The Arks

Dust envelopes the area, making vision unclear for Bryan. Ysabeau's crash made the area vibrate, nearly knocking Raiyen's balance off as he tried facing one of Z's Kunais.

"That wasn't you, right?" asked Raiyen, finding his balance once more.

"Oi! I'm not that huge!" scolded the Galaxian Mage.

"I mean, you are quite big."

"I swear if you say that one more time, I'll rip out your Element out of your body. Got that, Time Boy?"

"I'd like to see you try, Z," taunted Raiyen as he Glitched through the air once more.

"Ah well, I know one thing's for sure. Mavislin is getting angry," mumbled Z as he dodged Raiyen's Flashbang.

Ysabeau jumped straight out from the dust cloud and back into the air. With one flap of her blue wings, the dust cloud cleared. She cracked her neck, a sickening sound to any human ears. Her eyes were darkened as she glared at the duo below.

"Well, you truly shocked me again, Mavislin. But how will you fare with this oncoming attack?" asked Ysabeau, drawing her bow once more.

"Sapphire Water Cyclone," called out Ysabeau as she released a flurry of arrows towards Mavislin.

"Tidal Wave Rush!" shouted Ysabeau, changing the target of the arrows to be aimed at Bryan instead.

Mavislin had to use her entire body to block the attack since she didn't have time to react with a spell. Bryan had his eyes closed but was shocked to find a bloodied and wounded Valkyrie in front of him, with her hands holding onto her shield.

Lord Atlantia was in bad shape, so Mavislin had faced off the attack with most of her wings and body. Bryan could not believe it. He had always thought that Mages would never defend humans, seeing that two beings histories were laced with despair.

Now, he had seen a Mage sacrificing herself to defend him, in his very eyes. They had barely met as well, compared to the years that she spent with the other Mages. Yet, she still threw herself in harms' way.

Bryan caught the Valkyrie just in time before she hit the ground. He cradled her, with tears welling up in his eyes.

"But why? Why would you protect sc.u.m like me?" asked Bryan, gripping onto her, tightly.

"Don't say that. You are my Slayer. Calling yourself a sc.u.m would mean that I'm rubbish too," said Mavislin, with a smile.

"Besides, you remind me of how Ashley used to be. And he made me proud the moment he stood his ground. Your help was not in vain," continued the Valkyrie.

"I don't understand, why would put yourself into that attack when you knew you could attack her from another side?"

"That could work but it would mean that you have to get hurt. I won't allow a duel to involve unnecessary wounds."

"Then let me get hurt! I am your worker, your soldier! I am your Slayer, right? I have to learn how to counter it!"

"Stultus! (Stupid) Countering a Bahamut with a human's reaction speed is a laughing stock. If I couldn't react, what makes you think you can?!"

"You're right, I am just weaker than all of you..."

"Silentio, parvulus! (Silence, child!)" roared the weakened Valkyrie in anger.

Bryan looked dazed and scared the moment Mavislin scolded him. Seeing that her young one is scared, Mavislin's face softened as she strained her neck to headbutt the boy slightly.

"Listen. You are nowhere near as powerful as us. And you don't have to be. During the fight with Benjamin, you've proved yourself as a commandeer of the constellations. You are not a discount Z. You are you. This is who you are. Embrace it!"

Bryan's eyes widened as he recalled someone else voice within those last words.

"You may endure hardsh.i.p.s, faced enemies stronger than before. But none of that matters, for the true enemy is yourself! The only thing giving you those thoughts is your self-doubt. Erase it and set your mind and heart free from doubts."

"You've got one thing, right? So master that one thing. Don't ponder on what you lack. Ponder on what you have and use it to your full advantage. This is how my PIllars work! Each and everyone is born different but are strong because they master their niche!"

Bryan felt that way ever since he never became the Five Kings. Minwoo did not see his strength in leading kingdoms. But then, Bryan realised where he should be in the field. No, he shouldn't need to know where would be stationed at.

He had to stop thinking about the picture now and think about his own strengths. Turn the tide of this face-off, like how those waves changed the outcome of the battle. It was his power, his choice.