[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/kht1nVt.png[/img][/center] [center][color=9966cc][i]Ayaka Meru[/i][/color][/center] [hr] The blow happened in seconds, the first floor of the building was completely demolished and so were Yuri and Ayaka. The forms and shields that had passively generated along the wizard's body rapidly broke until her physical body was all that was left. Luckily her magic had unmerged from Yuri's staff and returned to her body instantly reconstructing the shields placed. But it was already too late, the damage had been done, and a set of bruises had occurred over her midsection and knees. The breath ripped from her lungs and she curled over debris regaining her constitution. The mission was a success but their mentor, their benefactor, Scheherazade had failed to warn them of an incoming attack. From their surprise, during the mission, it was apparent that the cat knew more than they were letting on and due to their choice of keeping that knowledge a secret, we paid the price. Ayaka understood the moment she honed her abilities for the fight of the greater good that she would need all the knowledge to prepare to protect the world and the lack of... caused this. She didn't bother to continue thinking on it but instead tended to the civilians on the far side of the now fading damage barrier. Eventually, the block would return to normal as if no battle had occurred and now it was Ayaka's job to place the citizens back into their correct spots. Mass Amnesia, Mass Hysteria, or Mass Insomnia. The latter would be used to explain what had occurred in order to protect their secret and once the job was done-- Night came, the darkkeepers had escaped but luckily the civilians were safe. That was all that mattered, but now an incoming threat was possible-- no. Imminent threat was coming. Sleeping came to Ayaka easily though she was muddled with visions, dreaming of her theories of the world but also the scorpion girl that had attacked her. She would remember her face, planning to instantly assault if she were to ever see the stranger again. But for now, Ayaka let her dreams simply be dreams. And the morning would come, as usual, the routine of the day-and-night cycle still the same as it was before as the teen got ready for her normal day at school. It came like a blur, classes slept through but homework and quizzes turned in and resulted in passing grades. The gift of Merlin was an aid in her knowledge but it was just a tool, Ayaka was smart before she was a wizard. But now with magic, she could study in her dreams, think at a faster rate than a normal person would. It drained all her ability to try in school and now she was just waiting for another battle, for another day to help. Finally, the meeting between the "magicals" as Ayaka personally called it. An explanation given by Scheherazade, the cat stood on a windowsill, and once the group had gathered they begun to speak. Ayaka had wondered if the answer was going to be satisfactory but it wasn't. It was a mistake and an extremely faulty one. If the group had known prior, maybe Merlin could've predicted or calculated this event. Maybe if the darkkeepers no matter how unlikely their arrival we all could've been prepared against their assault. But no. Ayaka stood straight from the wall she leaned against in the corner of the room and before she could speak she acknowledged a girl that had asked for help. A sigh escaped from her breath, mouth closed as she waited for the girl to leave before speaking again.