14 Tricks and Trickling Blood

[Shelly's POV]

Fireballs? I'm firing balls of fire with both of my hands! I can't believe it! Should I celebrate, should I stop, or perhaps should I point this towards my Aunt Yurara? Okay, okay, I must calm down first. Go away evil thoughts, not today.

"Put it out!" shouted Yurara the third time.

"I, I don't know how!" I retorted while trying to point my palms towards the floor.

The marble tiles started to blacken at first, but as more time pass by, it began turning into a liquid goo of what seems to be its melting state. I looked at the other girls to ask for their help, and it did not took long before Horikawa jumped over the sofa. Hori dashed towards me, creating a blue magical circle, ice protruding around me - blocks of ice, or perhaps bricks of ice. The next thing I knew was that she trapped me in an Ice Igloo.

"T-That will keep Shelly-sama from hurting us." mumbled Horikawa.

"Great job." said Miki, "but your igloo continues to glow from within. It's not gonna stop her for long." said Mikheala.

"Knock her out." ordered Aunt Yurara.

'Excuse me? Aren't you supposed to be a strong witch, so why do I have to lose my consciousness again?' I complained in my head. "No, please don't." I shouted.

I have no idea what was going on outside, but I should be worrying about myself more. I can feel my body weakening as more of this fireballs continue to shoot out of my palms. Surprisingly, the igloo was not melting at all. Is this really ice?

"Ugh, class dismissed. Witch apprentices deal with this. I've got no time for my lovely niece." I heard my Aunt said, followed by the clicking of her heels away from where we are.

I almost got no energy left to stand, so I kneeled on the hot tiles. Why is this happening to me? I maintained pointing my hands on one direction, my arms going numb in the process. This is not the perfect time to sleep, but I just felt like doing so.

[Lhea's POV]

As expected, Yurara would leave the problem to us to handle. Some things never change. The moment that she was out of our radar, I immediately gave Yona a meaningful glance and a nod. She got what I was trying to make her do. Releasing her spiritual color, she checked if Yurara was far enough from us. We would not want her to know that we have been trying to help Master Shelly more than what she was expecting.

"Yona? Is she gone?" I asked this brown-haired maid.

"Yes, her spiritual color is far from us now. Miki, break her out." said Yona in her usual cold tone.

"A-Are you sure? S-she could hurt everyone. S-she got not control." spoke Horikawa.

"We are her classmates Hori. We should assist her when we can." giggled Mikheala. "Come on Hori, drop an ice brick. I'll make sure to calm her down."

I bat a serious glance towards Mikheala. "That's not going to be pretty. Your affinity is weak to fire. If anything it should not be you, Miki."

Mikheala pouted.

That's right. You should not do anything for her. Let us handle this, let me handle this. Alright, I should tell Horikawa to simply freeze Master Shelly's hands. That is obviously the only choice in this situation. The moment I glance at Horikawa, Yona stood in front of the ice conjurer.

"I've seen that expression before," Yona stated as she raises her left arm, white sprites forming at the tips of her fingers as she does so. "Haste is not always the solution."

"What?" I asked with a smile.

I gave Mikheala and Horikawa a glance but they simply shrugged it away. They are not against my orders, and were supposed to follow it but Yona's intervention made them doubt it.

"Miki, Horikawa, follow my lead." stated Yona as she runs towards the ice dome.

I was forced to watched at the sidelines.

Yona knocked at the igloo, "Shelly! Don't sleep! Shelly!" Wait why the hell is she shouting? Yurara might return to the living room if she continue raising her voice. "Wake up!"

"Wha- I'm awake... kind of. My hands are hurting." I flinched when I heard Master Shelly's voice crack.

I took a step forward, but Yona was quick to turn her head to look at me. I got her message, and I simply pursed my lips to prevent myself from doing anything. Mikheala began forming a dome of vines shaped like a crescent besides the igloo.

"Horikawa, open the top of the dome." ordered Yona.

"Y-yes." responded Hori, and when she did so, Yona quickly hopped inside as fast.

"H-Hato?! W-wait, don't touch me there. H-hey! Where's the consent in this mansion?" complained Shelly.

"Shut it. Spoiled brat." retorted Yona.

A minute later, white sprites scattered from the igloo before blasting to the ceiling. It did not quite reach the top, but I that would probably be what I think it was. Why did a lot of sprites shot upwards? How much was Yona able to force out of Master Shelly?

"Miki, it's alright now. Make your igloo disappear." Yona reassured.

"O-okay!" and with a quick swiped to the floor, the ice dome vanished into flurries of snow.

"Here!" Mikheala pushed the crescent vine towards Yona. At first, I thought it was just a couple of random vines braided together, but turns out it was actually a bowl bed. Yona placed Master Shelly on it, then takes a step backward from the girl.

I came to check if Shelly was alright. Thank the heavens she is! "Her hands are burnt! Horikawa grab the first aid kit." I spoke with concern.

And as Horikawa was assisting me from treating Master Shelly's burns. I need to prioritize our master's wounds first. Those fireballs were intense. Aside from the damage to the sofas and other furniture, some tiles were also cracked from the small explosions.

"Does it hurt Master Shelly?" I asked as I give my attention back to her.

There were tears on her cheeks, however frozen. It was probably an effect of the ice igloo.

"It's painful. I don't understand. I should not have any kind of this magic thingy your kind of people wield." Shelly sniffled as she fails to find a comfortable position in the bowl bed. "Did all of you went through this too?"

"If you mean getting our hands burnt, then no." I answered with a small smile.

She looked at me as if she was waiting for more explanation. I took a deep breath, knowing that I need to be careful of what I am about to say or else the curse placed on me would activate.

"You looked troubled Lei or Lhea. I have no idea what your names really are, but I guess it does not matter." Shelly began as she tries to sit up.

"Please rest Master Shelly." I told her.

Yona, Miki and Hori also walked up to where we are. It seems like they also noticed that Shelly was trying to move despite getting her body in a weakened state for failing to control the amount of magic that was released from her hands.

"Is there something you need to tell me about my aunt? You know you can just spill all the beans out." Shelly says with a sad expression on her face. "Don't say: It is not yet the time or you have to get stronger or some prophecy shit."

We gasped after that particular bad word Master Shelly said, all except Yona.

"This brat can sure say something." commented Yona.

"Yona!" I reprimanded.

"I mean, it was a little funny." added Maid Miki.

I honestly cannot deal with anymore side comments. I glanced at Horikawa, thinking if I should let her take control of the situation, but decided that it might not be the best idea.

"Unfortunately, Master. That is exactly what you need to do first. It is not yet time." I answered, bowing my head down.

Shelly fell silent, before heaving a sigh. In a whisper she says in askance, "What does this all mean?"