Chapter 4

Daesin went to the benches to drink water and talked to Eli about fighting with Quinn. She held on that Daesin would win, but he didn't want to fight.

"I will ask Theodore if I can fight another day," said Daesin. "I don't want to take part in this childish fight."

"Just try something," Eli said. She didn't know why he couldn't even fight for just a couple of minutes. The worst case scenario might be a broken bone.

Daesin returned after five minutes and saw Quinn standing in the middle of the field, waiting for Daesin to show up so he could beat his ass.

He ran towards the teacher and asked him if he could fight another day.

"So, you don't want to fight?" Theodore asked.

"No, sir. I don't want to fight without me being alright with it."

"Are you afraid to hurt someone or to lose control over your power?"

"No," replied Daesin.

"Then fight. If you don't, I will kick you back all the way to your uncle," said Theodore. "Now GO!"

Theodore slapped Daesin softly on his back, but he flew forward. Luckily he landed safely on his feet, in the fighting ring.

"Ahhgg! That really hurts!" He said while trying to hold back his scream.

The teacher made someone fly with one hand using minimal force. Was he a monster?

He looked at his left side. Quinn stood next to him, staring at the person before him. He thought about what to say.

"Well, I guess I have to fight you then. Since you wanted it so bad, I won't go easy on you," said Daesin. "So don't get cocky."

"Haha, I never expected you to be so sure about yourself. Don't worry, I will go easy on you." Quinn said.

"Don't regret it later," Daesin wondered if this guy was stupid. Never underestimate your opponents. It was one of the most important rules in the martial arts and magic arts world.

"Stop talking! The match will begin in one minute, so get ready."

Quinn said something while looking at Daesin. He couldn't understand what he said, but it sounded like a spell. Quinn put off his shoes and threw them to the teacher. He caught it, but something seemed off.

"Hmm. It's heavy, about thirty kilos," said Theodore. Quinn's feet had more scars than any other student had, he must have worked hard to achieve his level of martial arts.

Daesin also put off his shoes. He didn't want to make this unfair.

"Are you mocking me?! Keep them on!" Quinn said. He got furious by this insulting behavior.

"I've got something called honor. So don't bother and keep your head cool, or this can become a catastrophe," he said

"Get ready. Pay respect to each other. FIGHT!"

Quinn didn't hesitate for a second and stepped toward Daesin while he punched forward, aimed at his chest. Daesin perfectly dodged it, by leaning backward. At the same time, he kicked up, aiming at Quinn's chin. By making this action, he almost made a backward flip. Roots came from the ground and stopped his kick just before it connected with Quinn's chin.

"Burn," Daesin ordered. Flames spread over the roots, turning everything to ashes. "Plants are weak against fire. Use your head! You can do far more things with your magic."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Quinn yelled in rage. He touched the ground with his left hand and cast a spell. "Twirl around me."

The ground suddenly started to twirl and took Daesin with him toward the middle, Quinn.

"Guess I've got to do this." Daesin let the flames spread every direction, as big as the circle and everything stopped. Holding the same shape as it was in. The battlefield was now turned into a spiraled pit. A gray burned pit. Daesin ran towards Quinn and gave him a blow. This time it landed. Quinn flew out of the field, but could still prevent himself from getting smashed into a concrete wall.

He put all his strength into his legs and launched himself forward, roots came out of his hands and formed a spear. Daesin only stepped aside, because Quinn couldn't change his trajectory and the moment he flew past him, Daesin kicked him in his stomach and made blew him into the air. "Fire spear!" A spear of fire formed into Daesin's right hand and threw it towards Quinn.

'Quinn, wake up!' Sounded through Quinn's head.

The ground started shaking. An enormous plant arm grew out of the ground and blocked the spear, by using its water as a coat around its arm.

'That was clever. Using the water that was stored in the plant as a coating to block the fire.'

"Still, you've got to do more if you want to beat me," said Daesin.

The ground itself seemed to have its own will. The ground started erupting and throwing pieces of stone in the air. The stones stuck against each other and stacked as high as Quinn to form a platform for him to stand on.

Quinn turned himself in the air and stood upside down, while roots kept him tied to the platform.

"Theodore! Something is wrong with Quinn!" Daesin yelled.

"I noticed, his mana has multiplied by three. Try to hold him off for a minute. I need to bring the students to safety first!" Theodore replied. "You can handle it right?"

"Yes, sir!" He replied.

"Alright, everyone! Follow me, go through the portal, back to the school." Theodore said. He was afraid that the students would get hurt.

There weren't any other classes at this moment so it wouldn't take a long time for them to evacuate.

Daesin kept watching Quinn, the moment he made a movement towards someone else other than him, Daesin would attack.

"Daesin! Get me out of your pocket. I can help!" Said Eli. Daesin took her out of his pocket and held her in his hands. She saw Quinn standing about fifty meters right above them.

'That was quite a good performance,' she thought.

"Can you stop this?" Daesin asked.

"I'm not too sure about this. Quinn turned into a Stranger. An Unknown, who has lost its path and is about to become a demon. He is luckily still in de mid phase. He can be brought back."

"Wait, so Strangers do exist? I heard about them in rumors," said Daesin

"Yes, but don't mistake them. He doesn't have the Demon-blood running through his veins. A Stranger is an Unknown that has lost itself in anger and hate. It has lost its own will and will hurt whoever stands in their way. There are three phases. In the first phase, it can be easily knocked out and brought back by making it remember something dear to it. In the second phase, it will get a lot harder to bring it back. You must inflict as much pain as you can until it passes out and then you must give it Heaven's Water as fast as possible; otherwise it will die." Eli explained.

"Demons, in comparison, are creatures that live and are created by hate and anger of other people or by unevenness in the worlds mana field. They also live on panic, destruction, and fear."

"Ohh, I get it! But are you going to save him or do we have to wait for Theodore?" Daesin asked. Not exactly knowing what to do.

"You are going to do this alone. You can save him, but there is a risk. Not for you, but for him. He might die if we don't let him consume Heaven's Water on time," said Eli.

"You're putting one hell of a burden on me."

"If you want to save him, this is the only way," said Eli

"I... I will try. So what do I have to do?" Daesin never expected to get such a ridiculous task.

"He's got to feel a massive amount of pain until he passes out and then give him Heaven's water," she explained.

"Why does he have to feel so much pain?" Daesin asked.

"Pain is something that brings the human-side above. That means, by inflicting pain, he will most likely regain some of his humanity."

"Ow, that makes sense. But where do I get Heaven's Water?" Daesin was running out of time. 

Note: With paying respect, I mean make a bow. Like in Asian countries and some martial arts. :)