𝚂𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚝

Chapter 16 : "Egos Clashing"

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"Begone! Begone! Begooone!" the monster screamed at the four as he hits deuce "Aw, crap! He's got Loosey-Deucey on the ropes! Not on my watch! Heeyah!" ace said as he grabs his magic pen and shooting out more magic with you still on his shoulders making the monster roar out of pain "Myaaah! Stay away from me!" grim said as the monster targeted him "It's like nothin's even hurtin' it!" he said as he tires to burn the monster "Did you just see that sparkle?!" you said "Behind the monster! There's something sparkling in the mineshaft!" ace said as he turns around "Could that have been a magestone?!" deuce said hopefully

"GWAAAAAAAH! Nooo giiive yooouuu stooooooone!" the monster yelled "[Name], we need to book it, and fast! That thing's gonna pound us into tuna paste!" grim said turning to you "Retreat! Retreat!" you said as the three of you run towards the exit of the mine and running towards the cottage

"This should be far enough, I think?" grim said panting as ace puts you down "Owww... What was that thing? No one said there'd be anything like that!" ace groaned as he rubs his shoulder "That was no normal ghost, that's for sure." deuce panted out as he sits down "Let's just give up and go home. I'll happily take the expulsion if it means never having to fight that thing again." ace said crossing his arms and sitting down "What?! Nuh-uh, not happenin'! I'd rather die than get expelled from Night Raven! How can you give up when the stone is right there?" deuce snaps at ace who snickers "Pfft. Big talk from someone who's not even half the mage I am. You want that stone so bad, go get it yourself. I'm out." he said before standing up

"Oh YEAH?! Fine, go back to your coop, you big chicken!" deuce mocked "Whaaaaat?! Who're you callin' chicken, huh?!" ace snaps at he turns around "Whoa, Deuce... Is it just me, or did you, like, turn into a totally different person just now?" grim said getting in between ace and deuce making deuce coughs into his hand "Sorry... Lost my cool for a second there" deuce said sheepishly as the four of you sit in uncomfortable silence "So now what?" you said breaking the silence "Can't you guys just blow that thing up with magic?" grim asked ace and deuce "Using magic at a greater scale, or using different types of magic - those things require training" deuce explains to grim "Yeah, that's why magic academies exist. It takes a lot of training before you can snap your fingers and turn your thoughts into magic. And the more flustered you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes" ace continues

"So that's why Grim can only summon fire" you said making grim glare at you "Hey! I'm gonna learn how to use WAY cooler magic than that, for the record! I'm just hittin' my stride here!" he huffed "Anyway, we need to find some way to defeat that creature and get the magestone." deuce said "Yeaaaaah. Just like the time with the chandelier, right? You "found some way," and now here we are" ace said as he puts his arms in the air "We just fought that thing and it creamed us. So what exactly is your plan here, genius? Because I sure don't trust you to improvise!" ace continues "What?! You're the one who-" deuce snaps back at ace

"Aaand they're at it again" grim sighed out as he looks at the two who were busy arguing "Would the two of you know it off already?!" you snap back making ace and deuce gasp at your out burst "Whoa, that was loud. Where'd that come from?" grim said as he floats your your shoulder trying to calm you down "Why not try cooperating a little?" you said as grim massage your shoulder "With Loosey-Deucey? No way. He'd get me killed!" ace said crossing his arms "Like it'd be some treat for me to work with you?!" deuce snaps at ace "What if we all just worked together?" you sighed out ""Work together"... Is that some kinda joke? You always say the lamest things with the straightest face, [Name]" ace said as a vein appear on your face

"Agreed. No way could I work together with him." deuce said looking up and down at ace and crossing his arms "Yeah, but... Gettin' expelled on the first day... That's pretty lame too. Maybe even lamer" grim commented as the two froze "W-well..." ace mumbles as deuce stayed quiet "I did have one idea..." you mumble as you look at ace and deuce "Gah... Fine. Let's just get this over with, then" ace groaned "All right, [Name]. What's the plan?" he said and turning to you

"[Name]... Is this plan of yours really gonna work? I'm sca- I mean, I'm a little... uh, hungry." grim stuttered the last sentence "Then let's brace for the worst" you sighed as you grip your katanas making ace grin

"Heh heh. That's certainly not gonna help! Keep it loose and keep it lively. Let's do this!"

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