an illusion of mind

Chapter 22 Tradition of Trials...



the Tradition of trials was a big event, a whole lot of people gather to watch it, either it be citizens, students, professors, or even school faculty.

and this event was done in the Terrain shifting arena, one of the best establishments of Prism academy, it is a giant stadium with an arena in the middle that had the ability to shift to fit certain themes.

the current theme was an abandoned city with fallen houses and skeletal corpses with vegetation taking over the city's buildings.

a giant screen that broadcast the entire thing was up in the sky and all the students sat in the stadiums to watch the match.

Arron, Amanda, David, Rica, Evan, Bella, Maria, all of these people that couldn't or didn't want to participate gathered around to watch the match their friends are playing in, well except for Maria, she wasn't friends with them, she usually just kept to herself.

"who do you think would win?" Arron asked but Amanda was focused on something else, the two had gotten the permission to go watch this despite their condition.

Amanda was focusing on one person, Evelyn, "I didn't think she would participate..." Amanda said gritting her teeth, she wished she could also participate but she couldn't because of her current state.

"shh~ the announcer is about to begin..." Rica shushed them

"ladies and gentlmen! I welcome you all to the Tradition of Trials! where an older senior Royal class! would challenge their juniors in the Royal class to a friendly match!" he spoke in a naturally charismatic voice that drew anyone's attention.

"on one side we have!" he gestured for the right side where the second years stood.

"Vironika Zul rank 1 second year student and the one who initiated the challenge!!! next we have Emmyth Elaran second year rank 4 royal class!" he gestured to a black haired girl with ruby red eyes that had a composed and bored expression on her face, she didn't seem to possess a weapon, then he gestured to a girl with white hair and crystal blue eyes, she had a determined look on her face and she had two short swords strapped to her side.

after that he spoke up again, "next we have Ettrian Caicyne! rank 6 second year!" he gestured to a boy with dirty blonde short hair and a mean look to him, he had a broad chest and toned body, he was on the leaner side, he rested a broadsword on his shoulder while he gave a serious look to the opposite side.

"next up! we have Hagred Lanphyra! rank 2 second year!" he yelled as he gestured to a purple haired young man, but what puzzled Arron was that Hagred didn't seem like a fighter, he was skinny and he had pale white skin, so how did he make it to the second rank?

the announcer moved on to the opposite side, he announced the names of the contestants from the first year, which were Regina rank 7, Adam rank 6, Evelyn rank 3 and Suzi rank 2.

"ladies and gentlemen! count down with me!" the announcer yelled out and started a count down from 10 to 1.

after the countdown reached 0 he announced the beginning of the match.

the two sides rushed at each other, Suzi was in the front meeting Ettrian who rushed at her with his broad sword, Suzi's body glowed in a white light as she activated her mana claws, she slashed with her hand meeting Ettrian's blade, sparks flew as Ettrian was surprised for a second by the struggle before Suzi overpower his swing and punched forward mana in casing her fist, Ettrian tilted his head dodging the blow and attacked with his sword in a diagonal slash.

Suzi gripped his sword with one hand while she twirled around and elbowed him in the side, despite the size difference Suzi was doing pretty good against him.

Adam rushed forward deflecting each blue slash that was sent to him by Emmyth, he finally reached her as their blades clashed, "pleased to meet you Emmyth..." Adam spoke up.

"I don't know.... I heard some pretty nasty stuff about you..." Emmyth said as she broke the clash and slashed at him, Adam jumped back distancing himself.

"don't believe everything you hear." he said as he retook his stance and rushed forward again.

Evelyn walked forward in pride, her expression unchanging, she met the crazed gaze of Hagred as he stared at her, "how beautiful..." he said scratching the back of his head, "eh~ what would a beautiful girl like you want with a guy like me... ah~ I get it..." his face turned angry for some reason and he yelled out, "you're trying to hurt me aren't you?!" Hagred lashed out swiping his hands sending several dark needles at Evelyn who simply waved her hand and a wave of pink energy dissipated the dark energy.

"damn it~ damn it!" he clutched his head and spoke up, "don't just look at me like that!!!" he lashed out again creating a scythe made of darkness, he rushed at Evelyn who simply created a pink sword with mana and rushed at him.

they clashed mana blades as sparks flew, "I am not going to acknowledge someone like you." Evelyn spoke her voice unwavering as she pushed him away with a pink mana wave.

he flew back and landed on his feet.

"damn it! you're so irritating!" he yelled out as he lunged at her once more.

meanwhile the other battles were occurring Veronika simply stood still her arms cross across her chest as she watched the battles unfold.

she heard footsteps walking up behind her but she didn't even flinch.

Regina walked up behind her and stood next to her, "how exciting~ being able to watch so many battles at once, how I envy the audience right now..." Regina spoke up a hand on her hip, her tone was amused.

"so you're just here to talk?" Veronika spoke her eyes never leaving the fights happening.

"hmm~ what do you think I'm here for?" Regina smiled widely.

"..." Veronika instead of responding hammer fisted Regina's face without even glancing at her, her hand left a trail of red lighting, as her fist met nothing.

Veronika looked to the left finally acknowledging Regina but she found no one, "what do you think of my illusion?" a voice spoke up from her right side and she turned swiftly to see Regina standing there her arms crossed as she walked forward.

"another illusion?" Veronika smiled in amusement as she looked around the terrain, "where is your real self?" she spoke up as she glanced all around her trying to spot the real Regina.

suddenly she felt an impact on her stomach and she recoiled clutching at her stomach in pain letting out a pained grunt.

"hmm~ real self? what are you talking about~" the illusion asked with an outstretched arm, no... not illusion... but Regina, the real Regina was in front of her!

Veronika smirked and looked up at Regina with a smirk, "how amusing." she said before she moved in a flash and punched at Regina, however she dodged by ducking and sprung back up with a knee but Veronika was ready she dodged and retaliated with a spin kick to Regina's side which sent her flying and rolling on the ground, Regina was abruptly stopped by a still standing wall, which immediately collapsed on top of her after the impact.

"hmph, how amusing truly~" Veronika smiled widely her ruby red eyes shining brightly.

Veronika saw a silhouette moving through the smoke screen and Regina moved forward with a few scratches on her face and body.

"you find it amusing?" Regina smiled her blood red eyes shining just as brightly.

Regina rushed forward this time a staff in hand, Veronika didn't know where she got it, but it didn't matter right now.

Veronika rushed forward ducking under Regina's swing, Veronika punched Regina's stomach but her fist passed right through her which caused Veronika to stumble forward, but she was pulled back by a hand that caught the back of her collar and pulled her back, Regina utilized a series of strikes with her staff twirling and spinning her staff to build up momentum and deliver devastating blows to Veronika who managed to block some of them but was hit with others.

Regina delivered one final strong strike with her staff towards Veronika's side, Veronika was sent flying clutching her side as she rolled to a stop.

"annoying." Veronika spoke up as she stood, she had traces of blood near her lips but nothing else except for scratched around her body.

Regina smirked and clutched her staff harder, she was about to speak up when her eyes widened and she was met by Veronika's face mere inches away from hers, when did she- she couldn't finish her thoughts as Veronika grabbed her by the face and smashed her head to the ground.

to Veronika's surprise Regina just vanished and reappeared next to her striking down with her staff onto Veronika's neck, however Veronika was faster she pulled back quickly however she was struck on the stomach with the staff, and sent flying into the air.

Veronika's eyes were wide open as several flying knives flew out of the smoke screen created by Regina striking the ground, she twisted and turned her body mid air to avoid the knives like an acrobat.

once she landed on the ground she stood up and was about to speak when she was met by the tip of a staff, Regina's staff, her enhanced perception activated and everything around her slowed down, and she could see everything moving slowly, Veronika tilted her head with as much power as she could so she can dodge the attack, her brain and perception was much faster than her body itself was so she felt like she was moving in muddy water.

she managed to dodge the staff but it grazed her cheek causing a cut that bled down her cheek.

"huh~ I was sure I hit you! no fair-" Regina was cut off as Veronika was already on her delivering a punch to the gut and sending her flying, the speed blitz happened in a flash, so quick that no one was able to see it, Veronika was a blur, a trail of red lightning was left where she moved, she was quick she moved behind Regina who was still flying through the air and kicked her side sending her tumbling into a nearby pillar that also collapsed from the impact.

Veronika spat blood as she put a hand to her nose and sniffed out blood, using the enhanced perception put a toll on her current body, if she trained it hard enough she could use it on a whim.

she looked towards the smoke as she knew this wasn't over.

Regina stood up her eyes shadowing over and her face hidden as her eyes were glued to the ground.

she looked up and revealed blood dripping down her forehead and covering her face, despite this, she smiled widely almost maniacally, "how fascinating! this is insanity!" she yelled out loud like a deranged person.

Veronika just stood still ready for an attack.

Regina looked straight at her, "I got you." she said before she disappeared and something strange happened, all around Veronika the terrain disappeared and in front of her was...

"father?" she spoke up letting her guard down, "what a disappointment..." her father replied seemingly not realizing his daughter is behind him."

all the surroundings disappeared all there was is Veronika and her father.

"my daughter... my offspring, losing to a nobody..." he stood up and he turned to her his eyes were wide and they had the same cold stare as she remembered.

"f-father... it's not what it looks like..." Veronika shrunk back looking down at the floor in shame.

"remember Veronika, it was all your fault..." her father spoke but he was no longer her father, his face was twisted into something horrific, Veronika's eyes were wide open tears collected next to her eyelids as she saw her father's neck get cut open, his body fell to the floor bleeding out, several other bodies appeared next to him, some recognizable while others weren't.

she looked at her hands and found blood on them, "AHHH!" she screamed and fell down on the floor her body shaking as her eyes leaked tears at the sight of her father and the dead bodies, the blood... the blood was on her hands... it was her fault...

however... something screamed in the back of her head, something... something was calling out to her.

"don't listen, it wasn't your fault!" a voice yelled at her... however it was...

me?

"they all died in the accident, it was their damn fault not ours!" a figure appeared in front of her yelling at her to get up.

she stood up and looked at the figure, it was her... she was looking at herself, a reflection of her consciousness.

"b-but I... I wasn't fast enough to..." Veronika looked down to the floor and then...

SLAP!

she was slapped by herself and it somehow stung? it hurt but not physically, it was as if she was reprimanding herself.

"don't ever think it was our fault..." her reflection's face darkened and she looked back up at her, "sure we weren't fast enough, we are a failure, but what does that ever mean?!" she yelled at herself, she looked down at her hands she clenched the blood on her hands, the blood on her hand slowly fell to the ground and she paused.

I... wasn't fast enough.... but so what? so what god damn it! SO WHAT IF I WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO REACH THEM IN TIME!!!

she yelled and punched the white expansive floor, a crack appeared and she started pounding on the floor harder with more anger, tears falling down her cheek, her hands started blurring as she punched savagely her hands leaving red trails of lightning her fists hurt, and everything was screaming at her to stop, even her father's corpse but she continued, not listening the dead memories of her past.

she broke through...

her eyes widened as she saw a fist about to connect with her face, and she let it, the punch connected on her face she heard a loud crunch and Regina smirked, she knew she broke her nose, however Veronika was not having it.

she took the hit square in the face and she hit back with a punch of her own, landing on Regina's cheek throwing her away.

Veronika roared angrily as she glared at Regina "HOW DARE YOU!!! YOU SCUM OF THE SCU-" before she could finish a sword was driven into her back and out her chest Veronika looked down at her chest feeling the immense pain in it and she looked behind her seeing Regina's bloodied up face as she frowned "damn it...", and she disappeared into blue particles eliminated from the match.

Regina who's jaw was dislocated from the previous punch grabbed her jaw and fixed it before she let go of the sword and collapsed to the floor laughing to herself, "hahahahaha!" she laughed for a few moments before she stood and started walking out towards the other fights.

"how idiotic, she was to taken by her emotions... I wonder what I showed her..." Regina said curiosity evident in her voice as she stood up on the roof of an abandoned house watching the other matches with a smirk.


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