"Again."
Halvern the esteemed instructor ordered as Kheira, a young cheetah-breed stood to her feet. Across from her stood Caelion Vaereth—high elf, second-year elite, wind affinity specialist, and a professional nuisance.
His silver hair was tied neatly at the nape of his neck. His uniform was pristine despite the many rounds they had gone through.
"Try not to embarrass yourself this time," he said with a smug expression.
Laughter echoed through the sparring circle, though Kheira didn't care. She rolled her shoulders once and stood defensively.
Halvern watched closely, his cold blue eyes squinted, muscular arms folded like a disappointed father. However, he showed no disappointment at all, as his eyes were glued to the young cheetah breed.
Caelion made the first move. With his specialised wind magic, he dashed forward, going straight for Kheira's ribs.
Caelion moved first.
She pivoted, barely avoiding the thrust. The dulled blade grazed through the fabric of her attire. She was quite fast, but she was almost taken out.
She ducked under his second attack and drove her wooden spear toward his shoulder. This was a mistake as a single flick of his wrist redirected the blow, wind Mana cushioning the impact.
"Heavens... You rely too much in reflex," Caelion muttered, "Where's your reinforcement spell?"
She didn't answer. Everyone knew of her inability to produce enough mana for a single spell.
He lunged again, faster and more precise this time. A compressed burst of air exploded at her, disrupting her balance.
*This was the bastard's plan all along?
Without Mana to anchor herself, no miracle could save her.
His dulled rapier was now a breath from her throat before she could find the chance to stand up. Everywhere was silent before the cheers of other classmates began.
"Way to go Caelion!" said Ren, a dragon breed who had always followed Caelion, dwelling in his shadow.
"Match," Halvern declared.
The barriers around the battlefield, that kept the magic in place dissolved.
Caelion stepped back with a faint smile. "I must say, you move quite beautifully," he said softly enough for her to hear. "It's very tragic that you don't have a single drop of mana to back you up."
Kheira clenched her fangs, anger welling up inside her. At this point, she wanted to bite his head off and tear that smug expression with her claws, but she knew she would be no match for such a powerful wind user.
"Curses," she muttered under her breath.
Around her, murmurs resumed. Something that had always occurred since her childhood.
"She'd be unstoppable with mana."
"But she doesn't."
"She's just a beast without claws."
As she walked away from the arena, her tail wrapped around her waist, she couldn't help but think.
Were the murmurs just mocking or were they a form of pity?
——
The walk back to the lower district was familiar but long. The academy spires gave way to stone homes and market stalls, the quieter outskirts of what was known as Lornfell.
The barrier crystals embedded in the outer wall hummed faintly with mana, something Kheira wished for.
Her house stood near a fractured section of stone wall as her body could not produce enough mana. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"You're early, that's new."
Kheira didn't startle, she expected that voice. She dropped her spear by the door.
"And of course you're late."
A tall figure scurried around the kitchen before leaning against the counter, forearms crossed. Red glowing eyes staring intently at Kheira. Curved horns seof back from get temples, and a dark, scaled tail flicked lazily behind her.
Zyra, a dragon-born stood, a fire-blood with the proportions of a voluptuous housewife. The only friend that Kheira had.
Her voice was motherly but her tone was that of an ally. She sniffed, "You smell like humiliation," she observed.
Kheira sighed. "It was Caelion."
"Ah. The elf who believes oxygen exists for him alone."
"Every time! He thinks he's all high and mighty because of some stupid wind magic," said Kheira, angrily planting herself on the dining table.
Zyra pushed off the counter and walked closer, standing behind her friend and gently massaging her. "Do you think that it does?"
Kheira's jaw tightened. "Well, I think speed wins," she said.
Zyra's expression softened slightly. "Now that's what I call 'spirit'"
Silence lingered.
The dragon-born glanced toward the spear by the door. "Any good catches so far?"
"Marsh sector, corrupted sightings. At least I got some good pay this time."
"Alone?"
"Well, I wanted to, but it seems our instructor can't trust me with the simplest of tasks. I had to do it with Ren"
Zyra's tail stilled briefly.
"You mean that other dragon-born who you say is infatuated with me," she said quietly.
Kheira nodded.
"Hmm..hmm."
Zyra sighed, "Well, I made your favorite lavender cake," she said, "Would you like to have it?"
Kheira stood to her feet, garbing her spear again. "Save it for me, I'll be back," she said.
At this point, Zyra didn't need to ask where Keira headed. She already knew how stubborn she was.
"You do know you don't need to prove anything. Learn and adapt slowly."
"I'm not proving anything."
She hesitated at the doorway.
"I just need the coin."
Zyra watched her for a moment longer, then nodded. "Don't do anything reckless."
Kheira smirked faintly. "That's your job."
Kheira stepped outside the walls that guarded Lornfell, her spear in hand ignoring the stares and whispers. The marshlands were quieter than usual.
Fog drifted low over shallow waters as she stepped closer.
Hours had passed by and the sky had begun to dim.
Perfect conditions for tracking.
Kheira sat on top of a tree waiting for the right time to strike, but with enough time in her hands, she began to lament to herself.
"Stupid Lornfell academy, I'll show you all... One day," she said, staring down at the spear in her hand.
The only gift her father had given her before he and her mother disappeared. The metal had been forged with her mother's jewelry and the wood was gotten from the very tree she sat upon.
She remembered the words of her parents before being taken by a magic beast. Though these thoughts clouded her mind, the thought of loss and hopelessness, she had to be focused.
Just then—she spotted a marsh boar rustling somewhere ahead with the help of a twig snapping.
Kheira gracefully leaped down before crouching down. She weaved through reeds with practiced ease.
Her tail adjusted for balance as she closed the distance. It had been so long since she hunted a boar, now was her chance.
'I've got you now'
Then—the scent changed, it didn't belong to any boar. It was rotten and corrupted.
Her ears flattened slightly as she turned in the direction of the putrid odor.
The fog had risen. Before it was below her knees, now it bathed everywhere.
"What on earth just happened?"
The boar she had tried to catch ran away immediately, and her hunt came to a stop. This didn't bother Kheira as something large shifted beyond the reeds.
A stag stepped into view. It should have been majestic.
Instead, its antlers twisted like broken branches threaded with faint crimson light. Veins pulsed beneath cracked hide. Its chest thudded unevenly, as something alive beat against bone from within.
It was a magical beast. Kheira had heard of these beasts and the power they held. But this one seemed different, it looked corrupted, stronger than standard marsh predators though.
Kheira's grip tightened, her fangs clenched. The stag's glowing eyes locked onto her, then it charged her.
The cheetah-breed moved instantly, sidestepping the first attack. She was at a disadvantage when it came to strength, but her speed was unmatched. She thrust her toward its flank.
The blade hit only to bounce. The skin was too dense. Now it was angered.
It swept its antlers, catching her shoulder, and with another swing, it hurled her backward into the small lake from which the boar emerged.
Kheira grunted as pain flared. In that moment, every nerve in her body stung like needles were embedded in her.
She struggled, rolling back to her feet. In that moment she felt a pulse of something distorted welling up inside her. It had a strange color.
Orange.
Her ribs vibrated painfully. Her vision swam, but she had to be strong. She darted left, narrowly avoiding a crushing hoof. Again. Again.
For a moment, she felt groggy, but for some reason she was fast.
'Could it be adrenaline?'
It couldn't be, because whatever it infected her with seemed to be shutting her down.
She dashed away, making a run for it. Normally she was quick, but whatever was drawn into her system had begun to weaken her.
To make matters worse, the stag was behind her, ready to take her down.
The beast roared behind her, its tone reaching far and wide. The effect had even caused the sky to darken further.
Then came water, dripping from the sky. It was raining and it seemed to be caused by the effect of the magical beast's roar.
This was high-level magic and without it, Kheira was nothing but prey. The thought ignited something inside her as she fell to the ground.
What on Earth was a magical beast doing here? And why was it attacking?
Her veins glowed faintly, her blood boiling beneath. Her organs burned, her heart beating like a drum.
Then it stopped.
In that moment it was like her life slipped away. As her thoughts faded to black, she could remember a faint dream of hers.
In the past, she dreamt of joining a guild in hopes but with her lack of mana, she wasn't able to achieve this.
Now she was at the brink of death.
Could it be over for her? She thought. Was this how things were supposed to end?
The magical beast was just meters from her. Then—she felt it, the fiery sensation.
Heat exploded outward from her body in the form of red.
The stag screamed. The rain stopped.
The wet ground dried up in an instant. Gold energy lashed as Kheira rose slowly.
Her spotted markings glowed faintly beneath her skin. The air bent around her, distorting under pressure.
Kheira staggered back and forth, still trying to hold herself. Whatever had taken over her, seemed to be stabilizing her instead of helping her recover.
She held her spear tightly and attacked, dashing towards the magical beast. It threw its attack, magical energy being directed at Kheira in the form of energy rays.
This was a futile attack as the cheetah-breed was faster now, moving at an unknown speed.
The next instant she was above the stag, spear driving downward with force magnified by something alien.
The blade pierced and the beast collapsed.
Silence followed, and Kheira was left standing still. But whatever power this was didn't stop there.
It surged violently around her, uncontrolled.
Her heartbeat thundered painfully fast.
She staggered back, trying to breathe.
"What... is this?"
The energy flared again, wilder this time around. She tried to run, maybe find help, but this power held her down.
She fell.
Then she heard it, footsteps. Slow and calm.
'Someone's here... Who's that?'
The footsteps had gotten close now and something loomed over her. Kheira raised her gaze.
Before her a figure stood, draped completely in a green cloak.