10 Chapter 10 - Target Practice (1/2)

The next morning was strange, at least to me. There hadn't been a single time that I didn't enter the 'Rift' when Alice opened the portal. Instead, I could only say goodbye with the others that were staying and tell them to be safe. The Fuban Tundra wasn't filled with dangerous creatures, but the sub-zero temperatures were just as deadly as anything they might find. I was sure they would be fine, but that didn't stop me from worrying about them.

We all watched the portal closed then started to separate. Kiara went straight to the garden as expected while Ella and Sophia both walked back into the manor. To my surprise, Alice and Katye followed me into the training field and over to one of the sparring rings.

”Hey, want to be target practice?” Alice asked.

”What kind of a question is that?” I demand.

”It's not for me, it's for Katye.”

”That really doesn't change much,” I said.

”Come on, I'm pretty sure you'll be fine.”

”Pretty sure?!?”

”Her excess mana didn't hurt you, right? It should be the same.”

”You're not inspiring confidence, Alice,” I sighed.

”When have I steered you wrong, Becca?”

”Many times! Just last week when you dropped Gus and me into a goblin mine without warning for starters!”

”Shut up and get in the ring,” Alice said in a commanding tone.

I sighed and crumbled as I saw Katye's embarrassed face. ”Fine,” I said as I dragged myself to the far end of the ring.

Katye took a few steps in and a dome of silvery light enclosed around the ring. It was one of the protection spells that I had seen when Lesedi sparred against the golem, but then another one of gold appeared on the outside of the silver one.

”What's going on, Alice?” I yelled.

”Just a precaution, just a precaution,” Alice said as yet another dome appeared, this one black in color.

”I'll try to make this light,” Katye said as she raised a hand.

I took in a deep breath and gritted my teeth. A bolt of violet lightning, as thick as her arm, shot out of her outstretched hand and hit me square in the chest. The impact knocked me off my feet and, despite the small amount of smoke from my charred shirt, there was no pain, quite the opposite, in fact. The energy clung to me as it slowly spread out through my body, revitalizing all of my muscles.

”Oh, god! Are you okay?” Katye asked as she ran over.

”Yeah, I'm fine, it actually didn't hurt,” I said, sitting up.

Despite me saying I was fine, she was closely examining the hole in my shirt, just high enough that my chest wasn't revealed. The problem I was having was her hands were on my arms as she held me still which just channeled more of her mana into my body. It made me feel giddy and flustered, but in a more physical sense than I had ever felt before. I wiggled out her grasp and stood up quickly, trying to escape the sensation.

”I'm fine, Katye, really,” I said.

”Looks like I was right,” Alice said as she dismissed the formations.

”Yeah, I'm fine,” I repeated, yet again.

”Not that,” Alice said, waving her hand, ”your body absorbed the chaos energy, even what was left behind in the ambient air that the spell traveled through.” She gasped as an idea struck her and she exclaimed, ”It finally makes sense why you are a Chaos Dragon, you neutralize the chaos radiation of Katye's bloodline. Not only that, but you could actually start purifying some of the chaos regions!” She started to turn to leave, but stopped quickly and added, ”Help Katye burn off her excess mana since Melissa won't be around to put a barrier on Raz tonight. If you keep casting until you collapse, you should be fine until they get back, Katye.”

Alice walked off without another word, leaving me confused as a strange sense of dread crept over me. Alice mentioning Raz just sealed my feat for the day as the whole house already understood Katye would do anything for that little dog. I peeked over my shoulder and found Katye staring at me with a strange look.

”I'm sorry, Becca, but you said it didn't hurt...” Katye's voice trailed off as she raised a hand again.

I didn't mean have the time to mentally swear before another violet bolt of lightning flying out and pegged me once again in the chest. I managed to take the hit with only a few steps back, instead of falling over like before. The moment she raised a hand again, I followed my instincts and jumped to the side. I thought I had managed to dodge the attack, but bolt curved and, although it didn't me square in the chest again, it grazed my shoulder. Once again, the same energy entered my body and there was no way to deny that it was stirring my bloodline as scales began to sprout out over my shoulder.

”Damnit, give me a second,” I complained. When she lowered her hand, I gave a sigh then casted my sandstorm spell and transformed.

I pulled out a special set of clothes Sophia had made for me and changed into them. Since my scales were stronger than most of the armors Lesedi could make, Sophia made me these clothes which could use my mana to repair themselves. It was a simple cut, red tank top and a black pair of knee-length shorts, both with golden flame embroidered along the bottoms of each piece. I released my spell and gave her a nod, but Katye stared at me in surprise.

”Your magic is messing with my ability to suppress my bloodline and I would rather not destroy my clothes completely,” I explained.

”Oh, I'm sorry... It's just...”

”It's fine, Katye, I just wasn't ready before.”

Katye giggled and looked away as she rocked on her toes. ”Sorry,” she said quitely.