Io watched as the first exchange of blows traded between the fighters. Io wondered if there were some environmental factors that lead to the exceptional capability of humans on Shizuyama - not just Shizuka, but also Kazenosuke. Perhaps her impression of humans were colored by mainly interacting with recluses who had dedicated their lives to the pursuits of the mind rather than that of the physical. That, or the island was situated on some convergence point of profound natural (or magical) forces that imparted strength into the people. The theory was absurd, but anything was possible.
The theory could wait. While the slashes Kazenosuke dealt out didn't look like they'd end the fight, Io wouldn't let her teammates be worn down. She quickly mouthed an incantation of minor healing, seeking to heal back what the first wave of attacks had done. "Be ready. I have an idea." Io said to her fellow task force members as the healing magic washed over them.
Yuki proved with her surprise attack that while he was fast, their opponent wasn't untouchable. If Io could slow him down, the others could seize the advantage. His swords could easily deflect anything aimed at him... But what if the attack was meant for the swords? Io's grimoire glowed as she prepared another spell. 'How well can he handle the swords if they're frozen over?' Spinning was a delicate procedure, after all. Io leveled a pointed finger at Kazenosuke, casting a thin ray of freezing magic at him. The attack would obviously be dangerous to him if it passed his swords, but Io made no attempt to have it evade them. Instead, she planned for it to collide with a blade, freezing it over and making it unbalanced and awkward to handle. With any luck, it would provide an opening for her teammates.
Age: 14 (technically, but has existed since the dawn of time)
Grade: First Year Laurels
Biography:
Belle’s background is filled with mystery. If asked, she would plainly state that she descended from the heavens as a star. Given her angelic demeanor, most of her classmates simply accept it at face value, even if they acknowledge its absurdity.
She was immediately recruited by Laurels due to her excellent performance in all subjects.
She may also have been recruited by Laurels scouts in order to help fulfill a prophecy coined at the inception of Laurels, that specified an incarnated god coming to the academy and bringing about great change at which she would be the center of.
Belle is courageous, bright, active, and stays cheerful in most situations. She is captain of the Laurels choir and dance team despite her first year status, an exception made due to her exceptional ability. Her biggest flaw is simply being too charming and adorable, and as a result being too idolized by her peers.
Powers:
Core Power - Spinning Miracle: Belle is a vessel of divine perfection. Her incorruptibility extends beyond the physical, allowing her immunity to mind-altering, transmuting, fate manipulating, and all other affects (unless she wills it).
Sub power - Ring a Belle: Belle's voice has true power over the world, and can reshape it to her will with the power of her singing. It is said that her voice was the basis of the song of creation itself.
Sub power - Love Wing: Belle can manifest angelic wings at will that allow her to travel anywhere in the world instantaneously. Technically she doesn't need to manifest the wings but she likes how they look.
Sub power - Love's Signal: Belle's existence itself is a tether to reality, her song being the background noise of the universe. As a result, she is essentially capable of knowing anything within the universe if she wills it, and her divine song both protects herself and the entire universe from overt destruction.
Io was not surprised by how the situation developed, but she was mildly surprised that it was an offer at all. 'It was simply too much to assume that there wouldn't be some kind of fight, of course.' Io thought to herself.
"Understood." Io said to Shizuka. She reached out a cold hand to touch Shizuka's back. "Take this." She whispered something under her breath, activating a scroll. It snaked around her arm as if it was alive, wrapping around the swordsman. "It will enhance your dexterity." Io mildly wondered if his could be further enhanced, but this was part of the experimentation process.
She stepped back from Shizuka after bestowing the scroll. "To be honest." Io muttered an aside to Yuki, just out of earshot of the others, having heard her previous jest. "Seeing him in combat. He may be enough to handle us both. Unless he seriously turns around in bed compared to the battlefield." Io left Yuki to mentally picture such a situation, quickly returning her focus to the fight as it was about to break out.
"Of course I'm okay!" Alex gave a little laugh. "W-Well, I tripped a lot at first. And... uh... I can't really catch things well." She sheepishly scratched her cheek and added with a lowered voice, "Not that I was ever good at sports to begin with. If anything I think I might be better off now that I've had a few months of physical therapy after waking up. Plus ever since I found the Root, I've-" She stopped herself before she said too much. She wasn't sure how much she should say on that front. Alex wanted to surprise Wolf with what her power had become.
Alex felt uneasy despite her rambling - or perhaps because of it. She could tell when something was wrong back in the day by how long she would speak without Wolf saying anything. It wasn't a record (Alex didn't want to recount the idea that set the record), but still.
"Wolf, is everything all right for you...?" She stepped forward. There was a chance that she was misreading the situation, yet Wolf seemed tense, as if he might bolt at any moment.
Io regarded both of her companions as they grouped together on the approach. She wondered what exactly would be considered "shenanigans" for her, the thought brought on by Yuki's banter. Perhaps Io's statement earlier about being unable to repair clothing immediately would be considered as such. She gave a faint smile at the thought. Perhaps she was more into shenanigans than any other would expect.
Io was surprised at the relative cordiality that Kazenosuke regarded her and Yuki with. It was certainly better than charging them with a sword drawn, at the very least - which was what Io expected given what others had said about him. "[If only.]" Io muttered in her personal language in response to Kazenosuke's statement about wives.
She cast a glance at Yuki as they were both beckoned forth. Io was not sure that she would be the most persuasive type herself, but she also wondered if letting the oni lead the negotiations would be better or worse. Io had a sneaking suspicion that an undead talking about wishing to save lives may be met with incredulity, even if it was true. "We are working together to protect Shizuyama." Io put it bluntly. "Even if Shizuyama considers us unlikely allies."
Io was in deep thought as she emerged from her training grounds. The others talked amongst themselves, argued, and decided on what was next. Io found herself once again moving slower than any of the others. There was a massive investment in her brainpower in working out the next steps for the training grounds. She would need to provide a way to cease all fighting, fine-tune healing parameters, add in some contingencies for environmental power leeching... Perhaps Io was retreating into her own thoughts and delving into solving arcane riddles to ignore what had just transpired around her. It was a time-worn tradition of hers, formed even before she achieved undeath.
Io sighed to herself, opening her eyes after mulling over that offending thought. The truth was, she once again found herself erring towards inaction. This was just a training exercise, but it was clear that she could have worked more proactively. True, her spell repertoire was fairly taxed with creating the training grounds, but there were things she could have called to mind quickly enough, even if they lacked subtlety. What would happen when they ran into a Varjan as strong as Shizuka? If one human could achieve such a mastery of arms, it was only an eventuality that they encountered others.
"Hm. Shizuka needing help...?" It was as though Kikyo could read Io's thoughts, if only to say something so alarming so casually. Io pulled her hood up, her agility-enhancing scroll activating once more. She'd move quickly on this one - quickly for her frame of reference, at least, then she'd work on becoming fast to everyone else as well. "I'll move to watch over him."
She gave a small nod to Yuki, the only remaining task force member with her, tacitly signaling it was up to her if she wanted to follow. Io turned and made her way after Shizuka either way. As she took off, she quickly began running through spells in her mind.
'What will I need? At the very least something to hide with. Minor invisibility should work well enough for that. My scrolls can help Shizuka if it comes to a fight.' Her mind raced as she mentally prepared for what might ensue. 'He can deflect any attack?' Io lamented that she did not have several hours to create some projectile spells that would put that legend to the test. 'Let's suppose that is true for now, and instead prepare spells to hinder the enemy. Creating an opening for Shizuka may be more beneficial either way...' Her already well-worn robes received new scratches as she dashed through the Shizuyama forest paths, her mind spending more effort thinking than avoiding obstacles while running.
Io planned to cast a spell of minor invisibility once she neared close to her destination. It wouldn't be perfect, and it would fail the second she cast another spell, but that would be enough to see the situation and act accordingly... Possibly. She could only hope her status as undead may lead to her being harder to notice on top of the spell - but she didn't have nearly enough data to understand how strong these swordsmen's senses were. She also may have to work Yuki into her plan, too, if the fellow task force member joined her.