Kaelin rubbed her eyes as the sun's rays forced her awake. "Are we there yet?" Her voice laced gravel as she looked around. "Not yet. But we should make it to the top in a matter of hours if nothing happens." Jarren mused, adjusting Kaelin on hid back.
The girl looked around before realizing the weird glances shot at her. "Huh? Why didn't you tell me that we had some guests?" Her voice now shaping out of her gravel touch.
"Well you were sleeping so I didn't want to wake you up." Jarren spoke as he kept on leading, the pair a few feet away from the rest. "Get me off." She cried, lightly tapping Jarren's head ruffling his hair.
"If you say so." Without warning Kaelin was dropped to the snow, making her body wince from the cold and the pain. "Ow! You didn't have to be so heartless." Her voice taut as she scrambled to her feet.
"Well sensing your urgency, I put you down as requested." His tone playful as he helped her to her feet. The sun peaked far above them, it's rays melting the snow around them and with the balls of fire surrounding them, the coldness wasn't that much of a hinder to the party.
Kaelin clicked her tongue, her eyes landing on his back as he kept on walking. "What is up with those glances Grazilla's shooting at you? Did a fight happen?" Kaelin asked as her eyes darted from Diana to Grazilla before the rest of the party.
"A fight but not physical. If you're hungry there should be some food if you want." A shadow glyph opened through space and a myriad of food was presented to Kaelin. It wasn't just the bat game but greens as well. The entire feast perfectly laid out for her.
"I didn't know that you could store so much." Kaelin smiled as she dug into the meal. It wasn't long before those behind him caught up. "Wait! You had other food as well?!" Diana was the first to shout, her face portraying her contempt.
Jarren however ignored her as he looked at the summit, the peak of the mountain now visible. In his mind all kinds of calculations ran. "Hey, don't ignore me!" She went on with her ramblings before Grazilla interjected.
"Don't you think that you have way too much on your plate?" At first he thought that Jarren was a petty miser but now, it was clear that he was simply toying with them. "Well can really have too much?" His words filled with playful banter. "Don't bother with him, we're nearly there so bickering with him now would be a waste of time."
Brose sighed, his gaze avoiding Jarren's as he glanced at what was to come. "If we keep on letting him get away with such trivial matters then what about the future? Should we just endure his humiliation?! I was waiting till we got to the top but I guess that I'll brawl with you right now."
*BOOM*
The entire vicinity was bathed with Grazilla's aura making the rest groan in discomfort. Jarren however took a light glance at Grazilla before smirking. "I thought that you would be much stronger for you to challenge me but shattering a bone could make a great learning experience for you."
His figure was bathed with a dark ominous shadow, glowing with a starry edge making those around them lose themselves with it's beauty. "That's more like it!" Grazilla laughed as he increased his malcore pressure making those around him shout with annoyance.
"Grazilla calm down if you don't want to cause another avalanche." Diana shouted, her gaze fixed onto Grazilla's exploding aura. Callista on the other hand kept on walking as she remained unfazed with the pressure that claimed the top.
Grazilla was the first to make the move, crashing onto Jarren's figure.
*WHOOSH*
Jarren stepped to the side exposing Grazilla's open figure. He landed backhand onto his face. Sharp and filled with ridicule making Grazilla wince in pain as he backed up. "Okay, since you're going to be playing like that then let's see how you handle this!"
His legs bugled, veins popped on his limbs as his grin lengthened on his face. His movements increased by two fold as he finally landed a punch Jarren's chest. 'Got you!' Grazilla cheered in his mind however Jarren's figure being sent sprawling off the mountain never came.
Instead a grin was shot back at him, constituted of stars and golden blood of fallen gods. His mind went blank, the pain jolting him back to the scene. Jarren;s fist landed squarely on Grazilla's face sending him flying. However Jarren wasn't done.
For Grazilla, his vision was his world rapidly spinning before brought to a halt as a shadow tentacle latched onto his leg. "Huh?!" Before he could get his bearings, the impact of him crashing onto the ground sent his senses in disarray.
Looking up, he was met with a kick to the face, this time much harder than the prior punch.
*BAM*
And with that his imposing aura dissipated, leaving Jarren all alone as he watched Grazilla's body fall the side of the mountain. The sounds of bones crunching and rocks shattering followed.
The rest merely watched in disbelief with what had occurred. Sure they knew that a fight would occur between the two but for it to end so quickly was completely out of their expectations.
'Damn it I didn't think that he would be that strong. Also what is that glyph that he just used.' Diana concluded in her mind, letting out a defeated sigh as she forced herself to keep on walking.
'It would take too long if I were to go for Grazilla. Also does he think that I couldn't see him make me side with him?' Sure she was hungry, but not blind with what happened around her.
The pair looked at each other as they watched Jarren close in, his strides measured. "Are you satisfied?" His words calm as Kaelin finished with her meal. "I'm done. Maybe next time switch the wine for something less bitter. I didn't like the one that you had." Her tone playful as she rose to her feet.
Callista was far upfront, followed by Diana and the now scared pair before Jarren and Kaelin. Jarren didn't need to look back to know whether Grazilla had survived or not. As for Brose, he made his way back down to check on Grazilla, concern claiming his thoughts
…
(Congratulations on making it to the top first Callista Vaewlyn.)
(Due to your hard work and valiant effort, you will be gifted 1,000 merit points)
Callista didn't think much of the notification that popped on her bracelet as her distant eyes landed on Jarren before finally landing on Kaelin.
She tilted her head in bewilderment as her voice echoed in Jarren's head. "Are you going to make her one of your toys?" Jarren who kept on trekking flashed a smile. "Please, she's just for time. After all I'm quite content with my plate." It wasn't long before the pair made their way, notifications shifting their attention off her.
"How many are you going to toy with before disposing to the side?" Her voice flat. The response took longer than she liked. "Why tell you when you'll see it for yourself?" His words light as he finally made it to the peak of the summit.
By now the sun was on the horizon, ready to set as it left a streak of gold and orange on the clouds. Diana sneaked a glance at Callista who blankly stared at the sky. "I finally see as to why you're so scared of him."
Her words a faint murmur to Callista. "I know that I haven't been that much of a help to you but I hope that you can forgive my childish ruse." Callista was long aware of Diana's theatrics, a ploy to use Grazilla as s dense pawn to get rid of Jarren however her plan fell short.
"There's no need to apologize to me. I just hope when the time comes that you'll be strong enough to withstand the torture forcing me to say this Diana…" Callista paused, the weight of her silence deafening.
"I renounce any and all form of relations with you Diana Starborne. The grim fate that awaits you will not be pretty." Diana felt the world her spin faster than she could process. "What do you mean you're ending our relationship? We've been friends since we were kids and now you're just going to leave me like this?!"
Her voice rising gaining the attention of those around them. Kaelin similar to the other two equally stunned observers couldn't understand what was going on between the two. Jarren merely smiled at the sides.
"Yes, it was a pleasure knowing you Diana but your time has come. I'm serving my punishment and it's only a matter of time before you do as well. Be grateful that it will be death and not eternal damnation." Callista's words calm, a sharp contrast to Diana's raging words.
"You…" Diana fumed as she cast her index at Jarren who merely enjoyed the even unfold like an unbothered spectator. "I don't know what you've done to her but I'll get to the bottom of this and make you pay!" Diana's words dark and malicoius however Jarren shot an innocent smile at her.
"I'm sure that you'll enjoy the event that I have planned for you." His words equally calm as Callista's. Before she burst into a rage, a notification made them all come to a halt.
(DING! Congratulations on making it to the summit on time)
(Your reward for this will be an additional 20,000 merit points)
A faint buzz filled the air, the source was a hybrid chopper that landed at the top. Eric stepped out, his smile warm and light. "Congratulations on making it to the top." However his words seemed to pass Diana who still had her attention locked on Jarren.
"Princess Diana, I'm sure that it would be more preferable to keep your calm. After all you may face penalties and have your merit points revoked." Eric posed, his gaze shifting from Diana to Jarren. One of them calm and the other fueled with rage.
Stepping to the side, Diana hopped into the chopper, her cheeks pouted as she forced herself into a corner.The rest hopped on, perplexed with whether to help her or not
…
The chopper landed on the Ark Facility compound before the students on board hopped off. Callista watched Diana make her way to her room, without a flicker of care on her face.
"Do you feel anything for her?" Jarren asked, his hands pocketed as he made his way to the main hall. They were free and he chose in spending his time helping Kaelin who trailed behind him. "No and you made me sure that I don't feel it."
Kaelin was still puzzled with the relationship between Jarren and Callista. Her theory of the two being lovers was quickly unfounded with the two interacted. It lacked the softness of a normal relationship.
"Well I can make it that you feel something. After all you seemed thrilled with experiencing pain." A joke that passed her. "Can you already kill her so that I can forget her?" Jarren paused, his eyes shifting from her eyes to her collar.
"For that I would have to consult Clomere. She was the one behind the attack after all." His words carefree as if he hadn't released the name of the person the kingdom was searching for. "How soon will you end this world?"
She went on, the two walking down the clean empty sterile walls. "When the miss decides to end it. I'm sure that you'll enjoy it after all Clomere doesn't like still puppets." His words suggesting a bigger game behind the scenes. "Are they as cold as you?" The three arrived at a door, grand in stature as slid open after scanning the three.
"Welcome to the Ark Training Facility where the most advanced and cutting edge technology are at your disposal. You will not be required an entrance fee however after three hours a toll of fifty merit points an hour will be required." The voice echoed, flat and dripping with monotone.
"Quite the opposite, they're just as lost as you are.All deep down wishing to escape the walking abyss that is my presence." His words heavy and final as he let out a breath.