"..."
Ere Majam initially had a face of irritation, akin to finding a bug smushed under one's shoe. But she shook that expression away.
"I'll forgive your insolence. Perhaps you're shaking off the mind control. That caused you to stop the cast-"
"No such thing. I did it of my own will. My own volition. Now, if you excuse me-"
"It's my job to use physical force to knock out whatever-"
"Do you seriously think that I would be okay?! Living with the way you treated me!? You beat me... d-defiled me in a manner of different ways. I couldn't trust you even if I wanted to."
Ere Majam walked forward. Delivering a harsh slap across her cheek. Umilythe's head turned from the force.
"Insolent!"
"..."
"You seem not to understand how good you have it. In comparison to other slaves. Ah, I see. That's my fault, isn't it? There were moments I treated you like you were a daughter, expecting you to still understand that you were a slave. But you got too greedy and thought you were someone. You're just property. Nothing more!"
"..."
"Now, I suggest you forget about this rebellious phase that all teenagers go through. Recast it!"
"Okay."
She brought up her hand, palms stretched out.
[Cast: Fireball]
Fwsh!
Ere Majam just barely managed to dodge the ball of fire hurrying toward her. She quickly snapped her neck.
"..."
It was such a close hit that the rubber band used to tie her hair into a ponytail burned off, letting her dark green hair fall out.
"So it's reached that point."
The rapier that rested on her waist was pulled out of its sheath.
Shing!
With fierceness, she pointed the tip of her sword toward Umilythe.
I'm... not afraid this time. Right. Julian put his faith in me. The least I could do is put faith in myself.
[Cast: Coco Root Vine]
Spiky, vibrant green vines burst out of the soil. Surrounding Ere Majam.
[Cast: Flame Burst]
A glowing, burning energy beamed out of her blade. Igniting the steel in flame.
She sliced, a circular pattern being formed as she cut through the vines.
"Slow!"
Umilythe dashed forward.
She grabbed the cut vines, whilst they still descended from the air.
Fwsh!
Quickly, she turned, cracking them like whips.
"!"
The sudden change had caught even Ere Majam off guard.
It hurts... the spikes of the vines are digging into my hands. But it's nothing I can't handle!
Umilythe glared at Ere Majam with gritted teeth. She whipped the vines, relentlessly. A barrage of strikes. It had reached the point where Ere Majam could barely evade each strike.
[Cast: Scorched Arc]
Ere Majam's footing shifted. She held her rapier out, slicing down. The hot blade followed the movement of an arc, slicing the roots in half. Being flammable, they disappeared into ash.
An opening. Ere Majam dashed forward, toward the vulnerable Umilythe. Umilythe raised her arms, forming some kind of guard, though, being inexperienced, it was not a good one.
[Cast: Harden]
Umilythe's forearms were covered in a strong stone.
Clsh!
The tip of Ere Majam's rapier collided with Umilythe's forearm. Simultaneously, Umilythe swiped the rapier out of Ere Majam's grip.
Clang!
It fell to the ground, rattling.
Ere Majam stared at her rapier. When she looked back, Umilythe was in front of her, her hardened fist wound back.
"Fuck you!" Umilythe yelled.
She threw a heavy punch.
Ere Majam shifted, allowing the fist to move past her shoulder. Her neck moved slightly.
"Slow."
With a tightly balled fist, she struck Umilythe's chin, an uppercut.
"You're good with mana and all..."
She sent another punch, this time across Umilythe's cheek.
"But that's about it."
The last strike was a kick to the chest. It knocked the wind out of Umilythe, sending her aback, into the door.
"Ack!-"
Ere Majam walked toward Umilythe's body with heavy steps.
[Cast: Fireball]
Fwsh!
A flimsy fireball shot toward Ere Majam, being easily wafted out.
"I'm a bit disappointed. I guess a slave is always going to be a slave, huh? No matter what, they'll always want more. After I gave you everything, you still wanted more. Your greed has no limits."
Ere Majam got on top of Umilythe. She slowly lowered her fingers, wrapping them around her neck, softly. Umilythe struggled, tears flowing out of her eyes. The situation was starting to become oddly familiar to her.
"I guess you're still weak. You can't get me off you, let alone a man."
"..."
"I enjoyed my time with you. Is that what you wanted to-"
Ptoo!
The spit shot forward, getting in Ere Majam's eyes.
"..."
"Fuck. You."
"You damn!-"
[Cast: Harden]
The liquid spit in her eyes and on her face hardened, growing sharp spikes.
"Agh!!" Ere Majam yelled out, her grip loosening. With this opening, Umilythe landed a vengeful jab across her chin, sending her rolling.
Quickly, she got up from the ground, regulating her heavy breathing. She wiped the tears off her face.
[Cast: Flame Trident]
In the palm of her hand, a bright flame manifested, stretching into the shape of a three-pronged spear. She threw it at Ere Majam.
"Gyaah!"
The trident pierced her back, pinning her to the ground. Her skin grew charred and peeled, the blood that sprayed out boiling hot, blistering. Her screams grew louder.
"Please, Umilythe. Just wait. Y-you don't- You don't have to do this..."
"Shut up."
She grabbed Ere Majam by the hair. Her initial thought was to lift her head up and look her in the eyes. But after the hardening, Ere Majam could not see at all.
Umilythe sighed.
"I'll make this quick. I don't wanna hear any more of your voice. I imagined your screams would be satisfying to my ears, but I guess I'm not as naturally sadistic as you are."
"U-Umilythe, dear. What are you-"
[Cast: Flame Trident]
A second one was created. Umilythe shoved the trident into Ere Majam's skull. It slid in effortlessly like butter against a knife. Blood oozed out of her ears and eyes, smoke leaving her nose.
[Cast: Harden]
Both tridents hardened into stone.
"..."
Umilythe stood up.
"I've... done it."