The following day, Jasper applied to all of the factions. He was instantly rejected from the hearts, the biggest Rival of the Spades. The clubs said, "They'd get back to him." The crosses said they didn't want anyone associated with the delinquent faction. That left the stars and the Diamonds.
Unlike the spades, the King of Diamonds was in charge of making all decisions for the factions. The rank of Ace had always been given to a teacher to allow fair distribution of cards. Vonagan's tyranny allowed for inequality as she favored some students over others.
The king of the Diamonds was a blonde haired girl with brown skin and chocolate colored eyes. On her head was a crown, an item that most Kings wore on their heads.
"You want to apply? With us?" she asked.
Jasper couldn't tell if she was appalled or intrigued.
"Yes, King of Diamonds."
"Call me Claire."
"I just left the spades last night, so i'm looking for a new faction."
"So I've heard. I think that club player you fought against yesterday was a bit stronger than you, wasn't he?"
Jasper nodded. "Yes."
"With us, you could have knocked him on his ass before he could activate his power. I'm almost eager to let you join just thinking about a rematch between you and that Club from yesterday."
"So i'm in?" Jasper asked. "I'm part of the diamonds?"
Claire raised a hand. "Not quite. Tell me, how well do you maintain energy stored in your body."
"I used to store frost energy in my body fro eight hours a day." he shrugged nonchalantly. "That alone let me finish a fight in one punch."
He started to miss his old card. Jasper could still hear the card ripping when he thought about it.
"I'm impressed. Most of our newcomers havent had exprience with energy attacks at all. After me, you have the most experience with energy maintenance." With a gesture, one of the diamonds handed Jasper a power card. "I want you to activate that card,m. I want you to show me how you hold that energy."
The card's name was Nullifying Bolt. He didn't take the time to read it. Releasing the energy that the power card gave him, red lightning crackled around him. It whined as he condensed it, calling it around his body. He held it there for a few minutes before Claire said she'd seen enough. He dared not release the energy, afradi it would explode and hit her.
I learned that in physics last week.
The king of Diamonds gestured to her goons again. They dragged a lower ranked Spade into the classroom.
"We found him sneaking around one of our meetings. Apparently your former Queen of Spades had taken up eavesdropping as a hobby."
The Queen of Spades was bound at the wrists adn was kicked to his knees.
"I'll make you an offer. Hit him with a bolt of the electricity, and i'll grant you the rank of Knight."
"Sure," Jasper shrugged. "But I do t have a clue how to fire a bolt.
"Ah, that's right." Claire nodded. "Only us Diamonds now how to fire bolts. All you have to do to fire a bolt is push all that energy to your fingertips and aim it a target. And make sure to continue focusing on your target as you push the bolt toward him; electricity will fly to the nearest conductor if it isn't controlled."
Jasper wanted to blast the fuck out of the Spade. He hated his old Faction now. For over a year, he was loyal to them. but in a few minutes, they showed their true colors.
But this wasn't right. This man was helpless. He couldnt even fight back! Even if he was his enemy, it'd be wrong g to attack him right now.
"Forgive me, King Claire," Jasper bowed. "But i will not injure a defenseless person."
She didn't say anything for a second. Jasper expected to be denied by the Diamond.
However, when claire siad, "Good."
He lifted his head. "What?"
"That was a test, Jasper. A test to see if you still upheld the barbaric traits of your former guild. You showed humanity to someone you should consider your enemy." She waved the Spade member away. He escaped with his hands still bound. Then she motioned to her member's again.
They brought a small box and a new patch to Jasper.
In the box was a pendant on a chain. The pendant was studded with a single red gem. On it was inscribed the title: Queen of Spades. The patch read the same.
"There must be a mistake, my King. These are for the Queen rank. I'm sure you mean to put me lower than that."
But King Claire shook her head. "There is no mistake." she told him. "It would be a waste to put you any lower than a Queen rank. Your prowess may be leagues below mine, but it is also leagues above my Jack." She gestured to her jack, who waved at Jasper. The new Queen of Diamonds waved back.
"Welcome to the Diamonds, Jasper, Queen of Diamonds."
Jasper excused himself after being shown around. He really wanted to try on that necklace and put on that new patch. He found a factionless student with heating abilities to glue to patch on is Letterman.