The fire crackled beside me as I took a sip of Xion's hot tea. After a few moments of respite, I rested the cup on the table, allowing its smoke to billow between me and the Principal who had a frown on his face. He also had a person beside him, a lady around my age. She looked Similar to Shan from earlier, albeit a bit more withdrawn thanks to the way her body shuddered when I looked at her general direction. The three of us rested on three seats by the fireplace, with a carpeted floor that seemed a bit dingy for its place.
"So young lad, what were you doing with that friend of yours? Were you one of the spies sent by their faction to obliterate us?"
I raised my hands in the air in a surrendering manner before shaking my head in disproval. If anything, I thought of her as a member of this institution thanks to their knowledge of the area, they even got me here for pete's sake.
"He got me in here, I got him inside. I do not know how those stones operate, but if I unlocked them on my first try, you should really start considering replacing your architect or at least the person handling your security."
My lips curved into a smile as his curled into a frown. He let out a soft huff as smoke blew out of his nose… He, what was he? Xion left me no time to wonder though since he planted his arms on the glass table in front of us before he gave me a reply.
"You are quite the entertainer, aren't you? You do not mean to tell me that Cora never noticed her or rather, his guise. She is part of the discipline committee head so I am sure that she will-"
"She is in high school, possibly in early college, Principal. Surely you shouldn't be expecting much from a person who is still training, no?"
He looked at me with burning yellow eyes that seemed to blaze with contempt. I flinched a bit, my face brimming to the tip with sweat that dripped from every pore. The guy seemed like a monster that wanted to rip me apart, but withheld in doing so. Xion just closed his eyes, and looked at me with a sweet, yet chilling smile while I on the other hand let out a soft chuckle.
Haha, I'm in danger.
Xion let out a sigh before he cleared his throat. After a few moments of silence, the man let out a continuation to his statement.
"Cora… Are you perhaps the one kid I asked her to bring? Where were you all this time? Have I not instructed her to take you here as soon as you awakened?"
This time, it was my turn to fear for her safety; well I do hope she fares well with it.
"Sir Xion, right? I am afraid we started off the wrong foot, but yes, I am Pyre Benitez, the person you sacked off the streets of Philippines yesterday, with no way of returning home. Sound familiar?"
I couldn't help but throw in a bit of sarcasm to the mix since I never really asked for this! I was just quietly playing a visual novel and dreaming about romance a second ago, and in the next I was being scooped up in an unfamiliar location by some bat like woman. It wasn't that I was mad at her… since I knew that she only did her part.
Xion let out a dry laugh, using his hands to cover his face.
"That explains a lot of things now… If that is the case, then I would want you to follow me."
The Principal stood up and motioned for the shy girl to follow. Xion then walked over to the fireplace pushing a brick before we felt a low rumble. Soon enough, the fireplace split open, revealing a small entrance as the fire died down.
Xion then crouched a bit, walking inside what appeared to be a small crevice that had light peering through it from the other end. I and the fox girl soon followed and by the end of it, our jaws were left wide open from the riveting view.
The place was similar to an eastern forest with stretches of bamboo covering as far as the eye can see. In the midst of the scene was a single trodden path that seemingly trailed to the center of the room. Rivers and waterbeds also stretched far and wide accenting the already eastern feel of the place. It was nothing but gorgeous.
"Wow… this is amazing!"
I let out a loud yell as I took in the scenery but beside me, a lady leapt. Her ears were perked up and her frame was shaking.
"I-Is that s-so? I was t-the only one to be allowed to train in here s-so…"
The lady stuttered, twisting her tongue in knots in an attempt to speak. She was adorable compared to the other fox turned man I met earlier.
"Yeah, it's great! It's not every day I get to see something like this, much less be in something like this."
I gave her a smile as the latter combed her hair using her fingers. The fox girl's eyes shifted away from my gaze soon after as a blush spread across her face.
"I-I guess? The n-name is Shan by the way…"
I responded in kind with a grin.
"Sure, the name is Pyre… also, we might want to check on the Principal… it has been a while since we moved after all."
The woman's was flushed a bright red when she realized this and soon, she darted off to the beaten path as I followed closely behind.
Huff…
Never again, never again would I run after a fox girl who can sprint faster than Usain Bolt or someone similar. As soon as she started sprinting, she quickly disappeared from view, leaving behind only a trail of dust for me to follow.
We soon arrived at a clearing though and while I was left catching my breath, the fox girl simply stood there, looking at me with raised brows and pursed lips.
"Are you alright? You don't look so hot."
I grit my teeth before turning it into an upturned as I looked at her.
"Go figure."
In the middle of the clearing stood wizen who laughed when he heard my reply. Behind him was a single open pagoda that reached high into the air.
"Now, now, Pyre, the lady simply asked. There is no need to be upset."
I gave him a frown as I felt my brows meld closer to one another upon hearing his interjection. But I chose not to voice my displeasure; I simply stood up and pulled on my clothes in order to loosen them.
"So, is this the thing you wanted to show us?"
I motioned to the pagoda, puckering my lips to point at the structure. To which Xion responded with a nod.
"Yes… come inside, both of you."
We soon entered the pagoda, stepping on its creaky wooden floorboard. From there we soon saw a bunch of frames, building scales, and other objects and groups located all around the globe. Shan had her mouth open as she looked at the scene while I stood there in silence, calmly attempting to put two and two together.
Was Xion an influencer? I don't see any camera's anywhere? Was this entire area just a sponsor wall?!
"I know what you two are thinking… Pyre, Shan…"
The Principal said, walking around the room as he paced around the countless objects it held.
"This, definitely, is not a sponsor wall. This, well it is the work of the Jade Dragon Society."
I lifted my brow before voicing out my thoughts
"Jade what now? What does this have to do with us, the Oddities in this place, and you sacking me last night?"
Xion simply nodded in a matter-of-factly manner, closing his eyes before giving a response.
"Jade Dragon Society… it is a society of Epico like us. We wish to help humanity and people such as yourself to grow into fantastic young lads who work for the betterment of humanity and of your peers. We retrieved you last night since we saw you being tailed by Wyzen's men, the West Dragon Society…"
Hearing this, Shan's eyes widened. She hit her hands together as if reaching an epiphany. I on the other hand was left with clinched jaw with sweat dripping down from my forehead. What societies were this, who were they involved with? Also what the hell are we?!
"That answered absolutely nothing sir… to start with, what are Epico even?"
Xion's eyes widened, but after mulling it through with a sigh and closed eyes, he decided to speak up.
"Ah… so you had no idea? Very well, but let me explain it to you in a much simpler concept for now. Shan, can you come closer and showcase your strength to Pyre."
The lady simply trotted closer to Xion, shuddering thanks to the pressure she must have felt by being personally demanded by the Principal to show whatever she has in store. Even I would feel embarrassed.
Once Shan was close enough, Xion looked at me before he continued explaining.
"You see, an Epico consists of both ancestry and exposure. They are key factors to what can turn you into an Epico, but not everyone can turn into one. Back in the day, the divine had relations with the mortals of the world, humans so to speak… From there they bore Nephilims, giants with extreme power."
However, I raised my hand so that I may fire a question at him.
"What do the Nephilims have to do with anything in relation to our powers? Weren't they wiped out in a flood according to Biblical texts?"
Or at least that's the extent of what I know about them… To that, Xion offered a laugh and a smile. He looked at me with a relaxed gaze, his eyes almost sparkling with life.
"That line of thinking is a bit foolish, is it not? No, they were not wiped out entirely. Some of them had water related powers so they stayed safe under that flood. Others even had ancestors who were also more parts human, hence the lineage spread like wildfire after that event. Currently, Epico are living descendants of these Nephilims."
He was about to carry on speaking when Shan herself raised a question. She raised her hand only to be met with a soft tap on her shoulders from Xion who acknowledged her question.
"U-Um… Can I once again ask about how powers are determined, created, and formed…? I am sorry if I forgot about it."
Xion looked at her with a soft expression, his lips curving into a gentle smile.
"It's fine, anyway... I will continue with my lecture so make sure you both listen up okay?"
The Principal looked at me so I nodded vigorously to show that I was being attentive.
"Good, well in that case, Epico gain their powers through the aide of someone who is a direct ancestor or has been exposed with a cryptid before. Whereas cryptids are creatures or monsters such as Vampires, Werewolves, Phoenixes, The Loch Ness, exposure to these creatures may lead to genetic mutation in an Epico or in his ancestors up to the third generation… Their powers are determined by the powers of the Epico themselves or the creature that they were exposed to."
My eyes widened and the dots finally connected… I see, then my powers must have come from something fire-related, but I wonder who my ancestor is?
"You see Pyre, Shan here has an ancestor who previously hailed from japan, but her generation decided to move to London… One of her ancestors, a fine maiden on their family ran into a Kitsune, and so being an Epico, her genes mutated and became what she was."
Having said that, he tapped Shan on the shoulder, and with a nod, the fox girl closed her eyes as a windblast swirled around her and the Principal. S-She really had powers… no kidding.
However, in that moment of majesty, I remembered what Wyzen had said… He wanted to consume us?
"The guy Wyzen said something about consuming us? Why was that?"
Xion quickly blinked twice, his face turning white as a sheet when I mentioned his name.
"H-He… Well, he has the ability to devour things and grow stronger, while I have the ability to unlock and grow an Epico's potential. We… We were once dragons, fighting for our beliefs until we decided to see who could aid humanity the most…
His eyes were a bit watery and a cough interrupted his narration… what happened before? I stayed silent and allowed him to speak, pushing the thoughts to the back of my head.
"Currently, he seeks to destroy me through Shan, whose power would be to constantly grow stronger as she grows older. Stronger control of the elements, leverage over life and calamities… he can consume that and dominate us all."
My feet felt cold as ice with that statement… Then I'd die if I just stay here?! No way, I want to go home!
"Principal… I am sorry, but that kinds of sounds like a 'you' problem… Neither can you just send me home, I really do not want to fight nor do I want to save some world alongside these oddities you call Epico, even if I may be one… All I ever wanted was to write blogs on anime girls and watch anime."
However, the Principal shook his head.
"I… I am afraid you cannot do that. Pyre, you would endanger not only us but your family by going home. Knowing Wyzen, he probably already has tabs on your family. If you head home, not only may he consume you, but he might hurt your loved ones as well…"
W-What? How?! I looked at Xion with saucer like eyes, but instead of stopping, he carried on with his speech.
"I will give you two choices…"
I froze when he laid me out some options, it was this moment that will decide whether I swim or sink… I nodded, allowing him to carry on. I did not want to hurt my family… If so then I am guessing I have to get stronger or stay in hiding, to keep the safe.
"I can let you leave the area and offer you a house t hide in til this blows over… complete with basic necessities and an internet connection… or You can choose to hone your skills for a just cause… help others like others before you…"
I swallowed a bit of my saliva and with a heavy sigh, I made a decision.
"Between being in a game like scenario with powers… and lounging at home to destroy myself eventually… I want to grow Sir XIon… Give me the power to…"
I wanted to get out of here… to defend myself and my family. I do not want to run from it because if I do, what would happen if I do eventually leave and get cornered by other Epico.
The Principal smiled and nodded to me…
"Very well… then I welcome you, not just as an Epico, but as a part of my family. Welcome to the Jade Dragon Society Pyre…"
I smiled at him and took a bow, today marked my start as an Epico…
However, Xion cleared his throat…
"That being said… starting tomorrow, you will join me in training. 5 in the morning, we will hone your skills."
I raised my hand in a salute
"Sir, yes Sir!"
"But I wasn't done… starting tonight, Shan will get a new roommate, you!"
Wha-
Screw you Xion… you just offered me the longest night of my life.