"So that's how it is?" Flinty asked.
I reluctantly nodded my head in agreement.
"Five students found dead in the forest ain't no joke, Max. You're telling me that they were all attacked by vicious beasts and you guys were trying to help them escape but failed?"
I nodded again.
I really didn't have to tell him the truth. I had this feeling that that would be a really bad idea. And it's not like I'd ever tell the backstabber anything true at least.
"I see. Though that story seems far fetched, we'll have to go with it. General is sure going to be pissed that five students were found dead," Flintheart scratched his chin with a tired smile.
We sat there in silence for a good amount of time till the atmosphere felt a little awkward. Flintheart eventually spoke up.
"I was in prison."
"Flintheart–"
"No Max. You have to know where I was so I'm not going to stop now. Not this time," he spoke firmly. I quieted down and let him continue.
"As I said before, I was in prison. And not just any prison, the most secure prison in the verse, the Omni prison."
My eyes widened in shock. The Omni prison?! Where the most dangerous of monsters are kept including the very few assassins caught by the government. That prison?!
I've heard stories about that place. There's even a rumour that the Beast King's first son is the head prison guard of that wretched place.
They say that only Demi–gons are allowed to work as guards there. The prison is found on Trident, one of the largest moons orbiting Neptune. Not just anyone is allowed on that moon, you'll need clearance from the King himself to even step foot on that hell rock. And Flinty was there?!
"You know, I've heard better lies than that! C'mon teach, stop joking around," I said as I laughed nervously. Flintheart looked dead serious though. He slowly lifted his right sleeve and I saw the tattoo branded. No one can ever forget that life ending tattoo.
It was always shown on the television and advertised everywhere. A silver trident the size of ten centimetres printed firmly on the bicep with the tips facing the shoulder, a large distorted eye drawn above it to finish. We were always warned that if we ever saw such a sign on anyone, we were to report immediately to the authorities.
Not like anyone would ever escape the cursed place but nonetheless, it was still adviced. There were the occasional people who tried copying the sign for their gang or something, but the eye, no one could ever perfect it. Not even a bot itself unless it's the one that made it.
So believe me when I tell you that I almost fainted in shock when I saw the eye was a perfect replica as shown on television on Flinty's right bicep.
"T–this c–can't be!" I exclaimed in fear as I distanced myself as far away as I possibly could.
"I was afraid that would be your reaction. Many people think that I came from a serious prison so they try to avoid me. But if they knew the truth, I'd be handed to the government without question. Thankfully, the King pardoned me, so here I am. But I still keep it under the wraps for my own safety. Once it's drawn, it can never be removed," he said.
I was still frozen in shock, my eyes never leaving that evil mark. I painfully turned my eyes to my ex-foster father and wondered what the hell he did to go there.
"I'll have to explain it to you some other time, when you're a bit calmer. Let's head to school now, shall we?" he continued and rolled his sleeve back down like he didn't just show me the horror mark.
He dusted himself off, then opened the portal once again.
" You coming?"
"Y–yeah. Just... a moment please," I stammered and slowly walked towards the portal.
"And Max?"
"Yeah?"
"This will be our little secret, right?"
"Sure. Sure."
***
"Yo, Max! What's wrong bro?" Blade asked as we walked on over to the med bay. The day was on a Sunday. No surprise the planet we were in had a different time zone so time moved a lot slower that previously anticipated. We just came out the portal a few hours ago but funnily, Saturday had already blown by.
"Nothing. I'm peachy. On an unrelated note, how's your ability?" I asked him while snickering.
"You'll never let that go, will you?" he muttered in embarrassment.
The girls had a little trouble back in class, so they had to stay back in class. Bareth here told me that a little someone was contributing a whole lot more to his team than expected.
Somewhere along the way, Blade had became the walking torch of his party, his light proving a lot more useful than intended.
"You should have seen him Max. He was marching forward like a powerful headlight, igniting the way forward for his party. What he didn't know was that our party was closely beside his," Bareth mocked and limped away from the fuming boy who tried grabbing his neck.
"Man, I would have paid to see that," I laughed as we finally arrived at the nurse's office.
She didn't look pleased when she saw a one armed monster smiling at her. Maybe my smile wasn't genuine enough. Two hours later, Blade and Bareth were kicked out after being fully healed.
"Now it's your turn. Braking bones, twisting fingers, black eyes...all you ungrateful brats come in here with minor injuries from doing the at most stupidest things in the world. You know back in my day, we earned the scars we got," the nurse grumpily muttered as she searched her drawers.
"You are the first with a real injury, boy. Now where did I put the... AHA! Here it is," she excitedly said while lifting a weird green bottle that looked too withered to even hold something. The red cap on top looked a lot more ominous than really intended.
"Drink this boy. And, oh, fair warning. Recreation of bones will be a whole lot more painful than anything you've ever felt. Happy drinking!"
"Aye yoo! Now hold on! I thought you would heal me with magic or some thing like that. Can't you like–"
"Are you the doctor? If not, then shut up and drink the poi–I mean medicine,"
"I don't wanna! Hey, why are you coming closer? Hey wait! I have a right to–*gulp!*"
She force fed me the worst drink I've ever tasted in my life! I was in no condition to object as she continued her job with a creepy smirk on her face.
"Ugh! Damn bozo! How dare you–"
I stopped talking immediately. The pain was gradual, but slowly worked itself up to a point that my normal reflex was to scream in pain while the nurse stared at me with this nonchalant look on her face.
"Take it like a champ! Just so you know, I could have regenerated your hand easy with a spell but... It wouldn't been as much fun as this!"
By this time, my mind was fading away with the exhaustion and pain catching up to me that I almost didn't here what she said. Almost.
Yup, wait till I'm finished here. She's so dead.
"Uh....." I mumbled. It was finally over.
"Well? How are you doing Furrha?" the nurse who tortured me asked.
"Not so well. I think... I think my heart has an issue,"
She looked worried and quickly placed her hand on my chest. He face contorted to confusion.
"Your heart feels fi–arggh!"
I grabbed her in a choke hold and squeezed tightly.
"This.... the..... thanks...I... get?!" she choked as she unsuccessfully tried to free herself.
"Bah! Don't give me that you mad woman! You tried to kill me! I'm only returning the favour!"
"But...hand..." she couldn't speak anymore as she started to loose consciousness.
What about it? ...wait, my right hand is the one doing the choking! She actually fixed it! And it felt a whole lot better than before.
I reluctantly eased off the pressure on her neck and tossed her away from me. She coughed horribly as she inhaled deep breaths of air, all while giving me the stink eye.
Huh, cute. Ignoring the crazed look in her eye and her awful attitude, she was actually kind of cute, in her own way. The nurse's uniform hid most of her, but her womanly curves were evident even with the layer of clothes she had on. She had a rough but mature face symmetry with a well defined nose and mouth which gave her a mature aura.
Her eyes were filled with tears(probably my doing) but when she gave me that look, I could still see her beauty through the thick blonde hair that was now messed up(again, me).
I can't believe I almost killed such a beauty like her! Well... she did torture me...and ah....we'll just call it even.
She continued inhaling deeply, never for once taking her eyes off me till she regained her composure and stood up.
"With that alone, I'm guessing you've already noticed your hand is in good form?" she asked while rubbing her neck.
"Uh...yeah," I answered." What did you do to me?"
"You should have let me explain before anything else. If I'd healed you with normal means, you'll have lost a few functions to your hand. You're welcome."
"Ah. I see. Sorry about the whole choking thing."
She stared at me coldly when I gave her an apologetic smile.
"Get out."
"OK"
I rushed out before I could make the situation a whole lot worse. The nurse sighed in relief and lifted the green bottle from the ground.
"How did he survive the process? And the way he choked me...he might be the one." A smile formed on her face. She was excited to share the news with a certain someone.
***
I appeared in front of my room's door, my head screaming in pain and barely opened it before dropping to the floor.
"Ugh! Why you damned body!" I cursed in anger.
"You know, you could always ask for help, don't you?" Arnold said from his bed, a book in hand. This has started to become a habit, him waiting for me and me entering almost close to death.
"Sup Arnold. Judging by your voice, I'm guessing you had a good time in the forest?" I asked.
"Indeed I did. Do you need..."
"Nah, I'm good. I can carry myself to the bed." I said and tried lifting my self off the floor. I immediately smashed my face painfully on the ground and gave up.
"OK, maybe a little help."
Arnold did a good job of carrying me to my bed, and once I was well positioned, fixed himself to my right. He was already back in normal clothing, the day still young due to our arrival. I still had on the battle gear that I previously entered the portal with, only now beaten up badly. A few bruises here and there too, but nothing my new ability couldn't fix.
Arnold seemed fine, from the side at least, cause like a leech, he was just peacefully lying on my bed.
"What now?" I wondered.
"I couldn't find you in the forest. I tried following you from start but later lost your position. Where were you?" he asked worriedly.
"Dealing with some business. Nothing too serious,"
"Lies! I heard you lost an arm!"
"As you can obviously see, I lost no arm," I reassured him by raising both hands.
"Well... something seems different about you. You are a lot more calm. But under that I can still sense an uneasiness. Wanna talk about it?"
"Yeah... I have no idea what you are talking about. Question, why are you sleeping in my bed?"
"Because...reasons," he answered cheekily.
"Well then scoot! I've just had a long trip and I really need my sleep,"
"It's four in the evening! How are you even slee–hey, don't you dare close your..."
I heard nothing more as sleep's embrace took me in.
***
<* system control activated*>
<*user is now with self conscious*>
–––
[Bradley, my parasite! What can I do for you?]
[OH HELL YEAH!]