With every step he took, light seemed to drain from the world. The more he approached the source of the darkness, the more ethereal everything seemed.
The dry leaves crumbled beneath his soft steps, revealing his location. He didn't care – the black mage responsible of this wouldn't need to rely on sound to locate anyone. He was probably well aware of both Aether's location, and of the situation at the academy.
The source of the power wasn't too far away. Aether could feel every step he took carrying him closer to it. He started noticing tendrils of darkness in the air, weaving through the forest, looking for anything to catch and corrupt.
It felt like he was walking into a spider's web. Unpleasant and nerve wrecking. He took a deep breath and continued, nevertheless. He couldn't let the black mage continue doing as he pleased for any longer. He needed to finish this before Clara and Lady Luna could get involved.
The darkness grew thicker, and the tendrils began hindering his actions as he tried to avoid touching them. He could feel the core just up ahead, past these last few rows of trees and bushes. Just a few dozen more steps, and he would have arrived.
With his right hand slightly extended to the side, ready to cast any spell, he moved on and stepped out of the woods.
"Aether Yotsura – the blade of the Yotsura Clan." A woman's voice sounded. "We meet once again." The darkness lifted, revealing the small lake with a small island at its centre. A woman clad in black armour stood on the island. Her dark hair freely blew in the wind as a smile spread across her lips.
Behind her, Aether spotted a familiar figure laying on the ground. With that golden hair and slim, curved body, he didn't need to see her face to recognise Iris.
His heart began beating faster as a lump formed in his chest. A feeling of dread washed over him as he hissed. "Let go of her, Witch!"
The black clad woman chucked. "So protective, just like before." Her purple eyes glimmered as she continued to smile. "How romantic."
"So dark!" Clara whispered as she and her mother made their way through the darkness infested forest. They weren't too far off – Lady Luna could already see the opening ahead. "Oh, it's the lake with the zombies." Clara mumbled.
"The what?" Lady Luna exclaimed in surprise.
"I went there to get a mana core for Aether. Just in case," Clara giggled. "I wasn't sure if he would be able to grow strong enough before the tournament."
Lady Luna shook her head. "You'll explain that later." She said as she heard a faint voice from the distance. "I hear him." Clara nodded, her ears also perked up as they dashed through the tendrils of darkness, protected by Lady Luna's holy barrier.
As their steps carried them closer, Aether's voice sounded clearly.
"I won't say it again. Let go of her, witch!"
Lady Luna stopped in her tracks just before they dashed out of the treeline. "Hush – don't let her see us." She whispered to Clara as they hid behind the bushes and tree trunks. "We'll surprise her when the time is right." Her hand rested on her amulet – an artifact that suppressed their presence.
She narrowed her eyes and watched the scene unfolding just up ahead.
A woman clad in black armour was standing on the small island in the middle of the lake. A girl wearing Fawn's Academy's uniform was laying on the ground behind her, clearly unconscious. The young man stood by the shore, his fists clenched and his face carrying an expression of wrath and hatred.
"He must have circled around the lake a little." She mumbled, as the young man had clearly come out of the woods a bit further from them.
"Say, Aether." The woman clad in black said with a surprisingly soft voice. "Won't you leave that clan?"
Her question was so out of nowhere that Aether had to pause a moment. Had she lost her mind? Did she really believe the answer would be anything but 'no'? He chose to ignore her question. "Last chance, witch. Let Iris go, or I will kill you."
"I'm afraid I can't do that." She leaned on the large rock beside her. "You see, Aether, I have a dept to pay." She pointed at the unconscious Iris.
"They sent you after her?" Aether drew a sharp breath. Which clan would stoop so low to hire a black mage to assassinate a young woman? He couldn't think of one – black mages were despised everywhere.
"Oh? No, no, no." The woman laughed. "I don't care about the girl. She's nothing but bait, you see." She said with a wicked smile. "Today is the day the Yotsura's Blade falls into my hands!" Her shout echoed as the darkness all around them roared. The air around the woman seemed to twist, and she disappeared from his sight.
Aether held his breath as he leapt to the side. A blade made of pure darkness cut the air above his head, cutting the ends of his hair. "I finally found you – weakened in your time in this place!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
Her crackling laughter was almost loud enough the suppress the sound of the whirlwind forming around the opening in the woods. Darkness blocked the path behind.
"You're insane." Aether hissed as he leapt back again. She laughed at loud at his words as she swung her blade. The young man winced as a cut appeared on his cheek. "Dart!" He shouted pointing at her in retaliation. The small dart of magic passed through her – she was never there to begin with.
She was using her power to warp reality around them. She could hurt him, but he couldn't hurt her. He needed a way to locate her real self.
"Next one won't be so superficial Aether – surrender now!" The woman shouted.
The young man continued to avoid her attacks as he tried to put some distance between them. He now regretted not killing her two years ago, though that would have hardly changed things. He was convinced this woman would rise from the grave to hunt him. Though back then, he believed she was after Iris.
"Spirits of water, aid me!" His words sounded, somehow suppressing the woman's maniacal laughter and the whirling storm. She paused as she glanced at the water, curiosity in her eyes, more than anything else.
Water droplets began rising from the surface of the lake as Aether stood upright.
"That's it?" She asked, shooting him a surprised glance.
Aether touched the cut on his cheek, then brought his bloody finger to his lips.
"In the name of the Mistress of the Dark and Lord of the Night – I order thee, reveal!"