April sighed softly and rolled on her side then looked at me. She tugged my shirt and whined softly, as if she wanted something. I turned down my music and looked at her, setting my phone down.
"What's wrong..?" I asked, gently running my fingers through her hair.
"Well...I am not sure if I can share you with Georgia. Like I know we bonded and stuff last night and stuff, but I still don't trust her..." April said.
"Why?" I asked.
April sighed softly once again then sat up. "She doesn't fully agree with you and literally only teamed with us for you. The others at least fully support your cause, but I know she doesn't which really pisses me off!"
I sat up as well and rubbed the back of my head. "I understand how you feel, but we can't just kick her out based on feelings alone. She might be with us for me only, but I'd rather my allies stand with me than against me. It's already hard enough getting people to understand why I want to do this because they either don't like me or don't want to make the risk.."
April looked at me and gently grabbed my hand. "I don't want you getting into too much trouble either...War against St. Meishi Academy will never end how we want."
"Do you know how much knowledge this academy silences us on? We're literally just now learning about the Zodiacs despite literally living in their country and being protected by probably this country's best members of this army. We have the strongest forces in the world aside from America, China, and Japan and yet we know nothing about our heroes." I said and laid back down then stared at the ceiling.
"Heifer mentioned VI's and Mina's kingdom was attacked which is why they are in this academy as well. I've even seen them get bullied around as well, especially Mina and Mina told me Georgia even joins in at times. I don't know why Heifer even keeps her around." April said and crossed her arms.
I looked at April and smiled. "I mean Georgia has the best healing ability out of all of them and an asset when it comes to support. She's got her usefulness as well. We can't ignore that."
"I guess, but she's not even high tier! She called us fools and low tiers bottom of the barrel like any other normal human! She's stuck up and only cares about herself...she didn't even apologize for what she said last night. I'm only tolerating her because of you. If I could I'd sick it right to her left jaw.." April said then softly grunted when I pulled her down to lay down and relax.
"Relax, April..~ I have it all under control.." I said then held her close.
April laid her head against my chest and sighed. "I know..."
"How about we get some sleep and you two can sort out your differences tomorrow..?" I asked.
"Mmkay..." April said then closed her eyes. "Love you..."
I smiled and closed my eyes. "Love you too.."
-----------------------------------------
The next day, April and I made it to the academy and walked onto campus. I looked around and didn't see Nina and Lily. I felt someone playfully push me in hopes of scaring me. I looked back and noticed Nina and Lily then smiled.
"Nice try, Nina, but it's gonna take more than that to scare me..~" I said and gently caressed her cheek.
Nina smiled and closed her eyes at my physical affection. "I thought it would've gotten you a little~"
Lily smiled and walked toward me. "Good morning, August~"
"Good morning, Lily..~ You two are later than usual. We never beat you two here." I said and smiled at them.
"We kinda had a bit of a family emergency, but we are peachy now~" Lily said and smiled.
"Well well, if it isn't the Pride." One of Archer's friends said as he walked toward us with Archer.
"What do you want, Ken? Can't you see we're talking here?" Nina asked with a sour attitude.
"Whoa there babe, keep frowning like that it'll get stuck~" Ken teased and chuckled then looked at me.
I looked at Ken then glared. I watched as he flinched back and stepped forward. "Stay back.."
Ken chuckled softly, trying to mask his fear. "Whoa there big man, chill out. I'm just socializing with them, no need to go feral man."
I gave him a low growl then scoffed and calmed down. "Let's get one thing straight, you're never getting Nina or Lily back. We are all fully locked in and you're just another obstacle in our way, Jack."
Ken glared at me then smirked. "Believe what you want, loser... If you think your new Zodiac Power is enough to defeat us, you're gonna need to do more than beat three mid tiers and one slightly above high tier. Like seriously, anyone could've beaten Heifer's team. They're all just as weak as North Emerald."
April was about to say something, but I stopped her by placing my arm in front of her. She gently held my arm and looked at me. "August..."
I looked at Ken then frowned. "You think you have the right to talk down about a kingdom you don't even know of..? Disrespect their Princesses and their Knight...?"
Ken crossed his arms and took a step forward. "And if I am? What are you gonna do about it..? I absorb fire remember..? You can't do shit to me, loser..."
I looked Ken in the eyes then let out a low growl. "Step back..."
Archer noticed my aggressiveness each time Ken stepped forward toward me. He grabbed Ken's shoulder and stopped him. "You have a zero percent chance of winning against August. The flames of a Leo can reach heat levels beyond the sun. You can't absorb flames like his. Let's go. Leave these losers to themselves.."
"Losers..?" Lily asked in a hurt voice.
Nina gently comforted Lily and watched Archer and Ken walk off. "Don't listen to him... He's obviously annoyed that August is now stronger than he is.."
I watched the two walk off and grit my teeth gently. "They swear they can just talk and move however they want..."
"Calm down, My Knight. No need to get overly worked up about this. Let's just head to the clubroom that VI and Mina currently are." Leona said to me.
I calmed down then sighed softly. "Right. Let's go, VI and Mina are waiting for us."
"Oh yeah! I completely forgot!~" April said and smiled.
Everyone's mood was shifted back to normal once we remembered we were meeting with VI and Mina. Apparently we were forming a club together under the supervision of Georgia's Science Teacher, Dr. Noxius.
------------------------------------
We all walked into the clubroom and noticed VI and Mina talking with Heifer and Georgia. VI noticed us and came over to greet us.
"Finally you're here!~" VI said excitedly.
"Sorry for the late appearance, we had a little run in with two hotheads." I said and chuckled softly.
"So the Lion finally shows up!~ You know, a particular old friend from China told me about you Original Zodiacs...I didn't believe it until I met Heifer and Taurus." A woman said as she was sitting on a floating technological platform.
The woman was a rather tall woman with long, curly light green hair that extended down to her waist. She wore a green button up shirt that was tucked in black pants and she wore a white lab coat over her attire. She had a green crystal on her earring and it shined brightly. Her left eye had a symbol in it that resembled a snake.
'Is she...the Serpent Bearer?' I asked Leona.
"No she isn't the Serpent Bearer. She has the power of another Variant of Zodiacs known as the Chinese Zodiac...but this woman isn't only a Zodiac, but a Ruler." Leona explained.
'A Ruler..? Who are they..?' I asked Leona.
"I'll have her explain..~" Leona said to me then made herself visible for everyone else to see.
"Hold on..!" I said.
"It's fine, Lion. I already have my energy field projected. To others on the outside, they can't see Leona nor Taurus. Now, let's get down to business. My name is Nagini Noxius. I am a temporary teacher here and a Ruler." Nagini said then got off her platform and looked at us.
"A Ruler?" Nina asked and crossed her arms.
"Just there are 12 Zodiacs no matter the variation, there are 12 Rulers, Apostles to the Hero of Origin, and the beings that created all known concepts for humans since the beginning of time. You don't learn much about us Rulers because we barely show ourselves so there's no data to recorded unless you hear it from someone who is still alive from my Era." Nagini explained.
"And how old is this woman?" I asked.
"Physically...from appearance she's 20. Her actual age, she's in the hundreds. Nagini is the Ruler of Science, creator of the Super Energy. Super Energy can be harnessed by the use of Super Gems that Nagini—" Leona started then grunted softly.
"Ahem.." Nagini said and crossed her arms.
"Sorry...uh Dr. Noxius created. She's also the Eternal Serpent of the Chinese Zodiac, so she's extremely powerful. Not stronger than me of course, but you get the picture~" Leona purred and smiled.
Nagini looked at Leona then scoffed softly. "Anyway, you all are starting this club to support North Emerald from Citrine correct?"
"Yes." VI said.
"That's the simplest explanation." Nina said.
"You all need money also...The Emerald Crusade isn't gonna be enough. Luckily for you all Exzodia City has a building called the Celestial Heroes Hall where you all can either join one of the twelve divisions they have or make your own division. From there the Heroes Hall grants you quests and all that good stuff." Nagini said.
"How far is Exzodia City exactly from here?" April asked.
"It's about a four hour drive from Zodiac Square. By the time you finish today's Mock Battle, I'll be ready to go." Nagini said then walked to her floating platform. "Oh and August...I am expecting good results today. Now that I finally get to speak to you, you're gonna be my new Lab Rat..~"
"Eh..?" I asked and rose an eyebrow.
"You're going against another Hero Team known as the Demon Hunters. I wouldn't underestimate these people. If I were you, I'd go all out from the beginning and after you fight immediately use the sun to restore all your stamina." Nagini said.
Leona's eyes shined and she looked at Nagini. 'She's really been studying him...'
"April, your Crest of War. You're under utilizing it's true potential. I need you to start using your abilities more and have more pride in your heritage. Your power is one of one right now." Nagini said.
April nodded and gave a determined nod. "Okay!"
"Nina." Nagini started then looked at Nina. "No comments on you really. Lily...Hm. You can mark people from just a scratch of your weapon right and you can change it's form right?"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Lily said and stood up straight.
"Have you tried to mark someone using defensive methods? You have a really strong offense despite your actual role being support. You remind me of an old friend..~" Nagini said and smiled.
"No I haven't thought much of it. My weapon is a Holy Weapon named Heaven's Cross. I haven't fully mastered it's potential as all I can change it into is Heaven's Sword and Heaven's Spear." Lily answered.
Nagini nodded, understanding Lily. She swiped her finger down in the air, making a digital screen appear. "Seems like we need to get your Weapon Proficiency higher. For now, I have no comments. You four are dominating and I too wish for this academy to change. These hypocrites don't know they are failing our students by hiding critical information about our Realms, allowing injustice, and barely even teaching their classes. It's time for a change which is why I am studying you..."
"Strangely enough when going through your history August, you have no history. No records of you even being born on Earth. Where were you born exactly?" Nagini asked.
I looked at Nagini then closed my eyes. I've never thought much on my origins since I didn't know much myself. I had no memory of my past before living my life on Earth.
"I don't know." I said and opened my eyes. "I have no idea where I was born or what my own past is. All I know is I was taken in by my guardian. She goes by the name of Sephora."
Leona, Taurus, and Nagini paused and looked at each other thinking the same thing. The rest of us was left in the dark wondering what they were thinking.
"Do you happen to know where this Sephora currently is?" Taurus asked.
"No idea. Last I've heard from her was four years ago. All I could remember was I was getting attacked by some cloaked figure..." I said then put the pieces together. "That cloaked figure didn't even hesitate to attack me... could he have been the same one?"
"Focus! What do you remember last of Sephora?" Nagini said.
I began to think more. "She told me something about going out the country to get our attackers away from me which worked and gave me this Crystal. She said to only use it if completely necessary."
Leona watched me summon a crystal and her eyes widened. "The Legendary Rainbow Fluorite..?! That's the Zodiac Crystal for the Ophiuchus! No wonder that man didn't hesitate to kill you! You have the most powerful Zodiac Crystal at your disposal!"
"This whole time I had a Zodiac Crystal..." I said then grunted at my Z-System beeped. I took it out my pocket and noticed notifications appearing.
[Notice: Zodiac Crystal Detected!]
[Registering Rainbow Fluorite...]
[Notice: You can now access the power of Ophiuchus!]
[Notice: Dual Zodiac Arts now available (Leo x Ophiuchus)!]
[Current Compatibility with $3pH0r4: &$!%]
[Dual Zodiac Arts (Leo x Ophiuchus): %$7@#]
"Hm..? The System actually glitched..?" Leona asked as she looked over my shoulder.
"Not even the system can withstand the power of the Fluorite. August, I have an idea. I know your guardian said to only use it for emergencies, but I need data on that crystal so I know how much power is needed to be executed to be classified safe and not a Weapon of War. Think you can handle that?" Nagini asked and noticed I was staring at the Rainbow Fluorite.
April looked at me and gently held my arm. "August..? Are you okay..?"
I closed my eyes then smiled. "I'm alright, just can't believe how close yet far she actually truly is. Alright Nagini, let get this party on the road."
Nagini looked at me then smirked. "I'll let you calling me by my first name slide, but next time I'll punish you for such a foolish mistake."
"Sorry." I said and softly chuckled, rubbing the back of my head.
With all of our plans set, we knew what we had to do. Operation Save North Emerald was now in its starting phase. VI and Mina were very excited to get this plan in motion. It was only a matter of time before we entered started our journey as true heroes and start this New Age of Zodiacs.