The First War Mage: Skyline Trials

Kendrick launched forwards without giving me even a second to recover. Both of our auras were scattered now, flitting through the arena and fighting for control over one another.

Strangely enough, with both our auras filling the arena, it felt like neither of us could use magic effectively.

"Wish someone could have told me that." I thought derisively as I forced myself to stand. My entire body ached, it screamed in righteous, justified fury at my own actions.

But adrenaline was a lot more powerful than pain—Especially when there was a man twice my size running at me with a blade drawn.

I sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. My mana felt like anything but my own now and frankly, I was rather certain that if I were to even try pushing my way into embodiment again that my body would give out.

Kendrick's swings came fast—But not as fast as before—They were precise, lethal in every regard, but with both our speeds cut the playing field was just a little more even.

Kendrick was however, definitely faster than me now. I had to back pedal, turning and leaning to avoid the first of his flurry of blows. Yet even with my movements the tip of his sword caught my cheek, cutting in deep enough to leave a bleeding streak.

I dared a glance away, trying in vain to find my halberd before the next swing came. But it was to no avail, in the few heartbeats I could spare I wasn't able to find it.

Another swing came from high, slicing horizontally in a manner that clearly meant to separate my head from my shoulders. I ducked underneath it, shifting and kicking into the dirt.

But I wasn't fast enough to get momentum, Kendrick's leg snapped up in a harsh kick that slammed into my ribs. I could distinctly feel the soles of his shoes nearly as thoroughly as I felt my own ribs bend, yet miraculously not break as I was sent sprawling on my back.

With a furious scream Kendrick leapt forwards, his foremost leg raised into the air in a clear motion to strike me down.

I slammed my arm to my side, pushing myself into a tight roll in order to avoid his stomp which slammed down just beside my back. Without even a moment to think I acted, pulling one leg up and wrapping my arm around Kendrick's ankle.

Kicked down with all my force I pulled Kendrick's foreleg out from under him while turning hard. I didn't quite get him to fall, but I got him to stumble away from me when I released his leg—Doing so barely gave me enough time to scramble back to my feet before he could turn back onto me.

I brought my arms up into a low guard, readying myself for Kendrick as he turned slowly. HIs blade was poised in a raised fashion with the tip aimed towards me. We stood there aimed at each other, breaths coming in heavy waves between each of us.

The air still felt alight with power, thrumming with each breath as our auras fought for control. We stood there for moments that felt like decades, our eyes locking while we waited for the other to make a move.

—

"This is absurd." Lushia hissed under her breath, bringing a soft chuckle from Tulip's lips.

"That's just what Kirin does," Tulip said with a soft smile on her face. Even if Kendrick was in the lead now, both of them were on surprisingly even ground. "Something absurd, every time." Tulip added much to Lushia's annoyance.

"How does that damn runt have this much mana!" Lushia roared, her furious golden gaze landing on Carmine as if she'd have an answer.

"I'll be honest, I'm not sure," Carmine said with curiosity in her voice. "To think that she had enough power to drown out the arena…" Carmine paused, letting a long sigh escape her lips. "Nobody would be able to deny that she is Hibiscus' daughter now." Carmine's words made Lushia visibly flinch, bringing both Tulip's and Panna's gazes onto her.

"Don't say that name," Lushia growled. "Not unless you want him to hear it." She added hastily.

Silence filled the room, roughly at the same instant that Kirin and Kendrick found themselves in a standstill across from one another.

"Carmine," Tulip started, her own curiosity finally being piqued enough. "Who was Hibiscus Berna?" She asked slowly, carefully even. Oftentimes it didn't matter that her father's magic worked to a lesser extent on her, his magic was still powerful.

"Don't." Lushia said, fear almost filling her voice. Yet, despite that, Carmine still took in a breath and spoke slowly.

"She very well could have been the strongest mage to ever live," Carmine said in a well measured voice. "But an illness that was worsened by her immense mana took her life at a young age. And before you ask—No, I have no idea on your father's reasoning." Carmine said firmly.

"She was nothing but a heretic." Lushia growled out.

"Strength doesn't make someone a heretic," Carmine said with a sigh. "She died far too young." She added in an undertone voice.

"The strongest mage to ever live?…" Tulip wondered silently, her gaze shifting back to the screen. "Show them all, Kirin." She thought resolutely.

—

I turned hard as Kendrick closed the distance with a powerful thrust, my foremost arm striking out in an open-palm strike into the exposed bend of his elbow. The effect was minimal, but it gave me a split-second to try and gain more distance from Kendrick, leaving me enough space to backpedal rapidly away from him.

Once again I tried desperately for the few moments I could spare to find my Halberd, but it was nowhere to be found.

As Kendrick turned and started closing distance again I could feel the mana in the air. It wasn't good for me, not in the slightest. It was almost like our auras were reflecting the state of the fight, with every step I was forced back bringing Kendrick's aura just a little closer to his body again. The spiraling cacophony of magic was growing less chaotic, but only in his favor.

"Shit…" I hissed under my breath, barely avoiding another strike from Kendrick's blade with more than just a scratch.

"Stand still and fight me!" Kendrick shouted, rage clear on his tongue.

"Fight me on an even field without that sword then!" I spat back, turning and kicking sand up into his face as I did so.

"You!" He hissed out, running a hand over his eyes for a split second—A second that I was forced to act in.

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Digging my heels into the ground I launched myself at Kendrick, in a single moment I got close enough that by the time he realized what I was doing his sword was worthless. I had little hope of overpowering Kendrick, not when his arms were thicker than my legs. But, when I turned and drove an elbow up into his chin I was greeted with a satisfying click from his teeth slamming together.

Kendrick turned hard however, punishing my proximity with a closed-fist strike into my exposed ribs. I heard a painful crunch from them, leaving me to hiss in pain even as I pushed in to keep the pressure on him.

My fists moved quickly, one after another hitting Kendrick even with the little to nothing my thin frame could put behind them. Meanwhile, even if Kendrick was slower he hit so much harder. By the time his third blow impacted, hitting with enough force to knock the wind from me and send me staggering back I knew I was in trouble.

A whistle reached my ears, leaving me to reflexively bring my arms up into a block. White-hot pain flared through my arms, forcing a scream out from my lungs while Kendrick cursed, pulling his blade out in a furious swipe.

"May I remind you!" The announcer suddenly started speaking, his voice outraged as he shouted. "There will be no deaths in this arena today! Any lethal blows shall be stopped!"

Heavy breaths escaped my lungs as Kendrick stepped back, painful tears running from my eyes when I forced myself to stand back up. Kendrick stepped back a few paces, the malice for the announcer clear on his face—But I was at least granted a chance to inspect my wounds for a heartbeat.

My left arm was cut badly, the skin completely torn asunder with the blade having only stopped after making it into the bone by a few inches. My arm was bleeding, yet he had missed the veins.

"How much more do I get to break you?" Kendrick asked, scorn thick in his voice. I met his gaze, my vision blurred from the tears that still tried to escape.

Every beat of my heart sent more furious pain wreaking havoc through my body. Every hitched breath felt like my ribs might collapse under the pressure. Every fiber of my being begged to give in, to give up and turn around. I wanted to, I wanted so desperately to give up but…

"Never wish for death." Almost like my misery had summoned it, I could hear Darek's voice in the back of my mind. It was a profound, reassuring whisper—One which reinvigorated me, if only a little.

"I'm still breathing, aren't I?" I forced myself to smile, raising my arms into a guard. I was leaning heavily onto my right side, I knew I was outmatched, but I wasn't going to give Kendrick the satisfaction of my surrender.

"That stubbornness will kill you," Kendrick growled, his blade growing poised for a moment before it disappeared. In an instant he raised his own guard, entering into a stance that was clearly meant to mimic my own. "If I can't cut you down, I'll just beat you until you can't stand." With those words Kendrick let out a warcry and launched himself towards me.

I had to act quickly as Kendrick came in. Adrenaline was working its magic, but it was far from enough to ignore all of the pain throughout my body. My aching heart screamed for a break, my burning lungs demanding it, yet my body kept moving.

Kendrick threw a punch low, arching it upwards so as to catch the underside of my ribs.

I turned with the punch, bringing my good arm down at an angle to shove it away from my body. I barely had the force to do so, and the action left my side open, Kendrick's other arm driving its way into my shoulder with a harsh strike.

I let out a puff of pain as I stumbled back, my arms coming up and crossing together just in time to stop the kick that Kendrick sent my way.

Barely stopping myself from falling backwards I dug my heels in, leaning forwards while I tried desperately to ignore the distinct crack that came from my injured arm. Colors filled my vision, hundreds of them. Yellows, reds, blues and greens. They all danced around, yet I couldn't focus for even a heartbeat.

With my heels dug in I kicked forwards. Yellow and red surrounded Kendrick, the red growing more intense when my fist surged forwards into his cheek.

I paid dearly for that strike however. Kendrick's knee shot up, hitting my ribs which finally gave in. I heaved for another breath as I stumbled backwards, my ribs well and fully broken—Kendrick however was also stumbling back, one hand on his cheek and covering the reddening spot on his face.

The air was alight with energy, even through our still clashing auras. The mana slowly sunk back towards us, maybe only a few moments needing to pass before our magic could return to us. But moments were all that was needed for Kendrick to end this fight.

My bad arm moved low, hugging my broken ribs in a protective manner while Kendrick settled himself again.

Again, colors filled my vision. So, so many colors were everywhere in my eyesight—I couldn't see anything without a kaleidoscope reflecting within my gaze. Reds blues and yellows covered Kendrick, I could almost make out a sense—Like there was something there to be understood.

But Kendrick moved too quickly, my gaze turned double, then triple. My head rocked backwards when his fist collided with my jaw, sending my clean onto my back. Nothing but white filled my vision.

White.

So much white, it all filled my vision. Static filled my ears, crunching, screaming, it all was too much—It screamed, it wanted out. Something wanted out! I couldn't breathe! It was like every part of my body grew overwhelmed in an instant, thousands of heartbeats drumming in my ears like a million soldiers marching across the fields of war.

White, white hot pain filled my body. Every wound felt like it was being torn open, scorched shut then torn open again. Red, red filled my eyes. Red and blue, then yellow. Greens yellows and oranges, so, so many colors—Then black.

My origin. I was staring at that tiny black spec in my origin, that little dot that called for me, that whispered something just outside of my ears. Colors within colors danced along valleys, the sky was filled like an ocean. Neon lights sat on the horizon, neon lights that felt wrong. Neon lights that hurt so much to look at.

Blackness called. That soothing darkness, it was so close, just outside of arms reach. I leaned, I tried to grasp it, yet it kept moving, shifting away from me. It was a bubble inside of an ocean, so painfully close, yet every movement I made just sent it further and further away.

The colors tried to wash it out, entire rainbows of light dancing through my vision while that dark spec grew slowly still. It slowed in its vibrating, growing almost soothing. My body… it ached a little less, the more still I grew, the less it all ached and the closer that spec got.

"What's happening?" I finally had the freedom of thought to wonder, yet no answer came.

I was surrounded on all sides by all-encompassing lights. Impossible colors built walls across the horizon, like the vestige edges of an infinite well. Yet despite the supposed infinity, I knew I was at the very heart of it—I floated there, in the heart of my origin. Inches away I could see the spec, the warmth shimmering away from it was so familiar.

"I'm so, so sorry little one. But this burden can only be carried by you now." I heard a voice—My mothers voice from all sides. She spoke with such sadness, yet absolute conviction. The black spec hummed with her voice, almost like it was resonating to it.

"This world is so cruel… but I hope that you can understand it, understand that pain like no one else can." She spoke further. My body relaxed with every word, almost like I was being lulled into a deep, restful slumber.

"Little Kirin, show the world those colors only we can see," My body didn't hurt, I felt… whole. It was strange, I knew I was injured, yet the pain ebbed away with every word she said. "We all bleed the same, we all feel the same, we all see the same. I never should put this upon you, but I have no choice." My eyes slowly opened, taking in a world of countless colors.

Hues within hues filled my vision. The air above the arena was alight like an abstract painting made of stained glass, infinite incandescent colors hovered above me—I could see, I could feel every single one. Fear, anxiety, dread, they all flowed through me like an ocean.

"I hope you can forgive me, my dearest little Kirin."

Cold breath rushed into my lungs, my ribs screamed in pain even as I sat up. My breathing came in short, heavy strokes. The arena was dead silent, not a whisper escaped as Kendrick stood only a few feet away from me. His face was contorted, confusion plain on his expression.

"How are you awake?" He asked, his voice almost shaking as I struggled to my feet. But, I couldn't answer him, not when my eyes settled onto his frame.

He was outlined with blues, yellows, reds and greens. Fear, anxiety, rage and dread. They all mixed together into a strange sort of hue that I could barely understand. All I could do was ask one, simple thing.

"What… What are you so scared of?"