Jace and Oliver met up with Amanda and the other two elites. Amanda, Jace, Oliver, Reyna, and Trell were now united as the elite class.
Everyone was talking amongst themselves as Lt Adam enters the room. Instantly, the room went silent as Adam made his way to the center. He stares at the class with an intense glare,
"You were chosen as the elites. The best and most talented out of this year's selection. The ones believed to have the most potential. That's what the higher ups say, but I don't believe them. So it's your time to prove them right. Inside these folders are information about your first mission." Adam proceeds to pass out the folders amongst the students. Reyna looks up alarmed. She raises her hand,
"An assignment already? What about class lessons?" She asks. Adam looks at her for a second,
"First lesson, there's always someone to help. Second lesson, the best place to shape up is in the fire of the forge. Now open your folders to page 7. Someone read the mission's synopsis." Adam explains and demands of them. Then everyone followed instructions and opened their folders. Trell began to read the mission's synopsis,
"The village of Kohan is being overrun by aggressive creatures. Noone is safe to step outside. Figure out what is attracting the creatures, and rid the village of it." Trell read out loud.
"They believe there is a mystic item present in the village. If that is the case, we need it brought back here.Otherwise, destroy whatever it is.You are to gather in front of the building and wait for your ride by noon.Spend time getting ready, and class dismissed."Adam says after Trell finished.
After class is dismissed, Jace quickly tries to exit the room. Oliver spots Jace trying to leave and runs after him. He catches up with Jace outside,
"Jace, me and the others plan to gather at the carriages together. We will be discussing strategies. What sayest thou?" Oliver says to invite Jace.Jace shook his head turning down the invitation.
"I'll catch up to you guys later. I need to get to the library before we leave." Jace said before running off. Leaving Oliver to watch him disappear over the sidewalk's horizon.
It didn't take long for Jace to reach his destination. One of the biggest problems on campus at the moment is the extreme heat. Once Jace entered the library, he quickly realized it didn't know of the same struggles. While outside felt like summer in the desert, the inside felt like a fresh spring day.
Jace looked around the library to find it mostly empty. One student was studying at his own table, and two others were treating the room like a social space. There was an assistant restocking books at the bookshelves. Jace began to approach the librarian.
"Excuse me, can you help me out?" Jace asks as he approaches the librarian. Upon closer look, she was wearing glasses, an orange sweater, and a red blouse. She also had a name tag that introduced her as Velma.
"Hold on, are you part of the Scooby gang? Are you telling me the Scooby gang is real?" Jace asks Velma with excitement in his voice.
"No, the Scooby gang isn't real. She is part of the reason why I wanted to be a librarian though." Velma explained to him. "Enough about me, you had a question." Velma said to redirect the conversation.
"Cool, and yeah. Where do I find old case reports?"Jace asks her. Velma looked at him funny.
"We have a report room, but students aren't allowed inside. However, you can request a file from the room. Some of them are open cases." Velma explains to him. Jace stopped to think for a second.
"Ok, can I get all available cases involving Ralph Rambo?" Jace asked and Velma nodded her head.
"Ofcourse, but it will take some time. Can you come back later in the evening?" Velma asks Jace. He nodded his head to agree and left without saying another word.
"Oh god I'm going to miss that air conditioner." Jace says as he steps outside into the heat. He headed through the training grounds to get back to the team. There was the hot wind blowing, students training with real swords, but no sign of the elites. Until he heard a voice calling out for him.
"Jace over here! We're loading the wagons." Oliver yelled from over a hill.
"Again, it's a bus. No horses, so stop calling it a wagon." Trell's voice also traveled from over the hill. Jace laughs as he runs to meet up with the rest of the crew.
"Are you ready to go?" Trell asks the approaching Jace.
"Yeah." Jace answered as he stopped next to Oliver and Amanda. Trell and Reyna were staring at Jace with a blank expression.
"We'll wait for you to go get your weapons. We don't need anyone getting killed on our first mission." Trell says breaking the silence.
"I don't need any weapons." Jace said.
"Are you a magician?" Reyna asks, sounding intrigued.
"No." Jace answers.
"Durable skin?" Trell asks.
"No, but that'd be awesome." Responds Jace.
"Are ye an immortal shapeshifter, here to take these brethren souls'?" Oliver yells out. Jace stares at him with a face of annoyance.
"No." Jace says back.
"So, how can you fend off the monsters?" Trell asks Jace.
"With my fist." Jace tells him.
"Yeah, you got to go home. This isn't a suicide squad." Trell tells Jace.
"Seriously, I'm good with my fist. Plus I've studied multiple forms of martial arts." Jace said, smiling nervously.
"I'll be the judge of that. If you wouldn't mind sparring, that is." Trell says as he pulls out a sword. The blade was silver, the hilt was black, and at the end of the hilt was a red ball. Jace smiles at the offer and takes a fight pose.
"Wait, this isn't necessary! Jace, you can get a weapon from the main office." Amanda shouts from the side.
"Your cries are too little to prevail. Jace has a reason to not use a weapon." Oliver explains to Amanda.
"What possible reason can he have to not want a weapon?" Amanda asks Oliver.
"It's his story to tell." Oliver responded to the nervous Amanda.
"Don't worry, this is my chance to show you all I am a weapon." Jace responds while looking more than ready to fight. Without another word, Jace rushes towards Trell. Trell stood ready in his own stance, examining Jace's movements. POW!
Jace started off by throwing a right jab, and it was easily parried by Trell. THWOT! Jace kicked the hand Trell's sword was in. The sword went flying, and Jace threw a haymaker. POW! THUD! Knocking a shocked Trell to the ground.
Jace stood over Trell smiling, and sure of his victory. His smile ceased when he heard something. Kwaa. The sounds of metal scraping across the concrete. Jace looked down to see Trell staring intensely, but not at him. Trell was staring past him. Realizing this, Jace instantly knew to jump. THWOOSH! WOOSH! Looking down while jumping, Jace saw the sword rushing back to Trell.
"What kind of Jedi mind trick is this…" Trell attacked Jace mid-sentence. WSH. Jace leaped back, barely dodging Trell's assault. PCH! Trell proceeds to kick Jace in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. THUD!
"These creatures don't have manners. They won't wait for you to finish talking to yourself." Trell shouted at Jace.
"You're just mad cause I already dropped you." Jace snapped back. He stands on his feet while keeping a strong gaze on Trell.
"OK. You can fight, but there are also monsters that can control the elements. That begs the question,how well can you handle magical attacks?" Trell shouted as he held his sword up to the sky. ZIT ZAT! Electric zaps began sparking around the sword.
As Trell swung his sword downwards, his eyes were focused on Jace. Stopping when the tip of the blade was pointing directly at Jace. ZWISH! A stream of lightning shot at Jace.
Jace only had enough reaction time to put his guard halfway up. As he turned his face away, the lightning made direct contact. Pfft, POW! Knocking Jace down to the ground. THUD!
"Jace!!" Amanda yelled.
"That has to hurt." Oliver says while looking like he is imagining the pain.
"That was a little extreme. Did you kill him?" Reyna yells out loud asking Trell. Amanda and Oliver both stood worried for their friend. Trell was silently staring at Jace's body.
"Heh, he wishes." Jace yells after chuckling. He then stood to his feet, and looked to see Trell frustrated.
"How are you getting up? You should be asleep after a hit like that." Trell yells demanding an explanation.
"Answer me something. Why are you here?" Jace says back.
"What are you babbling about?" Trell was confused by the question. Jace starts walking towards him.
"Magic is connected to a person's resolve. You must have a good reason for doing this, but so do I." Jace says as he continues to press forward. After a few steps, the two opponents were face to face again. Trell's face was red from frustration, and Jace's was filled with determination.
"Hey Oliver, you knew Jace for a long time. What's his goal?" Amanda asks him.
"I met Jace four winters ago, and little does he speak of his goals." Oliver responds.
"He hasn't told me anything either." Amanda said to him.
"We know one thing, his reason is on par with Trell's. That says something if you know Trell." Reyna says while watching Jace run up to Trell.
In an instance, Jace and Trell began fighting again. As Jace threw his punch, Trell was meeting with his own. POW! They both hit each other in the face, but Trell followed up with a kick to Jace's rib. KCK! Jace grabbed Trell's foot before he could pull away, and slammed Trell over his shoulder. PAPOW!
"Trell was part of the group known as Guardians." Reyna says out loud.
"Wait, they were wiped out last summer." Oliver says.
"Yea, and by a demon to make it worse.He was the only survivor.He didn't even get to go on his first mission." Reyna explains.
"Damn, I also almost joined the Guardians just before the extermination." Oliver tells them.
"A demon spared him?" Amanda asks, sounding surprised.
"Libraria,the mage, transported Trell to safety before the demon could get to him." Reyna explains to her. While on the ground,Trell threw his sword at Jace. ZOW! Lightning began zapping around the sword again as the hilt hit Jace's right knee.
"Your magic has little effect on me bro… Why can't I move?" Jace asks, struggling to move his legs.
"I paralyzed your legs with my sword." Trell explains to him.
"You think that means you won? Come over here and let me show you what I can do without my legs." Jace says trying to provoke Trell. Jace was down on one knee, but his expression made it clear he wasn't ready to give up.
" OK, I'm done. Weapons or not, your tenacity is commendable." Trell says as he catches his breath.
"Are you still going to cry about me not having a weapon?" Jace asks, smiling as he finally gets a chance to stand up. Trell responds with laughter.
"At the very least, you'll make a good distraction." Trell says laughing. He and Reyna then boarded the bus. Amanda and Oliver ran to Jace's side.
"That was amazing. How did the lightning feel?" Oliver asks him.
"Like a really bad burn, and this jacket is just irritating it." Jace took off his jacket. Oliver and Amanda gasps at his arms. There were third degree burns on his arms adjacent to where the lightning hit.
"It looks like a really bad burn." Oliver said with a gross face.
"I can heal that." Amanda told them. Without a question, Jace stretched out his toasty arms to Amanda. She hovered her hands over Jace's arms, looking fully concentrated. WOOH! A light began glowing around Jace's arms. It slowly covered all of Jace's body. WHOOW! When the light faded away, his burns were gone.
"Wow, that's amazing. Where did you learn to do that?" Oliver asks, looking flabbergasted.
"It's something my folks taught me." Amanda explains.
"You should heal Trell too." Jace says as he punches the air with his refreshed arms.
"I will once I get on the bus." Amanda responds as the bus driver honks the horn. Signaling the trio to hurry up and board the bus. The three hop on the transportation vehicle.
Trell was sitting in the front on the right side, and Reyna was sitting behind him. Amanda walks up to Trell, and he looks back up at her.
"Going to give me shit for beating up your boyfriend?" Trell asks her with a direct expression. His face had a black eye, and he was holding his rib area. Still feeling the aftermath of the slam Jace put him through.
"Hold your arm out." Amanda commands him. Trell proceeds to hold out his arms looking curious. Amanda hover her hands over From confused to excited, the fairies began to dance around Amanda.
that healed Jace is now covering Trell's body.
"Woah, that is one hell of a power." Trell says as the light fades away. Now feeling the effects of Amanda's healing. The black eye was gone, and he wasn't showing any internal pain.
Amanda sat down behind Jace, who was sitting with Oliver. The trio was sitting across Trell and Reyna.
"OK everyone, it's time to hit the road. As your driver, I have a few rules. First, no standing while driving. Second, no one touches the radio. Third, no smoking pot unless you're sharing." The bus driver laughed at himself as he sat down in the driver's seat. The bus pulls off, and our team is officially on their first mission.