A week and two days ago
"Today we've gathered here to send Alphen Grey to his everlasting rest…" There wasn't a doubt that only a few came to his funeral for he wasn't around here but there lies a child in his teens
'Arghhhh! Master… How did this happen to you? Why you of all people? I don't understand why the world is unjust. So many kind, innocent, and good-natured people die. It's not fair. I wished Ryan and his gang could take your place instead, that also counts for Luke Grimes,'
…
Present
The sun finally gazed down upon this town though a little foggy, the roars of the engine got louder, and the bus had arrived. "It's already been a week… It still feels surreal. I hope that you've left my side, master, I don't want to burden you anymore. Let me handle your responsibilities–"
"Oi! Are you coming in or what? Hurry up will ya? I don't get paid enough as it is. Do you really think I care if I miss a single student huh? I'm fed up with you little retarded fucks games if you don't come here then I'll close it shut," As the figure muttered the driver finally lost his cool and cursed like there was no tomorrow
"Oh coming!" Once the hooded figure boarded the bus it found that almost every seat was taken except for one
'Luke Grimes!!? Why the hell is this guy here? I thought he got banned. Wait, that would've been the case if Ryan was alive. But I heard something unusual, this fucker was getting rehabilitated, he doesn't look like it to me,'
Suddenly a hand reached his shoulder and before he knew it a pair of eyes were found near his ear. "Why hello there student, what's your name again? Nevermind. Why don't you take a seat? It'll be a rough road starting here so it's best to lie down and rest. That seat over there is vacant, so why don't you take it,"
'Ughhh… holy shi– this guy reeks of wine and cigars. Is he even the guidance counselor? It's hard to believe when he has that kind of hobby… but aren't you too much? I know about the rehab but you picked me over the rest? I could see tons over your back just give it to them! I would rather die than sit next to that devil!'
"Huh?"
Suddenly their eyes met and he decided to raise his arm and cover his eyes but Luke just said. "Oh, there's no vacant seat left? Here, take a seat… and don't talk to me,"
Be it intentional or not he struck a nerve against the hooded person. 'Don't talk to me? The nerve of this fucker! But it's rather odd how calm and quiet he is… is this drunkard a miracle worker or something?'
Luke's POV
'Who the fuck is this guy? Well, I don't care… It'll be a long time until we get to the campsite. Let's rest for a little bit since I'll need all the energy I can... freaking prick! Why the hell did it get so bumpy?'
The moment he opened his eyes the only thing he saw was thick fog hovering over the bus. "Where is everyone? Huh, a note? When the hell did I get this?"
He opens the note and before he knows it a piece of shocking news comes to his ear where the letter belongs to Royce
[Dearest Luke Grimes I placed this single piece of paper in your hand since you were too focused on catching a wink
The bus crashed into a tree and before we knew it everyone was gone but no need to worry this fog is an array
It looks like weakening your seal must have messed up the written commands of the inscription
Which resulted in this… phenomenon where non-Keepers are inside an array which is normally impossible
This array is a separate realm where it's both a part of the world and yet it's a fleeting dimension waiting for its expiration
Seeing as the thickness of the fog is somewhat visible enough that a normal human person can see it's not dangerous
So there's no need to worry about any Grave Keepers but I do request you to carefully handle your seatmate
It pains me to say that I won't be there to help, I would if it's you, but I won't do this for the organization
I'm a teacher today, not a Keeper. I have to prioritize the students first. The choice is yours to make if you want to continue
– Alexander Royce]
'Seatmate?'
Suddenly the bus opened and he found himself face-to-face with a silhouette that came about the bus. He hid himself in response and as the steps got louder he quickly reached for his pocket in advance. The figure stops near his seat, seeing this play out Luke crawls back up and surprises the figure as he locks his arm on its neck
"You got a lot of nerve!" He points a knife at the silhouette's neck prepared to slice before he hears its irritable tone
"Get off me while I'm asking nicely!" Luke was taken aback when he was blown away and a flicker which resulted in a fiery blaze surrounding its flesh
"Like I give a damn!" His first thought was to get back to his feet and everything went black after he slugged its mug
He was about to go for another whack but he suddenly stopped when he saw the face of his target. "Wait… aren't you the guy who sat with me? Huh, well this is awkward. Need a hand?"
Their reunion was met with anguish instead of warmth Luke gave him a hand and he quickly left the bus. "Hey, where the hell do you think you're going? Hey, I'm talking to you! You son of a–"
"Say one more word and I'll throw this ax in your mug. And aren't you a little too obnoxious? Try being a little nicer and there's a slim chance that I might listen," He waited for an answer but instead of his wishes being granted he was shocked by what came next
"You know what… I don't even care. No one's going to care if someone like you dies today. Go then, if you're that much of a man then try your best, you might not even die,"
'Is he taunting me? Heh… he needs a little more work only an idiot would fall for that. Wait, I haven't even thought of how they view me. Do they think I'm an idiot? Well, there's no changing that, and I kind of realize, he's a Keeper. I think he doesn't concern me considering that this fog is a little hazy for a normal person,'
"Well then goodbye…" His seatmate was dumbfounded and instead of following him to the fog he waited until he returned
Once Luke walked a certain distance the view of the bus was no longer visible and a peculiar feeling arose. Something he needed to follow with no failure was his heightened instinct telling him to duck. The attack became visible after it reached his range of sight and he saw an undead badger within the tree
"Graaaagh," It pounced on him aiming for his next but its body was severed with a single swing of his ax
"Double tap," He spun around and faced the undead badger where he severed the corpse's head
'Sigh… that was a close one. Who knew this military-grade ax I got from Ryan would come in handy? But that wasn't the only thing that helped me, Royce's sealing method was as well. I haven't been trained but after having more than once it feels like I can feel its presence. Guess hearing his guidance wasn't for nothing, I can feel it, the Order he calls it, I grow stronger if I pour it into a singular body part,'
"Graaaghhhh!!!" He takes a step back and sees the ground crumbling before he slowly sees the face of a cougar
"A mountain lio– Urghhh!" His body was suddenly away by the force that came for his back ramming him towards the cougar
The cougar pounced and his fate seemingly looked to be sealed; that was the case if he was an ordinary man. "Fuck! This freaking hurts! You're gonna pay for this you hear?"
He caught the cougar's jaws before it could bite him though his hands were bleeding he managed to live. Just when things seem to be right and well his instincts kick in and now he manages to counter in advance. With his strength, he lifted the cougar from the ground and swung it into his back
"I would've died… if only you weren't just a one-trick pony. Well, moose in this case. But aren't you too easy?" The cougar was rammed by the moose which slowly reduced the impact giving Luke the needed time to act
He leaps through the trees and uses them to send his body flying not before applying his Order through his feet. He rushes back at the moose and the cougar, the Order circulates through his legs till it reaches his palms. He twists his hips tightens his grip and as he lands on the ground he leaps once more
"You know what? I can really get used to this… I may not be a guru when it comes to this but I know a little about boxing. I guess kinetic linking can even work wonders in this field,"
The series of movements he did upon his leap built a rising force which in turn reached his palms. He slid through the undead with incredible speed whereas their vessels were sliced. He stands back up and wipes the blood off his head before he sees the eyes of the beast creeping over at his back
"What are you waiting for? Come at me… there's more room for one more–"
Before he could even move a fire appeared out of the blue and footsteps from his back grew even louder. "I must say this is rather peculiar… who would've thought you'd awaken as a Keeper. Well guess that's how you survived that whole corpse incident, am I correct Luke Grimes?"
The person he met before he left was also his seatmate who appeared with a flame covering his body. Luke was shocked… he couldn't believe it. So he asked the person standing before him which caused his curiosity
"Who the hell are you again?"