This is my first story and I'm still a bit unsure about everything, but, I hope you like it.

Chapter 1: The Junior Seekers

Dante's POV:

Dante Vale strode through the halls of the school, his head held high like always. The start of a new school year, automatically meant loads of new faces would be arriving. Since Dante is the equivalent of a head boy, he took his job extremely serious. Even so, he sometimes wished he had more free time.

Unlike most schools in Venice however, Huntik Academy was a boarding school. Not only that, but it was a special school that only accepted seekers from the age of fifteen and the school expected the seekers to be relatively well trained by the time they arrived at Huntik.

Dante turned into the hall and a grin spread across his face. One of the class room doors was open and he immediately knew that Metz had decided to arrive early. Of course he, along with all the other teachers, had already been here two days before all the students but it was only four in the morning and therefore it was quite unreasonable for any student to be up already. Dante approached the class room in which the teacher was usually located. Like most students, Dante saw Metz as the person to go to if you had any questions but unlike most, Dante truly felt a bond with Metz and saw him almost as a father figure. "Dante!" Metz said with a smiled when he saw the skinny boy poking his head into the room. Metz was a man in his forties with graying hair and a kind face though he usually dressed formal and he could look serious if he wanted to.

Grinning, Dante stepped into the familiar room where he'd spent so many late nights just talking to the teacher. It was a simple enough office with a normal chair and a mahogany desk placed in one corner. A fireplace was the only thing that interrupted all the book covered shelves that lined the walls. It had become a habit to study the thicker books' spines and wonder what secrets those books held since their spines seemed determined not to give anything away.

"You're probably the only guy in this school who could get away with hair that's almost hanging over your ears, lucky for you though, the school doesn't worry too much about appearances" Metz shook his head, chuckling at some private joke. "Now then, what's on your mind" Metz asked a lot more serious, seeming to notice the solemn look that suddenly crossed Dante's face.

"It's just… I've had a look at the new students when they arrived here yesterday, and they're a small number. And, I hate to say it, but, they're not very talented" Dante admitted as he stared out of the window that offered a view of the school backyard where Dante himself usually practiced fighting in his free time. The silence that greeted this statement made Dante suddenly less sure of what he'd just said. "Of course, I suppose it's not really my place to judge" Dante added as he's gaze left the window and traveled to the floor.

"Right now the standards of the school is dropping, you're right, but it's only because most seekers' powers and extent of their abilities are hidden from them because their parents want to protect them" Metz said as he went to stand next to Dante.

"That might be true, but we need seekers at the moment, I need to chose a team at the end of the second term and there really isn't much to chose from since I can't take anyone who's in the same year as me" Dante said as he leaned against the window, folded his arms and looked at Metz. "There's nothing for it. All you can do is pick three others and train them to the best of your abilities" Metz surged.

"But Metz, if a teacher can't help them, how can I" Dante sighed feeling rather miserable at the thought of the new kids and the fact that he would soon have to make one of the biggest decisions in his life as well as three other people's.

"You're the number one seeker in this academy, if anyone can help these new kids and the others as well, it's sure to be you" Metz said, placing a reassuring hand on Dante's shoulder. Dante eyed his teacher doubtfully. Sure he'd gotten a lot of praises before other teachers but Metz was definitely overestimating him this time. Dante was only eighteen but he could tell that Metz already expected him to lead the world's greatest team of seekers.

"Thanks" Dante told Metz with a slightly forced smile even though he felt even worse than he had before they'd had their chat.

"The answer will come, just give it time" Metz told his student in the wise tone that only a teacher could use without sounding ridiculous. Will it really? Dante wondered as he left the man's office. The halls of the school now had some occupants in them but Dante didn't really care as he strode through the corridors, heading directly for his dorm and ignoring everything else that went on around him even though, as he went, chaos broke out around him. Hey, it was hard to be in a school where you could fight with more than your fists.

"On behalf of the staff and other students of Huntik Academy, I just want to welcome all the Junior Seekers" Guggenheim announced at breakfast an hour and a half later, staring at the section where all the fifteen-year-old students sat, a smile on his usually serious face. "After breakfast all of you will be placed in your different homerooms where you'll receive your schedules and any further questions will be answered then as well" Guggenheim continued.

Dante threw a grimace at his two friends, Matt and Ed (though Ed was more Matt's friend then Dante's), who were currently flicking food at each other. Dante groaned under his breath before turning his attention back to the headmaster.

"… and enjoy the rest of your day" Guggenheim finished before rejoining the rest of the staff at their table.

"Dude have you seen the new seekers, they look like a bunch of losers" Ed said as he stuffed a too large piece of meat into his mouth.

Dante frowned at him disapprovingly; sure Dante himself had thought the same but at least he was willing to give the new seekers a chance and he certainly hadn't been rude enough to refer to them as losers, they just weren't properly trained yet. "They're not that bad" Dante muttered, poking at his food, his appetite had left him and now he was eyeing the food on his plate as if the action would make the food disappear.

"I agree with Dante, we were probably just as inexperienced when we first arrived here" Matt said as he bit off and swallowed a piece of bread.

"I doubt it" Dante just heard Ed mumble.

"Anyway" Matt said with a sudden grin. "Everybody says this year's gonna be really hard" Matt went on with a sudden, mischievous glint in his eye that made Dante wonder if it would be safe to go to sleep in his own dorm tonight. Dante made a mental note check for any shaving cream on his pillow or something gross on his toothbrush.

"Duh, we're gonna have to teach people what we know, of course it's gonna be hard" Ed snorted causing Dante to grab hold of his hair in utter frustration. Why did he have to be the one stuck with this guy, he was rude and annoying and he couldn't stop talking! Relief washed over Dante when everyone was told to go to class and he immediately headed for his first class, Defense, thankful for the excuse to leave. The only reason he put up with Ed and his stupid remarks were because he and Matt had been friends since the both started Huntik Academy, three years ago. Dante's fury over Ed's behavior was quickly forgotten though, as his blood started pumping in Defense.

One thing you were told on orientation day was that the school wasn't for sissies and after the first week it usually became evident that they were telling the truth. Each day you had defense, offense and target practice along with all the other subjects schools normally offered and a few others normal humans had never even heard off (Spell casting and of course, the history of Seekers and Titans). All the students were also required to take a one mile run each day which you could choose to do at the beginning or end of the day.

Dante grabbed Terrance's hand as it flew at his face. After some struggling, Dante managed to wrestle Terrance's hand away from his face and his own fist soon connected with Terrance's jaw. In one swift move, Dante ducked under Terrance's oncoming arm before kicking his feet out from under him and standing up again.

"Well done Mr. Vale, though I did tell you that only defense was necessary" Mr. Duggery told Dante in a warning voice. Dante nodded, he hadn't really meant to knock Terrance off his feet, it had just happened. Dante frowned, normally, acting out of instinct would have earned the teacher's approval but that had never been the case with Mr. Duggery who believed that it was better to defend as long as possible since, according to him, violence was unnecessary and pointless.

"Nice going Dante" Cooper said as Dante joined the group who had already had their turn in defending themselves. Dante managed a smile, silently scolding himself for not being able to control his actions. Luckily Dante aced every other test they were given the rest of the day and his self worth was almost restored by the time the school day was done.

Okay, so I still have to run and I have to practice my reaction on defense Dante thought to himself as he left his last class of the day and started making his way back to the dorms. He was too deeply buried in his own thoughts to notice anything until he bumped into someone and almost tripped. Dante blinked at the girl who was currently collecting a large pile of books which had spilled all over the floor.

"Sorry 'bout that" he muttered as he bent down to help her.

Wow, okay, either she's a total nerd or she's a pretty good seeker Dante thought as he studied one of the books he'd just picked up.

"Oh my word, you're Dante Vale" the girl suddenly exclaimed, causing Dante to look up from what he'd just been reading. Nerd, definitely nerd he decided before studying the girl. She looked about fifteen which meant she was new here. That would explain why she seemed so shocked to find Dante crouching in the hall and helping her with her books. Next Dante studied her face more closely and realized that she didn't really fit the description of a nerd. She had long mouse-brown hair that was hanging in loose curls and though her green eyes seemed filled with intelligence, she didn't seem to lack social skills like most of the other nerds Dante had met before.

"Ah, I guess I am" Dante replied uncertainly as he rose out of his crouch and handed the girl back her books. "I'm Sophie Casterwill" she said clamping her books under one arm and holding out the other hand, a smile flashing across her face, along with a slight blush. "Nice to meet you" Dante said, taking her hand and shaking it.

"Well, thanks for helping me with my books Dante" Sophie said before hurrying away. Dante breathed a sigh of relief; he had started to worry about what he would say if she tried to continue the conversation. Glancing back at where Sophie had just disappeared, Dante walked on and slipped into his room. Matt hadn't returned from his run yet so the dorm was silent when Dante dumped his bag on the kitchen table. He wandered over to the cupboard and took out a plate and glass before opening the fridge and groaning.

Of course he thought as he closed the fridge with unnecessary force. Why couldn't the school at least stock the fridge with juice or an apple! Putting everything away again, Dante went into his room, grabbed his wallet and slipped it into his jean pocket. After getting a pass and permission to head into town, Dante left the safety of the school grounds and headed into the unprotected city. Guggenheim had constantly warned the Huntik students that, the moment they decided to join the school, they would have to be more careful when they left the school since, according to him, the Organization (an evil and older version of Huntik Academy) would do anything to get their hands on Huntik students.

Dante double checked his sunglasses and hid the pass that was currently hanging around his neck, before heading out the store again. Dante had never been attacked by an Organization agent before and therefore had no idea what they looked like (except for the professor of whom he'd seen a picture). Dante could only hope that the Organization agents didn't know how any of the kids at Huntik Academy looked. Dante felt slightly ridiculous, walking up the street with a bag of groceries in one hand and a bag of milk and juice in the other. Dante studied his watch in an effort to determine how long he would have to stay up if he wanted to do the mile, practice his combat and do his homework. Maybe I can skip the mile today Dante thought with a grimace as he passed a side road and froze.

"Give it up, you're surrounded" a man was saying.

What the heck…