KNIGHT OF THE WIND

I help Takamei to the infirmary. Knowing she said she was ok, I can tell she was really in pain. When we got to the infirmary, I opened the door. The nurse turns around in her seat and sees me holding up Takamei.

The nurse quickly stood up and moved the curtains that were covering the bed. I walk over to the bed and gently lay Takamei down.

"Nurse, she's badly injured, she got pierced through her back by an attack. It's three open holes. You think you can help her?"

"I'll help her the best I can. Don't worry, ok? I'd make her feel better." She smiles warmly.

I nodded and headed towards the door, I opened the door and went out, closing it behind me. I hear someone running down the hallway, I look to my left and see Ryusei. He stops right in front of me breathing heavily.

"S-suika, I heard someone say they saw you bringing Takamei to the infirmary. Is she alright?" He was worried.

"The nurse said she'll do the best she can. I think Takamei is going be alright." I reassured.

"Oh thank god. What even happened anyways? How did she get hurt so badly?"

"We fought Erika." I lean back against the wall. "It was a tough battle, at first I thought Takamei was going to win with her Lightning magic. She had the upper hand but let her guard down, and three vines pierced right through her back and out the front of her stomach."

"What?! Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. I didn't say this about my first fight with Erika, but her vines got these little spikes that are coated in Foxglove. A poisonous flower. When I faced her two months ago it would just paralyzed you but this time it was deadly."

"How did you guys even win?"

"Near the end I put some good damage onto Erika but she used a move called Planta devastation. I reacted too late, but I was holding off the attack but it too was powerful. But Takamei stood back up and helped me finish her off." 

"That's crazy. I'm glad you came out alright. I feel bad for Takamei she just joined us to take down Rory but she'll probably be out for a while."

"Don't worry about that Ryusei."

"What do you mean?"

"Erika was the second knight, and you and I already took down Shona the third knight." I point a finger up. "That means there's only one knight left."

"You're right, and after that it's just Rory!"

"Yep, with me and you, taking down the last knight would be easy."

"What's going to be so easy?" A voice said.

My eyes widened as someone stood behind Ryusei, I didn't even know how he got there. I would've heard footsteps or at least felt something. It just seems like he teleported there.

He was a little taller than Ryusei. He had brown hair and eyes, and he wore glasses. He wore the school uniform, he just looked so normal. He raises his hand, angling it in a chop position.

"Ryusei!" I shouted, I reached out my hand.

But I couldn't react fast enough. Ryusei didn't even realize what was going on. The boy slashed his hand across Ryusei's back. Blood shot from his back, spraying everywhere, and covering the boy's glasses. Ryusei falls forward but I catch him.

A big slashed wound was open on his back, it was cut deep into his skin. The boy takes off his glasses, digs into his shirt pocket and pulls out a handkerchief to clean off his glasses. After that he put them back on.

"That was easy enough it seemed. One slash took him down." The boy said.

"Who are you!" I said, still holding Ryusei.

"He's Toshiro Nagare, the first knight." A voice echoes from down the hall.

I turned to see who'd said that. My expression quickly changes to angry as I see Rory skipping down the hall. He stops next to Toshiro putting his elbow on his shoulder. He smiles cockly.

"It looks like poor Ryusei isn't looking too well. Is he sick or something?" Rory chuckles, taking his elbow off of Toshiro. "I've got to hand it to you, I didn't think you would beat two of my knights." He began clapping his hands together.

"I don't need the applause, you sick bastard."

"Oh such harsh words Suika. I mean it, well… I didn't give a damn about those two anyways but I'm still surprised. You even beat Erika."

"Don't say that, like you actually cared about her."

"Bingo! Spot on Suika. I didn't give a flying damn about that girl. She's just that good of a tool you know? She would protect me, and do anything I would say. That's just the life of a king."

"You're a sick person."

"Say whatever Suika, I'm still going to be on top. To be honest you should stop now, before you actually get killed. But anyways see ya, well if i see you again hahah."

Rory leaves laughing down the hallway, Toshiro was ready to walk with him but he stopped and looked at me.

"If you truly desire to take down Rory, you already know that you have to go through me first. Tomorrow after school at 5:00 pm, meet me at the field if you want to continue this plan of yours. But just to remind you, you have no more friends to help you fight anymore."

Toshiro turns and walks away following where Rory went. I still held Ryusei, his back was fully covered in blood. I hurriedly got him up and opened the door to the infirmary.

"Nurse please, my friend."

…20 minutes passed and I sat in the hallway. I tried to process my thoughts, was it still good to continue fighting? Is what I'm doing right?

I don't know what to do. It's not like I'm afraid to fight him but my friends are hurt. If I lose, their pain will go in vain, I would let them down and that boy who was bullied by Rory's people. I know both Ryusei and Takamei agree to help but I didn't want them to get hurt this badly…I don't know what to do.

…..

When the school day was over, the nurse kept both Takamei and Ryusei overnight. I wanted to stay with them but the nurse decided I should go home and rest.

As I walked home my mind was still cluttered with different thoughts. Thoughts about my friends, Toshiro, and Rory. It felt like I was stuck between a crossroad. Do I fight or do I not?

I approach the front of my home, I open the door and walk inside. The house was quiet like always. Sometimes you could hear the TV playing when you came in but I didn't hear it.

I take off my shoes near the door and walk into the living area. Sitting on the couch was mom, she was reading a book. Mom put the book down and turned around to look at me.

"Hey Suika, how was school today?" She asked.

"It was…fine mom."

Mom looked at me for a while and sighs. She patted the spot next to her on the couch. Gesturing me to come sit next to her. I put my bag down and walked over and sat down next to her.

"You know Suika, I can tell when my kid is sad."

"I'm not sad mom. Everything is fine…I promise."

"It's not son, I can tell. From your face, body movements, and the way you talk. Something is definitely wrong." She places her hand on my knee, smiles at me. "You can tell me Suika."

I knew I couldn't hide it anymore, I straightened myself and breathed out.

"Mom, say if you and your friends had to fight someone. And that someone really hurt your friends. You didn't want your friends to get hurt so badly, you're not afraid to fight that person but at the same time is it really worth fighting? Knowing you didn't want your friends getting hurt?

Mom closed her eyes, most likely to process my words. I could tell she was really thinking about it, then she opened her eyes.

"I would fight that person Suika." Mom said confidently.

"Why? Your friends are hurt because you want to fight this person. Why continue to fight?"

"Because I know my friends would want me to continue fighting. They join me to fight this someone right? So there's already this strong bond between us, and if they're real friends. They'll tell me to keep fighting."

I was frozen in place. Mom's words reach deep inside of me. What she was saying was completely right, Takemei and Ryusei wouldn't tell me to stop but to keep going. 

Even if they are out of the battle I'm still standing here. I can still make a change and stop Rory. I wrap my arms around Mom, squeezing her tightly

"Thanks Mom! I really need to hear that." I let go of the hug.

"Your welcome Suika. You can always come to me and talk."

I nodded and stood up from the couch. I grabbed my bag and went up the stairs heading to my room.

I can fight, that's what my friends would still want me to do. I can't let this plan fall through when we are so close, Toshiro…I'll see you tomorrow after school.  

…..

 October 3rd 2018  

The next day at school, the first thing I did was to go and see Takamei and Ryusei. I reached the infirmary and opened the door. I saw Ryusei and Takamei talking to each other, they were sitting on the edge of their beds. Their chatter stops as they see me. 

"Suika!" Ryusei said, he tried to get up, but he was in too much pain.

"Ryusei, I'm glad you're somewhat ok. Don't try to move too much, ok?"

"I know… I'm just glad you're also ok Suika."

"Ew we got two love birds in here. Y'all two should just kiss already." Takamei said.

"I can definitely tell you're better now the way you're acting." I chuckle. I grabbed a chair nearby and brought it close to their beds and sat down. "I've got to tell you both something…. First Ryusei the person who attacked you was Toshiro, the first knight."

"Toshiro Nagare?" Takamei asked.

"Yep that guy."

"Wow, I didn't expect him to be a knight, you know. He's just so normal looking, usually you could tell the difference from a knight and a regular student, I guess he was just hiding in plain sight."

"But yes, that was the guy who'd attack you Ryusei. Another thing is that him and I are going to fight after school today."

"What! Are you serious?" Ryusei said, also taken aback.

"Are you sure about this Suika? Fighting Toshiro is not going to be an easy task." Takamei said.

"I'm positive, I won't stop until Rory is taken down." I assured.

Takamei looked at Ryusei. Ryusei, who still looked a bit shocked, calmed down and looked at Takamei. They stared at each other for a bit before nodding and turning back towards me.

"You better not lose Suika. Or I'm going kick your ass myself." Ryusei said.

"He's right Suika, you better not lose. You're strong, so use that strength and take down Toshiro.

"Trust me I won't let you both down. I'll win this battle, even if it takes everything I have. I'll will win."

The nurse walked up to us, she wanted to check up on both of them. I stood up from the chair and waved goodbye to Takamei and Ryuesi. 

Those two believe in me. I'm not going to let them down, I have to fight with everything I have. The Knight of the Wind will go down today.

Hours later, school was over. Also meaning the third day of the Kyoto Magical Event was over. Everyone had left already, no students, no staff, or people who came past to enjoy the event. Nobody was at the school.

I was walking towards the back of the school, to the same area that Takamei and I fought Erika. I kept on walking until I reached the area. Then I stopped walking, I made it to the area.

I knew that because about 20 feet away from me, I see Toshiro standing there. Still in his school uniform. Don't know how long he's been waiting but he's here. 

"I see you decided to fight Suika. Such a wise choice." Toshiro said.

"Of course I've come, what you didn't expect me to?"

"Not exactly, I thought you wouldn't have come because of your friends injuries. But I can see your strong willed Suika."

"Thanks."

"But also stupid. You could've walked away Suika. Forgot all about Rory and us, but no you decided to come here and face me."

"To you it may seem stupid, but I can't just let it go. Just sitting around and watching Rory run this school like he's some real king, that just puts a bad taste in my mouth."

"Why do you care so much Suika?" He steps forward. "Why do you have such a grudge against him? What has he done to you?"

"He hurt my friends, sending people after us because we challenged his fake position in this school. But it's not about what he has done to me but other people in this school. Using his power to be a dominator at the school, making people afraid if they just step out of place just once. Gather students to bully others, threatening their families. And manipulating others just to do his binding. Toshiro, why do you follow such a person?" 

"..."

"Don't go quiet now Toshir–"

"Because it's fun." Toshiro interjected.

"What?"

"Suika, my whole life was boring. Nothing fun to do. My childhood was not fun. I wasn't getting abused or anything but having a textbook shoved into my face. Not being able to go outside, not being able to make friends because your parents wanted you to study, having your whole life being controlled."

"Why didn't you try to change?"

"I did try to change in freshman year. I tried to make friends, but they were boring. They didn't bring any excitement to my life, most of them were stupid. But Rory is different. When he first approached freshman year saying, he wanted to show me something. I just went along cause I was bored. He brought me to the back of this school showing me that him and four guys were beating up a student. It filled my heart with excitement for the first time in my life."

"You're crazy, why would such a crooked thing make you feel happy?"

"Because it was something I've never seen before. Seeing the poor student getting beaten to a pulp was sad but for my eyes it was a whole new experience."

"Toshiro you're such a smart guy, you should know hanging with Rory is not ideal."

"Trust me, I damn sure know that. But he's the only and truly person in this world who can make me have some fun in my life." 

Suddenly I feel a strong pressure, feeling the wind around us getting stronger. As I look at him, wind starts to surround his body, circulating around him like a tornado. 

"And Suika…I don't want you to take that fun away from me."

"Well I'm sorry about that, but I have to." I step forward putting my fist into my palm, as periwinkle energy surrounds me. "You're going down Toshiro."