Authors note:
Hi! I'm new at this whole fanfiction website thing. I write for fun. I don't like putting timelines on my work, then it sort of takes the fun out of things. I have three versions of this story, mostly with the same characters. Whichever is more popular I'll upload. That is, if my stuff is even popular. Anyway, please be gentle on the feedback, but be honest. Thank you!
We were all sitting down around our table, Stein, Alice, Chase, Pheara and I talking quietly to make sure no one heard us. I was sitting at the head of the table.
"So for now all we have to do is lay low and wait. Don't do anything drastic, just fit in until we get any other orders. Understood?" Everyone else nodded. "Stein, you come with me. There's something I need to say." I told one guy at the back. He had gray hair, a stitched up lab coat and had his feet kicked up on the table. He nodded and we all left.
Stein and I walked the opposite direction from the others until we were at least a block away.
"What's up Kane?" He said, leaning against the wall as we stopped by another street light.
"There's something we need to find out. It's been nagging at me for a while."
"Please don't tell me it involves that."
"It does." I said as he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he cracked it.
I waved my hand and the shadows stretched. We walked into the alley next to us until we reached a doorway. There was an emblem on the doorway, a dragon breathing fire. It was made up of squares and trapezoids, yet it looked elegant and regal. I touched the door and the dragon glowed green. In fancy letters, the word Graegor appeared, and the door opened.
Inside was what appeared to be a library, with books stacked as high as a building. There was a single desk with tons of empty journals and papers jumbled around the table.
Just as I took it all in, we heard footsteps on the smooth wood. Thunk, thunk, thunk, and as I looked down I saw a stone cube with arms and legs. It reached up to my knees, and it had black eyes. It tilted up to look at me, since it's whole body was just a cube.
"El would love these guys." Stein said. El was our friend, one who was in the restaurant with us.
"You know the rules. No one is allowed to visit this place."
'I don't think they can even get to this place." Stein said, looking back and seeing that the door had disappeared, replaced with solid wall.
"We need something on the Elementum grimoires." I told the little guy. It turned and pointed down the hallway with a squeaky "kyu", meaning for us to follow it.
It lead us through the labyrinth of a library until it stopped and pointed at a section to my right. It walked up and tapped a book with its arm(since it had no fingers). I pulled the book out and tossed it to Stein. He caught it, his head turned to the other direction, reading titles of other books. He eyed the book then opened it, flipping through pages.
"Golems were more useful than I thought." He said, grinning at me. I thanked the little golem and we headed back to the table.
"If what i'm guessing is true, then we have a long read ahead of ourselves. I'll read this, but I need a favor." I said.
"Yeah?"
"I need you to head to the academy. Here's a list of names. Check them out." I handed him names of students. He read over it then nodded, and walked towards a wall.
"Mind kicking me out?" He said, knocking on the wall and smirking. I blinked and then the door appeared. and he was gone.
Now for some extra info I thought as I opened the book and started to read.
Elements are substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means. Water, fire, electricity. Some are found as liquids, others gases, and yet others as solids. The Elementum grimoires are used to learn about, create and even control certain elements. They can be used as many styles, from defense to creation to destruction. Yet the most dangerous is the-
My whole body tensed up suddenly as something flashed in my mind. The list I had gave Stein, at first I thought they were victims, but I was wrong.
They were suspects.
The whole investigation started because there were hints of freak disasters in the academy. Kitchen fires, earthquakes, blackouts. And the people I kept in track seemed to be victims, but it was the other way around.
Damn! I thought as I jumped out of the chair and headed towards the door. I busted out of the alley and headed for the restaurant's parking lot. There was a bike parked in the sidewalk. A blue Kawasaki.
I jumped on, threw up the kickstand and the key. In no time I was on the street, revving the throttle to the point I was doing a wheelie. The academy was across the town. A ten minute drive by the speed limit.
I can make it in four I thought, grinning.
Street lights seemed to grow dull and the scene around me stretched and the street and car lights dulled
The next thing I knew, I was going to crash into one heck of a party.
I saw the huge familiar building in front of me, and I had no time to brake. I grinned as I gunned the bike through the gates and into the patio. There was a window right next to the front doors, and that's what I was aiming for.
I saw a brief glimpse of something hurling towards a kid in a stitched up lab coat. Then I jumped off and hit the glass.
The last thing that was on my mind was Where's my helmet..?
The glass broke and I twisted in mid-air, throwing my arm out. The glass reacted to my hand like magnets to metal, and as I twisted, shards of glass followed in a swirl. I landed just in front of Stein and thrust my hand in front of me. All the glass shards same back together, forming a square pane in front of us.
I was just in time as a ball of fire hit the glass, spreading on the glass but not reaching neither me nor Stein. As the fireball disappeared, the glass shattered again.
"Nice entrance." Stein said grinning at me. I paid him no heed as I flapped my hand, smoke rising from my fingertips.
"I'm not doing that again." I said laughing. The skin on my hand was roughly burned. I could see that even my flesh was charred.
"Nice to know our school has such great security. How does no one notice a big hole in the glass and a motorcycle still running outside?" Stein said, pointing to my not-so-quiet entrance.
"I left my bike on?!" I exclaimed as I turned around. I heard the engine and saw it's headlights illuminating.
"Well, what a party crasher." Said a voice behind me. I turned and of course regretted it. Standing there was at least six students.
"Well, hello, drama club"
Five guys and six girls. That was only few of the drama club members, but if they all had control of elements, then it was my job to put them in their place.
"You guys used your gifts for the wrong purpose. Now, answer to your actions." I growled the last words, throwing my hand out to the side.
"'For the wrong purpose' you say? We only used them to play." Said one girl, grinning. She reminded me of a snake.
"You used gifts to wreak chaos, and that's not their purpose." I said simply. I tensed my legs and was about to jump when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Wait, let me take care of them." Stein said, grinning wickedly. His eyes had a mischievous glow to them.
I sighed. "Alright, I lend you my speed."
"My favorite." Was all he said, then with lightning fast speed, he pounced towards them with his hands open. They didn't even have time to react. In the blink of an eye, he thrust his left hand out under his right arm and struck a guy in the chest. He just gasped and slumped.
The others stood their in shock, staring at their friend. Stein looked up grinning, the light on his glasses covering his eyes.
I turned around and walked outside. I turned my motorcycle off and checked the tires. I could hear muted thudsand by the time I walked back to see all the other kids unconscious. Stein walked back to me.
"Your ability is useful only at times like these." I teased. His ability was handicap.He could take away other people's abilities and even give them amnesia specifically centered around their abilities.
"Check them out." He said as I closed my eyes. I focused on Stein and I could see the abilities. Not like reading or images, they were just there.
"Fire, water, ice, lightning and... mercury?" I muttered as I said these out loud.
"Like the planet?"
"Mercury is a toxic silvery liquid. It's amazing no one died because of them." I said. I was sympathetic for them. They didn't know the rules for things like these. It wasn't really their fault.
"Hmm, if only I can completely stop their powers.." Stein said, putting his hand to his chin in thought.
"wait, you don't actually take them away?"
"No. My handicap can only analyze it, lock it down and make them forget about it. Sometimes I can even strengthen and share them."
"That's why we make great partners." I said.
"Yup, so did you get them?"
"Cyrokinesis, crystallokinesis, and electrokinesis." I said.
"Ice, crystal, and lightning. Nice choices."
"Thanks." I said. We left the building and walked to where I parked my bike.
"I'm heading back to the library. I'll catch you in school soon." I said, hopping on the bike and grabbing my helmet.
"Alright. I have some business to do here. Catch you later." I started the bike and drove off, this time with my helmet on.
Franklin Stein. One of the best teachers I know partner. The others at the meeting are just newbies, Stein and I are the only ones who know what's actually going on. I'll tell him to return their powers and teach them how to use them properly. The wind rushed by as I thought about the events of the evening as I looked for a place without lights.
I was deep in thought as I drove through the busy streets. I turned on the radio in my helmet, hearing the loud music. I turned into another dark alley, parked my bike and once again entered the Library.
This time, there were more golems milling about. I put my hand out and some of them sank into the ground, but when they came back up they changed. Some were made of diamonds, some emeralds, then jade, amethyst, garnet, and finally, one obsidian. My geokinesis mixed with crystallokinesis, rock and crystal, were useful, but to make the golems I learned Quintekinesis, the manipulation of life forces. I gave the golems life, but only temporarily. Every time I made a new one I would get weaker, but every time one died or expired, I would get stronger. After all, it's impossible to create life with your mind, but it is possible to share it.
I walked to a set of double doors and walked out. There was a magnificent garden glowing under hundreds of stars. Pathways wove through oak and sycamore trees, and at the center stood a stone in the middle of a pond. I headed over to the rock, wading slowly through the pond. I sat crossed legged at the center of the stone and meditated. I concentrated on my breathing and my energy got stronger. I stood up straight for more air to flow. I was like this for a long time, controlling my breathing. The calmness around me helped,and when I extended my hand, a light blue energy appeared. It looked like flames, but when I concentrated the light grew stronger until it formed into a little sphere, no bigger than the palm of my hand.
I examined it closely, watching how it would fade or brighten depending on my concentration and will.
I waved my hand and it dispersed. Now was the real test. I entwined my hands, my index and middle fingers on each hand pointed upwards. I closed my eyes and focused on my heartbeat. Everything around me went black, and the only sound I heard was the thump, thump, thump, thump of my heart. The slow and steady rhythm was the only sound, the only thing I needed to concentrate on.
I saw a glow. Felt, more like it. Right in the center of my chest. I inhaled deeply, then, focusing all my will, exhaled, expelling all my energy.
When I opened my eyes, blue lights swirled around the entire garden. It flowed like a river. With a little more will I Expelled all energy from the trees around me. Now It was green along with blue, flowing beautifully around the garden. I stood watching the faint lights as they swirled around. It was basically a replication of the northern lights, but smaller.
I put my hands out on either side of me and brought them together in a clap. All the light collected in my palms, and the night was dark again.
Just as I was about to leave I heard small footsteps running towards me. Before I could react something knocked me over and I fell face first. I would have put my arms in front of my face but they were to my side flailing for balance.
I toppled over and almost fell into the water. Almost immediately I heard giggling behind me.
I turned to see Sue sitting on top of me. She was no older than five, had black hair and gray eyes, the color of a storm.
"Yay, I surprised Papa!" She exclaimed, bouncing up and down on my back. I rolled over and stood up, causing her to fall off. I picked her up with one arm, grabbing her by the back of her shirt. She just hung there giggling. I set her down laughing.
"Congrats. But it won't happen again." I said. All she did was hug me. tightly, her head just barely past my waist. When she let go she lifted her arms to pick her up. I did so and put her on my shoulders, walking back into the library. When I walked in there was a group of golems huddled, waiting to play with Sue. When I set her down she was off chasing golems. I followed them into a living room with a couch and a small table in front of it.
One of the golems walked up to me, a book sitting on it's head. I picked it up and read the title as Sue and the golems all gathered on the couch
"The nutcracker again?" I said, "haven't we read this one already?"
"We like it when Papa reads this one."
"Why?"
"You're the nutcracker." Was all she said, hugging a diamond golem. The golem looked confused, as if it was wondering why it was above the ground.
"Fine, but if I read this then you have to go to sleep after this, okay?"
"Maybe." She said, with a 'tongue-in-cheek' tone.
I sighed and sat down next to her. As I opened the book she huddled closer and ducked under my arms. I had my arms wrapped around her, my hands holding the book open in front of us. The golems all sat down and I began to read from where her favorite part started:
Soon Marie heard a soft knocking at the door and a faint little voice, "Miss Stahlbaum, open the door and have no fear. I bring good news!" Marie swiftly opened the door and found that the Nutcracker had turned into a prince!
The prince took Marie's hand and told her how he was really Godfather Drosselmeier's nephew, and an evil spell had turned him into a nutcracker. When he defeated the Mouse King, the spell was broken and he was turned back into a prince.
"Oh, Miss Stahlbaum," said the prince, "what splendid things I can show you in this hour of victory over my enemy, if you will follow me a little way."
Marie agreed and followed the prince to the big clothes cupboard in the entrance hall. The door of the cupboard was wide open. The prince stepped inside, pulled a tassel, and a little ladder came down through the sleeve of a traveling coat.
Marie climbed the ladder and soon passed through the sleeve. When she looked out through the neck hole, she found herself in a fragrant meadow.-
I stopped, seeing that she was almost asleep. I put the book down and picked her up. She hugged my neck so she wouldn't fall. I walked into her room, dimming the lights and sitting her on her bed.
Then I tried to get her hands off my neck, but they wouldn't budge. She held on tightly. When I looked down, her eyes were open, staring up at me.
"I wanna stay with Papa." She murmured.
"Why? Is there something wrong with this room?" I said, looking around carefully.
"I'm scared."
I wouldn't blame her.
"So do you want to sleep on the couch?"
"No, I wanna sleep in Papa's room." I sighed and picked her back up, carrying her to my room. Within the Graegor, distance didn't exist. I could simply imagine what room I wanted to enter, go through a random door, and I would be in that room. I was thankful I even found this place.
I read it from a book. In the Ancient Greek times, the inventor Daedalus invented a maze, the Labyrinth. It was as if it was alive, playing tricks on your mind. I also read that the Graegor was the exact opposite of the Labyrinth. It cleared your mind and helped you to find what you sought. The Labyrinth and the Graegorwere the two opposite sides of Daedalus' mind.
I cleared my head as I walked into my room. It was nothing special, with a desk on one side and a bed on the other. I laid Sue down on my bed, and she fell asleep soundly. I sighed and went to my desk, sitting down and turning on the little lamp. I flicked one of the balls on a Newton's cradle, hearing it quietly tick tick.
I was bout to get a pen and paper when I felt my hand light up. I remembered the burn I had gotten from the ordeal at the academy. I had put up a small shield on my hand to use the motor, but now it had expired due to my exhaustion from today. I decided to just go to sleep, turning off the lamp and getting in the bed.
Just as I laid down Sue scooted closer to me. She nestled her head on my shoulder and grabbed my shirt with her little hand. I decided to just let it be and fell asleep. I had a feeling tomorrow was going to be big.
End of chapter 1
