Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 12: Starting off slowly

"This..this is..."

Haruki was speechless. The long object that had formed from a glow of Light had materialised, and now, resting on Haruki's hand was a white bow. It had gold designs etched into it, and it gave off a warm, fuzzy feeling.

A feeling one would feel when at home.

This time, it was not homesickness or nostalgia that Haruki experienced. Rather, it was an unknown connection between himself and the bow, a feeling that the bow fit just right into his hand, despite seeing it or touching it for the first time.

That urge to draw a bow...was it what these gloves wanted me to do? They wanted me to summon a 'weapon'? But a bow...is this the power of the gloves? The Sun Gloves reacted to me?

Haruki had a lot of questions on his mind at the moment, but he figured he could ask the headmaster when he got back to Zaki Taiyo school.

He stood up, and looked at Rinya. A slight frown betrayed her attempt to keep calm. Haruki was not surprised. This unexpected turn of events also made himself unsure of what was happening. Still, he could only press on.

Haruki pulled the string of the white bow. An arrow of Light materialised from his fingers to the bow, and Haruko took aim. He did not know how long this rush of power and adrenalin would last, and he wanted to make sure he defeated Rinya before that. It was to save his own life, and maybe get a chance to know why Rinya was acting weirdly.

Rinya did not hesitate. She leapt into the air and swung her scythe, the adjcent blades detaching from the handle as they swung down, connected by magical chains.

Haruki fired his arrow against the incoming blades, holding his ground. The attacks caused another explosion, and Rinya blew past it, towards Haruki, her arm ready for another swing of her scythe.

Haruki clicked his tongue, and desperately released another Arrow of Light. Rinya deflected it, but the attack still pushed her back.

She landed nimbly on the ground, a good distance away from Haruki. Just as Haruki thought he could take a break, Rinya swung her scyhte again.

The weapon swung horizontally, the blades flying towards Haruki with the help of the chains. Haruki was unable to prepare another arrow in time, so he thrusted out his bow to block the large blades.

Sparks flew as the two weapons collided, and Haruki put all his strength to defend against the impact to prevent himself from being pushed to the side.

However, Haruki realised the attack was a decoy a moment too late. He was unable to react, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rinya appear in front of him.

"S...hit!"

Another palm of black energy, and Haruki, who already had his back pressed against the wall of rock behind him, was sent crashing into it further. It was at the last moment Haruki decided to concentrate his Light on defense. Pushing the blades away, he forced the Light in his body to soften the impact of the blow, both from Rinya and from the rocks.

His mouth opened, but no sound could voice the pain he felt, even with the Light protecting him.

When the smoke and debris cleared, Haruki could see Rinya looming over him, her scythe raised for the final blow.

"Heh...sorry, but this will be my win." Haruki managed a soft laugh despite his injuries.

Rinya's emotionless face showed a quick flash of doubt as she hesitated.

Which was all Haruki needed. He had been trying to find an opening in Rinya's barrage of attacks. Who knew she could be so easily swayed.

He pulled the string of his bow back, and aimed it at the gem right in front of the arrow tip.