Just as the last match had ended, the last bell of the day started to ring. "Make sure to go home and rest up for tomorrow. You're all dismissed!" With that being said, I immediately turned and made my way to the Academies front doors. After around twenty minutes of walking, I had reached the doors and pushed them open before walking out and looking at the path leading to the large walls surrounding the Academy.
"Well, I guess this means I'll see you tomorrow Take. Take care." Orzo began to walk off, but stopped and turned his head. "By the way. Don't try to take revenge on Clyde for kicking your ass. I've heard some bad things about his family." Orzo had a serious look on his face as he turned back and continued on down the path and outside the gates.
Sylia said her goodbyes before heading off, while Azrael followed behind me and Arisu. "The hell are you following me for?" I asked as I glanced back at his frowning face. "I'm making sure you don't do anything to Ari. I'll never trust you with her. Never." I snorted and asked "What, is she your girl or something? Or do you have a crush on her? Either way, you're being creepy. Go home."
"I refuse." He was starting to piss me off and, by the way he was acting, I could tell that he would force himself into our dorm. So, I decided to do the only logical thing that one could do in this situation. Go out and explore!
I left immediately, and I was genuinely surprised at how much my speed had grown. It caught me off guard and I almost faceplanted into a wall, but I recovered quickly. I quickly gained distance from the two and found myself in some sort of marketplace with stalls selling almost anything you could think of.
The streets were quite busy, even though it was getting rather late. 'Damn, I should've grabbed my clothes from my room and changed before coming down here...' I was looking around at the various stalls when I saw a familiar blonde haired girl buying food. "I wonder how good your cooking is." I walked up to Sylia and spoke to her, but she jumped on instinct before turning around and letting out a sigh of relief.
"What, am I really that scary looking?" I asked with a sly grin. Sylia shook her head and said "No, no, I was just surprised, that's all." Her eyes lit up as she looked over and called out to someone behind me. A brown haired girl walked over with her cyan eyes practically glittering. "Is this the guy you told me about!? He's pretty hot actually...How'd you find him!?"
I raised a brow and leaned back as she leaned her head in to look at my earrings. Thankfully, Sylia pulled her back and said "Amelia, please, restrain yourself. I used to go to the same academy with Take at Azmarin, and I had just found out that he was a new student here." Amelia gave Sylia a cheeky grin as she nudged her side with a low snicker.
"I can assure you that we don't have that kind of relationship. Hell, I didn't even really know her until today, and we're not even friends." I said with a wry smile. Sylia's face went blank as Amelia burst into laughter. This was beginning to get rather awkward, so I waved the two goodbye before continuing down and looking at the various stalls.
Suddenly, the amulet around my neck began to vibrate as the gem turned black, and a voice came through. I moved off to the side in an alleyway so I could hear better. "-hink that he's better than me, don't you? You like him more even though you just met him, while I've been here for you ever since you came to Archven! I refuse to let him have you, and I refuse to let you go..."
I felt my chest restricting as my head pounded. I leapt up onto the nearest roof and made my way back to my dorm where, hopefully, I would be able to prevent whatever was about to happen. Azrael's voice began to get louder through the amulet as a childish scream filled my ears. 'That bastard...!'
I jumped off of a roof and landed in the street before dashing toward the door and swinging it open. I found Azrael holding Arisu by the wrists against a wall, while May lay still on the floor. I found myself by Azrael's side with my hand around his throat before flinging him through the open door and onto the stone street.
I leapt over toward his prone form and drew my daggers as he activated his ability, hardening his skin. I forced his ability to shatter before plunging my daggers into his lungs. Azrael looked at me with an expression full of hatred as he spat at my face. I dodged and slammed my forehead into his before twisting my daggers, causing him to writhe about in pain.
"You fucked up big time, and I'm about to show you the true meaning of hell..." My eyes turned red and a smile crept up my face as I stood and stomped down on his face. I continued to pummel his prone form until he looking nothing like his original self. I tore my daggers free from his lungs and wiped their blades on his pants before sliding them back into their scabbards. People were watching from their windows or from the side of the street with shocked and horrified expressions.
I turned to walk back to the house when I saw Arisu and May staring at me in horror. I walked past them and into the house as Arisu ran over to Azrael's body and began to heal his wounds. 'Why did I get so angry when I saw him pinning Arisu on the wall? It was none of my business, and I've only known her for less than two full days...whatever, I'll just have to flee someplace else if they tell the guards.'
I opened the door to my room and walked over to the dresser and took my uniform off before putting on my vest and pants. I slung my bow over my shoulder and strapped the quiver behind my back before turning and spotting a piece of paper on my bed. I walked over and picked it up, only to see a drawing of me, Arisu, and May all together. It even had May's initials at the bottom...
"A happy family, together forever, huh. Sorry to burst your bubble kid." I folded the piece of paper up before sticking it into an inner pocket of my vest and walking through the hall, and out the door. Azrael was not conscious and looked normal, but his bones were still broken, and he was having trouble breathing.
I looked away and began to walk away when a voice stopped me in my tracks. "If you go, she'll be sad. Both of them will be, have you ever thought about that...?" I turned and looked Azrael in the eyes before saying "I only think of myself, so no, I haven't. However, if you pull any shit like what you did today, I'll kill you and rip your body to pieces so that Arisu won't be able to heal you."
I turned back and continued walking down the streets as the sun began to set. I reached the wall and walked out the gate before turning toward the forest. It would be the best place to train, and maybe I'd find a beast or two to kill as well. "You're not leaving for good, are you?" I clicked my tongue and continued to look forward before responding.
"Orzo, you understand me the most. Figure it out for yourself." I continued to walk as a strong wind began to blow, swaying the trees and grass along with it. I entered the forest and found a clearing, the perfect spot in my opinion. I didn't waste any time and got to performing the exercises I had learned from Syn, only this time they were a lot easier and didn't put as much strain on my body than before.
After a few minutes of going through the exercises, an idea popped into my head. 'Wait, I can call Nalia since I'm alone...' I took hold of my amulet and began to flip it over in my hands, trying to find any button that activates it. "Damnit, hurry up and call Nalia already..." I mumbled. The gem's light soon extinguished and it turned to a dull grey color as static filled my ears.
I furrowed my brows and then tried calling Syn, but it was the same with him. Panic began to swell up in my chest, but I soon calmed myself down with deep breaths. 'It's fine, they're probably busy right now. They probably don't even have an amulet on them. They're fine.' I repeated that last part several times in my head as I drew my bow and began to practice my aim and, although it was already pretty damn good, it could be better.
I retrieved my arrows and holstered my bow before closing my eyes and trying to reach out for that familiar feeling when my eyes begin to glow. It was almost like a feeling of pure hatred condensed into a much more sinister form, most likely because of Mor'Ulthan. I reached out and grasped that feeling and let it surge through my body before opening my eyes.
It was like I was seeing a completely different world when I fully concentrated on the power. Colors were more vivid and it looked like it was still noon outside, even though it was closer to midnight by now. I could see the finest details on a single blade of grass, and I could see the very water flowing through the roots of the plants and trees surrounding me.
Everything had a sort of aura around it, with the plants and such being a a light green, while some of the animals had an orange or the same green aura. I assumed that green meant something was friendly, while orange would take a while to figure out before I find the other colors an aura can be. Another idea had popped into my head.
Why were there a pair of earrings on my body, for the tattoos were the seals for Mor'Ulthan. Unless they were to be used for something. Excited by the idea, I tried to move the energy through my body and to the earrings, however, nothing happened. After a few minutes of waiting, I decided to give up with a heavy sigh. 'Nothing ever goes as planned...'
I brushed my hair back before unsheathing my daggers and going through the basic forms Syn had taught me. I was surprised when I realized just how similar the daggers were to using my hands, and they felt like an extension of my body. If I could just polish my skills to perfection, I knew I would have enough power to start changing this world, even if by a little.
I sheathed my daggers and smoothed my vest, feeling the piece of paper in my pocket in the process. 'I've only known them for two days, but I can't help but think of May as someone I have to protect. She's too pure and innocent to be spoiled by this ruthless world. But I guess I've already ruined that, haven't I? I should at least tell them goodbye...'
I began to run back to the city before going through the gates and walking down the lonely streets. I was surprised when the guards didn't stop me, for I thought they would've heard about me almost killing Azrael. He deserved it, and I don't regret what I did. At least, that's what I wanted to believe. I silently cursed myself for being so weak hearted, for not having the ability to shut off my own emotions or just not care.
I truly hated myself for being so compassionate.
I neared the street of the dorm and I froze, unable to move any closer. I was afraid to hear their words, and I was afraid of being rejected and cast aside. I was afraid that they would fear me and treat my like the monster that I truly am. I swallowed my fears and forced myself to walk toward the door before hesitating when going to knock.
Eventually, I mustered up the courage to knock one time, but that was all that was needed. Arisu peeked her head out from behind the door, and her eyes widened in surprise. I thought that, for a moment, she was too afraid to speak. However, she flung the door open and wrapped me in a warm embrace as she spoke to me.
"Orzo said you might never come back...that we would have to brace ourselves for the worst case. He told us that you were leaving...and we didn't know why...you dumbass...!" Now it was my turn to be surprised. I gingerly returned her embrace as her tears began to soak my shoulder.
I didn't get why she was acting like this, because I almost killed someone she knew well, and I've been nothing but an asshole and a sarcastic prick ever since we first met. But here she was, holding me tightly so I wouldn't leave again.
Maybe having friends won't be so bad after all...right...?