Episode 2:Pay back and reflection

A/N: I'd like to start by saying that the last A/N I made was really stupid considering this is writing and I'd like to apologize for that and I realized that the first one must be a major flop but hey can't get no where without messing up first right? Well here's part 2 enjoy if you will. And also, everything in Italics is part of a flashback.

The rain poured heavily over the small smoldering makeshift fort. Two very exhausted bounty hunters stood over their handy work after taking down an entire camp of murderous bandits who had stalked this particular region for sometime, "Don't tell me your starting to feel your age Shini? Come one these guys weren't that tough." "Your one to talk Laureal you look as though you're about to pass out any minute now." The two exhausted women shared a laugh as they found a spot to sit and rest from all the fighting they had gone through. The calm of the battle didn't last very long however as a surviving bandit leaped from out of a pile of ash with sword in hand intent on killing the women. Laureal shoved Shini out of her seat and cried out as the blade plunged into her shoulder. As she was pinned to the ground she calmed herself enough to gather her energy and send a bolt of energy through the attackers chest leaving a gapping smoking hole where his heart used to be, "Laureal! Laureal are you alright!?" The panicked Drow ran to her friend and pulled the sword from her shoulder despite the cries of pain, ".Yeah I'll live. You owe me big time for this you know that right?"

"I can't believe this! All that trouble for measly pocket change!" Shini snapped loudly causing several people around her on the street to jump. She was supposed to walk away with a pocket filled to the brim with gold (300,000 gold to be precise) but instead got half that amount due to the damage done to the stolen cargo. As she stomped down the street still quite hot with anger a strange noise caught her attention. As she turned around to inspect the source of the sound a familiar figure came into view, one she wasn't all too happy to see.

"Shini old girl I didn't expect to find you in a place like this what a pleasant surprise." The young woman chirped as she stepped out of the mangy alley and into the light.

"Like I didn't think I'd ever see you again." She did her best to give a convincing smile as she replied, dealing with the money was one thing but this was certainly something she didn't need, "So mind telling me what your doing here? Last I heard you were on the run from members of the Academy of Sorcery."

"WERE is correct. I managed to ditch those fools a long time ago. You know Shini it's a good thing I ran into you when I did, it's about time I cashed in that favor you owe me." "What!? How do I owe you any favors?" Lureal shook her head with a barely noticeable grin on her face; she expected this much to come from Shini and was well prepared for it as well, "Tsk Tsk, Shini I'm very disappointed by your poor memory, I seem to recall some time in our younger days when we were friends and partners on friendlier terms and that day you nearly lost your life, now I'm sure you couldn't have forgotten that day now could you?" The mage inquired as she leaned against the nearest wall. Shini looked away towards the ground with a scowl look on her face, how could she forget that day?

"Now Shini, I'm not asking you to throw your life away for me or anything, I just need your special traits for something." "What kind of something are we talking about?" Shini quipped as she snapped out of her trance, already she didn't like where this conversation was heading, "It's nothing all that complicated really. I'm fairly aware of Drows special abilities to negate many forms of magic, and it just so happens that what I have in mind requires this skill." The mage made herself more comfortable as she leaned against the wall and explained her plan to her former comrade, " You see at the Academy of Sorcery there is a special manuscript that I would like to have that is stored in the vaults of their library. The thing is however is that the vault is heavily defended with magical traps of all sorts and all levels of deadliness and even if I were to get pass them all the Vault itself is sealed with magic too powerful for even me to break, surely this must be adding up to what I'm trying to say." Things were already adding up and Shini didn't like one bit of it. Laureal had already destroyed their friendship with her foolishness then by using her skills and talents to get what she want by any means necessary and was seemly replaying that moment in their life with this nonsense, "I can't help you, the day you pulled something like this all those years ago was the day we ceased to be friends and therefore I'm no longer obligated to keep this 'favor' you say I must uphold." Shini turned her back to Laureal with her hands tucked in front of her, "Get out of my sight."

Laureal shook her head in disappointment, She had hoped she would have been able to talk her old friend into working with her or maybe rejoin her on her ventures, "I'm sadden to hear that coming from you Shini, I was hoping you'd put the past behind you. But now that I have told you my plans I simply can't let you walk away, not that I was planning to anyways." With a snap of her fingers, the Drow felt something tighten around her neck, normally she isn't one to be snuck up on so easily but somehow this went without her notice. The tightening only lasted for a few seconds and she felt a scaly tail uncoil itself from around her neck leaving a black collar around her neck. She attempted to grab the creature responsible for this but she was paralyzed, "What did you do to me!" "I just introduced you to my familiar, come here syngen." She outstretched her hand and a strange lizard like creature sat comfortably in her hands as she stood up from her place on the wall to face Shini, "Its true that Drow are resistant to many forms of magic but through my experiments I found out that a Drow's special gift is useless if the magic is channeled through something solid and in direct contact to the Drow they are helpless." Shini struggled to move her limbs but found herself completely helpless. She growled as she watched Laureal pace around her with a smudge look of victory on her face, "Don't think this will hold me for very long, I'll find a way out." "Of course you will and I expect that, but the deed will be done way before then. Now be good and follow me, we have a long day ahead of us." With a triumphant laugh a portal was made with a wave of her hand and she went through it followed unwillingly by the captured Shini.

"Are you crazy? We're bounty hunters not thieves!" Shini shouted angrily at the mage as they walked past the town's city limits, " I'm not stupid Shini, but think about it. We bust our Asses to catch these guys and all we get is a few lousy coins for our troubles, as far as I can tell we're nothing but beggar's getting nowhere in this life really fast and I'm not going to continue on like this!" Laureal retorted as she stopped dead in her tracks, Shini crossed her arms and sighed in frustration at her friend's stubbornness, "I'm well aware of that but seriously, do you believe doing what your suggesting is really going to make anything better? You'll end up like those guys we put or life on the line to catch and you could wind up in some dank prison forgotten or you could be killed. What's so funny?" She questioned as Laureal began to laugh shaking her head in sure disappointment, "Fine if that's how it has to be, I can understand if your afraid to get on the bad side of the law to get what you want, after all a Drow like you can't afford that right? I'm going this alone." "Why you..." "And don't try to stop me either." Luareal turned and walked towards the forest where she disappeared into the woods leaving the Angered Drow where she stood as blood seeped from her clinched fist.

Ryuu looked up as he approached the enormous building in front of him, "They don't spare a cent do they? Oh well my house would probably look this good if I were that rich, if I had a house." He commented to himself as he approached the front gates only to be stopped by two guards, "Beat it, no ones allowed to come near this school." Ryuu raised a brow as he crossed his arms and sighed, "I don't know if anyone's told you two but I was asked to come here by Arch Mage Gaust, now if you don't mind, you can get out of my way." As Ryuu attempted to make his way past the guards, he felt his shoulder being gripped tightly by one of the guards who was about to throw him back onto the street, he grabbed the guards wrist and effortlessly wrenched his shirt free from his grip and causing the guard to back off groaning over his twisted wrist, "Why you, don't think you can make a fool out of us you little punk!" The other guard spoke up as he took his sword out of his sheath, "Enough! Stop this at once!" Ryuu and the guard looked up to see an elderly man running towards them just as the two were about to come to blows, "Lord Gaust sir, this man was attempting to force his way through the front entrance." The old mage straightened his spectacles and took a closer look at Ryuu, "Ahh yes I see now. How dare you cause trouble for this man, I've personally invited him to help us take care of this situation." Ryuu couldn't help but snicker slightly seeing the guard grow nervous at this news, "But sir I..I apologies, I'll be more mindful next time." He finally managed to stammer as he bowed his head, "Now that that's settled, please follow me sir Ryuu."

Inside the academy students and teachers alike rushing as older students and teachers prepared themselves and as the younger students were being looked after, "I remember you saying in your message that who ever it is your dealing with is bad but I didn't think this bad." Guast sighed heavily as he lead Ryuu down the hall and to the main chamber were the business of the school was handled, "Believe me my son this is quite serious, who we are dealing with isn't a normal person." "Some kind of monster or something?" Ryuu asked sounding serious despite how ignorant it sounded, "I only wish it was but I'm afraid its something far worst, a former student of mine." Taking a seat at his desk, a large book of records appeared before him and opened to the page containing the information of the suspect, "Her name is Laureal. Some years back I found her wondering the streets outside the school, I could feel that she possessed a great deal of energy and thought she would make a perfect student." Guast leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed as he recalled old memories, "As soon as I took her in, she picked up on the study of magery very quickly and more then once graduating her classes with high honors, I was amazed at how much she had learned and in such a short time as well, so I took her out of the course and began to personally instruct her myself so she could take over for me one day." Ryuu raised a brow as he noticed the old Mage's face, his expression grew sadder as he continued with his story, "She absorbed all that I had to teach her and exceeded my expectations. But I neglected the fact that she was still young and was not content to remain in the confines of the school, she wanted to see the world and do as she pleased. I disapproved of this and forbid her to go as well as discontinued teaching her the finer secrets of the school. She grew infuriated and ran off during the night. I've should have known better." "Okay so you know who this person, what's she gonna do take revenge?" "This is hardly about revenge, I received a note from her a week earlier telling me she is going to steal the treasure of our school." "Treasure of your school? What's that?" "That is none of your business." Ryuu turned to see a young man carrying a staff and dressed in robes similar to Guast's, He walked into the room and stood by the Arch Mage's desk, "Hey kid, shouldn't you be out their studying or something? I don't remember being told that a brat would attend this meeting." "Why you!" The young man growled, "My name is not brat, I'm Leon Scowa and I happen to be Master Guasts student and by the way, that cheap illusion you have on is pretty lame." "Why you little." Guast pulled Leon away from Ryuu just in time before the two could really get into each other's faces, "That's enough from the both of you. Now Leon are the traps armed and set?" "Yes master Guast, we've just set the last one, there's no way anyone is getting into the library." Guast nodded his approval and sent Leon off with a wave of his hand leaving the Arch Mage and Ryuu alone once again, "Forgive the boy, he is a personal student of mine such as Laureal was many years before." "Are you afraid he might turn out like she did?" Guast ran his hand through his beard as he sighed, "Perhaps but I plan to take this one different then I did with her." The Arch mage looked at the time piece and stood up making his way to the door, "Goodness look at the time, we must go and take our positions, who knows when she may strike." Ryuu nodded and followed the mage out of his office, but before they left he stopped the mage to have him answer a nagging question that plagued him, "Excuse me you really see through my disguise?" The old mage laughed a bit and patted Ryuu's shoulder, "Yes son I'm afraid that I can though I must commend you on learning how to pull off a spell like this and hold it for so long." And with that he left out the door followed by a disappointed Ryuu whose pride in his technique was just about shattered.

Outside the school the guards were given the order to be on extra alert and not to allow anyone near the school and as a further means of protecting the school the guards activated the Magic gate, a manacha device that creates a barrier that can block nearly all forms of magic, "Heh I don't see what they are all so worried about, Master Guast tested this thing himself and he could barley get through it, there's no way anybody's getting in." One of the older guards spoke as he took a seat leaning on his spear with sleep threatening to over take him, "Hey look, somebody's coming up the street." Another one said pointing towards the road. Walking up the worn cobble stone of the city a pale skinned elf woman with long white hair was soon becoming visible as she walked at a steady, brisk pace. The guards, as foolish as they were, called the woman over with whistles and catcalls and as hard as Shini tried she could not warn or give any hint to what was about to happen. Once she had made her way over to them, she cringed inwardly at the sight of them// Laureal when I break free of this wretched collar I'll make you pay dearly for this! // Shini's hands moved to caress the guards face and as expected fell into the ploy as any other man would. The guard and his partner paid dearly for this mistake as Shini took them out with several swift and well placed punches and kicks rendering the guards unconscious, "Excellent work Shini old friend." All Shini could do was growl and clench her fist hearing Laureal appearing behind her through one of her portals, "Spare me your foolishness, you'd have tried to force me to do something like this even if you hadn't have ran into me but be warned when I get free I'll have no qualms in slitting that neck of yours." Laureal covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle her laughter earning herself an ominous glare form the Drow, "Oh Shini dear you are quite perceptive aren't you? And it took you this long to find out as well, now be a good slave and destroy this barrier." Shini's body did as it was told and as her hand touched the wall the manacha device began to shake violently and sparks flew out of it until the device broke down and the barrier flickered out of existence.

Inside the school, Gaust stopped and looked up through the windowed ceiling seeing the barrier slowly fading away, "She's here." He said with apprehension in his voice, "She's very prompt I'll give her that. Guast, why do you continue on to the Library, I'll hold off little miss magic while you do what you have to do." "Are you stupid or something? She's like the second strongest mage here and you're just a retarded dragon, how do you figure you can hold her off?" Ryuu's eye twitched as he held back the urge to transform and bite the kids head off, he took a deep breath and calmly answered Leon, "I'll let you go for that one because where in a situation right now, and trust me, I might not look it but I've beaten plenty of mages in my time, so be a good little brat and go to the library with Guast." Gaust took Leon by the shoulder and dragged him with him before the argument could go any further, "Do be careful, I fear her powers may have grown quite substantially and she may be stronger then me." "Don't worry about it, just get going." Guast nodded and continued onto the library. Ryuu took his place at the entrance to intercept Laureal upon her arrival and he didn't have to wait long before he heard the door crashing to the floor, "Yeah don't worry about it, I must be crazy or something." He shook his head and readied himself. At the door Laureal stopped for a moment to look around, taking in the familiar sights of her old school, "Its just as I remembered it dull, dark, and boring as always but that will change soon enough." Shini was yanked along as if pulled by an invisible collar and leash as Laureal made her way further into the school, all the while telling herself aloud how disgusted she was with it and how she wanted to destroy it after finding what she sought. Turning the corner to enter the hall she stopped and furrowed her brow seeing a poorly disguised dragon instead of Guast, "I'd at least expect that old fool to come and face me himself, how dare he insult me by sending a country bumpkin of a dragon against me." Ryuu slapped his fist into the palm of his hand causing the metal gauntlets over his arms to rattle somewhat, "You damn magic users are all alike, you think your so high up on yourselves it's don't take me for any ordinary dragon, I've fought and won against plenty of magic users before." It was then he noticed someone trailing behind Laureal, he looked closer and was somewhat stunned by who he saw, "Shini? Well I'll be damn, I knew you were low but this is ridiculous." "WHAT!? How dare you think I'm working for this wench! She's forci." Shini was silenced as Laureal pulled her back knocking her onto the ground, "Let's just say I've commandeered her time to help me in my ventures, now be a good boy and move out of my way before I have to kill you." Ryuu crossed his arms and stood defiantly, 'Come on you think you can scare me with a threat. You're going to have to do better then that." Laureal smiled as she raised her hand to let her familiar Syngen move onto her hand. She rubbed its back a few times then set it on the floor where it sat practically motionless, "Wake up baby its dinner time." Ryuu tilted his head to the side in confusion at this turn of events, "What is this?" Laureal grinned wickedly as she got back up knowing her pet was awake, "You'll see in just a moment, don't think for a second my darling Syngen is any ordinary familiar." After a moment or so Laureal was about to be proven correct as the small lizard like creature's body began to shake slightly. Soon it began to glow and its body grew to an immense size standing 8 feet on its hind legs and its features far more menacing then before, it gave a shrill cry as it bared its fangs, "Make sure you rip this insolate fool's body limb for limb and don't come to me until you've eaten every last bit of him!" The familiar cried out again before charging at Ryuu. Ryuu cought the monster and was locked in it's grip in his current form, the creature slammed him through a wall and the tow continued to battle as Laureal stepped by and proceeded down the hallway with Shini trailing behind her.

Every step she took seemed to become harder and harder. Laureal trudged up the jagged slopes her hand at her side where an arrow from the mansion guard had made its mark, she made it out with the gold but at the expense of her life and she knew it. A few more steps and she slipped and tumbled down a small slope and onto her back, she looked up at the sky seeing vultures flying overhead, "I'll be damn if this is some sort of cruel you Shini." She cursed to herself as she felt her energy draining from her. Her eyes began to drop and she felt death closing in on her until the figure of a man stood before her, she couldn't see his face as his back was to the sun and the light got into her eyes, "Can't you wait till I die until you plunder my body for loot?" The man laughed a bit as he squatted down next to her, "Even on the edge of death your tongue is as sharp as any blade, I've observed your powers and talents for some time now, it would be a shame to let death snatch such potential from this world." Laureal coughed up a bit of blood and turned her face away from the man, "What are you suggesting then? This wound is quite fatal, even I can't heal this, what makes you so confident you can pull me from the grips of death and I figure there is a hefty price to pay for this act of kindness?" The shadowed man stood up and loomed over her, "When you wake up, you shall know." And that was the last thing she heard as her world went black.

Ryuu grunted as he strained to hold the monster back. The creature showed great strength as it pushed Ryuu back against the wall snapping its jaws in an attempt to bite Ryuu's head off, " I suppose I'll have to apologize for doubting you earlier, but don't think I'm going to help you make your mistress proud!" Ryuu kicked the beast several times in the chest forcing it to let go of him. He then charged into the beast slamming it through several walls before they stopped and exchanged blows. Ryuu was thrown back and to was rammed through several walls, crashing into a classroom where a teacher and several students took shelter. Syngen grabbed Ryuu and forcefully through him through the floor, it shrieked before jumping into the hole expecting to fine its meal dead and ready to be eaten. It looked around looking for its prey but felt something forcibly grab onto its neck, It was Ryuu only now in his true form, "I've had enough of playing with you, its time to end this!" He tossed the Familiar back through the hole he fell through and flew up after the beast. The creature tried to fight back extending its claws to strike Ryuu's face but missed and paid dearly for it as Ryuu crunched its arm off at the elbow. As the familiar shrieked in pain Ryuu moved in for the kill extending his claws then thrusting his hand through its chest and out its back. Though the creature was dead its blood, which was a highly potent acid began to burn on Ryuu's scaly arm. He quickly withdrew his arm from the familiar's chest and franticly rubbed the blood off onto the floor, which caused the aged wooden floor to dissolve as well, "Arg! Great now my arms useless." He said angrily to himself as he tried to move the arm the acid had covered, "There's no time to complain now, and I've wasted to much time.

Back at the library the situation was getting worse. Gaust sensed the traps were being disabled one by one and with great speed, not even Laureal could do that so quickly, "Leon, prepare yourself it won't be long until she enters." "Yes sir." Leon held his staff at the ready, he knew he was strong but seeing the barrier around the library's door beginning to flicker away his confidence was slowly seeping away. The door finally gave way and both of the heavy doors fell to the ground with a loud thud. Laureal stood midst the smoke and dust and smiled seeing her old teacher, "Master Guast it's been so long since I've seen you, you're still the old goat that I remember you being as." Guast stepped forward and held his composure as he addressed her, "Laureal you might as well give up there is no possible way for you to handle the power and secrets the Orihicon contains!" "Silence! There you go again undermining my abilities. You don't want me to have the book because you're afraid I'll be stronger then you considering I am already without it." Guast's everngy gathered around him as a light grew on the tip of his staff. The light grew brighter then dissipated into several smaller balls of light which flew into the suites of armor lining the walls bringing them to life. Laureal merely laughed as she dragged Shini in front of her, "Is that all you can do? I'd say your losing your touch, why don't you take care of them for me Shini." She pushed Shini away from her as her body followed the command, she dodged the living armor's blows and with only a touch disabled the magic that brought them to life causing the armors to fall to pieces on the floor, "Guast, my entire life has been devoted to this one day. I've suffered and had to be reborn to reach the heights that I have obtained, nothing here can nor will stop me." She held out her hand and a small flame formed in her hand, which grew into a large fireball that flew and struck Guast knocking him onto his back. She grinned and threw several more bolts, though weak in power were enough to torment the old mage.

Leon could not stand back any longer seeing his master being hurt by Laureal, "Stop this at once!" he shouted and stood infront of the bolt knocking it away with a swing of his staff "How dare you you little brat, this has nothing to do with you now leave!" she shouted causing her mana to erupt around her as she readied her spell, "Thunder legion!" she shouted and the lightning to the form of a cat like beast and went after Leon The young mage held back the powerful spell as best he could, but the beast's claws tore into his robes and he felt the jolts run through his body but still he refused to give in "Amber whip!" Leon shouted as a flame formed at the tip of his staff. As he swung his staff the fire grew and swept over Laureal setting a part of the library ablaze from the attack "Don't you suppose for a second because I'm younger then you that I'm weaker!" he said assured that his spell did her in. An evil laughter came from the flame and the fire vanished revealing an unscaved Laureal and Shini hidden behind a powerful shield "You are quite strong I will admit." She said as her mana began to change, it suddenly became black as night as her skin appeared to flake off her body, "I've obtained new powers, powers that far surpass any that Guast could even dream of mastering!" The black mana completely incased Laureal and soon disappeared only to unveil a completely different Laureal, which drew gasps from everyone in the library.

Laureal's new body seemed to be incased in some armor of sorts that was highly elaborate. The area around her chest was opened and looked as though you were peering into the workings of a clock. The headdress that adorned her head was equally elaborate and an expressionless, faceless mask replaced her face "H-how...how did you become like this?" Guast asked weakly as he lifted himself from the floor aided by Leon who had gone to his side. Laureal laughed once as she placed her hands on her hips, "You see, a long time ago I had personally encountered death for the first time, but then I was saved and given a new lease on life as well as a new body." With her full strength revealed she levitated herself and Shini on top of a large book case looking down on the two mages, "You should be honored to look upon me, my beauty and power will be the last things that will burn in your mind as souls forever as I destroy you!" she said and held her hand out generating her dark energy as it cracked and spark up and down her arm, "Dark Legion!" The bolt flew from her hand and took the form of a winged skull beast that flew towards its victims. Leon raised his arm and staff ready to defend but knew he could not ward off an attack that strong. It seemed that all would be lost until a blur wizzed by Leon knocking him away. Leon looked up and saw the dragon in his true form taking the blow full force sending him crashing into a pile of books "Ryuu!" Shini shouted and tried to move but was stopped as Laureal pulled her back sending a slight jolt that weakened the Drow. Ryuu's body was covered in the dark energy, he groaned in pain as the spell had severely weakened him since he was already tired from fighting off Laureal's familiar. Leon ran over to Ryuu and dropped his staff helping the dragon to sit up, "Stupid why did you do that?" Ryuu grinned a bit and held onto his right arm, which was burned badly by the familiar's acidic blood, "I don't know kid, but hey don't worry about me." He tried to get up but fell to the ground again as the energy overtook him, "You got to stop her...your the only one left that can do it." Leon looked down and seemed to give up hope seeing her awesome power, "Do you have any idea how strong she is? I can't defeat that!" he said but Ryuu insisted, "Kid, we don't have a choice, you're the on ly one left who can still fight. If she wins she'll kill us all." He said before gritting his teeth and became paralyzed by the pain. Laureal continued to look down to them; she grew tired of playing with them and was preparing to do them in, "If your done I want to finish this. I've waited a long time to get that book." Leon looked up her and picked up his staff and placed the book safely inside his robe, "You'll have to beat me first and I won't lose to you." "Oh my! Your so brave, but you are foolish if you expect this victory to be yours." a ball of black energy formed in front of her and she held it lightly in her hand. Leon's powers roared around him causing a strong gust to kick up but Laureal stood her ground motionless at the display, "Hurricane Sword!" he shouted and the wind focused and flew in her direction, the razor edged wind slicing and destroying everything that was in it's path as it neared her, "Poor little boy, I will have to teach you how to properly use a spell, Shadow Touch!" she shouted and the ball formed into a giant hand and blocked the spell before grasping Leon and holding him in the air as it tightened its grip around him. Laureal was smiling widely though her face could not show it, with the young mage trapped helplessly in her spell the book was finally hers. She willed the hand closer to her as she took the book from him; "You know it's rude to keep things from other people, especially if it rightfully belongs to them." "That book doesn't belong to you, you undead hag! Let me go!" Laureal angrily grabbed Leon and sent a massive jolt of enenrgy into him causing him to cry out in sheer pain, "Laureal...stop..don't hurt the boy its me you want." "Silence! When I'm done with this book this boy will be the first to suffer my wrath!" Laureal let go of Leon as his body fell limp in the hand's grasp. She opened the book and flipped through its many pages only to find something she never expected, "WHAT?! These pages are blank!"

Guast could not contain the small grinned that formed at the edge of his lips as he struggled to pick himself up, "I told you before the book is useless to you, If you stayed and completed your training under me then you would have the knowledge and power needed to read the words, but now you will never have that chance." "NOOO!" Laureal screamed throwing the book aside and willed another shadowy hand into existence that took hold of Gaust's neck, "I changed my mind, I think I'll kill you first!" she said harshly tightening her grip as the shadow hand mimicked and tightened his grip around his throat "Laureal stop this!" Shini yelled as she struggled to move only to be shocked again, "You are impatient Shini, you to will die soon enough but I will save you for last." Luareal luaghed. Though she could not obtain the secrets and powers she sought she would find compensation in killing her foes Laureal tightened her grip further, enjoying every moment her mentor suffered but she stopped and let go sensing a strange power slowly building strength. She looked back to Leon who was still trapped in the hands grip,, his head was lowered and his mana could be seen swirling about his body, growing increasingly in size,"....Leave him alone..." He said firmly not looking up at Laureal. Leon growled quietly as his mana continued to grow, "I said...LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!" He yelled and his mana literally exploded, destroying the hand that held him and breaking Laureal's hold on Guast

Laureal was quite confused and a bit worried. The boy was stronger then she originally gave him credit but for the moment he was still vastly inferior to her, "So this is how strong you truly are? Impressive but it will do nothing to save your master.... watch as he dies right before you!" She spoke before grasping Gaust's throat once again this time with greater force. Everyone shielded their eyes as Leon's body glowed with great power. When the light had died down Leon stood suspended in air, his hair parted somewhat revealing a third eye that shined on his forehead "I won't allow you to harm my master or any of these people anymore, leave or suffer!" Laureal stepped forward as the black mana surrounding her body grew as well, "Me? Suffer? Ha, you will never defeat me little boy, Shadow Touch!" The shadowy hand formed and flew towards Leon with his fingers wide open to grab him but as it drew near Leon waved his hand in front of it causing the hand to vanish as though it were nothing. Laureal stepped back a bit shocked by what she saw, "That's impossible! How could you do away with magic as strong as mine!?" " I'd be more concern for my own safety right now, you witch I'll make you pay!" Leon held out his hand as a small light formed on his palm, "Shin Pillar!" He motioned his hand downward and the roof gave way to a beam of light that took the form of a solid pillar and crashed down on Laureal. The force of the impact was so strong that it pushed shini off the bookcase sending her falling down to the floor. With her body still under the influence of the collar there was no way from her to land on her feet and survive the fall but Ryuu, now relieved of his paralyzing pain moved quickly and caught Shini using his body to absorb the impact of the fall. Laureal was now struggling to hold the pillar up, the light and dark spells sparking violently as one tried to dominate the other, "How can this be?! This can't be happening!" "It is happening." He said, his voice loud and seeming to fill the library. he held up his hand as a ball of dark mana formed then grew till it was as big as his own body, "Now I'll banish you with your own magic! Ebony Cage!" Leon tossed the ball and the energy spread forming a dark steel cage around her. Leon used both is hand and sent the ball flying out trough the hole in the ceiling "This isn't over yet! I shall be back!" her screams could be heard as she could be seen flying across the sky to some unknown destination.

Leon continued to hover in the air until his mana quietly dimmed down to its regular level of strength and the third eye vanished. Fainting as he returned to normal, he fell to the ground and passed out. Shini was finally able to move on her own now that she was free from the collar control, she looked down and saw the dragon beneath her barley able to pick himself up "I guess you want me to thank you for saving my life right?" "Not really, but you could get off my chest so I can breath." Ryuu said coughing a bit as Shini stood up, glad that she has free reign over her body once again. Guast approached them both carrying Leon in his arms, "Is he going to be alright?" Ryuu asked reverting to his pseudo- human form and picking himself off the floor. Guast gave a reassuring smile as he nodded to them both, "Yes Leon will be alright, let us go so we may tend to both your injuries." Guast said and moved out of the library after the books, shelves and roof repaired themselves with a wave of his hand.

The next day life had returned to normal for the students and teachers of the school and Leon was awake as well busy teaching one of the classes on the art of harnessing elemental forces. Ryuu and Shini, who both healed quickly looked on into the class with the Arch Mage, "I still can't believe it, this little kid did all that back at the library, that was quite a show." Shini nodded in agreement before speaking up, "I must agree but something still troubles me. I never felt any sort of magic energy coming from that book, so why couldn't Laureal read it?" Guast smiled and laughed a bit at the most ironic secret the old mage ever had to keep, "Well to be honest, there was nothing in that book at all." "What!?" Both Shini and Ryuu said at once, "What do you mean there was nothing in that book? You mean to say Laureal captured me, forced me to do her dirty work and all for useless paper and bindings?" Shini snapped as Ryuu had to hold her back from beating the old mage, "Yes I understand how you must feel knowing this but you see there is a point why things were. You see 12 generations ago when this school was founded the first Arch Mage wanted to find a means to truly pushing the potential of her students, in so doing she came up with a very clever idea that required only a book and a promise that anyone who was chosen to become the next Arch Mage, must test their abilities to the utter most limits in order to gain the knowledge and skill to read the contents of the book, but when the chosen person finally received the chance to read it, all they found were blank pages." Guast smiled as he peered out of one of the many windows in the hall over looking the city, "So what did it all mean besides the fact that you pushed yourself to the edge only to be rewarded with a fake book?" Ryuu asked crossing his arms, "That was what it was intended to do, the prospect of gaining ultimate knowledge lead you to gain knowledge and at the same time grow stronger in the ways of magery, to put it in a since, the book teaches without you having to open it and read it, something I had forgotten when I brought up Laureal." Just as their conversation closed Leon had dismissed the class and walked out relieved to be done, "How did it go?" Guast asked looking back at his student, "It went well sir though a few of them may need to go through the basics a few more times." He looked around seeing that everyone from the library was in the hallway, "So what's with the reunion, don't you usually wait a year then meet again to discuss old times?" "Well not exactly Leon, this is the perfect opportunity to ask this question." Guast looked Ryuu in the face as his own face grew serious, "Sir Ryuu, I realized your way of life seems to take you many places and you see and experience a great deal of things, I would like to ask if you take Leon with you." "Master? Why do I have to go with this illiterate uncouth?" Ryuu fumed and grabbed Leon by the scuff of his robe, "What did you say? I don't care how strong you turn out to be I'll still kick your sorry little butt!" "Wanna try now you backwater dope." Sparks literally flew between them but Shini managed to successfully break the two away from each other, "You have nothing to worry about, I'll tag along and make sure these two don't wind up killing each other." "Hey nobody said you could come along!" "I just did, so get used to it lover." Shini winked at him, which drew a long mournful sigh from the dragon.