Autumn Winters
"Iceberg Armor: Primal Hunter! Franny, I'm no longer holding back!" I screamed as I pounced toward my elder sister, "this form allows me to maneuver through frigid terrains, as well as allowing me to adapt to any weather condition; but my favorite part of this form is—." I swiftly approached my sister with a close-ranged palm-strike, "—the enhancements to my physical attacks!"
I landed the blow in the middle of my sister's torso, much to her surprise; however, it would have appeared that I'd underestimated her, as she countered me by grabbing my forearm and flipping me on my back.
"You're not the only Winters that enjoys a good old-fashioned fist-to-cuffs," Francesca put her fists up and the two of us began to fight, fist to fist. The match felt like it lasted for hours, when in reality it was over shortly after Francesca and I began fighting hand to hand.
"The winner of this match is, Deputy Commander Francesca Winters!!" Kuroyami announced and the cheers soon followed. I didn't expect to win against my sister, I really only wanted her to see how far I've gotten since she stop teaching me. I was grateful that I was able to fight against her, and I can only hope that we can do it again, soon.
After the match, I changed and met with the rest of the Student Council who were in a designated viewing box above the stands. During that time, I'd missed both Minerva and Renata's battle and Myrlin and Zofina's battle; I wasn't upset, though, quite the opposite. I'm rather familiar with all three of their abilities, watching them now will feel more like a training session than a tournament. We were all looking forward to the final match, and it was an open secret that the finals were going to be between Myrlin and my sister Francesca, and I was rather eager to see two Deputy Commanders go all out.
"That match was simply amazing!" Xadam President exclaimed, "That transformation, oh what did you call it again? Prime Huntress?"
"Primal Hunter," I smiled, "it's called Iceberg Armor: Primal Hunter; it basically allows me to increase my mobility in extreme climates as well as giving me a boost in my combat skills. I developed it during my Chevalier training with Ayosaki, speaking of, have you seen her? I wanted to see if she saw my progression."
"Oh, she's in the stands with her fellow Tesseract guardsmen," Yume interjected, "we offered to have them accompany her; however, she'd declined." The look on Yume's face appeared to be sadden by Ayosaki's absence, and I had to admit, the President's Box did feel emptier without Ayo's presence keeping the rest of us in order.
Well, I can always thank her another time, I thought; after all, the most exciting match was getting ready to begin. The arena grew silent in anticipation as both Myrlin and my sister made their way onto the battlefield. The silence was still and deafening to the point to where I could hear everyone in the President's Box hearts beat, individually.
"And now," sang Kuroyami, "for today's main event! It's a clash amongst Alpha Hell Hounds; Decade Block Eight's Deputy Commander, Francesca Winters and her opponent, from Decade Block One, The Zero Seat, Myrlin Samael Wyllt-Garyūshi!" The crowd gave a booming applause as the two strongest of their respective blocks acknowledged the fanfare.
Franny wore our mother's Blizzard armor; it was a dazzling light blue that made her ash-wheat colored hair resemble that of an artic wolf. And perhaps it was a coincidence, but since I was a child, I'd always felt like she was just that, a wolf; a mother wolf, that would always be there to nurture all the cubs in the pack, even the ones that weren't hers.
"I'm rather excited to see your skills, Myrlin," Franny remarked with a smirk, "are you truly worthy of being my equal? To lay claim to the title of 'Zero Seat'?" She stuck her wand out to Myrlin, who nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess you'll have to find out like everyone else here," Myrlin taunted, sticking his tongue out at Franny.
"Three… Two… One… BEGIN THE BATTLE!"
In a flash, Franny scribed her name and in that exact instant, a wall of snow erected in front of her; she was preparing herself for anything Myrlin had up his sleeves.
Francesca Winters
As soon as I summoned my snow wall, I immediately began to calculate my form of attack, from what I remember, Myrlin is a mid-ranged battle mage. He'll likely try to move in close to try to catch me off guard, which is exactly what I want from him.
I soon released my defenses and like I'd planned, Myrlin was charging right towards me, to which I countered, landing a blow on him, "oh great, you went and made me draw my stilettos!"
"Yo-yo-ayo!" barked Kuroyami, "the Deputy Commander just unveiled her hidden weapons; a pair of crystal stilettos!!" The crowd flew into a frenzy as I regained my focus on the opponent before me.
"Sōhō: Terramaru!" Myrlin cried, and the earth beneath our feet began to rumble as the dirt collected and hovered above his forearms. "The battle is just beginning, Chess!" Myrlin cocked his fist back and threw a right hook, and as if it were a puppet on a string, the floating dirt construct mimicked his movements.
I responded accordingly by dodging the attack, it was an honest surprise that he was this powerful, and the fact that he'd forced me to use my weapons is surely a testament of his skill. I quickly scribed a support spell, "Snow Signature: Blizzard Step!" I ran across the solidified snow to gain distance from my opponent, he's persistent, I thought.
I looked to my right and saw Myrlin charging in for another attack with his sand fists; blow after blow, I fended off his strikes, this is a lot tougher than I thought.
"Sand-spire: Sand Cocoon," Myrlin shot two fingers in the air and a tower of sand erupted from the battle ground.
The sand was so dense and compacted that I had a hard time scribing a spell to escape, "Category: 8 Hurricane!" I'd summoned the artic winds to aid in my escape, causing the tower to explode from within. I was now on the hunt, I'd finally found a worthy opponent, and I was eager to sink my fangs into him.
I continued my onslaught, and each strike was met with Myrlin expertly countering each attack, how is he doing that, I was beginning to question my sanity; that was until he had me cornered. On the battlefield, I stood before my opponent, Myrlin, or so I thought, because once I looked at my surroundings, I saw multiple individuals that resembled Myrlin. "What's going on here," I interrogated frantically.
"WOAH—WOAH!" Kuroyami exclaimed, "let's take a look back at the match with some instant replay! Hey—Oh!! What's this?! While the Deputy Commander of Block Eight was fending off attacks, it looks like Block One's Zero Seat hadn't even moved a muscle!"
Is that true? Have I only been fighting his constructs, the gravity of my thoughts was immense, and it had dawned on me; I see, he fooled me by thinking that the first spell he used was that dirt arm, when in fact, it was a golem. "I concede," I raised my hands in the air, "I must admit, Myrlin, I've never had to work that hard to lose before; it was an honor to fight against you."
"Psssssh," my underclassman wiped his nose, "I already know you let me win, Chess, let's call it even!" Myrlin stuck his hand out and bolstered a smile that stretched from ear-to-ear; there's something about this young man, a light about him; a light I hope Autumn finds herself following someday.
"And the winner of this year's Three Hundred Thirty First Grand Magic Chevalier is, Deputy Commander Myrlin Samael Wyllt-Garyūshi!" Kuroyami announced as the crowd chanted and cheered for Myrlin's name, "But he's not the only winner, from Decade Eight this year's winner is, Deputy Commander Francesca Winters!" And once again the audience cheered and began to shout both our names.
As my last Chevalier, I'm grateful that I was able to fight against my dearest baby sister, I mused, and even more grateful that the one that helped her achieve her current level of strength was a worthy opponent for me. I know without a doubt that this academy will be in good hands once I graduate; he might protest, but I believe he'll genuinely appreciate my offer.
"Deputy Commander Chess!" Myrlin chanted along with the audience, "c'mon, you gotta celebrate! There's no point in looking stoic, this is your last Chevalier!"
"As a going away present from me to you," I began with an air of relief sweeping over me, "I hereby dub thee, as my successor." My underclassmen's face was puzzled as the crowd continued their cheers, completely unaware of the transaction that had just taken place.
"What do you mean?" Myrlin stumbled; it was cute really, seeing him flustered and confused, "I don't quite understand what you mean by successor."
"I'll explain later," I looked up at the President's Box and saw my sister; she is my light, my guardian. I redirected my attention toward Myrlin and conjured a wind infused with sound to relay a message to him, "meet me at this address tonight, and I'll tell you everything; come alone."
Later that same night
The address I'd asked to meet at was a familiar place for me, Avalon's best pastry shop Crèmello's Bakery; home to their famous Juneberry Crepes, Snowconut Sorbet, and my favorite pastry, Goldberry, and Silver-fruit Danishes. My mouth is watering just thinking about all the sweets I'll get to eat, I dreamed.
"Yo Chess!" Myrlin's voice managed to cut through the busy streets of Avalon's Night District, "this the place? A pastry parlor? Is it even open this late?"
"Of course it is!" I linked my arm with his, "after all, this shop specializes in dates, and it was ever so kind of you to take your senior out on a date before she graduates from the Academy."
"This is a what?!" Myrlin shouted, turning red in the process, "Deputy Commander—,"
"—Oh Myrlin," I snickered, "I'm only kidding; I do enjoy making you sweat, it's quite funny how your ears grow red from the embarrassment." The two of us found ourselves at a booth in the furthest corner of the restaurant where we could speak in private, "Myrlin, as Deputy Commander of our respective Decade Blocks, we are seen as the strongest; however, it would stand to reason that even amongst the strongest, there is one that stands even above them."
Myrlin's eyes began to widen as he processed the information, "so, you're saying, before I enrolled and became a Zero Seat—,"
"—I was the 'Head Alpha Hell Hound'," I interjected, "no student or teacher, or other staff member aside from the Supreme Commander has been able to make me yield; yet you were. You didn't just make me submit, you forced me to realize I must pass on my true role and position at the academy to you." A time-honored tradition, the bestowal of the strongest, and with that, whatever block has said strongest will henceforth be known as The Academy Police; this was one of the many truths behind Avalon Academy's Disciplinary Committee, and Myrlin was about to uncover them all.
"I want to thank you," Myrlin began, "but are you sure about this? I'm competent, maybe, but I'm sure there are other Zero Seats that are way stronger than me—."
"—I beg to differ," I replied, putting my foot down, "I've faced off against each Deputy Commander of every Decade Block, including my seniors, and I beat them. Every last one of them was pathetic, pitifully weak, but you, Myrlin. You made my heart race; you made me feel primal, like the wolf I am, and I was finally getting what I'd been searching for, the next strongest."
Myrlin wore a solemn expression before accepting my proposal, I had been right all along, he was reluctant to accept the responsibility of "The Strongest," but he will grow to appreciate the power he holds and will hold in the future.
"Well since we're both the strongest," Myrlin chimed in, "I can trust you'll keep the information I'm going to share with you a secret. I'm sure you're aware of what occurred in the Slum District a while back; since then, Decade Block One and Decade Block Two have been working together on a joint investigation into the Slum District and the Hermetic Order of the Dragon Steadfast."
I leaned back in my booth, "yes I'm aware of all of this, what are you getting at?"
Myrlin took a moment to scope our surroundings, "I believe there are traitors at the academy working with the Steadfast."
"Traitors? As in plural?" I whispered, "you don't think it's anyone in the Student Council or the Disciplinary Committee, do you?"
My colleague folded his arms and closed his eyes, "I can't say for certain, but what I do know is that when Ayosaki met with Deputy Commander Novara, she had an uneasy feeling. Call it a hunch, but she's been on the top of my list for a while now."
"Sable Novara," I said to myself, "now that you mention it, since she's been enrolled at the academy, she's had her unit stay in older lecture halls; out right refusing residency in their assigned manor. Not to mention her style of command; Decade Two's Zero Seat is partial to the authoritarian approach."
"It beckons the question, 'who is Sable Novara, really'?" Myrlin pondered as the two of us continued eating our sweets. "I propose you and I get a small team to investigate the Deputy Commander and see what she's really up to; no more than two officers, not including ourselves, of course."
I agreed to the proposal and the conditions, and after the long night Myrlin and I went our separate ways. On my way back to my unit's manor, I'd noticed something strange, it was a hooded figure, rather a group of hooded figures. They were all huddled around each other, and it almost sounded like they were chanting something. I activated Fi kagā to conceal my presence, I don't know what these people are capable of, and Myrlin is long gone by now. If I rush in without any plan or support, I'll definitely lose, or even worse.
I hid in a nearby alleyway, peaking around the corner every other minute to see if, or when the group would move. As the seconds passed, the group's chanting grew ever louder and closer, my nerves were burning from the anxiety and fear that I was feeling. The group was within earshot, and I was able to make out the phrase they'd been chanting "Son of Chaos, our one True King, Reign upon us, the Chaos he'll bring."
It's the Steadfast! I could feel my body constrict in fear as the gravity of the situation revealed itself to me, he was on to something, the Steadfast was operating not just in The Slums, but in plain sight within the city! I needed to make my way to Myrlin to relay my epiphany; however—.
"—Another dog snooping around where they shouldn't," one of the cultists sneered as he peered around the corner. He removed his hood, and he looked to be the same age as an academy student, and upon further inspection, he was wearing an academy uniform, but there was something off about him. The young man looked to have some sort of growth pulsating on the right side of his face, "the Mad Priestess' visions are coming true, and the True Eve of Chaos is upon us!" He was babbling complete nonsense, that was until he pulled out a jagged knife and stabbed it into the growth on his face. Both the cultist and the growth screeched in agony and shortly after the growth burst into flames.
Confused, I attempted to gain some distance to escape, however the other cultists seemed to have wanted me to bear witness to whatever it was that was happening to their colleague. When the flames settled, the cultist stood up, smoke obscuring his face only seeing the glow of his blood-lusted eyes, "notice me, oh Chaos King, NOTICE ME!"
The cultist pounced towards me in a desperate attempt at my life, "I'm now privy to your capabilities, and I can confidently assure you that your Chaos King will notice you; he'll notice how you made a mockery of his name by being defeated on this very night. Snow Signature: Desolate Tundra." I blanketed the streets with a thick and poisonous snow, to which my foes collectively collapsed from the exposure, "the cold makes the body more vulnerable and susceptible to illnesses; the poison in this snow contains an unpleasant and incurable disease called 'Web Lung' that causes your lungs to fill with a thick web-like mucus. Did you think killing me would be that easy?"
I approached the cultist that had mutilated himself and it would have appeared that he'd died before I could arrest him and bring him in for questioning. Upon further examination, it looked like all of the cultists were dead, in total there were six of them, and what the main one said, "The Chaos King," stuck with me, more like haunted me. I knew that what Myrlin had told me was true, and there was a traitor enrolled at Avalon Academy, and it wasn't just one, there were multiple.
That following morning, I arranged a meeting between both Decade One's Disciplinary unit and my own to discuss my encounter with the Steadfast, "I can't be too certain, but I do believe that there is more than one spy working with the Steadfast. Last night, on my way back to the Tuatha Dé Manor, I was confronted by a group of six hooded cultist, and each of them were wearing a standard issued Avalon Academy uniform." Both blocks' officers looked around in suspicion, it was clear to both groups that this has grown larger than anticipated.
"Did you recognize the students at all?" Captain Layla Dracoventis asked with a raise of her hand, "or at least what block they were from?"
I folded my arms and solemnly closed my eyes, "I couldn't say for certain; to be frank, I'd actually never seen the students in any classes, let alone on campus. What I do know is that they're following the word of a woman by the name of 'The Mad Priestess,' and the one she answers to is the 'Chaos King.' And right before the cultist attacked me, he'd removed his hood to reveal a large growth pulsating on his face, and whatever that thing was, once he'd agitated it, he along with it burst into flames."
"Sounds intense," Vice-Captain Iniko spoke, "do you think they're connected to the attack on Third Seat Minami Ayosaki and Fourth Seat Ololadeseijin Akinyemi?"
"More than likely," interjected Deputy Commander Myrlin, "the Hermetic Order of the Dragon Steadfast isn't well known, and the fact that they operate out of the Slums, means that their circle is fairly tight."
"Yes, I'd concur," I acknowledged, "which is why I summoned us all here today. It goes without saying that there is a traitor at the school that's working with the Steadfast; however, because of last night's incident, I can confidently say that there are multiple infiltrators. So, starting today, I, along with Deputy Commander Myrlin have decided to collaborate together to investigate this endeavor; more specifically, to investigate one of our own. Initially, we agreed that we'd only assign two officers from each block to this investigation; however, I believe it will be within our best interests to have each of you involved in this." The room grew eerily silent at the mention of a possible Committee officer being one of the traitors.
"One of our own?" Captain Ogunosuke pointed, "you don't think any of the officers are affiliated with them, do you?"
Third Seat Ayosaki took a deep breath before standing, "if I may interject; a while back I had a rather odd conversation with Deputy Commander Novara, she'd offered to do a joint investigation on the Steadfast and the Slums. At first, I didn't think much of it; however, the way she spoke—, like her speech's cadence, she had an odor of malice and deception behind it."
"Yes, the Deputy Commander has indeed raised some suspicion," I added, "which has honed me in on the subject of this investigation, Sable Novara. I find it rather odd and bothersome that she commands her unit with authoritarianism, while the rest of the Disciplinary Committee takes a more civil approach; not to mention her out right refusal to accept their assigned residency—, oh, Fourth Seat Ololadeseijin Akinyemi, do you have something to add?"
The fourth seat of Decade Block One stood at attention, "Thank you, Deputy Commander Winters; I meant to keep this to myself; however, judging by all of the information that was presented, I find it pertinent to tell you all that, I too, met with the Deputy Commander." Akinyemi's breathing started to waver as she began to recall the conversation, "a few weeks before the Chevalier, I was summoned to Block Two's Disciplinary Committee office, and while I was there, I felt as though I'd been there before; I can't explain it, but that building felt too familiar."
It was becoming more and more clear to me that Deputy Commander Novara was in fact affiliated with The Dragon Steadfast. The information that was shared, proved itself to be extremely valuable, coupled with both Myrlin and I leading this investigation, I have not a shred of doubt in my mind that Sable is not only a traitor, but 'The Mad Priestess' herself.
Avalon Academy Graduation Jubilee, Coastal Federation of Avalon; 27 Sylphsara 90R7X
The past seven years I had left at the academy was mostly uneventful, especially since Myrlin and I began our investigation. It would have appeared that a certain Deputy Commander Novara caught on to our plans and ordered her unit to withdraw from their initial joint investigation, further drawing more suspicion to herself; and although I'm leaving this year, I do intend to stay in constant contact with Deputy Commander Myrlin.
My block's ceremony was being held at the academy's main auditorium, where every academy student was present and accounted for; in total, my class would be promoting all three thousand, seven hundred fifty-two students. I was immensely proud of my colleagues, although there were no odds stacked against us, it still doesn't take away the pleasure it brings me.
As I sat on the stage, alongside my captain, Layla Dracoventis, and vice, Zofina Volynek, our block's Student Council President, Ysme Oreheart, presented a heart-felt speech to send us off. "And although it pains me to leave this institution, with its amazing faculty and staff, and the incredible students; I can confidently say, that I would do it again, a second time."
"I appreciate the opportunity and privilege to serve you all as your Student Council President for the past near century, and I can only pray to our Dear Mother, that each of you, me included, can continue to prosper and thrive. My name is Ysme Oreheart, formally known as your Student Council President, and I look forward to our futures." The speech was met with a thunderous applause from our classmates; honestly, if I didn't have an image to uphold, I'd be a bumbling mess from all the emotions Ysme just poured out.
Madam President turned to me and motioned me to give my speech to the class, to which I obliged, "Students of Avalon Academy's Decade Block Eight, my name is Francesca Winters, you may all know me as the Deputy Commander of Decade Block Eight's Academy Police, or Block Eight's Zero Seat: however, I can only hold that title as long as I'm a student; and it would go without saying that after today I will no longer carry those titles."
I took a moment to collect myself, the raw emotions I felt when Ysme gave her speech were starting to lump up in my throat, "that being said, I want to thank you all for allowing me to represent you, to serve you, and to protect you; and it brings me great joy to leave you all in such capable hands. Although this is a farewell, I would like to shake things up a bit by introducing to you all to my successor, Deputy Commander Myrlin Samael Wyllt-Garyūshi and the new Academy Police!!"
I swung my arm out to my left as the stage's curtains opened revealing Deputy Commander Myrlin and his Disciplinary unit, the new Academy Police. The reveal garnered a massive applause from the students, faculty and even the Supreme Commander. I don't expect this role to be easy for him, I thought; but I do know that it is something that he can handle, and I'll always be there to help him in any way I can.
As the student body cheered, I couldn't help but notice Sable Novara was nowhere to be seen; further drawing more suspicion. I shot my successor a glance, and he'd also noticed the lack of Sable's presence; however, I didn't want to occupy my thoughts with the possibility of a conflict with an alleged spy, I'd rather spend as much time with the people I care about.
••
Iniko Wyllt
Gawain's Tavern, Coastal Federation of Avalon; 16 Galdary 90R7X
Although it's been two months since we were promoted to the Academy Police, it feels just like yesterday when we received the news. Honestly, it came as a surprise not only to me, but to the entire unit. To celebrate, Myrlin and Former Deputy Commander Francesca Winters took both units out to Gawain's Tavern; however, on the way there I was approached by a figure in a hooded robe, "the Mad Priestess sends you her regards, O' Blessed Prince."
"I beg your pardon?" I asked, raising a brow; however, the man tucked his head down and scurried off, not even giving me a chance to respond to him, "that was rather odd, I might be adopted by the Imperial Family, but I ain't no Prince." I paid the matter no mind and continued to the tavern.
Once there, I was met with an array of decorations, booze, and many laughs and cheers; I hadn't seen everyone in such good spirits since the attack on Ayosaki and Akinyemi. The sight of their joy, fills me with warmth, and I would do any and everything in my power to make sure they stay that way.
"NIKO!!" Myrlin shouted, calling me over to join the group, "pull up a seat, bruh-bruh, we've got your favorite, Silver-fruit Sake!" My brother pulled a chair out for me to sit and handed me a glass, to which I accepted.
"Niko, what took you so long?" Ayosaki drunkenly blushed while leaning over my shoulder, "you weren't looking for The Slums without me and Akinyemi were you?" My sister's right-hand stood and hiccupped, "lemme find out where that fuckin' Crazy Nun, cultist-bitch is; I promise to show her the might that is House Minami!!"
SMACK—!!
"Girl, shut up!!" Minerva slapped the back of Ayosaki's head so hard that it echoed throughout the tavern, "and risk the chance of going missing again, I think the fuck not!!" Although her statement was a serious one, our group couldn't resist but to laugh.
"Nah, those weirdo-cultist wouldn't dare to do it again," Keyonte shouted, "not while we've got the strongest Deputy Commander in the entire academy!" The tavern was flooded with cheers, enough so that I'd completely forgotten the encounter I had earlier.
"YO! NIKO!!" Myrlin whistled and shot me and Minerva a glance, widening his eyes, "Mini, Ogun…"
My sister and her fiancé both exchanged a look before directing their gaze to me, oh we finna do THAT! I suddenly had an epiphany. We were here at the tavern to celebrate, good food and plenty of drinks, one could say the party was almost perfect; keyword being almost.
"Well, I don't know about y'all but," Myrlin stood up from his seat, "I'm gonna go for a walk." My brother's demeanor was relaxed, void of any suspicion.
"Oh yeah," I added, "I think I'll join you—."
"—We'll come too," Minerva interjected.
"You're Majesty," Ayosaki hiccupped, "you'need'me'ta'come with'hic, you?" I was surprised Ayosaki was such a lightweight drinker.
"No Ayo, that won't be necessary," Minerva replied, "this is a Garyūshi affair—."
"But why does Master Ogunosuke get to go?!" Ayosaki whined.
"Well technically I am a Garyūshi," Ogunosuke answered, "you see my ancestor, Saint Hikari, was one of Emperor Samael's three younger siblings. Actually, me, Akinyemi, and Ogunkoya are all—."
"—OGY!" Minerva interrupted, motioning him to the door.
"You can finish your lineage lesson after our excursion," Myrlin smirked.
"Oh, right," Ogunosuke pat Ayosaki's head, "I'll be right back, don't get blacked out while we're gone."
The four of us got up from our table and made our exit outside to go on our "walk." In reality, "the walk" in question was just around the back of the tavern in a nearby alleyway.
"Behold!" Myrlin exclaimed, brandishing four perfectly rolled spliffs, "in celebration of our advancement to Block Two, as well as Mini's promotion to Student Council President, I rolled us these bad boys!"
"Oh, Murmur, you didn't have to spoil me," Minerva giggled, "besides, I'm not the only one that got promoted, Deputy Commander of The Academy Feds!" The group erupted into laughter as Myrlin handed each of us our doobie.
Ogunosuke scribed his name in the air, "Shine Signature: Pilot Sparks," an array of tiny sparks emitted, lighting the ends of each blunt.
I inhaled deeply, letting the dense and harsh smoke flood my lungs, "this is some good shit, Murmur," I coughed, "is it all the same strain?"
Myrlin took a massive hit of his spliff before passing it to his left to me; "now Niko," he blew a smoke ring, "you ought to know me better than that. Met this druid from Elphdaema that hooked me up with some Dragon's Breath OG, Phoenix Flower, Garuda Cookies, Pixie Stix, Myrddin Kush, and Heaven Cake, all split between these four fatties!"
Six different strains is insane, I thought, I wish I could say this will be a night to remember, but I doubt I'll even have the ability to—.
BUMP—.
A small hooded figured bumped into me while we were in our session; there was no exchange of words, the person just ran off, and I didn't think twice about the encounter. I focused my attention back to our rotation, where Myrlin was explaining some rather juicy information.
"So, Myrlin," Minerva began, "what's going on with you and Morrigan?"
Myrlin groaned, it was clear that this was a touchy subject, "well, things are a bit awkward between us right now. See, of course the two of us hit it off, and that was great and all, but something of an old flame started demanding my attention."
"What 'old flame?'" Minerva raised a brow, "because I just know you're not talking about… MYRLIN!! You didn't!"
"What, I'm lost," Ogunosuke coughed, passing his blunt to Myrlin, "do we know this old flame?"
"Mugen Yume," Myrlin rolled his eyes as he took a few hits of the spliff, "and here's the kicker, turns out Morrigan Lafayette ain't even their name! Their real name is Mugen Megumi; Infinite Hope, and Yume's twin sibling. And get this, there's more; the reason why Morrigan resigned as Student Council President is because they're a Celestial Hierophant in-training, and they have to start their saintly duties this year."
"What's the big deal," I said, "it ain't like you slept with them…" Myrlin's ears started to grow red with embarrassment.
"MYRLIN!!" Minerva pinched our brother's ear, "how could you?!"
"Ow-ow-ow," Myrlin cried, "Ouch, Mini! Look, I didn't know until after, and yes, everyone was clothed when it happened. In fact, the two confronted me about it in my office one day; boy was that embarrassing."
"Never took you to be a playboy, Myrlin," Ogunosuke gently closed his eyes and smirked, much to Minerva's disapproval.
"Ogy, don't encourage him," Minerva lightly pushed Ogunosuke, "besides, I think it's about time to go back inside, I don't feel like burning my finger tips and lips trying to get high; I'm too pretty for that."
Myrlin took one last hit of the remaining blunt before ashing it out on the cobblestone road, "yeah, we've been gone for a minute now, and I just so happen to have an insatiable appetite; Bulldeer Cheeseburgers are calling my name!" The rest of the night was definitely a blast, well, the parts of the night that I could remember.
I didn't make it back to my room until the wee hours of the morning, I gotta make sure I take it easy—. I reached into my uniform's pocket and was surprised to find a small envelope that looked to have a crystalized dark-red wax stamp.
"What's this?" I picked at the seal, and it practically disintegrated upon touching it, "wait, isn't there a race of dragonmen who's blood turns into crystals?" I quickly perused through my notes, "here it is, 'the anatomy of most, if not all dragonmen is generally the same across the board; however, there exist a sub-race of dragonmen that all have a blood condition called Heliotrope, or Hemoglobin Crystals; these dragonmen are known as Basilisks and can be identified by their protruding facial horns."
I looked down at the now open envelope, and took a peek inside to find a letter addressed to me that read, "O' Blessed Prince, the ones closest to you are not what they seem. If you wish to seek the truth of who you really are, and your purpose in this world, meet me at Mordred's Cove. Come alone." It was signed with two initials, N.A.
What is this letter talking about, I thought; why is this letter referring to me as a prince. Now that I think about it, I was called "Prince" last night too; could the two be connected by chance? I sat in my room; the morning sun was beginning to peak through my drapes as I stared at the contents of the letter.
I was conflicted, on one hand, I wanted to tell Myrlin and Ogunosuke about this letter, but what it said, raised some concern, "the ones closest to you are not what they seem…" What does it mean?And if I don't say something, then I'll draw suspicion to myself; I mean, I haven't done anything, but the fact that this letter was addressed to me can imply otherwise.
"I've decided," I announced, "forgive me Murmur, but I have to do this. I have to know what truth these cultists are insisting that I know, and when I find out whatever is they need to tell me, I'll wipe them all out." I was determined to put an end to The Steadfast and their antics.
To be Continued...