17 Chapter 17 : Spell Creation Zone

Faith could only watch helplessly as she was dragged toward the center, her sight was filled with flames as they covered her.

Yet her skin remained unscathed by the flames, in fact they carefully held Faith at the center. Faith didn't struggle but looked around in interest, as she tried Faith found that she could still move about freely.

What's more is that whenever Faith moved, the flames shifted and moved with her as though reading her thoughts. Her soul shook in resonance as her gaze flashed.

Faith chuckled, " So that's how it is. "

Having understood the nature of these flames, Faith's mind wavered causing a small portion of fire to separate and condense. A short moment later Faith stared at an exact replica of her, aside from her hands, feet, and hair were blazing with dazzling flames there was small difference in appearance.

" I see you're figuring things out quickly, that's good I won't have to hold your hand all the while." A quiet yet raspy voice came echoing from the space behind her.

Faith turned nonchalantly and was shocked to what greeted her, a stumpy creature with paws and face as dark as lacquer. It's back was grey like storm clouds, with stripes of white at its sides.

Tufts of brown fur stuck out from its underbelly, it's paws had nails that resembled daggers. It stared at her angrily, flames raged in its eyes.

In all aspects this creature greatly resembled a honey badger, yet Faith knew better than to assume now that it was a mere creature. With a low grunt it shuffled towards her, walking through the flames as though it belonged there, it's presence merged with the flames as it sat before her.

It stared , " I am Smalls. This place is your Spell Creation Zone, name says it all. You'll be spending a lot of time here, what you come up with will depend on you. However I will decide whether or not you will be ready to use it, reason being if you try something you're not ready to handle you'll die. "

Smalls was very direct in its explanation, but Faith could tell there was a hint of worry in its voice. She remained silent as Smalls didn't pause for long, "This ball of fire we're in currently is the amount of magic you're able to control, don't get too excited because there are others who can wield power like this. Some even greater, however you can match them by training your control over magic, or equipping yourself with combat gear."

"I suggest movement, offensive, and recovery to start out with."

Before the sentence finished Smalls had converted to fire and disappeared amongst the flames, leaving Faith dazed but brimming with excitement. This was her chance to come up with dazzling spells like Annie , so Faith was going to make the most of the time she spent here.

Having formed several ideas already the flames around her trembled and moved to her will, Faith smiled as she got to work her mind racing with ideas.

Meanwhile in a separate Spell Creation Zone, ferocious squalls of wind ravaged above , while raging waves surged and churned below. In the sky a giant green feathered bird flew, a golden crown extended from its head. In the water a colossal bluish-grey leviathan swam , its body stretched endlessly along the water.

With a screech from the bird, the ferocious winds grew more intense, a flap of its wings shot endless squalls of razor sharp wind down on the leviathan. However the second before contact the squalls rolled away from their target into the water. Enraged the leviathan roared, causing the water to tremble. Countless spouts of water erupted from the surface, and flew towards the bird as the leviathan sunk beneath the water and disappeared from view.

The bird was angered because it wanted to give chase but had to evade the spouts of water, however some manged to find their mark but just like its squalls the water rolled away. As they did so they collided with one another soon creating an array of water spouts that further impeded the bird, it squawked angrily firing random streams of wind into the water below. In the distance away from the battle that took place,Annie was hovering in the air with a curious look in her eye. Hovering beside her ear was a small green wasp, its wings made no sound as it landed on her ear lobe.

At her ankle was a small blue shrimp with one claw way bigger than the other, with a small wiggle of its tail it rested comfortably in her sock. Annie didn't seem to mind the two animals crawling on her, watching the giant green bird flying in the distance a resolute look took over her face.

Looking to both the wasp and shrimp she smiled, " Looks like taming the whole sword in one go won't be possible right now, but I can at least start by taming this bird. Je'ir, lets find out whose wind is stronger."

The wasp sprang to life fluttering its wings to take off, with each beat of its wings a windstorm kicked up around Annie, hiding her body in a surging tempest as the shrimp faded from view.

A squeaky excited voice rumbled from the wasp, " I always like fighting things bigger than myself, let's not give it a chance to fight back and go all out from the start!"

Annie nodded, " I agree, a long drawn out fight wouldn't help. Hit it hard and hit it fast. Let's try that new spell out, perfect time don't you think Je'ir?"

The wasp Je'ir hovered silently in the air for a moment before sounding out, " Only because the situation calls for it, half power please. I'd rather not be blown away today, or at all for that matter."

Annie didn't respond as the turbulent winds surrounding her started to become gentle, until it was no more savage than a spring breeze. It swirled and gathered toward her lips as Annie slowly inhaled, her chest slowly expanding as she took in air. Her powers surged as she reached her limit, then suddenly Annie spat out a small marble sized sphere.

Tiny beads of sweat formed at her brows, as she concentrated on the sphere before her. As it spun in the air swirling winds could be seen, inside it felt as though you being sucked towards its center. Annie focused as she flicked the sphere, which vanished on contact as though it didn't exist.

The green bird had calmed from its tantrum and was preparing to ascend into the clouds, when it felt a sense of urgency and dread washed over it. It panicked and looked about furiously trying to find who would dare provoke it, while it was searching it didn't realize its body was being slowly dragged away from the squalls above. Only when it prepared to take off again did it feel a strong pulling force keeping it in place, did it flap harder to resist the pull.

By this time it was a struggle for the bird to even flap, then suddenly the unseen force was gone. The pull on its wings vanished as it flapped for a moment in mid air, getting ready to take off when the unseen force returned with greater magnitude. Suddenly the space around the bird became sealed off by a light green wind, that floated by lazily like clouds but exuded a sense indestructibility . At the center was a small cyclone that twirled casually but generated a strong pulling force, that threatened to completely crush the bird should it be caught up.

Outraged it screeched loudly the feathers covering its back started to glow a dark green light, this light covered the bird as it flew towards the outer layer of clouds. As it's beak pierce the first cloud it came across, the cloud did not give way instead it expanded out toward the bird. Startled by this reaction the bird flapped hard away from the cloud, so hard that it shot itself directly into the cyclone it stayed away from initially. Now caught in the strong pulling force of this seemingly peaceful cyclone, the bird felt an impending sense of doom wash over it.

It released a high pitched squeal as its body was sucked into the cyclone, the tip of its beak started to shine with a soft light. It was different than the powers it displayed before, this was as though it's beak turned into a sword. Sharp and overbearing that could cut through the endless expanses of space.

Annie's eyes sparkled as she watched from outside, "Not what I was expecting for a last attempt, sad it didn't try to attack from the outside."

The sphere shook as the bird thrashed about to no avail, it's beak had no target as it slashed blindly in the air.

Je'ir darted around Annie's head excitedly, " Hurry up and finish it off!"

Annie softly clapped her hands, the sphere trembled and quietly shrank in response. Collapsing upon the bird effortlessly, a deep green light blazed as the sphere returned to the size of a marble.

It floated lazily to Annie's outstretched hand, she watched as the birds body was crushed by the cyclone. It's power being drained and stored within, giving the cyclone the deep green light that shine before.

It's beak broke off with a loud snap, and passed through the clouds of the marble. As it appeared before Annie, she felt as though a sword was aimed at her. One that was incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through space itself.

Annie tossed the marble to Je'ir who caught it gleefully, while Annie grabbed for the beak. It shattered upon contact revealing the outline of the very sword in her lap, the fragments of the beak flew into the outline giving it a physical form.

As her fingers wrapped around the case, Annie felt a tug in her heart and was drawn out of her Spell Creation Zone.