6-1

-:{(6)}:-
The Undeserving
"With all that could ever be… why settle for this?"

____Nodding appraisingly as if his opinion held any real weight Alex simply decided, “I like this place.”
____“I‘m, glad, you approve?” Erik cagily replied. The words held an edge of sarcasm, the Prince struggling to treat the small child as if he were anything more than just that. The fact the boy was wearing his old clothes didn’t help matters much.
____“It might be a little too big,” Alex continued walking forward, “but I think I can handle it…”
____“What are you gonna do?” Tiffany wondered aloud, curiously following the boy to the room’s center.
____“Yeah, I thought we were the ones supposed to be fighting.” David added, amiably wrapping a thick arm around the Prince’s shoulders. The noble immediately tensed, ready to scowl at the brazen commoner once more, but one look at David’s animated face stilled the words in his throat. The fire breather’s bright smile and sparkling hazel eyes spoke of a friendship the likes of which the royal heir had never known. His anger vanished before he even took hold of it, replaced instead by an uncertain confidence. No one that sincere could possibly hold any malice.
____“I might as well get used to this,” Erik sighed, stepping forward to join the boy as well.
____“Since you‘re all Elements I have to be really careful about where you practice. It probably wouldn’t be too hard for just one of you to bring this whole place down.” Alex explained, sprawling out in an empty patch of floor. “Fortunately, I have a spell that should keep everything safe from harm.”
____Staring up at the ceiling Alex let his eyes drift shut, fingers twitching slightly as he began the tedious process of conversion he’d been taught. With the exception of Nina everyone keenly watched. The young wind conjurer was no less aware of the boy though or anyone else for that matter, every tiny impulse written in the wind they disturbed. She was training yet again, causally sauntering around the great hall’s border as her piercing green eyes gave the room a cursory inspection. A stunning silver candelabra was the only piece to truly beg her attention, the intricacies of its metal work seemingly impossible. Modeled after a preening swan every single feather was finely detailed, the stunning craftsmanship glinting in a patch of dappled sunshine streaming from one of the many colored windows. Reaching out to touch the marvel she felt the air inexplicably shift, abruptly throwing a cutting glance back toward the others. It took a few seconds to be certain but eventually she held no doubt the boy was meddling with her air. When exactly it became hers alone was unclear, but for this one instant she felt sublimely irritated.
____What does he think he’s doing?!
____The thought floated through each Element’s mind simultaneously. David could feel the radiant warmth in the room being twisted, Erik the light bent, and Tiffany watched baffled as time wavered in its passing. Alex was using trace amounts of energy in all its forms and filtering it into the substance of his immediate need. He was creating a barrier, and before anyone could voice their aversion to his prying in their power they saw it form. A ghostly powder blue aura took hold of the child seeping across the floor in every direction. Tiffany and Erik quickly stepped back as it crawled toward their feet, David the only one willing to touch it. Kneeling down he poked it with a testing finger.
____“Hey, it‘s kinda cold… and tickly?” David announced, shrugging his shoulders as he stood back up. His feet were soon planted in the midst of the ever expanding aura of power the boy created, but he wasn’t stuck by any means making his way back to Erik and Tiffany moments later.
____“Tickly?” Tiffany marveled, wrinkling her face at the sight. “I think creepy is more like it…”
____Erik couldn’t help but silently agree, ill prepared for the obvious truth of everyone’s skills. Oddly enough though, the Prince found himself more concerned with Alex attire than his mystic display. The stunning red suit he wore was undoubtedly being ruined by the grubby floor beneath him. How anyone could dare think it appropriate to simply lie across the ground was beyond him.
____Elise is going to be livid…
____A small twitch in Alex face was the only indication the boy gave of his increasing effort. He was finally hitting his stride, mind and body settling into perfect equilibrium. All contrary thought banished, he allowed himself to be nothing more than a filter for the ambient power around him. Drifting in a void of Nexus, he called out beyond the confines of the Grand Hall to whatever meandering forms of power he could reach. The effect was felt by all, everyone slowly grasping the enormity of just what the child was doing. His hazy blue creation increased in luminosity, no longer trickling across the floor but bubbling upward like an insatiable geyser. For a moment they all watched entranced as it swelled before them, swirling in an eerie display of finesse. The transparent powder blue sorcery with its seemingly dreaming boy in its center wouldn’t be satisfied until it filled every inch of the great hall and it was well on its way. Nina was the first Element to be truly engulfed by the magic, a mild curiosity bringing her back to Alex side. Fearlessly, she placed a soft hand inside the throbbing mass, her arm and body being swallowed moments later as it continued to grow. A tingling chill coated her skin, the young woman finding herself somehow more… alive? It actually made her smile, the reaction purely physical as she let the boy’s soothing pressure wash over her. Staring in the other’s direction she literally rooted them to the ground with her expression. The gentle smile on her satin pink lips seemed to wage war with the emptiness locked in her eyes, the room fading away as everyone got lost in her twisted display. They almost didn’t notice the same sky blue aura assaulting them seconds later, finally breaking free of Nina’s strange enchantment.
____Confused but invigorated they all exchanged mixed glances, David laughing aloud at the tingling chill rushing across his skin. He was enjoying every second of the tactile overload, but Erik and Tiffany were completely different stories. Tensing the moment the wave of power touched him the Prince was immediately on guard, settling into a fighting stance as if he could somehow physically combat the strange phenomena rolling across his body. Meanwhile Tiffany was mortified, blushing profusely as her tan mini skirt billowed about her milky white legs, strange sensations suddenly making her weak in the knees. She was at a loss for what to do, protecting her modesty the best she could, one hand holding down the light material of her skirt while the other protected her sensitive chest from the unrelenting magic. Unlike Nina she had no barrier of wind to keep Alex spell from searching her completely. Luckily her state of panic was short lived and went mostly unnoticed as the all encompassing world of hazy blue abruptly collapsed. With one final command from Alex the summoned energy exploded outward, condensing upon itself into a thin paste that coated the entire hall. The grand tables and gaudy ornaments, massive chandeliers and paintings, towering walls, domed ceiling and floor were all painted with a protective layer of power. Renewed with a vaguely blue shimmer the entire hall seemed to breathe with new life, claimed by the crucial barrier for the coming matches. Any incoming energy would be expediently absorbed and redistributed only serving to strengthen the barrier itself while protecting all else from harm.
____By the time the task was complete Alex was far more exhausted than he realized. Apparently he’d been so intent upon creating the barrier he didn’t notice the grand toll on his body. Nevertheless he drew himself upright doing his best to keep the dizziness in his head from visibly showing.
____“Alright then,” Alex breathed heavily, squaring his shoulders as he stood. “Who‘s first?”
____David was all too eager to begin, opening his mouth to answer when Nina cut him off.
____“The girl and I,” she easily proclaimed, quickly drawing everyone’s attention with her curt request.
____Still somewhat shaken, Tiffany merely arched a questioning brow at the invitation. The empty challenge was just enough to bring her back to the present, her thoughts focusing on the poised lady before her.
____“Yeah, let‘s do this,” she hazily replied, finally letting her arms rest at her sides. She briskly walked toward Alex in the center of the massive dance floor, unprepared for the intensity of the sunlight streaming through the main overhead dome. It was the reflection from the stone tile flooring that made it so terrible, her every feature lit up and resplendent. It encompassed only her and Alex too, Nina standing just outside brilliance in an almost ominous contrast. From where David and Erik sat, a shimmering dessert sprite appeared to be facing a princess of demons, Nina’s deep red gown all the more imposing in her slight shadow.
____After taking a moment to adjust, a deep breath and determined flick of Tiffany’s short blonde hair signaled her readiness, Nina already gathering air for a blistering attack.
____“I don‘t think we‘ll need any rules. I’m sure no one here would ever really try to do serious harm, but I will stop the match if I think it’s getting out of hand. Your safety is my priority. It shouldn‘t take long for me to learn all I need to know anyway, but uh, just try and have some fun…” Alex admonished them. “I‘m going to step back out of the way but when I say ‘Hite’ the rest is up to you.”
____“This is gonna be awesome,” David whispered, anxiously watching Alex reach the edge of the marble dance floor. He flashed an almost manic grin at the Prince but the noble did little more than sigh, keenly aware that with every passing moment his life was irreversibly changing. Normally averse to all things outside his political rank, Erik couldn’t help but entertain foolish thoughts of a possible future with these people.
____That child… he’s manipulating us like toys and no one can see it, the Prince mused, regrettably unable to deny the genius of the boy’s tact. Alex was forcing them to share their most intimate of secrets, showcasing his power and knowledge in a spectacle that could only garner their respect. He placed before them acceptance, a reason for their existence and with nowhere else to turn they would all undoubtedly follow him. Their ‘choice’ in the matter was nearly meaningless when it all just felt… right.
____“Hite!”
____The single word seemed to hang in the air, the tension almost palpable as both Elements eyes flared, Tiffany disappearing before even the echo from Alex voice faded. She predicted a short match and it seemed likely, a giant crash far across the room revealing her laying in a crumpled pile beneath a small table. She had literally been ripped from the ground, a small dust devil whirling where she once stood. The tempestuous wind seemed oddly bizarre in sight of its cause, Nina standing perfectly still and coolly unaffected. David and Erik could only gawk in shocked disbelief.
____“Whoa,” David breathed, mouth agape.
____The self-confident street performer was replaced by an awestruck child, eyes wide with fascination while a tingling chill ran down the Prince’s spine. The potent mastery Nina had gained was astounding and even Alex could only stare incredulously for a moment. Luckily, Tiffany almost immediately struggled to get up, absolute fury marring her childish face. Adrenaline was quickly masking the growing discomfort in her back and right leg, the young lass having landed painfully on both. Viewing the world through purely reflective mirrors, Tiffany was forcefully commanding time to cease even before she fully stood, single minded on destroying the serenely poised great lady before her. It would be awhile before she had her chance though, time slowing just enough to allow her vivid clarity as yet another virulent blast of air swept her sideways. Tossed through the air in an altered state of time, Tiffany watched the room steadily swirl, her control faltering only after her wrist collided decidedly with an unyielding chair. Jarring pain spiked through her delicate arm, all influence over time lost as she momentarily passed out. Blinking she found herself sprawled atop some enormous banquet table, an undoubtedly expensive selection of serving dishes wedged beneath her already sore back. It was a labor to move, but her mind was quickly making the shift from an awareness of her pain to her predicament.
____I can’t take much more of this… If I don’t stop time soon…
____Tiffany’s thoughts were becoming frantic, survival suddenly an actual worry. Even glowing Nina’s eyes were distinctly passionless, an unlikely place for any mercy to reside.
____Now, an effective attack using nothing more than air should have been impossible, but somehow Nina managed it with demoralizing effect, compacting such force into her blows the other Elements had no choice but to fear her. Unfortunately, the stunning wind conjurer put nearly everything she had into those last two attacks, still unable to bear the strain of such tremendous efforts for long. The fact she was standing at all was noteworthy. Unless Alex stopped them now there would be little else in store. It had been Nina’s hope to incapacitate the small girl quickly, ending the match without any real blows being traded, but it seemed she wouldn’t be able to maintain the rushed assault long enough. If the Wind Elemental pushed forward she had maybe one gust left but nothing near as forceful as the first. It was a gamble either way. Using her remaining strength for a final attack left her with nothing to defend herself if Tiffany somehow persevered, but allowing the girl to simply freeze time was even more perilous.
____Stoically, she peered askance at Alex, his dazed expression offering no hope his tiny voice would cut their match short.
____If he wont end this I will, Nina decided closing her eyes. It was the first time her expression showed any hint of effort, a slight strain evident in her face as she drew upon the last few dormant vestiges of her power. It was going to be all or nothing, and opening her glaring neon green eyes a final feverish gust of wind howled fourth. Tiffany was just barely sitting up, her frenzied gaze perfectly reflecting the ghostly apparition of power storming her way as she attempted once more to halt time. Nina’s swift attack couldn’t be interceded, but even in the midst of Tiffany’s horror at realizing this the young girl still took note of the surprising form of the compressed storm. With time slowing, Tiffany realized the air was an abstract recreation of Nina herself, floating toward her with resplendent malice in her eyes. The face was the most defined, and as it neared a delicate hand of wispy air formed as well poised to backhand her across the vast expanse of the hall.
____It was then the truth of Nina’s stoicism became apparent, Tiffany seeing her true emotion written blatantly in the wind she commanded. The quiet drifting soul wasn’t nearly as calm as she pretended. She was furious, and for some reason it made Tiffany feel likewise, maybe more so as her head reeled from the potent impact of the winds.
____She doesn’t have any reason to be angry! She doesn’t know about pain; about real suffering, Tiffany fumed, her pain suddenly forgotten even as she flew across the great hall’s expanse. She wasn’t fighting some demon princess, just another simple girl no better and probably worse than she.
____I’ll show her, Tiffany resolved, her power reawakening with her conviction. I’ll make sure she knows…
____Flailing through the air on marauding winds, the wildly spinning room gradually slowed, Tiffany’s mirrored eyes searching vigilantly for her target.
____Chest heaving, Nina barely had enough strength to even watch her final vortex carry the small girl away. Some base instinct within her focused her attention on the opposing Element though, her eyes narrowing on Tiffany‘s defiant expression just before she vanished from sight. Whatever happened next she had no clue, but it hurt... tremendously. Doubled over, a reeling pain instantaneously dominated her thoughts, mind numbing burst of agony competing for attention across her body. Nina’s stomach, kidneys, shins and back all burned tender with abuse, blood sluggishly falling from her bottom lip. Emptily, she looked at the equally haggard caramel blonde girl squatting before her, desperate for the strength to launch just one more blow, a sentiment clearly reflected in Tiffany’s round eyes too.
____I’m just not strong enough, they both lamented, each making silent vows all too similar to one another.

Next time,

I’ll strike first..._____________I wont stop...__________
I wont let her sidetrack me!____My body wont hold me back!
No one will stand in my way,___They’ll all tremble in my wind,_

My power will not be denied.

____They couldn’t realize just how important those oaths would be, but for now their shared misery was the impetus to growing in the right direction. Growth that might one day decide the fate of the world.
____“Well,” Alex sighed rubbing his head, “I guess this match is over…”
____“It better be,” Tiffany scoffed, clearly embarrassed. She couldn‘t even bring herself to meet anyone‘s gaze, agitatedly flicking her mangled blonde hair as she began the difficult process of standing. Rocking forward she placed a trembling hand on the ground for support, her other bruised arm clutched protectively to her chest. It was almost pathetic to watch her crumble on the floor with a shriek of pain, an injured wrist miserably unable to support her.
____Alex could only shake his head as David rushed to her side, Erik hesitantly sauntering over behind him. Tiffany’s dove gray eyes were brimming with tears and still she tried to resist the fire breather. Pride wouldn’t allow someone to help her. Fortunately that same pride had no strength to draw upon resulting in little more than a bit of frustrated whimpering and exhausted thrashing as David easily hefted her petite frame in his solid arms.
____“It‘s alright now,” David cooed, completely ignoring her protest, vaguely smiling as she eventually just gave up. It wasn’t long before almost contentedly she was snuggling into the radiant warmth of his chest. “We‘ll get you a nice bed to rest up.”
____While David tenderly consoled Tiffany the Prince weakly attempted to do the same for Nina. This was an obvious chance to endear himself to her, to become something more than a mere noble in passing, yet instead of rushing in like the flame hearted commoner Erik merely kneeled just out of arm’s reach- a distance he deemed ‘safe’ -clearly ill at ease. Like a gentle child inspecting a dying wolf on the wayside, worried obviously but still wary of the danger, his body language spoke volumes. For all his studies this moment was vastly outside his preparation.
____Eyes shut, body motionless save her steady breathing, Nina offered the Prince no more than acrid silence. It seemed to grow with every well-meaning question drifting from his lips. Still, he made no attempt to move closer, to touch her, sensing without any real understanding the impenetrable barrier around Nina’s soul. It kept him from doing anything precarious before Alex intervened.
____“She‘ll be fine,” Alex interjected, stepping between the two with his back to Nina. It came off oddly callous to the Prince, but it was all the answer he needed to be free of any obligation to her. Having the boy take charge of her unsettling condition was a relief beyond compare.
____Alex waited until the Prince had retreated a few steps, making certain he wouldn’t interfere before he turned his attention to the brooding wind conjurer behind him.
____“Nina, I truly believe you could transcend without any help, but it’s harder than you think… especially by yourself. I’m here to show you how, but I can’t and wont do it for you. You‘ll live or die by your own strength, but after you push yourself to your limits and the fighting is done, I’ll always be here to heal you.” Alex whispered comfortingly, command lingering in his tone. “It doesn‘t make you weak. There just isn‘t enough time to let you struggle through the pain on your own when you have so much left to learn…”
____Alex stated his case in earnest, youthful conviction and faith reaching out to Nina’s detached heart. At the very least his argument made sense though. If he was willing to heal her she could push herself further and faster without any worry of the consequence. Now she didn’t respond verbally of course, but they both knew the pained silence that followed was proof enough of her acceptance, and so without any other formality Alex placed his hands flat on the floor and began lowly muttering a few incomprehensible syllables. A song bordering that employed with David’s injury soon floated through the air. This time instead of inundating Nina with his own life force though he was drawing upon the barrier he’d already created, a circle of wavering energy cracking and twisting beneath Nina’s body. Resisting his efforts it took a few movements before the area of his attention began to evaporate, a glowing hazy blue energy wafting lazily around the quietly cringing girl. Cool blue flavorless whiffs and swirls were inhaled on shaky breaths, latching onto her tender skin with minimal urgency. It felt… like nothing was happening really? Physically, Nina could feel her clothes drifting away from her skin, her auburn hair gently flowing around her down turned face, but the piercing pain didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Her closed eyes were still blinded by sporadic flashes of painful brilliance, head ready to explode at any given moment pounding in time with her heart in an almost tolerable torture compared to the rest of her body. How Tiffany managed to inflict such damage upon her would probably always be a mystery.
____“David, could you bring Tiff over here?” Alex softly called, forcing his voice to be as calm as possible. He was looking at this situation from a thousand perspectives all at once, and the irritation bubbling in the pit of his stomach could not be allowed to show. All I can do is work with what I have, he reminded himself, squaring his shoulders. The Great Guardian trusted me to help them…
____“Time to let Alex heal you,” David breathed, carrying Tiffany over with the greatest of care.
____Alex motioned for him to place her beside Nina within his circle of magic, a position the fire breather couldn’t help but find ironic. Setting his exhausted charge down, a peculiar effect of Alex void on Tiffany’s body became apparent, her weight evaporating in his arms as she neared the floor. She didn’t quite hover but it was close enough, her cute blonde hair drifting loosely from her doll like face.
____At least she’ll be comfortable…
____“I take it they‘ll recover then,” Erik surmised, more to himself than anyone else.
____“In time,” was Alex cool reply, his attention settled solely on the cage of sapphire luminance he’d created. Toying with its construction, the color wavered and changed, always blue but varying with his subtle gestures and intonations until finally he seemed to be satisfied with its construction.
____“Well,” Alex announced, finally turning his attention to the last two Elements. “Are you still willing to take your turn?”
____“I’m not really so sure I wanna do this anymore,” David grimly admitted, crossing his arms over his wide chest. He wasn’t the least bit afraid but with his naturally protective character sparring with his new friends in such obvious pain felt inappropriate.
____“Are you sure they‘ll be fine?” David earnestly asked, honestly worried about the battered girls.
____“They‘ll be better if you fight with the Prince, but either way they‘ll be fine…” Alex assured him. “The room’s barrier is feeding their healing, so any energy you conjure will only aid them.”
____David still seemed a bit reluctant even after being told how he could help them, but surprisingly it was the Prince who pushed him into it.
____“It’s been far too long since this ballroom has housed such life,” Erik announced dreamily, back turned to the group. One might have thought he forgot them completely, but so many of his cherished memories were born in this room that now it only seemed right he should make one more. The Great Hall deserved a final display of his power. Anything else would have been almost disrespectful, at least to him. “In honor of the ladies valiant performance, I think we owe this place one last dance... Let‘s show them we‘re no less courageous.” Erik declared, turning with an astonishing conviction sparkling in his ginger eyes.
____“You’re really serious,” David marveled, smirking at the awkward invitation. Expectant stares met him from all sides and it wasn’t long before he knew it was inevitable.
____“Well, there isn‘t any real reason to say no I guess,” David shrugged, a confident leer soon finding the Prince. “Let’s do this then, but I’m not holding back… for the girl‘s sake of course.”
____“I wouldn‘t have it any other way.” Erik warmly replied, a small sparkle following the course of his hand as he bowed in jest. David just shook his arms and rolled his neck, a small wave of heat rolling off him as he geared up for the match, both settling into an appropriate stance.
____Alex gaze darted between the two men, both standing ready, praying they would show more mastery and restraint than their female counterparts. Everyone had witnessed Nina’s reckless abandon but only he was audience to Tiffany’s fury. The look of pure hatred in her eyes probably wouldn’t ever leave him.

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____Alex could feel it happening, her power finally taking hold. It was only her third pathetic attempt, a fact that made him inwardly cringe. How can she be so easily distracted, the boy wondered, unable to stifle the mounting frustration building inside him. It was bad enough Nina never even discovered her power, but Tiffany was almost worse, unable to use a single one of the thousand tricks at her disposal. Still, he continued to watch in hope that Tiffany would redeem her poor performance.
____Reflective eyes furiously intense, Tiffany stilled the entire manner, her power reaching at least five times further than necessary. As long as she captured Nina she didn’t care though, forcing her limbs free of the tempest that held her suspended in midair. Stuck in an invisible sprawling tree, she fumbled around the awkward branches, fighting the tangled air around her until she finally slumped on the ground with a small thud. Standing shakily, an unsettling smile crept across her face as she determinedly stalked toward Nina, a slight limp evident in her gait but nothing near enough to deter her.
____Her speed gradually picked up, Alex watching in amazement as she launched herself into the air to deal a devastating jab to Nina’s mouth. The wind conjurer‘s head whipped to the left, a red cut forming on the side of her mouth without a single drop of blood seeping from the wound. Nina wouldn’t bleed until time resumed it’s flow, and until then Tiffany would beat her with all the strength she could muster. A frenzied barrage of punches, kicks, elbows and knees assaulted the frozen girl from every side, furious grunts of exertion filling the air. Tiffany pushed herself until her small body refused to stand any longer. Overall Alex found the display wasteful, knowing full well controlling her massive portion of time drained her ten times more rapidly than the actual assault. The only redeeming factor he could find was her stance and form. She had an excellent sense of balance and kicked with an accuracy and flexibility he would have never expected without witnessing it firsthand. Someone had clearly shown her some martial art basics but as she collapsed with the resumption of time Alex knew there was still much work to be done.

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____Monotone voice just loud enough to be heard by both participants Alex unenthusiastically called, “Hite.”
____If the boy wasn‘t quite as adamant as before it surely didn‘t affect the manner of either Element, both drawing upon their powers immediately. Scheming orange eyes took on a familiar brilliant white radiance while another excited hazel pair coursed with fiery red determination. This time both men were at their best, and even with all the differences life had bred within them, they shared the exact same competitive ideals: defeat wasn’t an option.


{To be continued…}