Jake's face drained of color the moment he read the name. "A-Arid is here?!" His voice wavered with fear.
"Yeah? Why?" Mel asked, noticing Jake's sudden shift in demeanor as he clutched his notebook tightly. Jake shook his head, but his anxiety was clear. Before he could react, Mel had the notebook in his hands, glancing at the name scribbled inside. "Rosethorn the Destroyer?" Mel's brow furrowed, realizing Jake was referring to Arid. "Why do you call him that?"
Jake looked down, his voice barely a whisper. "We—"
Before he could finish, a loud commotion erupted nearby. The crowd surged toward the source, and Mel followed, his curiosity piqued.
Lance stood opposite Arid Rosethorn, blood dripping from his nose as he gasped for air. "Why are you looking for my master?" Lance demanded, his voice ragged.
"Your master?" Arid sneered, wiping his bloodied knuckles. "I'm not here for you. I'm looking for the strongest freshman—Elowen Pendragon, right? Figures she'd be top dog, being Arthur Pendragon's daughter and all." His chuckle was dark, dripping with annoyance.
He raised his fist to strike Lance again, but Elowen appeared out of nowhere, catching his punch mid-air. Her arm trembled slightly from the force of his blow, but she stood firm. "You must be Elowen Pendragon. In the boonies, people like you are a dime a dozen," Arid said, his tone mocking. He swung another punch, but she blocked it with her elbow effortlessly.
"You dare to fight in a prestigious place like Arcanum?" she said, her voice sharp. "I don't care what you middle schoolers do, but Lance is friends with the king," she added, referring to Melanthius, the King of Atlantis.
Suddenly, Dorian appeared, flying in with a powerful kick aimed at Arid, but Arid deflected the attack with ease, sending both Elowen and Dorian stumbling back. He smirked. "You must be the king. Son of Dracula, right? Are you the strongest here?"
Dorian brushed off his shirt with a groan. "What if I am? These damn middle schoolers…" he muttered under his breath.
Arid pulled out his black card, flashing it with a smirk. "Middle schooler? I'm in 9th grade."
Elowen's eyes widened as she recognized the name from the folder. "Arid Rosethorn? You're a demigod… and you're acting like a common delinquent?" Her voice was thick with disgust.
"So, you two are the strongest? Where's the third?" Arid asked, scanning the crowd, his gaze finally landing on a familiar face. A wicked grin spread across his face as he spotted Jake.
Jake's eyes went wide with fear as Arid strode over and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. "Jake Knight! The only one from Horace without magic. You still have that magic mark on your eye." He sneered, pointing to the faint glow around Jake's eye. "Mine's on my mouth. But you? You don't deserve it. Your parents had magic, but you? Not a drop. Don't tell me you are the third strongest freshman?" Arid chuckled darkly as Jake struggled against his grip.
"L-let go!" Jake sputtered, his voice trembling.
"Let's see how you became the so-called 'first strongest,'" Arid growled, raising his fist. But as he threw the punch, his arm met nothing but air. To his surprise, Jake was no longer in his grip. He spun around, eyes widening as he saw Melanthius holding Jake, setting him gently on the ground.
"You were about to hurt my friend?" Mel's voice was low and dangerous, his eyes fixed on Arid. "When Jake told me you bullied him, it filled me with rage." His fist clenched tightly as he stepped toward Arid. "You said you're from the boonies, huh? Wanna know where I'm from?"
Arid sneered, masking his surprise. "Who are you? I didn't see you in the roster," he said, narrowing his eyes. "No magic use here, but I can still feel your physical strength." Without warning, Arid dashed forward and threw a punch at Mel, but Mel sidestepped it effortlessly.
"Is that what the countryside has to offer?" Mel quipped, and in an instant, he fired off three rapid punches. Arid blocked them, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"I don't appreciate you talking down about my kingdom," Arid spat, throwing a kick aimed at Mel's side. But Mel dodged again, countering with a swift hidden cloud kick, which cracked against Arid's jaw. Arid's knees buckled from the blow.
"What... what was that?" Arid stammered, wiping blood from his mouth and regaining his stance. "You wanna see what we're taught in the boonies?"
Before another punch could be thrown, a figure stepped between them, halting their clash. "Stop. Fighting's not cool," Cassius Taurus murmured, calmly diffusing the tension. The room fell silent, all eyes on the tall figure. Gasps rippled through the cafeteria.
"That's Cassius Taurus—the bull hybrid."
"I heard he and the other black cards lost to Mel."
"Yeah, but Cassius has been training like crazy, and he's barely been at school."
Cassius gave a casual wave as he walked away, not looking back. "Remember this, Melanthius. Next time, you won't win." With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
Arid growled in frustration, ripping off his shirt to reveal a torso covered in scars. "You think you're tough shit? I was holding back! I'll take this school by storm—"
But he stopped mid-sentence, his bravado faltering as he saw Elowen, Dorian, Lance, Amara, Astroman, Laurel, Emrys, Kali, Jasper, Kai, and Draven all flanking Mel. The sheer force of the group sent a ripple of unease through him.
"I didn't know he had this much firepower..." Arid thought, feeling a rare pang of doubt. His expression darkened, though, as he muttered, "You're lucky I'm thinking of joining the fencing team. If we were out in the streets, using magic... you'd all be dead!" With a final snarl, he stormed off, leaving the cafeteria buzzing with tension.
Draven turned to Mel, his voice sharp. "Who the hell was that?"
Mel ignored him, his eyes still fixed on the floor, remembering the time Draven had stabbed him. The tension between them hung heavy for a moment until Mel forced a casual smile and addressed the group. "Hey guys, how's school?" he asked, turning to the other black cards.
Laurel sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "King Aldara's new student system sucks," she grumbled, kicking a nearby tray in irritation. "Between the new black cards not even showing up to classes and middle schoolers acting like criminals, it's ruining Arcanum's reputation."
Mel nodded, shifting the topic. "You heard from your parents, Amara?"
Amara shook her head, looking downcast. "Nope, not a single call," she said, her voice soft.
Before the silence could stretch too long, Elowen's eyes lit up. "Oh right, guys! Halloween is almost here!" she exclaimed, and the mood shifted instantly. The black cards began murmuring with excitement, their faces lighting up at the mention of the holiday.
Mel, however, looked completely puzzled. "Halloween? What's that?" he asked, his brows furrowed. The murmuring stopped as everyone turned to stare at him, surprised.
Lance threw his hands up in disbelief. "I'm starting to really question this guy's smarts. He created his own martial art, for crying out loud! And he doesn't know what a holiday is?"
Amara smiled softly and stepped forward to explain. "Halloween's a holiday we celebrate every year in Auroria. It's a time when people dress up in costumes, sometimes as monsters or heroes, and we throw parties, carve pumpkins, and go door-to-door asking for treats—mostly candy. But it's also rooted in a lot of ancient traditions, where people used to believe the boundary between the living and the dead was thinner on that day."
She paused, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "It's got this spooky, fun vibe. You'll see decorations all over the place, people wearing masks, and just a lot of playful mischief. It's one of the few times when everyone gets to let loose a bit—especially us students."
Mel scratched his head, still not entirely getting it, but intrigued nonetheless. "So, it's like a big party where you all pretend to be someone else?"
"Exactly," Amara nodded. "But it's more than just that. There's a sense of mystery and magic in the air. I think you'll like it."
"Yeah," Draven chimed in with a smirk, "especially with all those 'criminal middle schoolers' running around. It'll be chaos."
"'So, what's everyone dressing up as?' Mel asked, prompting a round of chuckles.
'I'm going as a vampire—but with a twist! I'll disguise myself as a human!' Dorian cackled, flashing his fangs for effect.
Elowen blinked, confused. 'But aren't you already half-vampire, half-human?'
Dorian hissed playfully, but Elowen just shook her head with a laugh. 'I'm going as a queen—one who's also a warrior. My costume is going to have bits of armor mixed in!' she said with excitement.
After everyone shared their costume ideas, Emrys raised her hand. Green flames formed the words 'Halloween Party' in the air, and Laurel stepped forward. 'Ahem, we, the junior black cards—me, Emrys, and Kali—are organizing a Halloween party on October 30th. It'll run from 2:00 p.m. all the way until 3:00 a.m. Only high schoolers are invited.' At this, Lance let out a disappointed 'aww.'
'Costumes are mandatory,' Laurel continued, 'and please—leave the fighting at home. Astroman, would you do the honors?'
With a nod, Astroman's eyes glowed as his dreadlocks swayed. He used his gravity powers to help Kali levitate to the ceiling, where she pinned up a banner announcing the event.
Mel sighed as Amara approached him. "Aren't you excited for Halloween?" she asked, noticing the distant look in his eyes.
Mel's eyebrows raised slightly. "I am… but it's different here. Back in Caldara, Halloween had a darker twist. Every year, something strange happens with the moon. Let's just say, it always ended in bloodshed—people would start fighting each other, no reason, just chaos. I was around 12 by then, strong enough to take them all down."
"I got it!" Lance shouted, slamming a thick book onto the table, making everyone flinch. "It's called the 'Dragon's Rage Moon.' According to this, it triggers violent behavior in certain people, bringing out their inner fury. So, with the people in Caldara Bastille being werewolves, gremlins, goblins, and criminals, it makes sense that they reacted like that. Mel, you have nothing to worry about," he explained, and Mel blinked in surprise at how quickly Lance had found the answer.
"Yeah, but that also means there was rage in my heart too," Mel said quietly, his gaze drifting. "What if it happens again while I'm here? I don't want to hurt anyone. I… don't think I'll be around for Halloween, guys."
The room grew quiet as they absorbed his words. Elowen exchanged a glance with Dorian, concern flickering across her face.
"You're not like those people in Caldara," Elowen said softly. "That place was built to bring out the worst in everyone. Here, you've got us."
"Exactly," Dorian added, leaning forward. "We won't let you lose control. And besides, you've already proven you're stronger than whatever that moon triggered."
Mel looked down, wrestling with his thoughts. He appreciated their support, but the memories of that night in Caldara were still too vivid, too raw. "But what if it's not enough?" he muttered, his voice low. "I don't want to risk it."
Amara placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You won't be alone this time, Mel."
Mel shook his head, stepping back from the group. "No. I can't take that chance. Not here. Not around you guys. If that rage comes out again…" He trailed off, glancing at them with a mix of regret and determination. "I'm sorry, but I can't stay."
A few moments later, Mel found himself seated in Princess Rue's lavish room, sipping tea under the scrutinizing gaze of ten knights who stood behind him with their swords drawn. The tension in the air was thick.
"So, extra protection?" Mel asked, trying to keep his voice steady as he took another sip of tea. His eyes flicked nervously toward the armed guards.
Rue sighed, her own cup of tea in hand. "My father insists. Ever since the Jester incident, he doesn't want me vulnerable." She rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated with the situation. "But enough about that. You're planning on staying inside for Halloween, right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mel nodded. "Yes, especially with the Dragon's Rage Moon," he said, his voice dropping.
Rue tilted her head, curious. "But why? What's really bothering you?" she pressed, leaning in.
Mel shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the room. "Can you dismiss your guards?" he asked quietly.
With a flick of her hand, Rue waved them off. The knights bowed and exited, leaving the two alone. She crawled to the edge of her bed, leaning closer, her eyes intent on him.
He let out a long sigh, setting his teacup down. "It's not just about the moon. When Draven stabbed me during that fight… I disappeared, right? What no one knows is that I ended up in Baba Yaga's hands—the owner of the moving house, and supposedly the eater of children. Except she doesn't eat children. She trains them. She even trained my father."
Rue's eyes widened slightly, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Long story short," Mel went on, "three knights—Nicolas the Cute, Andrion the Devoted, and Hawkins the Swift—attacked us. I was knocked out cold. But when I woke up… something was different. I was filled with this overwhelming rage. Purple and black energy, like clouds and lightning, swirled around me. It wasn't like my usual fighting style—it was raw, brutal. I didn't have any weapons, but I didn't need them. I used black lightning, and I almost killed them. It wasn't my father's influence, either. It was something else… something darker, more dangerous inside me."
He looked up at Rue, his voice now barely above a whisper. "That's why I can't risk being out there. I don't know what's inside me, but I can't let it out again."
Rue stared at him, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she simply nodded, sipping her tea thoughtfully. "Sounds like you're dealing with more than just a bad moon," she murmured.
Rue's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Wait—Baba Yaga?! You actually met her? And she doesn't eat children? I always thought she was just a myth!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with surprise.
Mel quickly raised a hand, his expression urgent. "Shh! Keep it down! I don't want anyone finding out. She's on the run from the Magisterium," he whispered.
Rue blinked, her surprise shifting to curiosity. "The Magisterium? I heard my mom scold my dad about them once, but I don't really know what it is."
Mel glanced around the room, making sure they were still alone before leaning in. "It's like a wizard council, but not the good kind. It was formed by powerful mages to paint certain wizards as heroes and others as villains. Baba Yaga was part of it before she went rogue. That's how she found my father. Now, she's raising three kids about our age."
Rue processed this, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "So, she's real… and she's hiding? That's insane," she muttered.
"Yeah, I thought about inviting her and her family to stay here," Mel said with a small chuckle, "but they're not exactly the 'people person' type." He smirked, shaking his head slightly. "They prefer to stay under the radar… you know, the whole 'legendary witch on the run' thing."
Mel's pocket began buzzing and he freaked out. "What is this buzzing?! It's on me!" As freaked out, Rue sighed and pulled the card from his pocket. "You're getting a call." She answered and Draven's face popped up holographically. "Oh, it's you." She groaned and rolled her eyes. Draven groaned also, "Where's Melanthius?" He asked. "He's here." She turned the card to Mel.
"Spoiled brat," Draven muttered. "Future plummer." Rue insulted him back before Mel took the card. "Yellow?" Mel greeted and Draven nodded. "The black cards are to meet at the school," Draven informed him and Mel raised his eyebrows. "It's 6:00, how come?"
"King Aldara ordered us, just come to the middle school's gymnasium." Draven told him before hanging up.
Mel pocketed the card, musing aloud, "Wonder what that's all about." Rue crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. "Well, I guess our two-hour chat is over," she muttered with mild disappointment. Mel gave a light chuckle as he headed for the door. "I enjoy our talks. You're the only friend who doesn't try to punch me in the face." He flashed a smile before exiting the room.
A few moments later, Mel entered the gymnasium, surprised to see more students than expected. Among the familiar black cards—Elowen, Dorian, Cassius, Amara, Astroman, Laurel, Emrys, Kali, Jasper, Kai, and Draven—there were three new faces, making it a total of six black cards among the freshman.
Seated on the stage was King Aldara, flanked by four imposing figures, each exuding strength. "Everyone, take a seat," the king commanded. The students obediently sat in the rows of chairs in front of the stage. As Mel grabbed a chair, a sudden grip tightened around his wrist.
"You!" Arid spat, glaring at him with clenched teeth. "Get ready for our rematch!" He shoved up his sleeves, but before he could do anything further, one of the figures behind King Aldara appeared between them with lightning speed.
The woman towered at least eight feet tall, her presence emanating a terrifying mix of magical and physical power. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders, squeezing them with enough force to drive them both to their knees.
Groaning in pain, Mel and Arid exchanged wide-eyed looks. Arid tried to yank her hand off, but she swiftly pinched a pressure point on his neck, making him yelp, "ACK!"
Mel attempted to rise, only for her to press harder on his shoulder, causing a sharp pop. "Such strength!" he gritted out through his teeth.
"You two," she said with a thick accent, her face a mask of indifference. "King Aldara wants you to sit down. This is the proper height when you stand before him." She released them at the king's signal and returned to her place behind him.
Both boys struggled to their feet, rubbing their sore shoulders. "Who is she?" Mel muttered as he winced, popping his shoulder back into place. Arid grumbled, rubbing his own as they both sat down in silence.
King Aldara cleared his throat, commanding the room's attention. "I see you've all had time to familiarize yourselves with the new additions to the black card ranks." He glanced over the students, who murmured in agreement, some more enthusiastic than others. He gave a satisfied nod and continued, "Let me formally introduce the current black cards for the freshman grade."
He raised a hand toward the freshmen.
"We have:
Dorian Dracula, son of Vlad Dracula, half-vampire, half-human, and prince of Bloodthorn Dominion.
Elowen Pendragon, daughter of Arthur Pendragon, human, and princess of Camelot.
King Melanthius Shadowbane of Atlantis, human, and son of Merlin Shadowbane from the former kingdom of Noctara, raised in Caldara Bastille.
Arid Rosethorn, a demigod, son of Mother Nature—Gaia herself—hailing from the Horace Groves, with no royal status.
Renita Kala, a vampire from the Crypt's Runners clan in the Biba Kingdom, also without royal standing.
Lincoln Randolph, a werewolf from the Demonhide Howlers pack in the Bugia Kingdom, without royal status."
King Aldara let the names settle in the air for a moment before continuing, ensuring the gravity of the black card ranks was felt.
Kai raised his hand, clearing his throat. "King Aldara, now that you've introduced them, could you also introduce those standing behind you?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.
Aldara nodded with a faint smile. "Of course," he said, turning slightly to gesture toward the imposing figures behind him. "These are your new instructors, specifically assigned to guide and train the black cards." At his words, the four individuals bowed in unison, their presence exuding both authority and power.
"Jessica Reeves!" The towering woman from earlier stepped forward, the same one who had effortlessly subdued Mel and Arid. She withdrew two gleaming knives from her pockets, spinning them with precision before executing a graceful flip that landed her back in place.
"Clay Sunnyday," the next figure introduced himself, his voice as gloomy as his appearance. His long black hair hung loosely as he drew a scythe from his cloak, twirling it effortlessly. As he did, two spectral creatures materialized in the air, their eerie forms shimmering briefly before disappearing at his silent command.
"He's not exactly living up to his name," Draven muttered under his breath, and a few students nodded in agreement, suppressing their smirks.
"Sonic Boomston!" The next man bellowed, his voice erupting like a thunderclap that reverberated through the gym. The sheer force of his shout sent a shockwave through the room, causing the students to grip their seats tightly as a gust of wind threatened to shove them backward. His fiery expression matched the intensity of his voice, commanding everyone's attention with overwhelming presence.
"Ingrid 'Cross' Acton!" King Aldara announced. The final student stepped forward, a sharp smile on her lips. She wore a red bandana wrapped around her head, her pirate attire complete with a bold red cross over her left eye. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed a toothpick into the air. In a blink, she unsheathed her sword, slicing the toothpick clean in half before it could hit the ground. The room fell into a stunned silence, a wave of awe rippling through the crowd at her effortless display of skill.
"These are the Abyssal Wardens," King Aldara's voice thundered through the hall, his tone stern. "I've summoned them to train the black cards because, quite frankly, you've become lazy and sloppy. As future warriors, you must be stronger—physically, magically, and mentally. They won't just teach you combat and magic, but also strength, magical technology, and education!"
Mel raised his hand and bowed slightly before speaking. "King Aldara, sir?" Aldara gave him a nod. "Yes, Melanthius?"
"I thought you mentioned more black cards joining us. You've only introduced three more. Where are the others?" Mel asked, his voice calm but curious. The Abyssal Wardens exchanged smirks, cracking their knuckles as Sonic chuckled darkly.
"They couldn't handle our training," Sonic sneered. "Let's just say they lacked the fighting prowess required."
Mel turned toward the upperclassmen black cards. Amara leaned in and whispered, "We had to play a game, and the new ones didn't exactly make the cut. King Aldara's letting them stay, but he stripped them of their black card privileges. He's really on edge—cutting anyone who doesn't measure up."
Mel nodded quietly as the tension in the room thickened.
"Freshmen! Stand at attention!" Aldara's command echoed, and the freshmen immediately stood up straight. He signaled them to approach the stage, where the Wardens affixed six Velcro flags to each of their bodies. Renita glanced down at the flags being stuck to her. "What are these for?" she asked, looking puzzled.
"You'll play a game against each other called 'Catch the Flag,'" Aldara explained, setting a timer on his holographic watch. "Your goal is to take your opponents' flags until the 20 minutes are up. You may use any amount of force necessary—but no lethal blows, obviously."
Mel, Elowen, and Dorian stood on one side, while Arid, Renita, and Lincoln took the other. As they got into fighting stances, facing each other, Aldara shouted, "Fight!" and set the timer.
The gym exploded into action. Elowen aimed a low kick at Mel's leg, but he swiftly raised his leg to deflect the blow. In response, he unleashed a hidden cloud kick that snapped her head back. Elowen spun around, landing a solid punch on his cheek, making his head snap to the side. She reached for one of his flags, but Mel grabbed her wrist mid-motion.
"Rain Aikido," he muttered, flipping her into the air and slamming her onto the ground. He yanked one of her flags off and grinned, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Sorry, buddy!"
Elowen Pendragon: 5 flags left.
"Dammit!" Elowen snarled, slamming her fist into the ground in frustration.
Nearby, Dorian easily blocked Lincoln's flurry of strikes. "Vampire versus werewolf? Isn't this a bit cliché?" he smirked, but before he could finish his taunt, Arid dashed between them, snatching a flag from Dorian and delivering a swift punch to his gut. Without missing a beat, he kicked Lincoln, sending him crashing into the ground.
Dorian Dracula: 5 flags left.
Lincoln Randolph: 5 flags left.
After several more intense moments of fighting:
Melanthius Shadowbane: 6 flags remain.
Elowen Pendragon: 4 flags.
Dorian Dracula: 1 flag.
Arid Rosethorn: 6 flags remain.
Renita Kala: 3 flags.
Lincoln Randolph: 0 flags.
Mel sprinted across the gym, clutching the flags he had claimed, but suddenly he noticed a fist flying toward his face. He quickly ducked, narrowly avoiding the hit. Just as he moved, Arid's hand clamped around his face, slamming him hard into the ground.
"That's what my kingdom has to offer!" Arid shouted, reaching for Mel's flag. But Mel reacted swiftly, twisting Arid's arm into a joint lock and flipping him onto the floor with a hard thud. "I haven't had this much fun since my fight with Draven," Mel muttered, adrenaline rushing through him.
In response, Arid kicked Mel in the head, forcing him to release the hold. Both warriors quickly kipped up, standing face to face, their eyes locked with the promise of more fierce combat.
Arid's foot connected with Mel's face, and in retaliation, Mel launched a hidden cloud kick, snapping Arid's head back. "I hear you're a king!" Arid spat, grabbing Mel by the collar and effortlessly flipping him over his shoulder. Mel slammed into the ground but quickly recovered, driving a hidden cloud punch into Arid's chest, sending him staggering back as he coughed.
"Yeah, I'm the king of Atlantis," Mel replied as he stood, wiping the sweat from his brow. Arid responded with a sharp punch to Mel's gut. "What's that like?" he asked, his tone laced with both envy and curiosity.
Mel grunted and threw a punch of his own. "I've got a fish entourage and attend boring meetings with the elders. But... it's nice," he smirked, just as Arid flipped him again with a powerful sweep.
"I want to be a king!" Arid roared, leaping at Mel with intent to pin him down. But Mel rolled to the side just in time, landing a powerful kick that sent Arid flying back.
Both boys scrambled to their feet, grinning through the pain, locked in a fierce but mutual respect.
"If we were outside and could use magic, you'd be dead!" Arid exclaimed and Mel punched him. "Bold of you to assume that I'm weak in magic!"
In one last strike, Arid struck Mel and Mel struck him. Before they could land their hits, King Aldara yelled time.
Melanthius Shadowbane: 6 flags remain.
Elowen Pendragon: 4 flags.
Dorian Dracula: 0 flags.
Arid Rosethorn: 6 flags remain.
Renita Kala: 2 flags.
Lincoln Randolph: 0 flags.
A few moments later, the freshmen stood in front of Aldara. "Very good students, some more than others." He looked at Lincoln and Dorian, "Dorian Dracula and Lincoln Randolph, leave. You're out."