Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage Vol 2- Descent of Darkness

Episode 17: A Choice

☼Nyima☼

We shouldn't have left Lei behind on his own, though Wanikiya did go back to help out his friend. Still, I should've volunteered to have helped him too.

"What's wrong?" Iah asked, glancing over as we crossed the border into Xian.

I slowed down and turned around. "I'm going to go back up Lei and Wanikiya. Once I reunite with them, we'll return to our country to get my mother's help"

"Please do so," Adela said. I could tell that she wanted to help Lei too, but it was her duty as priestess to return to the capital of Xian.

I covered my legs and arms in water. Lei did something similar to this when we first met. Lei...I wanted to save you.

I used the water to propel me into the air like a jet pack.

"Wait," Yen yelled. She and her remaining two teammates raced after me. "I want to help out my brother too." She grasped the collar of her shirt. "I feel a bad omen. Last time this happened was before he got stabbed."

No... Lei nearly died when that happened. I allowed him to protect me that one time. Now it was my turn to protect him, even if I had to risk my life to do so. I would repay him for having saved me!

"If you want, I can go too," Ayawamat volunteered. "Nyima, continue your journey to the islands with Ms. Key."

"You?" I said.

He nodded. "That idiot might get on my nerves from time to time but he is my teammate. The test is still going on, isn't it?"

Ms. Key grinned. "That's right."

He snickered. "Good. This should earn me plenty of points. Come you three, we're going to go save Lei!"

I sighed. This guy was only thinking about the stupid test, but at least it would save us time. I returned to the ground, feeling wobbly.

Iah caught me before I fell face first to the pine needle-littered floor.

"Come with us," Iah said. "You need to rest."

I glanced back as the others dashed off. "I'll be fine. We can't stop now. The darkness must be eradicated. Letting it fester beyond today will destroy the world."

Adela took in a deep breath. "Come with us to Xian. I'll have our potion masters brew you up a few potions."

"If only I had some left," Mayu said, as she continued on her way. "Come, the more we argue about this, the worse the situation becomes."

I nodded, letting Iah support me. Thank you Ayawamat, for having stopped me.

⛈Lei⛈

The darkness quickly returned, its panther-like eyes watching us attentively. With one movement of its legs, the earth shook. The remaining trees fell over one another as their roots snapped like twigs.

Wanikiya formed a wall of ice to shield us but the landslide was too much. Both of us were pushed downhill, nearly falling off the edge of a cliff. The big cat shadow didn't hesitate, dashing at us, black teeth bared.

Using a gust of wind, I lifted us into the air. Wanikiya unleashed a barrage of ice swords on it. The creature danced around them like a butterfly moving through the air in search of new flowers.

The beast let out a roar, knocking us out of the sky. Wanikiya broke our fall with a mountain of powdered snow. Jumping to my feet, I wiped blood from my lower lip. "Run," I yelled, before rushing back toward the meadow.