Ascension Of The Failed Mage

Chapter 34 Marionette [Pt 1]

?Fear. Anxiety. Sadness. Disappointment. Anger.

These feelings mixed within Ciara as she made the discovery of Mia's nature. Everything they shared had been a lie. This was the true Mia.

The students who could not move anything except their faces used what little chance they had to apologize and plead. Most of them placed the blame on Samuel and Serah. Though it was clear they all despised Mia, it was irrefutable that Serah and Samuel had been the ones to cross the line. They were the cause of Mia's rage, and so they were offered to be sacrifices.

"Pathetic. All of you are pathetic. You're all not even worth playing with." Mia said.

"Y-Yes, we're trash... So, please. Please don't...." A girl, one of the more desperate students let out in agreement.

"Shut up!" Mia commanded, then raising her left hand slowly, then crushing it.

Suddenly, the girl's hands and legs twisted against her will. She had a running stance previously, but all her limbs suddenly twisted in a flash, causing her unbelievable agony.

She screamed with all her might, tears rolling down her eyes, and drool from her mouth. It hurt... It hurt like hell. She couldn't bear this unimaginable pain. She screamed even more.

"I said... Shut UP!" Mia said again, this time her anger seemed to have increased exponentially.

Mia raised her hand again. The look in her eyes was evident that... This time, she wouldn't stop with just her limbs.

"You bitch!" Serah suddenly let out, to the surprise of everyone.

"What did you just say?" Mia said, turning her attention toward the paralyzed student.

"Y-You heard me! Only a bitch... A coward would do something inhumane and unfair like this! Why don't you release me and let's have a fair fight! You scared or something?" Serah yelled back.

The students looked at Serah unbelievably. Nothing good would come out of aggravating Mia more. Serah would only make things worse for them. They didn't want the pain... They couldn't take it.

"S-Stop Serah... What are you saying?" One of them let out in fear.

"Y-Yeah shut up Serah. This is all your fault, to begin with!" Another said.

"I don't want to die!!!" Another cried out in tears.

As they kept battering her with words, Serah was speechless. These were people she considered her friends. They were all weak, and so they understood one another. They all had a common enemy, so they were inseparable. She did all she did for their sake. She wanted to stand up to Mia to protect her friends... The friends who did not hesitate to throw her under the bus. It seems... She was truly alone, after all.

"All of you! How can you be so mean to Serah? Aren't we friends? Serah did what we all hoped and talked about doing, standing up to Mia! Serah is right! Mia... Y-You... Y-You... BITCH!!!" Samuel found his courage and yelled.

Mia's eyes widened at the audacity of the idiots before her. They didn't know their place. This made her want to break them even more. But they were right. Just tying them up was no fun.

"Oh Shut UP Samuel! What do you know? You've always been a scaredy-cat and now you're finally speaking up?" A student shouted at Samuel

"Yeah, what do we expect from Serah's lapdog." Another responded.

"Hehehehehe" Mia started laughing to herself, interrupting the tongue-lashing Samuel was receiving.

"Hahahahhahaha" Mia laughed loudly.

The students shook in fear, their eyes radiated horror and despair. They all remained silent, listening to Mia's crazy laughter and awaiting their inevitable fate.

"Pathetic... You're all PATHETIC!" Mia said with a wide grin.

She raised both of her hands and squeezed them, crushing them into fists.

Immediately, all the limbs of the protesting students twisted, causing them all to scream in pain. They yelled and yelled, and cried, and yelled more. Sobs and screams echoed through the abandoned park. The pain caused them to black out.

The only ones who were left... The only ones who weren't broken were Serah and Samuel.

"Well then, time to make good on your word. Both of you come at me. Make this more interesting." Mia said.

She snapped her fingers and Samuel alongside Serah were released from whatever hold Mia had on them. They both slumped, falling to their knees. Their bodies could now move freely.

"Don't keep me waiting. I've made this a fair fight, haven't I? Now... COME!" Mia said, her eyes gleaming with delight.

Samuel looked at Serah. Fear and anxiety were evident in his eyes. He was about to break down. He had reached his limits. Serah looked at Samuel. He had always been weak and frail, even when they were younger. But, she never expected him to stand up for her like that. She was happy. Even if she met an even worse fate than the rest... She was happy...that she was able to stand up to Mia, and protect her only true ally, Samuel.

"Don't worry Samuel, rest. I'll take care of this in no time!" Serah declared to Samuel, as she stood on her shaky feet, and smiled.

"That's the spirit... That look. I can't wait till I BREAK you." Mia sneered.

Serah tightened her face in disgust and fear.

"Sicko!"