Artemis's P.O.V present day
After the operations commanders briefing I separated from Kane. He was going to stock up on chi crystals before the battle. I had to go meet with the Militia Commander. A very scary women to me. Nothing seemed to throw her off her game. Also the missing arm and giant scar across her face made her look even more scary. When I first met her she was beautiful and strong. Now she is kinda scary looking but just as strong. Before long I arrived at her office door. I knocked strongly.
"Come in." A stern direct voice answered. I opened the door to see the commander and Xander sitting already. I took the seat next to Xander looking straight at the commander.
"I have special orders for you two and three are not to be argued with." She said in a very clear, don't-even-try tone. Xander and I exchanged a sideways glance to each other. "Yes Ma'am." We replied back.
"You are both shields with an extra ability. Artemis, your power can kill people with your eyes. Xander, your power can protect someone making them immortal from your gaze."
That's his extra power! Damn! No wonder he is just a protector.
"Xander, you will be Artemis's shield in this battle. You will protect her at all costs."
Xander nodded.
"Artemis, you will use your gaze attack to get as many to submit then cut them down."
I looked at her for a moment before nodding hesitantly.
"Lastly, you two will sign a temporary contract to each other."
Xander opened his mouth but shut it again with a look of worry on his face that was quickly replaced with a stoic one.
"Now go get yourselves ready. This battle will not be an easy one."
Xander and I both stood and Saluted her and walked out.
We walked down the hallway silently side by side until Xander said "I didn't know your power was a torture gaze. You never use it."
He didn't sound scared of it like everyone else.
"I was never authorized to use it, everyone said it was way too dangerous. I only showed enough of it in my training when I got here to force Aerin to submit. They don't know that I could kill someone with it." I replied.
A small smile spread across his lips. "I wonder if my defenders gaze is strong enough to stop your torture gaze."
I couldn't stop the evil smirk from spreading across my face. "Challenge accepted." I said through my evil grin.
With that we separated a little standing an few feet apart facing one another. He started to generate his power and his eyes started to glow. I felt this warmth overtake the room. Very funny universe. Fire vs. Ice. He nodded at me saying he was ready. I started generating my power. I intensified it from the start knowing his shield must be pretty strong. I felt the clash of my icy power fight the heat coming from his. I kept amplifying it until all the warmth left the room and Xander fell to his knees. I quickly shut down my gaze and my eyes returned to normal. I walked over and extended a hand to help him up. Once on his feet he looked at me and said "Next time I see that evil look I am running the other way, if looks could kill that evil one of yours should've been my clue. Also the fact that you told me your look could actually kill."
I laughed. It was funny to me that a shield with a gaze technique would use the phrase "if looks could kill." I started walking again and Xander trotted to catch up to me. He didn't say anything. Out of my peripherals I sized him up. This guy was a freaking giant. I never really noticed since he was always sitting, but he had to be like 6'6 and probably weighed upwards of 200lbs of solid muscle! His facial features were sharp and defined and his midnight black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail that still reached his lower back. His hair was probably as long as mine. I gave Xander a surprise as I turned to the right rather than the left. Left goes to the exit. Right goes to the cafeteria. He raised his eyebrows at me. "Let's get some food the cafe is this way. Lunch is on me."
He nodded and changed his position to be slightly behind me so he could follow me. Has he never been here? I know we mostly go to the mess hall but this place is even better. More options and better food. We can come here as elites and since he is in my group now he can come. We walk in together and are instantly the center of attention. I could tell Xander was nervous as he stiffened up. I just casually walked over to the line and grabbed him a tray and handed it to him. I started to pick out the items I wanted and he followed suit. I checked us out and we sat at our own table. We chatted a little bit and I found out. Xander remembers his past too just like me. It must be an extra ability that we come with.
-Xander's P.O.V-
I fell to my knees. I am used to warmth surrounding me but it was like I was frozen to the core. I couldn't stop myself from collapsing. All my strength was gone and the moment she stopped it was all back. I looked up at an outstretched hand. She helped pull me back to my feet. I made a joke to her that if looks could kill it was hers and she laughed. She invited me to lunch at the cafe. I have never been there as I was not in the elite squads. She was eyeing me the whole way there. Once there all eyes were on us. She didn't seem to care much but it made me tense up. I've never been noticed before. I told her about my past. Wandering across the continent before finding this place that would accept me. I wish I could tell her everything about me, but I can't risk anyone knowing about me. I don't want to have to wander around again and scavenge for food. I just want to be here and help these people as they have helped me.
We left the cafe. We walked to the cabins where we all lived. She broke the silence "How far can your gaze reach? Every battle your job is just to protect everyone. Can you do that?"
"In a sense yes. I only protect the front artillery and anyone in immediate danger. I am not supposed to guard the elites. Everyone gets a shield. Nothing like what I tried to block you with but it'll hold up against mid tier magik blasts and ammunition. The only magikera I know of that can breach that is yours."
She smiled slightly. I remained straight face. Them being paired up was total BS. They we a killing machine together. "How far can your gaze reach?" I finally asked back.
"I could only kill 2 people at one time but I could affect hundreds but I don't have the same level of control. Anyone within my radius could be hurt. I haven't ever used the full extent of it, and I never want to." She replied quietly looking down at her feet. I wanted to reach out to her and hug her tightly but was interrupted by Kane coming outside to meet us. He came to pick her up for their dinner reservations. He thanked me for walking Artemis back and dragged her off with him. I wandered back to my cabin and flopped down on my bed. I thought about her and if she was the same as me this could end up very weird and very bad. She is such a dangerous person in such a small frame. As I thought more and more I slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.