Catch The Drift

Chloe dashed despite the beams of the onslaught. Her images split up as she continuously dodged the laser beams from above; however, she almost tripped from the marble's protruding wall. She somersaulted out of the frey and went back to Ind.

'I need to do this—' Then immense pain surged her mind for a split second, which stumped her thoughts and staggered.

'—Who did it?' Anasthasia's eyes glimmered as she sensed the peculiar power; however, she lost track of it as things unfurled forefront was more important.

It was her thing to continue and pressed the assault. Marble debris launched, but Ind pulverized of those near their impact.

Anasthasia wasn't only keen on the offense; she took note of her defenses withal. Arrays of walls jutted from the ground, they all lost their view of Anasthasia, and it wasn't a good sign for them.

'I can't drag this fight any longer, and without 'Seraphine', it'll be a lot of struggle.'

Anasthasia hopped, landing to the top. She overlooked the area and saw how two struggled to the bitter end.

'A swift move—' Her head throbbed, which her hands pressed on her head. Her eyes narrowed from the sudden attack. Her gaze grew intense as she followed the path until she saw Chloe, whose arms extended as though she had Anasthasia in her grasp.

'Now, I see what this was. I won't let you!'

Anasthasia waved off her arms, launching a strong gale that ravaged forth.

Things happened so fast, but none of them were slowpokes.

"Stone Wall!" Ind stomped the ground, erupting crude marble rocks underneath, but he placed another invisible barrier as though things weren't enough. His guess eventually turned plausible, walls pulverized in exchange of gale's remaining force.

His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, blood from his forehead trickled ever-so-slightly. Chloe clicked her tongue as she tried to find a way but still flinched from her limbs' sores.

From above, the sky loomed razor-sharp blades of water and wind spikes that swoop to battle. Anasthasia witnessed how the spells tore their defenses to the point it lacerated their skin.

"Chloe, careful!" Ind's hand gleamed as it tried to evaporate the water blades and deflected the piercing wind into thin air. Though things came all for naught as the spells showered at their blind spots.

To them, it was hell.

Ind and Chloe busied themselves and kept in a defensive position. From the view, they were comparable to a cornered beast.

She raised her hand when all of a sudden, Blake howled in frustration. Looking up, she noticed the prism dimmed, which cut off the immense beams of light. Thereafter, 'Seraphine' began to tremble and shrank back to its lackluster form by force.

'What does this mean?' Only then she gaped at how 'Seraphine' flew its way to Blake, which was welcomed by his palms.

'So it's over…'

Soon, the water evaporated and meshed well with the now warm breeze. Anasthasia jumped and landed on the ground as the walls crumbled, leaving mounds after mounds inside the training grounds.

That said, clouds of dust blanketed the area, but Anasthasia waved her arms in a long arc, converging the debris to a center point. This left a huge mound at the center with large pits and dents all around.

From the sight, Anasthasia's eyes squinted how Chloe squirmed her limbs despite laying flat on the ground. On the other hand, Ind got to his knees with his knuckles anchored. He arched his neck in despair as he panted so hard.

'Zephyr's Kiss!'

She sprinted once more, closing off their gaps. Ind deemed dread washed over his spine as he glanced at Anasthasia. He gritted his teeth, but he didn't expect what came next.

He stoned in place from hearing her voice. "Don't be afraid. It's over." She bent down and touched his forehead.

'Regeneration!'

A surge of warmth enveloped his body, but his reaction surprised her. His face winced as he stopped the urge to hiss in front of her. Moments later, he noticed how his fresh wounds— slowly healed and sealed for good—changed as though nothing ever happened.

'Surge!'

Ind's eyes flashed in enthusiasm; he stood upright and rolled his shoulders. His eyes darted all over his body as he moved his limbs, checking for the possible injuries amidst his worn-out uniform.

"I'm—back to what it was."

"I'm glad you're back on your feet." She smiled then moved to Chloe, pinned to the ground.

'Regeneration!'

The rest slowly ran towards them. Worries flushed their faces, and by closer look, they saw how Anasthasia placed her hand over Chloe's head. Soon, her body turned aglow and revealed how wounds sealed. No scars etched on her fair skin.

Gasps reverberated the area, but Anasthasia heeded no mind. "Blake, may I have the cloak back?" He nodded and tossed at her, grabbing at one fluid motion and donned on her back.

Chloe groaned, "Miss Ana—I'm…" However, she hushed back.

"Wear this, your clothes wrecked, and it's all over the place." Chloe stiffened and then nodded meekly.

'Surge!'

Chloe regained her full strength, but she never moved from her place; in the meantime, Anasthasia helped her get up, donning the cloak properly unto her petite figure.

From the sight, she gave a chuckle. "You look so cute on an oversized cloak."

"Miss Ana, I hope you won't tease me that much." Chloe narrowed her eyes but flustered as the rest jived with peals of laughter.

"What about Ind?"

"I'm fine, Chloe."

Anasthasia watched Ind how he busied himself dusting off the smears of dirt on his ragged uniform—her eyes dawned unto the cuts and tore on his torso that revealed his ripped pecs. A glimpse of his abdominal muscles as very well defined in broad daylight.

'There's also deep slashes on his trousers too, revealing that toned legs—'

"Miss Ana, are you out of your mind?"

Anasthasia snapped out of her thoughts and glared at Blake with nervousness as she got herself into a sermon right off the bat.

"What do you mean, Blake?" She tilted her eyed as she feigned innocence.

"I know you know what I'm pointing out, Miss Ana."

"Wasn't it part of the test?"

Blake retorted, "Not when you're on them to the point they're forced to defend themselves!"

"Oh my, was it too much?" She arched her brows with shimmers in her eyes.

Blake's face covered with both of his hands, muffling a groan, and brushed past his hair, raking to the back. Anasthasia apologized nevertheless.

"Miss Ana, I never thought you had capabilities on healing as well!" Charlottes' fingers made a steeple.

"Indeed, Charlotte, it's quite handy these days."

"Ana, at this point, you should tell us what you don't know." Daniel, out of helplessness, sighed.

Brenov clapped his hands as he garnered their attention. "Okay, so much for that. Miss Ana, I'm pretty sure you're able to gauge their powers."

"More or less—Ahh! Not so sure." Anasthasia rubbed her chin. "I kind of get Ind's fighting style. It's oddly familiar to me, but I do get the part why you classified him as abjurer."

"That's good to hear, Miss Ana—"

"However, Brenov, things are different for Chloe. I understand how unique she is but…" Anasthasia trailed off and eyed sideways, giving Chloe a clue what's on her mind.

"But?"

"I don't think, with how time changed differently, it's still here. Which had me wondering…"

They all stared at her with skepticism, clearly awaiting her utterance from the beginning. Meanwhile, Chloe watched her with horror. Her palms turned sweaty as she tried to rub against the cloak.

"Nevermind, I think it's just a trivial matter." She flicked her hand away.

"Ana cut me off some slack with the suspense!" Daniel grumbled as he crossed his arms.

"She's a skilled illusionist but to what extent… Anyway, this is just preliminary observations. I'd like to see more of it."

"It's almost lunchtime, shall we call it a day?" Blake gestured his arms towards the exit.

"Not until you give them spare uniforms to wear." Anasthasia's hands on her hips with eyes narrowed.

"Consider that done."

"That seals the deal!"

Blake and Brenov lead the way, followed by Daniel's team and Anasthasia at the tail but alarmed as Chloe moved a little closer to her with her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Miss Ana, do you really know?"

"Of course," Anasthasia whispered back, "I know you're a mesmer."

Left astounded from her place, Anasthasia knew too well and pushed her along so it wouldn't be so evident for the rest of the people.

"Keep it on a low profile, Chloe. Don't be too obvious."

Chloe furrowed her brows as her lips drew thin, nodding, and trudged alongside them.

She then lowered her head and eyes locked unto her strides with the court shoes that shimmered from the stones.

'The day is long and the night is young. I have so many things to do: for Lucy and Michael.'