Chapter Eight: The Seductive Wind Mage and the Grumpy Fire Mage (2)

"What do you mean what a surprise, you were the one who barged in here!” headmaster shouted in a whisper.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were the professor here, so it’s truly a surprise, haven’t seen you in a while,” the woman’s voice was still lively.

“And how did you get here? Did he give permission?” When the headmaster asked this, the woman’s face slightly turned sour, but was quickly replaced with a proud look, chin up, she said the next words that earned a reaction from the froze wizlings.

“Ha! Yes, I got permission from Johannes, that man, not even allowing us to get some fresh air.” She exasperated. By the mention of Johann’s name the huge door opened once again revealing a nearly out of breath Johannes.

“What have just happened?” Nellie spoke, still astonished by what just happened. Who was that woman? Who was she in Johann’s life? I was already hearing the other girls talking. They even didn’t make an effort to avoid letting me hear their conversation.

“I knew it, that Listarte isn’t the captain’s girl. Did you see that woman just now, that’s the embodiment of elegance!” said one of the girls in my left, laughing mockingly. Nellie eyed the girl and the girl shut her trap. 

Our attention was brought back to the headmaster when he spoke.

“Wizlings, I think we should end our lesson for today, see you on our next schedule everyone,” he announced and hurriedly left the room.

The room began to be filled with noises, everyone talking about different things, the next class, the hot woman, the lesson, and of course my relationship with the captain.

Ignoring the banters inside, our group exited the hall ready to find the next lecture hall.

“Uhm, are you alright Lista?” Kimi asked worriedly.

“Of course she is! Those stupid girls don’t know anything, blabbering nonsense from their foul mouths.” Antonella said before I could say anything. I smiled at her protectiveness.

“Y-yeah, don’t mind them Lista,” said Joanna as Euna nodded twice.

“But what they actually said wasn’t wrong though,” I said. They all looked at me unbelievingly and sighed together.

“Never mind that let us just go to our next lecture,” Euna said dismissing the conversation.

“Alright,” we all said together, and made our way to the next lecture hall.

That was what will supposedly happen, but here I am sitting in the gazebo by the lake. The same place that Johann and I talked. In front of me was a beamish lady wearing a blue revealing dress and has blue wavy hair.

“First things first, I am Lalia, an honor to meet you,” she said greeting me with the Llfhame greeting, exactly the way we did with the headmaster. It was clear in her voice and way of greeting that she was an elegant woman, no doubt about that,

“Well, my name is Listarte, an honor to meet you too.” I said courtly

“Don’t you have a last name? Like Johann, his last name is Moriarty right?” she asked, I looked at her weirdly. I only gave her my first name because she did the same.

“How about you? You didn’t say any right?” 

“Oh well, because of some circumstances, I don’t have one at the moment, but if you really need one then, Moriarty, Lalia Moriarty.” She said that surprised me. She even uses the same name as Johann? Just who is she? 

“My full name is Listarte Moria Graciana,” I replied formally. When I said my name the cheerful face was gone for a moment. She paused thinking. But then in a blink the beam in her face was back.

“So what is it that you need from me if I may ask?” I inquired afraid that I’ll be late for my next class. 

“Fight me,” she said. I blinked and ask her again.

“Fight me,” she repeated.

“Are you serious right now?” I asked, making sure if my ears were not playing games with me. 

“Dead serious,” her face was filled with seriousness indeed, dead seriousness. I was confused by the occurrence. I stood up and prepared to exit.

“I’ll tell you my relationship with Johann if you fight me,” a grin was plastered in her lips, gone was the face she was displaying earlier

“And if you don’t, I’ll blow this Academe,” when she said that an explosion from the lake made a rain of water, soil, and stones. I coughed from the dust procured from the explosion, I began to feel goosebumps on my arms. I looked at the person in front of me who now has a wand in her hand. A mage, I looked at her incredulously expressing my disbelief of what she just did.

“What do you say? It’s a win win right?” she asked an unbelievably innocent smile was plastered on her face making her look more odd in my eyes. Is she an enemy? What sane person would threaten to destroy an academy if a person won’t fight her? I don’t know about her ulterior motives but I can’t let her bring havoc.

“I don’t know about the win win situation, but I’ll give you what you want,” I said and fired a spell at her. Before she disappeared in front of me I saw a smile of victory in her face.

“Surge in heavens, fall on land

Escaping the wrath no one shall, hail of ocean!” a spell was directed at me the voice was coming from behind. The moment I turned around a huge surge of water was already ready to devour me. Quickly I chanted a defensive spell because I was sure if that spell hit me it would be my end.

“Zephyr of the west guides, Gust shield!” a big draft of wind stood in between me and the surge, bits of water got through and it hit me, they were like stones, leaving patches of red in my skin the moment they land. It was better if it was just that but then again this Lalia woman is obviously strong, those bits of water that was not successfully deflected by my defensive spell was turning into ice, freezing parts of my body. How did she even do it? Don’t tell me… 

“Huh, you’re wicked.” I said as I leaped backwards and performed a quirk, performing a non-verbal capturing spell. I succeeded in enclosing the water mage in the air bubble. She attempted to revoke my spell, and it was at that moment that I was thankful to the monks’ training.

“Revoke,” she attempted to cancel my spell. But I remembered Monk Amon’s counter for a revoking spell

“Repel!” I shouted, succeeding in trapping her in the air bubble. I took a short breath and continued to chant another spell.

“Seizare” Chains and binds appeared inside the bubble restricting the movements of my opponent. I sighed in relief, it looks like I could win this battle, or that’s what I thought. The occurrence went so fast that the moment I opened my eyes from blinking I was already in my own bubble tied in chains. While she was there, standing at the vey spot I was standing just a second ago

“W-what, how did you…tell me, you… are a dual elemental mage right?” I asked. It was the only explanation I could think about. Aside from the fact that this woman might be a class A or maybe even higher, the feats she was able to perform are not possible if she was on a water mage.

“Well, well, took you long enough to figure that out. I’m amazed though, withstanding that first attack. Hm hm, I was right, you are worth it,” she said placing her thumb in her chin while nodding then laughing like an evil witch. I attempted to chant another non-verbal spell to release the spell I was in but before I could do it the air bubble was filled with water.

“Uh oh, don’t provoke Mr. Air bubble little Graciana, he might choke you with water,” she said in a pitiful tone but her eyes were smiling with amusement. I glared at her helplessly and flicked my wand desperately making a tiny bubble in my nose to let me breath.

“Okay now, I got what I wanted so…” she released the spell and I fell coughing on the ground.

“You will be my apprentice!” 

“What?!” I shouted in a low voice as I was still catching my breath. I don’t know what to think of her at this moment. But one thing was for sure, she is one weird woman.

“Well, I’ve tested you and you have proven your worth, you deserve to receive my guidance. I was right about your potential,” she giggled again. A caressing wind circled my body and all at once the wetness was gone and my breathing turned back to normal.

“Let me introduce myself now more properly, I am Lalia the Exuberant Mage wielder of the water and wind elements. And I hereby declare you as my apprentice, Listarte Moria Graciana, daughter of the Willows.” She proclaimed. She then moved closer to me, bent down, and kissed my forehead.

“Done! Congratulations to you! My time is already up so, see you in my next off,” Lalia the weird mage said and she disappeared into thin air. Leaving a gurgling sound behind.

What just happened? I became an apprentice? The whole progress of events were making my head hurt. Not bothering to worry about the destroyed lake I stood up and walked dazed towards the lecture hall. I was hardly keeping myself composed and my thoughts organized. Who was she again? Lalia the Exuberant Mage? Dual Wielder? I think I’ve heard that name before. Arrghhh, this is impossible, she didn’t even told me who she was in Johann’s life. Just appearing and disappearing suddenly. I shook my head and took deep breaths allowing myself to forget what happened even for a moment so I can find my way to the lecture hall. 

Exiting the entrance of the lake my path was blocked by a familiar face. 

“You, who are you?” she asked. My eyebrows meet, asking me who I am when she was the one who blocked me. I had enough for today. Please don’t be another crazy woman.

“Listarte, you? What do you need?” I ask nonchalantly. 

“Hah! You disrespectful brat, you are standing before the Vice Captain of the Aces.” She said mightily. So she was that lone girl with them.

“I’m sorry if I offended you in any way, but could I go now? I’m late for my lecture.” I said and walked passed her.

“You!” she shouted angrily. A fireball was then thrown at me ready to burn my back. I quickly jump sideward falling to the ground as I lost my equilibrium. I stared at her annoyingly.

“Please stop this alright, I don’t think I’ve ever done you wrong,” I said patiently. 

“You’re existence entirely is wrong woman.” She said full of spite firing another spell at me. I felt my blood boil as I deflected the spell which slightly grazed my arm. I will not take this anymore. I am no damsel, and I would not let anyone beat me without putting up a fight.

“Hey vice -captain, I may be a good person to some extent but I am not some goddess, I get irritated too,” I said clenching my teeth annoyed by all that is happening to me today. And as I finished talking I lifted my wand, hastily performed a quirk and directed my strongest spell directly towards her, without an ounce of hesitation.