The Manipulators

Willier-Chapter 21

My... Pyrrhus thought of everyone and everything of the Combustioantitheus below him, Burnheart included, and thus did not teach me anything about them other than what the families are and what they can do. As I progressed without him, however, I found that their abilities are oddly attractive and curious. I have also figured that their abilities are not learnt by blood, but skill. 

...

Graciano and I emerged out of the shadow as we approached the gleaming giant Colosseum. The arena is just the same as the other time we had visited it: empty save for a bunch of battle-thirsty Lunists and Solists. Last time, my ice was melted by Trueman; this time, I will extinguish his fire... with the Deity's permission, of course. We entered through one of the many gates. Shadow replaced the light as light emerged again, and we are upon the golden sands. This time there aren't as many soldiers like last time, yet their encirclement is much larger than before. The two of us moved toward them as a beam of water rose and fell. Once we got there, a kid around our age stood while three Lunists are groaning on the floor. The crowd around us cheered in his victory and soon, three more Lunists replaced the previous three. I did not find Truman among them, so I decided to simply watch... for now. 

The kid is thin for his age, yet he hit hard and fast with two claymores. His hands waved frantically without rhythm while his long and organized whitish hair danced. His movements are sharp like his face, and he seemed to be bending the grayish air around him to his favor. He struck one of the Lunists hard with the backside of his claymore and kicked the foot of another, sending them both tumbling down onto the ground. The crowd applauded for him while the one remaining Lunist, a Silvestro, sent a wave of tumbling roots with countless thorns toward him. The kid jumped and seemed to be flying in slow motion while the roots roamed below him. The Lunist grinned toward the kid as a bundle of thorny flower trees burst out of the sand in high speed and headed straight toward the kid. The kid, unable to dodge the attack, was penetrated straight through his chest as his entire body twisted in pain and scattered away into gray dusts. I soon realized that it's ash, burnt ash. The audience and the Lunist held their breath in confusion and shock, for it isn't normal for someone, especially, a kid, to turn into ashes. As soon as the dusts settled, the Alluaudia plants were instantly and unexpectedly ignited into a fierce fire. Soon after, the plants were nothing but ashes, and out of the ashes rose the kid. He stood firm and high, free from the dirty ashes and the remnants of the consequences of his power. His grayish sight fell upon his opponent with ferocity and dare. The Lunist Silvestro lost his interest and will to fight and slumped away from the encirclement of dusts while the small crowd around us roared for the kid's victorious performance. 

That's the power of an Ashel, one of the prized Combustioantitheus family. 

I scoffed at the Ashel's showoff, and Graciano decided to push me into the encirclement. Unexpected of this, the Ashel and I ended up staring at each other. I gave Graciano a side glance and he gave me a half encouraging thumb up. When I looked back at the Ashel, a veil of ashes already gathered around the Ashel. I let out a dramatic groan and shaped a spear with ice on spot. I watched as the kid took a step back with a pair of widened eyes; he got spooked by my groan. 

This might be easy. 

I exhaled a wisp of frost and walked toward him, slowly. The Ashel crossed his sword and lowered himself into a defensive stance as his gray veil thickened. I left a trail of white frost as it thickened and hardened my eyes into a typical Gelumnatio death stare. The Ashel could take it no longer and charged toward me, eyes fixated on my hands and his claymore ready to strike. I looked him square in the eye I opened my mouth and to his surprise, a wave of frost escaped from my throat and headed for him. He stepped back immediately as his ashes fought with my frost. The gray veil fell and rose continuously while uncontrolled and disorganized whiteness attacked it. Unfortunately for me, an Ashel have greater control over their ashes than I have to my frost, so I decided to suddenly let out a burst of it and strike him with my spear. The Ashel was prepared for such attack as he instantly struck my spear into halves. I retracted myself as I stood away from him, the Ashel's face seemed content with triumph. It does not bother me, for I have reached my goal. Him looking blindly at my reflection and I staring at the back of his head. The rest is as easy as one two three. 

One, I approached him as he braced against my picture. 

Two, he suddenly rushed toward my picture as his claymores cut it in half, and I close behind him.

Three, he lay at my feet after I struck him in the head with the back side of an ice mace. 

I decided to step one of my feet onto his backside, but did not do it fully. The Ashel, after struggling a bit and realizing that I mean no disrespect, opened his fist up and let go of his weapon; his ashes dispersed. The crowd cheered for my victory as I pulled the Ashes back up. He gave me a smile that a Gelumnatio usually wouldn't get from a Combustioantitheus. "What kind of ice is that?" He asked with his mellifluous voice.

"Ice that burns." I responded. He patted me on the back, in a friendly way, whispered "name's Leo", and went his merry way. I watched him left and felt cool on my back. I turned around and saw Graciano standing there with a sphere of water. The Draco looked at me with half a smile. I conjured another mace and faced him fully. He wants a fight; I will give a war. I put on my best effort of a smile and walked toward him.