SHADOW || The Catalysts Series, #2

XII || Reflection

A pause, as Caelus seems to size her up after she's resolved to do this. Still a little uncertain, Lena resists the urge to back away from his calculating gaze. Her body is sore and her head rather light from all the visions exposed to her at various angles, but if she must improve, this is the only way.

"You know, you really need more push. Not just your abilities, your physical education is lacking, and your scarce knowledge about everything here makes it harder for you to catch up." Even if he speaks the truth, Lena winces, the muscles in her cheeks twisting. Caelus has started pacing, deeply considering her case. He speaks faster now, "Have you even mastered a weapon at Weaponry Classes, or been called out to specific combat sets in Combat Training by Professor Burgundy?"

"Uh," slurs Lena, rather stunned. Admittedly, she did not quite grasp what Caelus is trying to point out here. "I think—"

"It's a yes or no question."

"No?" Lena squeaks, feeling Caelus' cold stare fall upon her.

He sighs in response. "You're quite a handful. And... hopeless."

She resists the urge to punch him, her fists clenched again, fingers digging into her palms. The previous uncertainty fades swiftly as she prepares herself for another launch of desperate attempts in defending her pride. Lena wills herself as she forces herself to look at Caelus, and through gritted teeth she mutters, "Well, you're extremely bold."

"I'd say you're the bold one, in an impudent manner." Caelus dismisses her right before she's about to protest with another remark by a wave of his hand. "You got to duel with Azalea, the third ranked of this Academy—a privilege many was yearning for. Did you learn anything from that?"

Lena is afraid of what he might comment on whatever she's going to say. She ventures, "I think Azalea's abilities lie not in destructiveness, but in the essence of how she uses it."

"Precisely. Your ability type is the exact same classification as her—the Azure Dragon. Ability users and the Catalysts of this group have to be as creative and resourceful as possible, because you have to rely on objects to execute your abilities," Caelus explains. "In any case, I'd suggest you pick up a weapon of your choice. Without a medium, Azure Dragons are easily the weakest. Conjurers do not require any source to pull out their power from; the Vermillion Birds are generally strong in nature using their body for their abilities; and Psionics are usually the game changers since they control everything through the mind. Have you found something that resonates with you during Weaponry lessons?"

Lena opens her mouth, then shuts it almost immediately the next instant as she processes the load of information. She isn't certain where to begin. Finally, she settles for something that doesn't quite answer Caelus. "Azalea didn't have a weapon during our duel," she points out.

Caelus crosses his arms. "If she'd had her Katana with her, you'd be dead within mere seconds."

The muscles of Lena's eyes twitch as she winces. "Right. I get it—she went easy on me, and I still made a fool of myself. Go on."

"Find your own weapon. Master it," Caelus says, as if it is as easy as learning the alphabets. "But most importantly, you'll have to learn to have more tricks up your sleeve to fully use your abilities."

"Tricks?" Lena frowns. She doesn't exactly like the sound of that.

"Have you figured out Azalea's abilities?"

"No." She reconsiders, then realised that Azalea fights rather uniquely. "I mean, yes. The ability to bend... objects?"

"That's right. You see, that ability may be insignificant, but she uses it well, using it to her best benefits. Her superior combat skills are complimentary. With her weapon, she is nearly unstoppable. There is a reason she is one of Arcane Academy's top students."