Ch 1.49: Choice

Ch 1.49: Choice

Elaina started running as soon as Prisma’s rapier had broken. She wasn’t sure what was worse for Prisma, that she was manaless or weaponless, but the fact that Elaina was both of those things on top of it surely wasn’t going to help matters, so she had to fix that. Prisma was purely on the back foot now, still technically armed with the shortened, broken off portion of her sword, but the man in front of her was pressing in, increased speed and strength barely being kept at bay by Prisma’s footwork and skill.

In that she was superior, at least. Even Elaina could tell that Prisma must’ve had intense training with short blades to be able to still hold her own against the being in front of her, a being with overwhelming agility and power.

And that was their last saving grace. The Red Order member fighting with Prisma was as fast as Elaina was, as strong as her too probably, but that’s all he was. He wasn’t nearly the level of Myriala, and Prisma had already proven she could beat Elaina and Carline both, so against this person she at least had a chance.

Prisma spun around her opponent’s arm, grabbing it with her free and pushing it aside as she twirled around him and jammed her broken sword into the man’s neck.

Elaina almost screamed in joy, almost thought Prisma had won before she saw the girl dart back away, still defensive in her stance as the man howled out and charged after her, barely a trickle of blood flowing from his neck. His aspect, shit! She didn’t know what it was, but of course he would have one, and it was keeping him from being grievously wounded.

Elaina finally reached her target though. Not Prisma, not the Red Order Commander, but Waine. He was still now, no visible signs of breathing, but Elaina didn’t have time to worry about that. She grabbed his sword from the ground, the sword he’d managed to somehow keep hold of despite being run through and tossed about earlier. Thanks for that, at least. She’d made a promise to him, one she intended to keep. She charged forward, coming up from behind Prisma, their foe’s eyes squinting in anger as she did.

“Prisma, I’ve got your back!” Prisma circled her opponent, on the other side of him in nearly an instant, pincering him between the two girls.

He leapt away from Prisma, launching himself towards Elaina and leaving the more skilled swordswoman behind. Shit! Elaina thought as she skidded to a halt, raising her blade up in a haphazard attempt at a guard, trying to deflect the incoming dagger. He spun around though, extending his free hand and grabbing Elaina’s rapier with it, pushing it aside as he continued his spin, wrist-blade plunging right towards Elaina’s neck.

He stopped. Elaina stood there for just a moment before jumping back and yanking her blade out of the man’s hand, azure blood dripping from both flesh and steel alike. She saw it out the corner of her eye, Waine, still lying on the ground, hand outstretched, holding back the blow that would have ended Elaina. Fuck, that’s twice.

This was no time for score calculating though. Elaina stabbed towards the Red Order member, but he swatted her attack away with his wrist-dagger before winding up to strike again. He stopped once more though, this time before even making the attack at all. Waine’s not strong enough to freeze him entirely, but he can stop his attacks at least. That was more than enough though, especially with Prisma now coming up behind him too. Elaina had thought it would be more than enough at least, right up until she was kicked in the stomach, sent flying through the air as nausea overtook her.

She crashed into the wet ground. Waine was only blocking attacks made with the stiletto, apparently. Groaning, Elaina pushed herself up, hands frantically gripping for her blade, but she couldn’t find it. Lost it when I was falling. In the dark night, mud everywhere, she’d be lucky to find it even without a time crunch. That didn’t matter though; she still had to fight.

Elaina looked back towards the castle, towards the fighting still going on by the school’s north entrance. It was dying down, most of the creatures having been slain either their or by Elaina’s trio of students, but there were a handful left. They’d need to move carefully around it to get Waine back to the castle. It wouldn’t be a problem, but it would take too much time.

“Prisma, I need you right now... Can I trust you?”

She hated asking, didn’t even know why she was. She could trust her, right? Prisma looked back, confusion mixing with the pain on her face. “Elaina, I don’t know what you’re saying... I have to help Waine. He’s—” She shook her head, pursing her lips. “Don’t make me choose between you two, not again...”

Elaina let go of the System, feeling the orb drop back into her bag as she felt her heart drop into her stomach. Right. I trusted her before, and I know how she chose then. “Fine. I’m leaving, Prisma.” The words were heavy, almost impossible to spit out. She went back to grab her skirt, examining it before throwing it back to the ground. Damn clasp’s melted off. She didn’t care about that right now anyway.

Something grabbed the strap of her shoulder bag, halting Elaina as she tried to walk off. “Please don’t go,” Prisma said, voice quavering. “I choose you, okay! Help me find Waine’s sword, and I’ll come with you!”

Elaina was elated at the words, at the thought of everything that she’d just been offered. Prisma by her side, with a class if the System thought they were party compatible? They’d be unstoppable; even Myriala wouldn’t stand a chance against the two of them. Waine wouldn’t last, she knew, still might not make it even if they got him back to the castle, but at least he’d be out of the way from now on, right?

Wait. What did she just think? The lump in Elaina’s stomach grew as she mulled over the terrible thought. He’d saved her life twice over, and here she was rejoicing over the thought of him dying? Gods, I’m a fucking monster, aren’t I? Even he didn’t deserve that.

She pulled her bag loose and turned back, seeing Prisma’s usually beautiful face contorted into a sobbing mess. I’m doing this to her. “Prisma, take Waine back.” A sentence even harder to manage than the words before.

“No!” Prisma lurched forward, grabbing Elaina’s arms. “I can’t just— I’ll come with you! We’ll come back for him later, and—”

“Stop,” Elaina said, jerking back. No matter how much she wanted it, no matter how much she needed it, she couldn’t accept Prisma’s help if it meant leaving Waine to die, not after she’d just had that horrible thought. “You’re right; he needs help. I know he’s... important to you. I’m not going to make you choose between us.” He would do that, but I won’t. “I can take care of myself.”

She bolted, sprinting off towards the forest as she tried to ignore the pang in her heart that had returned, the same pang from earlier in the day, somehow even worse than before for some reason. Gods, I’m doing the right thing, so why does it hurt so much? Prisma shouted her name, pleaded for her to stop, but Elaina just kept running, Prisma’s voice going faint, and then eventually silent, as Elaina disappeared into the trees.