Memories of Old

Chapter 48: Burdens of Magic

Chapter 48: Burdens of Magic

The next loop appeared in a flash of motion and chaos. "Japan, run!" Feliciano shouted, blocking the bladed tail of a Fire Thing. His knees nearly buckled under the power of the strike, and he almost didn't dodge the claw swipe.

"What?! No!" Kiku cried out, running towards the battle. Feliciano shot him a fierce glare that shocked the Japanese man so much that he froze mid-step.

"Please. I can handle this!" Feli ducked a bite, and jumped back before he could get hit by the dangerous tail. "Trust me." He pleaded. Kiku held his side gingerly, and his white uniform had several worrying red spots. Kiku stared at Feliciano for a moment, conflicted.

"... Fine. But if you don't return to the Safe Room in twenty minutes, I'm coming after you." He relented.

"Grazie." Feli sighed in relief as Kiku ran off towards the Safe Room. "Now..." Feli turned his full attention to the Fire Thing. "Let's see what this can really do." He took a deep breath, and focused.

His sword started to glow white, and he swung it with all his might, sending the magic straight at the Thing, cleaving it in two. The Fire Thing vanished, even as the memory dimmed a bit.

Feliciano panted, leaning against the wall for support. Ow... can ya maybe do that a little weaker next time? Yang complained.

"Oh, hush, you." Feli shot back. "I'm sick of your commentary."

Better get used to it, 'cause I'm here to stay. Forever.

Dio, somebody shoot me. Feli sighed, finally having caught his breath. "Magic level down by forty percent... That spell takes far too much energy." He noted.

"Forty?!" England cried out in shock. "I'll say! That's far too much magic for a single attack!"

"Says the guy who used an immobility spell on thirty!" I shot back, annoyed.

"You what?" Oliver shot England a dangerous look.

"Uh..." England gulped, and I decided to save him... just this once.

"Yeah. It was stupid, but I was testing out a method to fight—" I cut myself off as my sensitive ears picked up a faint clicking sound. It sounded almost like an electrical crackling.

"To fight?" Japan prompted me to finish my earlier statement.

"That." I pointed to a Thing that was slowly creeping out from around the corner down the long hallway Feliciano was in.

I had to stop myself from drawing my sword, reminding myself that this was only a memory, and that it wasn't here.

It was tall and lithe, and instead of the light grey color of the normal Things, it was about the same color as a storm cloud, and the bladed tail was held high and proud behind it, though the blade was jagged and chipped, looking almost like a lightning bolt. Its claws were a metallic grey, and its face was elongated slightly, like a cat's. It also, as opposed to the other Things, had ears atop its head, looking like scaly rounded cat ears. Its eyes were black and soulless, and yellow bolts of electricity crackled from the tail and claws. Its footsteps were silent, and it made a crackling sound every few seconds. It opened its mouth with a faint hiss, its long forked tongue dripping saliva on the wooden floor as its ears perked up.

It made another clicking sound, and zeroed in on Feli, who paled rapidly. Fuck.

"That... is one of the most terrifying creatures I've ever seen in my life." England shivered.