T H I R D P E R S O N' S P. O. V:
Kairos was not the least bit pleased seeing his mate go through such torture. The logical side of him appealed that it was necessary for her to grow, and that was in fact the job he was assigned to ensure.
Train them into what the Empire needed, not the social media users advocating under a false notion of peace that could only exist in an idealistic world.
Put them through the pain of reality and that alone would slap senses into them, turning the students into victorious fighters on the battlefield of life and not weak lines pleading for uncertain security.
And to those whose mentality get distorted into cruel sadists, or become deviants, or for deviations of all manners, Kairos would personally eliminate such threats. That is, on the basis they served more as a detriment than an advantage.
A little frown made it's way to his face while he stared down at the young teen who had begun influencing him in a slow procession.
Kairos should be glad he found his mate, but not when it's a scheme and a deadly weakness on his part. So he often found it conflicting how to treat Rosanna. That being noted, he believed he wasn't a complete prick. There were times he cared and would express it.
The girl in question was but an innocent bystander caught at the epicenter of the war. So he wouldn't treat her that badly.
"Admiral," A young boy with blue hair and cute features walked into the room, holding a file in his hands.
The young boy's smile faltered when he noticed the sleeping image of Rosanna on the makeshift bed.
'Who?' He thought but kept his silence.
"Report." Kairos gave Asa a fleeting glance and directed his gaze back to Rosanna, straightening up his position on the chair.
"Of the seventy students in Class 33A Upsilon, 17 passed with exceeding marks. 34, of the neutral line and 19 of poor performance. 3 of which show little signs of deviations."
Asa replied methodically, keeping a perfected smile on his face as he ignored Rosanna, eyes staring intently at his Instructor.
"Team Alpha?" Kairos questioned, seeming oblivious to the boy's heated gaze.
"As expected, Elan, Pearce, Karissa, Drake and Naiyah passed with the best grades."
"Rosanna?" Kairos' question caught the boy a bit off guard, but Asa responded instantly.
"...There is a Rosanna Graymond in our class. I assume her to be the young lady before you, Master?"
Kairos ignored Asa's question and the young boy swallowed his irritation before he continued talking.
"One of the three deviations."
"How so?" Kairos asked intriguingly.
Smiling, Asa replied. "Chantless spells is an amazing control and talent for a beginner but Ms. Rosanna's eyes tinged greyish-white with black veins around her neck for a few seconds before her death. A sign for possible infestation of dark matter."
"Cover up her information." Kairos' resolute voice was shocking to Asa.
"Sir..." Asa hesitated. "Isn't the goal of the Pocket Dimension to find out possible threats and inform the higher ups?"
Arching a brow, Kairos eyes glowed red and in a split second, Asa found himself in a 'time freeze'. His entire body frozen.
Blue dilated pupils stared ahead in a straight direction. Every part of Asa's body was experiencing a silent still. His heart rate had stopped and although he'd yet to die, Asa knew he was a step away from death's door.
Mystically, Asa could not even breathe. The boy felt as though he'd stepped into a silent coma in an unexpected second, eyes staring blankly at one direction.
Asa could not feel a thing and the thought terrified him, striking a feeling of familiarity to the days of his abuse.
'Why... why can't I move? Fvcking he-!' Every of his danger senses rang and before he could organize his thoughts, Kairos' voice disrupted whatever conjuncture Asa could come up with.
"Who are the higher ups, Asa? Is it your Principal? Who works under your Prince? You will do as I say and I expect not a shred of disobedience that will cost you your measly life. Don't think I do not know the thoughts you harbor. Your desire to climb through the ranks of nobilities, to suppress your superior and enact pathetic vengeance upon people whose lives have no interference with yours.
Asa, you work for me only by your usefulness and your inability to be a threat. Don't make me think otherwise. Is that clear?"
Unknown whether it was the eery undertone in Kairos' tone or the open revelation of his words or maybe the chill in the Prince's eyes, Asa found himself stuttering in response the second he gained control of his body.
"Y-yes s-sir," He let out a wimpy, shakey voice. But the feral look in his eyes made the Prince understand he'd kill off this pawn sooner or later.
Asa's face was downcast, eyes showing petrification on the surface but Kairos had met actors, much more being one himself. What veils could he not remove?
The silly killing intent? How adorable.
Kairos chuckled. "Get out. And ensure Ms. Rosanna's results are all normal. Or you can go fvck the dead body of your sister."
'A*shole!' Asa screamed in his head, turning around with swift but stiff steps and walking away.
The tent's door was shut after an angry flap, and Rosanna opened one eye to survey the surrounding. Locking onto Kairos' bright gold ones which made her open her two eyes in shock.
"H-hey boss." She stuttered, pushing herself up with a weak appearance as she placed herself in a sitting position. Rosanna faked a yawn and cringed internally once she realized how obvious her act was.
"How much did you hear?" Kairos asked, lips quirked up in slight amusement.
"I cannot lie, bro. But I am completely bribe-able. 100% discount and as a matter of fact, where am I? Who am I? What's my name?"
Feigning amnesia, Rosanna's acting skills came into play-- which was good if not for the dramatic extras she added. Looking around with a gasp and clutching her heart with an expression of disbelief and confusion.
"Oh my shanizzle, where hath I risen?" Rosanna said aloud, looking elsewhere but Kairos while she died silently on the inside.
'Must I talk? Must I open my rubbish mouth and say nonsense? Mercy me.'
"I'm glad you have no aspirations of being an actress." Kairos uttered, "Comedy is better suiting but even then, that might be a weapon of mass murder considering how your audience might die of apprehension."
"Must you be mean?" Rosanna scrunched her face up in annoyance. "You and your bleached hair sasuke duck butt-" attitude.
Pausing in her words, the girl realized how much of a threat her words could possibly bring to her.
"I mean," She coughed lightly. "I-I think you're amazing."
"I don't know if I should be offended by your blatant lie or find it amusing that my identity can turn you two-faced so easily."
Rosanna huffed and turned her head away from the man whose presence could influence her just as easily as he mentioned.
She began feeling nervous when she looked around the unfamiliar surrounding, not knowing what to say or whether to brush up the things she'd heard from Asa concerning her. And the things Kairos revealed about Asa.
Brows creased, Rosanna said, "Kairos..."
Her rampant thoughts making her unaware of the silence that just passed between the two, and her obliviousness against Kairos' deep stare at her figure.
"Hm?" The white haired man answered.
Turning her head to him and snapping out of her overthinking, Rosanna asked her questions aloud.
"W-what did A, Asa mean by deviation and why are you hiding my results?"
Definitely, Rosanna had an inkling about what a deviation was-- haven read the book 'Hibiscus Wisps', but somewhere within she hoped it wasn't as she thought.
"You should know what a deviation is. Or should I say deviant? That is more easier to note. Deviants- popularly known as zombies are people infested by dark matter. A fast accelerating unknown parasite which feeds on living organisms. It's the sixteenth Apocalyptic catalyst which will soon be descending fully into our world. Marking the second Apocalypse we'd be facing, with the inclusion of the Demon's descent."
"Shite." Rosanna muttered after hearing Kairos' explanation.
"Will I turn into one?" Eyes widened, the girl's heart began running on a marathon as her question came out in a bare whisper. Which of course, Kairos' senses could pick.
Gold eyes flickered and Kairos took a hesitant pause before replying. "There are conditions to turn into one or not. These are just possible signs of possession. And Rosanna... You're weak, the likelihood of you escaping infestation without the protection of the higher ups are close to none. But if you become stronger, you will withstand the Apocalypse descent."
"Help me." Rosanna pleaded. "I," She gulped. "I will work wholeheartedly for you but please do not let me turn into a mindless zombie, my consciousness imprisoned in my own body. I need you to train me, Kairos. I need to be stronger. I can't- fuck this is all too sudden, I wish I was back on earth."
Tears threatened to spill at the corner of her eyes but the determination in her glassy orbs shun piercingly under the dim light of the candles.
Kairos had a cunning smile on his face, eyes flashing with sadistic humor as he responded to the young girl's plea. "Work? You're already mine, tressia. But I guess your willingness will achieve a better effect in my team. Rest assured, I will help. But your determination and will to survive will be one of your winning cards. Do you dare make a deal with Tarshick? I can give... Special trainings that will require such willingness from you, helping you get stronger and making you a more valuable asset."
'Tarshick', Rosanna noted. The War Lord of Starfall's many tales. A popular tale that wasn't a story for kids. Tarshick was a name often used as the curse the soldiers in the battlefields used for deserters, traitors or anyone who deserves major punishments.
'The curse of Tarshick is the curse of pain, death and torment in a chaotic environment.'
During the numerous battles in starfall, some soldiers often cursed deserters with fury for abandoning them in such perilous state. Such was humanity but abomination to warriors.
'Was it true?' Rosanna wondered. 'Did the curse ever work? And why does Kairos have that title? Since when? It wasn't mentioned in the book... Or was it? And what the heck was the actual tale of Trashick?'
"You said... I'm already yours, Kairos. But I don't feel I'm growing any stronger. Yes, it's been a short time but I don't see any notable progress. I think, I think if you can train me, I'd make better progress. I can't wait for the Institution to do that. It's a four years course for a battlefield starting in a few months. So yes, I accept the special training and whatever deal it is. Just please, help me."
Lips raised upwards, Kairos 'smiled' and leaned forward on his chair, hand outstretched to Rosanna who sat before him on the white sheets.
"Deal?" He said.
"Deal." Rosanna clasped her hand in his cool but electrifying touch, a fleeting sense of regret and unease passing over her for her hasty decision. Which might come back to bite her in the a*s. But if it meant survival, so be it.
The two removed their hands at almost the same pace, and Kairos stood up from his seat.
"Come," He said, looking towards the exit of the tent. "You have a lesson to attend and I have a class to teach."
Rosanna stood up feeling a bit numb in her legs but still forced herself to walk, following Kairos outside the tent.
'Deal with the Tarshick. Huh, that's interesting'. She thought with amusement, unable to shake the slight premonition which came with the thought. Deep within, she knew something had changed with this deal. Just like her ever evolving relationship with Kairos.
What an intriguing duo they were. And one heck of a survival story Rosanna starred in.