowed to Ala who returned the gesture before walking over and looping their arms.
"You're fighting the water in your haste to react. You are thinking how to use it when you should be feeling how it moves. This makes it respond by flowing through your fingertips and out of your grasp. Try to feel it here," she placed a hand on Inoua's chest, "and not here." she pointed to her head.
"You're right." Ala smiled, feeling a hint of understanding rising in her heart. She raised her hand, gesturing to the droplets condensed on the ring. She tried to feel the flow of the water, gently herding its movement instead of dragging it to where she wanted.
Excited clapping came from beside her as the droplets rose to hover in the air around them.
"See? You're a genius Inoua!"
She released her connection to the water and the droplets plopped onto the ring. Progress. There was a relief in the tension in her chest. Now that she had a direction, practice was needed.
"I still don't understand why you need to study this as well. You already have an impressive skill set as is."
Ala was right. She could mimic any skills as long as she comprehended how they worked. Thus far she had mastered compulsion and shapeshifting. Having mastered the two she felt the need to add an attacking ability to her repertoire before the soul examination was to begin in two years. It was a great honour and gift that Ala didn't hold her status as a competitor against her and was willing to teach her.
"Guess who came to watch your early morning training?" Ala asked, nodding to the stands behind her. Inoua turned to catch sight of a stunningly handsome face. His long black hair with fiery red tips was braided down his back, the colour matching the ash grey and flame red hue of his skin.
"I doubt it was to cheer me on," she said coolly.
"Come on. It has been so long since you guys fell out. One of you has to give in sometime," Ala said.
Inoua sighed internally. No matter how much time passed she would never forgive Zaed for what he had done. That was her bottom line.
"That's just how we get along. Unlike you and Jua," she brushed it off.
Ala's fated pair for the examination. The two got along so well she sometimes couldn't help but envy. Of course it helped that they were dating.
"Go talk to him," she said, releasing Inoua's arm as she walked toward the figure leaning against the door of the training room.
Inoua gave Jua a slight nod which he returned before opening his arms to envelop Ala in the warm coat he was holding. She returned Ala's goodbye wave then turned to walk toward Zaed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Zaed sat up languidly, the fluidity of the lazy air around him bringing back the irritation she had managed to squelch.
"Why didn't you use your magic to win?" he drawled.
"What business is it of yours how I choose to train?" She snapped.
This always happened whenever she was around him. Her hackles went up and her attitude turned nippy. She hated it. Which is why she avoided him as much as possible.
"I'm just concerned that you will drag me down during the examination."
She laughed. It was so absurd that she couldn't help herself. She had been training hard day and night for a sliver of a chance at surviving, maybe winning, yet all he had done was fawn over Usi and help her train. Slowly her laugh died down to a chuckle before she turned her attention back to him.
"I highly doubt the roles will ever be reversed." She wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Your unexpected joke won't distract me from the fact that you haven't yet stated why you are here."
His eyes dodged hers, his expression turning sheepish.
"It's about your dagger. I know you won it fair and square during the last class test and you probably value it a lot —"
"Yeah. I do. And I am not going to trade it for anything your little sister has to offer. Don't ask me again about this."
She turned to leave but found herself rooted to the spot. She glared at him, her hands clenching into fists at the apologetic look on his face.
"Listen, she just wants to borrow it for a while—"
"Let. Me. Go." she enunciated.
She wanted to hit him. The rage was blinding and she could feel her control slipping. This stupid asshole was blinded by his love for his adopted sister.
Such a deep and scorching love, she scoffed
"No. I just want you to listen to me for a moment. Usi is not as bad as you make her out to be. She is not a villain. If anything she is as much a victim as the rest of us. I just want you to try and be friends."
"Friends?" her voice came out unexpectedly shrill to her ears. She hated it. It seemed like a sign that she cared. Cared that the person who was supposed to stand unwaveringly by her side had resolutely chosen another. Cared that she was forced to prepare to fight to survive alone. Cared that every time he approached her was for something that Usi wanted from her.
She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself. This was not the time to have a falling out with him yet.
"We will never be friends. From the moment you harmed me for her we stood on opposite sides. And you do not make friends by forcefully taking things from others. So let me go. Now."
She held his confused gaze with determined coldness, exerting her will over his mind. Feeling the power return to her limbs, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief as she regained control over her body.
She hated every time he used his ability on her. The disappointed feeling of her partner turning his claws on her never seemed to improve.
"Tell Usi that it is not polite to steal others things when her own strength falls short."
She paused before adding. "Also, don't come to see me for such matters again."
Unfazed by the fleeting hurt in his eyes she turned and walked toward the dorms.