Weeks passed the terminal exams was drawing near followed by the final match of the tornament and the long awaited Mister and Miss Saltsman ceremony; meanwhile Rex and Sylvia were still fake dating at the moment.
7:00 PM AFTER DINNER
REX: I don't think I can do this anymore Sylvia...
SYLVIA: You just have to hold on a little longer he'll soon give up on me I promise.
REX: I hope so, I can't pretend to do something I really want to do?
SYLVIA: You don't give up easily do you?
REX: You said so.
Kim joins them...
KIM EVA: Sorry am I interupting something?
SYLVIA: Not really... what's up?
KIM EVA: I'm just really enthusiastic about the game tomorrow you know?
SYLVIA: Err yeah! Yeah, I also heard Chris won't be in the game tomorrow.
KIM EVA: What? I mean why? In as much as I don't like him, I can't afford to not see him play; he's been one of the best players in the team so far.
SYLVIA: The team can do without him, I mean Josh is there Walker and Dylan too.
KIM EVA: I hate Dylan!
REX: What about Josh? How's he preparing for the big day tomorrow?
KIM EVA: Man I tell you that dude can't stop jittering,
SYLVIA: it's normal, he'll be fine.
KIM EVA: So how about you two? Are you guys still fake dating?
SYLVIA: Yeaaah, until we're sure Chris is out of picture then, we go back to our normal lives.
REX: (Scratches his head) De-finitely!
LATER THAT NIGHT
10:30 PM
Rex enters the bathroom and turns on the shower. He just stood still as the water flowed freely on his body.
ARAIK: Hey,
REX: (Shocked) What are you doing here?
ARAIK: Guarding you.
REX: What can possibly happen to me right here?
REX: It is my duty to follow you wherever you go,
REX: Even to the bathroom?
ARAIK: It's no exception.
REX: You shouldn't be here?
ARAIK: I have no choice, I've always been with you from the day you were born so you should just continue what you're doing and imagine you can't see me.
REX: Well but I can't imagine that when I can see your reflection on the mirror.
ARAIK: Cope with it then.
REX: Not helping, you should just go invisible.
ARAIK: What difference does it make knowing I'm still here?
REX: Not talking!
(Behind the door)
GREG: Are you alright in there Rex?
REX: Yeah, I'm totally fine why?
GREG: Seems like you are actually talking with someone in there.
REX: (To Araik in a low tone) This is your fault.GREG: Did you say something?REX: No! I said absolutely nothing.GREG: Ok, if you say so.REX: (Exhales)
ARAIK: We have some business to take care of, you should be fast with what you're doing.
REX: (Low tone) Can you please be quiet and just go invisible? Besides curfew starts by 10:45 pm.
ARAIK: You might likely not return till tomorrow so, curfew doesn't affect anything.
REX: Tomorrow?
ARAIK: Yes and no objection about it because it is a must.
REX: (Sighs)
10 MINUTES LATER
Rex comes out of the bathroom and hurriedly begins to wear his clothes like he was going out.
GREG: Where to?
REX: (Stops) Emm the library!
GREG: You do realize curfew starts by 10:45,
REX: I know that already, I still have 3 minutes to leave.
GREG: What will you read? Before you get curfew should've already begun...
REX: Don't worry about me.
GREG: (Raises a brow Rex) I guess you're ready to fight the dogs then.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE HEART OF THE WOODS
REX: Alright what are we doing here?
ARAIK: About to train you Rioz.
REX: I remember telling you that's not my name, I don't even know the meaning.
ARAIK: It's your Altron name given to you by Briod so you shouldn't complain. If you will shut your mouth up peacefully and only talk when relevant we can start now but if you don't, I'll be forced to help you shut it.
REX: Do I still need to be trained?
ARAIK: Yes you do. Your training will be divided into two divisions, the basic and the Ultimate; if you're fast enough we could be done with training you in three weeks following the kind of Altron you are.
REX: How long does it take to train a normal Altron?
ARAIK: A month, but for your case you're special, the best work of Briod so that's the reason yours is just three weeks.
REX: Why? 'cause I don't see a reason he didn't assign someone better like a male why does it have to be someone my age.
ARAIK: I was created specially for you. After the creation of the first Altron Zed, Briod created guardian angels which were assigned to every Altron and he created me specially for his best work.
REX: How old are you?
ARAIK: I've lived for two millennium Xena years.
REX: (Shocked) What? Don't you die?
ARAIK: I am a supernatural being and as long as you're alive I am, that's the only reason your head is still hanging on your neck.
REX: (Snorts) where do we start from?
ARAIK: You should be ready first. (Eyes gradually turns gold coloured)
REX: (Eyes also turns bright yellow) I am.
ARAIK: Fight and put me to the ground.
REX: (Eyes turns back to normal) How's that even possible? How do you expect me to fight and put to the ground a woman who is one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three years older than I am?
ARAIK: It's your test figure it out. (Moves rapidly to attack)
REX: Wait! Can we skip this part?
ARAIK: No! (Punches him)
(Rex moves back crashing on a tree)
REX: (Groans in pain)
ARAIK: Get up!
REX: (Stands up and takes a fighting stance)
Araik charges at him about to release another punch but he is fast enough to see it coming and blocks it before returning the Punch which is also intercepted by Araik.
They fought for almost 30 minutes without Rex delivering a successful punch and just dodging and blocking.
AN HOUR LATER
(Two big trees were on the ground)
REX: (Pants heavily as his eyes turns back to normal)
ARAIK: Come on Rioz, release yourself, stop restricting your abilities. Give me all you've got; I've not received a successful punch from you.
REX: How would I? You seem to predict my moves...
ARAIK: That's because you're struggling with yourself.
(Rex's eyes turns bright yellow again)
Araik moves towards him, Rex turns invisible just as she is about to release a power kick causing the tree he stood by to break. Rex appears behind her and releases a power punch making her crash on another tree.
REX: What if I managed to put you to the ground on my first attempt?
ARAIK: Then we proceed to phase two but I bet you can't, not even in two days.
REX: You can't be so sure.
Araik releases bright yellow lasers from both eyes at Rex but he blocked with his left arm. She releases series of lasers causing Rex to block from different angles using both arms and magic blockages even trees.
(Three more trees fell)
REX: (Exhales) I can actually defeat you in two day, I'm beginning to predict your movements....
ARAIK: Don't be so sure of yourself Rioz, that was just a first grade laser with less intensity.
REX: Which is the highest?
ARAIK: The third grade, no Altron has successfully attained this one, only few guardians can attain it.
REX: Meaning there are actually three stages?
ARAIK: Yes, the third phase is a near death experience for all Altrons except Briod's chosen. Your great grand mother her Imperial Majesty, Empress Adelphia, the first and only female Emperor of Xena was at the brink as she was just like you, Briod's chosen. She couldn't pay the price and so she died never to attain the powers and abilities of the supernaturals more likely, gods.
REX: What is the sacrifice?
ARAIK: Don't be faster than your shadows, tackle the known before the unknown; you should take a break and go back to your dormitory before day breaks.
REX: Yeah, but my back still hurts a little.
ARAIK: You'll be fine soon, you don't expect combats with man to be the same with supernaturals.
Rex stands up and begins to leave slowly but steady, he didn't stop till he got close the his dormitory building. He turns invisible before the guard dogs could detect him.
He gets to his room door which was left unlocked perhaps his roomies felt he might come back sooner. He opens the door slowly and enters before turning visible.
JAMES: (Shocked) Sssshhhit! Rex! Did you just, did you just....
REX: (Startled, he never expected anyone to still be awake) Hey, hey, hey....be quiet!
JAMES: (Low tone) What do you mean be quiet? I just something crazy and you're telling me to keep quiet?
REX: (Confused) Err... I can explain, you're not supposed to see me do that.
JAMES: Well I did, so start before I alarm everyone on this block.
(Rex walks up to him and stared right at his pupils to hypnotize him)
REX: You know you're supposed to be asleep?
JAMES: (Under to the influence) y-yes!
REX: Then go to bed, you never saw anything.
JAMES: Yes, I never saw anything.
REX: Good!
(Still under the influence of the hypnosis, James walks straight to his bed and in no time dozes off)
REX: (Places his hands on his head) Hm!
He takes off his clothes and walks into the bathroom with his towel.