Enchanting Grace

Chapter 10

They all looked at Mashimo's blade, shocked and confused at the same time. She stood there, proudly wielding the Raitoburinga. Konishi gave her gaze of anger and confusion as she looked at the very weapon she had written about.

"The craftsmanship of that blade is truly marvelous." Mase admired.

"It is giving off extremely powerful magic." Yashima said in agreement.

"Ayame!" Sakai yelled causing her to look at her "You can't fight Mashimo she's too powerful and the Raitoburinga makes her invincible. I know it goes against everything River Mountain stands for bu-"

"Sakai, that's enough." Ayame ordered her laid back attitude gone "So she's got a powerful weapon. It's not the weapon that makes the wielder, it's the wielder that makes the weapon."

She took a stance readying to attack her, a smile on her face. Mashimo looked at her also smiling "You're a damn fool, but you have guts."
The two charged each other blades ready to do damage. Mashimos fast movements were hard to track, but Ayame kept up. Her sword kept on attacking Mashimos, but wasn't doing anything other than creating cracks in her own. Mashimo brought her blade down shattering Ayames only weapon. She used her magic to create a new one, enchanting this new one so it could hold up against a legendary sword. They clashed again, this time Ayame getting the upper hand against Mashimo. Knowing what she needed to do to win, Mashimo used her leg to sweep Ayame off her feet. She fell, back on the ground as Mashimo continued her brutal attack. Her sword pushed closer to Ayame's face and sliced her flesh leaving a symbol on her face. It was a spiral with eight dots lined up symmetrically to each other. Ayame touched her cheek, there was no blood.

"You may be wondering why there's no blood. Well, this swords rather unique. Instead of cutting like a normal blade, it leaves them with a curse. One that fills the victims mind with darkness."

"No that means that Ayame is trapped in her own mind." Toda growled.

"Yes and if she can't break free Mashimo will win." Nakoa said glancing at Konishi who watched the fight like the outcome was obvious.

She's so much more calm now than when Mashimo revealed the Raitoburinga. Nakoa thought What could she be thinking about?

Back on the arena floor, Ayame was standing there like a puppet with no one to move her. Mashimo watched, satisfied with the outcome of her skill. She walked up to Ayame, casually like a stroll in the park, and placed her hand on her shoulder.

"You put up a good fight, but not good enough." Mashimo smiled tucking some of her dirty blonde hair behind her ear.

She was about to knock Ayame out and easily win this fight that was suppose to be the greatest of the competition. She was about to win for her school and pathetic team of losers. She was about to-

Everything around her was black. She looked around and saw nothing, but the empty black void around her, almost nothing. There was one thing there, or, more like one person. Ayame Shihobu.

This must be her mind, Mashimo thought looking at the effects of her sword, but how did I end up in here.

She heard something behind her and quickly turned around. A dark shadowy figure stood there, head cocked looking at Mashimo like some sort of freak.

"What are you doing here?" the figure asked.

She couldn't make out it's face or voice, both were distorted. But she was going to answer the thing no less, "I am Mashimo Aiko. What may you be?"

"That is not of importance. You should leave this place before the monster learns that you're here."

"I would, but I don't know how I got here. And what is this of a monster."