Athena: The Elements

Episode nine: Battle commences

Previously: Raina finishes unpacking, making sure everything is perfect in her private dorm, when the students are all called to the cafeteria for lunch. There, she meets a girl named Rebecca and sits at her table. Ash picks a fight again with Casper, and a battle of the elements begin.

Ash POV

I felt my hand begin to ignite in a flame, as I raised it high. Orange fire danced up my fingertips. I put myself in a ready stance.

Casper closed his eyes, and his shadow began to expand, as this was the routine for shadow bending. The shadow below him swooped over him and arched toward me.

A chant began to rise. "Fight, fight, fight, fight!" the crowd began as everyone now had turned to watch, eagerly eyeing our every move.

I let my flame grow, raising both arms and waiting for him to make the first move. The continuing chant began to annoy me. He was just sitting there like stone.

"Make your move!" I shouted then sneering "Are you too scared to?" 

He replied "You might appreciate a head start."

I gritted my teeth, I could beat this Rimula scum! I threw a flame at him, missing him, for I had lost concentration in my anger.

He laughed. "You missed by a long shot." he said, aggravating me.

I threw another, which headed strait for his head. He dodged and jumped to the top of a nearby table. As soon as I looked over, I saw a dark shadow swooping over my head. I blasted it, and it disintegrated. 

I jumped onto the table with Casper, hurdling a massive fireball toward him. I barely missed him this time, but I scorched his dark cape in ash, charring the silk fabric at the bottom. 

He gawked at the expensive robe in horror. I used this moment to taunt him. "Oh no your poor cape mommy bought you is all ruined now!"

"You'll pay for that." he said before an ebony of light caused me to fall back, stinging my arms and legs in numb sensation.

"How do you know how to do that sort of move?" I asked, only being able to move the top part of my body now. I was stuck to the ground.

He crept over, looking down on me like a king or lord. "I'm a highly trained sorcerer, I know many things."

I began to feel an awakening feeling in my arms and legs. "You're not the only one with tricks up their sleeve." I say, jumping up and twisting around to face my opponent. He jumped back as a bolt of fire shot through the air and hit him in the shoulder.

It struck him down, as he did I. He sat up and rubbed his shoulder, grumbling, "Not bad, for an Ignian." 

"You haven't seen anything yet!" I shouted, shooting him with a blast of heat. He rolled over and called "Quick, but not quick enough!"

Before I knew it, he was pelting me with rays of light and I was nailed to place. I was against the wall now. He dashed towards me with his arm beginning to twist and a dark Ora emerging from the underground.

Before he reached me I kicked me foot up and created a temporary shield of fire around me. He bounced back, giving me time to heat myself up. 

I burned away the fragments of light that tied me down and brushed off my arms, which now felt like heavy weights. I gathered up my strength and used my heat wave power to knock him away. Midair, he placed a foot down and used it to boost himself up and preform a flip, and as he did, he created a ball of light energy.

"Oh so you're a ballerina now or something?" I laughed. 

He stepped up, the ball or swarming light and energy now expanding. His eyes began to blaze in pure light, and he became motionless.

I took his sudden stillness to my own advantage, surging forward at immense speed and holding a handful of fire. 

I dodged, but never managed to stabilize. I was knocked off coarse and I fell to the ground. Bolting under a table, I did what I never had done before, nor wanted to do in the middle of a passionate battle. 

I cowered away from fighting.

Casper POV

I don't know what came over me, nor do I really remember. All I can remember is a blur. 

I began to pelt Ash with dark arrows, a basic move I knew. She shouted things I couldn't make out. The crowd began to run and some called my name, but I couldn't stop. I began to move onto the highest move I know. It was a darker, twisted spell forbidden to anyone who hadn't earned their charm.

It was called the dark tear.

I stole every shadow that loomed in the corridors, and soon they swept around me, darkness filling the air. All you could see was my arm, outstretched, the blanket of shadows, and my eyes, my glowing eyes.

All I could hear though, was the voice, and the faint cries of men and woman. The voice told me to continue, it said "Revenge, revenge for the fire that destroyed your happiness." Tears filled my eyes.

I casted the shadow, blasting Ash in unmistakable evil forces. She screamed for the first time like a real girl, and flew back, hitting the wall and then she fell to her knees. Her eyes shut tightly, and a black tear rolled down her cheek. She passed out.

*  *  *

Everything came back to me in an instant. I shook my head, and wiped the sweat from my brow. Looking up, I was horrified to see the scene in front of me.

I ran to her not caring what I just did, lifting her head and saying "I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened, I....I..."

My heart sank, I had just argued and battled with her, and nobody made me so angered.....yet.....I was horrified to do this to her, I never would want to hurt her. Tears stung my eyes and I pushed them back. I had never shown much vivid emotion until I met her today.

Everybody gasped again, as a light poured in to the room. I turned to see something almost as startling as my recent actions.

The Headmaster.

*  *  *

Before I knew it, I was walking with Headmaster Arroe to the Hospital Wing with Ash in her arms, being the strong lady she is. I thought to myself angrily, not at anyone else but me. 

We arrived at the Hospital Wing and because her arms with full I pulled open the brass nob for her. She entered and I followed after. After ordering me to sit she placed Ash gently on the bed. 

"I'll deal with you shortly young man, but now we must look after Miss Flame. Don't try anything funny for I'll be back in a minute." was all she left me.

The room fell silent and I glanced over to Ash, seeing her so peaceful now. She had such an angelic face for such a nightmare, I laughed to myself. I walked over and sat by her on the bed. 

I grabbed the white blanket and tucked Ash in kindly and ever so gently, then I stared at her for a second. I regretted whatever I did to her greatly. I hated her so much, and yet couldn't believe I had hurt her.I leaned closer to her, putting a hand on her cheek. "Poor girl..." I said aloud.

The door suddenly busted open and Ms. Periwinkle and Headmaster Arroe arrived, making me sit bolt upright. I stood and took a step away. Ms. Periwinkle took a look at Ash and tore off the blanket. "I'll need to do a check up." she said to Arroe.

Headmaster Arroe then turned to me and said "You're coming with me."

Preview: Casper has a conference with Headmaster Arroe and he is given a week of detention. He returns to have a startling scene with Ash and the assembly soon begins.