The power of incants brought a quarry on a section of ancient hillside to ruin. For Zazaki Akamatsu, one of the combatants, saw how the animals and fish, many of whom dependent on the creek, were becoming sick, prompting him to investigate, and leading him to an illegal operation. Scorches made their marks everywhere, with machinery like haul trucks, crushers and excavators out of commission. For facilities such as the shipping container cum cramped living quarters, and the tool shed, they were destroyed or set ablaze, perpetuating the hearty smog. And for the explosives storage house, it was now nothing more than a pile of smouldering rubble. All this destruction took place on the leeward side - scaring birds from their nests, venison from feasting on their usual grass and berries, and even bears and wolves from hunting to fill their instinctive hunger. The vegetation salvaged what it can, but their incantations overwhelmed the restorative spells the mystical spirits enacted.

For the dimpled blonde practitioner of the Five Element Breath, he had one worry: if his apprentice had washed the dishes. He called in telepathically to see if she had done them.

Kimi, are you up? Did you do the dishes? He got no response. He contacted her again while fending off a minor blow, but she failed to reply.

What is up with this girl? Oh, I know what will wake her up. He grinned no better than a devil as he threw out his bait.

Oh, Kimi, I have your diary. Who is this cute bad boy you're secretly dating? Are you so ashamed of me that...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DIARY?!!! Her blanket flew off as she got up and screamed into the air. Her almond complexion became a seething scarlet, and her nappy textured ponytails seemed to shape themselves into horns. Her fury and embarrassment shone through.

Good, I have your attention. He backflipped behind a bulldozer, letting it get touched by a grey glove so it can sink in its fingers for it to crumble to scrap.

Why do you need my attention? She wiped the dried saliva from the corner of her mouth, curious as to what he wanted to tell her.

Did you wash the dishes yet? He became monotone.

YOU'RE NOT FREAKING SERIOUS! I'M GOING BACK TO BED!

Well then, looks like I have to kick out the freeloader in my shack. Kiss being an official incant goodbye.

No, don't! She was desperate to stay under his tutelage. Zazaki was the best she could find for the twenty gold coins she scrounged from her pocket. I'll do them now! When you come home, the place will be spotless.

He grinned hearing this. Now his favourite clay mug can finally get cleaned for the exotic Houtennot coffee beans he'll be drinking tonight. Zazaki then unleashed what he felt was enough.

"M.A.D!"

His hand created the mouth of a hideous creature that released a potent burst of air that obliterated the dwarven user of gloves. The acronym technique - Magnificent Aerial Destruction - proved to be effective.

As Zazaki dusted off his striped indigo yukata, a weak rumble hit his eardrums. It then grew too loud to ignore. He turned to see a wave of rocks and dirt coming at him. He put his feet into high gear to escape the crushing debris that proceeded to smother the raging flames by using the dirt track which led to the bottom. All the subdued men and dormant equipment were swept up, adding to an already dangerous man-made disaster.

I should've held back. Now, I don't even have an ounce of power to even attempt to stop it. While fleeing from the thunderous avalanche, the idea of calling Kimi came to him. He wanted to be saved.

Kimi!

What? He spooked her from washing a ceramic plate, causing it to fall and becoming a scattering of shards.

Bring the shack here. Use the levitation incant I taught you.

She halted her cleaning to incant the space. "O rickety shack of board, most plain and old, depart the soil that tethers you at your core. Be free and high, unshackled and live, bring yourself to endless sky!"

The zone surrounding the three-bedroom, two-storey wooden abode freed itself, signalling its flight with trembling and cracks along the forest floor, to create a floating island. Once it went well above the canopy, it took off to Zazaki's location, abandoning a recovering landscape.

She called out to him as soon as she arrived. Kimi exited the building and went to the edge for her voice to ring throughout the lone hill and environs.

An arm pushed through the dirt, leading to the rest of him escaping. One of the heels on his geta snapped, causing him to stumble. This made him open to become claimed by the avalanche.

"Took you long enough!"

"I wasn't in a rush!"

"I see!" He took off his sandals and shouted for her to throw down an enchanted rope.

She already had one nearby - one of durable nylon imbued with an elevator incant and a dense baby blue. He grabbed it and asked for her to let the floating island set sail.

Zazaki held on. He didn't want to go up. He preferred to be close and personal to the beauty of the clouds and gentle golden rays as they journeyed to their next destination.

For those wondering. Here are thee definitions for geta, yukata and leeward:

Geta - a form of traditional Japanese footwear resembling flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with a flat wooden base elevated with up to three prongs, held on the foot with a fabric thong, which keeps the foot above the ground.

Yukata - an unlined cotton summer kimono, worn in casual settings such as summer festivals and to nearby bathhouses. Originally worn as bathrobes, their modern use is much broader, and are a common sight in Japan during summer.

Leeward - situated on or towards the side sheltered from the wind.