A/N: Finally the second chapter, didn't take me a few months this time though. This chapter just explains the story in better detail by Karu, but I think it went well. Have fun!
Hiroki was sitting on a ledge that overlooked a small pond a few yards away from the school. He had a free period and wanted some peace and quite from the usual bustling and crowded building. Solitude was something Hiroki enjoyed, it let him relax and reflect on things he wanted to think about.
He picked up a small rock from the grass below him. He hurled it forward; the miniscule stone soon fell into the deep, pure water becoming engulfed by the moist substance until it disappeared. Hiroki sighed tiredly; his left hand unconsciously touched the ruby dangling from his neck, his body shuddering at the power he felt coming off it in mystifying and powerful waves. It used to be that these gems were nothing more than a symbol, a trinket if you will for the Spell caster and Seer's power. The only distinct oddities of them were that no one pair had the same stone, thus less confusion among the 'special' humans were avoided. However, ever since the Goddess' Forge master betrayed her and started making duplicate gems to steal other special humans' powers, these gems became far more than a fashion accessory. A Spell caster and Seer's powers were held within the gems until they did battle.
Sure they could activate their powers outside of battle, but there was a price at using it too much, a price even Hiroki never learnt. Hiroki lifted his hand in front of him, his palm upwards, as he muttered a word in a forgotten language some even doubted ever existed.
"Ignis"
A small flame erupted on the center of Hiroki's palm. The flame hissed like a snake, bathing its master in a warm light. Fire was Hiroki's specialty and he enjoyed the warmth and passion it represented. Not much is known as to why a Spell caster and Seer knew Latin, they just did, and it was as easy as breathing to them.
Somewhat unwillingly, Hiroki's latent thought about Spell casters and Seers withdrew its ugly head. A Spell caster is always paired with a Seer, who acts as a friend and a partner to a Spell caster when they fought. When a battle is initiated by either sides Spell caster, both teams are pulled into an alternate dimension where magic still rules, hence how gems are not needed in battle. The Seer is given a spell book, one of distinct color or design to it. With these books, a Seer can draw out their Spell caster's powers. Seers had to only say the type or category the spell falls into, the rest is up to the Spell caster and how powerful he or she is.
When a spell hits, the Seer gets damaged as well as the Spell caster, the worst of the damage goes to the Seer however, if a Seer is wounded enough not to continue or say a spell, the battle is over.
Ever since Hiroki discovered that, he abhorred the very thought of having some stranger watch your back.
Hiroki was not a very trusting person and he made sure everyone knew it. Trust made one blind and would cloud one's mind with doubt if that trust was foolishly misplaced, which happened to the best of people. However, there was in a small, dark corner of Hiroki's mind that still held such trust, that longing for companionship and wanted nothing more than to trust again, though he would never admit it.
Hiroki shook his head, trying to rid himself of the foolish thoughts. "How foolish, it's not like I even fight. What need have I of a Seer?" he said, trying to convince himself most. It didn't seem to work. A sudden voice tore Hiroki from his black thoughts. He crushed the flame that still flickered in his had. It disappeared as if it were just an illusion.
Hiroki's face instantly soured at who it was. Karu Tashimata. Hiroki groaned, did the boy have nothing better to do than aggravate him? Yes was what Hiroki thought. Karu's cheerful smile seemed to send waves of positive energy off him and onto Hiroki, successfully making the other slightly less irritable, only slightly.
"Hi, Hiroki-san!" Karu exclaimed ecstatically, too much in Hiroki's option. He didn't answer, hoping Karu would take the hint and give him some privacy.
He didn't.
Instead, Karu sat himself right next to Hiroki, a bit too close for Hiroki's liking, so he slowly shrinked further away. After a few painful minutes of useless silence, seeing as the boy wasn't going to leave anytime soon, Hiroki decided to be at least a bit courteous this time and start conversation.
"What do you want?" Karu jumped a bit at the sound of the other's sudden question, obviously not expecting him to start a conversation. Hiroki smiled despite himself. "Well, I just saw you here alone and thought maybe you were lonely or wanted to be alone," he started rather nervous, "I wasn't sure of which one so I went out on a whim and guessed the first," he finished, nervously rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. Hiroki shook his head. "Second," he muttered. Karu laughed, awkwardly, "Guess that's why people tell you never to assume, huh?" Hiroki gave a slight shrug, "I guess," he mumbled, totally not caring about the conversation, just listening enough to answer.
Karu cursed mentally, he was getting nowhere! Karu thought for a moment, maybe a more direct approach would work? He mentally shrugged, what did he have to lose? Hiroki already hated him anyway, though he wasn't sure if this was going to be bad or good. Karu took a deep breath, letting it out a moment later. "So, have you ever heard the fabled story of the Goddess?" perhaps reciting some of their people's history would open some doors. Hiroki gave a wry glance his way, but remained passive. "That's just a fairy tale for children," he insisted, but something inside him gave an alerted felling. Was Karu an enemy? Was that why he was trying to be so friendly to him, to lead him into a false sense of security and the back stab him? Hiroki wasn't sure, but he held fast to his ruby in case he had to defend himself. Karu noticed the move, but ignored it; he doubted Hiroki would attack him when he realized who he was. "Maybe so, but it's still pretty interesting. Do you want to hear it?" Hiroki gave a cautious nod, actually curious to see if Karu knew the tale as well as he did.
"Once, long ago, a nameless goddess appeared as if from nowhere. She saw the vast nothingness of space and decided to create all the planets and dimensions that coexist with this world. This took a great toll on the Goddess' power, causing her to sleep for three hundred years. After she awoke, the Goddess was surprised at how the planets prospered without her held, Earth especially. Animals already began to inhabit the grassy plains and watery trails of the planet. For a long time, she was happy to see all the creatures that came about. But, she wanted more, beings that knew and understood her, beings who would revere her. She created these 'First Humans', who were each given a little of the Goddess' unlimited powers. They each had stones which symbolized who they were and the power they could command." Karu stopped for a moment, seeing the still cautious but intrigued look on the other male's face, he continued.
"Almost a million years of peace passed, until one day the Goddess discovered that her Forge master who made all the other First Human's stones was making duplicates that could steal their powers. Enraged, the Goddess cast him away, stripping him of his powers and exiling him from the land he served. In order to avoid something like that again, the Goddess called every First Human to her, with the exception of a handful of families, she took away theirs powers and memories of all they have seen and done with them. The handful left were also stripped of their powers, but kept their stones, which now held the power they had." Karu seemed to be getting angry as the story went on, his usual happy go lucky tone gone in place of one who knew of loss and anger. Perhaps the two had more in common then Hiroki thought.
"That wasn't all, the Goddess also branded ever surviving First Human with a cursed name which symbolizes what you either have or don't have a lot of. For example, Limitless would mean that there are no limits to what you can accomplish. The name 'First Humans' was also taken from them, putting Spell caster one who fights, and Seer one who draws out power. Each pair was given a book only the Seer can read during battle. The Goddess thought that if we had our powers during a time that magic was strange and unnatural, we would be punished." Karu's tone became sadder; his voice seemed full of anguish as he recounted each of the ways the people were killed and for some reason, Hiroki felt an overwhelming urge to hug the boy, to comfort him and tell him it was all right. The thought left as quickly as it came.
"She was right, normal humans were afraid of us, burned us, and murdered us just because of what we were. After she did all that, the Goddess slept once again, maybe hoping to see what her decision had an impact on the world. Some say she sleeps even now."
Karu sighed, turning to Hiroki who was wide-eyed and confused. Karu had a memory rivaling his own about the legend. He could recount it like he were there. Spell casters and Seers also withheld the memories of their ancestors, remembering what they went through during their lives. The use of "us" and "we" didn't escape Hiroki's ears either.
"Do you believe all that?" he asked, turning his red gaze forward. He felt Karu's eyes bore into him, causing him to turn as sterling silver met crimson red, "Yes," he said low. Hiroki swallowed hard, nervousness blocking his wind pipe. "Why?"
Karu's gaze never left Hiroki's as he said. "Because I am one of them"
A/N: Sorry I had to do that stupid cliffhanger, but the chapter was getting to long and I had to cut it. The next chapter is going to have a battle in it though so its worth the wait. Reviews make me happy and inspire me to continue!