Chapter 30 You Finally Decided To Ask?

Chapter 30 You Finally Decided To Ask?
∆§∆ LUNARA'S POV ∆§∆

"I think I'll take my time."

With that said she rushed toward me again, I watched her moves closely.

The wind gathered around her body as she leaped, making her faster with every step.

Her confidence had returned now that she knew about my injury, and she wasn't even trying to hide the satisfaction on her face.

I knew I couldn't keep defending forever.

My body was already running out of strength, and every time I blocked one of her attacks, another part of me screamed in protest.

Phoenix was still cursing me out inside my head.

PHOENIX: "Lunara, if you die here, I will personally haunt you. I didn't pick you so you end up being such a weakling."

I almost laughed, at that moment, Agnes swung her arm, a sharp blade of wind tore through the air.

I jumped aside, another followed then another. She was getting faster while I was getting slower.

This wasn't going to work. I needed to end this. But I still didn't want to hurt her. My uncle always said, our teammates were never the enemy.

PHOENIX: “SHE IS THE ENEMY!”

And that jolted me out of whatever pity I felt for her especially when I saw her eyes.

There was no longer any desire to win in them. I could smell the killing intent on her.

If this is how it is, then I will protect myself. She raised both hands, the wind around her grew stronger, spinning around her body until the loose strands of her hair flew wildly around her face.

The students began moving farther away as the wind picked up dust.

"What's she doing?"

"That doesn't look like a normal attack."

"Agnes!"

Even Mr. Kaf's expression changed.

"Whitmore, behave yourself," he warned.

Agnes didn't listen. Her eyes remained fixed on me. "Let's see how you dodge this,” she shrieked with a cynical smile on her face.

The wind gathered in front of her and I could feel the pressure building. She wasn't going to aim for my legs.

Or my injured side.

She was aiming directly at my throat.

My breathing slowed as the noise around me began to fade. I needed to concentrate for this move I intended to use.

Uncle Kael had always warned me not to use this particular technique except I was in grave danger.

I closed my eyes and stood still. I could hear the students screaming my name to jump out of the arena.

Even the Phoenix was shouting something inside my head but I tuned them all out.

I positioned myself, technique Two, the willowy shadow Step.

Your body should sway its way towards your opponent and arrive before your opponent's mind gives permission to react.

I had practiced it a thousand times more than I can count but I have never actually had to use it on a werewolf.

Because this technique wasn't just about moving faster. It was about removing the hesitation between morality and wickedness.

It means just like Agnes, I was ready to kill to protect myself, slow your breathing and empty your mind.

Don't think about where you're going.

Don't think about what your opponent is going to do. Move before their senses can catch up.

I drew in one final breath, ready to go for a kill if I had to. Agnes released her attack.

The wind swished and exploded toward me and just like the wind, I stepped.

And the world blurred, I didn't feel the wind hit me or feel myself move.

One moment I was standing directly in front of Agnes. The next, I was behind her.

Her attack tore through empty space.

The students screamed.

"What happened?"

"Where did she go?"

Agnes spun around.

Her eyes widened but I was already moving, my eyes red with rage, the phoenix was screaming loudly in my head about how he knew he didn't pick wrong.

Agnes swung at me, I dodged to the left side, her fist missed, so she sent another gust toward me.

But I was no longer there. She turned again, I moved again playing with her just as she promised she would with me.

Her power tore apart the space where I had been standing a second before, confusion and fear flashed across her face.

She kept swinging her head around but she couldn't see me. That was the point.

Shadow Step wasn't teleportation but it wasn't any different from it although it wears one out.

Agnes panicked, she yelled as she shot gust of wind everywhere. The cardinals had to use their powers to shield everyone.

"Stop running!"

I didn't answer, I went behind her again and gave her a resounding slap from behind like the first day.

“ Ahh… you bitch! I will skin you alive!” She raised her hand again but she turned too late.

I caught her wrist. This time, I didn't hold back.

I twisted really hard with the intention of damaging her hands so she doesn't use her powers ever again.

A loud crack echoed through the hall.

Agnes screamed. “ Ahhh… Lunara please, it hurts.”

Her wrist went limp. Before she could recover, I drove my elbow into her ribs.

She stumbled and I caught her shoulder and used her own momentum to throw her onto the floor.

She tried to push herself up. I was already on top. She looked up at me, her face filled with disbelief.

"How..."

I didn't give her time to finish.

My fist struck her jaw again, her head snapped to the side. She collapsed back onto the dusty mat.

A strange silence fell over the hall.

I could hear my own breathing and Agnes groaning.

I hear someone whisper,

"We couldn't even see her."

Another voice answered.

"That's not speed."

"What is it?"

"I don't know."

Roman was staring at me weirdly. For the first time since I had met him, his expression had completely changed.

His eyes narrowed. I could feel him trying to read my mind. But there was nothing for him to read.

During Shadow Step, there is and will always be no thought. No intention just survival.

Blaze looked between Agnes and me in disbelief.

“ How's that possible?"

Roman didn't answer.

He was still watching me. Agnes pushed herself up with her good hand.

Her breathing was ragged.

Her jaw hung slightly out of place.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

She looked at me with pure hatred.

"You..."

She tried to stand.

Her injured hand trembled uselessly beside her.

I walked toward her.

"You should have stopped when I didn't attack you."

She spat blood onto the floor. "You think you've won?"

I sighed. " I have."

She suddenly lunged. Even injured, she still had enough wind magic to move quickly.

I dodged aside and she missed. I caught her arm and I brought my knee into her stomach.

The air left her lungs.

She dropped to her knees.

I grabbed her shoulder and forced her back onto the mat.

That was enough. I didn't need to hurt her any further.

Mr. Kaf finally stepped forward.

"Enough!"

His voice echoed through the training hall. He walked between us and looked down at Agnes.

Then he turned toward me.

"Lunara Smith wins."

For a moment, I didn't react or rather I couldn't because the pressure that had been holding my body together disappeared.

I took one step backward, then another and my vision blurred.

I swallowed, something warm rose into my throat. I tried to hold it back.

I failed and blood spilled from my mouth.

A few students gasped.

"Lunara!"

Bea rushed toward me.

"I'm fine," I tried to say.

Another mouthful of blood came out.

I wiped my lips with the back of my hand.

"Fuck."

My knees weakened.

Mr. Kaf immediately turned toward the training staff.

"Take Whitmore to the infirmary."

Several members of the training crew hurried over, they lifted Agnes from the floor.

She groaned as they moved her, but she was conscious.

The students watched as they carried her away.

The moment Agnes disappeared through the doors, the whispers began.

"She really won."

"Does that mean she had been holding back the entire time?"

"Did you see how she moved?"

"I couldn't even see her."

"Neither could Roman."

That last comment made several students look toward him.

Roman didn't respond, his eyes were still on me, someone else whispered,

"She defeated a Pureblood without using elemental magic."

"I thought she cheated during the preliminary assessment."

"So did I."

"I don't think anyone will be calling her a cheater again."

I think I was falling but Bea reached me.

"Lunara!"

She grabbed my arm before I could fall, I leaned against her.

"I'm okay,” I lied again.

"You are bleeding!"

"It's nothing."

"You need to go to the infirmary."

"No."

I pushed myself upright.

"I'm fine."

Bea stared at me as though she couldn't believe what I had just said.

"You just spit blood all over the floor."

"That doesn't mean I'm dying."

"It means you're injured, internally."

I didn't have the strength to argue with her. Before I could say anything else, Mr. Kaf approached.

His eyes immediately went to the blood on my lips.

"You're going to the infirmary."

I shook my head. "I don't need to."

"Lunara."

"I am truly fine, sir."

I didn't want to go to the infirmary, the healers and nurses have been whispering and I am scared of them finding out about my healing.

He watched me for a moment and then he turned to the students around us.

"Training is over for today."

A few students groaned.

"We'll reconvene this evening."

That only made the complaints louder.

I heard Riley's voice above the others.

"Of course." I turned. She stood beside Wendy, her arms folded.

"Training ends early because of her."

The room went quiet, Mr. Kaf slowly turned toward her.

"Miss Riley."

Riley's face turned sour. "Yes, sir?"

"You seem to have something to say."

She immediately looked away. "No, sir."

"I thought not. I will not condone any disrespect like I did with Miss Whitmore again. Am I clear?” He bellowed, his eyes crossed.

“ Yes, sir!”

Nobody spoke after that. Students began collecting their things and leaving the hall.

I watched them go, feeling more exhausted with every passing second.

Then Mr. Kaf called my name.

"Lunara."

I stopped.

"Stay behind."

I turned around.

Roman and Blaze had already started walking toward the exit, but both of them stopped.

Mr. Kaf looked at them.

"You two may leave."

Blaze nods his head toward me. "We'll wait outside."

Roman nodded. "If you need us."

I looked between them. "I won't."

Blaze shrugged. "We'll still be outside."

He gave me a small smile. "Call us if you need anything."

Then they walked out. The doors closed behind them. I turned back to Mr. Kaf.

Only the two of us remained.

My hand instinctively went to the jade whistle beneath my collar. I had been thinking about it since the day he gave it to me.

Why had he chosen me? Why had he told me to blow it when I was in trouble?

And why did he look at me sometimes as though he knew something about me that I didn't?

I pulled the whistle out, Mr. Kaf's eyes immediately went to it. I held it between my fingers.

"Sir..."

He waited.

"What exactly do you know about this jade whistle you gave me?"

For the first time since I had met him, Mr. Kaf's expression changed into a sad smile.

His eyes remained on the whistle for several beats, then he looked at me.

"You finally decided to ask.”