Maven-rewrite

Chapter 1-The Flaw

"You have great potential my son."

That was what Bruce was thinking as he sat in the middle of living room of his house meditating. He couldn't help but recall his Father's last words before he disappeared. Bruce would ask everyone in Ionia were his dad had gone off to, but they would always shake their heads in lack of an answer so he just stopped bothering after a month. It had been hard at first, dealing with his dad's disappearance and his mom also disappearing to a place called 'the institute of war', but then he met someone that had helped lesson the absence of a family.

Bruce stood up from his meditation session and made sure his living room was in order. He carefully readjusted the paintings for about the hundred time against the blue wall before finally being satisfied with them. The pictures themselves consisted of Ionia's symbol and a picture of Bruce and his dad.

Bruce's dad was pretty much an older version of Bruce, way older. He had a light grayish-white set of messy hair atop his head along with a headband that matched his darkish complexion. His eyes were a pair of sapphires, shining brightly, probably mostly due to the sun hitting him.

Then there was Bruce, just about a year ago when he was 16. The only difference he saw between himself and his younger counterpart was a height difference, of course the town didn't agree. Everyone had said that he had not only grown taller, but more mature and handsome, just like his father. He of course, one for modesty, tried to deny the compliments but in the end simply accepting them.

Bruce continued on his little cleaning rampage, straitening up his couch that was lined up against the wall and closing the curtains. He made sure there would be nothing out of place when his guest arrived, even going as far as to pat out the love seat. Once he was sure that everything was in place he lit a sweet smelling candle atop of the fireplace, just like his father used to do at night. He sighed and sat crisscrossed on the blue Brown rug that covered the living before glancing at the clock along the wall.

'7:20' P: M.

He let out another sigh as he still had ten minutes before his guest arrived. Just then a idea hit him. He got up in a hurry and ran into his father's bathroom. He took a second to look around before his eyes landed on his dad's cologne. He picked it up gently and held it in his hand, admiring the clear white liquid that would make him smell alluring to his guest.

'Do I really need this?' He thought. He had only ever used it once and that was when he went in for an interview at the local bakery. It seemed to work though as he had gotten a compliment from the store owner, Ms. Young, along with the job.

Just as he was debating there was a loud knock on the door.

Out of anxiousness and fear Bruce momentarily dropped the small bottle, barely catching it as it was inches away from the floor. He quickly made up his mind, deciding to spray one squirt of it on his neck before setting it down gently and hastily making his way to the door. After being satisfied by a quick breath check he took in a deep breath and opened the door.

His eyes landed upon a silhouette of a goddess. Her long sliver hair that wasn't resting upon her back laid sweetly on her sun-kissed shoulders. Her twin beautiful purple orbs shined brightly. She was wearing a pair of dark jeans along with a gray strapless dress that ended a little above her knees. She was wearing a dazzling smile, her hands clasped in a cutesy fashion behind her as she stared at Bruce.

"Hey Syndra," he breathed.

"Hey Bruce," she said with equal awkwardness.

They stood still, both of them simply gazing into each other's eyes. There was little noise expect for a few animal noises here and there, but nothing out of the usual. After a while Bruce was the first to speak up.

"Would you like to come in Syndra?" He asked. His heart was pounding against his chest rapidly, his palms starting to grow slightly sweaty.

"I would love to," she replied nicely.

As Bruce let Syndra in, she took the moment to inspect him.

Bruce was wearing a black shirt with a blue dragon imprinted on it that held a red orb in one of his palms. He had on blue jeans, which she thought showed off his ass quite nicely. She also favored the euphoric smell he emitted, smiling to herself at the notion.

After letting Syndra in and closing the door, he lead her in the living room. "Take a seat wherever you want," he said sweetly before taking a seat on the couch. He wasn't
surprised but flattered when she took a seat next to him.

"So how was your day?" He asked, trying to spark up a conversation.

"It was fine," she lies with a forced smile. In truth her day had not been good, but she wouldn't let that ruin the short time that she had with Bruce to be ruined by it.

"Syndra, I can tell when you're lying," he Said sternly. "Tell me what's up." Bruce had known Syndra enough to the point where he could tell when she was lying. Even though he had a idea of what was bothering her, he felt that she needed to say it.

"It's nothing Bruce, I'm just a little tired," she said with a smile as she grabbed his hands. "C'mon tell me about your da-

"It's those girls isn't it?" Bruce didn't need an answer as her facial expression said it all. He turned his face away in anger, not wanting to let Syndra see the ugly side of him.

"Please Bruce, don't make it about them, I want this to be about us," she begged, lowering herself forward to try and look at Bruce's face." Please Bruce, I promise I'll take care of it tomorrow, so for now, please let me be selfish and enjoy the time I have with you."

"You promise you'll take care of it tomorrow?" He decided he would let it go, only if she would take care of it tomorrow. It irked him to know end when Syndra would be picked on and merely stand idle. The things she had told him of the girls constant teasing towards her birthed dark thoughts in his mind, ones he was not proud of. He would have done something a while ago but what can he do. Very little without the consequence of making Syndra step into the spotlight.

"I promise," she says with a smile.

Bruce nods his head before asking," so what do you want-"

"Lay," Syndra commands.

"Hmm?" Bruce could have sworn she had said lay. Lay what?

"Lay down," she says in the sane commanding voice.

Bruce complies, albeit nervously. His heart almost jumps when Syndra snuggles in his chest and makes herself comfortable.

Syndra smiles in Bruce's chest as his musk was simply intoxicating to say the least. She nearly couldn't contain herself when he wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I could lay like this forever," Syndra sighed happily. Between laying with the man she loved and the steady sound of his heart beating against his chest, it was hard it imagine a more perfect moment.

Fortunately Bruce's state of being was in a similar state. The warmth and sheer presence from Syndra sent his mind into a quiet storm. She had never laid with him before so the activity was highly nerve racking to him, but he calmed himself mentally to the point of laying with Syndra was pleasant.

The two laid like this for quite some time, both not wanting to break such a blissful and tender moment. A little while later they strike up small conversations about Bruce's job, how Syndra's search for the perfect skirt was coming along, her cooking skills, and a few other things. Both made sure to avoid subjects pertaining to school.

Unfortunately it was getting late.

"It's almost 10 already?" Bruce sighs sadly.

"It was time well spent," Syndra replies before yawning quite loudly and stretching." I was about to fall asleep, your softer then my pillow," she says sweetly.

"Anytime, although I wish I could have seen what you look like asleep."

"Another time," she says coolly.

Bruce joined her in stabbing, he too also stretching before guiding her to his door." Need me to walk you home?"

"No its ok, I know your tired," she says, trying to convince him to let her walk home alone. Unfortunately for her, Bruce was persistent.

"And you are too, which is exactly why I'm going to walk you home Syndra," he said, his tone final.

Syndra smiled before giving into his wishes. She stood by the door awaiting for him as he gathered his house keys and other things. She was in a haze of bliss before she felt a stab of pain in her head. She wrenched forward in pain, grasping her head and clenching her teeth as she waited for the pain to recede.
She thanked the heavens as it had not only subside, but also that Bruce didn't notice before she stood tall, a wave of normality.

"Ready to go Syndra?" He was slightly worried when it took her a second to answer, but the feeling was immediately washed away when she clung to his arm.

"Lead the way, my knight," she said in the most even voice she could muster. She closed her eyes as he began to lead, silently cursing the doctor she had secretly gone to for he'd headaches.

Her headaches had been appearing more frequently, almost to the point of being intolerable. Hanging out with Bruce seemed to ease the headaches appearances, but today during their time together that it appeared, it felt three times as stronger as the other ones. She would have to go see the doctor tomorrow after school.

As they made their way down the streets, they walked in silence. Syndra leaned on Bruce's arm the entire way as she was busy thinking about her problems.

Bruce was simply enjoying the last few moments he had with Syndra before he would have to let her go. The problem pertaining the girls plagued his mind, but he decided to keep quiet about it, per Syndra's request.

'I wonder what Syndra mom will says this time,' he thought absent mindedly.

Syndra's mom wasn't too supportive of Bruce's relationship with her daughter, due to the pure fact that Bruce was a man. To be honest, she hated men, all of them with a renowned passion. She was ever kind to woman but when it came to men don't expect much except for a scoff from her. Most adults wouldn't pay her mind, but gossip from adults spreads to kids and of course, they gave her a rather inappropriate name for her. It was Syndra's mom's fault from her atrocious attitude towards man that led to Syndra being teased in school.

Almost a half hour later, they had arrived to the doorsteps. Syndra's house wasn't that special, a two story house, three windows on what would be assumed the top floor and one on the bottom floor. The houses color was a pretty washed up brown color, it showcasing that it hadn't had a fresh coat of paint in a while. Bruce had offered to re-paint it for Syndra's mom, but she of course rudely declined his offer.

Syndra stops in place, bringing Bruce also to a stop on purpose.
"Before you walk me to my steps," she breathes before leaning up and embracing his lips in a soft but passionate kiss.

Bruce complies with equal passion, wrapping his arms around her in a loving embrace.

The two's romantic embrace was short lived as they both leaped away from each other after hearing a loud cough from Syndra's mom, who was standing in the doorway of her house at the perfect moment it seems.

To say Syndra was a younger version of her mom was an understatement. She looked exactly like an older version of Syndra, but older in the sense of age in all the right places. Her hair was cut shoulder length but that didn't take away from its beauty one bit. Her eyes were a pair of green orbs that were staring in silent fury

"I'm glad to see you're having fun with my daughter, Bruce," she spat, her eyes jumping from Bruce to her Daughter." What time did I say to be home Syndra?" She asked in an Erie tone.

Syndra was about to speak but Bruce beat her to it.

"I'm sorry I-"

"I didn't address you Bruce," she said in the same condescending tone as earlier.

"Mom, don't talk to him like that," Syndra breathed, her anger rising from her mom's unreasonable attitude. Honestly she had had enough of her mom berating Bruce every time he had walked her home.

"No… it's ok Syndra," Bruce spoke quietly. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered before he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started towards his house.

Syndra shook her head as she walked up her steps. She gritted her teeth as her mom stood in the doorway.

"Move," Syndra commanded to her mother.

"Syndre-poo you know I only want what's best for you," her mom said as she stepped aside to let her daughter in, completely using a different tone of voice that only Syndra would ever hear from her.

"Look," Syndra began tiredly, "nothing you say will make me break up with Bruce. "She stepped towards her mother, locking eyes with her." Don't you see that I'm in love with him? And don't say he isn't because I know he loves me," she says earnestly.

sighed as she shook her head in her palm.

"That's what you think honey, but he will turn around and break your heart, I know he will," she replied sourly.

"Just because it didn't work out with you and d-""

"Your father has-"

"He has everything to do with it when you're basing everything that involves the opposite sex with him!" Syndra yelled furiously. Syndra immediately felt guilt in the pit of her stomach when she saw her mom's facial expression, one of sadness mixed with pain.

"Enough Syndra," her mom interrupted tiredly. "Just go to your room."

"Mom I'm sorry," Syndra said quickly, the apology falling on deaf ears as she watched her mom slump away to her room. She didn't add another word, instead going up another short flight of stairs and making her way towards her room. She kicked off her shoes as she laid flat on her bed.

She felt angry at her mom but it was soon replaced by pity.
Not many people knew this, the only people knowing who were really close to her mom and Bruce, after she had told him to keep it a secret. Probably the reason her mom was so sour was because her father had abandoned my mother when she was pregnant with her. She said he had left in the middle of the night, without a word completely disappearing from not only Kaladan but pretty much Ionian as no one including the neighboring towns could find him.

Syndra's room was quite decorated with small globes, all of them she acquired from the local assortment of traveling merchants that visit the island and Bruce, who would somehow manage to get some that she hasn't from the traveling merchants. Her room's walls were painted a vibrant purple, her favorite color. There was two small dressers that had 4 sections in each, both holding her clothes among other things. In her closest held her jackets and special outfits, ones she rarely used except for special occasions.

Syndra was jot angry at her lost dad, nor did she miss him. She felt no emotions for him besides a sense of wonder and disbelief. How could someone leave their pregnant girlfriend, much more disappear completely off the face of the island, it made no sense.

She threw away the thoughts and instead tried to get some sleep, debating that thinking about her dad wouldn't provide the right answer. As she fell into a deep slumber she didn't notice all the globes on her room slowly lift in the air, all of them glowing a dark purplish color. They floated softly for a good minute before falling back into place, luckily none of them breaking.

Xxxxx

Bruce yawned quite loudly as his alarm clock ranged incredulous. He slapped it off as he smacked his lips and got out of bed. He was wearing nothing but the jeans from yesterday, his chest exposed showing off his abs.

Bruce's room was quite plain, it sporting a few decorations here and there. Along his wall was a sword that his father had forged personally for him. It was currently in its crimson sheath, the sheath itself having his initials 'BP' on it in gold. He had unsheathed it once, when he had first acquired it about two years ago, and never touched it since. He couldn't explain it but... the sword produced a strange and dark feeling within him. He had only one dresser, the majority of his clothes hanging up in his closest.

He reached into the dresser, grabbing a pair of socks, a pair of boxers and lastly a t-shirt. He set them in his bathroom, which was just to the left of his room across from the living room. He then went to the closest next to his dad's room and pulled out a clean towel and face rag before finally making his way to his bathroom to take a shower.

He took his sweet time taking his shower, washing his over 3 times with a sweet smelling mango shampoo. After a very relaxing session of basking in the shower he had to force himself to step out of the shower. He dried himself off good before throwing on the small items he pulled out if his dresser. Before walking out he threw his boxers and his jeans into his dirty clothes basket, deciding to wash them when he got home.

After he stepped out of his bathroom, he went into his room and opened up the closest. There was s substantial amount of clothes hanging but he picked one: his school uniform.

His school uniform was a short white shirt that was required to be buttoned all the way with the red tie on top of it. For his pants they were an indigo black, a matching belt required to be on with it.

It took him awhile to get dress, the tie giving him more trouble than usual. When he was done he glanced at the clock.

7:48 A.m.

He scratched his chin in wonder as he had roughly 10 minutes to waste before he would have to make his way to school. He quickly decided to just go ahead and go to school, opting to talk with some of his friends when he got there.

As Bruce walked on towards his way to school, he thought about Syndra and their time together yesterday. To say he enjoyed it would be an understatement. He thoroughly enjoyed laying with her and talking with her, but her problem with the girls still plagued his mind. He shook away the sour thought as he had trusted Syndra to take care of it, after all, she did promise.

He walked onwards to school, enjoying the mild weather that they were always graced with. The soft wind blew, making his shirt flutter along with his tie and hair. After a short walk he finally arrived at Ionians main source of transportation, the Kalamic.

The Kalamic circle was a mage developed tool, his mother playing a hand in it. It was designed for anyone to use it, teleporting the user to another location with a Kalamic circle in a twenty five mile radius. The only downside was that it had a slow processing time, as not everyone could have clearance towards a certain area or when there were multiple people. Other than that it was pretty much safe as theirs never been an accident involving the device.

Bruce stepped on the Kalamic circle, not paying mind to the glowing blue symbols that glowed under his feet. He took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Bruce Phoenix, Gallingon, B3 section."

He didn't flinch as a blue circle engulfed him. It took a few moments before he was staring at the doorway of the B3 hallway.

Bruce's high school was an all-boys school, as it was required by all males in the western part of Ionian to attend after they graduate middle school. It is during their high school years that they decide to split the genders, granting or more like chaining the young woman and the young man to different schools for their remainder of their school life. Much to a surprise, both of gallingon's attendants have some form of a relationships with each other. If anything, separating the young adults only seem to increase their need for the other sex's presence.

The section of the school Bruce was in, was actually the nicest of the four section. Along the dark brown and vanilla colored hallway walls were about a dozen doors, each holding a different subject or curriculum. Along the brightly lit hallway sat a couple of benches, a few decorations of Ionian-themed items and pictures and of course students standing and sitting around talking about idle chat before class started. After a short debate Bruce decided to talk to join in his friend Kendrick's conversation.

Kendrick was a very pleasant shade of brown. He had very long hair for a man, it reaching a little under his shoulders. He had pretty green eyes and a soft smile that could cheer up anyone's day. Like everyone else in the school, he was dressed up in the same uniform as Bruce.

Kendrick was one of Bruce's closest friend to Bruce, but the latter enjoyed his presence. Bruce found him easy and reasonable to talk to unlike the majority of his fellow peers. As far as Bruce could tell, Kendrick enjoyed his company too.

"What's up Bruce," Kendrick greeted as he noticed him walking over.

"Nothing much Kendrick, what's up guys," Bruce said nicely, waving to the three other guys in the circle.

They all replied back each of their own greeting.

Not too long afterwards they were all engaged in a deep conversation. They talked about school, what they had planned on doing when they graduate, what kind of awesome stuff and lastly, who they were going to marry. Of course this sparked up a question towards Bruce.

"So how's your love life?" Kendrick asked in a teaseful voice, his eyes shining with mischief.

"Oh you know..." Bruce said nervously while scratching his head. "You should tell us about yours Kendrick," he added hastily.

"So you're saying Syndra's boring?" Kendrick almost had a heart attack as Bruce's facial reaction was hysterical, watching it turn into a deep shade of red before contorting into embarrassment.

Luckily for Bruce, the bell had ringed, sparing the man from his light-hearted embarrassment. It's not that he was afraid or embarrassed of dating Syndra, it's just that to discuss it so openly didn't sit right with him.

As he walked down the hallway with Kendrick-the other three boys splitting off already have gone to their classes- unfortunately a question that plagued his mind since he had fell asleep yesterday night.

"Kendrick..." Bruce started cautiously, his mind racing as what the answer could be." Did you...do last night's homework?" Bruce finishes nicely, a desperate ring to his tone. His face sinks when he sees Kendrick's face shift into despair.

"I was going to ask you the same."

"Were so screwed...I'm so screwed!" Bruce yelled to Kendrick, but it was like preaching to quire at that point.

"Did you go out with Syndra last night?" He asked, coolly. When Bruce shook his head yes he placed a hand around his friends shoulder and commented bluntly," yup your screwed."

It wasn't that big of deal that he had forgot to do his homework, it's not that big of a deal that he forgot to do his home grade wise since he was an all A student. Where the problem lied was that the class that he had forgotten to do his homework for , Syndra's mother.

Bruce took a deep breath as his friend lead him to his soon to be verbal abuse session. He slowly shuffled in the class door with the rest of the stray students. He avoided eye contact with , though it didn't settle his nervousness as he felt her gaze upon him the entire time he made his way to his seat.

The classroom was similar to a collage course classroom. It had a circular seating arrangement, five rows containing 14 seats lined up from the wall to the window. In the very front of the seats where the students sat beheld a large board and a desk for the teacher to use in the sense of teaching and instructing of course.

Bruce was currently assigned to row-4 seat 14, the perfect seat to look out the window at the distance twin building that was the girl's school pass the lush forest. For some reason at the beginning of the year he had been assigned a seat in the middle of the class, not wanting to seat in the middle he had requested to have a window seat as he just plainly didn't want to sit in the middle. He hasn't expected to have the far corner seat when he requested it to , but she had let him have the seat as long as it was alright with the student that he switched with. When he had first sat in the seat he had not expected it to be have such a great view of the sistering school of Gallingon, it was an added bonus as he felt an odd comfort when he stared or merely sparring a glance from time to time at the school, of course it reminding him of Syndra.

Bruce took his seat, setting his backpack on the table and pulling out a bag full of already sliced apples. He set them in his lap before pulling out his notebook. He was thinking about attempting to do his homework while everyone was still getting settled but quickly threw away the thought as he simply accepted the fact that he was going to get scorned either way.

Class started as normal, of course taking homework up right off the bat. She picked them up at the end of the each row, going through them to see who didn't turn there assignment's in.

Bruce felt a tinge of embarrassment as his row's papers were picked up. He nervously nibbled on his slices of apples as she scanned through the papers.

had finally made her way to her desk before finally placing down the papers and sighing rather loudly.

"Mr. Edward," she began referring to Kendrick. "It is no surprise that you didn't do your homework," she finished with an irritable tone, her eyed narrowed towards him before turning to Bruce.

"But it is a surprise to find that you didn't turn in your homework Mr. Phoenix, care to explain?" She asked with a dark smile, obviously enjoying putting the poor young man in the spotlight.

"I'm sorry...I guess I forgot," he said honestly. He really did forget, between Syndra coming over and his longing for his parents.

"But you didn't forget to hang out with your girlfriend did you?" She said with malice.

The whole class, surprisingly was quiet as it wasn't a surprise to who she was referring to. The majority were wondering when Bruce was going to snap off on her as would always direct the majority of her snide remarks to Bruce.

"That I was ," he with smile. "And I can say it was honestly worth it," he finished confidently.

Before anyone could retort a student in the class room yelled out.

"Look-look at the girls Gallingon!"

In the short distance everyone's eyes widened as they stared in horror at the building.

Bruce couldn't even glimpse at the scene before he groveled in pain in his seat, a wave of pain in his head. It felt like someone was digging a rusty nail through his skull. It happened for what seemed like an eternity for Bruce. While the pain was still evident in his head he heard whispers in his head, Syndra whispering alien language in his mind. There was one word he caught though, and the way she said it sent made him shiver uncontrollably.

"Die..."

"What the fuck!"

"Holy hell!"

Bruce turned his head his, the pain still pulsing in his head but not as bad, and looked at what everyone was commenting on. His mind raced with worry as he stared wide eyed at a giant dark sphere replacing where the school should have been. Not too long after it had appeared it started floating upward slowly, thankfully leaving behind the school in its wake. It stopped after a good way above the school before growing rapidly smaller. As it grew smaller the middle of it started to bleed red, almost as if...

The crimson liquid color in the sphere began to spread rapidly in the small sphere before utterly covering the now speck-like dark sphere. There was a loud screeching noise before it finally exploded in a rain of crimson.

None of the boys nor the teacher had anything to say as the sistering School was covered in the rainfall. It didn't take much to guess what the liquid falling was. The classroom was like the eye of the storm, no one making a peep as they were processing what they just seen. Then the storm happened. Everyone ran out of the room in panic, trampling and shoving pass other students as they feared the same thing would happen to them.

During the panic, Bruce tried to stand, only to wobble and grab hold of the table to steady himself as the pain still throbbed in his head. He was shocked when he found holding onto his shoulder. When he turned to face her his heart quivered in fear.

Her eyes were on the verge of tears and there was desperation in her voice as she spoke.

"Can you come with me Bruce-I-I have to make sure she's ok but-" she stuttered as she was in a state if fear and on the verge of panic, If not already.

"I'll come with you , and I'll do my best," he said, silently gesturing to the dark spheres that hovered around the school.

She nodded and led him to the hallway.

Both the parties cringed as it looked like a ghost town, the only sign of life in the form of a kid limping away in a hurry to a Kalamic.

"Are you ok Bruce?" She asked, looking at him as was bended over slightly.

"Yea...I'm fine." He shook his head in a vain attempt to relieve the pain. "Let's go, you have clearance to get us through the Kalamic right?" He asked cautiously as they made their way towards it.

nodded her head as they stood on the Kalamic. She held Bruce's shoulder before inputting her security clearance code, it being simply her name and voice recognition.

"Belinda Delush, Gallingon G4."

The Kalamic didn't respond.

"Belinda Delush, Gallingon G4."

Again the Kalamic didn't respond.

fell to her knees and screamed," Dammit!"

Bruce crouched above the Kalamic next to . "What about trying a different floor," he said calmly.

turned to him before nodding. "Belinda Delush, Gallingon G3," she said in an even tone.

The Kalamic stayed motionless.

She then continued to try G3 and G1 to no avail. Her brow furrowed as she couldn't think of any other floors besides...

" , Gallingon GB."

The floor whirled to life and after a good minute of waiting they were teleported off into the unknown.

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