02小说网

Draft 12（第5页）

Arashididnotgettoenjoyavictorycelebration。Asthedollseeminglyhitherlightlyonherchest，withsuchrelaxingmovementsthatonemightevenwonderifitwasactuallyiional，Arashiflewbackwardthroughtheair。Heraurahadprotectedhersuffitlythattheblowdidnotincurbrokenribbones，butsheheardcragnoisefromalloverherribcageduetostressfractures。

Herlungspletelycollapseduponimpact，andbloodwasfillingthemicroscopicairsacs[alveoli]。Lyingonherback，Arashitriedherbesttocough，lestshesuffocatefromdrowninginherownblood。

Atlast，shemaopushwithherabdomenwithenoughforcetospewoutthebloodwithaviolenthagcough。Arashigaspedandgasped，herarmsandhandsshaking。

Slowly，thetasteofsiingsweetnessandrustsubsidedinhermouth，andsuppherupperbodywithherarms，Arashisatup。

Shegraspedherswordwithherrighthand，andstuckitstipintotheground。Leaningonhersword，Arashimaoliftherheadup。

Gatheringupthelastofherstrength，Arashispokeloudlywithcleardetermination。

“YhnessdotomewhateverYhnesswoulddesire，butIaskYhorefrainfringharmtoKageyama。Ialoneamresponsibleforallmyas。”

“YouhadneverbeenapartofmyreasoningingKageyama。”NightwindcarriedYukari’sreplytoArashifromthetopofthemountain。“Ihavenoiinyousihebeginning。Depart，andliveyourlife。Growuptobehonorablewithstrengthandvalor。”

AlltheguardsandattendantswithdrewintothedarkfoldofthenightasArashilayontheground。

Everysooftenanowlhowled，sometimesalonecryofacrow，andallofasuddenArashistartedtocry。Sheyelledandwailed。Shedidn’tneedmercyfromherenemy。Shedidn’tityfromHimeyama。

Arashicouldn’tacceptthefactthatherswordandYukari’smagicexistedondifferentplanes。

Bydaybreak，Arashistoodup。Hereyesunfocused，herhandsweak，herswordalmosttougtheground，Arashislowlywalkedoutofsight。

Aweeklater，Arashimaomakeherwayback，andarrivedatthetownnearKageyama，abouttwentyminutesawayfromtheacademybywalking。

Shehadtopaycarriagedriversforhertransportatiooherextensiveinjuries，andshehadtomakeashorttriponeachday，asshewasuobearthestressonherbodyfromlonghoursontheroad。

Everym，Arashihadteforashortcarriageridetotheown，proceedingtospeimerecfromthebriefjourney。Muchofhersavingsdisappearedalongtheway。

Treatmentandpotionsforrestherlungsdevouredtherestofhersavings。Arashionlyhadenoughslefttostayinanunwaticofaguesthouseforonemonth。Shehadtowashdishes，hanguplaundry，andsweepthefloorinexgeforfood。

Shewasunsureofwhatcareertopursue。Arashididn’thavethepeaindtopohequestioher，forverysoonafter，thefirstsnowfelloown。Thedayofthewintersolsticewasquicklyapproag。

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YukarididnotfeelthatitwasinanywaynecessaryforhertosendremioKageyama，asshehadmadeherdemandsclearlyandpreciselyinthedeliverednotieitherdidshetroubleherselftoandoneofherstafftoinformKageyamaontheiinvolvingArashi，sinceArashistatedfirmlythatshehadremovedherselfiiontoherpreviousacademy，andwasnolongeraffiliated。

Himeyamastressedtheutmostimportanceofproperbehaviour，andspreadingrumorswasdeemedundighusallguardsandattendantsrefrainedfromengaginginpassinggossipregardingtheduel。Asaresult，Kageyamawasnotnotifiedbyanypartyonthesequenceofeventsthatoccurredthatnight，noroftheresult。

Thus，onthedayofwintersolstice，ittookeveryoKageyamabysurprisewhentheFiveappearedatthefootofthemountain。Allstudentsandservicestaffwereimmediatelytoldtostayinthecafeteriaandnottobeinvolved，soastobeoutofalldangers’way，whiletheteagstaffquicklyformedlinesofdefenseincasetheFiveplaoeheacademybyforce。Thecellorspeedilyadornedherselfwithfullregaliameantforherposition，adownthemountainpathtomeettheFivefromHimeyama。

“Yhness。IregrettoreportthatArashiisnotoncampus，andsheisnolongerinaffiliationwiththisacademy。”Thecellorspokewithpolitenessandrespect。

“Iorderedceaseofoperationandfullsurrender。NotasinglewordwasmadedemandingKagayamatopresentArashitome。”Yukariexamihelinesofinstructorsindefenseformation。“IhavemademypreseKageyamaonthedaypreviouslyannounced。Youhavefailedtoofferunditionalsurrenderuponmyarrival。”Yukaripausedforamoment，thentiopronounceherverdict，“Ryō，youmayndeathtoanyone。”

AtYukari’swords，Ryōwaselectridsmiledinanticipation，“AtYhness’sand。”Shedashedtowardthecellorwithalarmingspeed。

Thecellorcastdefensivespellstoshieldherfromimpendingattack，butRyōhadalreadysummonedviobreakforthfromunderh，Themediatelyformedamatrixoneachhandtopushherselfupintoairtoavoidthevines，whichaunfortunatelyremovedherfromherrefugebehindthemagicshields，andrippingthroughair，Ryō’swhiparrivedatthatexaent。

Thecellorsubsciouslyliftedherhandstoprotectherhead，butthewhip，whichhadtinysharpteethfixedontheleatherusingpowerfulalchemy，cutdeepwoundsintotheflesh。

ThemomentRyō’swhipcameintotactwithblood，itscoatingstartedtoreact。cellor’shandswerecorrodedinseds，andshewasnolongerabletoelmagictheretocastmorespells。

Ryōaheviobindthecellorandtookherprisoner。Spikesonthevineferventlydugthemselvesintothecellor’sflesh，aedonhermagicwithravenousappetite。

RyōlookedattheinstructorsfromKageyama，whostoodastohrowaway，andcasuallygaveaentonheropinionofthecellor:“inexperienovice”。

SeeingthatHimeyamaexpressednoiiontoengageiiation，teachersatKageyamaquicklyfellinpositionandassembledthemselvesintounitsoffive，withtwoswordsmen，onealchemist，andtwospell-castersineach。

Swordsmeninthefrontwoulddeliverattacks，whilethespell-castersatthebackcouldprovideleassaultsandprotespellsiivesafety，withthealchemistreadytoprovidepotions，poisons，andantidotesasnecessary。

YukariglaYayoi。Yayoiuoodtheorderandtookabow。

Ryōchargedatthefirstunitwitharadiantsmile。Sheshiftedfasterthaneyescouldsee，andstartedtoappearatvariouslociwithouttinuity。ThemagicattackswererendereduselessastheinstructorshadgreatdifficultylogRyō’sposition。Thefrustrationonlylastedlessthantwoseds，however，asRyōmaterializedherattackattheflankoftheunit。Aspellmorphedintoarapidlyspinningwheelofrazors，whichglowedominouslyinfaintpink，andbehindthesharpbladesposedofmagicelements，wasablastofpureelementalstorm。

TheAlchemist，beingthemostvulnerable，lostsciousnessuponimpact，andtherestwereunpreparedtoadequatelyprotectthemselvesfromadireued。

paredtotheFive，whohadearheirprestigebyfightingtlessbattles，theinstructorswerethhlylaginbattlefieldexperience。Whatseemedeffectiveontrainingfieldsfailedtodeliverpromiseddamagetotheoppo。

Twomorestraightforwardattackslater，theswordswerebroken，andthespellcasterswerebeingstrangledbyRyō’swhipand。Ryōcastspellstotieuphernewlycapturedprisoner，andfoundthatthewholeroundhadtakenonlyhalfaminute。