Magical Fracas, Episode 5: New friends and enemies?

[Teal Mage]

Summary: What Alex and Miranda did on Thursday. Something normal, followed by training. It's three short scenes.

A romantic walk by the river, Alex mused, is far more romantic when you're with someone. It was sunset on Thursday night, the blond had taken a train to the river on Miranda's orders. He'd had to blow off Kenji and Rin to come here, Miranda had said it was to train after all, so he couldn't have them see him crossdressing.

But, he wasn't training. Miranda had been strangely silent since he'd arrived, beyond the occasional encouragement to walk around. He'd been listening for an hour. "Argh," Alex sighed, tugging at a lock of his long hair, "this is boring."

The scenery isn't enough? Miranda asked, he could sense genuine confusion, Your memories of this place all seemed to be staring out at the water. I thought this would be a good place for you to relax.

I wasn't alone in any of them. Alex retorted with a grimace. She'd tricked him!

He heard her laugh, My company isn't sufficient?

"You are," Alex stated firmly, "not," he crossed his arms, "my type."

Yes, yes, I can see that. An image flashed into his mind. Alex turned red. Thankfully, I prefer my men to be men. Miranda continued, surprisingly light. She must be in a good mood.

Unfortunately for her, Alex had recovered from the shock enough to form a response. So, he grinned, anyone who isn't as pretty as you.

Miranda was surprised; her mental form stood blinking at Alex. That was the first time someone had said it like that. After a moment, ...yes. You could say that.

I knew I was the pretty one! Alex stated triumphantly, nodding to himself. You just can't compete.

* * *

"Faster." Miranda stated dispassionately as her armoured leg connected solidly to Alex's- as the Great Priestess Ayame-Barrier, sending the auburn haired priestess flying out over the dreamscape lake.

Ayame recovered quickly, sending herself into a short series of backflips before landing on her feet in the air. Her green eyes widened before she recoiled, arms folding up protectively before her face as a barrier of red magic blossomed around her. Just in time to block a flurry of white magical bullets, Miranda's Storm spell. The swarm died off moments later, leaving Ayame's barrier riddled with dents.

Still behind her barrier, the priestess's eyes flickered back to where Miranda had been moments ago. The lakeshore was empty.

"Shouldn't have stopped." Miranda's glowing blades swept through her barrier like paper, from behind. Ayame's floating scarf flashed into their path, stopping both in their tracks.

"Gale!" A strong gust of light filled wind exploded from Ayame. Miranda breathed an oath, her wings beat hard as she pulled away. Her swords changed into white light, before shifting into a bow of white fire. She had the arrow formed and aimed at the center of the swirling white mass of lights in moments.

"Angel's Arrow!" The crackling bolt of white magic flew. Without waiting for the results, Miranda shifted the bow back into sword form. The swords moved in tandem, one in an arch over her head, and the other swept around her in a circle. White magical cutters flew from their tips, arching outward.

Above her now, Ayame cursed and broke off her casting to summon a disc shield of red runes. One of Miranda's cutters broke over its surface, blinding the Priestess momentarily.

The light cleared in time for Ayame to see another of Miranda's arrows coming at her shield. The priestess flinched, dispelling the shield and pulled back. The arrow flew past her, scrapping the outer edge of her jacket's barrier.

"Storm Lash!" Miranda's voice, predictably from behind her, announced a stream of lightning that wrapped around her barrier. The electrical current swept past it, and Ayame let out of cry of pain. Miranda closed the distance, her blades shining with white magic.

The spell fell away, leaving Ayame panting. It had hurt.

"Final Exorcism!" Miranda's twin swords moved in a circle-one clockwise and the other counter-and a complex casting mandala formed.

Ayame spun, a shield of red runes blossoming between her and the familiar.

"Game over." Miranda's swords merged into a single blade of white magic. She thrust it through the center of her circle. There was a blinding flash before the light blade exploded out, sliding past both the priestess's shield and barrier jacket. Ayame gasped as the beam swept through her-

* * *

Alex sat bolt upright a gasp, trembling and in a cold sweat. He stayed like that for a time, the covers of his bed pooled around his waist, breath coming in harsh pants. Eventually, he looked toward the digital clock on his night stand.

One twenty-six. He fell back to bed with a sigh, Only been asleep two hours.

"You're getting better." Miranda stated, a transparent version of her battle form appearing at his bedside. Her arms were crossed, but she didn't look displeased.

"Huh." Alex replied, unconvinced. He didn't like Miranda's training sessions, thankfully she wasn't cruel enough to make them last all night.

She gave him a sympathetic half-smile, "I'm not lying. You surprised me with that Gale Spell, not many mages would have reacted the way I did. It would have turned the battle."

"I should have used the Sacred Shot." Alex stated.

"It was the Surge you were trying, yes?"

"Yeah," Alex nodded tiredly, "I wanted to make sure the hit counted."

Miranda nodded in return, "I'm just experienced. A trick like that should have worked on an Autekka."

Alex's eyes closed, "If you say so."

Miranda's amber eyes rolled, "Go to sleep."

"Kay."