Wizard and Witches: Griffith Academy

Identity

Clara clutched onto Fox’s robe tightly as he carried her on his back. He always protected her. The only person in the whole world she could trust. The fight earlier was unnecessary. The four heirs were just calling her names, not worth fighting about. But when she wanted to run away, Fox appeared. Like her knight in shining armor, he protected her no matter who the enemy was and how challenging the situation was and would always win.

Yet, a fear was gnawing her from the inside. Maybe she didn’t lose Fox today. But what if one day she did? What if Fox met someone or something more powerful than him? Almost her whole life was spent inside the academy. She knew nothing of what’s lurking outside the academy walls. If Fox died, who would she rely on then?

The very thought almost made her cry. But she held her tears back. She knew Fox wouldn’t be happy to see her cry. He made her promise to always stay strong, with or without his presence around her. Easier said than done.

As they walked through the town, many people stared at the two. They threw their usual disgusted look primarily toward Fox, but Fox ignored them. Clara also ignored their staring and focused on Fox’s back. She was never close to the townsfolk either. She never knew why, but so many people hated her and Fox for no apparent reason.

Every time she asked Fox why so many people hated him, he dodged the question and either changed the topic or straight up ran away.

After a couple of minutes of walking down the town roads that felt like hours—thanks to all the staring, the two finally arrived at Clara’s shop. Fox entered the shop and went to the door on the other side of the room, leading to the backroom.

“Fox… Thank you...” she said as he put her down on her bed, replied by a simple nod from her masked knight.

“You don’t have to. This is part of my duty.” 

Fox was about to leave when Clara grabbed her cloak.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked.

“Uhm... Can you accompany me until I fall asleep?”

“Well, I guess I could stay for a bit longer. Nova can handle the training for today.” 

Fox sat back down beside Clara. He took the glove on his right hand off before starting caressing her head. Even though he was just stroking her head, she enjoyed it a lot. When she was younger, she never got much attention from her parents. They saw her not as their own child but as property. She was just a tool to generate revenue for them.

It was a dark time. Thankfully, it was all in the past. Now Clara lived somewhere she could truly call her home. It’s not perfect, but as long as Fox was there, it’s home.

As his soft caresses continued, they guided her to the dreamland.

She didn’t know how long she was asleep, but the sun was already about to set when she woke up. She walked out of the backroom to find Fox standing in front of her workbench. He seemed to be doing something to his mask with her tools.

“Fox...? Do you need help with anything? I didn’t know your mask had some equipment in it other than the voice changer,” Clara rubbed her eyes as she walked up to him. She tried to fasten her walk toward him in the hope of getting a glance at his face. But before she got close, Fox already put his mask back on, squashing her hope of genuinely knowing the guy behind the mask.

“Just a minor check. Your tools alone are already a great help. I will see you later, Little Mechanic,” he patted her gently before walking out. Clara immediately started checking the equipment he used. All of them were not standard tools but special ones that she made herself. And as far as she knew, the few devices that used those tools were very high-tech. Sadly, Clara couldn’t pinpoint what the equipment was used for.

She decided to clean up the little mess Fox made before going back to sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Protector’s HQ, Lisa and Naomi were training hard, if one could call it like that.

Lisa jumped back, avoiding the robot’s hand attempt at catching her legs. She thought Nova was joking when he said they were going to train to the limit. But when he locked them inside a room with a robot, she realized the blonde protector was actually serious. Since Lisa and Naomi were still unable to control their power, all they could do was run around avoiding the robot’s hands. So it became more of physical training than power training.

The two managed to avoid the robot’s attacks until finally, one of the robot’s hands managed to catch Lisa’s left leg. It threw her to the wall. Thanks to the cushioning on the wall and floor, the impact didn’t really hurt her. But after running and avoiding the robot for so long, Lisa was too exhausted to move. She tried to move her hands and legs but was barely able to move them.

With Lisa out of the fight, the robot turned its attention to Naomi. And all Lisa could do was watch as her friend was getting cornered by the robot.

She had to do something. She had to save her friend. And the only way for Lisa to save her friend was to use her power.

Focusing on herself, Lisa tried to find the power hidden inside her. 

It was the Power of Nature. She knew it was hidden inside of her. She desperately reached out for it.

Then she felt it. From the tip of her finger, the sensation spread to her whole body like wildfire. After finished, she felt refreshed and ready to take on the world.

She focused on herself even more to use her power. Suddenly, roots sprouted out from the floors and entangled the robot. It gave Naomi enough time to run toward Lisa. At that point, Lisa was already panting heavily. She was exhausted from creating all those roots. When the robot hand turned into a buzz saw, Lisa had already run out of strength. She could only watch as the robot sliced through her roots.

The robot rushed toward the two and swung its buzz saw toward Naomi. Lisa thought it was over for them.

But the buzz saw was stopped in its track by a wall of water.

Wanting to protect her friend, Naomi finally managed to call forth the power of the ocean hidden inside of her. She created a barrier of water surrounding her and Lisa.

The robot tried to get in from all sides but failed to pierce through the water barrier.

Then there was a zap, followed by the robot falling to the floor.

The door opened, and Nova casually walked in.

“So sometimes it does require life-threatening situations….” Nova said as he entered the room.

“Are you crazy?! You could have killed us both!” Naomi focused her water in hand, ready to attack Nova.

“Don’t worry, He won’t allow such a thing,” a girl suddenly entered the room. Her long pale silky hair was kept straight, and her cerulean eyes admired Lisa and Naomi.

“And you are…?”

“The Seer. I’m sure you have heard of me,” she offered Naomi a cold water bottle while Nova lifted Lisa.

“Yea. I heard you’re Fox’s partner,” Naomi drank the water bottle.

“I guess you can see it that way. But I’m simply just another Protector, albeit with a special assignment. Now that your power is unlocked, I think you can participate in the tournament.”

“... You are nuts. We barely unlocked our power, almost died, and you want us to participate in a tournament?” Naomi said, half pissed.

“It was your idea, no? Besides, it’s good for testing the control of your power. You still have a week to train your control over it. I’m sure Nova is willing to accompany you two. Am I right, Mr. Nova?” the seer said with a tone that seemed to threaten Nova.

“Y-yea! That’s right!” he said in a panic.

Naomi was going to ask Lisa’s opinion, but she had already passed out from fatigue. Well, if it was up to her, then…

“Alright. We are in!” Naomi answered. It was just in her nature to accept a good challenge.

It was a choice she regretted in the coming weeks.