Chapter 15
"Combat is one of the best ways for one to learn how to utilize their magic which is why all of you after entering the forest will be facing off against the cute golems that I have created for today's exercise. Those devices on your wrist will keep score of the number of golems you defeated, and the one with the highest score will be today's winner!" Maria stared down at the device on her wrist that reminded her of a wristband watch; the band was pink, and instead of showing the time, it only displayed one single digit which was zero.
Those devices on your wrist will keep score of the number of golems you defeated, and the one with the highest score will be today's winner!" Maria stared down at the device on her wrist that reminded her of a wristband watch; the band was pink,...
"Though no extreme physical damage will be done to you, please do be careful~!" advised Ms. Nunnally before the eager students rushed off into the forest. Some going off on their own, while others formed groups.
"Alright, team, we got one rule and only one! We charge in and attack! Be as ruthless and merciless as you can be, you understand?! And while doing so never leave a man behind!" Julian, Maria, and Mai were together, the latter pacing in front of them as Maria couldn't help but imagine Mai in military clothes as she automatically took the position of leader.
"I don't think she's taking this as a simple training exercise," Maria whispered over to Julian who nodded his head in agreement. Sticking together, the three traveled farther into the vast forest that was dominated by magnolia, rhododendron, and beech trees, twinkling lights bursting through their crowns. Swooping vines were suspended from occasional trees; a range of flowers could be randomly spotted in various corners.
From a distance, they could hear some of the students already in the midst of battle, though things got quiet as they traveled farther north. Upon hearing a rustling of leaves that came from somewhere nearby, all three instantly became alert, cautiously watching as the shadow of a figure slowly revealed itself which resulted in their eyes becoming large and their jaws..h.i.tting the ground.
"We're so screwed," muttered Maria. Standing in front of the trembling group of three was a towering eight-foot tall gorilla golem, made out of black rocks, bearing its
"Run... Run!" shouted Maria as the group took off, running for their lives, though when they looked back, they screamed when they saw that the gorilla golem was gaining on their tails.
"What do we do?! We can't possibly defeat that thing! It's impossible! We are doomed to fail!" cried Julian.
"We need a plan! Wait, does anyone have some bananas?" asked Mai, and it took nothing but a second for Maria to follow where Mai's mind was heading and she wanted to slap some sense into her blonde friend.
"It's a golem! I don't think a banana is going to work!" yelled Maria; the group continued to run for their lives until one of them tripped. The one who tripped just so happened to be Julian; both Mai and Maria stopped just in time to see the gorilla golem charge towards him and was about to smash him under its large rock fist. Upon seeing this, the one who acted first was Mai who cried out to Julian, running towards him.
"Luce Stellarum Protector!" Mai called out once she reached him as Maria watched as a glowing bright yellow star appeared underneath the ground of both Mai and Julian. The star emitted a bright glow of light that when the gorilla golem was about to smash his fist against them, it worked as a magical barrier that protected both Mai and Julian from the gorilla golem's attack.
'Thank G.o.d for Mai! If she didn't react in time, I don't even want to think about what would've happened, though I gotta admit, since when did she begin practicing spells?' Maria placed a hand over her beating heart, feeling it racing underneath her touch. Though she was unable to catch a break once she saw sweat dripping from Mai's forehead as the gorilla golem continued to pound his fist against the barrier.
"I can't... hold on much longer. Run, Maria! I can't hold this thing back any longer!" cried Mai. The sight of her giving nothing but her all just to protect a friend, even going back against her own words from earlier as she told Maria to leave them behind, made Maria feel nothing but admiration. Amongst the fear that was consuming her soul, her admiration for Mai was what kept her standing on her feet.
Maria wasn't going to lie, a part of her indeed wanted to run away, but that part also disgusted her. Yes, she was afraid, downright terrified! How was this supposed to be a training exercise for first-year elementary students?! Maria wanted to shout, recalling how in stories, the author tended to make everything all fun and exciting when faced with danger. Too bad for Maria because at the moment she felt neither of those two emotions.
I don't know what to do!
Neither do I have a plan...
But I do know one thing, and that is...
Clenching her fists tight, Maria narrowed her eyes, braced her feet and set off running in their direction. This action caught both Julian and Mai by surprise as Maria shouted, "Like I would ever leave a friend behind! Remember, that was your number one rule. Friends always stick together, no matter what!"
Maria blindly continued to charge forward as the magical barrier began to crack and after another attack, it shattered to pieces. The gorilla golem roared and was ready to smash both Mai and Julian into smithereens, but Maria soon reached them and when she did, she stood protectively in front of them with arms stretched out wide.
'All my life, it was only my grandma and I. Never have I had a true friend like the ones in anime that I always dreamed of having. Real friends that you can laugh and talk with, true friends that will never leave you behind, even when things are tough.' "I may not have known you guys long, but just talking with you, I feel as if I've known you for a lifetime and just for that... I want to protect you!"
Maria was so bent on protecting her friends that she was unaware of the bright red glow of light her left pants' pocket emitted. Not until a small glowing object flew out of her pocket and right in front of her. Maria was surprised once she saw that it was the Ruby jewel she had summoned earlier in cla.s.s today.
The jewel floated in the air, producing wild flames that lashed out like a whip, hitting the gorilla golem. Soon spiral rings of flames surrounded the ruby which bursted apart, and within the rings of flames, Maria was able to spot a small figure floating in the center. After the flames dispersed, Maria saw that the three-inch chibi figure had bright, fiery red hair, twin tails with buns on top, and large, ruby-colored, fierce eyes. The chibi figure was definitely female, seeing how her wardrobe consisted of a red cheongsam battle-style outfit with bold gold accents.
"The name is Ruby, a Celestial Pixie! You may not look like much, but it was your pa.s.sionate feelings for your friends that have awoken me. Now, how shall I be in service to you, my master?" questioned the Celestial Pixie, Ruby. Maria, on the other hand, was speechless, eyes glued onto the floating pixie.
'This day just got a whole lot weirder.'