The boy Hodgard was as heavy as his name sounded. A hulking of about 6'0 and well-built for his age. He easily overpowered Kaina and had him pressed against the wall of the room with gentility.
The temperature in the room rose as space manifested a blurry curtain; a mirage. The dry heat that exuded from Kaina threatened to burn Hodgard, but it wasn't enough to force Kaina out of his hold, it wasn't something he hadn't experience before. In fact, it was this same heat that caused him to get Kaina out of the hall and into a place where he wouldn't hurt anyone with his abilities. He knew to do that because…
"Snap out of it, boss." An image flashed through his mind, something that he had gotten used to. Kaina had this effect on his surrounding and it bore mark to one who was born to truly be an avatar for the fire god. Hodgard and the members of the Blue Peacock had experienced it so many times, they knew how to regulate themselves in normal instances.
It had been said that those that were born to wield the elements to great lengths often affect their environments with it even when they hadn't awakened it or manifested it. Kaina's was; the temperature of the room rising due to a displeasure or an emotion he found hard to control. Hodgard thought to himself. Then, what could be causing this displeasure to him? And just when that line of thought had popped up in his head, the intensity of the heat rose, and he groaned slightly, it was much hotter than he was used to. Sweat began to drip down his face and whole room was overwhelmed by the embrace of a mirage, Hodgard found it hard to keep his eyes open and holding the unresponsive Kaina to the wall still, bowed down his head, groaning, sweat trailed down from his face and to the floor and evaporated.
"This is…" he gasped. He knows how to control it?? He thought to himself. And just when he had lifted his head and began pressing him against the wall firmly, a hot torrent of wind burst from him and pushed Hodgard off his feet and tumbling backwards to two rooms away.
Then, he turned his head over to the side, a heavy thud on the ground demanded it. "Ranfa" he cried out.
"Hodgard. Are you holding back because he's your leader?" Hodgards countenance fell upon hearing the boy that just entered speak.
"People that lose themselves… and hurt their friends… are not fit to lead." If Hodgard was a hulking, then Ranfa was THE HULK. The two had always shared a faint rivalry, being on opposite sides, but now, situation demanded differences be put aside.
"Tsk. I truly expected much from you Hod. Here, let me show you how you're supposed to…"
He burst off running leaving his monologue incomplete and with the force of his weight and speed, dashing at Kaina, thrust his first into the boys' abdomen and punched him upwards through the roof. The structured cried out in rumblings of falling wood and mortar.
"See?" he gestured as he pumped up his fist. "Wait, I think I'm supposed to hold back, not kill him." Then, he turned around and walked back to Hodgard and squatted in front of him. "Come on Hodgard, this isn't like you. Get up, I know I put my back into that but…" he flailed and twirled the hand he used to punch Kaina. It had reddened. "I don't think that was enough to put him down for the count, I'm going to need backup."
Then, something heavier than falling woods fell; feet first and arching forward, almost as if touching his toes, then, propped up and screamed as flames blazed from him.
Hodgard and Ranfa got to their feet and Hodgard seeing his leader like this cried out softly, "Kaina…"
"Still think we should hold back, Hodgard?"
A subtle blobbing sound could be heard, and a slab of flesh came falling out and around Kaina's hips, living flesh crawled up his abdomen and went up and over his chest then his arms and ceased movement when it got to his neck. It constricted, like tightening a rope and ceased.
"What the heck is that?" Hodgard cried out.
"It looks like some sort of armor."
Echoes of rushing footsteps quickly approached and before Hogdard or Ranfa could turn their attention to it, a gust of wind blew past them. And Evy, spun about with a battle cry; a round house kick followed.
Hodgard and Ranfa starred on, Evy was stuck in place and her eyes traced to what had kept her. Her eyes widened in shock. Kaina had blocked her attack that was aimed at his head. He had twisted his right hand in an unconventional and abnormal way and held her right leg in a gentle hold. With her knowledge in battle arts and human anatomy, this seemed impossible for any human being to do and she was stricken with a tinge of fear. It caused her to analyze him, the veins on face, skin; darkened red, his body looking like a polished dark red metal. Then, she gazed up into his eyes. His pupil had become pitch black and his iris, a highlighted bright red and it rolled in her direction. Fear washed over her body and she knew it best to retrieve her leg at the instant but she pulled and… it wouldn't budge. She groaned, attempting yet again to pry away her leg but to no avail. And before she could blink, she was lifted off the ground and went anti-clockwise as Kaina moved in that direction and sent her flying through the walls of the mansion in the direction of the hall.
When Hodgard and Ranfa had come to grasp the situation, it had ended as early as it began. Kaina smirked.
"Steady you guys. Careful with the injured." Kiriku instructed the students atop the balcony to the exit door. Kiriku and Ingrid were directing the students and Ohga stood by their side, holding Yousef. Then suddenly, the space to the right where Hodgard had pushed Kaina through burst out and Evy came flying through.
"Evy!" Amine cried out. And quickly he jumped and caught his siter mid-air but the force of her fall pushed him further away from the front. The others ran to his side in concern for Evy when he had finally come to a screeching halt.
"Is she okay?" Lilith inquired arriving with the others.
"She'll live." He took a look at her unconscious face and she groaned in pain.
"Let me see." Lilith knelt down to her and examined her. He grabbed hold of her shoulders, and when she did, black ash fell from the section her dress to her shoulders and under it, her skin had been lightly burnt; haven turned red. Then, there was about 5 more spots on her abdomen that bore the same burn marks.
"Evy…" Mira cried out.
"She's hurt bad." Lilith cried out. "There are burn marks." She said. "Whatever that did this seems to have been very hot. It cut a clean hole through her dress, the dress itself is nothing but charred."
Amine took hold of her and looked closely at the wound and saw the burn marks, a faint imprint of a fist at all the five place Evy was hurt and he knew it was Kaina. His expression darkened as if clouded by a personal cloud of darkness.
"Lilith… Mira, can you guys go with Ingrid and the others?" His voice sternly inquired.
Amine said to them, holding Evy in his arms while on his knees.
"But…" Mira cried. "Please, I leave my sister into your hands."
"I'm coming with you guys." Lilith cried out.
"No you're not." Khay and Trilith retorted.
"We both know how capable you are, heck if we leave you, you might just bring Kaina down yourself."
"Yeah, that's true." Trilith affirmed.
"But." Khay sighed. "I know Kaina is not in his right mind right now but I don't think Kaina is doing this all by himself."
"Are you saying there might be someone else?" Lilith inquired.
"Yeah. And given that we don't know how many or where they are, we are at a disadvantage." He looked at Ingrid, Kiriku, Ohga with Yousef and the rest of the students trying to make their way out of the hall.
"Alright." She had understood what she meant.
"Hihi." He cracked a cheerful grin.
"I think I speak for all us of when I say, we can all rest easy when we know the students council president and one of the mischievous trio is protecting the rest of the students."
"Alright." She sighed in defeat.
"Since that is settled." Amine sighed and lifted himself off the ground. "Take care of Evy for me. You two."