-"A man with eyes of gold, ruby red hair, and ivory wings..."

✣Adela✣

Lei staggered back as he blocked Ayawamat's punches. A red aura covered the bug mage's fists.

"So he learned fighting magic," Koukyuu said as she watched Ayawamat's continued onslaught against Lei.

Akito also wasn't doing so well. Seron had frozen both of his arms and one of his legs.

Lei's partner closed one eye as his dragon, Dracoeon, desperately tried to protect him. Dracoeon winced as its own body became encased in ice by the chilly breath of his opponent.

"Master, it is done," Seron's dragon said, bowing.

Seron patted his hat-shaped head. "Nice job." The kid formed two icy blades and charged at them.

"No, you don't!" Lightning destroyed the ice blades while a gust sent the kid flying into the barrier.

"You coward," Ayawamat taunted as he slowly approached the two. "Hurting a child? Who knew that you had it in you."

Lei narrowed his turquoise eyes. He twirled his butterfly swords and charged at him. "At least I protect my partner! You can't even do that!"

Akito stood up and flew into the air using a strong gust of wind. "Lei, let's do a combination attack!"

Lei grinned. "Good idea, those tend to help the hero defeat the bad guy."

Ayawamat shook his head and sighed. "Stupid children. This isn't a freaking anime." His long dark blue hair grew longer and attacked us.

"What is this?" Akito said as hair latched onto his arms. "Hair magic?"

"It's Silk!" Lei said. He slashed the silk with razor wind but it was to no avail. It couldn't be cut!

Ayawamat looked at Lei in disgust. "Tsk. You won't ever learn... You can't defeat me, loser." He dashed and knee-kicked Lei in the gut, sending him flying into the other corner of the barrier.

Blood rolled down Lei's mouth as he tried to push himself off of the ground. His arms, one of them looked limp compared to the other... Ayawamat had damaged one of them during his earlier barrage.

Akito stood still as Ayawamat passed him. "I don't like to hurt children..." He turned around and kicked the air. "Huh?" The kid had vanished.

"Over here," called out a voice... an adult's voice.

In the ceiling stood a golden-eyed Akito. His ki had shot up several levels for no apparent reason.

"Who is this boy?" I asked, eyes wide.

"A nobody," Korgermu responded. "Or so we thought. The child is simply a friend of my son. As far as I know, he isn't even of noble lineage."

"You got to choose... if you choose right then I can end this war for you," a voice echoed in my head.

I gasped as Akito slashed Ayawamat like a beast. The child was jumping around on all fours. His blue hair was pointed back like a wolf's.

"Adela, you alright? Are you having a vision?" Nyima asked. Her gaze returned to the battle in front of them. "Though there's no fire."

I grasped my head. "Angel wings...golden eyes...dragon powers."

Nyima gulped. "What does that mean?"

"You stupid brat!" Ayawamat yelled as he kicked Akito toward the glass wall around the ring.

"Gotcha," Lei said, grabbing him with his good arm.

The boy turned. His golden eyes seemed to peer directly into Lei's soul. "I can handle this by myself. So, stand back."

Lei shook his head. "Ayawamat is my rival. I can't have a child like you defeat him."

Akito chuckled. "Your rival? My, you've fallen... I remember when I used to be your rival."

Lei's eyes widened. "You aren't Akito..."

The boy laughed maniacally. "Correct... though you aren't the one I'm talking to."

Lei growled. "I don't get you." He let go of the kid and blocked one of Ayawamat's punches with his good arm. He winced but didn't let it stop him from delivering a kick to his rival's stomach. "Though you should never let your guard down around this guy."

Akito smirked as the wind danced around him.

I stood up. The boy's ki levels... They were fluctuating too much. "Stop!" I screamed.

The boy turned his eyes toward me. Looking at them directly made my head ache.

Akito seemed to have the same reaction to mine as he let out a weak grunt and fell to the floor.

Ayawamat grinned. "I don't know where all that energy came from but it's gone now!" Purple bees with yellow stripes emerged from his cloak and stung Lei on the back.

Lei closed his eyes as the sleeping properties of the species of bee used took hold.

"The winner is Ayawamat," Koukyuu announced.

"We're too late," lamented Ryuusei as he returned with Iah.

"I found him," Iah said, tapping Ryuusei's head.

"Ryuusei," Takara said, returning. "I thought that you went to your room."

Ryuusei shook his head. "I went to train. Now, if you excuse me." He ran into the ring and walked over to Akito. "Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Ayawamat said, walking away. He suddenly stopped and whispered something to the boy before jumping off of the platform.

Ryuusei glanced at Akito and smiled slightly. He grabbed Akito and wrapped his arm around his waist. "This isn't the place to sleep, Aki." He glanced over at Lei. "Same goes for you."

"I'll handle this one," Iah said, grabbing Lei.

"Only one more match left," Korgermu stated, glancing over at the red-haired girl and me.

Koukyuu nodded. "Natsuki versus Adela."

Natsuki and I stood up.

"We know how this will end," Natsuki said timidly as we walked toward the ring.

I nodded even as I was paying attention to the unconscious Lei.

"Don't worry. He'll get over this loss," Iah said, smiling at me.

"Ayawamat... he didn't care for his partner at all." Lying unconscious at the edge of the barrier was Seron. I curled my hands into fists. "The guy is no better than those we fought months back."

Iah sighed. "Don't let him get under your skin too."

"What's wrong with you?" Nyima questioned, walking over to Ayawamat. She had grabbed him by the arm. "Take care of your partner. Even if you don't care, do it for the test."

He narrowed his light-blue eyes at her. "Let me go."

Nyima's eyes widened as Seron's hands twitched. "Oh, good. He's waking up."

Our insufferable teammate sighed. "No duh." Several purple ethereal butterflies emerged from Seron and returned to Ayawamat.

"You healed him?"

He gave Nyima a sly grin. "Don't jump to conclusions."

"That guy..." Iah said, glaring at him.

"It's fine," Nyima stated, turning away from Ayawamat. She held out a hand toward Seron. "How are you feeling?"

Seron smiled, taking her hand. "I've been better."

Nyima smiled. "That's good!"

The kid glanced at the unconscious Akito as Ryuusei brought him to one of the benches. "He sure was strong."

"Yeah. Wonder where all that power came from."

"Same here," I whispered. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

"Good luck, Natsuki," Seron said.

"Thanks," Natsuki said, keeping her eyes down.

Once everyone was gone, Natsuki and I began our battle.

"Fire Barrage!" Natsuki yelled, pointing her arm at me.

Natsuki's dragon launched fireballs.

I averted my eyes and ducked. 'I'll end this as fast as Iah did.'

Maneuvering leaves past the flames, I wrapped Natsuki with sleep-inducing foliage.

"Learning this spell came in handy," I whispered to myself as I caught the girl.

"Solar Flare!" her dragon yelled.

I shielded myself by bending the flames around me. I formed multiple metal swords and threw them telepathically at her.

She dodged the swords and sent out more flames. I gasped in horror. I could not turn away on time.

I closed my eyes and fell to the floor. The image of the boy with the red hair and golden eyes returned.

'Just... who is this guy? Why does he keep appearing in my head?'

"Are you alright?" asked the dragon as she tapped my shoulder.

I took a deep breath. "I'll be fine." I stood up. "Let's continue." I grab the dragon by the crest on its head and slam it into the ground. "Sorry..."

The dragon's tail grabbed my arm and threw me toward the glass wall.

I maneuvered myself so that my feet hit the wall. I kicked the glass wall, propelling myself toward it. I raised multiple vines around the dragon and covered her in the same sleep-inducing foliage I had used on her own partner.

"The winners are the Xelerian teens," Koukyuu announced.

I staggered back and fell to the ground.

"Adela," a voice called out... I glance up and see two hands held out toward me. Much to my shock, they were Akito and Lei.

I grabbed both their hands. "Thanks, you two."

"No need to thank me," Akito said, smiling at us. "Lei, is she your girlfriend? She's really pretty!"

Lei's face flushed. He waved his hand frantically while shaking his head. "N...no. Why does everyone think that?"

"You seem very close," Natsuki said, opening her eyes.

"We are childhood friends. Though we met when we were older than you are now."

"How did you two meet?" asked Akito.

Lei smiled. "I'll tell you about it, but first let's get some rest."

"I want to see more of the world outside," Nyima said, fidgeting.

"I can show you around!" Ryomi suggested, jumping up and down.

"I promised Ryuusei to train him," Iah responded. "So, go on ahead without me."

Nyima punched his shoulder playfully. "You would make a pretty good father."

Iah blushed. "Why do you say that?"

She snickered. "I've seen how you are around kids. Their eyes brighten up and so do yours. Your cousin looks up to you too."

He gave her a flirty grin. "Well, do you wish to be the mother of my future kids one day?"

She looked away. "No."

He burst into laughter. "Still a tsundere, I see."

She grumbled. "I'm not being a tsundere."

"Be careful, kid," Ayawamat said, turning toward Ryuusei. "You might become a player if you hang out around this guy too much."

Iah snickered. "You're just bitter because no girl will turn to look at you. Hmm, you don't seem to pay any girls attention... are you into gu..."

"I'm not," Ayawamat retorted, rolling his eyes. "I just don't need a girlfriend in my life right now. Once I'm Magus Maximus, I'll be able to make a harem for myself if I so desire."

Nyima glared at him. "Even if you have a lot of power, I doubt that many girls would want to remain by your side. You aren't exactly... charismatic."

He shot her a dirty look. "I'm out of here. We're just going around in circles."

"Let's get going," I called out from the hallway, "or we'll leave you alone."

"I think that I'll stay here," Ayawamat responded, walking away.

Lei stuck out his tongue at him. "Go ahead! You'll do us a favor!"

**Solar Note: What did you think of Akito's surge in power and Adela's visions? Did you enjoy the ending? I get that it became a bit filler-like toward the ending xD**