It's Done

Felix charged forward, arm swinging clumsily as Raz blocked and counterattacked with a strike to the stomach. Dimyri threw her hand fast, her wrist caught by Raz as he pulled her forward and tripped her onto the ground with a splash. Raz looked up to catch another swing, tilting his head so that his cheek was grazed as Felix stumbled forward, catching a knee in return. Dimyri shook her head and turned around, kicking Raz's ankle hard as he screamed. Pulling away, he took his eyes off his target as Felix wrapped his arms around his waist, pushing them both into the ground.

Dimyri rolled away as Felix sat on top of Raz, throwing blow after blow onto him. It was a mess of water splashing continuously, Dimyri found it challenging to catch a clear view of the struggle as Felix would swing one hand after the other. At last, his hands clasped together and raised for a follow-up blow. She watched as Raz's palms met and his fingers formed another symbol, the puddle they were in emerging before throwing Felix up high until he hit the ice ceiling above, crashing back down. Raz stood back up, forming another symbol as the water conjoined and formed a hissing snake, lashing out and trapping Felix in it's jaws, clashing onto the wall hard. Another symbol formed and the snake had re-emerged, patiently observing as Felix sat against the ice, coughing and trying to stand. As soon as he did, the snake bit his leg and pulled hard, forcing him back down as it disappeared back into the foot deep waters they fought in.

Janette kept Syri in her arm, leaning into the corner and away from the fight. She watched as Felix would manage to stand back up, only for the snake to form back and pounce, thrashing him onto the same wall once, twice, three times. From the outside, the villagers gasped and shooked as they could see a blurry figure tossed repeatedly into the barrier, shaking the cage repeatedly through each impact.

"Just stay down!" Raz commanded, pitying the poor guy. "If I wanted it, you would be dead already. Give up!"

Felix shook his head, feeling the muscles around his body ache in pain with every move. He looked over at Syri in her tiny cat body, rasping under her breath, then he turned to Dimyri sitting on the other side, staring wide-eyed with an uncertainty of what to do. The girls, he only wanted to take them back and leave, just like they took Emyri, Reta and Na'Vi.

Just like they took her.

Somehow, he had a feeling KuliKuli wouldn't even think of considering the thought of letting them go. He remembered when he found her on the dirt path, wounded and staring out as if she caught sight of a ghost. It was after her encounter with Leone, she was fighting to rescue Dimyri from him. It was futile as she later learned, and it became clear she wasn't any challenge to the Hunter, but she didn't back down. Not until she was broken down, it left him scared for her safety, he never wanted to ler her go on her own again.

No, that wasn't it. His head was throbbing from crashing into ice numerous times, his mind was dazed but he began to collect his memory. It was like a... like a puzzle, the right pieces were coming together. Yes, he could remember it accurately now, her voice sang to him now as he heard her words, that conversation they had...

"You're my family too. Promise you won't forget me, please."

"I promise. I couldn't forget if I tried. Having you in my life is the best thing that ever happened."

"Even if we're in trouble?"

"Especially then. Before, I'd be fighting just for some bread. Now, I got someone to fight for and it feels nice. But next time, you're not going at him alone alright? I hate having to stay behind, I can help too."

"But what if you get hurt?"

"What if you do? I don't want that for you too. I figure if we go at it together well, we can protect each other and make sure neither one of us gets hurt. Next time I'm coming too, monster or not. You can make that promise in return. I love you, and I will protect you."

With a hoarse cough, Felix fell forward on his hands and knees, clearing his throat. Everything hurt but he couldn't care, he had a promise to keep, no matter the situation, no matter the consequences. With a pained grunt, Felix pressed his back against the ice, feeling the frost bring comfort to his tender body as he became aware of the shredded state his shirt was under. Only a loose bit hung over his shoulder as most of his chest was exposed, red and bruised. He could taste the metal in his mouth as he turned to spit, his body trembling nonstop as he pinned his feet and heaved himself back up. From the outside, the villagers began to cheer for him, raising hands and crying in support. None knew his name, but most admired his tenacity and will to stand back up. Even Alma found herself beaming as she came to recognize the blurred figure.

Raz stared in shock, dumbfounded at this man's willingness to keep going. Patting his belt, he found his leather pouches soaked with some carrying a small amount of elemental powder to assist him. Janette watched this and recognized what he was doing as he scooped some water in his hand. Feeling for her satchel, she pulled out her book and whispered a few words and reading out its response.

"That stuff he uses is a powder called Glacier's Touch! It enhances the users control, reducing strain and allowing them to manipulate water into any of the three states of matter: Liquid, Solid, and Gas."

"What are you talking about?" He groaned.

"He can't freeze without it!" Janette shouted, shutting her book triumphantly. Raz gave her an irritated look, glancing back to the book on her hand and the kitten on her lap.

"Seems those weren't guesses after all. It isn't nice to share secrets." He added, his sight falling back onto Felix. "I have enough on me for a few more tricks. Last chance to sit back."

Felix wiped his lip and scoffed. "Not a chance. I have a promise to keep."

"Damn you are such a nuisance." Raz muttered, tilting his palm as the small lump of powder fell under, dissolving into the growing pool on his feet. Felix stammered back as the pool grew around his legs, rising to his waist and taking the familiar shape of a snake devouring his lower half and moving higher, solidifying as his feet and legs were beginning to freeze. Raz held his palms together, concentrating as he formed the right symbols for this technique.

"I'm not going to kill you, but I am freezing your body to keep you out of the way. I'm sorry, but I made a promise as well and like you, I intend to keep it. I really wish we didn't have to resort to this, I should have ended it quicker, weighed my options and strike differently. I'll know better next time, right now I'm putting you out of commission."

"You first!" Dimyri called out as she yanked a pouch away from Raz's belt, scooping some water into it before trapping his hands in it with her holding it tight. Raz tried to pull away but she resisted, keeping sure to keep the pouch secured so not to lose the water inside it. "You try and make a move and you'll freeze your hands off!"

Raz gave a puzzled look and stared back. "I can always change the contents into a gas, you moron."

She watched as the pouch began to inflate before seeping through, deflating as Raz gave her a look of victory. His smile was short-lived however as Janette began laughing beside them.

"Fun fact, you can't use two states of matter at the same time through Glacier's Touch. Learned that through this bad boy." She grinned, tapping her little crimson book.

"Yea, so?"

Janette smirked and leaned back, tapping her head against the ice. It cracked with ease, dripping down and dissolving into water vapor around them. "The pool here may not be affected, but this here? Kiss it goodbye."

Raz looked around as the sun shined through, the ceiling slowly dissolving into the air as the rest of the ice went with it. Tossing the pouch from his hands, he clasped them together when Dimyri lunged in to hold his hands apart. He stared at her in shock, she responded with a look of victory.

"What's the matter, never held hands with a monster before?"

"No." A large shadow loomed over them and before he could react, he found himself being bear hugged by Nukka.

"Did it! We snatched the bad guy!" She cheered, keeping Raz up with his feet kicking in the air. He glanced down as everyone gathered around him, scowling and cursing, with some of the girls including a familiar gray cat sticking her tongue out and making a face towards him.

"What was that you said, until it is done?" Dimyri smiled, tapping his foot. "Yea, it's done."