15 Awaken (2/2)

'Thank God for Mai! If she didn't react in time, I don't even want to think about what would've happened, though I gotta admit, since when did she begin practicing spells?' Maria placed a hand over her beating heart, feeling it racing underneath her touch. Though she was unable to catch a break once she saw sweat dripping from Mai's forehead as the gorilla golem continued to pound his fist against the barrier.

”I can't... hold on much longer. Run, Maria! I can't hold this thing back any longer!” cried Mai. The sight of her giving nothing but her all just to protect a friend, even going back against her own words from earlier as she told Maria to leave them behind, made Maria feel nothing but admiration. Amongst the fear that was consuming her soul, her admiration for Mai was what kept her standing on her feet.

Maria wasn't going to lie, a part of her indeed wanted to run away, but that part also disgusted her. Yes, she was afraid, downright terrified! How was this supposed to be a training exercise for first-year elementary students?! Maria wanted to shout, recalling how in stories, the author tended to make everything all fun and exciting when faced with danger. Too bad for Maria because at the moment she felt neither of those two emotions.

I don't know what to do!

Neither do I have a plan...

But I do know one thing, and that is...

Clenching her fists tight, Maria narrowed her eyes, braced her feet and set off running in their direction. This action caught both Julian and Mai by surprise as Maria shouted, ”Like I would ever leave a friend behind! Remember, that was your number one rule. Friends always stick together, no matter what!”

Maria blindly continued to charge forward as the magical barrier began to crack and after another attack, it shattered to pieces. The gorilla golem roared and was ready to smash both Mai and Julian into smithereens, but Maria soon reached them and when she did, she stood protectively in front of them with arms stretched out wide.

'All my life, it was only my grandma and I. Never have I had a true friend like the ones in anime that I always dreamed of having. Real friends that you can laugh and talk with, true friends that will never leave you behind, even when things are tough.' ”I may not have known you guys long, but just talking with you, I feel as if I've known you for a lifetime and just for that... I want to protect you!”

Maria was so bent on protecting her friends that she was unaware of the bright red glow of light her left pants' pocket emitted. Not until a small glowing object flew out of her pocket and right in front of her. Maria was surprised once she saw that it was the Ruby jewel she had summoned earlier in class today.

The jewel floated in the air, producing wild flames that lashed out like a whip, hitting the gorilla golem. Soon spiral rings of flames surrounded the ruby which bursted apart, and within the rings of flames, Maria was able to spot a small figure floating in the center. After the flames dispersed, Maria saw that the three-inch chibi figure had bright, fiery red hair, twin tails with buns on top, and large, ruby-colored, fierce eyes. The chibi figure was definitely female, seeing how her wardrobe consisted of a red cheongsam battle-style outfit with bold gold accents.

”The name is Ruby, a Celestial Pixie! You may not look like much, but it was your passionate feelings for your friends that have awoken me. Now, how shall I be in service to you, my master?” questioned the Celestial Pixie, Ruby. Maria, on the other hand, was speechless, eyes glued onto the floating pixie.

'This day just got a whole lot weirder.'