It has nearly been a week since there were newcomers into the security force. Surprisingly for Elyssia, she had no problems with any misbehaving students. No vandalism, no skippers, and no scuffles. She can relate this to the upcoming tournament. And desiring to stay out of trouble and not get kicked out. Haelfein proved to be an outstanding example.
She snapped out of her train of thought as her partner appeared into view. She could recognize that black wide-brimmed hat with a bird skull as the headwear of choice for Donovan. He gave her an ear-to-ear smile with his teeth.
"Top of the morning to you, Elyssia." He tipped his hat, "You wanted me?"
"Morning Donovan." Elyssia sighed as she stood straight, "Just like what Sammy and Gary did before, I'm going to patrol with you."
"Well. For how long?"
"An hour or two. Come on." Elyssia answered.
The two started their patrolling session. Moving clockwise around the whole area. As Donovan continued with Elyssia, he began to hum something. It was almost enticing to Elyssia, but she managed to keep her concentration as she patrolled.
Most of the trash had been cleaned up in the field. If Elyssia reported this, Madhav could find camera footage of the students, incriminate them for such a small act, and get them in trouble. They don't want that. But that atleast eased everyone's job. They're too lazy to report it and just often throw it away.
As Elyssia and Donovan walked around, Donovan went through what he could say to liven this boring atmosphere, "Hey Elyssia?"
"What is it?"
"Pizza or burgers?"
She was taken aback at this question, "What kind of question is that?"
"A fun one. You got an answer?"
"No. I'm not going to answer that. I don't even like both."
Donovan lit up with what she said, "Ah! You still answered! You just said you didn't like both. So I still got an answer from you. Ha!"
"God damn it..." Elyssia palmed her face. How could someone like him be so immature?
As they moved through the area, Donovan quickly scanned around, hoping to see something suspicious. Anything. Something so minuscule could possibly be a lead, "Oh come on now. You must have a favorite food."
"Ugh..." She thought for a second, maybe a short answer might shut him up, "Gyro. I like Gyro's."
"Ooooh! Gyro's! I tried that before!" Donovan spoke the truth, he had visited Greece before. He remembered it well as when he had to protect an ancient Greek artifact from falling to the hands of the Red hand. (Hehe. Hand of the red hand.)
"Did you now?"
"Yep. Pretty good I say."
"Good for you." Elyssia found a way to possibly get some answers on his dead background, "So you've been to Greece, yes? Did you live there for some time?"
"Nope. I just visited for the holidays." An odd feeling rubbed against Donovan's stomach.
"Really? Is that so?"
"Was that not the answer you were looking for?"
Elyssia wanted to shake her head no. But she just scoffed instead. Donovan and Elyssia continued along the path. Still saw nothing out of the ordinary. As expected, the students are in class and are behaving.
"Where were you anyways?" Elyssia asked, "I didn't see you much this week."
"Awh...Are you really interested in me?"
"No." Elyssia half admitted. This was part truth and part lie, she couldn't discern which properly, "I'm just wondering because I need to manage all of you."
"That's Adorable. But if you're asking, I was just training with Sammy and Gary for the tournament tomorrow." This was also part truth and lie. He did train with them, but he also went around searching for any leads.
"Do you really think you can win that? Three versus two hundred?"
"We can. Perchance."
"You can't just say perchance." Elyssia shook her head at his silliness.
"No no. We have a strategy. Or more like I have." Donovan said.
Elyssia could use this as an opportunity to find out more about him, "So you manage your friends now huh?"
"Yes. They're both dumbasses. Couldn't go ten meters away from me before something went wrong." Donovan sighed, "But they are my dumbasses. And I'm trying my best to keep them together."
"Oh, I can understand," Elyssia said, "It's already hard to manage people sometimes. Let alone a whole team."
"True that. You just don't have any time to do anything. Listen to music, or do your hobbies. Good lord it's mad annoying." Donovan remembered something then, "You mentioned you enjoy Tame Impala yes?"
"Uh-huh...What about it?"
"How'd you find out about him? I barely see anyone with a similar music taste."
Elyssia thought for a second, going into her memories of watching her older siblings listen to music as she studied, "My older brothers listened to Tame Impala often. And I sort of joined in with them and slowly got into it."
"Ah...You said you enjoyed 'Let it happen' Yeah?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god. It's one of the best he made in my opinion."
Elyssia nodded, "Yes. Exactly! Oh, finally, someone with my taste."
As they continued to walk with each other, even though they were supposed to patrol and observe, they were lost in the conversation of Tame impala. Which soon delved into different hobbies of each other. Elyssia had lost focus on her secret agenda on finding out more about him. She technically is, but not the things she wanted. And for Donovan, the same could be said for him, he was meant to find more leads, but ended up talking with Elyssia.
For the first time in a long time, Elyssia had finally loosened up for a while. She could have spent this time in silence or constant pressure like always, but it was a nice breath of fresh air to have a calm and nice conversation like this. To the point where they almost glossed over something moving in the trees. It took a second of realiazation by Donovan that he saw something.
"Elyssia. By the trees." Donovan's expression changed.
"What?" Elyssia quickly turned around.
From the branch of trees off to the side of the building, a low hum echoes quietly from within. Donovan tightened his fist as he slowly approached the trees. Elyssia moved behind him. She hadn't expected him to take the first move.
Sometimes, Donovan wished he had Samuel's eyes. For times like this where he could see what moved. But judging from what Samuel had said about his experience, he might want to double back on that thought.
As Donovan and Elyssia came closer to the trees, the low hum slowly disappeared. The only sound accompanying their low breath was the rustling of trees and crunching as they slowly stepped over them.
From the far distance, a blurred shadow zoomed across the trees, a small hint of red visible from the distance. Before Donovan could react, Elyssia triggered something. The ground below them dematerialized. The two lost their footing as they dropped a short seven feet down below the ground. Donovan tried to reach out to the edge, but he was too far off.
A short yelp escaped both of their mouth as Donovan landed on a hard concrete ground. And then Elyssia dropped ontop of him. The roof above them closed shut. Leaving them in total darkness.
Before any of them can panic, Donovan quietly mumbled something. He was shooting up a small yellow light above, That latched onto the roof of the trap. The seven-foot drop had been mostly covered up. Leaving only a four-foot height. Observing the area, he concluded that they were in a five-foot length and five-foot width hole. A small ventilation rests by the roof, looking like whoever made this trap wanted their victims to stay alive for a long time here.
"Ah, shit! This must have been one of Lucas's traps! Ugh, should have known we were near his goddamn area!" Elyssia slammed her fist on the roof.
"Woah woah. Calm down." Donovan tried to de-escalate the situation.
"Argh!" She slammed her fist one more time before dropping down to sit in frustration.
An awkward silence filled the claustrophobic air for a while. Donovan was unsure on what to do next. He can just use a spell to blow the roof out, but that will expose him too much. Elyssia sat in silence in the opposite corner of him. Slowly breathing in a constant pace, focusing on something.
"We have ventilation, it will turn out alright."
"There could be something happening outside that we could have prevented. But no, we're stuck in this god damn hole." Elyssia snapped, "So that's why I'm getting ourselves out of here."
"How?"
"You'll see soon. But let me focus."
She closed her eyes again. A low green aura had emanated from her. She dove into the deep connection towards a close friend. Or possibly even herself. She gazed through a green tint as it levitated from he room and bursted through her room. Zooming past the empty dorm hall and security force room as it exited the area.
The tint moved by itself, zooming past empty hallways and out the school. Before heading to the area they supposedly was in.
Elyssia opened her eyes again, and took a deep breath, "Feeling better?" Donovan asked.
"Yes. We'll leave this blasted space soon."
Yet another awkward silence filled the air. As the tight space forced the two close by. Elyssia will be left here for a while with Donovan. Maybe it's a good time to ask something about him.
"How are you so calm?" Elyssia asked.
"What do you mean?"
"We are trapped here for a bit. And you didn't lash out or anything. How?"
Donovan thought about it for a second, "Well. It's not good to panic no? Waste of energy, and you tend to think in an irrational way. Which won't benefit you at all. It'll make everything worse."
"You don't fear dying?"
"Who doesn't? But what mattered most is 'how long do we have until we die'? I see a ventilation, I calm myself down. It's all about acknowledging your situation first, make a conclusion on what you can do. And decide if it's urgent or not. If not, then calm yourself down. Think for a second, evaluate your options. That's how I do it."
Elyssia took a second to interpret his words. For all his silliness, she never expected him to be so calm and focused. She would have never expected this from him.
"You're smarter than you look."
"Aww. Thank you. I get that from my mother."
"Where is she?"
That seemed like a gut punch to Donovan. Judging from the expression on his face, maybe it wasn't a good question to ask, "She's...not present anymore."
"So...how did you manage to come here? Who took care of you?"
Donovan didn't hesitate to answer her, even though It was a huge risk doing so, "A man named Hanlerk took care of me. When I was young, and when my mother passed, he took me in with him. And he kept me safe mostly. Gave me a roof, food, and kept me healthy. And taught me how to fight.
"He was an old man. Expert in magic. That's what probably got me into this school even if it was against my will. But I had to. Gotta make him proud y'know? He also knew Gary and Samuel before, and pushed us together to make us friends. And I'm glad that happened." Part of what he said was the truth. But it was open to interpretation. As he hid the full truth away.
"But what about you? How did you end up in this school. Why are you alone leading the security force?"
Elyssa thought about answering for a second. But he told her about himself, so she must answer also, "I have a lot of siblings. Nine to be exact. And each of my siblings attended this school. Specifically in the Arlecant class. So as one of the youngest, I followed in their footsteps. I had a blessing compared to all my siblings. So they expected a lot from me. And I try to live up to it.
"My fifth eldest brother, Alexander, was in his third year and was the leader of the security force. And I was pushed to join the security force by my parents. So I did. It was fine for a while. Up until a month ago. Alexander started to be on edge. Refusing to answer any questions I had for him and everything. Then one day he just disappeared. There were no traces of him. His room disappeared. And alongside him, multiple other members of the force just left or disappeared.
"We tried to report it to the headmaster. And he told us to keep quiet about it as he sent people to investigate. He'll do the talking of why the sudden drop of members. The responsibility was left to me then. And it's been...hell. It's too much really. All the reports, paperwork, everything. We had around twelve, now it's four. Seven including you and your friends. I miss him. I miss my brother. Now I must manage you three as well."
Donovan shook his head, "Don't mind us. I'll manage my friends alright? If you want, I'll help with reports and paperwork. Make it easier for you."
"Thanks...Donovan. I appreciate that."
He can figure out easily who they sent to investigate, himself and his friends. He thinks that over time, the truth will be found as he does his mission. Maybe then he can tell it to Elyssia. Give her some sort of closure.
From above, a scratching noise can be made out. The concrete wall above them slowly cracked continuously before finally breaking through. Letting rubble fall down to the two. Elyssia slowly stood up and reached outwards, seemingly pulled up by something.
"Elyssia? Where did you go?"
"Give me your hand."
Donovan stood up and reached outwards. Elyssa grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He brushed himself off after Elyssia let go of his hand. Something rubbed against his side as let go. A weapon the figure of a great sword levitated towards Elyssia.
A white pearl handle was decorated with pitch-black metal that served as a round pommel and guard. A long wide golden blade engraved with decorations glows a dim green. An emerald gem was socketed by the guard.
"What is that...?"
"My blessing. A greatsword bounded to my soul." The weapon strapped itself on Elyssia's back, "Come on. Let's finish our patrol."
Donovan took a quick glance at his surroundings. He didn't see the same figure again. But still, he couldn't do anything. Not now, "Coming."
The two continued their patrol. Still talking to each other of their past. It's nice to see someone grumpy like her loosen up for a bit. Let her true colors show. With each passing minute, The concrete goal of investigation dissolved momentarily in such a moment like this.
After a while, they enter the security force room again. Ready for their next lesson soon. As Donovan took up his books, something he never expected to do as a soldier of Hanlerk, he remembered something. The reason why every student was behaving.
"Hey, Elyssia?" He shouted from his room.
"Yes?" Elyssia shouted back from hers.
"Is it alright if me and my friends join the tournament? Haelfein got no one to represent really since they were banned. But we're not! Please?"
She thought momentarily, going over the responsibilities and finding the balance for them in enjoyment, "Fine. I'll allow it!" She yelled.
"Yippee!"
Did he really just say that? Ah, whatever. It's Donovan. And Elyssia still doesn't know much about him. Maybe she does now with their talk. But still. Her greatsword hummed on her back as she picked up her books. The two exited from the room again. Taking a different path towards their classes. It's only the beginning of these two, sooner or later, they both must converge at the same path, to face the challenge that has been set out for Donovan. And he worried that he might drag innocent people deeper into the abyss. Will he tell her everything? Or keep her in the dark. Both options put her in danger.