A while has passed since the drive started, and no one was talking. Oliver took notice, and decided to speak up.
" A bit quiet ain't it? Doesn't really fit the tone for our current festivities." Oliver said out loud.
"This isn't a festival Oliver. We're going on our first mission. Some of us might not make it back alive." Trell said as he looked at Jace. Jace proceeded to roll his eyes at Trell's comment.
"Even more of a reason for us to get acquainted. If we know how to work with each other, then we have a better chance of survival." Reyna says, jumping into the conversation.
"So, we tell each other our names and hobbies?" Amanda asks sincerely confused.
"Half right, more like our name and abilities. Whether it's power or skill." Reyna explains to her.
" Thyself shall be first since the idea belongs to thou. I am Oliver, and thyself is impeccable with the sword and magic." Oliver says to introduce himself. The rest of the bus was silent as they looked around to see who went next. Then the bus stops abruptly, and everyone faces planted into the back of the seat in front of them.
"What is the big idea you moron?" Reyna yells at the bus driver.
"Not my fault. There's monsters outside." The bus driver answers. Everyone looks outside to see a variety of creatures. One of them was a minotaur. Imagine a bull on a human body. In the middle of its huge hairy torso was a giant slash. One of its horns was broken off completely.
RAWR! Running around the minotaur were squirrels, cats, and dogs. All of them were in the middle of the street.The smaller animals were running away from the minotaur and around the bus. The minotaur looks towards the bus and lets a ferocious roar. Raawwrrrooo!
"Do one of us have to slay thy monster?" Oliver asks, looking slightly scared. The rest of the group were also frightened at the sight of the beast.
"Looks like someone already tried to, and failed." Jace comments. The minotaur began charging at the bus.
"Hi, my name is Paul. I'm a battle bus driver." The bus driver said. He proceeds to press a button next to his steering wheel. TAH -CH-CH-CH-CHA-CH. The sides of the bus grow out gatling guns, and shoot at the minotaur. CH-CH-CH-CHI-CH. The shots were rapid fire. Shooting out a hundred bullets per second. They did little more than knock the minotaur to the ground. PATHUD!
"It's getting up!" Trell yells, pointing at the minotaur. It was getting back on its feet and kept intense eye contact with the bus.The minotaur had a ferocious glare staring their way. Then it began to charge at the bus again. ROAR! PFT-PFT-PFT. It was so strong, the minotaur left footprints in the street as if it was snow.
"Not to worry. I got something for tough bastards like him." Paul says, as he presses some buttons on a panel above him. WSH-WSH! The bus front bumper slid apart to reveal a canon hiding inside.
POW! The cannon shot out a medium size missile at the minotaur. Boom! Blowing up the giant ferocious monster into many small pieces. Pieces of the body and blood rained over the spot in which the minotaur was blown up.
"Buses shoot missiles? I'm going to like school." Amanda said excited from the battle.
"Didn't you know? Schools like Sleighfew need battle bus drivers. It's for protection. The board of education has spent more on defense since the extermination of the Guardians." The bus driver tells them. He then hops off the bus, and places a piece of the minotaur in a freezer bag. Afterwards, Paul drove over the puddle of the minotaur.
"What did you grab a piece for? To send it back as a report to the school?" Reyna asks Paul.
"No, roadkill dinner. Minotaur tastes like steak." Paul tells her.
"That's nasty." Trell responds.
"Hey, not all of us have the money to buy dinner every day. That's why I took this job as a battle bus driver. A lot of these creatures taste like animals." Pauls explains to defend himself.
"He's not wrong. My mom can make Harpies taste like chicken." Oliver tells them. He looks as if he was fantasizing about the food at that moment. His mouth was watering as he was staring off into space.
"You guys are monsters." Amanda said, while looking disgusted.
"No kidding." Reyna said while also looking appalled. As if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"OK, stop freaking the ladies out. How long until we're there?" Trell asks the bus driver.
"We're about to be pulling up to Kohan any minute now." Paul told them. Everyone looked outside to get a good look at the city. The streets were empty, there were four trash cans on fire, and a few bodies lying on the pavement.
"Wilt thou be accompanying us?" Oliver asks Paul.
"No, I'm just a bus driver. I don't do missions, just transport you to them." Paul tells Oliver. The bus stops at a station, and Paul opens the doors inviting the squad to exit. As everyone was hopping off the bus, Oliver took notice of something.
"What's troubling you sir Jace? Thy haven't spoken a word the whole ride." Oliver asks Jace.
"Probably scared about what's going to happen on this mission." Trell said to taunt Jace.
"They're not going to send first days on a difficult mission. Probably just a couple of goblins." Amanda says.
"True, but even the easiest of missions can be difficult without a weapon or magic." Reyna says.
"First, I'm not scared. I was reading over the packet to get a better understanding of what we're dealing with on this mission." Jace tells them.
"Did something catch your fancy?" Oliver asks him.
"Yeah, a couple of witnesses describe the creatures as having a dark aura around them. I'm wondering what that could be." Jace explains to Oliver.
" T'is worrisome." Oliver responds.
" I have another question. Anyone know where we're supposed to go?" Reyna asks everyone as they are all outside. Suddenly, people started screaming from a distance. Everyone was quiet for a second, until another group began to yell.
"I'm assuming we start by going towards whatever is making the people panic like that." Amanda says. More screams started in the distance.
"It came from that way." Jace says while pointing to the right. He runs off in that direction as quickly as he can.
"Stop you idiot. We don't know what's over there!" Trell yelled at Jace.
"We're here to stop trouble. That sounds like trouble. What's the problem?" Jace responds back. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and proceeded to follow him. Trell shook his head and begrudgingly joined them on their run.
As they ran towards the screaming, the group got a better look at the despair the city of Kohan was experiencing. Half the homes were in sad shape. Ceilings caved in for some of them, a few got trees that crashed into the front lawn or of their home, and there were a few more trash cans on fire.
After walking a few blocks, they saw a group of people appearing from under the sun's horizon. They were all looking scared for their life as they were running towards the group. Some of them were screaming the whole time while running. As everyone was running past our group, Trell was able to grab one of the guys out of the panicking crowd.
"What's going on?" Trell asks the man he snatched.
"There's a bunch of fairies attacking our city." The man explained, sounding terrified. His skin was so pale, a ghost could be blushing in comparison. The man was also sweating excessively, but it's hard to tell if it's because the man was scared or running. Everyone believed and felt for him, except for Amanda.
"How dare you spread such lies! Fairies have a calm and timid nature. They are not capable of such acts." Amanda says, spelling out her doubts about the man's statement. Her voice wasn't really angry, but passionate.
"I don't know anything about nature. I know what I saw. I know I saw those "sweet and innocent" creatures bust through my door and slaughter my family. My wife and daughter are gone." The man argued. His body was turning from pale to red. Then he switched back to despair and fell on his knees. Mourning the loss of his family.
"That can't be true. Fairies are a loving race, and it's against their nature to even think up something mean." Amanda tells them.
"Even if what you say is true, this man is clearly not lying." Trell tells Amanda.
"No way, where are they?" Amanda asks the man.
"Where is who?" The man responds.
"The fairies. I'll sort this out, and prove whatever attacked you wasn't a fairy." Amanda tells him and the rest of her team.
"My apartment complex is the third building on the left when you head down this street. Go see for yourself since you think I'm lying." The man begrudgingly tells Amanda. She wasted no time and stormed off in the distance.
"What's her deal?" Trell asks, looking at Jace.
"She has her reasons." Jace tells him, but his face wasn't filled with assurance. After all, no one has known each other for long. Jace has known Amanda longer than he's been part of the squad, but he still just met her recently.
Jace has known Oliver longer than Amanda, but she has always been sincere and nice. To go off like that wasn't like her, it was as if she was defending someone she knows.
"I should go after her." Jace says, and as he was getting ready to chase after her.;
"I'll accompany you, " Oliver yells.
"No, you stay with Reyna and Trell. Work with them to try and figure out the source from the monster invasion." Jace yells back. Oliver stopped in place looking confused. He looked back to see Trell and Reyna staring at the two with annoyed faces.
"That's not fair!" Oliver yelled back.
"I'm sorry buddy, but it's only fairies. I need you with them in case something more dangerous pops up. We'll go on a side mission together next time." Jace tells him. Oliver sighs, and Jace gets back on Amanda's trail.
"Should we try to stop them?" Reyna asks Trell as they stand on the side, spectating.
"It's just fairies. If they can't survive that, then they weren't made for this." Trell puts a hand on Oliver's shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.
"Help, he's trying to take my arse!" Oliver yells.
"I was trying to calm you down." Trell explains.
"He was trying to pull my trousers down and touch my arse." Oliver yells again.
"Keep acting like a kid, and I'm going to beat your arse!" Trell yells, finally getting frustrated.
"I need an adult!" Oliver screams out.
"Boys, can we get back to gathering intel?" Reyna intervenes, sounding and looking irritated.
"You're right. Sir, can we ask you a few more questions?" Trell asks the traumatized man. The man looks up to Trell,
"Who are you guys? I'm tired of your questions, and bickering." The man says to them.
"Oh, we're students of Sleighfew. Here to help." Oliver chimes in.
"Great, the school sent a bunch of kids trying to play heroes. Sleighfew you have blessed us once again." The man says sarcastically. Trell and Oliver drop their heads in shame.
"Yeah, we are just kids." Oliver agrees.
" I just hope it doesn't turn out like last time." Trell says with a bit of fear in his voice.
"Hey, don't let him get you guys down. The little man just lost his family. Of Course he's a grouch." Reyna tells the guys, trying to cheer them up.
"That was kind of offensive." The man said out loud.
"There is no offense in the truth." Reyna responds.
"Reyna is true. We are here to provide the great citizens hope. We can not be-like the attitude of this man, or succumb to his taunts. Proceed with the questioning brother." Oliver says to back up Reyna. After hearing his comrades, Trell was ready to ask his questions.
"I know it's not fair to be answering these questions, but help us avenge your family and make sure this ends." Trell tells the man in hopes of getting him to cooperate. The man stood there silent, considering Trell's words.
"Fine, what do you want to know?" The man asks them.
"Did you see where the monsters spawned from? This could help us with a lead as to where to investigate." Trell asks him.
"No, they just forced their way into our apartment. It was like they appeared out of thin air." The man explains to them.
"Great, what are we supposed to do with no direction?" Reyna complains.
"I'm sorry." The man apologizes.
"No need for apologies. I just need you to think hard. Is there any place around here that's been giving off creepy vibes, nasty smells, or has a track record of weird things happening lately?" Trell ask'd the man. The man stood quiet again, thinking upon Trell's descriptions.
"Old school, abandoned train tracks, sealed secret caves under the city; these are all examples." Oliver lists off.
"I've worked construction for the past twenty years, and seen many blueprints for the layout of the city. None of them showed a secret tunnel." The man tells Oliver.
"That's what makes it a secret." Oliver responds back. Trell and Reyna both rolled their eyes.
"Wait, one place does come to mind." The man said. The man's face screamed "eureka" when he said that.
"Anything will help." Reyna tells him.
"There's an abandoned church up the street, St. Carl. My wife used to plant flowers there every week, out of respect for her late pastor. She stopped last month. Said she felt like someone was watching her, preying on her. It really creeped her out." The man tells them.
"Perfect, that's a lead. It's a good thing your wife likes death." Reyna said out loud, feeling excited from the new information.
"Reyna, that's inappropriate." Trell yells at her.
"What?" Reyna asks.
"His wife t'is deceased. Thy forgot quite quickly." Oliver said, trying to stay in character.
"Traci, Diamond, they're gone." The man cries the name of his family after the mention of his wife.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Reyna apologizes, realizing the immaturity of her words.
"Ok Reyna, thank you. Sir, we're about to go. You can head to the bus up the street. You'll be safe there." Trell told the man. The man wiped his nose and walked away.
"He should rest knowing he just helped us make sure this never happens again." Reyna said to the group.
"Also, rest knowing thy family is in peace. Some people have family members missing, and don't know if they're alive or not." Oliver said, breaking out of character.
"We can only focus on what we're here to do. Don't get sidetracked." Trell tells Oliver.
"Where's that sensitive side we just saw?" Oliver asks him.
"You don't need hope like that man." Trell said while walking away.
"I need more hope than you know." Oliver says to himself as Trell leaves.
Trell stood in the middle of the road. Staring down the street trying to see the mentioned church. He saw little monsters running through the street, rats running from the monsters, and cars that probably ran out of gas.
"We got visitors." Trell said about the approaching monsters. Goblins were rushing towards them on their hands and feet, bats with an open eye were soaring towards them, and a unicorn was also galloping towards them.
"Goblins, bats, and a unicorn. Seriously though, a unicorn? Those mofos are dangerous." Reyna said about the swarming creatures.
"Childsplay for us." Trell responds, while drawing his sword. Electricity began zapping around it, ZAP ZAP.
MWAROOO!!! The unicorn yells while charging at them. The giant four legged beast ran with its giant horn gunning for Reyna. The unicorn looks like a ram whose horn is on steroids. The horn curved above the unicron's head and laid across its back.
"Watch out Reyna!" Oliver yells. Reyna was standing her ground, smiling, and taunting. The moment resembles the scene of a matador facing off with a rushing bull, if the matador had a huge baseball bat. Reyna pulls out a giant wooden club, BAM!! Smacks the charging unicorn's horn so hard, it flipped over on its back.
Zaap! Zzip! Trell shot two lightning bolts at the beast. Leaving the once ferocious beast looking like rotisserie chicken.
"Thy's cooking." Oliver says while throwing his sword. Swoosh! The sword flew straight into the center of a Vrat that was heading for Trell. Vrats are a hybrid of bats and rats, and the size of an eagle.
"Kraww!" The Vrat fell to the ground. It crumbled like sand into the ground, as most weak monsters do when dying.
"Good aim." Trell told Oliver.
"T'was a breeze." Oliver responds while picking up his sword.
"Don't celebrate yet. Vrats normally move in a group of ten or fifteen." Reyna says as she watches the sky vigilantly. Oliver and Trell followed her lead. All of them keeping their eyes open, looking for a swarm.
Kou! Kraw! Taou! The swarming started, but they couldn't spot the flock.
"Behind Us!" Oliver shouts. There were approximately ten or fifteen of the monsters heading for them. Trell turns to face the swarm. Zzz-Zzo-Zzou, Trell was charging his weapon. First, zaps start to appear. Then lightning began to cover the sword. He aims the tip of the sword towards the flock, and a giant beam of lightning shot at the Vrats.
Kraww! were the cries as the lightning hit all Vrats at once. Each of the Vrats fell to the ground, crumbling out of existence.
"Now he cooked." Reyna says while looking at the falling creatures. Each creatures' body disappears before they can touch the ground.
"'Ti's a way to ground them." Oliver says while looking stunned.
"We're not done yet. Still have to go to the creepy church." Trell says while walking with haste.
"Shouldn't we go help Jace and Amanda?" Oliver asked. Trell and Reyna were silent for a second. As if they were already contemplating the question.
"We have no means of contacting them. Leaving us was their decision. Since it wasn't an objective, we have no intentions of following them." Trell answers.
"What about a phone? Surely thy can call them." Oliver argues back.
"No service here." Reyna says with her phone already out. She was holding it up as high as she could, looking for a signal on her device. Oliver pulls his phone out to see that he didn't have any service either.
"Odd, thy family buys only the best." Oliver says, staring at his mobile device.
"Exactly, we should just go ahead." Trell responds.
"They might need us." Reyna says.
"If they can't handle fairies, then they don't belong on this team." Trell responds.
"Thou doth not need a cellular device. Fore, thou haveth Hermes Travel." Oliver says in a boasting tone.
"What is Hermes Travel?" Reyna asks.
"A practice that allows thou to send letters to others. They can even respond by speaking." Oliver explains to Reyna.
"Why did you wait so long to tell us?" Trell asks him.
"Thou never asked. Hie, thy have work to do. Oh great lord of the messages, let thou will influence and strengthen our quest." Oliver began chanting out loud. He was holding his hands up to the sky, and a gold aura began radiating around him. Pop! A golden scroll appeared in front of him.
Oliver ran his finger across the magical scroll, and words appeared in cursive. He then swiped in front of the scroll, it rolled up, and flew off. Woosh.Leaving a golden trail shining in the sky, looking like a floating rail.
"Was that it?" Reyna asks Oliver. Her face was disappointed, as if she was expecting more.
"What is thy insinuating?" Oliver asks while sounding offended.
"I was expecting thunder, or something more spectacular." Reyna explains.
"That's magical prejudice." Oliver responds.
"Definitely magical prejudice." Trell agrees with Oliver.
"Now you agree with the nitwit." Reyna says, annoyed from Trell's inclusion.
"There's different kinds of magic. His is traversal magic. It's used to communicate across lands, so it can't be flashy. Mine is battle magic. I can use different elements to fight my opponent, but only if I have an eligible weapon. Even then, it's still not as strong as a sorcerer's spell." Trell explains to Reyna.
"How is it prejudice if I didn't know that?" Reyna asks, defending herself.
"Blind prejudice." Oliver answers.
"I will squash you like the tiny insect you are." Reyna yells at Oliver. She lost his attention, for he was now staring into the sky.
"Thy wonder how Amanda and Jace are doing." Oliver says, worrying about his friends. As he stares into the sky concerned, Trell and Reyna walk off towards the church. Seeing this, Oliver ran to catch up with his teammates.