The Unknown God at First High

Chapter 9: The Dragons Anger the Gods

It was noon, and Mari's semifinal water board event was about to start. Ryuga, Tatsuya, Miyuki, and the others were seated, watching the athletes ready themselves for the race. They squatted down on their board, and the tell-tale gunshot was heard. Mari launched herself from the starting line, gaining a quick lead, while the others were struggling to accelerate. However, the student from Seventh High was quickly gaining ground, and the audience was talking about this rivalry. Mari and her opponent tried drifting around one of the turns, but her opponent's magic didn't work like it was supposed to. She couldn't turn and started heading straight towards Mari. Ryuga saw a glint in the water and knew that it was intentional. He stood up, but Tatsuya put his arm out, as if to signal Ryuga to stop. The Seventh High contestant fell off her board and smacked into Mari with enough force to crack bones. However, the real pain came when they both hit the hard boundary of the course. They were both out cold, and Ryuga stood up with a scowl on his face.

Ryuga ran down onto the course and looked at both of the athletes' wounds. He healed any serious injuries and gave the medics information about the two. Tatsuya soon came over and helped him in talking through the medics for their injuries. They sent Mari to the Susono Base Hospital, and Mayumi went to be there when Mari woke up.

Mari opened her eyes to find herself bandaged and in pain. She hissed at the pain in her torso and heard a voice from someone she recognized.

Mayumi: "Mari?" Mari looked at her. "Are you with us? Do you remember who I am?"

Mari: "Mayumi? What are you talking about? There's no way I would forge-ouch!"

Mayumi: "Don't strain yourself. You're in the Susono Base Hospital. Thank goodness, there doesn't seem to be any mental damage." Mari tried sitting up. "Oh, no, you shouldn't be getting up! You broke your ribs. For now, they've been reconnected with magic, but they haven't set yet."

Mari: *sigh* "How long will it take to set?"

Mayumi: "The doctors say at least a week, but Ryuga thinks you should be fine in a matter of days. Although they both agree that you'll have to refrain from strenuous activity for ten days."

Mari: "Wait that means!"

Mayumi: "Yeah. You'll have to pull out of mirage bat."

Mari: "I see." Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes. "How did the race go?"

Mayumi: "Seventh High was disqualified for misconduct. Third and Ninth High will be going to the finals. I hear that the Seventh High's contestant had only minor injuries. Your efforts to protect her weren't in vain."

Mari: "Doesn't do us any good if I get seriously injured myself."

Mayumi: "If you hadn't decelerated at that moment and protected that girl, she could have some really serious injuries. Ryuga predicted that she would lose her career as a magician also."

Mari: "Why'd you bring him up twice? He's not a doctor."

Mayumi: "Because he was the one who carried you here, and he and Tatsuya helped to set your ribs. Honestly the medics hardly did any work. They even stayed by your side while you were being treated. You should be grateful to both of them."

Mari: "What!?" She immediately blushed.

Mayumi: "You should really thank them after all. They were the ones who came running as soon as they saw what happened."

Mari: "N-No way." She tried to hide her blush with her hands.

Mayumi: "In all seriousness, were you hindered by a third party's magic? It seemed like something interfered with the surface of the water."