Chapter 4 - Members...Assembled!

CHAPTER 4
I kept walking walking around the arena looking for people without any teams but I was out of luck. I couldn't.

Aiden: Crap, 5 minutes in and I've still got not got enough. Hehe, pretty sure sis haven't either and all the people I asked either scorned me or already have teams.

I look up at the food stalls again and decided that overthinking really does make one hungry; so a little snack shouldn't hurt, right?

Aiden: Hehe, guess a quick bite couldn't hurt, Crysta got this.

I went upstairs and saw the boy that was napping in the corner of the arena.

Aiden: Oh, you're here too?

New character#3: Uhm, do I know you?

Aiden: Probably not. I saw you napping down there, and I thought that you were interesting and that maybe you and I could team up.

New character #3: You saw me napping and wished for me to team up with you?

Aiden: Yes.

New character#3: I don't see a flaw in that logic at all.

I'm sure he didn't mean that in the sarcastic sense.

Aiden: Right! How bout a lil intro? What's your name?

New character#3: Calico R...uren.

He strained his face like a thought came to him fast but his mouth had already released the words.

Aiden: I'm Aiden Brightfil, nice to meetcha!

I shook his hand vigorously.

Aiden: So are you in a team or...?

Calico: Why a team? Isn't an exam an individual thing?

I brought out a flyer I stole, er, permanently borrowed from Draven without permission.

Calico: We needed a team?!!

Aiden: Hahahaha, Yeah I found out last minute too.

Calico: I DON'T HAVE A TEAM! And it says here you need five members.

Aiden: Don't worry about it! I already have three people on my team(myself included).

Calico: I'm so grateful my sleeping got your attention, thanks for picking me, I promise to be of great help, it would have been terrible if I couldn't take this exam.


Aiden: Terrible? Must be serious, huh?


Calico: So what are our member's magical affinities, I can tell yours is fire but what about the rest?

Aiden: Oh, Uhm, my sister's in there and her affinity is Ice, and then there's another one who can't use magic but has an Ice sword, cool right?!

Literally.

He fell silent with a look of extreme sadness on his face.

Calico: We're so gonna fail...

Calico released an exasperated sigh as he sulked in the corner.

Aiden: Hehe, don't worry, don't worry, we're strong, just believe hard enough and we will (might/probably) be able to win... probably.

I said trying to comfort him, but he still had some bits of doubt on his face.

Aiden: Now what's with your magical affinity? I'm feeling water but you used threads, right?

Calico: Magical affinity is just what type of elemental magic you're closest to have at birth, but the magic you can use differs.
Like how you felt "water" from me but I use thread/string magic.

Aiden: Then how do you know I could use just fire?

Calico: Firstly, I don't feel a difference between your magical signature and affinity.

Aiden: There's a difference?

Calico: As I said before, the affinity is just a natural thing like how elements are natural and the magical affinity you have at birth can't be changed but you can change your magical signature to something else by practicing and gaining a new power(signature) then a difference will occur.

Aiden: Owwie, my brain can't handle all that.

Calico: *Sigh* Basically, having a hand is natural right? And there's nothing you can do to change that, but the signature you sign with on paper can be changed with great effort, got it?

Aiden: Uh...So an affinity is a hand and the signature is like the ability to use that hand to do something else or stay the same? Like practicing handwriting?

Calico: Yes, in a way.

Aiden: But why could you tell how mine worked I couldn't tell yours.

Calico: I practiced so I could tell them apart, I'm not perfect but at least I'm not ignorant of it.

Aiden: No fair! I'll try to feel yours again!

I closed my eyes and tried as hard as I could to concentrate to tell the difference in signature but all I could still feel was his affinity.

Calico: Just because you can see a person's hand doesn't mean you can tell how he writes, Aiden. And magical affinities can be hidden.
And one more thing, just like handwriting some people are born with great ones, some bad ones, some with bad that they made good with practice, and some whose hand fall short of being usable.

Aiden: Wow, you're so smart!

Calico: It's not that hard you know.

Aiden: I mean it, that sounded hard to understand, you must be a royal or something to have that kinda education.

Calico: I'm not!

He yelled at me, he looked troubled about something, I could only guess he must have had a terrible past, he then apologized.


Calico: Uhm, I'm sorry for that outburst, I just happened to be blessed with a little smarts and I went to a lot of libraries a few times as a kid.

Aiden: I-I wasn't interrogating you on it or anything, I just thought you were too smart to be a commoner, but I guess I was wrong, sorry.

Royalty must have done something to him in the past. But I couldn't pry since he clearly doesn't want to talk about it. so I left it alone.

Calico: No, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you.

Aiden: Hehe, I wasn't mad at all. Anyways, you should go meet the rest of the group downstairs and tell the girl that 'Oni-chan' sent you.


Calico: "Oni-chan"?


Calico: Yes and say it in a high-pitched voice like I just did. Don't worry she'll get it.


He left, but I stayed a few minutes to finish my food...again.
But I'd better leave too, I should be ready to thaw him out when she freezes him for what he's about to say but first I'll have to finish this fried fish on a stick.

*CLATTER!*

Shop owner#2: What are you doing you damned cat?!

He yelled at his servant so loudly but other stalls saw but didn't seem concerned like this was normal.

He was beating up a cat-girl demi-human, he threw her outside of his shop to where I was, but I didn't look since others didn't say anything and kept eating.

Not that I didn't want to do anything but this isn't my world, societal norms are different and I shouldn't interfere in everything just because I can.
Hehe, look at me being all smart.

Shop owner#2: How many times have I told you to be careful?! Do you want to be punished so badly?! Seems you prefer practicing your magic than serving me!

He yelled then punched her across the face, he kept beating her up and anytime she tries to fight back she gets shocked with high-voltage electricity, the glow of purple lightning enveloped her body.


Aiden: Wait, Magic he says?

I muttered while stuffing my face.

S.O#2: You demi-humans are worthless, I wish I could get my money back!

He was about to step on her face, but I caught his foot before it hit her whilst facing the girl with a stick in my mouth.

Aiden: If I heard correctly, you can use magic and you're good? (Sorry for not doing anything up until now, heh. I needed a reason.)

She glared daggers at me. I could feel myself getting pierced by her gaze and I could feel her hatred for me—No for humans quite clearly so I like to give her a chance to get out of this.

Aiden: Fierce eyes, I like that.


She glared even harder.

Scary! I thought I'd say something cool but she's scary!

S.O#2: Who are you, kid? Stay out of it! This isn't your business!

Aiden: Hey, Grandpa, I know what she did might not have been good, but Is beating her up while she gets shocked at the same time in public a little bit cruel? Is that the only way she'll learn? Is that the best solution?


I feel soo wise for asking these questions!


S.O#2: Stay out of it boy, Just because you're in this exam doesn't make you better than me!

Aiden: Who said I was? I'm just saying you can tone it down a bit.


S.O#2: Tch, get lost!


I took a glance at her and the parts of her body that were severely injured, she had blood running down her forehead, a swollen eye, a broken arm, and other injuries. The fact I was sitting back and letting this happen makes me feel like scum.
But I couldn't let this worse scum have her.


Aiden: Since you're probably going to kill her, can I have her instead? She'll make a good sex slave.

My eyes were enraged but I wore a smirk to seem like I'm like him.

Oh and about the slave thing, that's not what I'm planning to do with her at all! God, no! I just want to see if he will give her to me if I promise to do something worse to her.

I'm the hero in this just to be clear!


S.O#2: Is that why you're here? Hehe.
The shop owner laughed.

Looks like he bought it

S.O#2: Well I can't sell her to you... she's already in "use" to me sometimes, I can't give that up!

[Aiden opened his eyes in rage, and a small amount of the magic he keeps partially controlled exploded out of him, everyone in the entire arena felt an intense pressure that they'd never experienced before—an earthquake— No literally but it felt like it happened within the area, and some candidates fell to their knees due to the intense pressure he was giving out, Gloria trembled because of it, no one knew where it was coming from and the people were in a state of unrest.]


Crysta's POV:
Hm...

[She narrowed her eyes knowing what—Who's causing this whole thing.]


[The Shopkeeper was paralyzed in fear, he couldn't even stand up and started trembling]

Aiden: Hey, I'll ask this again, sell her to me.

[Aiden had on a closed-eyed smiling face that radiated an ominous aura, he nearly gave him a heart attack]

S.O#2: Fine, fine I'll sell her to you! Please don't kill me!

[He begged]

S.O#2: S-since you want her, h-how a-a-b-bout t-ten bronze c-coins.

[He couldn't stop stammering. The pressure vanished like it was never there]

Aiden: Aww, 10 coins? No fair!

[Aiden started pouting]

Aiden: But if that's as low as you can go then I'll accept it.

[He handed over the money]

S.O#2: T-thank you.

The shop owner said. Looks like I pulled it off, I can't believe I got mad at him even after I said the societal norms are different.

Sigh... I'm a hypocrite.

Wait, in all the shows I've watched there's always supposed to be a seal somewhere on the girl that the hero removes before the girl gets Stockholm syndrome into liking him.

But in my case, she's a little girl so morally, No!

Why's my story different?!!

Aiden: Sigh... Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, is there a seal or contract you put on her?

S.O#2: O-oh y-yes, I almost forgot.

He showed his hand where the contract seal was, it was a magic circle that glowed purple, then I looked at the girl's hand it also had one that glowed as well.


S.O#2: W-we need to go see the merchant who sold her to me to get it off, s-since the seal is Silver classed.


Aiden: Hmm, that sounds like a chore, but if the seal is broken off at one end does the person on the other end gets released as well?


S.O#2: Y-yes, but d-do you possess a spell that r-releases such?


The shop owner is still scared of me, I might not release that much magic ever again.

Aiden: Nope! And I'm not going to the merchant, I'll just have to remove it myself.

I took the Shop owner's hand.

S.O#2: W-what are you doing?! Ahhh!!

[Aiden took the shopkeeper's hand and burnt the magic behind the seal, he didn't possess any spell that could undo it so he just burnt the magic away with flames. Of course, it will hurt, he's pouring flames on top of a person's bare skin to remove a magical seal!]

[After a few seconds of agonizing heat, the seal faded away.]


Aiden: Your hand may hurt for a while, but it was better than burning your hand off right?

I smiled.

S.O#2: R-right.

The girl was at the corner looking at me in fright maybe she felt my magic as well and was cautious about me, but she wasn't trembling.

New character #4: Y-you can have my body, but please let me take part in this exam, please I'll do anything!

What a sweet voice and also I forgot to tell her I didn't mean that!!

Aiden: Anything, huh? Then...strip.

She started to remove her clothes.

Aiden: Woah! Woah! Woah, I was kidding, I'm not emotionally ready to see a nude girl, Even if I was, I would want it to be on my wedding night as we both gaze at the moon in a star-filled night in our mansion, naked and then humping ourselves till morning, Ahh livin' the dream, am I right?

I had a satisfactory look on my face reveling in my fantasy but the girls looked at me in disdain.

Aiden: Too many details? Hehe, sorry about my nasty demeanor I wasn't buying you for your body, I just needed a team and I didn't care who it was at this point...So, care to join me?

New character #3: Y-yes!

Aiden: So cute! What's your name?

Luna: I don't remember but the one I was given in the slave market was Luna.

Aiden: I see...Mine's Aiden.

Luna: I know, I overheard your conversation with Mr. Calico.

Aiden: You have a good hearing then, and also it's just "Calico"

No way he's going to be called "Mr. Calico" while I get called just "Aiden."
So I equalized it for both of us!
Yes, I'm petty, bite me.


I noticed she wore chains on her legs and a collar.

I began moving closer to her she kept moving backward until her back touched the wall, perhaps this looks weird from her perspective but all I'm doing is trying to take those chains off.

I finally got close to her she closed her eyes as if bracing herself for the "inevitable" then I just broke her collar and the chains on her legs then moved back instantly!

Aiden: There you're free, let's go.

I said with a smile and an outstretched hand. Though she had a broken arm and some injured places she was still strong enough to stand.

Luna: Hm...

Aiden: Heh, what?

Luna: You're sure you're not going to do anything weird to me?

Aiden: Hahaha, yes, yes I promise, now let's get you to my sister so she can patch you up.

She began walking wobbly like and she didn't take my hand. Sad indeed.


* *

We both went downstairs, Calico was frozen in Ice when we got there.
I held back my laughter when I saw him frozen.

Aiden: W-what happened?


Akeru: Crysta got upset that he said 'Oni-chan' in a high-pitched voice and then froze him.

Hahaha.


[Aiden turned back and saw that Crysta had an Ice Spell on her hands ready to fire.]

Aiden: Uh, er, well the thing is, I, er...

[He started sweating]

Crysta: Before I kill you, who's that?

Aiden: Oh. This is Luna, she's our new teammate, can you please heal her?

Luna: H-hi, I'm Luna, pleased to meet you.
Crysta's POV
Hm...

Crysta: She's cute.

Aiden: I said that too.

Crysta: Quiet, you.

She shot an Ice spell by his feet.

Aiden: Yes, ma'am!

Crysta went to her and touched her face.

Crysta: You're bleeding, did something terrible happen to you?

[Crysta said slowly cleaning the blood off Luna's head]

Aiden: Yeah, could you perform some healing magic, Ice-witc—Ahhh!

[She froze him.]

[The spectators looked at the odd team that has just been formed playing around without a care in the world.]

New character #4: Heh, Looks like we finally got some interesting students...

[He smiled]

To be continued...