Freedom Jumper-Chapter 93: Always Conflicted

Conflicted, was Elijah's motions after his mysterious display of power. The truth is that besides magical prowess, he was fundamentally weak. There was no strategy when it came to swinging his sword, and there was no strategy when it came to positioning. Every single attack was created on a whim, or instinct, which is not the worst thing in the world, but what comes with that is a mind that can't learn from his mistakes. Elijah had no idea why Jared's sword strikes felt ten times heavier than his when they were both practically the same size. Elijah had no idea that Jared would take the same option of moving to the side of both their spells for a sudden attack.

Eventually, everything would come to fruition. For now, it is time to continue learning as much as possible. When the time comes to leave for Gion, there will surely be an academy much like the academy in Astraea, which will allow the developing of many necessary skills. Above all else, Elijah's imagination is truly on a different level, something of which he is delighted with.

Jared was being tended to by the healers who came from the wall, while a single healer noticed Elijah's left hand, and began tending to it as best as she could. There were well over four breaks in the many bones of his fingers, which came as a surprise to the healer after softly feeling around his hand.

An untold amount of questions were pointed at Elijah while walking through the hallways. Fellow junior knights, but also refs that had switched as replacements. A thick smog of steam covered everyone's vision, and seconds later, the boy who everyone thought had the advantage was lying on the ground with blood seeping from his nostrils.

The healing process was rather quick, and once released, Elijah made his way to his seat where he was congratulated by his friends, and even Emery.

"I don't know what you did Elijah, but you most likely won from Jared's sword being cut in half." Emery sat back down and received stares of surprise with his words of... congratulations?

Suddenly, a familiar voice made its way into the room. "Elijah! Great job on your victory! Do you mind if I have a quick chat with you?"

Whispers instantly made its way around the room with the sight of the Ice Judge having a conversation with a junior knight, for the second time. "It seems the rumors are true..."

Elijah wished his friends good luck as he might be gone for some time, maybe until tomorrow. Thankfully, the finals is a four day event with the final matches taking place in the morning. One for first place, and one for third place.

A brown pigmented door opened up into a room within the arena that not just housed a round table and chairs, but also three familiar faces that made Elijah realize what this conversation would be about. Landon's black hair was being scratched erratically, meanwhile, Mikhail and Leah were chatting it up with each other. The time was nearing where Elijah not just had to, but wanted to make a decision about his future. The exit strategy through The Catacombs had already been made in his mind, and now the only variables were who was willingly going to go with him.

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After sitting down, Amaris began taking the lead of the conversation while keeping the emotions that floated around the table peppy and high. "Now, we just need a time frame from you, Elijah."

"I know, but there is just one thing that is bugging me."

Before Elijah was able to continue, Amaris stepped in. "Niko is in the underworld being held in what we call a dungeon. A stone box that is constantly being enveloped in mana, which makes any chance of escape for red core mages... a dream. The only way to bring him with us is if we break him out the moment before we escape. We can't keep him hidden in the kingdom because of how overpopulated it is. However, this is assuming they have a reason for his capture besides him breaking the law, again."

"I can't remember if I told you this Amaris, but just recently, about a month ago, I saw bleeding out bodies inside the whirlpool as if they had just been thrown there from the whirlpool. They were being sucked in against the current which made no sense to me now that I think about it. I have a strong suspicion that The Void needs food, and that food is the dead or the living. As for my decision, I want to leave as soon as possible. The emotions of leaving everyone behind are something I don't want to think about anymore, but I also need to take this opportunity to learn within the tournament."

"I understand. We will leave the day after the finale of the tournament. All you need to do is make it to Abel's cave—we will be waiting there with Niko as you are our guide."

"Also, I have one more favor that all of you need to uphold no matter what." Elijah's statement raised the ears of everyone in the room. "I don't care what you have to do, take Novius, Alexia, Theon, Raylen, Emery, Don even if they don't want to go."

"The more the merrier." Amaris said with a smile.

The conversation ended with Elijah giving gracious hugs to Amaris, Landon, Mikhail, and Leah. The streets were far less crowded after hitching a ride in a carriage. The only thing to do now was kill time, and Elijah had wanted to do that within his room. However, there was something very eerie about the entire plan—something Elijah couldn't put his tongue on. What would the plan be when outside the walls? With the amount of people he intends to bring with him, traversing the extreme lands filled with beasts would be slow... How would Elijah and everyone else ingrain themselves with society, a society far more sophisticated than the Kingdom of Astraea. Knowing this world, Elijah was most likely leaving one horror, only to end up in another. Although, nothing is worse than being contained.

With the most important question of why The Void exists unanswered, it leaves Elijah in dismay. Part of him wants to stay longer to figure out the reason—playing the hero. While another knows he was meant to die, and does not want to bother with something he should not care about...

Once again, conflict found everywhere around him, but also within.

...

On top of a simple stone rooftop filled to the brim with a large variety of plants stood Elijah. No matter what he did, his spells were limited to a degree that was limiting his imagination. To Elijah, it seemed like the elements were never meant to be used for combat. For one, the fatal flaw of mana core versus mana core, and the difficult workaround of removing your mana from every spell made everything seem useless when thinking about the possibility of more powers besides his flight ability existing in the world.

The loud stomping noise of Elijah moving his feet in specific patterns while swinging his sword helplessly through the wind was caught by several passerbys on the street below him. Five spells were at his disposal, of which can be slightly manipulated in different ways. Water blade, water ball, water wave, water shield, and riding the waves of water. A limited set of spells that were by no means destruction besides the distraction and submerging capabilities. Ideas began forming in his head after silently sitting down on a wooden bench.