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Just some old dreamer.
Zephyrus
The tale of that one young man who could never grow up. Completely character driven RPG with Modern and Comedy elements.
The tale of that one young man who could never grow up. Completely character driven RPG with Modern and Comedy elements.
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Orphanage of Hunters
Hey everyone, just felt like sharing this story after I reread it a year after I wrote it. (well 10 months)
It didn't focus on writing skills I just wanted to make a cool story for my friends, and now it reaches this awesome community.
Chapters will be in spoilers to avoid many long posts...
Note: The character Jace is a running gag in a lot of my shorter stories, he originates from my main one with Rad =P
Chapter 1
I
THE FAKER
I'm a hunter, and at a younger age than most, but that's because I have no known family to take care of me. I live in an orphanage, except it's more like a school. I tried to avoid those in the past, but this place is different. No, I'm not going to have to learn boring old math, but instead I'm going to learn how to defend myself. I still probably won't take this seriously, but oh well; I still need to make sure I can survive.
"Hey Karn! Stop zoning out already! The headmaster is about to put us in teams of five." "Miss Savory, it is fine. Karn can be clueless, the only side effect is death." Savory hmphs away from me. "Headmaster Piron has a point, and I'd rather see you dead!" I just fake a big smile, "Hey come on, you know everyone loves me!" Then everyone started to laugh at me.
"SILENCE!" The headmaster yells out. I put my head down on my desk, but keep my ears perked up. Sometimes, it's much easier to play the fool. "Now, as I was saying, everyone will be split into groups of five based on their ability levels." Granault, a usually smart lad, raised his hand. "Yes Granault?"
"Sir, why are we going to be in teams of five? Aren't the special forces of hunters grouping up in teams of four?" I think we should grow accustomed to that environment." "Normally I would say yes, but...times have changed..." The headmaster clears his throat before continuing. "Viruses have grown in number and strength, so for now I think it's bst to make sure you have at least some chance of survival. Plus...we're understaffed." I bet the last reason is the true reason for setting us up in groups of five.
They don't have enough people willing to train us who've lost our last names or never had last names to begin with, like me. I have no clue what happened with my parents, or even who they were. "Any other questions?" The headmaster asked everyone, but his attention was focused on Granault. Moments passed, and no one answered, so then he began to assign the teams.
Normally I pay attention, but maybe my acting was finally starting to stick true to me. I looked behind me, and outside the window, but I only focused my eyes on one specific area. Why was I doing this? I heard disgust from Savory, so maybe I was stuck on a team with her. That all was tuned out all at once suddenly when a viral demon had appeared beside a large tree, which was the exact area I had been focused on.
I couldn't look away at her dark gray skin, red eyes, and dark purple hair. Basically I was focusing on her face, first at her smile full of sharp teeth, then at her bright red eyes. Now no matter what, I couldn't seem to avert my attention away from her eyes. Her eyes then flashed a hue that didn't register into my brain and everything suddenly went black.
I was trapped inside of the darkness, then she appeared before me. "What do you want?" I asked. She continued to smile at me. "You can use the hunter's battle chips, so what are you really?" I was here to locate our savior, but instead I just found another one of them...but no, I can still feel you." I fold my arms while I listened to her words, but I knew what to say right away. "I am no savior. Just a bumbling fool hoping to get by in life."
She laughed at my comment. "Everyone is a fool, what else is new? But if you mean your front, then I already know about that. We can not hide from one another." "So you know that I'm acting then..." My voice trailed off in it's true tone. "Now, you play with these humans a little while longer. When my father is ready, we will come for you." She continued to smile at me. "I do not have your demonic features, how am I supposed to believe that I am a virus?"
She then laughed once again, hysterically. I must have really said something she found utterly ridiculous. "Who said WE are the viruses? We're not the ones harming the world, and our own kind." With that I instantly was jerked awake.
Lira jumped at my sudden awakening. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Lira." I then looked around and noticed that everyone was gone except a few others. Five students, including me. So, my team would be comprised of Savory, Lira, Zelkas, Granault, and myself. Savory and Zelkas were both complaining to the teacher. Zelkas was usually quiet and didn't care about me, why would he start complaining now? Unless...
"Karn, our leader can't be oversleeping!" Lira said and smiled at me, then slowly walked down the stairs back over to the others. Besides the headmaster, there was one other man, and looking at him I could almost laugh. It was Jace, usually the teacher of our defense styled battle chips. He's kind of...well...
I found myself with the rest of my group. "Looks like you've finally woken up." The headmaster said to me. Zelkas was still voicing his concern. "Are you serious!? That aloof kid is our leader? I wish to know why." The headmaster spoke up once again, "He is the only one among you with a D ranked battle chip." "But it's just a stupid supplies support chip!" Zelkas yelled, then an unusually silent Savory began to speak as well. "All Karn does is eat. Of course that chip would be rank D already!"
"You see, she is right." Zelkas agreed, as it was no secret. "And my chips are much more advanced in type." He added, and was right for the most part. Besides my hammer attack chip, the other two in my body are standard beginners chips. "I understand, but just think of this as a learning experience." The headmaster just smiled, amused at his comment. Savory and Zelkas sighed in unison. Zelkas then came over to me, "You better not get in the way!" "I guess quiet Zelkas died today." I said as my response. "I will leave you all now to get more acquainted with each other. Staff member Jace will be your instructor. I wish you all the best, goodbye."
The headmaster then ran outside the classroom door in a hurry as if he had just set a bomb that was about to go off. Jace slid his hand across his wrist, then slammed a blade hard into the ground. Everyone jumped, but Zelkas and I. "What the hell!? What's wrong with you!?" Savory shouted at Jace, our instructor. "Alright young men and women! It's time to test your skills! Follow me!"
Jace ignores Savory and rips the blade he had used to break into the floor out and perched in on his left shoulder. He then hummed a strange tune and proceeded to use the exit from the classroom to the outside. "He seems like a nice guy." Lira says and walks behind him. "Why me?" Granault questions, then the rest of us continuously move forward.
Once we were a good ways outside, Jace turned around and slammed his sword into the ground, hilt pointing up to the sky. "Obnoxious much?" Savory said under her breath. Jace then slid his hand over his other wrist and a small goblin-esque demon pops out. "My capture chip has hundreds of these inside." He then pulls out his sword and uses it like a bat to hit a home run. The ball? Try the virus; it was hit far into the sky, never to be seen again.
"I feel sorry for the cutie..." Lira said, and the virus surely was far from cute. "I have many more! So, who will show me their weaponry first!?" He had his hand on his wrist, which harbored his capture chip. "Wait, shouldn't we gear up first?" Granault asked. Jace looked puzzled, not the best facial expression a teacher should have in regards to a valid question. "Why would you waste time with that? I haven't used defensive chips in years!"
"But aren't you the defense chip teacher!?" Granault was thinking too hard, and becoming confused. "Oh fiiiiiiiiine, go ahead and suit up." Everyone, but myself, lightly places one palm on their chests, causing their body to light up and form protective gear. Lira had special medic clothing, but the others wore what I had, the survival vest chip. "Why aren't you going to use your defensive chip Karn?" Lira asked me.
"I want to be like my instructor!" I shouted out, then put my thumbs up in Jace's direction. "Hell yeah! Now we're talking! This kid's going to become a great leader." Zelkas smirked, "Or a short-lived one." "Don't be so stupid Karn!" Savory yelled at me. Then I slid over my left wrist, and a large hammer dropped to my side. I leaned over the handle.
"I'll go first!" I shout out. "Thatta boy!" Jace then releases one of the virus goblins. The hammer felt light to me, but I acted like I was struggling to pick it up. Why do I make a mockery of myself? Good question.
The virus looked angry, probably over the other one who was batted away by Jace. It lunged at me, opening it's mouth and getting ready to bite me. Suddenly a long nail pierced into the virus' head, killing it instantly. I looked behind me to notice that Savory had saved my life. "Hey, thanks Savory. This hammer is really heavy." "Don't make me have to save you again!" Savory shouted in disgust. "If you don't like him, why did you save him?" Zelkas asked. Savory, very firmly, stated her answer. "And you're going to just let people die?" He stayed silent.
Jace interrupted the conversation. "Good job Savory! Teamwork is key to success. Now I want you to be able to protect your fearless leader!" Jace was just about release the rest of the viral goblins, when Lira poked him. "Huh?" "Um, excuse me, but I don't have my own weapon chip yet." Jace looks at her for a moment, then smiles and digs into his pockets. All he wore were pants, which made you wonder how he fought without defense chips. "Here! Try this one!"
Lira holds out her right arm and Jace drops the chip on her wrist. Her wrist lit up as the chip disappeared into her arm. She then used the chip, and a thin, but long sword came from her wrist out of the chip. "A sword? But I'm a medic; it just seems weird." Jace smiled as if he accomplished something. "Badass, right?"
"Why me?" Granault said amidst it all. Lira tried swinging the sword a couple of times. "At least she uses her blade better than Karn uses his hammer." Zelkas says, then slides his hand over his own wrist, forming a scythe. "I'm ready." Then Granault does the same, and a book comes into his hands. I decide to keep acting like I'm struggling to lift the hammer that I could actually lift with ease. "Karn, just stay out of the way." Zelkas flips in front of me, his weapon now pointing at Jace. "Release them."
Jace smiles as he lets out hundreds of viral goblins at once. Granault already began muttering a chant under his lips. He had found his page quickly. Zelkas already began slicing through many of them at once like a monster. "But they are too cute!" Lira was hesitant to attack, so Savory made sure to keep Lira and herself from being attacked by the "cute" things.
"Shell!" Suddenly a bright white light surrounds us. The he begins chanting again. "Keep taking so long and I'll have them all finished before you get to cast something else!" Zelkas really enjoyed the heat of battle. I was right, quiet Zelkas is no more. Moments later, Zelkas hacked and slashed most of them.
"Flay Field!" The handful left were all on the ground, then suddenly a large radius of the ground caught on fire, once it lit around our feet, the white light flickered around us. He used shell to protect us before he charred the remaining goblin-like viruses. Once the fire died down on it's own, Jace began clapping. "Good Job! I can tell now that despite your chip ranks, you know how to use them! For the most part anyway. Lira and Karn will have to stay after with me. The rest of you should rest up!"
He then chuckles lightly. "Your real training will begin at that time, first thing tomorrow morning.!" "If it's anything like those viruses, then this is going to be too easy." Zelkas responds, walking off; he never took teamwork well, so team bonding would be out of the question.
"I hope you'll be less of a screw up Karn when our real training starts." Savory says. "Wait, before we go, what exactly is your S ranked chip? Every staff member has at least one." The ever curious Granault asks his question. "Is it your sword Mr. Jace?" Lira asked thoughtfully. "Nope, my sword is a B ranked chip. My support chip is S ranked."
"Really? Is it something that makes up for having no defense chip?" I wouldn't ask that myself; it's partly why I have the opinion of him that I do. "Hell yeah! Let me show you!" He reaches over behind his leg, then pulls out a glass bottle. Yep, you guessed it, free beer.
"What!?" Savory looked surprised; her jaw practically fell off of her face. "Why me?" Granault was probably in shock too. Then Jace opens the bottle cap and downs the alcohol. "Can you even drink on the job!?" Savory yelled out. "Let's get going Savory. I'm kind of afraid of what Jace's training entails now."
Savory just nodded at Granault's words and the two of them left Lira and me alone with our crazy teacher Jace. I might have to use my weapons for real this time.
Chapter 2
II
THE SICKNESS
"Hee hee hee..." Jace faked a creepy laugh. "I can't wait!" I shout out. "Now we're talking! How about you Lira?" Jace then looked around, and I knew that Lira must have been gone. "Where did she go?" "I'll look for her." I volunteer. Jace nods expectantly. "Yep, the fearless leader must ALWAYS find his lost members. Now all you need to do is be able to pick up that hammer of yours and you'll be well on your way!"
He then slides his leg and pulls out another bottle, then downs it just as fast...creepy. I still had my hammer, so it was time to play with Jace. Like it was nothing, I raised my hammer and carried it over my shoulder. "Catch ya later Jacey!" I shout as I run off in one direction. Jace looked surprised. He muttered something I couldn't make the words from here.
I didn't know exactly where Lira was, but I could sense her. It brought that viral demon girl back into my mind. The headmaster told me that viruses can sense us, so it's harder to live with them, and thus he started training us to become Hunters. A force that uses battle chips to fight off viruses and protect cities from them.
She was behind a large rock, a fairly long distance from the training grounds right outside the orphanage that Jace had chosen. She must have had to go to the bathroom or something, knowing Lira. "Lira! Ya there!?" I didn't want to catch her in some freaky act. "Is that you Karn? I'm sorry; I had to use the bathroom really badly." Just as I thought...until I heard her cough. I then ran to the other side of the large rock to witness Lira coughing up blood.
"That was no regular cough Lira." I said in my fake, aloof, tone of voice. "I'm sorry you had to see that Karn. But..." She then smiles at me, "I'll be OK." She then patted her own back and her hand glowed green. She then put her hand over her chest and the green light dispersed. "OK Lira..."
I look down at the floor and I see a small pool of blood; she must have been coughing a lot. I jump on top of the rock and look back at Lira with a smile. "Hey Lira come on, let's forget about training for a while, OK?" She nods and climbs up to a spot next to me. Her legs swayed and the back of her feet hit against the giant rock. "Um...Karn?" "I won't tell anyone, not even Jacey." I assure her. Yep, from now on I'm calling him Jacey.
"Thanks...I really will be OK. I'll find a cure as a medic." "Of course you will!" I respond wholeheartedly. What I fake seems so real; I've had years of practice. She smiles back at me with a slight giggle. "Hey Karn, can you keep a secret?" She grew serious again. I still acted the fool, but I brought up a good point. "I'm already keeping one, aren't I?" She nodded, "That's true...my parents both had this disease too, and since I'm here...you know they didn't make it. I should have been the first to go when my small town contracted the disease, since I was just a child then."
"How did your town all get the disease?" My legs swayed along with hers now. "The whole area became infected...but since it was a small town; it was covered up. And I wish I knew what the cause was." "Hmmm..." I think aloud. I jump off of the rock and speak with my back turned to Lira. "You can't get a cure for something you don't even know the source of." I said it in my real tone of voice. I turned around and extended my hand to her, and made sure to use my aloof voice again. I didn't want anyone to know who I really am, no, not yet.
"Let's go back. We wouldn't want Jacey to get too drunk." She giggles then takes my hand. "You're right, we wouldn't want that." She said as I helped her down. We began walking side by side, and she decided to confront me. "You're more than you seem Karn." I look over and smile at her, "Aren't we all? We both have secrets then. My hammer for instance." I materialized the hammer again and lifted it over my shoulder. "So, you can really lift that heavy thing? Cool." She said.
It disappeared suddenly like it had once I made it to the giant rock. "Then, can you tell me why you act like you can't pick up the hammer?" "It all fits into my character. I can't say anything more." I responded. Lira nodded, then looked ahead of her and we walked a bit faster as we saw a very drunk Jace waving at us.
"If there was any rank better than S, I bet Jace would surpass it." Lira said and laughed. I laughed with her, but whether or not it was a real laugh is unknown...
Chapter 3
III
THE TRAINING
"Alrighty future hunters! Even though I've got a nasty hangover; the training will still be just as harsh!" "Did you have to wake us up at three in the morning!?" Savory complained. It was the day after I learned more about Lira. Jace just laughed. "Of course! When you're a hunter you won't get much sleep anyways!"
Savory sits down on the ground and hugs her knees. "Then at least let us sleep now before that time when we're real hunters..." "Nope, now that wouldn't be fun!" "FUN!?" Savory stood up and got in Jace's face. "Are we going to start or not?" Zelkas interrupted.
"Of course, is that alright with you fearless leader?" Jace asked me. I put my thumbs up at him again. "Of course Jacey!" "Jacey? Huh?" Savory said. "Why me?" Granault face-palmed himself. Lira was giggling, she must have been enjoying this. Zelkas slid over his wrist and whipped out his scythe. "I'll be able to take whatever you throw at me."
Zelkas was sure of himself. "OK, you first." Jace instantly threw out his blade in a spinning motion. Zelkas jumped over it, but the blade span around and like a boomerang, came back at Zelkas who was still in the air. "What the-" The blade made contact with Zelkas' scythe at the last moment. Jace had already jumped and flipped over Zelkas, grabbing and reclaiming his sword while in midair.
Then, while still in midair, Jace uses his blade to hit Zelkas' scythe once again, which sent Zelkas flying into a tree hard, and ends up slumped on the ground. "This is crazy!" Savory yells out. I begin running to intercept Jace.
Granault had already gotten out his book, and I noticed Lira was catching up to me. I slide out my hammer and bash it against Jace's sword before it comes down on Zelkas. Jace spins around and kicks me off of my feet by hitting me square in the face.
"Brick Wall!" As I spiral to the ground I see Lira at Zelkas' side and a wall rising in front of them. I hit the ground with a thud and roll over against the brick wall. I expected to be attacked further, but suddenly I heard Savory yell out as she let nails shoot out from her battle chip at Jace.
I looked over at Jace who was doing random dance moves to avoid every nail. Someone jumped over the large wall, it was a healed Zelkas who activated another defense chip I didn't know he had. A large steel wall fell down from his hands longways. It fell with a loud thunk, but Jace jumped out of the way.
Savory stopped as a few of her nails went into the wall. Zelkas came down and cut the large wall in half with his scythe, then dropped the scythe and grabbed ahold of two thin, but sharp nails stuck in the two pieces that uses to be one steel wall. He lifts both pieces and begins swinging them wildly at Jace.
I decided to stay on the ground, but scan the area while trying to think of a way to hit Jace, since Zelkas couldn't seem to land a hit on Jace on his own. I saw that Granault was chanting something, and that both Savory and Lira were ready to help me up. "I thought you couldn't even pick that thing up, let alone swing it. Get up already." Savory said to me.
Lira was going to heal me when I stood up on my own. "No need Lira." I told her, then smiled at Savory. "I guess I can when it matters." I say. "Uplift!" Granault directs one hand over to the ground where Jace was standing, and suddenly the ground lifted up from under him, carrying him into the air.
Zelkas shattered one piece of the wall against the side of the lifted ground, causing Jace to propel off of it. I rush over to pick up my hammer, then I aim and throw it at Jace with great precision. Zelkas uses the last piece to try and hit Jace, but Jace shatters it with his large sword. That left him totally open to the large hammer that I threw at him with accuracy.
Jace only uses one hand for his large sword, so the other hand is free. He uses that hand while he spins around, to grab my hammer by its handle. He dropped in front of Zelkas. Everyone, including Granault and I, ran over to him. "Unreal..." Zelkas was dumbfounded by Jace's ability.
We just stared back at each other for a moment, but then Jace drops both mine and his weapon onto the ground and began to clap. "Bravo! Bravo!" We began looking over at one another again, but then to stay in character; I began to clap too. "Yay!" I shouted out. "Why are you both clapping!?" Savory shouts out. "It's kind of contagious." Lira says and claps along happily. Suddenly we all stop, then Jace explains.
"You all were able to protect Zelkas instead of watching him die, so I had to clap. Like I said before, teamwork is important! And you can finally tote that hammer around Karn; I knew you had it in you!" I walk over and handle the hammer with ease. I smile at the others, "I guess I do!" The hammer then materializes. "Though..."
Jace was ready to speak for a bit longer. "Why didn't you use the sword I gave you Lira!? I want to see the badass combo in action!" Lira giggled, "I can barely swing it." Zelkas distanced himself from the group to get his scythe. "So it that all for the day? I'm almost too afraid to ask." Granault asked. Jace laughed, "Far from over! But at least with me it is, for the day."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Savory asked just as Zelkas came back. Jace formed a wide grin on his face. "Bonding time!"
Chapter 4
IV
THE STARS
Bonding was not exactly going as planned. Zelkas said that he must train his chips and he left on his own. That left the four of us...at least until everyone but me ran off in separate directions. Zelkas was always quiet before, so besides wanting to be strong; I have no idea who he really is.
I decided to follow the path he had taken, which left a few possibilities open, but I had an idea where to go. I walked past the training grounds and into a small wood with a few trees. I jump up to one and climb it to the top. There he was, swinging that scythe away.
As leader, I'm going to have to bond with each one of them myself if I had to, whether they like it or not. I hop from tree to tree, then jump off of the final tree onto the ground, behind him. Zelkas swung his scythe at me, but stopped halfway once he realized who it was.
"Karn!? Are you really that stupid!? I could have killed you!" He shouted at me; he actually had a shred of concern in his voice. "Hi hi." I reply, smile, and tilt my head to the side. "Yeah...I thought so...so what do you want?"
"Well our teacher said we should bond...so..." I replied. Zelkas looked hard at me for a moment. "Are you serious? I have nothing about myself that I wish to discuss with you. I also have no desire to learn about you." He's a pretty harsh guy, on and off stage. "Aww come on! I wanna know!" I shout out at him playfully.
"Pshhhh...well since you're here, why don't we make a deal?" "A deal?" I ask, ears perked up. "We'll train using my support chip. If you win, I'll tell you a little about myself." "Sounds great!" I shout. "I'm not finished yet! If I win, you have to stop trying to "bond" with me. Deal?" He made his proposition clear.
I put a finger to my lips and bit down on it slightly. "Um...OK!" I agreed, and I really did. I slid my hand over my attack chip and carried the hammer in one hand. "I'm gonna go all out!" "Good." He said, then put two fingers on his forehead, and closed his eyes. He opened them abruptly and we were sent into an alternate dimension. It was a village being burned to the ground, and I knew right away that its inhabitants were viruses, but non of them noticed us.
What a stage to do battle on. "My simulation support chip takes parts of my memory when selecting a battleground." I figured by now that Zelkas then must have witnessed the destruction of this viral village. I knew it was one of their villages, because there was no technology and those screaming out were obviously viruses.
I've never seen viruses like these before though, they looked similar to the one woman I encountered with her bright red eyes. "Are you just going to stand there!?" Zelkas brings me back to the battle at hand. "OK! Here I come!" I rush at him with my hammer. Zelkas then rushes at me; I could see the distinct determination in his eyes. Our weapons clash, right then and there we silently agreed to use only our weapons. He swung his weapon much faster than me, so moments later I only used my weapon to block all of his swings.
Suddenly he whips his body around mine and slices into my back. I roll after being hit, but I still felt a sting. Inside his support chip, there is no blood spilled from us, but we still feel the pain, and the exhaustion that comes from our fight is very real. Once I roll, I throw my hammer in an upward motion, catching Zelkas by surprise. The hammer strikes him in the head and sends him backwards. I roll onto my feet and quickly turn to reclaim my hammer. Zelkas was already at me, and swings with all of his might. Once I grabbed my hammer I do the same.
Zelkas slashes me hard against my stomach, and with a downward swing, I catch Zelkas' head once again with my hammer. He lands onto the ground, but jumps back up to me not even a second later. I spin in midair to swing my hammer with great force yet again. I get hit across the neck, and Zelkas, on the back of his shoulder.
We both hit the ground hard with a thud. We both also show signs of a struggle while getting up, but we continue to charge at one another once we can stand. This raged on for a while, but soon enough the simulation had ended, and we were both drop out weapons...falling to the ground.
Our heads lay across from each other, and I decide to speak. "Looks like we both lose. Boy, am I tired." Zelkas was silent, until a bit of time later. During this moment of silence, I noticed that night had fallen. Were we really in there that long? There were more stars in the sky then I remember last. "What you saw was my hometown being burned to the ground." "Wow! So you're going to tell me more about yourself then!?"
I acted excited. "Don't make me regret it Karn." There was more silence after he spoke, so I broke it. "I fought extra hard to get to know you better, so you won't regret telling me." The way I spoke did not make that sound very convincing. "Whatever, just don't tell anyone. My mother is a virus, and my father is human. Forbidden love, if you will."
Was he serious? But that just means that virus woman had more validity to her words. I could very well be half virus like Zelkas. "That place you saw...they did nothing wrong; we lived in harmony. Until one day...because the viruses there let the harmony happen, the rest of the viruses from other villages came to burn the place to the ground.
I didn't know what to say. "I'm not doing this for revenge; I'm doing this so no one has to be afraid anymore. And in order to do so...I must keep getting stronger." "You are strong!" I blurt out. "Not strong enough. We couldn't even land a hit on that damn teacher Jace."
I smile, "Then we'll grow stronger together! Let me be your training buddy!" I say. Zelkas laughs weakly, "Buddy huh? You're a weird one, but thanks; I needed to tell someone. If only the person who knew was more understanding and serious."
He had no idea, but I wasn't going to be careless and go out of character again to two different people. She wouldn't smile if I did. Those stars, when someone dies, do they get to look at all of us from those stars? If you are looking, I hope I still make you smile.
Chapter 5
V
THE VISITOR
I was in total darkness again, so I must have fallen asleep. I begin walking, and realized I couldn't hear my own footsteps. "Why am I here?" I hear myself saying out loud. I could still hear my own voice, so I wasn't deaf. I see a flash of red in front of me, and I knew right away who it was. "I know it's you, so you can come out." I tell her. Her red eyes blink as she comes out of hiding. "I see you're getting along with your team, that's good."
She smiles. "I guess." I say as my response. Then I speak up again, "Why are you here?" "I thought you'd never ask...I've come to tell you that my father wants to meet you, so we'll probably come for you soon."
"And what if I don't want to go?" I ask. She smirks, "You'll want to come, since you want to know your background, yes?" I look down to my feet. I was curious about myself, and I have been for some time, but who knows what the viruses would do to me. I will not join them if that is what they desire.
"I do, but I do not want to leave my comrades behind." She gives me a warm smile. "Then they can come too." I didn't expect her to say that, so now I am at a loss for words. "You will want to know who you really are Karn; you'll love what you find."
"I will? How come?" "Once you figure out the whole story, then you'll know. I'm not going to tell you, mainly because it's the only trump card I have against you." She then giggles.
I figured as much, so I might have to give in to my curiosity when the time comes, which depends on the outcome that my choice would give to the orphanage. I had one last question.
"Why don't you talk to Zelkas? He's half virus as well, and can use chips." She smiled a little wider. "Who says I don't? But I wouldn't confront Zelkas about it if I were you; it would go against your acting."
Indeed, it would, but I could find a way around it if I had to. "Why do you act like that anyway?" She asked thoughtfully. "You have your secrets, and I have mine." "Ohhh...that's no fun." She playfully pouts at me, but then suddenly she grew more serious.
"Karn, what would you do if the truth turned your world upside down? Do you think you'll stay the same?" She asked me, but then asked another. "Better yet, why do you fight? Is it only to defend yourself?" I stayed silent as she brought something to light...what is my true reason?
I used to have one, but I never went through with it. I went to the orphanage simply because I had nowhere else to go. "We all want to be able to protect ourselves." It's all I could say, but then she pressed the questions even further. "So you have nothing to fight for other than survival? Is that why you're trying to get so close to these humans?"
"Survival is important, and maybe I am trying to belong somehow, despite who I play out to be. Why does this interest you?" I question back at her. "You interest me, you'll know why when you know who...or should I say what you are."
She turns her back to me. "I will not answer what you are, so don't even ask." "Actually, I just want to know the name of the one that is pestering me." I tell her.
"My name? Wouldn't you like to know." She takes a few steps forward, then stops again. She turns to face me with yet another smile. "Wystis."
My eyes opened to the sun's rays. Zelkas had fallen asleep too. Neither of us would have been able to sleep much longer anyway. Savory came running over to us. "Now you I understand, but Zelkas sleeping on the ground too!?" Get up!" Zelkas stirred awake.
"Where is the snooze button?" He says to himself out loud. "I shouldn't HAVE to be the one to wake you up! Now get up!" The two of us stare sleepily at her, then reluctantly stand up. "Good morning Savory." I say with a smile.
"Don't good morning me! We have to get going, we have a visitor." Both Zelkas and I look at each other and nod. Then we run past Savory, "Hey! Wait up guys!" She shouts back at us. The three of us rush through the woods and into the orphanage lobby where a middle-aged man stood.
For some reason I felt disappointed; I think we expected "her" to show up. "We're all here now." Savory calmly spoke. Everyone was gathered; the headmaster and all the orphans...who was this man who brought us all together?
"Listen up everyone!" The headmaster gets our attention. "This man here is Mr. Nene, and he hasn't enough funds to ask the real hunters, so one of our teams will take the job he has. Will you explain the mission Mr. Nene?" "Why yes."
The man spoke up; for a poor man he sounded refined. "I come here to beseech help from you all...I..." Then suddenly, his refinement faded into tears and begging. "Please, I come to you, because I have no one left to turn to. I don't have time to act professional! My daughter, my little girl has been taken away for reasons unknown! She was taken into the Mekiev Forest, but I don't know if she's still there. Please, I beg of you, help save my daughter..."
His emotional outburst was about drowned out by a large burst from a nearby wall. "Jesus Jace! We have doors!" The headmaster yells at Jace. Everyone else stared at him in awe. "No time! This man's daughter is in trouble! I volunteer my students!" He points obnoxiously at us to signal us out from the rest; the other orphans began to speak among themselves. Mr. Nene looked relieved, "So you will help?" "Hell yeah! Let's go!"
"Why me?" Granault hangs his head low and walks forward. "I hope we can save your daughter." Lira smiles at the man. "...might as well..." Zelkas takes a few steps forward. "You better not screw up here Karn." Savory then walks forward herself; I follow.
"Yeah!" I shout out. "No Karn." Jace says. "Huh?" "It's supposed to be...Hell yeah!" "Hell yeah!" I shout. "Louder!"
"HELL YEAH!!!" I throw my fist into the air. Lira giggles and Mr. Nene smiled for once, probably because we were so passionate about saving his daughter. "All right...let's goooooooo!" Jace takes out his sword and points it at the hole he recently made into the wall.
"Chargeeeeee!" Mr. Nene stayed behind as we ran from outside the hole in the wall. Despite his daughter's whereabouts, the mission had begun...
Chapter 6
VI
THE MISSION
"Hey wait! We don't even know what she looks like! Oh brother..." Granault just realized after we were a good ways away. Jace smiled, "Too late now! We will have to go with out intuitions!" Somehow his intuition scares me, at least the thought of it.
I go a little bit ahead of the others once we reach Mekeiv Forest so that I could try to sense the daughter. Huh? I felt two faint human life forces, so has the virus taken two people away? In any case they were still inside the vast forest.
"I'm going to use my intuition! Let's go Jacey!" I shout out, then with hammer drawn like a madman I follow my senses. "Lead the way fearless leader!" Jace takes out a beer and begins downing it while following behind me.
I could hear Granault's usual phrase and were able to make something out of Savory and Lira. "I don't know what's worse. Following our crazy leader blindly to who knows where, or our crazy teacher drinking during a mission!" Savory said to Lira, and Lira giggled. "Or maybe us for following them." After that I was too absorbed in my senses to hear more, voices being drowned out. Savory's mouth practically dropped when we stopped moving.
"Wait, we actually found her?" Jace gets in front of me while Savory spoke. "Jacey?" I was somewhat puzzled, maybe it had something to do with the main who held her captive. She was bound and gagged to a big tree. Her sounds were muffled, so I definitely couldn't make out what she was saying.
"I don't like the malice I feel from this guy." Jace said. I then looked ahead at the man. He had a wide, yet menacing smile; he is human, so what does he gain from this? "I'll fight him, you all free the girl and get her back to her father." Jace said seriously, in response the menacing man spoke.
"You aren't in any position to do that." He pulls out a knife from his pocket and points it and Mr. Nene's daughter. "I never miss." He chuckles. Savory gulps, "What do we do now Jace?" Jace stayed silent. "Jacey?" I was curious as to what he was thinking.
Jace points his sword at the tree. "Let's see who hits her first then!" Jace laughs. "What!?" That surprised Lira. "Sounds like fun, but aren't you supposed to be saving her?" The man asked. Jace then whispers to me, "Throw that large hammer at him fearless leader." Then he puts his thumb up at me with a goofy look, and I thought he was finally showing a serious side to himself for a change.
"OK Jacey!" I fling my hammer at the man. "Stupid mistake kid!" He throws the knife and Mr. Nene's daughter looked terrified at the oncoming blade, but suddenly a large grayish blur gets in the way and deflects the knife.
I looked wide eyed at the sword, that was still moving, spinning towards the captor. I decide to take immediate action and go for my hammer that missed the man before. He jumped over Jace's sword just as I grabbed my hammer, which I swing at him with.
Both of the man's hands glow and I'm pushed back. "What?" I heard myself say out loud. He had deflected my large hammer with one of the gauntlets on his hand. Iron claws protruded from the gauntlet's knuckles. He licks one of the claws, "Pretty brave for a kid." "Get back! I will fight him on my own." Jace got in front once again, leaving us to watch.
"You must be their mentor. You're one of the few that's ever blocked my knife throw. Who are you?" Jace proved once again that him and serious don't mix together for very long. He pointed his sword and spoke obnoxiously. "My name is Jace Kenryuu and I am the vanquisher of evil! You shall be vanquished for capturing this little girl! It's unforgivable!"
The man then laughs. "What a weirdo! I'd like to see you defeat me, Skid of the Arcanum!" Skid charges at Jace and begins swinging wildly at him. Jace was easily dodging, but being pushed back. "Should we give Skid the fair fight that Jace wants to give him?" I eye Mr. Nene's daughter as Granault spoke.
"That man is occupied! We should do Jacey proud and save Mr. Nene's daughter!" "Not so loud!" Granault warns me. "But...you do have a point."
"If we summon any of our chips though, this Skid freak might notice the flash, He's hitting Jace closer to Mr. Nene's daughter too, so that makes this harder." Savory explains and warns. "Savory also has a valid point, so what should we do? You have your weapon out already Karn, but a hammer can't really help us out much here." Granault taps one foot slowly in thought.
"Can I talk to you alone for a second Karn?" Lira asks. "Sure Lira." We walk off and behind a tree. "The act aside, what should we really do?" "We shouldn't rely on Jace too much; we need to try something that won't get the girl killed." I tell Lira.
"And...I think I'm going to cough up more blood soon." I really didn't know what to do here, but it would help if we could just form a human shield around Mr. Nene's daughter... "If we try anything, Skid might focus his intention of ending our target's life..." I could hear Granault say. That's when I got an idea.
"OK Lira; I've got a plan." I tell her. "OK. I'll tell them for you, so you can keep up your act." She smiles at me. "Thank you Lira..." Then I let her know of my plan. We come back to the others.
"I wanted to ask Karn if this plan was a good idea. He approves." Lira smiles at the others. "What's the plan?" Zelkas asks. "We're going to form a shield around the tree." "And how will we get there Lira?" Granault asks. "We're going to fight each other."
Lira giggles at the reason I came up with as to why and how we will fight, then she explains. "WHAT!!!???" Savory did not seem happy, but it got Jace and Skid's attention, so she had to play it off. "How dare you Lira! You know I told you so you wouldn't get in between us!" Jace and Skid stop fighting altogether now. "I couldn't help it Savory! My heart belongs to Karn!"
"And mine belongs to you too Lira!" I shout out. "What the hell is going on with these kids?" "I don't really know, but it's interesting..." Both Jace and Skid form a temporary truce in order to watch our little argument that was all an act, like a play. Granault and Zelkas pretend to try and hold Savory back.
"I can't believe this! Let me go! I'll kill her!" "We're supposed to be saving someone you idiots! Pull yourselves together!" Zelkas yells, then they let go and fall back to the ground. Savory then pretends to deck Lira in the stomach and she topples over. OK, here comes our chance. Savory then pretends- BAM! What the hell!? She actually hit me! I barely had to fake the distance. I land near the tree Mr. Nene's daughter was bound to.
Savory charges at me. "How could you forsake our destined love for each other!?" She screams. "No! Please don't harm the man I love!" Lira gets up and chases after Savory. "We have to stop this Zelkas!" Zelkas nods and runs after the rest of us with Granault. Zelkas at the last minute whips out his scythe and cuts the rope. "What!?" Skid was confused.
I catch the falling daughter and the others surround me. "The plan worked, yay!" Lira smiled happily. Jace jumps in front of all of us. "Great job my amazing students!" "Damn...this is embarrassing..." Skid retracts the claws and the gauntlet disappears.
"Looks like I shouldn't underestimate kids." "Why did you do this anyway you jerk!" Savory yells at Skid. "You all wouldn't understand. The Arcanum is trying to prove a point here. Expect more actions from us."
"What point could possible be made from this?" Skid stays silent for a moment, not thinking, but as if someone had died. "How long has it been since you left your little orphanage?" He knew where we were from?
"Years." Jace simply replies. "Well, now only the rich can afford even the smallest of jobs. We at the Arcanum have all been done wrong; we've all had lost loved ones as our punishment for not having the funds to afford help. So...we have to show them the error of their ways. Even by a revolution if we have to." Skid explained. "Now, next time, don't get in our way." Skid then flees, leaving us to wonder about the Arcanum. "Do you know of the Arcanum Jace?" Granault asks.
"Nope..." "Who cares! They are sooooo mean!" Mr. Nene's daughter had finally spoke. I took off her gag while Skid explained. We turn to face her. "Yep, a big meanie pants. Do you want to see your father?" Jace gives her a goofy smile. She nods happily, "Yes please." Lira was smiling at her. "My name is Lira, what's yours?" "Cecillia." They smile at each other.
"I'm so happy at the thought of how your father will react, hee hee." Lira was truly happy at our job well done. We began our walk back home when Lira suddenly grew uneasy. "I'll catch up with everyone, OK?" Lira quickly smiled before running away.
"She always does that." Savory says. "As leader I shouldn't leave her behind, right Jacey?" "Yep!" Jace says. I wave at them as they leave, then quickly follow Lira, who was throwing up more blood, just as she said she would. "What will you do when you can't just run off when you have to throwup?" I ask as I approach her.
"Then the secret will have to be brought out." She smiles over her pool of blood. "But..." Her smile fades, "I don't know if I'll last much longer." "You will, just hang in there." I tell her. "Hey Karn, I have a question." "What is it Lira?" "What gave you the idea for that scheme?"
I had to think for a moment, before confirming that I was drawing blanks. "It had to be something outrageous, otherwise it wouldn't have worked." "Oh...I see." She steps away from the blood that she lost. "We should go back. I really do want to see the happy reunion; it will feel good." "Yeah, let's go back home."
We walk side by side; I looked over at her to notice a distant expression tattered on her face. I wondered what was running through her head at this time. "Wait, Lira." Lira and I stopped. "Yes?" "Tonight...let's run away and look for the cure."
Lira looked at me without saying anything for a while, so I continued. "We can't cure you and others with that sickness if we stay and do nothing. I don't want you to die." Lira smiles at me, "That's sweet, but maybe I should just tell the headmaster about my sickness...but...I don't really want anyone to know."
I nod, "That's why we can just look ourselves. I know a place we can start searching." "Really?" She gave me a hopeful look. "Yeah, so let's go back for now. We can discuss this later tonight, which gives you time to make the decision." Lira continued to smile, "OK Karn." We end up walking side by side again. We will figure out the source of your disease Lira, so we can get a cure. I'll cure you Lira; I swear I will...
Chapter 7
VII
THE REASON
"Cecilla!" "Daddy!" The two had a joyous reunion as Mr. Nene's daughter jumps into her father's arms. Lira and I smiled together as we witnessed true happiness unfold. "Thank you all...nothing I pay will be enough, but I hope what little I do give can help this orphanage."
The headmaster smiled, but then sighed as he looked at the hole in the wall. "Going to have to repair that..." Jace ignores the headmaster's comment and talks with Cecillia. "You will be safe now. Uncle Jace will make sure no bad men separate you from your father again!"
"Yay!" "Uncle?" Granault shook his head. I catch a red flash from the corner of my eye, so I figured Wystis was here. I leave the others without a word to go visit my demonic stalker. "How long have you been watching me?" I ask her. "Not long, but long enough to know you plan on running away, and with a girl no less." She giggled at me.
"It's not like that." I simply replied.
"Then why? You bonded with her so quickly, and she knows about your act. Wouldn't she be better off-" I cut her off, "I'm not going to let Lira die!" Wystis was taken back from my sudden outburst. "Maybe you know more about yourself than you think Karn."
Now she was trying to entice my curiosity once again; her trump card. "If you're not going to tell me, then stop playing with me like that." I tell her. She gives me a wide smile, "You are the cause of the disease. If you wish for the cure, come to Hildegarn by tonight and meet me by the fountain square. It's time for my father to meet you himself."
"I...caused the disease?" "Lira can come too if she wants to know the truth as well." I eye her, "You and humans are enemies and you'll just let her come? And you won't harm her?" Wystis gave a reassuring smile, and a believable one at that. "You have my word. You are that important to us." I didn't know what to say, so I just accepted and nodded to her. Suddenly I felt warmth and sensed a presence very close to Wystis and I.
"Nice to meet you." Wystis says. "Who's this Karn?" I turn to see Lira staring between Wystis and me. "Going to introduce yourself?" I ask Wystis. "I'm Wystis, a friend of Karn." Friend, huh.
Lira smiles back at her. "I'm also a friend of Karns. My name is Lira." She extends her hand and Wystis shakes it with one of her own. This changes my perception of how to view the viruses. Special forces surrounds the main city every day and night defending others from an almost endless onslaught of viruses.
Actually; I'm surprised Mr. Nene was able to leave without getting attacked. "Um...Karn, Mr. Nene wants to properly thank us as a group." I nod and smile, "OK!" I turn back to face Wystis, but she had already gone...vanished in thin air it seemed.
We walk through the hole in the wall, causing the headmaster to sigh. "Could you guys at least pretend there's no hole there?" Lira giggles, "But Mr. Headmaster; it's much more convenient." Lira and I take our place in a row with our other teammates.
Mr. Nene bowed slightly to us. "Thank you all again. You are really amazing young adults to help a poor old man like me get his daughter back." Cecillia breaks away from Jace to rush to her father's side to thank us again. "Thank you!" She shouts, and Lira can't help but smile big and wide.
"I'm happy we could help!" Lira bowed back. "Now...while I escort them back....MORE BONDING!!" Moments after his orders to us, Jace took off with the clients and left us with the rest of the orphanage, who eventually separated themselves and leaving our team time to bond.
The same outcome...Zelkas left to train on his own, and Granault and Savory left in separate directions. "Last time I went to bond with Zelkas, but now I have to choose someone else so I can bond with everyone. Maybe Granault...Savory has probably seen enough of me for one day."
Lira gives me a thoughtful look, as if she was thinking about it too. "Mind if I come too?" I nod, "All right, let's go." Right then and there we became professionally ninja spy hybrids. Following Granault without being seen by anybody. Why? I guess it's for our own amusement.
Granault stops at the door to his room. "What now Karn?" "Watch and learn..." A sudden flash and then smashed floor tiles littered the hallway. My hammer bashed into the ground, causing Granault to jump. "What the!? Oh...I was expecting Jace." "Hiya Granault! Let's Bond!"
Lira comes out shyly from her hiding place and waves at him with a slight smile. "Why me?" I say expectantly, and Granault nods, but speaks up as he opens the door to his room. "Well, come on in you two."
Chapter 8
VIII
THE DISCOVERY
We entered into Granault's room, where Lira instantly sat on the bed. "Um, Granault, I've always been curious about something..." "What is it? She seemed hesitant at first, maybe she thought it was being rude or something.
"What does your book look like inside?" She gave him a thoughtful look. "I don't expect you to understand what's inside of it, but...ok." He brings out the book and drops it on Lira's lap, so I sit beside her to take a peek too. "I wanna see it too!" I exclaim with false sincerity.
Lira cautiously opens the book to a random blank page with symbols on them. "It's in a language that my father created.. He passed down the book to me right before he died...I can't see all of the writing until I become better with the chip. This is not your average attack chip, since my father made it himself."
Granault rambles, and seemingly enjoys the company who would listen to him willingly. "This is that uplift spell!" Lira smiles, and Granault who almost smiled while he rambled, instantly looked surprised. He almost lost his voice from it, forcing the first word out of his mouth. "H-How can you understand what's written in there!?"
I took a closer look at the symbols and could also read "Uplift" as well as the incantation for it. "I can read it too!" I shout out. "What!? I don't believe you! Try another!" Granault flips to a spell he had not yet used in front of us, but I still understood the writing. "Uncovering Mist." I bluntly read the spell name to him.
"Yep! That's the spell name!" Lira smiled at Granault for me. "I...I can't believe this. This is a language my father created himself, so how could BOTH of you understand it so well?" I didn't understand it either honestly, because that was my first time seeing the language. "I don't know, but the writing is nifty." I responded in my aloof voice.
"This is my first time seeing this writing before, Granault." Lira said what I had observed in my mind. "Really? That makes this even more puzzling..." Granault soon became lost in thought. I assume he was thinking about his father; just who was Granault's father?
I looked around his room to notice what I haven't before. He had postings of writings on his wall in this same language, but nothing much else, just his bed, a lamp, and overhead fan, and the bed we are sitting on. If it weren't for his notes posted on the wall, this room would be even more plain than mine.
His desk doubled as his dresser. I hadn't noticed Lira had gotten up until now. "The ones over here are notes from your father?" Lira asks. Granault is broken from his train of thought and suddenly shouts out. "That's it!"
He jumps off from his bed and puts his fingers on one of the notes from his father. "When my father died he left these and his old attack chip to me. Most of these notes were to teach me the language, but there is this one." I stood up to get a closer look alongside Lira.
"I didn't look at that one yet, what is it about?" "Read it and find out. Let me know what you think." And so that is what we did, began to read the message a father left for his son...
"If you are reading this Granault, then you know this language well. The most sophisticated version of it is written here; I wanted you to know about my finest work once you were ready. This is not just the language of th magic inside my greatest tome, but the language that I created for humanities greatest hope for survival. But, reading this note comes with a responsibility, which is why I did not wish you to know this until you were ready. My colleague and best friend altered the mother gene I had created to save us, and made it for the viruses, so that they too had a chance to survive. This must be because of his forbidden love with a virus. He took all my notes, so I'm sorry I can't explain everything to you. I will try as long as I can, for this that my friend and I did, caused a sickness that I am not going to live much longer from. The mother gene will be awakened and destroy all viruses from this world. Or, thanks to my old friend, destroy humanity. It is all up to my greatest creation Vizel to choose which side he will save, or choose to save neither. The mother gene was implanted in-"
It stopped abruptly there. His hand must have been shaky in the last few moments of his life, because it had become harder to read the further it got to the end, and I could barely make out "implanted". "If my assumptions are correct...nah, they couldn't be."
I knew what he was thinking right away. "Because I'm an idiot, right?" I said, totally giving myself away. "Karn...that seems so out of character from you." Granault looked shocked once again. "It should be; I've been acting the fool for years." Granault pushed his glasses closer to his face.
"I don't understand why you would act stupid on purpose..." Lira looks back and forth at the two of us, then begins to speak on my behalf. "I've only known recently about Karn, but I'm sure he has a good reason." "Wondering why can wait until later, because now I must tell you my assumption."
I cut in, "That I am your father's creation?" Granault nods slowly. "So I'm not too late, which is good. I've been wondering about my father's creation ever since I could read this, which hasn't been very long. Also..." Granault's voice trails off. "Are you sick Lira?" Ask he asked, her eyes widened.
"I'll take that as a yes then." I get in front of her, "Don't let anyone else know Granault. She's been keeping it a secret ever since she arrived here." "I understand Karn, or should I say Vizel."
He smiles at the name he called me. So, his father created me, at least most likely, based off the evidence I have. "I like Karn better." I turn to Lira who had just spoken, and smile at her. "Yes, I'm not throwing away my name. Someone very important to me gave me this name." I step next to Lira and turn to face Granault, who was still smiling.
I never see him smile, but I guess he has a good reason to this time around. "You must have the mother gene in you Lira, to be able to understand this language so well without ever seeing it." Lira looked at my curiously, then looked back at Granault.
"So together Karn and I could get rid of all viruses in the world? Would I be cured?" "Yes, I'm sure of it...but I have no idea how, and I'm not actually sure you'd be cured afterwards." Granault hang his head lowly. "Well your father tried to help, but what we need now are the notes your father made, and I have a good idea who has them now too."
Granault's eyes lit up. "Really? Wow, everything is falling into place then." I close my eyes briefly, to quickly reflect. Granault is saying all of this as if it was nothing, but a great discovery, but this is so much more to me. I've always wanted to know who I really was. Now I had to see Wystis, because if she knows so much about me, then she must have those notes.
Her, or most likely, her father has the notes. "I have to go." "Karn?" Lira looked concerned, but I didn't answer. Instead I brushed past Granault and ran from his room. The roof of the orphanage is where I always went to reflect on things, so that was where I would go until sundown.
Chapter 9
IX
THE PAST
I climbed to the roof to notice someone else was already there. It was Savory, who's back was turned to me. She must not have heard me, so I studied the way she sat. The way I could tell her chin was perched on the back of her hand...reminded me of her...
"Karn! Wake up sleepy head! How can you sleep on the cold hard ground all the time!?" A little girl, Arenelle, yelled at me to wake up. I opened my eyes, and spoke sheepishly, "The sound of the river makes me sleepy." I roll over and close my eyes again.
"KARN!" She then pulled on my ears, which is a very sensitive spot for me. "Owie! OK I'm up, I'm up!" I sit up and we blink at each other a couple of times. I'm about fourteen, and she is only nine, so I have to be the responsible one when we hang out.
"Our gardener will be here to pick the flowers by this river since mother loves them so much. That leaves us time to fulfill the promise you made to me. No backing out now!" I stand up and smile at her. "That's right Nell. I have a very COOL spot to show you!"
"So we get to go today?" "Yes!" "Yay! Then let's hurry; I've been pestering you to take me there and I don't even know where THERE is!" I'm not really a happy person, but Arenelle is always boggled down with studies and forced to be proper all the time until she can escape to see me.
So, it's the least I could do and act cheery around her. Sometimes, I even act a little dumb just to make her laugh. I let her jump on my back, so I could piggy-back her to where we would go, since I could jump high and run fast.
I jumped on the large stones in the river, which she seemed to really enjoy. She was laughing out of joy. "This is fun Karn!" "Hehe." I said lightly. I've never taken her this far out before. We had broken through the woods and came out into a large clearing of a vast meadow with a large hill.
"Wow! Are we going to the hill Karn?" "Uh-huh." I run as fast as I can so she can feel the wind in her long and flowing blonde hair, even as we went up the steep hill.
Once we were at the top, I let her down and breathe heavily to catch my breath. "Phew, you're heavy Nell!" She sits next to me as I collapse on the ground with a Thud. "Not my fault if you're too weak to carry me." She jokes back, but then becomes preoccupied with the scenery.
"So many flowers!" She shouts as she looks ahead to see flowers of yellow, red, violet, and some even blue. "It's my favorite spot EVER!" "Mine too!" She replies, and I chuckle. "But you just got here." "It's THAT beautiful."
I nod, "Yeah...it is." I didn't look much at the familiar sight as I lay there, but instead I tilt my head to see Arenelle's reaction to the whole scene. Seeing her this happy made me happy too, so I smiled. "Now...I have to ask. Why did you keep this place from me for so long Karn!?" I laughed.
"An excuse for you to stick around longer. Don't want you to get bored of me!" She looks down at me with a beaming smile. "I'll never get bored of you. Never ever." "Thanks, now I have a question for you that I've been meaning to ask. Why did you decide to call me Karn?"
"That's easy, it's a short variation of the place I loved most before you brought me here! The Carnival!" I blink, "I see...AWESOME!" She giggled at my outburst. "Anywhere but home really. Besides my sister, nothing good comes from being at home. And even then, she's older, so she's so bossy."
"Your sister never leaves the house, so I'll never get to meet her." "It's ok, I tell her about you all the time." Now I was curious, "What did you tell her about me?" She winks and sticks her tongue out at me. "Secret." "Aww come on. I wanna know." She giggles, "I'll tell you sometime, but for now we should enjoy the scenery!"
Arenelle, you always say like that. I was already overwhelmed past my limits, so I guess I have no limits. I quietly walked beside Savory and stood there with a chill running down my spine. "So, you're Arenelle's sister."
"And you're the boy who acted like an idiot to make her laugh." I'm connected to every one of my team. Granault was right, everything really is falling into place.
Chapter 10
X
THE DECISION
We stared at each other for a few moments. I could seriously say this was the longest time I could see Savory's face without anger on it. I didn't know what to say to her, so she knew I was acting the whole time? If she knew who I really was, then she could have told me a long time ago.
"So...when did you find out it was me?" She then turned and sat the way Arenelle sat once again, so I got to see the side of her face. Her expression was so much like my own, empty, but hopeful. "Fakers can figure each other out easily, not to mention you fit the description my sister gave perfectly." "I see..."
I stood up. "Well, I came up here to be alone, because I found out a lot about myself." Savory then stood up and had a worried look on her face. "Are you going to be OK?" "I'm not used to you being anything but angry at me."
"...Just go Karn. The last thing you need is more things to overwhelm you." "Thanks Savory. There is much I want to ask you about your sister later on."
I then leave Savory where she stood and I went back down; I would go to my room where I know I could be alone. I walk past Granault's room, but I stopped myself right outside of it, to look at an angry headmaster scolding Jace. "Jace, you have to stop making holes in the floors, walls, and ceilings of this orphanage!"
Jace folds his arms, "Honestly I didn't do this one, but I'd like to know who did, so I could shake his hand." He says and nods. Only Jace can make the headmaster mad. I put up my act and chimed in. "That was me!" I got in between the two of them and shouted.
"I knew it was my star pupil!" Jace and I put our thumbs up at each other and smiled wide, while the headmaster sighed silently. "You are being a bad influence for Karn Jace..." "Nah..." Jace simply responds, then as if on cue, he takes out a bottle of booze and downs it in one gulp.
"Remind me why I let you teach here again?" The headmaster's question was aimed at Jace. "Because I provide free drinks? Understaffed?" "Quit showing off Jace." This display almost made me forget where I was headed, but seeing Granault's door wide open, and him nowhere to be found inside, brought my mind back to my original destination. "Sorry guys, but I have to go to my room now!"
I rush past them and head down the halls until I ended up at my room. My door had been partially opened, but I always kept it closed. I slowly pushed open the door and saw Lira sitting on my bed. "Hiya Karn..."
"Were you worried about me?" I asked, and she nodded. "Yeah..." I sit next to her on my bed. "Where did Granault go?" "Not sure." I could feel her staring at me. "Um...Karn, there is something I wanted to tell you. I've decided that I wanted to run away to find the cure. But, shouldn't we be able to cure the disease when we figure out how to unite our powers...or something. I have no idea really..."
Suddenly, I put my hand on hers, "All we need to do is go see who has the rest of his father's notes. I'm sorry I ran off like that..." My voice trailed off as it finally registers fully in my head that I placed my hand on top of Lira's hand.
I quickly jerk away my hand, "Sorry...again." My face hadn't been so red in a while, which grows even more red when Lira leans her head on my shoulder. "You can make up for it by letting me lean on you."
I decided not to speak; I just let the moment last, but the moment continued even while Lira broke the silence. "So tonight...you'll know who we should go see?" "Yeah. She'll be waiting for us by the fountain in the city."
"OK...until then I think I'll just sleep on you." "Fine by me...Lira?" She was already breathing heavily. "Can you really sleep that fast?" No answer, so she really could, but now that left me sitting here. I definitely couldn't sleep, but at least now I had time to reflect...
Chapter 11
XI
THE VILLAGE
The moon shimmered over the fountain's water. I really wished we had a working one over at the orphanage; the sound of the water always puts me to sleep or relaxes me. We used to have one, but that was before Jace tried to make it into a booze fountain.
I see a figure who's features are hidden within a cloak; I assume that is Wystis. Using my free hand, I point in Wystis' direction. "That's her Lira." We walk hand in hand over to her. "I see you brought Lira with you afterall. Hello again." "Wystis? Wow! I didn't know she would be able to help."
"What are friends for?" They smile at each other like old friends, making it impossible to tell that they just met not that long ago. "So, you'll be able to guarantee no viruses attack us?" I ask. "Just don't call us viruses and everything should be fine. Our people would be called Zolarks in your tongue. Now, follow me, my father would very much like to meet you."
She took a couple of steps ahead of us on the cold hard cobblestone before we decided to follow her. I forced myself to speak on the way, wanting to demolish her trump card on me. "I know I am a creation made to eradicate your people now Wystis. There goes your trump card." "Thanks to my father, there is a way to do the opposite, while saving a select few humans."
"Let me guess, Granault's HUMAN friend is your father?" "Yep, we're connected too." "Jeeze..." I felt like I got shot down after erasing her trump card. I decided not to say anything more the rest of the way. We went down a secluded alleyway which led us to a dead end.
"Now you'll see how I can disappear so easily." Wystis giggled and put her hand on the brick wall in front of us. Like it was a body of water, the wall's surface rippled and vibrated. "We'll go through here to get closer to my village; it's quite far otherwise."
"Wow, you've got to teach me that trick sometime!" Lira exclaimed. Wystis giggled, "I don't think a human could learn it." She says as her voice becomes somewhat muffled when she goes through the wall. Lira and I follow in together and come from out a large and wide tree to the other side.
"The sun..." I look up at the orange sky. The sun was either setting or rising, but I figured that it must be setting. "We were sent quite a long way for the sun to still be out." Lira said in a thoughtful tone. "It's only about a ten minute walk from here."
"So, how did you do it?" I asked, and we began walking again. The change of scenery made me feel like talking some more. "The Earth is capable of many things, all you have to do is understand it." "I see." I somewhat understood what she meant. A leaf fell from one of the many surrounding trees and landed right on my head.
I take it off and realize it's in the shape of a perfect star. "The Earth is more vibrant here, we make sure no one comes to disrupt it." "The Earth thinks you're a star Karn!" Lira smiles warmly at me. The rest of the way the trees swayed without even a hint of wind blowing.
This was a very strange land, but it was beautiful in the subtle glow of the sun. I squint in front of us, so I could make out two pillars and two viruses standing in front of each one, most likely standing guard. One yells out, "Wystis had returned! Wystis HAS returned!" "Hehe, we're here. As you know now Karn, my father is human, so you should be fine here."
"Yeah, could've fooled me." Wystis laughed, then responded, "Someone else got the human look in our family." I didn't really know what she meant by that, but we had now reached the entrance. The homes were those same large and wide trees, instead of being cut down to build homes, the viruses lived within them.
So, these people were the Zolarks. There are many different races, but we called every last one of them viruses, as their existence is harmful to us humans. I never thought about it before.
"Wystis!" "Father!" She ran over to give her father a hug while the other Zolarks surrounded the four of us. "Everyone. Karn and Lira are our guests, so show them some respect." "Will they help us?" One of the Zolarks asked.
"That's why I wanted to meet you Karn." "I wanted to meet you too...you have the rest of the answers about who I am and what I was supposed to do." The villagers looked very interested in what Wystis' father had to say. I looked around, mostly Zolarks, but their leader was not the only human.
It made me feel more relieved. "That I do." "You used to live in Dunsalk too sir, so did you find a cure to our illness?" "No...I regretfully still have it, but Karn, or should I say Vizel, has a way to cure us." "I prefer Karn." I tell him.
"Father, first shouldn't we tell them your story?" "Story, what story?" Lira grew curious, not seemingly affected by what Wystis' father had said earlier. "I think they are more interested in how to use the mother gene...but you do have a point my daughter. And I am sorry; I had forgotten my manners. My name is Cyrus Mallory."
I shook his hand. "If you do not mind, I have a story that leads to your birth." Lira and I exchange glances, then I nod at him. "I would like to hear it." The others around us listened in too. I've never met a more quiet crowd of people.
"Well, many years ago, Granault's father, and my friend, Jinto, had lost his wife and almost his son to the viruses. He was finally fed up how small towns scattered across the world had little to no protection, and made it his mission to eradicate the viruses from the face of the planet.
He had been creating a living being, a true scientific breakthrough, and now he had a purpose for it. As his best friend, and partner; I decided to study with him for a way to help use his latest creation as the catalyst for their destruction.
He spoke very highly of you Karn. You were to be our savior. It would have been flawless, but...I didn't plan on falling in love. Wystis' mother was very kind to me, despite being human. It happened just as fast as we knew our true selves..."
He had a dreamy look on his face, so Lira interrupted with a question. "True selves?" "Yes, when we were true to each other. Anyway, I wouldn't allow her to die, so I made a perfect copy of the mother gene that Jinto implanted into a newborn female, which was you Lira.
You were the first girl born in a long time, so it was an obvious choice, as only a woman could harbor the gene. It was intended that you would grow together with Karn, so that there would be no problem in uniting the mother gene with the one for destruction.
I altered this gene however, to get rid of humans instead of the rest of the races. I was ready to sacrifice my humanity for her. I then awaited for you to be created, but once you were born...and unforeseen error" "Unforeseen error?" I asked.
"Yes...your birth sent a harmful wave in our small town, less than a percent of your destructive power. It's what caused the sickness that infected everyone."
So Wystis was right...I really did cause the disease. "I don't want to hear any more...I'm sorry Lira." I didn't know what to think anymore. I think I finally heard too much; I fell to my knees. Lira crouched down to my eye level. "No...it's not your fault Karn."
"Not my fault!? Your parents...so many are dead because of me!" I shouted out. "No Karn, Lira is correct. It is mine, and my old friend's burden to bear." I looked up at him. "You aren't the direct killer of those people. It's a lot harder for me to bear."
"Please Karn...don't beat yourself up." I gasped just as Lira hugged me tightly and put her weight on me. "Lira...I..." "You may do whatever you wish with that knowledge, but for now..."
Lira let go and we stood up. I looked to my sides by shifting my eyes, hugged in front of so many silent people. "You need to know how to activate the gene, but first I must tell you. You'll have to choose who you wish to save. The world and its races, or your own race, the humans.
The altered mother gene was placed inside my own daughter Wystis. And as you know, the original mother gene is inside Lira. You will have to choose between the two of them as well...because..."
"Because?" Lira was really curious now. "Can I tell him father?" "Of course...it would be better as told by you." Wystis got really close to me. "In order to activate the mother gene, you'll have too..."
She then leans over to my ear and whispers to me the answer...my eyes...widened...
Let me know what you think if you can read lines of text ^_^
It didn't focus on writing skills I just wanted to make a cool story for my friends, and now it reaches this awesome community.
Chapters will be in spoilers to avoid many long posts...
Note: The character Jace is a running gag in a lot of my shorter stories, he originates from my main one with Rad =P
Chapter 1
I
THE FAKER
I'm a hunter, and at a younger age than most, but that's because I have no known family to take care of me. I live in an orphanage, except it's more like a school. I tried to avoid those in the past, but this place is different. No, I'm not going to have to learn boring old math, but instead I'm going to learn how to defend myself. I still probably won't take this seriously, but oh well; I still need to make sure I can survive.
"Hey Karn! Stop zoning out already! The headmaster is about to put us in teams of five." "Miss Savory, it is fine. Karn can be clueless, the only side effect is death." Savory hmphs away from me. "Headmaster Piron has a point, and I'd rather see you dead!" I just fake a big smile, "Hey come on, you know everyone loves me!" Then everyone started to laugh at me.
"SILENCE!" The headmaster yells out. I put my head down on my desk, but keep my ears perked up. Sometimes, it's much easier to play the fool. "Now, as I was saying, everyone will be split into groups of five based on their ability levels." Granault, a usually smart lad, raised his hand. "Yes Granault?"
"Sir, why are we going to be in teams of five? Aren't the special forces of hunters grouping up in teams of four?" I think we should grow accustomed to that environment." "Normally I would say yes, but...times have changed..." The headmaster clears his throat before continuing. "Viruses have grown in number and strength, so for now I think it's bst to make sure you have at least some chance of survival. Plus...we're understaffed." I bet the last reason is the true reason for setting us up in groups of five.
They don't have enough people willing to train us who've lost our last names or never had last names to begin with, like me. I have no clue what happened with my parents, or even who they were. "Any other questions?" The headmaster asked everyone, but his attention was focused on Granault. Moments passed, and no one answered, so then he began to assign the teams.
Normally I pay attention, but maybe my acting was finally starting to stick true to me. I looked behind me, and outside the window, but I only focused my eyes on one specific area. Why was I doing this? I heard disgust from Savory, so maybe I was stuck on a team with her. That all was tuned out all at once suddenly when a viral demon had appeared beside a large tree, which was the exact area I had been focused on.
I couldn't look away at her dark gray skin, red eyes, and dark purple hair. Basically I was focusing on her face, first at her smile full of sharp teeth, then at her bright red eyes. Now no matter what, I couldn't seem to avert my attention away from her eyes. Her eyes then flashed a hue that didn't register into my brain and everything suddenly went black.
I was trapped inside of the darkness, then she appeared before me. "What do you want?" I asked. She continued to smile at me. "You can use the hunter's battle chips, so what are you really?" I was here to locate our savior, but instead I just found another one of them...but no, I can still feel you." I fold my arms while I listened to her words, but I knew what to say right away. "I am no savior. Just a bumbling fool hoping to get by in life."
She laughed at my comment. "Everyone is a fool, what else is new? But if you mean your front, then I already know about that. We can not hide from one another." "So you know that I'm acting then..." My voice trailed off in it's true tone. "Now, you play with these humans a little while longer. When my father is ready, we will come for you." She continued to smile at me. "I do not have your demonic features, how am I supposed to believe that I am a virus?"
She then laughed once again, hysterically. I must have really said something she found utterly ridiculous. "Who said WE are the viruses? We're not the ones harming the world, and our own kind." With that I instantly was jerked awake.
Lira jumped at my sudden awakening. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Lira." I then looked around and noticed that everyone was gone except a few others. Five students, including me. So, my team would be comprised of Savory, Lira, Zelkas, Granault, and myself. Savory and Zelkas were both complaining to the teacher. Zelkas was usually quiet and didn't care about me, why would he start complaining now? Unless...
"Karn, our leader can't be oversleeping!" Lira said and smiled at me, then slowly walked down the stairs back over to the others. Besides the headmaster, there was one other man, and looking at him I could almost laugh. It was Jace, usually the teacher of our defense styled battle chips. He's kind of...well...
I found myself with the rest of my group. "Looks like you've finally woken up." The headmaster said to me. Zelkas was still voicing his concern. "Are you serious!? That aloof kid is our leader? I wish to know why." The headmaster spoke up once again, "He is the only one among you with a D ranked battle chip." "But it's just a stupid supplies support chip!" Zelkas yelled, then an unusually silent Savory began to speak as well. "All Karn does is eat. Of course that chip would be rank D already!"
"You see, she is right." Zelkas agreed, as it was no secret. "And my chips are much more advanced in type." He added, and was right for the most part. Besides my hammer attack chip, the other two in my body are standard beginners chips. "I understand, but just think of this as a learning experience." The headmaster just smiled, amused at his comment. Savory and Zelkas sighed in unison. Zelkas then came over to me, "You better not get in the way!" "I guess quiet Zelkas died today." I said as my response. "I will leave you all now to get more acquainted with each other. Staff member Jace will be your instructor. I wish you all the best, goodbye."
The headmaster then ran outside the classroom door in a hurry as if he had just set a bomb that was about to go off. Jace slid his hand across his wrist, then slammed a blade hard into the ground. Everyone jumped, but Zelkas and I. "What the hell!? What's wrong with you!?" Savory shouted at Jace, our instructor. "Alright young men and women! It's time to test your skills! Follow me!"
Jace ignores Savory and rips the blade he had used to break into the floor out and perched in on his left shoulder. He then hummed a strange tune and proceeded to use the exit from the classroom to the outside. "He seems like a nice guy." Lira says and walks behind him. "Why me?" Granault questions, then the rest of us continuously move forward.
Once we were a good ways outside, Jace turned around and slammed his sword into the ground, hilt pointing up to the sky. "Obnoxious much?" Savory said under her breath. Jace then slid his hand over his other wrist and a small goblin-esque demon pops out. "My capture chip has hundreds of these inside." He then pulls out his sword and uses it like a bat to hit a home run. The ball? Try the virus; it was hit far into the sky, never to be seen again.
"I feel sorry for the cutie..." Lira said, and the virus surely was far from cute. "I have many more! So, who will show me their weaponry first!?" He had his hand on his wrist, which harbored his capture chip. "Wait, shouldn't we gear up first?" Granault asked. Jace looked puzzled, not the best facial expression a teacher should have in regards to a valid question. "Why would you waste time with that? I haven't used defensive chips in years!"
"But aren't you the defense chip teacher!?" Granault was thinking too hard, and becoming confused. "Oh fiiiiiiiiine, go ahead and suit up." Everyone, but myself, lightly places one palm on their chests, causing their body to light up and form protective gear. Lira had special medic clothing, but the others wore what I had, the survival vest chip. "Why aren't you going to use your defensive chip Karn?" Lira asked me.
"I want to be like my instructor!" I shouted out, then put my thumbs up in Jace's direction. "Hell yeah! Now we're talking! This kid's going to become a great leader." Zelkas smirked, "Or a short-lived one." "Don't be so stupid Karn!" Savory yelled at me. Then I slid over my left wrist, and a large hammer dropped to my side. I leaned over the handle.
"I'll go first!" I shout out. "Thatta boy!" Jace then releases one of the virus goblins. The hammer felt light to me, but I acted like I was struggling to pick it up. Why do I make a mockery of myself? Good question.
The virus looked angry, probably over the other one who was batted away by Jace. It lunged at me, opening it's mouth and getting ready to bite me. Suddenly a long nail pierced into the virus' head, killing it instantly. I looked behind me to notice that Savory had saved my life. "Hey, thanks Savory. This hammer is really heavy." "Don't make me have to save you again!" Savory shouted in disgust. "If you don't like him, why did you save him?" Zelkas asked. Savory, very firmly, stated her answer. "And you're going to just let people die?" He stayed silent.
Jace interrupted the conversation. "Good job Savory! Teamwork is key to success. Now I want you to be able to protect your fearless leader!" Jace was just about release the rest of the viral goblins, when Lira poked him. "Huh?" "Um, excuse me, but I don't have my own weapon chip yet." Jace looks at her for a moment, then smiles and digs into his pockets. All he wore were pants, which made you wonder how he fought without defense chips. "Here! Try this one!"
Lira holds out her right arm and Jace drops the chip on her wrist. Her wrist lit up as the chip disappeared into her arm. She then used the chip, and a thin, but long sword came from her wrist out of the chip. "A sword? But I'm a medic; it just seems weird." Jace smiled as if he accomplished something. "Badass, right?"
"Why me?" Granault said amidst it all. Lira tried swinging the sword a couple of times. "At least she uses her blade better than Karn uses his hammer." Zelkas says, then slides his hand over his own wrist, forming a scythe. "I'm ready." Then Granault does the same, and a book comes into his hands. I decide to keep acting like I'm struggling to lift the hammer that I could actually lift with ease. "Karn, just stay out of the way." Zelkas flips in front of me, his weapon now pointing at Jace. "Release them."
Jace smiles as he lets out hundreds of viral goblins at once. Granault already began muttering a chant under his lips. He had found his page quickly. Zelkas already began slicing through many of them at once like a monster. "But they are too cute!" Lira was hesitant to attack, so Savory made sure to keep Lira and herself from being attacked by the "cute" things.
"Shell!" Suddenly a bright white light surrounds us. The he begins chanting again. "Keep taking so long and I'll have them all finished before you get to cast something else!" Zelkas really enjoyed the heat of battle. I was right, quiet Zelkas is no more. Moments later, Zelkas hacked and slashed most of them.
"Flay Field!" The handful left were all on the ground, then suddenly a large radius of the ground caught on fire, once it lit around our feet, the white light flickered around us. He used shell to protect us before he charred the remaining goblin-like viruses. Once the fire died down on it's own, Jace began clapping. "Good Job! I can tell now that despite your chip ranks, you know how to use them! For the most part anyway. Lira and Karn will have to stay after with me. The rest of you should rest up!"
He then chuckles lightly. "Your real training will begin at that time, first thing tomorrow morning.!" "If it's anything like those viruses, then this is going to be too easy." Zelkas responds, walking off; he never took teamwork well, so team bonding would be out of the question.
"I hope you'll be less of a screw up Karn when our real training starts." Savory says. "Wait, before we go, what exactly is your S ranked chip? Every staff member has at least one." The ever curious Granault asks his question. "Is it your sword Mr. Jace?" Lira asked thoughtfully. "Nope, my sword is a B ranked chip. My support chip is S ranked."
"Really? Is it something that makes up for having no defense chip?" I wouldn't ask that myself; it's partly why I have the opinion of him that I do. "Hell yeah! Let me show you!" He reaches over behind his leg, then pulls out a glass bottle. Yep, you guessed it, free beer.
"What!?" Savory looked surprised; her jaw practically fell off of her face. "Why me?" Granault was probably in shock too. Then Jace opens the bottle cap and downs the alcohol. "Can you even drink on the job!?" Savory yelled out. "Let's get going Savory. I'm kind of afraid of what Jace's training entails now."
Savory just nodded at Granault's words and the two of them left Lira and me alone with our crazy teacher Jace. I might have to use my weapons for real this time.
Chapter 2
II
THE SICKNESS
"Hee hee hee..." Jace faked a creepy laugh. "I can't wait!" I shout out. "Now we're talking! How about you Lira?" Jace then looked around, and I knew that Lira must have been gone. "Where did she go?" "I'll look for her." I volunteer. Jace nods expectantly. "Yep, the fearless leader must ALWAYS find his lost members. Now all you need to do is be able to pick up that hammer of yours and you'll be well on your way!"
He then slides his leg and pulls out another bottle, then downs it just as fast...creepy. I still had my hammer, so it was time to play with Jace. Like it was nothing, I raised my hammer and carried it over my shoulder. "Catch ya later Jacey!" I shout as I run off in one direction. Jace looked surprised. He muttered something I couldn't make the words from here.
I didn't know exactly where Lira was, but I could sense her. It brought that viral demon girl back into my mind. The headmaster told me that viruses can sense us, so it's harder to live with them, and thus he started training us to become Hunters. A force that uses battle chips to fight off viruses and protect cities from them.
She was behind a large rock, a fairly long distance from the training grounds right outside the orphanage that Jace had chosen. She must have had to go to the bathroom or something, knowing Lira. "Lira! Ya there!?" I didn't want to catch her in some freaky act. "Is that you Karn? I'm sorry; I had to use the bathroom really badly." Just as I thought...until I heard her cough. I then ran to the other side of the large rock to witness Lira coughing up blood.
"That was no regular cough Lira." I said in my fake, aloof, tone of voice. "I'm sorry you had to see that Karn. But..." She then smiles at me, "I'll be OK." She then patted her own back and her hand glowed green. She then put her hand over her chest and the green light dispersed. "OK Lira..."
I look down at the floor and I see a small pool of blood; she must have been coughing a lot. I jump on top of the rock and look back at Lira with a smile. "Hey Lira come on, let's forget about training for a while, OK?" She nods and climbs up to a spot next to me. Her legs swayed and the back of her feet hit against the giant rock. "Um...Karn?" "I won't tell anyone, not even Jacey." I assure her. Yep, from now on I'm calling him Jacey.
"Thanks...I really will be OK. I'll find a cure as a medic." "Of course you will!" I respond wholeheartedly. What I fake seems so real; I've had years of practice. She smiles back at me with a slight giggle. "Hey Karn, can you keep a secret?" She grew serious again. I still acted the fool, but I brought up a good point. "I'm already keeping one, aren't I?" She nodded, "That's true...my parents both had this disease too, and since I'm here...you know they didn't make it. I should have been the first to go when my small town contracted the disease, since I was just a child then."
"How did your town all get the disease?" My legs swayed along with hers now. "The whole area became infected...but since it was a small town; it was covered up. And I wish I knew what the cause was." "Hmmm..." I think aloud. I jump off of the rock and speak with my back turned to Lira. "You can't get a cure for something you don't even know the source of." I said it in my real tone of voice. I turned around and extended my hand to her, and made sure to use my aloof voice again. I didn't want anyone to know who I really am, no, not yet.
"Let's go back. We wouldn't want Jacey to get too drunk." She giggles then takes my hand. "You're right, we wouldn't want that." She said as I helped her down. We began walking side by side, and she decided to confront me. "You're more than you seem Karn." I look over and smile at her, "Aren't we all? We both have secrets then. My hammer for instance." I materialized the hammer again and lifted it over my shoulder. "So, you can really lift that heavy thing? Cool." She said.
It disappeared suddenly like it had once I made it to the giant rock. "Then, can you tell me why you act like you can't pick up the hammer?" "It all fits into my character. I can't say anything more." I responded. Lira nodded, then looked ahead of her and we walked a bit faster as we saw a very drunk Jace waving at us.
"If there was any rank better than S, I bet Jace would surpass it." Lira said and laughed. I laughed with her, but whether or not it was a real laugh is unknown...
Chapter 3
III
THE TRAINING
"Alrighty future hunters! Even though I've got a nasty hangover; the training will still be just as harsh!" "Did you have to wake us up at three in the morning!?" Savory complained. It was the day after I learned more about Lira. Jace just laughed. "Of course! When you're a hunter you won't get much sleep anyways!"
Savory sits down on the ground and hugs her knees. "Then at least let us sleep now before that time when we're real hunters..." "Nope, now that wouldn't be fun!" "FUN!?" Savory stood up and got in Jace's face. "Are we going to start or not?" Zelkas interrupted.
"Of course, is that alright with you fearless leader?" Jace asked me. I put my thumbs up at him again. "Of course Jacey!" "Jacey? Huh?" Savory said. "Why me?" Granault face-palmed himself. Lira was giggling, she must have been enjoying this. Zelkas slid over his wrist and whipped out his scythe. "I'll be able to take whatever you throw at me."
Zelkas was sure of himself. "OK, you first." Jace instantly threw out his blade in a spinning motion. Zelkas jumped over it, but the blade span around and like a boomerang, came back at Zelkas who was still in the air. "What the-" The blade made contact with Zelkas' scythe at the last moment. Jace had already jumped and flipped over Zelkas, grabbing and reclaiming his sword while in midair.
Then, while still in midair, Jace uses his blade to hit Zelkas' scythe once again, which sent Zelkas flying into a tree hard, and ends up slumped on the ground. "This is crazy!" Savory yells out. I begin running to intercept Jace.
Granault had already gotten out his book, and I noticed Lira was catching up to me. I slide out my hammer and bash it against Jace's sword before it comes down on Zelkas. Jace spins around and kicks me off of my feet by hitting me square in the face.
"Brick Wall!" As I spiral to the ground I see Lira at Zelkas' side and a wall rising in front of them. I hit the ground with a thud and roll over against the brick wall. I expected to be attacked further, but suddenly I heard Savory yell out as she let nails shoot out from her battle chip at Jace.
I looked over at Jace who was doing random dance moves to avoid every nail. Someone jumped over the large wall, it was a healed Zelkas who activated another defense chip I didn't know he had. A large steel wall fell down from his hands longways. It fell with a loud thunk, but Jace jumped out of the way.
Savory stopped as a few of her nails went into the wall. Zelkas came down and cut the large wall in half with his scythe, then dropped the scythe and grabbed ahold of two thin, but sharp nails stuck in the two pieces that uses to be one steel wall. He lifts both pieces and begins swinging them wildly at Jace.
I decided to stay on the ground, but scan the area while trying to think of a way to hit Jace, since Zelkas couldn't seem to land a hit on Jace on his own. I saw that Granault was chanting something, and that both Savory and Lira were ready to help me up. "I thought you couldn't even pick that thing up, let alone swing it. Get up already." Savory said to me.
Lira was going to heal me when I stood up on my own. "No need Lira." I told her, then smiled at Savory. "I guess I can when it matters." I say. "Uplift!" Granault directs one hand over to the ground where Jace was standing, and suddenly the ground lifted up from under him, carrying him into the air.
Zelkas shattered one piece of the wall against the side of the lifted ground, causing Jace to propel off of it. I rush over to pick up my hammer, then I aim and throw it at Jace with great precision. Zelkas uses the last piece to try and hit Jace, but Jace shatters it with his large sword. That left him totally open to the large hammer that I threw at him with accuracy.
Jace only uses one hand for his large sword, so the other hand is free. He uses that hand while he spins around, to grab my hammer by its handle. He dropped in front of Zelkas. Everyone, including Granault and I, ran over to him. "Unreal..." Zelkas was dumbfounded by Jace's ability.
We just stared back at each other for a moment, but then Jace drops both mine and his weapon onto the ground and began to clap. "Bravo! Bravo!" We began looking over at one another again, but then to stay in character; I began to clap too. "Yay!" I shouted out. "Why are you both clapping!?" Savory shouts out. "It's kind of contagious." Lira says and claps along happily. Suddenly we all stop, then Jace explains.
"You all were able to protect Zelkas instead of watching him die, so I had to clap. Like I said before, teamwork is important! And you can finally tote that hammer around Karn; I knew you had it in you!" I walk over and handle the hammer with ease. I smile at the others, "I guess I do!" The hammer then materializes. "Though..."
Jace was ready to speak for a bit longer. "Why didn't you use the sword I gave you Lira!? I want to see the badass combo in action!" Lira giggled, "I can barely swing it." Zelkas distanced himself from the group to get his scythe. "So it that all for the day? I'm almost too afraid to ask." Granault asked. Jace laughed, "Far from over! But at least with me it is, for the day."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Savory asked just as Zelkas came back. Jace formed a wide grin on his face. "Bonding time!"
Chapter 4
IV
THE STARS
Bonding was not exactly going as planned. Zelkas said that he must train his chips and he left on his own. That left the four of us...at least until everyone but me ran off in separate directions. Zelkas was always quiet before, so besides wanting to be strong; I have no idea who he really is.
I decided to follow the path he had taken, which left a few possibilities open, but I had an idea where to go. I walked past the training grounds and into a small wood with a few trees. I jump up to one and climb it to the top. There he was, swinging that scythe away.
As leader, I'm going to have to bond with each one of them myself if I had to, whether they like it or not. I hop from tree to tree, then jump off of the final tree onto the ground, behind him. Zelkas swung his scythe at me, but stopped halfway once he realized who it was.
"Karn!? Are you really that stupid!? I could have killed you!" He shouted at me; he actually had a shred of concern in his voice. "Hi hi." I reply, smile, and tilt my head to the side. "Yeah...I thought so...so what do you want?"
"Well our teacher said we should bond...so..." I replied. Zelkas looked hard at me for a moment. "Are you serious? I have nothing about myself that I wish to discuss with you. I also have no desire to learn about you." He's a pretty harsh guy, on and off stage. "Aww come on! I wanna know!" I shout out at him playfully.
"Pshhhh...well since you're here, why don't we make a deal?" "A deal?" I ask, ears perked up. "We'll train using my support chip. If you win, I'll tell you a little about myself." "Sounds great!" I shout. "I'm not finished yet! If I win, you have to stop trying to "bond" with me. Deal?" He made his proposition clear.
I put a finger to my lips and bit down on it slightly. "Um...OK!" I agreed, and I really did. I slid my hand over my attack chip and carried the hammer in one hand. "I'm gonna go all out!" "Good." He said, then put two fingers on his forehead, and closed his eyes. He opened them abruptly and we were sent into an alternate dimension. It was a village being burned to the ground, and I knew right away that its inhabitants were viruses, but non of them noticed us.
What a stage to do battle on. "My simulation support chip takes parts of my memory when selecting a battleground." I figured by now that Zelkas then must have witnessed the destruction of this viral village. I knew it was one of their villages, because there was no technology and those screaming out were obviously viruses.
I've never seen viruses like these before though, they looked similar to the one woman I encountered with her bright red eyes. "Are you just going to stand there!?" Zelkas brings me back to the battle at hand. "OK! Here I come!" I rush at him with my hammer. Zelkas then rushes at me; I could see the distinct determination in his eyes. Our weapons clash, right then and there we silently agreed to use only our weapons. He swung his weapon much faster than me, so moments later I only used my weapon to block all of his swings.
Suddenly he whips his body around mine and slices into my back. I roll after being hit, but I still felt a sting. Inside his support chip, there is no blood spilled from us, but we still feel the pain, and the exhaustion that comes from our fight is very real. Once I roll, I throw my hammer in an upward motion, catching Zelkas by surprise. The hammer strikes him in the head and sends him backwards. I roll onto my feet and quickly turn to reclaim my hammer. Zelkas was already at me, and swings with all of his might. Once I grabbed my hammer I do the same.
Zelkas slashes me hard against my stomach, and with a downward swing, I catch Zelkas' head once again with my hammer. He lands onto the ground, but jumps back up to me not even a second later. I spin in midair to swing my hammer with great force yet again. I get hit across the neck, and Zelkas, on the back of his shoulder.
We both hit the ground hard with a thud. We both also show signs of a struggle while getting up, but we continue to charge at one another once we can stand. This raged on for a while, but soon enough the simulation had ended, and we were both drop out weapons...falling to the ground.
Our heads lay across from each other, and I decide to speak. "Looks like we both lose. Boy, am I tired." Zelkas was silent, until a bit of time later. During this moment of silence, I noticed that night had fallen. Were we really in there that long? There were more stars in the sky then I remember last. "What you saw was my hometown being burned to the ground." "Wow! So you're going to tell me more about yourself then!?"
I acted excited. "Don't make me regret it Karn." There was more silence after he spoke, so I broke it. "I fought extra hard to get to know you better, so you won't regret telling me." The way I spoke did not make that sound very convincing. "Whatever, just don't tell anyone. My mother is a virus, and my father is human. Forbidden love, if you will."
Was he serious? But that just means that virus woman had more validity to her words. I could very well be half virus like Zelkas. "That place you saw...they did nothing wrong; we lived in harmony. Until one day...because the viruses there let the harmony happen, the rest of the viruses from other villages came to burn the place to the ground.
I didn't know what to say. "I'm not doing this for revenge; I'm doing this so no one has to be afraid anymore. And in order to do so...I must keep getting stronger." "You are strong!" I blurt out. "Not strong enough. We couldn't even land a hit on that damn teacher Jace."
I smile, "Then we'll grow stronger together! Let me be your training buddy!" I say. Zelkas laughs weakly, "Buddy huh? You're a weird one, but thanks; I needed to tell someone. If only the person who knew was more understanding and serious."
He had no idea, but I wasn't going to be careless and go out of character again to two different people. She wouldn't smile if I did. Those stars, when someone dies, do they get to look at all of us from those stars? If you are looking, I hope I still make you smile.
Chapter 5
V
THE VISITOR
I was in total darkness again, so I must have fallen asleep. I begin walking, and realized I couldn't hear my own footsteps. "Why am I here?" I hear myself saying out loud. I could still hear my own voice, so I wasn't deaf. I see a flash of red in front of me, and I knew right away who it was. "I know it's you, so you can come out." I tell her. Her red eyes blink as she comes out of hiding. "I see you're getting along with your team, that's good."
She smiles. "I guess." I say as my response. Then I speak up again, "Why are you here?" "I thought you'd never ask...I've come to tell you that my father wants to meet you, so we'll probably come for you soon."
"And what if I don't want to go?" I ask. She smirks, "You'll want to come, since you want to know your background, yes?" I look down to my feet. I was curious about myself, and I have been for some time, but who knows what the viruses would do to me. I will not join them if that is what they desire.
"I do, but I do not want to leave my comrades behind." She gives me a warm smile. "Then they can come too." I didn't expect her to say that, so now I am at a loss for words. "You will want to know who you really are Karn; you'll love what you find."
"I will? How come?" "Once you figure out the whole story, then you'll know. I'm not going to tell you, mainly because it's the only trump card I have against you." She then giggles.
I figured as much, so I might have to give in to my curiosity when the time comes, which depends on the outcome that my choice would give to the orphanage. I had one last question.
"Why don't you talk to Zelkas? He's half virus as well, and can use chips." She smiled a little wider. "Who says I don't? But I wouldn't confront Zelkas about it if I were you; it would go against your acting."
Indeed, it would, but I could find a way around it if I had to. "Why do you act like that anyway?" She asked thoughtfully. "You have your secrets, and I have mine." "Ohhh...that's no fun." She playfully pouts at me, but then suddenly she grew more serious.
"Karn, what would you do if the truth turned your world upside down? Do you think you'll stay the same?" She asked me, but then asked another. "Better yet, why do you fight? Is it only to defend yourself?" I stayed silent as she brought something to light...what is my true reason?
I used to have one, but I never went through with it. I went to the orphanage simply because I had nowhere else to go. "We all want to be able to protect ourselves." It's all I could say, but then she pressed the questions even further. "So you have nothing to fight for other than survival? Is that why you're trying to get so close to these humans?"
"Survival is important, and maybe I am trying to belong somehow, despite who I play out to be. Why does this interest you?" I question back at her. "You interest me, you'll know why when you know who...or should I say what you are."
She turns her back to me. "I will not answer what you are, so don't even ask." "Actually, I just want to know the name of the one that is pestering me." I tell her.
"My name? Wouldn't you like to know." She takes a few steps forward, then stops again. She turns to face me with yet another smile. "Wystis."
My eyes opened to the sun's rays. Zelkas had fallen asleep too. Neither of us would have been able to sleep much longer anyway. Savory came running over to us. "Now you I understand, but Zelkas sleeping on the ground too!?" Get up!" Zelkas stirred awake.
"Where is the snooze button?" He says to himself out loud. "I shouldn't HAVE to be the one to wake you up! Now get up!" The two of us stare sleepily at her, then reluctantly stand up. "Good morning Savory." I say with a smile.
"Don't good morning me! We have to get going, we have a visitor." Both Zelkas and I look at each other and nod. Then we run past Savory, "Hey! Wait up guys!" She shouts back at us. The three of us rush through the woods and into the orphanage lobby where a middle-aged man stood.
For some reason I felt disappointed; I think we expected "her" to show up. "We're all here now." Savory calmly spoke. Everyone was gathered; the headmaster and all the orphans...who was this man who brought us all together?
"Listen up everyone!" The headmaster gets our attention. "This man here is Mr. Nene, and he hasn't enough funds to ask the real hunters, so one of our teams will take the job he has. Will you explain the mission Mr. Nene?" "Why yes."
The man spoke up; for a poor man he sounded refined. "I come here to beseech help from you all...I..." Then suddenly, his refinement faded into tears and begging. "Please, I come to you, because I have no one left to turn to. I don't have time to act professional! My daughter, my little girl has been taken away for reasons unknown! She was taken into the Mekiev Forest, but I don't know if she's still there. Please, I beg of you, help save my daughter..."
His emotional outburst was about drowned out by a large burst from a nearby wall. "Jesus Jace! We have doors!" The headmaster yells at Jace. Everyone else stared at him in awe. "No time! This man's daughter is in trouble! I volunteer my students!" He points obnoxiously at us to signal us out from the rest; the other orphans began to speak among themselves. Mr. Nene looked relieved, "So you will help?" "Hell yeah! Let's go!"
"Why me?" Granault hangs his head low and walks forward. "I hope we can save your daughter." Lira smiles at the man. "...might as well..." Zelkas takes a few steps forward. "You better not screw up here Karn." Savory then walks forward herself; I follow.
"Yeah!" I shout out. "No Karn." Jace says. "Huh?" "It's supposed to be...Hell yeah!" "Hell yeah!" I shout. "Louder!"
"HELL YEAH!!!" I throw my fist into the air. Lira giggles and Mr. Nene smiled for once, probably because we were so passionate about saving his daughter. "All right...let's goooooooo!" Jace takes out his sword and points it at the hole he recently made into the wall.
"Chargeeeeee!" Mr. Nene stayed behind as we ran from outside the hole in the wall. Despite his daughter's whereabouts, the mission had begun...
Chapter 6
VI
THE MISSION
"Hey wait! We don't even know what she looks like! Oh brother..." Granault just realized after we were a good ways away. Jace smiled, "Too late now! We will have to go with out intuitions!" Somehow his intuition scares me, at least the thought of it.
I go a little bit ahead of the others once we reach Mekeiv Forest so that I could try to sense the daughter. Huh? I felt two faint human life forces, so has the virus taken two people away? In any case they were still inside the vast forest.
"I'm going to use my intuition! Let's go Jacey!" I shout out, then with hammer drawn like a madman I follow my senses. "Lead the way fearless leader!" Jace takes out a beer and begins downing it while following behind me.
I could hear Granault's usual phrase and were able to make something out of Savory and Lira. "I don't know what's worse. Following our crazy leader blindly to who knows where, or our crazy teacher drinking during a mission!" Savory said to Lira, and Lira giggled. "Or maybe us for following them." After that I was too absorbed in my senses to hear more, voices being drowned out. Savory's mouth practically dropped when we stopped moving.
"Wait, we actually found her?" Jace gets in front of me while Savory spoke. "Jacey?" I was somewhat puzzled, maybe it had something to do with the main who held her captive. She was bound and gagged to a big tree. Her sounds were muffled, so I definitely couldn't make out what she was saying.
"I don't like the malice I feel from this guy." Jace said. I then looked ahead at the man. He had a wide, yet menacing smile; he is human, so what does he gain from this? "I'll fight him, you all free the girl and get her back to her father." Jace said seriously, in response the menacing man spoke.
"You aren't in any position to do that." He pulls out a knife from his pocket and points it and Mr. Nene's daughter. "I never miss." He chuckles. Savory gulps, "What do we do now Jace?" Jace stayed silent. "Jacey?" I was curious as to what he was thinking.
Jace points his sword at the tree. "Let's see who hits her first then!" Jace laughs. "What!?" That surprised Lira. "Sounds like fun, but aren't you supposed to be saving her?" The man asked. Jace then whispers to me, "Throw that large hammer at him fearless leader." Then he puts his thumb up at me with a goofy look, and I thought he was finally showing a serious side to himself for a change.
"OK Jacey!" I fling my hammer at the man. "Stupid mistake kid!" He throws the knife and Mr. Nene's daughter looked terrified at the oncoming blade, but suddenly a large grayish blur gets in the way and deflects the knife.
I looked wide eyed at the sword, that was still moving, spinning towards the captor. I decide to take immediate action and go for my hammer that missed the man before. He jumped over Jace's sword just as I grabbed my hammer, which I swing at him with.
Both of the man's hands glow and I'm pushed back. "What?" I heard myself say out loud. He had deflected my large hammer with one of the gauntlets on his hand. Iron claws protruded from the gauntlet's knuckles. He licks one of the claws, "Pretty brave for a kid." "Get back! I will fight him on my own." Jace got in front once again, leaving us to watch.
"You must be their mentor. You're one of the few that's ever blocked my knife throw. Who are you?" Jace proved once again that him and serious don't mix together for very long. He pointed his sword and spoke obnoxiously. "My name is Jace Kenryuu and I am the vanquisher of evil! You shall be vanquished for capturing this little girl! It's unforgivable!"
The man then laughs. "What a weirdo! I'd like to see you defeat me, Skid of the Arcanum!" Skid charges at Jace and begins swinging wildly at him. Jace was easily dodging, but being pushed back. "Should we give Skid the fair fight that Jace wants to give him?" I eye Mr. Nene's daughter as Granault spoke.
"That man is occupied! We should do Jacey proud and save Mr. Nene's daughter!" "Not so loud!" Granault warns me. "But...you do have a point."
"If we summon any of our chips though, this Skid freak might notice the flash, He's hitting Jace closer to Mr. Nene's daughter too, so that makes this harder." Savory explains and warns. "Savory also has a valid point, so what should we do? You have your weapon out already Karn, but a hammer can't really help us out much here." Granault taps one foot slowly in thought.
"Can I talk to you alone for a second Karn?" Lira asks. "Sure Lira." We walk off and behind a tree. "The act aside, what should we really do?" "We shouldn't rely on Jace too much; we need to try something that won't get the girl killed." I tell Lira.
"And...I think I'm going to cough up more blood soon." I really didn't know what to do here, but it would help if we could just form a human shield around Mr. Nene's daughter... "If we try anything, Skid might focus his intention of ending our target's life..." I could hear Granault say. That's when I got an idea.
"OK Lira; I've got a plan." I tell her. "OK. I'll tell them for you, so you can keep up your act." She smiles at me. "Thank you Lira..." Then I let her know of my plan. We come back to the others.
"I wanted to ask Karn if this plan was a good idea. He approves." Lira smiles at the others. "What's the plan?" Zelkas asks. "We're going to form a shield around the tree." "And how will we get there Lira?" Granault asks. "We're going to fight each other."
Lira giggles at the reason I came up with as to why and how we will fight, then she explains. "WHAT!!!???" Savory did not seem happy, but it got Jace and Skid's attention, so she had to play it off. "How dare you Lira! You know I told you so you wouldn't get in between us!" Jace and Skid stop fighting altogether now. "I couldn't help it Savory! My heart belongs to Karn!"
"And mine belongs to you too Lira!" I shout out. "What the hell is going on with these kids?" "I don't really know, but it's interesting..." Both Jace and Skid form a temporary truce in order to watch our little argument that was all an act, like a play. Granault and Zelkas pretend to try and hold Savory back.
"I can't believe this! Let me go! I'll kill her!" "We're supposed to be saving someone you idiots! Pull yourselves together!" Zelkas yells, then they let go and fall back to the ground. Savory then pretends to deck Lira in the stomach and she topples over. OK, here comes our chance. Savory then pretends- BAM! What the hell!? She actually hit me! I barely had to fake the distance. I land near the tree Mr. Nene's daughter was bound to.
Savory charges at me. "How could you forsake our destined love for each other!?" She screams. "No! Please don't harm the man I love!" Lira gets up and chases after Savory. "We have to stop this Zelkas!" Zelkas nods and runs after the rest of us with Granault. Zelkas at the last minute whips out his scythe and cuts the rope. "What!?" Skid was confused.
I catch the falling daughter and the others surround me. "The plan worked, yay!" Lira smiled happily. Jace jumps in front of all of us. "Great job my amazing students!" "Damn...this is embarrassing..." Skid retracts the claws and the gauntlet disappears.
"Looks like I shouldn't underestimate kids." "Why did you do this anyway you jerk!" Savory yells at Skid. "You all wouldn't understand. The Arcanum is trying to prove a point here. Expect more actions from us."
"What point could possible be made from this?" Skid stays silent for a moment, not thinking, but as if someone had died. "How long has it been since you left your little orphanage?" He knew where we were from?
"Years." Jace simply replies. "Well, now only the rich can afford even the smallest of jobs. We at the Arcanum have all been done wrong; we've all had lost loved ones as our punishment for not having the funds to afford help. So...we have to show them the error of their ways. Even by a revolution if we have to." Skid explained. "Now, next time, don't get in our way." Skid then flees, leaving us to wonder about the Arcanum. "Do you know of the Arcanum Jace?" Granault asks.
"Nope..." "Who cares! They are sooooo mean!" Mr. Nene's daughter had finally spoke. I took off her gag while Skid explained. We turn to face her. "Yep, a big meanie pants. Do you want to see your father?" Jace gives her a goofy smile. She nods happily, "Yes please." Lira was smiling at her. "My name is Lira, what's yours?" "Cecillia." They smile at each other.
"I'm so happy at the thought of how your father will react, hee hee." Lira was truly happy at our job well done. We began our walk back home when Lira suddenly grew uneasy. "I'll catch up with everyone, OK?" Lira quickly smiled before running away.
"She always does that." Savory says. "As leader I shouldn't leave her behind, right Jacey?" "Yep!" Jace says. I wave at them as they leave, then quickly follow Lira, who was throwing up more blood, just as she said she would. "What will you do when you can't just run off when you have to throwup?" I ask as I approach her.
"Then the secret will have to be brought out." She smiles over her pool of blood. "But..." Her smile fades, "I don't know if I'll last much longer." "You will, just hang in there." I tell her. "Hey Karn, I have a question." "What is it Lira?" "What gave you the idea for that scheme?"
I had to think for a moment, before confirming that I was drawing blanks. "It had to be something outrageous, otherwise it wouldn't have worked." "Oh...I see." She steps away from the blood that she lost. "We should go back. I really do want to see the happy reunion; it will feel good." "Yeah, let's go back home."
We walk side by side; I looked over at her to notice a distant expression tattered on her face. I wondered what was running through her head at this time. "Wait, Lira." Lira and I stopped. "Yes?" "Tonight...let's run away and look for the cure."
Lira looked at me without saying anything for a while, so I continued. "We can't cure you and others with that sickness if we stay and do nothing. I don't want you to die." Lira smiles at me, "That's sweet, but maybe I should just tell the headmaster about my sickness...but...I don't really want anyone to know."
I nod, "That's why we can just look ourselves. I know a place we can start searching." "Really?" She gave me a hopeful look. "Yeah, so let's go back for now. We can discuss this later tonight, which gives you time to make the decision." Lira continued to smile, "OK Karn." We end up walking side by side again. We will figure out the source of your disease Lira, so we can get a cure. I'll cure you Lira; I swear I will...
Chapter 7
VII
THE REASON
"Cecilla!" "Daddy!" The two had a joyous reunion as Mr. Nene's daughter jumps into her father's arms. Lira and I smiled together as we witnessed true happiness unfold. "Thank you all...nothing I pay will be enough, but I hope what little I do give can help this orphanage."
The headmaster smiled, but then sighed as he looked at the hole in the wall. "Going to have to repair that..." Jace ignores the headmaster's comment and talks with Cecillia. "You will be safe now. Uncle Jace will make sure no bad men separate you from your father again!"
"Yay!" "Uncle?" Granault shook his head. I catch a red flash from the corner of my eye, so I figured Wystis was here. I leave the others without a word to go visit my demonic stalker. "How long have you been watching me?" I ask her. "Not long, but long enough to know you plan on running away, and with a girl no less." She giggled at me.
"It's not like that." I simply replied.
"Then why? You bonded with her so quickly, and she knows about your act. Wouldn't she be better off-" I cut her off, "I'm not going to let Lira die!" Wystis was taken back from my sudden outburst. "Maybe you know more about yourself than you think Karn."
Now she was trying to entice my curiosity once again; her trump card. "If you're not going to tell me, then stop playing with me like that." I tell her. She gives me a wide smile, "You are the cause of the disease. If you wish for the cure, come to Hildegarn by tonight and meet me by the fountain square. It's time for my father to meet you himself."
"I...caused the disease?" "Lira can come too if she wants to know the truth as well." I eye her, "You and humans are enemies and you'll just let her come? And you won't harm her?" Wystis gave a reassuring smile, and a believable one at that. "You have my word. You are that important to us." I didn't know what to say, so I just accepted and nodded to her. Suddenly I felt warmth and sensed a presence very close to Wystis and I.
"Nice to meet you." Wystis says. "Who's this Karn?" I turn to see Lira staring between Wystis and me. "Going to introduce yourself?" I ask Wystis. "I'm Wystis, a friend of Karn." Friend, huh.
Lira smiles back at her. "I'm also a friend of Karns. My name is Lira." She extends her hand and Wystis shakes it with one of her own. This changes my perception of how to view the viruses. Special forces surrounds the main city every day and night defending others from an almost endless onslaught of viruses.
Actually; I'm surprised Mr. Nene was able to leave without getting attacked. "Um...Karn, Mr. Nene wants to properly thank us as a group." I nod and smile, "OK!" I turn back to face Wystis, but she had already gone...vanished in thin air it seemed.
We walk through the hole in the wall, causing the headmaster to sigh. "Could you guys at least pretend there's no hole there?" Lira giggles, "But Mr. Headmaster; it's much more convenient." Lira and I take our place in a row with our other teammates.
Mr. Nene bowed slightly to us. "Thank you all again. You are really amazing young adults to help a poor old man like me get his daughter back." Cecillia breaks away from Jace to rush to her father's side to thank us again. "Thank you!" She shouts, and Lira can't help but smile big and wide.
"I'm happy we could help!" Lira bowed back. "Now...while I escort them back....MORE BONDING!!" Moments after his orders to us, Jace took off with the clients and left us with the rest of the orphanage, who eventually separated themselves and leaving our team time to bond.
The same outcome...Zelkas left to train on his own, and Granault and Savory left in separate directions. "Last time I went to bond with Zelkas, but now I have to choose someone else so I can bond with everyone. Maybe Granault...Savory has probably seen enough of me for one day."
Lira gives me a thoughtful look, as if she was thinking about it too. "Mind if I come too?" I nod, "All right, let's go." Right then and there we became professionally ninja spy hybrids. Following Granault without being seen by anybody. Why? I guess it's for our own amusement.
Granault stops at the door to his room. "What now Karn?" "Watch and learn..." A sudden flash and then smashed floor tiles littered the hallway. My hammer bashed into the ground, causing Granault to jump. "What the!? Oh...I was expecting Jace." "Hiya Granault! Let's Bond!"
Lira comes out shyly from her hiding place and waves at him with a slight smile. "Why me?" I say expectantly, and Granault nods, but speaks up as he opens the door to his room. "Well, come on in you two."
Chapter 8
VIII
THE DISCOVERY
We entered into Granault's room, where Lira instantly sat on the bed. "Um, Granault, I've always been curious about something..." "What is it? She seemed hesitant at first, maybe she thought it was being rude or something.
"What does your book look like inside?" She gave him a thoughtful look. "I don't expect you to understand what's inside of it, but...ok." He brings out the book and drops it on Lira's lap, so I sit beside her to take a peek too. "I wanna see it too!" I exclaim with false sincerity.
Lira cautiously opens the book to a random blank page with symbols on them. "It's in a language that my father created.. He passed down the book to me right before he died...I can't see all of the writing until I become better with the chip. This is not your average attack chip, since my father made it himself."
Granault rambles, and seemingly enjoys the company who would listen to him willingly. "This is that uplift spell!" Lira smiles, and Granault who almost smiled while he rambled, instantly looked surprised. He almost lost his voice from it, forcing the first word out of his mouth. "H-How can you understand what's written in there!?"
I took a closer look at the symbols and could also read "Uplift" as well as the incantation for it. "I can read it too!" I shout out. "What!? I don't believe you! Try another!" Granault flips to a spell he had not yet used in front of us, but I still understood the writing. "Uncovering Mist." I bluntly read the spell name to him.
"Yep! That's the spell name!" Lira smiled at Granault for me. "I...I can't believe this. This is a language my father created himself, so how could BOTH of you understand it so well?" I didn't understand it either honestly, because that was my first time seeing the language. "I don't know, but the writing is nifty." I responded in my aloof voice.
"This is my first time seeing this writing before, Granault." Lira said what I had observed in my mind. "Really? That makes this even more puzzling..." Granault soon became lost in thought. I assume he was thinking about his father; just who was Granault's father?
I looked around his room to notice what I haven't before. He had postings of writings on his wall in this same language, but nothing much else, just his bed, a lamp, and overhead fan, and the bed we are sitting on. If it weren't for his notes posted on the wall, this room would be even more plain than mine.
His desk doubled as his dresser. I hadn't noticed Lira had gotten up until now. "The ones over here are notes from your father?" Lira asks. Granault is broken from his train of thought and suddenly shouts out. "That's it!"
He jumps off from his bed and puts his fingers on one of the notes from his father. "When my father died he left these and his old attack chip to me. Most of these notes were to teach me the language, but there is this one." I stood up to get a closer look alongside Lira.
"I didn't look at that one yet, what is it about?" "Read it and find out. Let me know what you think." And so that is what we did, began to read the message a father left for his son...
"If you are reading this Granault, then you know this language well. The most sophisticated version of it is written here; I wanted you to know about my finest work once you were ready. This is not just the language of th magic inside my greatest tome, but the language that I created for humanities greatest hope for survival. But, reading this note comes with a responsibility, which is why I did not wish you to know this until you were ready. My colleague and best friend altered the mother gene I had created to save us, and made it for the viruses, so that they too had a chance to survive. This must be because of his forbidden love with a virus. He took all my notes, so I'm sorry I can't explain everything to you. I will try as long as I can, for this that my friend and I did, caused a sickness that I am not going to live much longer from. The mother gene will be awakened and destroy all viruses from this world. Or, thanks to my old friend, destroy humanity. It is all up to my greatest creation Vizel to choose which side he will save, or choose to save neither. The mother gene was implanted in-"
It stopped abruptly there. His hand must have been shaky in the last few moments of his life, because it had become harder to read the further it got to the end, and I could barely make out "implanted". "If my assumptions are correct...nah, they couldn't be."
I knew what he was thinking right away. "Because I'm an idiot, right?" I said, totally giving myself away. "Karn...that seems so out of character from you." Granault looked shocked once again. "It should be; I've been acting the fool for years." Granault pushed his glasses closer to his face.
"I don't understand why you would act stupid on purpose..." Lira looks back and forth at the two of us, then begins to speak on my behalf. "I've only known recently about Karn, but I'm sure he has a good reason." "Wondering why can wait until later, because now I must tell you my assumption."
I cut in, "That I am your father's creation?" Granault nods slowly. "So I'm not too late, which is good. I've been wondering about my father's creation ever since I could read this, which hasn't been very long. Also..." Granault's voice trails off. "Are you sick Lira?" Ask he asked, her eyes widened.
"I'll take that as a yes then." I get in front of her, "Don't let anyone else know Granault. She's been keeping it a secret ever since she arrived here." "I understand Karn, or should I say Vizel."
He smiles at the name he called me. So, his father created me, at least most likely, based off the evidence I have. "I like Karn better." I turn to Lira who had just spoken, and smile at her. "Yes, I'm not throwing away my name. Someone very important to me gave me this name." I step next to Lira and turn to face Granault, who was still smiling.
I never see him smile, but I guess he has a good reason to this time around. "You must have the mother gene in you Lira, to be able to understand this language so well without ever seeing it." Lira looked at my curiously, then looked back at Granault.
"So together Karn and I could get rid of all viruses in the world? Would I be cured?" "Yes, I'm sure of it...but I have no idea how, and I'm not actually sure you'd be cured afterwards." Granault hang his head lowly. "Well your father tried to help, but what we need now are the notes your father made, and I have a good idea who has them now too."
Granault's eyes lit up. "Really? Wow, everything is falling into place then." I close my eyes briefly, to quickly reflect. Granault is saying all of this as if it was nothing, but a great discovery, but this is so much more to me. I've always wanted to know who I really was. Now I had to see Wystis, because if she knows so much about me, then she must have those notes.
Her, or most likely, her father has the notes. "I have to go." "Karn?" Lira looked concerned, but I didn't answer. Instead I brushed past Granault and ran from his room. The roof of the orphanage is where I always went to reflect on things, so that was where I would go until sundown.
Chapter 9
IX
THE PAST
I climbed to the roof to notice someone else was already there. It was Savory, who's back was turned to me. She must not have heard me, so I studied the way she sat. The way I could tell her chin was perched on the back of her hand...reminded me of her...
"Karn! Wake up sleepy head! How can you sleep on the cold hard ground all the time!?" A little girl, Arenelle, yelled at me to wake up. I opened my eyes, and spoke sheepishly, "The sound of the river makes me sleepy." I roll over and close my eyes again.
"KARN!" She then pulled on my ears, which is a very sensitive spot for me. "Owie! OK I'm up, I'm up!" I sit up and we blink at each other a couple of times. I'm about fourteen, and she is only nine, so I have to be the responsible one when we hang out.
"Our gardener will be here to pick the flowers by this river since mother loves them so much. That leaves us time to fulfill the promise you made to me. No backing out now!" I stand up and smile at her. "That's right Nell. I have a very COOL spot to show you!"
"So we get to go today?" "Yes!" "Yay! Then let's hurry; I've been pestering you to take me there and I don't even know where THERE is!" I'm not really a happy person, but Arenelle is always boggled down with studies and forced to be proper all the time until she can escape to see me.
So, it's the least I could do and act cheery around her. Sometimes, I even act a little dumb just to make her laugh. I let her jump on my back, so I could piggy-back her to where we would go, since I could jump high and run fast.
I jumped on the large stones in the river, which she seemed to really enjoy. She was laughing out of joy. "This is fun Karn!" "Hehe." I said lightly. I've never taken her this far out before. We had broken through the woods and came out into a large clearing of a vast meadow with a large hill.
"Wow! Are we going to the hill Karn?" "Uh-huh." I run as fast as I can so she can feel the wind in her long and flowing blonde hair, even as we went up the steep hill.
Once we were at the top, I let her down and breathe heavily to catch my breath. "Phew, you're heavy Nell!" She sits next to me as I collapse on the ground with a Thud. "Not my fault if you're too weak to carry me." She jokes back, but then becomes preoccupied with the scenery.
"So many flowers!" She shouts as she looks ahead to see flowers of yellow, red, violet, and some even blue. "It's my favorite spot EVER!" "Mine too!" She replies, and I chuckle. "But you just got here." "It's THAT beautiful."
I nod, "Yeah...it is." I didn't look much at the familiar sight as I lay there, but instead I tilt my head to see Arenelle's reaction to the whole scene. Seeing her this happy made me happy too, so I smiled. "Now...I have to ask. Why did you keep this place from me for so long Karn!?" I laughed.
"An excuse for you to stick around longer. Don't want you to get bored of me!" She looks down at me with a beaming smile. "I'll never get bored of you. Never ever." "Thanks, now I have a question for you that I've been meaning to ask. Why did you decide to call me Karn?"
"That's easy, it's a short variation of the place I loved most before you brought me here! The Carnival!" I blink, "I see...AWESOME!" She giggled at my outburst. "Anywhere but home really. Besides my sister, nothing good comes from being at home. And even then, she's older, so she's so bossy."
"Your sister never leaves the house, so I'll never get to meet her." "It's ok, I tell her about you all the time." Now I was curious, "What did you tell her about me?" She winks and sticks her tongue out at me. "Secret." "Aww come on. I wanna know." She giggles, "I'll tell you sometime, but for now we should enjoy the scenery!"
Arenelle, you always say like that. I was already overwhelmed past my limits, so I guess I have no limits. I quietly walked beside Savory and stood there with a chill running down my spine. "So, you're Arenelle's sister."
"And you're the boy who acted like an idiot to make her laugh." I'm connected to every one of my team. Granault was right, everything really is falling into place.
Chapter 10
X
THE DECISION
We stared at each other for a few moments. I could seriously say this was the longest time I could see Savory's face without anger on it. I didn't know what to say to her, so she knew I was acting the whole time? If she knew who I really was, then she could have told me a long time ago.
"So...when did you find out it was me?" She then turned and sat the way Arenelle sat once again, so I got to see the side of her face. Her expression was so much like my own, empty, but hopeful. "Fakers can figure each other out easily, not to mention you fit the description my sister gave perfectly." "I see..."
I stood up. "Well, I came up here to be alone, because I found out a lot about myself." Savory then stood up and had a worried look on her face. "Are you going to be OK?" "I'm not used to you being anything but angry at me."
"...Just go Karn. The last thing you need is more things to overwhelm you." "Thanks Savory. There is much I want to ask you about your sister later on."
I then leave Savory where she stood and I went back down; I would go to my room where I know I could be alone. I walk past Granault's room, but I stopped myself right outside of it, to look at an angry headmaster scolding Jace. "Jace, you have to stop making holes in the floors, walls, and ceilings of this orphanage!"
Jace folds his arms, "Honestly I didn't do this one, but I'd like to know who did, so I could shake his hand." He says and nods. Only Jace can make the headmaster mad. I put up my act and chimed in. "That was me!" I got in between the two of them and shouted.
"I knew it was my star pupil!" Jace and I put our thumbs up at each other and smiled wide, while the headmaster sighed silently. "You are being a bad influence for Karn Jace..." "Nah..." Jace simply responds, then as if on cue, he takes out a bottle of booze and downs it in one gulp.
"Remind me why I let you teach here again?" The headmaster's question was aimed at Jace. "Because I provide free drinks? Understaffed?" "Quit showing off Jace." This display almost made me forget where I was headed, but seeing Granault's door wide open, and him nowhere to be found inside, brought my mind back to my original destination. "Sorry guys, but I have to go to my room now!"
I rush past them and head down the halls until I ended up at my room. My door had been partially opened, but I always kept it closed. I slowly pushed open the door and saw Lira sitting on my bed. "Hiya Karn..."
"Were you worried about me?" I asked, and she nodded. "Yeah..." I sit next to her on my bed. "Where did Granault go?" "Not sure." I could feel her staring at me. "Um...Karn, there is something I wanted to tell you. I've decided that I wanted to run away to find the cure. But, shouldn't we be able to cure the disease when we figure out how to unite our powers...or something. I have no idea really..."
Suddenly, I put my hand on hers, "All we need to do is go see who has the rest of his father's notes. I'm sorry I ran off like that..." My voice trailed off as it finally registers fully in my head that I placed my hand on top of Lira's hand.
I quickly jerk away my hand, "Sorry...again." My face hadn't been so red in a while, which grows even more red when Lira leans her head on my shoulder. "You can make up for it by letting me lean on you."
I decided not to speak; I just let the moment last, but the moment continued even while Lira broke the silence. "So tonight...you'll know who we should go see?" "Yeah. She'll be waiting for us by the fountain in the city."
"OK...until then I think I'll just sleep on you." "Fine by me...Lira?" She was already breathing heavily. "Can you really sleep that fast?" No answer, so she really could, but now that left me sitting here. I definitely couldn't sleep, but at least now I had time to reflect...
Chapter 11
XI
THE VILLAGE
The moon shimmered over the fountain's water. I really wished we had a working one over at the orphanage; the sound of the water always puts me to sleep or relaxes me. We used to have one, but that was before Jace tried to make it into a booze fountain.
I see a figure who's features are hidden within a cloak; I assume that is Wystis. Using my free hand, I point in Wystis' direction. "That's her Lira." We walk hand in hand over to her. "I see you brought Lira with you afterall. Hello again." "Wystis? Wow! I didn't know she would be able to help."
"What are friends for?" They smile at each other like old friends, making it impossible to tell that they just met not that long ago. "So, you'll be able to guarantee no viruses attack us?" I ask. "Just don't call us viruses and everything should be fine. Our people would be called Zolarks in your tongue. Now, follow me, my father would very much like to meet you."
She took a couple of steps ahead of us on the cold hard cobblestone before we decided to follow her. I forced myself to speak on the way, wanting to demolish her trump card on me. "I know I am a creation made to eradicate your people now Wystis. There goes your trump card." "Thanks to my father, there is a way to do the opposite, while saving a select few humans."
"Let me guess, Granault's HUMAN friend is your father?" "Yep, we're connected too." "Jeeze..." I felt like I got shot down after erasing her trump card. I decided not to say anything more the rest of the way. We went down a secluded alleyway which led us to a dead end.
"Now you'll see how I can disappear so easily." Wystis giggled and put her hand on the brick wall in front of us. Like it was a body of water, the wall's surface rippled and vibrated. "We'll go through here to get closer to my village; it's quite far otherwise."
"Wow, you've got to teach me that trick sometime!" Lira exclaimed. Wystis giggled, "I don't think a human could learn it." She says as her voice becomes somewhat muffled when she goes through the wall. Lira and I follow in together and come from out a large and wide tree to the other side.
"The sun..." I look up at the orange sky. The sun was either setting or rising, but I figured that it must be setting. "We were sent quite a long way for the sun to still be out." Lira said in a thoughtful tone. "It's only about a ten minute walk from here."
"So, how did you do it?" I asked, and we began walking again. The change of scenery made me feel like talking some more. "The Earth is capable of many things, all you have to do is understand it." "I see." I somewhat understood what she meant. A leaf fell from one of the many surrounding trees and landed right on my head.
I take it off and realize it's in the shape of a perfect star. "The Earth is more vibrant here, we make sure no one comes to disrupt it." "The Earth thinks you're a star Karn!" Lira smiles warmly at me. The rest of the way the trees swayed without even a hint of wind blowing.
This was a very strange land, but it was beautiful in the subtle glow of the sun. I squint in front of us, so I could make out two pillars and two viruses standing in front of each one, most likely standing guard. One yells out, "Wystis had returned! Wystis HAS returned!" "Hehe, we're here. As you know now Karn, my father is human, so you should be fine here."
"Yeah, could've fooled me." Wystis laughed, then responded, "Someone else got the human look in our family." I didn't really know what she meant by that, but we had now reached the entrance. The homes were those same large and wide trees, instead of being cut down to build homes, the viruses lived within them.
So, these people were the Zolarks. There are many different races, but we called every last one of them viruses, as their existence is harmful to us humans. I never thought about it before.
"Wystis!" "Father!" She ran over to give her father a hug while the other Zolarks surrounded the four of us. "Everyone. Karn and Lira are our guests, so show them some respect." "Will they help us?" One of the Zolarks asked.
"That's why I wanted to meet you Karn." "I wanted to meet you too...you have the rest of the answers about who I am and what I was supposed to do." The villagers looked very interested in what Wystis' father had to say. I looked around, mostly Zolarks, but their leader was not the only human.
It made me feel more relieved. "That I do." "You used to live in Dunsalk too sir, so did you find a cure to our illness?" "No...I regretfully still have it, but Karn, or should I say Vizel, has a way to cure us." "I prefer Karn." I tell him.
"Father, first shouldn't we tell them your story?" "Story, what story?" Lira grew curious, not seemingly affected by what Wystis' father had said earlier. "I think they are more interested in how to use the mother gene...but you do have a point my daughter. And I am sorry; I had forgotten my manners. My name is Cyrus Mallory."
I shook his hand. "If you do not mind, I have a story that leads to your birth." Lira and I exchange glances, then I nod at him. "I would like to hear it." The others around us listened in too. I've never met a more quiet crowd of people.
"Well, many years ago, Granault's father, and my friend, Jinto, had lost his wife and almost his son to the viruses. He was finally fed up how small towns scattered across the world had little to no protection, and made it his mission to eradicate the viruses from the face of the planet.
He had been creating a living being, a true scientific breakthrough, and now he had a purpose for it. As his best friend, and partner; I decided to study with him for a way to help use his latest creation as the catalyst for their destruction.
He spoke very highly of you Karn. You were to be our savior. It would have been flawless, but...I didn't plan on falling in love. Wystis' mother was very kind to me, despite being human. It happened just as fast as we knew our true selves..."
He had a dreamy look on his face, so Lira interrupted with a question. "True selves?" "Yes, when we were true to each other. Anyway, I wouldn't allow her to die, so I made a perfect copy of the mother gene that Jinto implanted into a newborn female, which was you Lira.
You were the first girl born in a long time, so it was an obvious choice, as only a woman could harbor the gene. It was intended that you would grow together with Karn, so that there would be no problem in uniting the mother gene with the one for destruction.
I altered this gene however, to get rid of humans instead of the rest of the races. I was ready to sacrifice my humanity for her. I then awaited for you to be created, but once you were born...and unforeseen error" "Unforeseen error?" I asked.
"Yes...your birth sent a harmful wave in our small town, less than a percent of your destructive power. It's what caused the sickness that infected everyone."
So Wystis was right...I really did cause the disease. "I don't want to hear any more...I'm sorry Lira." I didn't know what to think anymore. I think I finally heard too much; I fell to my knees. Lira crouched down to my eye level. "No...it's not your fault Karn."
"Not my fault!? Your parents...so many are dead because of me!" I shouted out. "No Karn, Lira is correct. It is mine, and my old friend's burden to bear." I looked up at him. "You aren't the direct killer of those people. It's a lot harder for me to bear."
"Please Karn...don't beat yourself up." I gasped just as Lira hugged me tightly and put her weight on me. "Lira...I..." "You may do whatever you wish with that knowledge, but for now..."
Lira let go and we stood up. I looked to my sides by shifting my eyes, hugged in front of so many silent people. "You need to know how to activate the gene, but first I must tell you. You'll have to choose who you wish to save. The world and its races, or your own race, the humans.
The altered mother gene was placed inside my own daughter Wystis. And as you know, the original mother gene is inside Lira. You will have to choose between the two of them as well...because..."
"Because?" Lira was really curious now. "Can I tell him father?" "Of course...it would be better as told by you." Wystis got really close to me. "In order to activate the mother gene, you'll have too..."
She then leans over to my ear and whispers to me the answer...my eyes...widened...
Let me know what you think if you can read lines of text ^_^
Some dude who likes to tell stories.
Hello everyone; I've been on a couple of rpg maker sites in the past, but am not really popular by any means.
A few people have recommended this site when it comes to showcasing demos and such, and I decided I'd leave a couple of my completed games here. The only problem is now that I want my quality to go up, I haven't had the drive to really finish anything that's past a few hours for a few years now.
I'm hoping to change that with a game in the works. Two of them actually, although the second is in planning. (if I'm not overworked I get nothing done...weird personality trait I know)
In any case I plan to contribute lots, and if anyone needs any graphical help just drop me a pm =P
A few people have recommended this site when it comes to showcasing demos and such, and I decided I'd leave a couple of my completed games here. The only problem is now that I want my quality to go up, I haven't had the drive to really finish anything that's past a few hours for a few years now.
I'm hoping to change that with a game in the works. Two of them actually, although the second is in planning. (if I'm not overworked I get nothing done...weird personality trait I know)
In any case I plan to contribute lots, and if anyone needs any graphical help just drop me a pm =P
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