Excerpt: Mirror's Divide

The rain still hadn't let up. Haiyoki could use that to his advantage. If he could block out his senses... No, that wasn't possible. It wasn't safe. Someone could come and attack him, and he wouldn't even know it. A rustle in the trees reminded him of that, and the sounds from the fight with the giant Walker seemed to grow more chaotic. Instead, he telekinetically levitated three of his stones from his pocket and to his hand where they gently hovered. His practice was starting to pay off.

Explanations would come later if he was caught. He needed to do something now.

A flick of his wrist sent one stone flying towards the Forgetful. She only just dodged it. Haiyoki ran from his spot to another a few yards away. Another stone. Another barely missed shot. He ran again hoping he was at the least creating a distraction. He threw the third, and it created a hole in her cloak. Maybe he could levitate better, but his aim needed more practice! Haiyoki quickly levitated the three fallen stones, with some difficulty, and let them fly towards her again. This time she swatted two of them away with a well timed spark of electricity.

The Lightning Forgetful noticed him but was more concerned with Messara in front of her. Her Seal continued to spin around. It didn't appear like she was doing anything with it besides occasional bolt to disrupt Haiyoki's attacks. Then she pulled out a dagger, and sparks started to fly. She had changed her mind. No more dodging. She moved faster, forcing Messara to retreat a little. He didn't have a weapon of his own.

"If this keeps up, Messara will get hurt," Haiyoki thought. He ran and levitated three more stones. He could sense where the previous three had fallen and levitated those as well. He felt them wobble unsteadily, but he tried to hold on tight to them.

He sent all six speeding toward the Forgetful. This time, the Forgetful was hit. Three from one side. Three from the other. Her footing faltered. Messara was able to barely touch her arm. She screamed and slashed blindly with her knife. It was like she had been shocked. The monk caught it in his right hand and with his left, touched her arm again. She shrieked and pulled away. How was he doing that with a Seal of Healing? Messara's hand started to bleed. Haiyoki levitated the six stones once more and shot them toward her. Two hit. The others were batted away by a dozen or so tiny earth pillars. The hum of two aether boards sped past him.

Two of the Seal of Earth users had left the other battle to aid her. They jumped off the boards and went to the Lightning Forgetful. Messara and Haiyoki regrouped as well. "Are you going to be okay?" Haiyoki asked. The knife wound looked serious.

"I'll be fine. It take more that a cut to take me out." He gave his right hand a squeeze with his left. The wound healed itself. "See? But we have a problem."

"Yeah." Haiyoki reached into his pocket for his last three stones. If he could gather all nine together, he might be able to do something, but he wasn't sure if he could control all nine stones and keep track of three enemies all at once. At best, he could control all nine directed to one target.

But suddenly, Messara smiled. "Not to worry, we just have to hold out a little longer." He ran back to the Forgetful.

"What do you mea--" Haiyoki was cut off as a rock was sent his way. He only had enough time to divert its path with a combination of a psychic barrier and telekinesis. It embedded itself into the tree trunk to his left. Another came, and he created another barrier. The stones that were being thrown at him made his attacks seem like mere pebbles.

Messara was faring no better. He jumped from side to side with his Seal spinning around him. All the Forgetful continued to be more interested in attacking him than Haiyoki. They did not seem to notice when Haiyoki jumped and used telekinesis to boost his height to land in the tree branches above them. He steadied himself on a limb and levitated the six stones to him, nine total once more. From his view point, he could see where the three Forgetful and Messara were fighting. If Messara could keep them busy.... Haiyoki swirled his stones around him once, increasing their momentum. Then he sent all nine to one of the Forgetful's legs.

They hit, and one of the Earth Forgetful fell to the ground with a sharp yell. Haiyoki didn't have time to feel proud for hitting something again; Messara glanced in his direction. There was no escape now. Haiyoki would have to think of a way to explain his unique fighting style. Haiyoki readied his stones once more for another attack. Messara took the opportunity to tap the fallen Forgetful's forehead. He crumpled to the ground.