Annabelle’s Bastion

“What?”

Anna must have misheard the words that came from Aria’s mouth… right?

She expected it to be related to causing more damage than necessary for a spar! After all, the girl was keen on teaching people rough lessons. But the actual reason... well, Gromak lied. 

“I was defeated,” Aria repeated, her tone just as clear and nonchalant as the first time she said it.

Anna didn’t even know how to process that information.

Aria, defeated? The girl who spent her whole life practicing martial combat, with outstanding talent in every factor of strength, bested. The girl at the top of the entire academy…

It was one thing to believe it could happen, but another entirely to have the reality shoved in Anna’s face so early and said without so much as a twitch in Aria’s voice.

“H-how?” Anna asked in disbelief. 

The consequences of the loss were significantly more than just a light smear on her reputation!

But Aria didn’t know that yet.

To her, it was just a poor result she could rectify later.

It meant there was an opponent Aria couldn’t overcome with martial prowess. It meant since the first Sigils weren’t unique, there would be many others in the academy capable of beating her. It meant the odds of them winning the tournament dropped… to near zero. After all, people would only get stronger and Sigils more overwhelming.

More importantly, it could mean a loss of participation in the tournament at all by losing the qualifiers!

Contrary to Anna’s inner turmoil, the woman herself didn’t show any emotion on her face or body. 

“You appear devastated.” Aria lightly sighed. Her hand raised, but she quickly lowered it, shaking her head. “But this outcome became clearer each passing day; it will not mean anything.”

The girl who said she would never lose had begun to realize just how significant an advantage Sigils were. Aria said it before, too—Anna just ignored it. But Aria must have already accepted that she might end up losing.

But the timing…

Anna shook her head. “But...” She took a calming breath—she was getting too gloomy already. There was a story; she shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Eventually, she nodded, releasing a breath. “Okay, but how did you lose?”

No visual injuries nor signs of exhaustion told of how the spar unfolded. That was a positive—she must not have lost too badly.

Aria considered for a moment while she adjusted her Katana to sit at their table in the cafeteria. Once she was comfortable, leaving Anna in anticipation, she explained, “I was powerless; I did not know—and I still don’t know—how I can overcome that power.”

That only made Anna’s pit grow. 

“And you’re telling me not to worry?” 

Aria nodded. “As with all challenges, it is only temporary;  I will triumph later.”

Anna just stared incredulously.

Was she really just overreacting?

The tone, the unconcerned attitude; how could Anna not feel at least a little assured? It was a magic school, and Aria’s intention was always to improve through challenging fights! With such a path, how could she expect her friend to win every time?

She dipped her head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be reacting like this.” She had to have confidence in her partner! “You’re right.”

“Good.” Aria thought again and eventually nodded. “I understand your fear—my success is your success. But I would not be satisfied taking victory so easily.”

“Right, I get it.” Would Anna? She wasn’t sure, but figuring out how should just be another thing to solve. “What power did he have?”

“An ability I have fought before and one I knew he was adept at from his prior fights.” Aria lightly shook her head. “But he recently had a breakthrough in its control.”

“Really?” Anna’s head tilted. “What kind of breakthrough?”

“It’s—”

“I’m back, girlies!” Gromak interrupted as he appeared seemingly from nowhere and instantly took a seat next to Anna. 

“Gromak, you lied to me!” Anna exclaimed as he sat. “Aria didn’t get in trouble!”

“Yeah, I lied.” He smirked at her, looking as arrogant as ever. “What of it?”

“You...”

“Bah!” Gromak boisterously chuckled, a laughter that filled the cafeteria. When his obnoxious laugh was dead, he shook his head and wiped fake tears. “Your reactions are fun, but I do feel this… unprecedented case qualifies.” He looked just as curious as he directed his attention to Aria. “So, tell us who corrected that pride of yours, girlie.”

Anna sighed in resignation. 

“I will not lose again,” Aria said, staring at Gromak.

Gromak raised his hands in surrender. “Oopsie.”

Aria returned her gaze to Anna. “He used Water Shell,” she explained. “A Sigil I have bested before.”

“Water Shell…” Anna mumbled. She knew that Sigil, but she couldn’t imagine it beating Aria.

“Water Shell, eh?” Gromak nodded a few times as he tugged on his beard. “That’s a good one for beginners—the perfect blend of offense and defense.”

“Offense?” Anna asked, confused. It was just a cacoon of powerful water currents that made it next to impossible for attacks to break through! “I thought it was like a turtle shell.”

“As did I,” Aria added.

Gromak derisively chuckled. “Naive, the both of ya.” He nodded toward Aria. “Go ahead, girlie, explain.”

Aria nodded. “I fought a few others with that Sigil; the first one lost because his currents were not strong enough. The second was a challenge but was merely a battle of attrition. Both attempted to use it to bolster melee damage.”

“And humans call us crude.” Gromak chuckled dryly. “That’s not even half its capability.”

“Yes,” Aria agreed. “My opponent extended some kind of whip out of the shell from every angle he could manage.”

“W-wow...” Anna exclaimed. It was a Sigil that could function in whichever way the user wanted! That seemed almost indomitable. “How—”

Aria raised her hand to halt Anna’s speech. “To have one, the other must be lowered.”

Gromak snickered. “Exactly!”

“Alright...” Anna still wasn’t sure how that fight would play out in the tournament. “Then, how did the fight go?”

“He... outsmarted me.” Aria finally had a visual change, a fiery passion in those amber eyes as she looked beyond Anna. “The fight was long. He made it appear as though the whips moved in only a few directions—purposefully, realistically flawed. However, when I got closer, they swang with wild abandon... I couldn’t react in time.”

“And thus, your barrier was shattered.” Anna sighed. “You must have been hit many times.” 

Aria probably had one of the strongest barriers in the academy, as was evidenced in all the spars she took with their dorm mates and her opponent’s comments.

“Yes; not only could he swing freely, he could conjure tens of them before I could move away.”

“Tens?” Anna squeaked.

How were they going to beat that kind of ability?!

Aria nodded.

“So you got your ass handed to you, huh.” Gromak sagely nodded. Rather than surprised, he seemed happy with the outcome. “These Earthlings are more than you expected.”

That got another nod from her, yet it probably meant far more than just an agreement.

“But that also had to mean his defense was really low, right?” Anna asked. That was their only hope and the avenue they should explore to deal with the ability. An ability they would see multiple times.

“Yes. I witnessed his shell thin considerably before my barrier shattered. If it was tougher…” She lightly shook her head.

“Okay, so there’s something.” Aria sighed in relief. “But if he’s smart, he’ll anticipate you knowing that for your next match.”

“Assuming we fight again.”

“Well, actually—” Anna started.

“You didn’t know, girlie?” Gromak interrupted, smirking toward Aria. “There are thousands of students in the academy; how do ya think they’re gonna get the contestants for the main stage?”

Anna nodded.

That was the significant reason for her anxiety, knowing that Aria lost to another member of her combat class.

“Internal tournament...” Aria muttered. “We will have to compete with our class, and the winner moves on to the real one.”

“Yep!” Gromak clapped. “Even after that, you’ll have about five fights to win before you compete in the main bracket and hit the big ring.”

“In other words…” Anna paused for some quick estimates. Once she had a good guess, she nodded. “You’ll probably be fighting, in total, around 10 times from the prequalifiers to the championship.”

“Good,” Aria said as a ghost of a smirk rose on her face. “I look forward to besting my opponents.”

Anna felt like an idiot worrying. She giggled and watched as Aria consumed her meal brought by one of the new staff members. 

The server was a tall, muscular man with short brown hair and darker eyes. He had a rougher face, with a scar along the left side of his chin. Yet he seemed unassuming, save for his idolization of Gromak. As for how he felt about the students? He didn’t even glance at them after serving. Still, he made good food and looked like he shouldn’t be messed with.

“Thanks, Kain.” 

“No problem, sir—let me know if you need anything more,” He had a deep, gravelly voice. That man did not seem like he worked in a kitchen! He seemed more like a battle-hardened soldier.

Which only made Anna all the more curious about Gromak’s position.

Gromak needed to hire more pretty ladies, like a cool maid!

Once the waiter returned to the kitchen, Gromak slapped the table as he stood. “Well, I was just makin’ sure the loss didn’t hit ya too hard.”

Aria swallowed and then shook her head. “I was raised around people exponentially stronger than I.”

Gromak snorted. “Glad to see that arrogance hasn’t changed, girlie.” He left it at that, leaving the cafeteria.

“Uh... what?” Anna asked.

Aria didn’t explain, so Anna let it go.

“We have something very, very important coming up, Aria,” Anna said once she saw Aria finished eating. 

“Oh?” Aria cleaned up her area and left the bench. “Explain.”

A realization hit Anna, one that made her heart drop and made her feel dumb to forget.

“Right...” She mumbled. “You... lost.”

“And?” Aria asked curiously. She stopped moving, staring at Anna’s frown.

“You’re...” She almost dreaded asking. “You’re not at the top of your class anymore, are you?”

Aria thought about it, likely recalling the results of those who fought in the weeks before her. “I was never at the top.”

“Wha—” Anna stopped herself.

Duh.

Anna slapped her head.

Aria couldn’t have been at the top after her extended absence! To make up for it, those who won all their fights would have to lose, and she’d have to keep winning. In other words... 

“You don’t qualify for the expedition—you probably didn’t even before today.” Anna could hardly believe the words she spoke.

“Expedition?”

Anna explained it to her on their way back to their room. She told Aria that it would have been the only way for her to possibly get a Sigil before the tournament. Not only that, but it would be a real battle experience. More importantly, Anna knew she would qualify and wasn’t sure if she should go without Aria.

“Go—you must,” Aria said as she read the announcement on her own tablet. “This... experience... won’t be as important to me as it will be to you.”

Anna shook her head—that wasn’t the problem! “I know, but your Sigil...”

“I will win without one.”

“And I want to believe that, but what if someone comes back from this with an absurd Sigil that you can’t beat with just martial skill? Not to mention people like the guy who beat you today.” Anna sighed, falling into her bed. “People are outpacing you, Aria.”

Aria didn’t respond. 

No matter how confident she was in her ability, she had to know some walls were insurmountable. The beginner Sigils? Sure, they could be bested due to the Earthling’s lack of experience and naivety. But the expedition could potentially make an opponent Aria couldn’t handle, even if she performed to the best of her ability.

Finally, Aria nodded her affirmation. “You’re right.”

“I’m glad you understand.” Anna stared at the ceiling fan, watching it turn as the gears in her mind worked. “I have something of a plan, at least.” 

Not that it was a good one, nor one that was likely to work. In fact, Anna wouldn’t be surprised if the expedition was partly fueled by the desire to put Aria down. 

”You wish to bring back a Sigil for me to absorb.”

“Bingo!” Yet Anna didn’t even sound enthusiastic about her own idea.

Aria went to her bed and sat facing Anna. “I won’t obtain my power by using you.”

Anna sighed, opting against lashing out at Aria for it. After all, wanting to earn her power was one of Aria’s most prominent traits. Even Anna had that appeal, and she wanted to earn most of her future Sigils as well. 

If she had everything handed to her, wouldn’t it be the same as on Earth?

So she couldn’t get upset… but their ideal just wasn’t possible. 

Anna sat up and looked at Aria as seriously as she could muster. “What other option is there?” 

Aria stared with no trace of what sort of actions were taking place in her mind available to read. “There is nothing you can do here, Annabelle. You could attempt to bring back a Sigil, but I would refuse it.”

She knew that. It became more than just stubbornness for her. To win the tournament even with their ridiculous punishments was a powerful motivator when other avenues for revenge simply didn’t exist.

Anna rustled her hair in frustration. “Damn it, I know! This is so annoying! None of your treatments makes a lick of sense! If they hated you so much, why go so far just to inconvenience you?”

Organizing an ambush, holding her for nearly two weeks, preventing her from getting a Sigil, and it definitely wasn’t impossible that the expedition was happening just to spite her!

Aria stood up. “I will speak with Alisha.” 

Good idea. At the very least, Alisha might offer some helpful advice. 

Anna was about to stand with her, but Aria halted her. 

“What?”

“It would be better if I went alone.”

Anna clicked her tongue.

It was true, but that didn’t make her feel any less left out!

“Fine, fine, leave me to rot!”

Aria nodded and then left without saying anything more. Despite her words and actions, Anna knew it must be affecting Aria more than she let on.

Well, she had to come up with a plan just in case there wasn’t anything Alisha could do. 

She’d bring a Sigil back regardless. What would Aria do, throw it away? There would most likely be a time when she had little choice, a time that was fast approaching.

Plus, wasn’t it the same as just accepting the free first Sigil? An even bigger slap to the face for Aria’s opposition would be to get the Apex Sigil from the expedition!

Anna giggled at her plot.