Levi squinted, struggling to lift his head. He couldn't feel his legs, and his head throbbed painfully. He tried to move his body to get up, but it was in vain. He was buried under rocks!
Levi breathed hard, seeing nothing but darkness. "Lexi?" He whispered.
There was no answer.
"Lexi?" He called again. "Are you there?"
[I am, Levi]
Levi sighed with relief, trying to take in as much oxygen as he could. He groaned and attempted to move his hand to scratch his itching forehead. However, he couldn't do anything. His body was positioned awkwardly and pinned down by the rubble. Levi was surprised that he was still alive.
"What do we do about this, Lexi?" Levi asked.
[At the moment, I'm afraid we can't do anything, Levi]
"What?" Levi protested.
[I'm sorry, but we have to renew our Covalence after the battle you had exerted yourself]
"Renew?" Levi stretched the word like it was new to him. "How long will this renewal take?"
[I will try my best to ascertain. Here is the list of damages confirmed]
[Tachycardia, limb paralysis, slight concussion, multiple internal bleeding, external bruises and injuries, hazy vision, in fact I'm certain of tetraplegia now-]
"Okay, okay, I get it," Levi interfered. All the pain seemed to be appearing immediately Lexi mentioned them.
[Do not worry, it will take a few minutes]
Few minutes before another regenerate comes creeping by and munching on his defenceless body.
Levi traced his thoughts back to what had transpired before he found himself buried by rocks. Abby? Brody? Where were they? He started to panic, realizing they must have been separated when the ground broke apart.
"Lexi? Search for vibrations and heat markers, if you can. Check if Abby and Brody are around."
[Indeed, Levi, I can sense someone in the vicinity right now]
"Really?" Levi beamed with hope. Suddenly, a rock above his head was lifted, and the first rays of light peeked into his cramped spot. Not just any rays of light, but rays from a ball of fire. Levi raised his head to see Box's stoic face looking down at him, his hand conjuring a ball of flame.
"Hey," Box spoke for the first time. His voice was extremely deep, not threatening, just deep and calm. His face was soiled, but he looked okay. He must've dropped in a better spot, unlike Levi.
"I heard you talking to yourself, or should I say to...Lexi," Box added. His other hand was holding the huge rock he had pulled out. "Can you move?" he asked Levi.
Levi only shook his head. Box sighed as he glanced at the heavy debris piled on Levi. He shook his hand, waving off the flame; then, he bent forward and grabbed Levi by the pits.
In unity, they both groaned, pulling Levi out of the hole.
"Oh fuc'! fuc'! Fuc' no," Levi cursed when he saw his legs as soon as he was successfully pulled out. His legs were disfigured, bent at odd angles.
Box smiled at Levi's visage as he walked around, a ball of fire still on his palm, the only source of light in their location. Their location? Levi spun his head around, looking left and right, skimming the area.
They were in some sort of an underground cave that resembled a canyon. Levi rested his head against the wall behind him, trying to pull himself up to sit, still feeling numbness in his legs. No Abby, no Brody, Levi noticed.
Box had walked a long distance and was drinking water from a little pool available there. Water! Levi suddenly felt thirsty, wondering how he was going to drink when he couldn't walk. He watched as Box gathered small combustible objects and was piling them like a campfire. Box was able to light them, illuminating the environment better.
Box stood up, and he and Levi shared a long stare. He grimaced, looked around, then sat on the ground opposite Levi, in the same way Levi was positioned.
"I never got to congratulate you on your victory over me at The Colosseum," Box started, his voice reverberating.
Levi slightly chuckled. "I didn't do it alone, you know that," he replied.
"Yes. But even at that. Very nice ability you had there," Box praised. "And a better one now," he finished.
Levi smiled. "Never heard you talk before, I started to believe you were dumb," Levi said and chuckled, his laugh trailing off when he noticed Box didn't laugh along.
Levi decided to break the silence that had settled between them. "You've never mentioned your real name, what is it?" Levi asked.
Box only rolled his eyes to the right, fixing his gaze on the pile of rocks and rubble that led to the top. "I prefer the code name, Box," he replied, his expression remaining utterly unchanged.
Levi studied him carefully. He had a mixed complexion, with black, drooping hair framing his square face. One didn't have to think much to conclude that the boy must have had a rough childhood. Levi wondered how many more academics had had rougher childhoods than his.
He took a look around them again and threw his hands into the air. Box noticed that and raised a brow. "You could've at least reduced the size of that blast," Box said. "We wouldn't have been here if you had."
"What?" Levi adjusted himself to sit up better. "We wouldn't have been here if that brute hadn't fought with Abby."
Box only shrugged. "That too," he muttered while peering into Levi's face. "Speak."
"Nothing to speak about. He's been on me ever since."
"So, will you take the fight to him?" Box asked.
Levi locked eyes with Box and then grimaced. "Perhaps," he only said.
"If you hope to, do it in the South. There are no rules here, The Academy won't tolerate such in the North," Box advised apathetically.
Levi scrutinized the words, only to wave them away. He was Levi Parker, and starting fights wasn't something he always did. However, he was always on the receiving end.
"Do you think they'll come looking for us?" Levi asked after a while.
Box took up a brow and placed his arm on a raised knee. "Who?"
"The Academy?" Levi answered.
For the first time, Levi witnessed Box smile a sarcastic smile as he moved his head sideways repeatedly, looking up. "The Academy," Box repeated Levi's words. "Do you think they'll come for us?" Box subsequently repeated Levi's question, reverting the word 'you' to personify Levi.
"I dunno," Levi muttered, shrugging. "We're their academics aren't we? They wouldn't want to let go of us that quickly, especially with two goldens. Right?"
Box chuckled and rose to his feet. He brushed the dirt off his pants and fixed his gaze on Levi. "If I were Robert right now, I would've pressed the button a long time ago, exploding our heads."
Levi was drawn aback by his statement.
Box noticed his expression, "Wait, do you think The Academy gives a shit if we live or not?"