Forever yours

Chapter 12

Kuroko's Pov

"Keep going, don't lessen the power you put into it."

I frowned and forced more power into the tornado of wind in front of me. The dark funnel rose high into the air, spinning furiously but where I stood not a breath of wind stirred. Kagami was back to training me on the use of my powers but this time Akashi put up a barrier so if I lost control of it again it wouldn't hurt anyone. I felt my knees shake and shook hair and sweat out of my eyes but it broke my concentration and the tornado fizzled out. I sank to the ground with a sigh and Kagami shook his head from where he sat on the chair beside me.

"We will take a break and then start again, I want to see you hold it longer."

"Longer?" I gaped at him.

"I held that for at least forty-five minutes!"

"Forty-two to be exact. You need to be better, stronger."

"So what, I can save the world?"

I turned away, bitterness in my voice and I heard Kagami sigh.

"To protect yourself Kuroko. If Haizaki comes for you personally, do you think you will stand a chance against him? Will your demons?"

I pouted but didn't say anything back, he was right. Akashi was the only one who could stand toe to toe with Haizaki but what if he didn't come alone, or caught us when Akashi wasn't here? I heard Kagami sigh again and turned to see him itching his splinted leg. It had been a few days since the attack and he had healed quickly thanks to his powers. The only sign he had been cut and bitten was a small scar on his head and shoulder. His leg would take another week to heal completely with him pouring his power into is. He smiled when he saw me staring at him.

"You are making good progress though, I can't believe you can use the elemental power without a tool or incantation."

"Can't you do it?"

"No exorcist can call on that power without an incantation to go with it. We can put up barriers without words and we can use blessed tools to destroy demons but unlike you we need to use words to control the elements."

"But why can I do it without saying anything? Isn't it the same power?"

Kagami scratched his head.

"I keep forgetting you haven't had the same learning I have. In a way, the power over the elements isn't ours. It's an old tale, mostly a legend these days but it is said that thousands of years ago we were gifted this power by the powerful demon, the phoenix."

"A phoenix? I didn't think they existed."

"They don't, well at least not that I know of. The only time I've even heard of one is from our teachings."

"But why would a demon give power to exorcists?"

"Ah, the origin story."

We both turned to see Midorima walk over, a tray with drinks and sandwiches on them and it was then that I realised I was hungry. I thanked him and he sat down beside me.

"I have read about it in your books Kagami and I am fascinated, it is actually on par with real history."

"So what's this origin story?"

"Just as it suggests. Like Kagami said exorcists almost ten thousand years ago didn't have the power over the elements like they do know. Back then, they could only use blessed tools and weapons against the demon horde. The phoenix is said to have been the first demon born and we are all his descendants. He kept peace between humans and demons in the version of humans giving up sacrifices and tributes of their own kind or livestock. It is written that he disappeared for a couple hundred years and that is when the demons went out of control. They began to separate from each other, only staying and trading with those of their own kind and the humans became a target of their greed and hunger. They destroyed villages and enslaved or murdered all the occupants. When the phoenix returned he saw that if things continued on as they were the humans would be wiped off the face of the earth so he went to the exorcists. At the time they were simply priests of their own settlements and he gave them the power over the elements so they could fight on equal footing with the demon horde."