~Chapter 6- Jirro V Hita~

Hita's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, and Jirro stepped on stage to face her. He understood why Tyro saved her for last.

"You've got this Jirro!" Nout said from the sidelines.

"Don't worry Hita, just fight smart!" Tyro coached.

Jirro looked at the girl, her brown hair and serious expression. Only now that he was up close to her could he see her eyes were hazel.

Tyro reluctantly struck the drum to begin the match. Hita took her stance but didn't move. She stayed defensive; she was taking the time to regain her stamina. If Jirro charged at her, he'd probably win due to her exhaustion. But he had questions.

"What was that ability you used against my cousin? It looked like some sort of barrier," Jirro asked.

Hita said nothing, still catching her breath.

Jirro smiled, "Okay, you want to keep your secrets. Fair enough. But what if I showed off a trick with Focus I've learned? We can both learn from each other."

Hita raised an eyebrow, not daring to drop her guard. But Jirro could tell she was thinking on it.

Temp stood from the sidelines, "Just beat her while she's tired and get it over with!" He was only concerned with the money he'd get. Jirro paid him no mind.

"You show me first," Hita said quickly.

"Alright," Jirro raised his hand into the air, "You can use Focus to attack at a distance, but also to amplify the power of your strikes."

Jirro flexed his arm, and a radiant blue light enveloped his hand. He could already feel his body struggling to withstand the power. He released it after he felt like he presented it long enough. Hita watched closely.

"You concentrate Focus in your body rather than outside of it. When you do your strikes will be much stronger. It's really exhausting though," Jirro explained while catching his breath, "Now, your turn."

Hita bounded forward. Jirro barely managed to put up his guard to block her attack. Despite blocking it, it stung. She was stronger than she looked.

The two exhausted fighters clashed, both of them fighting economically, trying not to waste what energy they had left. Hita was far more exhausted though, and left herself open. Jirro took his chance and attacked.

Hita flexed her entire body once more, and that blue light surrounded her, shielding her from Jirro's attack. He retreated immediately, knowing she'd try to counter if he continued.

Jirro backed to the other side of the stage. Hita's light dissipated, and her breathing quickened from the strain of using that ability, that Focus Barrier. He watched closely as she brought forth the barrier and dispelled it.

Jirro put down his hands and left himself wide open to attack. Hita bounded across the stage, and he flexed his entire body. A similar blue light surrounded him. His newly created Focus Barrier protected him from her oncoming blow. A light blue tint covered his vision, and his movements became sluggish.

Rather than run, Hita continued to attack more ferociously, beating against Jirro's barrier. He felt his strength waiver the longer barrier enveloped him, but as much as he tried, he couldn't dispel it. It was as if her continuous strikes were forcing him to maintain it.

His vision became blurry, and soon all he could see was blue. His barrier was finally dispelled, and the breathless Hita landed a single stern strike to his chest. Jirro fell over, passing out as he hit the ground.

-----------------------------------------------

When Jirro awoke, his friends had surrounded him. Nout was gripping an emptied bottle, previously holding a potion. He had forced the potion down an unconscious Jirro's throat.

"Are you alright?" Nout asked his friend.

Jirro shook himself to consciousness, "Yeah. I'm okay. What happened?"

"You were playing with forces you don't understand," A stern woman's voice said. A grey-haired woman with buzzed hair looked down on him. Her body was toned and muscular, and she wore the same white robes that the rest of Fighting Academy wore. The students they fought stood behind her, with Hita clutching her leg like a child.

"You should've never tried to use such an ability without proper training. To dispel a Focus Barrier you need to relax," The woman lectured.

"Who are you?" Jirro asked, forcing himself to stand.

"I am Dama, the Headmistress of this academy," The woman answered coldly, "Despite your brazen behavior, I'm impressed by the lot of you."

Jirro heard quite a bit about her. She was among The Four; individuals considered the strongest of Ralosians, Mecarne, Phantine, and Densius. Dama was often called the most powerful Ralosian.

Dama spoke, "Come along. I'm sure you are hungry."

Dama and the other fighting Academy students escorted them through to their dining hall. Temp silently pouted that they didn't win. If they had, Aero would've paid him for it.

Jirro looked up to Dama, "I'm guessing Hita learned all those Focus abilities from you?"

Dama nodded, "Yes. She has great potential, and I made sure to teach her to respect Focus," She turned over her hand, and the pink glowing orb which was meant to be their prize floated just above her palm, " Now tell me. Why did you want this trinket?"

Aero spoke up, "It's for a friend. She had a orb like that one, but it was stolen. I was thinking that might be able to take its place."

"I see," Dama closed her hand around the orb, "Unfortunately, you were unable to beat my students. We'll wait for someone who can."

"Can we try again tomorrow?" Aero asked.

Mada smirked, "No. We're offering people only one chance to take our challenge. You're free to train with my students further however."

Temp stepped forward angrily, "If Jirro wasn't messing around, he would've beat that little girl!"

Dama said, "I heard another orb like this one exists nearby, amidst the Weld Mountains."

Aero's interest was piqued, "To the south?"

"Yes. I'm certain ones as strong as you should be able to find it," Dama said.

Temp smiled, throwing his arms around Aero and Jirro, "You boys are lucky to have me around then! The Weld Mountains are a hot place. People have been known to get lost and die from overheating without a guide who is familiar with the area. I'd be happy to escort you safely... for a fee."

Jirro clicked his tongue, "You're just looking for easy money."

Dama spoke, "It would be safer to have an escort."

Temp grinned, and Aero shrugged his shoulders, "Fine. I'll pay you more if you help us find that orb."

The Fighting Academy students and the children were all served at the dining hall and sat together. There was a kitchen where the students could order meals from, with long, wooden tables set around the room for them to eat. Cooks in the kitchen prepared meals for all of the students of the Academy each day.

Jirro noticed most of the students here were Ralosian. It would explain why their fighters struggled so much against Temp, Ruben, and Nout.

Tyro chatted with Nout, commending him or his abilities and saying that he was humbled during their bout. Khab questioned Ruben on what tactics should be used against Densius warriors. Aero and Corri reminisced with Kika. Fitsu and Sunno bitterly applauded Temp for defeating both of them.

Meanwhile, Jirro chatted with Dama and Hita. Well, he spoke with Dama and Hita silently sat with them.

"Dama, how did you learn about Focus?"

"My sister and I read about the ability when we were young and learned to harness it. We learned of many fools before us who had underestimated its power and perished, and the two of us were adamant about avoiding that mistake," Dama explained, "What about you? I have not met many who use the ability that aren't a part of my academy."

"An old woman named Modi and her student Emil taught us."

Both Dama and Hita's expressions froze up, as well as many of the nearby students, "That would explain it."

"You know them?"

"Modi is my older sister. And Emil is Hita's older brother."

From across the dining tables Corri shouted, "Emil is her brother!?"

Jirro chuckled, recalling that Corri had a crush on Emil when she met him. When Jirro looked at Hita, he started to see the resemblance. Same hair and eye color. Similar light skin. "From what I gathered, the two of them were expelled from your academy," Jirro said.

"Yes. Emil stole from us while living here, and Modi said she helped. I had to expel them."

Aero slid between the tables next to Jirro and asked Dama, "Who's stronger? You or Modi?"

"I have always been stronger than my sister," Dama said, proceeding to sip her tea.

Aero grinned, "I wonder if Dama is almost as strong as our dads?"

"What makes you say that?" Jirro asked.

"Well, your dad beat Modi up, and apparently she can too."

Dama nearly choked on her drink, "Your father defeated Modi!?"

"Yup."

"Who are they?"

"Lucar," Jirro answered. From Dama's expression, it was clear that name was unfamiliar to her.

Jirro shifted his eyes to the ever silent Hita. She hadn't spoken once since their match, "Hey Hita. Are you going to enter the next tournament at Challenger's Lake?"

Hita looked up slowly, "Yes..."

Jirro smiled, "Good. I want another chance to fight you!"

Hita gave a hesitant smile, blushing slightly, "I'd like that."

The children and Temp gathered together to plan their next move. Aero was insistent that they travel to the Weld Mountains to find the orb, promising that they could head home afterwards.

Dama set her silverware down, "If you or your friends are available, I would happily take you as my students."

Everyone thought for a moment. The gesture was nice, but after being away from their families for so long, each of them wanted to go home as soon as they found that orb.

"We all have things we need to return to. But we'll keep you in mind," Jirro explained.

Dama simply nodded. After their meal, they bid farewell to the students of the Fighting Academy and headed southward, the fiery Weld Mountains visible in the distance.