It's been one month after the incident with the Ixtali student, Beatrice was yet again practising her daily routine and Eris was watching her with Alice at her side.
"Miss Eris I think you should be honest with her" said Alice to Eris while pouring some tea on her cup.
"What should I tell her? "Hey you suck at cantos, learn to mold mana and stop being stubborn so you can go to war"?" Eris said before sipping on her tea
"Oh miss Eris I'm not as dense as her you know…"
Said Alice while pouring some tea on her own cup now
Eris blushed a bit "whatever do you mean by that? I don't understand" she tried to cover her blushing face with her napkin faking cleaning her face.
"I did it!" Before Alice could keep teasing the princess a really excited Beatrice interrupted them from afar "I can't believe it I finally casted a canto" Eris and Alice looked at the dummy which now was missing its head, they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"Wait a minute" Eris was a bit perplexed she was still trying to process what she was seeing "so you're telling me you just shot this guy with water or wind and he lost his head?"
Beatrice just nodded repeatedly expecting praise from her.
"I expect you to not be offended as I call bullshit on that" said Eris, crushing Beatrice's expectations for some praise.
"There's two other dummies with head, I'll blow one of them too then you'll have to praise me and buy me a slice of the most expensive cake you can find on the city"
Beatrice prepared herself getting into her stance
"Alright bet, if you lose you'll buy cake for everyone" Eris was confident on this bet, she has lost every bet she's made but this time it was going to be different
"Alright prepare yourself" Beatrice started her canto keeping her free hand extended "by the books come to me canto 25 wind spear" from her hand a burst of wind was shot taking off the dummy's head.
"I'm never betting on my fucking life" Eris was more annoyed than surprised but a bet is a bet "let's go to the store after classes for that cake" she sighed and just went back to her seat to drink another sip of her tea
"I expected some praise after so much but I guess I'll settle for the cake" Beatrice took a seat too, Alice gave her a small towel so she could wipe off her sweat.
"To be honest I never expected to lose a bet against your magic" said Eris still mad looking through her purse checking how money she had left after so much lost bets
"Another thing I never expected was you making your own cantos"
"Well…" Beatrice stopped to sip on some tea and take a bite of her cake "I tried a lot with the usual cantos but never succeeded with those so I tried to make something simple that could help me remember which canto I was casting"
"A weird way to do so, citing a book to cast sounds a bit weird way to do it"
"Well right now is the only way I can do it maybe I'll make another canto later"
"Or create your own spells"
"Yeah I don't think that's happening anytime soon"
After that they got ready for their classes which as always felt like they went by in a flash, after getting off class Eris and Beatrice were called to the teachers office.
"Miss Eris, miss Beatrice thank you for coming, first of all please don't use too much vulgar language miss Eris"
Eris chuckled a bit
"I'll see what I can do"
The teacher cleared his throat
"Ok for starters, again thank you miss Eris for defeating the mercenary that was causing the murders but…"
"Wait what do you mean but?" Interrupted Eris as soon as she heard that "are you going to fucking tell our parents we were outside late? Because that just fucking…"
The teacher interrupted her before she could continue.
"No, that's not what we wanted to say" as the teacher said that Eris calmed a bit "the thing we wanted to say is we know who the killer is, and that he's still out there"
Eris was in shock after all that guy disappeared in an explosion.
"I'll explain to you"
The teacher told them about the Ixtali mercenary Armando of the false life, one of the few arcane mages in Ixtali.
Armando's speciality was a spell he made apparently this let him transfer his soul and memories to the body of one of his victims, but this spell needs a lot of mana to recast and he needs at least two months to recover and recast it.
"So you're telling me this guy wanted to get killed?"
"That's right, after all don't you think an expert like him would get defeated that easily by a student that has no experience in combat, right?"
Eris and Beatrice nodded, it was too good to be true, someone like that couldn't fall that easily, just two spells and barely any resistance.
"Now that you know more about this guy, I'd like to tell you what we need you to do" the teacher gave them a heavy bag "we need you that you two go to the city, and see if you can spot any of the victims going around the city, usually no one would be on the lookout for people that already died to be walking around, if you know them you just shake that as your memory and head playing some tricks on you"
"wait a second" Beatrice stopped the teacher "but why do you need us to do it? didn't you say that we don't have a chance against him?"
"that could be true if he was fully recovered, but right now he is still weak, even if he tried to manipulate mana right now he wouldn't be able to make a powerful spell, he is at your level right now, and well if a lot of teachers just appeared at the same time in the city he would escape as soon as possible"
"I understand now" Eris now spoke up "but I'd like to ask for more money, we need more number to look less suspicious, so I'd like to take our friend and Beatrice's maid with us"
"By that you mean, Miss Muria and Miss Alice right?"
Eris and Beatrice yet again nodded in unison
"Well" he scratched his chin for a second "I guess since we are asking something so dangerous to junior students I guess a bit of money won't hurt"
With that said the teachers gave them and even bigger money bag and a list of the victims"remember, this guy is still strong, he can use all the elements of their victim besides his usual arcane spells, and he enjoys meat a bit too much so you need to investigate anywhere near that sells anything meat related"
Beatrice took the list and Eris took the money
"Don't worry" Beatrice spoke up this time "we will take care of him, this time he will be detained or killed by us, everything for the glory of Vridyan"
Eris cringed a bit at Beatrice's words but she did share the same feeling at least.
They left the teacher's office to then regroup and tell Muria and Alice about the plan and some hours later, they were already on a carriage on its way to the city, the hours went by too quick and when they least expected it they arrived to the city.
"All right listen you three" Alice lined them up and started to try and give them some advice "It's the first time for you three to be out in the city so be careful, anyone that approaches you, is suspicious, be even more careful if they promise you a good time or to double your money, do you understand?"
Eris and Beatrice were a bit shocked but Muria giggled a bit instead just saying something barely audible.
"Heh a good time"
Even if Alice was warning them the girls were really sleepy after a five hours long trip, everyone retired to their rooms for the night, after all the morning was going to get really busy at least for Eris and Beatrice.
The next morning Beatrice was a bit shaken up, after all her daily routine was disrupted thanks to this trip, Alice was able to calm her down after some time, when Eris and Muria came down to meet them to have breakfast
"So what's the plan?" Eris said before taking a bite of her toast "you know, I don't know about you, but the city is too big even for the four of us"
Beatrice sipped some tea and answered "easy we just go around any place that sells cooked meat or something like that, they said that was the easiest way to find him"
Muria Instantly said "I like that plan, we can eat something good in the meantime, even though I don't know what we are looking for"
Alice just nodded "I'm here just to keep you three safe so I will follow you to wherever you want or need to go"
With that they moved out, the 4 of them treated this more like an outing of four friends, after all, only Beatrice and Eris were aware of the actual plan, even though the director gave them permission to bring Muria and Alice, they only gave them half of the information.
"Look for someone that looks like the people on the list", no reason just that.
After shopping for 3 hours they sat on a fountain at a park, Beatrice and Eris sighed, Alice looked confused and Muria was eating, some skewers, they had different types of meat, but they couldn't tell what kind.
"Muria, you haven't had some sweets today, are you feeling okay?" Alice looked at her a bit confused, after all, she usually would slowly but surely devour all the macaroons at tea time.
Muria stopped for a second and cleaned her mouth "Well, I feel that maybe I should eat more meat, I feel a bit weak sometimes"
Everyone was stunned, even if they barely knew something about her in these months, something was off.
"Alice, can you go and buy this cake for us?" Eris gave Alice a flyer of a well know bakery.
"But, miss Eris" before she could speak up, Eris put a finger over her mouth "Just go, I know it's on the other side of the city, but trust me it will be worth it"
Alice just nodded and retired herself.
"Alright then, Muria, or should I say Armando" when Eris said that, Muria stopped eating, and stood up.
"So, you figured it out" Muria Tried to impale Eris' eye with one of the skewers, but she reacted quickly, and dodged the attack barely. "Quick just as expected"
Beatrice stood up and kicked Muria in the stomach making her flinch and back off.
"I never expected this, when did you kill her?" Beatrice was still shocked but she had to react, and get ready to fight.
"That same night, I poisoned her while I kissed her. she died in her sleep while we were fighting."
Eris tried to rush and attack him, in a fit of rage, but Beatrice stopped her. "Wait, he wants this." She signalled to her hand which had hints of a hidden blade "if you rushed him you would've died in a single strike"
"Blue hair, you have good eyes, I've decided, you will be my next body" even if he said that, he was just standing still, he didn't cast anything or start manipulate mana.
"I don't think that will happen, you are dying tonight and this time you are staying dead" Beatrice unsheathed needle. "you better be ready, Armando of Ixtali"
Beatrice and Eris got into their usual stances, and slowly circled him, Armando now ready clapped his hands and got into his own stance, this time he looked more confident, after all this time he could go all out.
"Not moving again?" Eris smirked "Fireball turn him into ashes" she casted her canto swiftly the fireball flew towards him.
"Weak." He slapped the fireball with the back of his hand, making it disappear instantly. "Sorry but this time I have to be serious or I might die, I can't play with you tonight princess"
He rushed Eris, molding mana on his right hand "take this" even if he yelled nothing happened, that surprised him, making him jump back "Why, why won't it come to me, my cast is not forming, she told me she was a caster of hands"
Beatrice laughed softly "Muria thank you for this".
This made Armando mad "What the hell do you mean you blue haired witch?" he yelled at Beatrice while holding his left wrist.
"Well, she lied to you just to have things in common, she uses cantos after all"
"Wait no, she told me she was a caster of hands, and she was an earth caster"
"Well she uses cantos and I don't remember her affinity, what was it?" Beatrice was obviously just teasing him, at this point she knew they had the upper hand so might as well have fun.
"Well lets finish this, I think I can start to let loose since everyone around finished evacuating"
The silence of the park felt heavy, the fight was about to get heated, after all both parties now have information on how strong their opponents are.
This time Beatrice rushed him trying to pierce him with needle, but he barely dodged her thrusts, moving away just enough while trying to teach his new body how to mold mana as fast as he could.
Beatrice knew that she had to finish this fast, and so she kicked him away to make some space "Time to try this" she started a Canto, while preparing herself to stomp on the ground as hard as she could to start a quick dash "Reference to the blue beast, Blue Flash Canto 1, Thousand cuts" just as she finished casting only a step was heard follow by a blinding flash.
Armando then felt her presence was all over the place, and that's when he felt the first thrust on his left leg, he screamed, the pain was unbearable, but he was still standing, but then he felt more, and more, until he felt almost 500 hundred of them, at this point his body was almost full of holes, barely standing, Beatrice was close to deliver the final blow, but then...
"I'm sorry but this takes too long, now its my turn" Armando Slammed his left hand on the ground making a small quake, around him, Beatrice lost her balance and tripped, bruising her ankle.
"So she can do earth if she wants eh?" Armando finally taught his new body to mold mana "let me borrow some time real quick" both of them looked at him, shocked while he started to massage his body with both hands.
"Wait, no this is impossible, you shouldn't be able to heal without a water affinity" Eris said in disbelief, he just saw a mage of Fire, do earth magic and heal himself, something almost impossible.
"Oh sorry, this isn't water magic, it's my own runic magic, I can seal my cuts or any injuries for a time, but it will be enough time to kill you two."
Beatrice tried to get up, but he kicked her in the face, leaving her unconscious for the fight.
"You bastard, this time you've done it." Eris was extremely angry this time "Blazing bolt" she casted a bolt of fire at him, and he dodged it easily.
"This time, I'm not fucking around princess, you and your girlfriend are dying here" he clapped his hands again and got ready to fight.
"I'm not fucking around either monkey, get ready to ask for mercy."
Armando threw some rock missiles at her, rounded and sharp, Eris got hit by one and barely evading the other, her left arm got cut by the hit.
"Blazing bolts" Eris used another canto this time she shot three bolts at him but Armando caught one of them with his hand and returned it.
"Catch"
Eris reacted thanks to his warning, but if she was even just a fraction of a second slower, her face would've been hit.
"I'm not giving up, you are going to be killed by me tonight. Be scorched by Flames, blazing ray" She shot a burning laser from her mouth, this time she hit him, he was caught by surprise.
"You bitch" Armando kneeled instantly, he received the attack directly to his chest, and now almost all of it was scorched "I hate scorched skin, it hurts like hell"
"It's time to die Armando, I'm your judge, jury and executioner tonight." Eris smiled and started her last Canto "Magma arrow, pierce my enemy" the shot came out but, she didn't hit him, he dodged it, just by a millimetre.
"sorry, princess but I'm not dying tonight" He stood up, his chest now was covered again by his runic magic.
"Oh well, that's not fair"
"I told you, I'm not fucking around" He kicked the ground, some rocks lifted up from the ground and surrounded him "Time to die princess." he threw three rocks at her, all of them landing on her legs and stomach, sending her flying a few meters to then land on the ground.
"I-I can't believe this..." Eris tried to get up. "I can't die here, I still have to help this country" but even if she wanted to, her legs felt really weak.
"You wont be getting up, this spell mixes up a runic enchantment that causes fatigue on hit." He walked up to Eris, slowly. "well we had some fun, now you get to die first" He lifted Eris by her hair, and when he was about to deal the final blow, a voice, a soft voice interrupted.
"Oh my, girls, you shouldn't play rough like this" Alice arrived at the plaza with the cake box in her hands. "it seems something has gone wrong, while I was gone" she put the cake box on the floor and started a silent Canto, out of nowhere, a sword as tall as her was produced "Muria, sorry but I'll have to put you down."
Armando tossed Eris to the side. "Entertain me if you can, maid." he taunted her even throwing some punches to the air.
"Oh excuse me then" she grabbed the handle of the sword with both of her hands and prepared a swing, but didn't swing until she finished her Canto. "Blade of mine, Split them in half, Blue Beast slash"
A flash, in a second he felt a sharp pain, from head to toe, he was split vertically with one slash.
"Why?" Armando said his last words "Why is a maid so strong?".
Alice, giggled softly "Sorry a maid has to be strong to protect their master." then she walked up to Beatrice to check up on her.
"I hope you are not seriously harmed my lady" she cleaned up her face a bit while remembering her training.
"Listen up goldie" Lady Christine was teaching Alice how to become a great swords-woman. "This canto is hard, but with your strength and that sword you can make it easier on your body and voice."
"Alice understands, but how long do I have to practice the Blue Beast Slash?"
Christine tapped her chin lightly "Until you can split in half a rock"
Alice just nodded, after all she was a maid, and if she was asked to bring down the moon for her master she'd do it in a heartbeat.
"It's been almost 10 years, I can't believe the only Canto I know actually saved my lady" she sat her near the fountain, it was half gone now but it was the best place to put her to rest.
"Princess Eris are you OK?" now that she finished looking after her master Alice approached Eris.
"Well I'm still alive" she still had that mocking way of talking to Alice. "don't worry about me, I think all of my bones are intact so I'll get up soon."
Alice dragged the exhausted Eris to the side of Beatrice.
"You can lay with my lady, this is your reward for holding out for so long."
Eris just blushed softly and got herself comfortable. "I'll take you up on that" after saying that, Eris started to cry, the girl she once mocked for being a peasant, and the first peasant friend she ever made, died, her body was burned, and sliced in half, a even more gruesome death than she deserved.
Some hours passed and Beatrice woke "I can't believe we couldn't protect her, she didn't deserve an ending like this" she picked up the cake box, cut up a slice of it and left it besides her body "Is not a macaroon, but I hope you can enjoy this in your next life"
Beatrice cried her lungs out, and with that, the investigation team completed their mission.
A week after the mission.
Beatrice and Eris were sitting at their usual table, Alice was standing besides Beatrice as always.
"It's really quiet" Beatrice sipped her tea. "we should be a bit used to it by now, she wasn't really talkative too, but it feels like something is missing"
Eris sighed "I wish this was just a dream, I still can't believe she's gone"
Alice clapped her hands "Alright you two, mourning shouldn't go for so long"
Both of them looked at her confused
"remember, we are on war times" she put a hand on their shoulders "even if it's a bit cruel to say, we can't mourn too much, imagine how many people die out there and their bodies won't be recovered, yes Muria was younger than the usual casualties, but she at least was given a proper burial, that's something a soldier out there won't get at all, they will be lucky if their name gets carved on a memorial, so you two should smile, she wouldn't be happy to see you like this"
Both of them smiled softly, with unshed tears, they just nod and left a macaroon uneaten.
Some hours later, at class a teacher starts their class with an announcement.
"Alright everyone, sit down, I have some news" everyone grew quiet "So, this month we have a great event, the exhibition tournament for rookies" even if this was some impressive news no one was excited, after all half of the kids here come just to make connections before going to war.
"Well those are the news, everyone in the first year must participate or you will be punished, please keep that in mind, not participating in this tournament means extra years of mandatory service"
With that he dismissed the class so everyone could start their training for the tournament, two weeks of free time.
"Beatrice" Eris shook her by the shoulders "did you hear that, an exhibition tournament, we can finally have a well deserved rematch"
Beatrice sighed "Why do you want that rematch that much?"
Eris tapped her chin lightly "well I've been thinking, when we fought the first time I really underestimated you, and you just swept the floor with me, so I want to see how much I improved."
"well, we could just spar too you know"
Eris shook her head "No, no, you will just go easy on me, you probably won't use your thousand cuts on me"
"Even if it was a serious fight I wouldn't use my thousand cuts, it's meant to kill not to spar."
"Oh come on, I feel like I can survive it"
"Really? I remember you almost cried when I pierced you for the first time" a smug smile appeared on Beatrice face
"I didn't cry, some dust got in my eyes!"
"If you say so"
"Either way, we are entering so might as well get excited"
Eris was right, after all the first years had to enter.
"Well I gues I can use some cantos that I haven't shown that are less fatal, so I can be a bit mean if that's what you want"
Eris smiled softly "so you will fight seriously?"
Beatrice nodded
"OK then, I can't slack, we are both making it to the final and giving everyone a good show so you better not lose"
After that they parted ways, the next time they'll see each other, will be at the tournament.