"IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE ANSWER... THE BEST PLACE WILL BE... THE HUNTING GROUND..."
Upon hearing those words, I stood in place and stared outside. Dumbfounded of what just happened, I tried to comprehend what exactly it was. I was thinking of asking Uncle Fred about last night, but on second thought I guess it would be better to keep it to myself.
It's summer in Feldrenia. The sun is up and is radiantly shining the whole archipelago. Fildrenia is in the eastern part. The country is divided into 7 main islands namely: Luzia, Palintee, Ilonyus, Cebreu, Bohian, Davrid, and Solino. I was born in Cebreu where the Sphyral mountain is located. And as expected, lots of tourists from other countries are coming in the city to see the mysterious mountain.
After I finished breakfast, I watched as Uncle and Heat prepared their luggage for their vacation in Bohian. They are going to the best beach resort in Bohian for a week. They're staying at a 5-star Twin Peak Hotel and Resort. Beautiful glossy white sand connecting to the wide crystalline blue virgin sea, luxurious accommodation, food, and delicacies at its finest, hospitable and beautiful people and the most important of all, the peerless and majestic view that will take your breath away. I really wanted to go with them, but unfortunately, Uncle Fred enrolled me to a summer class. Arrrgh! Curses!
This will be my third time in the 10th-grade at high school level. Our school curriculum consists of 12 grades; 1st-6th grade being elementary, 7th-12-grade being high school. I usually am the top student in our class but I always end up failed grades due to consistent absences. The reason is that I'd rather sleep or play with Heat the whole day than bore myself listening to those classes. Although I feel guilty as times thinking about how Uncle Fred feels. I had given him so much trouble for not taking my studies seriously. I don't really want to disappoint him. Though I'm acting like this, he is still a good father to me. This time, I swear, I won't fail him.
After getting ready for the summer class, I ran towards the front door, Turned back, and waved, "Bye Uncle! Bye Heat! Enjoy your vacation!"
"Take Care Santius! We will send you a message as soon as we arrive in Bohian. Enjoy your class too.", uncle's smile was as bright as his summer attire.
"Srsly? How do I enjoy a summer class?" I muttered and smirked as I grab the doorknob holding the door open.
"Focus on your study Santius! See yah next week.", he winked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, got it! Thanks, Uncle, I hope Heat will not end up burning the cottages in the resort! hahaha" I laughed loudly and stepped outside the house. I took a glance at Heat. He looks pissed as he was glaring back at me.
"Grrrrrrrrrr, grrr grrrr", I heard Heat growling.
*Swwwuuussshhhhhhhhhhhh. Boooooooommm!!**
He threw a blazing fireball at my back. I immediately dodged it and ran away.
"Bwahahahahaha, run Santius! run Santius!" Uncle laughs heartily.
"Stupid Sphynx!" I said to myself as I try to catch my breath. But will surely miss them both. Collecting myself, I proceed to school.
---------------
''Here we go again'', I sighed as I walk towards the school gate. I sped up to enter our beloved FOU (Father Ohsilk University). Father Ohsilk is the one who led the Cebrean armies to defend the small isles in Cebreu from the Southern country invasion. He won the war and a few years later, he built a school for the Cebrean youth. The School became the top and the most prestigious university in Cebreu.
"Goodmorning Mr. Zehcnas!", the School Guard greeted as I entered the gate. Leonel Levrus, He is the Oldest School Guard in the University. I first met him when I was in my 1st-grade. He is still strong and still has the body of a young fine soldier even with his age of 56. His hair was white, but his mustache is oddly black. His eyes are full of determination and he always wears a smile.
"Goodmorning, too, Mr. Levrus!" I face him and smiled.
My eyes widened as I glanced at his side. "Is that your Sphynx?", I asked him. It was a Lynx Type Sphynx. It was of dirty white fur. The only gray part of it was from its thigh to its feet.
There are 2 types of sphynx:
Lynx type Sphynx- A cat-like figure, it is known by their amazing speed depends on their elemental skills.
Hound type Sphynx- A wolf-like figure, strength is one of their best ability, just like the lynx type their strength depends on their elemental skills.
"Yes! He is Swash my Sphynx, I owned him last month." He proudly replied while touching the back of his sphynx.
"That's cool If you don't mind Mr. Levrus how many of you entered the sphyral mountain?" I ask him directly with a small grin.
"13 Head School Guards, each guard came from other Universities." He replied as his smiles suddenly turn to a gloomy one.
"Did all of you get out from the peak?" I ask innocently and worried while looking on his sad face.
"No, we didn't, only 3 of us survived and get out from that terrible mountain." He replied while his voice seeks for justice.
"But why all of you did this?" Asking him again without thinking that it would bring pain for him to remember.
"We don't have a choice, our President implements all head school guards to get a sphynx to enhance safety, and the school agreed." He replied while his voice begins to calm down.
"Luckily you survive with Swash on your side and you can still provide the needs of your family." I give a big wide smile and hoping that it can erase all his burdens for a while.
It hurts to see the old man is in pain while asking those questions. 'How about the family of those school guards who lost their lives for that newly implemented law?'
"Sigh".
Well, what can I do? I'm just a student who cant finish my 10th grade level, its better to arrange my life first than to get envolve of the problem of the others.
---------------
I immediately run to the building after chatting with Mr. Levrus and search for my Classroom.
'Naah, it's almost time, I have to find my room in this humongous building' I thought inwardly while speeding up my pace.
'Room 103, 8:00am'
I looked at my schedule slip and luckily it's on the first floor.
I remembered that it is a summer class so there are few students in the hallway so its easy for me to run.
'Found it! Whoooh' as I slowly opened the door while catching my breath, they were staring at me as I enter the room. There are 8 students including me, 5 boys and 3 girls. In the front standing is our respectable, ever lovely, with an unparalleled beauty, our beloved teacher Ms. Zylfa Twizon. The hottest and the youngest teacher on the campus.
With her peerless looks, golden blonde hair, blue crystal-like eyes, a flawless white skin, body figure sculptured to perfection, rossy red lips and her face like a goddess that brings bliss to every man on the campus.
"Oh, it's Mr. Zehcnas, like the other teachers told me about you, you're always late". Snapping out of my day dream, she called out with a light smile when I entered the class.
"Goodmorning Ms. Twizon, sorry about this ma'am, I will not do it again". I replied with a smile on my face while looking at her beautiful face.
"It's ok, just introduce yourself to the class before I start our first lesson" she replied while opening the book on the front table.
"Ok, Ms. Twizon." I quickly replied with a grin.
"Hi! Good morning classmates, I'm Santius Zehcnas, 18 years of age. I was born here in Cebreu, I'm living with my uncle at the Macsprine Town, just a walk away from our school."
After I introduce myself to the class, I moved to sit on the front chair where I can see the best body angle of Ms. Twizon.
When she starts speaking, her words is like a melodious lyrics out of a beautiful song, she speaks as if like she's singing. Her voice is like a gentle and calm river flowing in a beautiful starry night.
While she's talking, I quickly noticed a pink and glittery aura at the back. I slightly turned my head and glanced the other boys behind me, they were all mesmerized at Ms. Twizon. The boys here were staring like hypnotized fans by her beauty except, to the guy who was seating next to me. He was clenching his fists, slightly looking down with his eyes is full of fear and anxiety.
-----------------
It's 2pm and the class is over and all the boys was really inspired by Ms. Twizon, even I don't understand every lesson she gave.
After the class, I immediately go outside the campus to see if there's something new. Like new buildings or statues but, there's nothing. I only saw some students along with their sphynx.
It is allowed to bring your Sphynx in the campus because once you own a Sphynx it is already connected to you, they will follow you and search you if your gone within 100 meters.
As i walked around the campus, I end up going to the back of the elementary building, then I saw 2 students in the large grassy area.
"Please, I don't want to fight with you and your sphynx." One of the students said while begging with fear.
I remembered, he was my seatmate in the class, he was the only one who was not hypnotized by the beauty of Ms. Twizon. He has a round brown eyes, messy dark blue hair and a pale complexion.
"Come and fight me, you have a Sphynx, right? Let's see whos stronger." He said with an evil grin on his face.
The bully student was a head taller than the one who was begging not to fight, black hair matching his eyes, pointy chin and a thin build.
On his side is Lynx type Sphynx, short fur with a black color, head lower than him while standing.
"But yours is a 2nd Class Sphynx, mine is just a weak 3rd class."
He said with an anxious tone while his face is still sweating.
There are 4 classes of Sphynx, to determine its class you have to become an owner.
25% of the L.E of a Sphynx will be shared with the owner. L.E. stands for Life Energy, it is a measurement to determine the class of the sphynx.
Small amount of L.E that the Sphynx shared to their owner is enough to use the flowing L.E. Gauge of a Sphynx body.
3rd Class- 5,000-10,000 L.E
- Can use single elemental skill.
- approximately 2 and a half meters tall.
2nd Class- 10,000-18,000 L.E.
- Can use single elemental skill
- 2 and a half meters tall.
- has an ability to enhance "strenghth or agility".
1st Class- 18,000- 30,000 L.E.
- can use two different elemental skill
- 3 meters tall
- has an ability to enhance "strenghth or agility".
Legendary Class- 30,000-60,000 L.E
- can use two different elemental skill.
- their ability to synchronize their skills with their owner.
- has crystal in the middle od their forehead that acts as a defensive barrier.
- 3 and a half meters tall
"Your Sphynx use earth element, right? Well, me too. Try not to hide him hahaha!" The bully student said while laughing hard.
"My Sphynx can only use Mud skills and nothing more. Please let me go." He insisted while trying to flee from the bully student.
"Well, I don't have a choice but to force you to fight with me. Zack! Use GROUND ROCKS!" He commanded with an evil grin.
The ground where the bully guy was standing begins to shatter, head sized rocks is floating and shaking coming from the ground.
"No please!" He begs for the last time but around 10 pieces of rock thrown to him.
He easily dodges every single rock that trying to hit him because of the help of his L.E. but, one of the rocks hit his back, which caused him to stumble down to the ground.
"Ahhhhhh...!!" He screamed in pain.
The last rock hits his lower spine which caused him not being able to stand. His head is bleeding and his L.E. is almost drained.
The bully student was still eager to fight, he used the same skill to attack but this time he used his own L.E. Raising his right hand,
15 head sized rocks float around and ready to charge again.
'I don't like to get involve, but I just can't stand here and watch someone dying.' I said to myself and taking a step forward to get near to them.
When he saw the rocks floating and ready to charge for the second wave, I finally showed myself and stood in the front of the two students.
"Sorry to interrupt you guys, but please wait." They looked at me with surprise in their face.
"Who are you?" The bully student said and still raising his hand looking ready to throw the 2nd wave of rocks at any moment.
"G-get..get out here! don't get yourself i-involved." The badly hurt student spoke out loud warning me while lying on the ground.
In this situation, if the 2nd wave hits him he will surely die. I don't think if this bully student is just convincing him to show the students sphynx or kill him for real.
"Yup! I really don't want to get involved or help you, I just passed by and wanted to say something." I replied to the defeated student. They both looked at me and getting serious about what I've said.
"You want to protect your Sphynx right? Did you know that if you die here your Sphynx also die? You are connected to him since the day that you own him. In this situation, the best way to protect him is to fight with him." I said with a light smile.
Hearing that, there was a brief moment of silence for the both of them. Then suddenly, the bully chuckled.
"Hahaha! That's what I want to hear, then watch closely as this rocks crush him with speed like a shooting star."
He laughed and charged the 2nd wave.
"No!!!!" I shouted so loud so that the bully student can hear.
'If I haven't said those words, I think this wouldn't have happened. I blame myself for this, It seems like I added fuel to the fire. It's my fault.'
--------------
Before the rocks hit the other student, a raging Sphynx charge towards to the to the bully student and his Sphynx. The newly arrived Sphynx headbutted the bully student's sphynx and flew to the wall of the building which caused the elemental skill of the bully student cancelled and splashed randomly around the area.
"Earo!!". A tear is about to fall from the eyes of the defeated student.
His angry Hound type Sphynx finally appeared, a wall like brown fur in his whole body. He stood at the front of his lying owner while glaring at the bully student angrily.
He began using L.E. and made a wide area of mud around the enemy. Then suddenly, the mud starts to swallow the bully student.
"No!! Please don't do this! I don't wanna die." While struggling the bully student cries out and was begging for his life.
"Enough!! Stop this Earo! you are not a fighting tool! you are my friend!" The badly injured student forced his body to stand up and embrace his sphynx while crying. The raging Sphynx started to calm down stopped using its L.E. He understood his owners feelings and calmed itself.
After instructing the injured student's Sphynx to realease its L.E., the angry bully student was finally freed from the mud. Gaining his freedom he immediately forgot his circumstance a while ago and recalling his embarrasment, anger rose from his heart. He certainly diddn't learned his lesson, he coudn't believe that he was defeated by a 3rd class Sphynx. And planning for a quick revenge
He used his remaining L.E. to form a bigger rock. A two meter thick rock rose and while his sphynx is trying to stand up. He then throwed this huge rock with a speed faster than his previous attacks.
"Watch out!" I shouted before the huge rock hits the injured student and his Sphynx.
I ran towards them and planning to drag them.
But another Sphynx appeared and quickly jumped to the huge rock and broke it using L.E. on his paw, the rock broked and shattered.
"Are you alright Mr. Zehcnas and Mr. Cloffer? I'm so sorry I haven't noticed the situation and arrived earlier"The Head School Guard said with a light smile. Mr. Levrus and his Sphynx arrives in a perfect timing.
"Thanks, Mr. Levrus!" I'm sure that this matter will be properly handled and most probably Mr. Kordon will be expelled."
'sigh.' Sighing inwardly, I was relieved when Mr. Levrus and his sphynx with other school guards arrived in the area. But the student named Cloffer was still lying on the ground and can't stand because of his injury.
After a while, a gallery of students gathered on the incident area with the school nurse arriving the crowd made way for them.
"Thank you for the help. Uhm, may I know your name?" Mr. Cloffer said while the school nurses put him on the stretcher.
"Hmmm. No need to tell, I didn't do anything. I'm not here to help you, I just passed by and gave you some quick advice." I insisted and turned back and started walking away from the students around him.
"But please let me know your name." He replied and sounded like begging to know my name.
"I am Santius." I give him a quick reply like I am not interested in talking to him.
"My sphynx heard everything you muttered earlier, you are not wrong, you're doing it right! Without you, I don't able to realized how my sphynx feels for me as an owner. He shouted and cheerful look on his face.
After I hearing what he said, I raised my hand and waved while walking away with a smirk.
Trivia #2:
If an Owner dies, his Sphynxs dies about half an hour after. Its body decomposes, turns into dust, and makes its way back to the Sphyral Mountain.