Chapter IV:

A Big announcement

The next day Cassey woke up late. When she woke up Lelis already left the room. When she looked at the watch, it's already 5 past 7, meaning she's already late. She hurriedly get herself dressed and run going to her classroom. When she gets there the door is closed and she heard that William is already discussing their lesson.

"Damn!" Cassey said while stomping her feet. "I'll just attend the next class." she said to herself. She began to walk going to the library. She was surprised to see Stephen there reading a black book.

"Hey" she approached Stephen.

Stephen looked at her. And closed the book he was reading but he marked the page with his forefinger.

"Didn't sleep well?" Stephen asked her.

"Yeah, you too" She seat beside Stephen. "What are you reading?" she said while leaning to the book.

"This is the books of the best sword fighters for the last century."

"Oh, I see you're so interested in using swords."

"I'm not just interested; sword fighting is my first priority."

"So why are you late?" asked Cassey smiling.

"I think we both have the same reason." answered Stephen.

"Lack of sleep" they said at the same time. They both laugh.

"I just can't sleep of what just happened last time. Now I can laugh about it."

"I didn't sleep not because of that but because of Calyx. If you don't know, he is my room mate."

"Why? What did he have done to you?"

"He keeps on teasing me about what he has seen last night. He said I fought so clumsy and slow."

"To be honest he's too proud of himself, you're great last night!"

"Thanks but Calyx is right. Wait until you see how he fights. No one here can defeat him."

"I don't care about him. I just hate people whose so fool of themselves."

"You remind me of someone." Stephen said while touching his chin.

"Who?" asked Cassey curiously.

"Never mind." the he continued reading the book.

When the bell rang they both entered their room. Lelis asked Stephen.

"Where have you two been?"

"Were both late so we stayed at the library?"

"Professor William was looking for you two."

History, Literature and Math class was over. They all went to the cafeteria to eat. The three dorm heads arrived. Their dorm mates greeted them as they come. Dorm two people are the noisiest.

"Ahem. We have some announcement to make." said Brian.

"We will have a welcoming tournament for the year."

"Isn't that too early for a tournament?" asked Billy.

"Shut it." said Brian. "Ok we all notice that the head master was not around for the opening year ceremony until now. But early this morning he sends a message to Professor Peter and he asked us, dorm heads, to tell every one of you that the school is having a tournament."

"And for the prize, of course we have to have a prize. Whichever dorm will win most of the duels will won free midnight snacks, and for the winter season, a vacation at Heathen."

Many reacted when Richard said Heathen.

"What is Heathen?" asked Cassey to Lelis.

"Not what, it's where. Heathen is the home of the elves."

"No kidding!"

"I'm not. Elves are still living. But mind you they were so few of them now."

"A tournament for what?" asked Tricia.

"As a bribe from the Head Master." said Billy. Everyone laugh.

"I said shut up Billy. Professor Frederick decided to leave us a tournament because he has some business to attend to and that is surely for the school. To not disappoint everyone, he gives us a special prize for us to enjoy." said Brian.

"Now the contest will last for 2 days. First day was the tournament and the Second day was for the presentations you will prepare. "

"What kind of presentations?" asked Stephen.

"Anything, for example game booths, stuff like that."

Now each dorm started to plan for their preparations. In the end of their conversations, dorm one decided to make a big planetarium.

Dorm 2 decided to make an RPG and Dorm 3 decided to make an exhibit. Brian called everyone's attention again and said,

"After us dorm heads submitted the presentations later, the teachers will plan the whole tournament and maybe the program letter will be distributed tomorrow. Now I hope everyone will cooperate in preparing these presentations and that means you too Calyx"

Calyx looked at him so fiercely and said "Whatever you say".

"How long would be the preparations? I mean how long is the time for us to prepare?" asked Celerina.

"It depends on how will they plan it tomorrow, let's just wait for the date of the tournament itself" said Brian.

The evening comes again and Cassey can't sleep again. "What if I go to the forest again, will I see Stephen?" she asked herself.

"I need to have a walk." She said desperately. She jumps out her bed and wears her jacket. She walks out of her dorm going to the forest. "Why do I desperately want to go here." she asked herself. "I'm freaking myself out." She looks around and feels something different with the air. The atmosphere was kind of heavy. She starts to feel dizzy and touch her forehead. She leans on a tree, she begins to catch her breath. Then the next moment, Cassey was lying on the ground.

The next morning when she woke up, she saw a sealing fan. She recognizes it at once, the sealing fan of the hospital wing. How did I get here?

"Someone brought you here last night." said by the nurse.

"Who?" asked Cassey.

"I believe he's Calyx. Some girls who come here talks about him so I guess that's him."

"Oh," Cassey was surprised.

"You must be friends with him, he looks kind of worried."

"Really, no I don't even talk with him. What exactly happened to me?"

"The guy said that he saw you lying on the ground and you're sweating so much."

"I felt so dizzy and the next thing I remembered is when I leaned to the tree and I'm finding myself hard to breath."

"You shouldn't be wondering in the forest in the middle of the night. Creatures bump in there every now and then."

"Yeah I know."

When she got back to her room, she notices the time. "I must attend the next class for 8:10"

The recess was over and the students must go back to their rooms. Cassey also entered the room.

"Where have you been?" asked Lelis. "I'm so worried, you didn't return last night."

"I'm at the hospital wing."

"What happened?"

"Long story." Cassey said while looking around hoping to find Clayx.

"Who are you looking for?"

"No one" said Cassey.

Then Calyx passed behind her. She didn't have the chance to approach him because Tricia was looking.

"How can I thank him if I can't even approach him." She asked herself.

When all their classes were over, they started to make their presentations.

"What kind of RPG are we going to make?" Cassey asked Lelis.

"Some kind of a challenge booth. I saw the blueprints of Brian this morning, It was actually big, were going to use one of the training simulators on the middle of the southern forest."

"What's inside of that stimulator?" asked Cassey.

"You better asked Brian I didn't notice that part."

Brian arrived in the sports dorm lobby where they were working. "Ok guys, to give you a hint of what are we aiming, we are using the training stimulator in the southern forest." said Brian.

"See told 'ya.'" said Lelis.

"Here it is what's going to be, when they enter in our RPG, they will face consequences and challenges and it depends on what they would pick. The choices will be draw lads. Now we will just finish the designs. I'll explain more further when were finished." explained Brian.

Everybody was so busy painting and designing the walls.

"Why don't we just ask some of the art department to do this for us? Some of them can paint this for just minutes." said Billy.

"Are you drunk?" said Jorell "This is our RPG, our presentation and we are the one who must prepare this, not them."

"But I don't like this stuff I suck in painting."

"You are not the only one." said Jorell.

Jorelle's work was horrible. Billy laughs so hard. "Your work was worse than mine." Jorelle smash his head.

"What are you doing?" asked Brian.

"Look at Jorelle's work" he said while laughing. Brain looked at it and smiled.

"Wow, nice," then he laughed also.

"Damn you two." said Jorelle.

"Just joking, you can ask Stephen to help you."

Then they heard Tricia calling for Calyx.

"Your prince charming is not here Tricia." said Elaine.

"You don't have the authorities to talk to me and I'm not asking you" said Tricia.

"Whatever, loser." teased by Elaine.

"Who are you calling loser?!" she shouted angrily.

Brian step between them, "Stop it! When do you guys want to stop quarreling with each other?"

"I don't even have the idea" said Elaine.

"Duh!" said Tricia.

"Where is Calyx anyway?" asked Brian.

"Obviously in the forest again." said Elaine.

"He must be helping us in preparing!" Grunt Tricia.

"Why don't you just admit that you just want to see him?" said Elaine.

"What?!" replied Tricia.

"I said stop!" shouted Brian. "If Calyx doesn't want to participate, fine, he will never appear in the RPG anyway"

"Everyone I already have the program letter." shouted Brian.

All the people in the lobby gathered. Brian gave them the copies.

They all scanned the contents.

"We have three more weeks to prepare and I think its enough." said Brian.

"Yeah, so they are going to make a planetarium and an exhibit, how could it be possible that we can win?" asked Tricia.

"More cooperation, efforts and what else?" said Brian holding his chin.

"If Calyx' would give us more of his brilliant ideas we could surely win." said Tricia.

"Stop your fantasies Tricia, CALYX-Will- NOT -HELP!" shouted Elaine.

"I'm I asking you?!" screamed Tricia.

"I'm just telling you the truth loser." said Elaine.

Tricia released her wraith which is a black cat. Elaine also released hers which is a snow dog.

"You will stop or you will stop!" shouted Brian.

"I didn't started it, she did!" said Tricia pointing to Elaine.

"I don't care who started it the problem is when do you want to stop?"

"I already said I don't even have the idea." said Elaine.

"Me either." said Tricia.

"You two, if you don't stop this I'll have to tell it to Professor William" said Brian.

While Brian is lecturing Tricia and Elaine, Calyx arrived. Tricia freeze.

"What can I help?" said Calyx.

Everyone looked at him very shocked. Someone was opened mouth while he Calyx was walking going to Stephen's working place.

"Dude are you sick?" asked Stephen very entranced.

"No, why?" said Calyx.

While Calyx was convincing Stephen that he really wants to help, Shira and Lelis were talking about what happened to Cassey in the forest.

"That's new, he don't even talk to a girl.

"Really, never?" asked Cassey.

"Of course his past girlfriend." said Lelis

"He had a girlfriend before?"

"Yeah but she died last year."

"How sad." Cassey paused painting. "So that's why he's so lonely."

"She was seated in your seat before, that's why it's empty."

"What's her name?"

"Laira Evanescence." Lelis replied.

"How did she die?"

"I don't really know but at first they thought Calyx was the one who killed her, but the headmaster cleared his name."

"How could they think that Calyx killed her?"

"They found a vampire bite in her neck. And she was found in the middle of the forest, the place where Calyx and she usually meet.

"That would hurt Calyx badly, I mean, her girlfriend died and everyone blamed him for killing her."

"That's maybe the reason why he always hides himself. Stephen told me that his life was a very sad story."

"Pity." said Cassey.

"He just uses his entire time practicing and training to forget about Laira and now he's the best in school."

Calyx looked at them very fiercely. He actually heard their conversation.

"What's the matter?" asked Stephen.

"Nothing I just thought I heard bees." Calyx replied.

When the night comes, Cassey usually can't sleep. She tried not to walk but her feet carried her to the forest. She thinking of Calyx and hoping to see him there and thank him. She's getting far but there's no sign of Calyx.

"I think I should go back." She said to herself and looks around. "The problem is I think I'm lost. Shit." She finished talking to herself almost teary eyed. She tried to go back but the wood is still the same.

"God! What should I do its alrea- Aaah!" she falls into a deep hole. She looks up and realized that the height of the hole is almost twice as hers and 3 meters wide. "I'm lost and now I'm stuck, this is unbelievable!" she shouted.

Calyx was passing by when he heard Cassey's mourning. He find where the cry came from and he found Shira in the bottom of the hole.

"How nice of you to drop by" he asked Cassey.

Cassey looked at him.

"Very funny" she cried.

"Next time you go here in the forest, be sure that you can handle yourself. It's not like every time there was someone who will save you."

"I was looking for you." She stated.

"Why?" Calyx asked.

"Could you please help me come out first?" she said.

"No, you get yourself in there, you can get yourself out."

Then he continued walking.

"Hey! You selfish guy! Help me!" Cassey shouted while crying.

Calyx didn't mind her. Then he heard that the wolves coming. He doubt about leaving Cassey.

"I can't just let her die" he said to himself. He looked back and walks more closely to the hole. He sneaks into the back of the tree for Shira not to hear his footsteps. "Let me try to make your wraith come out." He whispered.

Cassey was still squealing. The wolves heard her and started to follow her scent. In Cassey's big shock she saw a wolf standing at the opening of the hole, and they were increasing their number. "Please don't eat me!" Cassey shouted. The hungry wolfs are growling. Her blood was rising to her head. She started to shake. Calyx in the other hand was watching very carefully in the wolf's behavior. After few seconds one of the wolves decided to dive for Cassey. Calyx hurriedly runs to stop the wolf, but before he reaches the opening of the hole, Bluish light appeared. The wolves were thrown away, including Calyx.

When Calyx opened his eyes, he can't believe what he was seeing. A blue Dragon was standing in the opening of the hole and obviously, it was Cassey's Wraith. Inside the whole, Cassey was still covering her face and closing her eyes. She slowly opened her eyes and checks her body for wolf bites, but there was nothing. The dragon helped her out of the whole. Cassey can't believe of the dragon she was seeing. She looks around and saw the wolves lying on the ground dead.

"What's this?" Cassey asked.

"Obviously your wraith" said Calyx while removing dirt from his shoulder. Cassey looked at the dragon.

"Did I kill the wolves?" she asked trembling.

Calyx nodded. "Are you ok?" he asked Cassey.

"Yes. But you almost got me killed." Cassey said seriously.

"It's not my fault you fell in that hole. Well do you want to come back with me or what?"

"And what am I suppose to do with my wraith?"

"Make him or her come back inside you."

"How?" She asked irritably.

"Just tell it. You're the only person that can talk to it." He said while tacking his left hand on the back pocket of his jeans.

Cassey faced her dragon and tell it to go back. It vanished right after she finished talking. When it disappeared Calyx started to walk without a word. Cassey just followed him.

While they were walking, Cassey breaks the silence.

"Uhm, hey." She said.

"What?" he said without looking at her.

"Thank you for saving me last night."

Calyx didn't respond. Cassey was thinking that the guy that's with her at that moment was so cruel and snobbish. She remembered what Lelis told her earlier.

The next day, Cassey surprisingly woke up early. Lelis was still in the room when she finished showering.

"What's happening Cassey, looks like you're in the mood today?" said Lelis while arranging her school bag.

"My wraith came out last night." She said happily.

"No kidding!" Lelis was surprised.

"Yeah. And it was a dragon."

"What? Unbelievable!"

"Why unbelievable?"

"A dragon was one of the wraith gods."

"What are the wraith gods?"

"Wraith gods are the superior of all wraiths; they are Dragon, Phoenix and Snake. They are most powerful wraiths. They can think for themselves. What's your power?"

"I-I don't know. What I saw last night is when I killed every wolf that's going to attack me. And there were flashes of bluish light."

"Oh, maybe you can ask Professor William about that matter, he's kind of expert in identifying powers."

After the literature class Cassey talked with William since it would be their free period.

"Uhm, sir my wraith already came out last night but I still didn't identify what it is."

"Wow, that's good news. What's your wraith?"

"A Dragon sir." She replied.

"Outstanding, may I ask what did you saw last night when it came out?"

"There were flashes of bluish light."

"Is there something else; is there something you think that was affected by that light?"

"Yes the wolves that's around me, they ended up-"

"Dead." interrupted William.

"Yes, dead."

"Well there's only one possibility about that, you, well, you have a nullification power."

"What's that?"

"It means that no powers or wraith can affect you. There are a lot more things you can do with your power but I don't have any wide knowledge about it, I only know basics. You now have to be trained."

"Who will give me trainings?"

"Me. I was also giving private lessons."

"When will be starting?"

"We could start on Wednesday next week my schedule with Vizcerie will be 4:30 after classes."

"I'm going to train with Calyx?"

"Yes, His wraith is the same as yours so it would be easier for you to train both, congratulations Pevenscie, you're a real student of Crasian now. Bye." William said smiling at her.

"Ok thank you sir." She smiled back.

She seat back and keeps her literature notebook.

"Hey Cassey congratulations on having you're wraith finally." said Elaine.

"Thank you. I almost died having it." She said.

Elaine laughs of what she has said. Stephen also went back to his seat.

"Nice work Cassey, you're wraith and power was cool." said Stephen smiling at her.

"Thank you."

"How did you make it come out anyway?"

"Well I'm in the forest then I fell into a deep hole and got stuck. I stayed there until the wolves arrived they spotted me there and tried to eat me but before one could dived into the hole, my wraith comes out and they all died."

"Superb. Now you can protect yourself on your own."

"Calyx was there. He's there the entire time when I'm in danger but he's did nothing but to watch again. I asked him for help but he just ignored me, I really hate him."

"You should thank him for that."

"Why ?!"She asked angrily.

"If he saved you, you wouldn't have your wraith come out."

"Why?"

"Because, wraith usually comes out when a myth is in danger. When a myth was in extreme tension blood cells were moving rapidly and the body's pressure will increase causing the wraith to be awakened. You must be very nervous last night."

"So that means Calyx made me nervous to be able to awake my wraith. That's why he's just watching."

"Exactly." Stephen said leaning to his desk's backrest.

"What a selfish way to help me. It almost 'cause me a heart attack."

Stephen laughs. "That's the best way he could think of to help you, knowing his attitude of being snobbish."

"Yeah, what more I could expect."

After the free period, its math time with Professor Peter. For the passed days Shira entered the school, Peter was extremely giving her a hard time in his period because she still looks like a normal human to him and he was the major teacher who states whether you are passed being a student of Crasian. But now Cassey already have her wraith maybe Peter has no more will against her. When Peter entered the room he looked at Cassey very sharp. Cassey also give him a strange look.

In her mind she thinks that maybe Peter already finds out that she already have her wraith.

During the class Shira was watching Peter very attentively, not because she wants to listen to his discussions but to see whether he will notice another false misbehavior of Cassey. Then Peter called her to answer the problem in the board. Cassey was shocked because she was unconsciously looking at him. She stands up in front of the board and gets the chalk in Peter's hands. "What will he do if I didn't answer this problem?" Cassey tied to answer it. While she was answering she almost sank in the place where she was standing because of terror. Then right after she gives the final answer she went back to her seat.

"Is my answer correct?" she whispers to Elaine.

"Your answer is correct but the second step was wrong." Elaine whispered back.

Peter stands in the middle. "Well the answer is correct but the second step is wrong. Could anyone make it right?"

Peter miraculously didn't scold Cassey. After their classes, while they were working in their RPG, The D- boys made a scene again. Haruka, Martin and Ben started the ramble. The others join and before the paintings were ruined, William arrived.

"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.

"Were just having fun professor." Said Jorell.

"You're having fun so badly that you almost ruin the designs."

"We didn't start it" said Billy.

"Who did?"

"We do." Haruka, Ben and Martin said together.

William took a deep breath. "You're already fourth year students. Say goodbye to your childish attitudes because it didn't fit you" He said pointing to each of them. The D-boys just nodded.

"I was here to visit your presentation and it seems like not everybody was helping."

"No sir everybody helped Stephen, Calyx and the others were already in the stimulator arranging the walls."

"Really?" He was surprised to hear Calyx was helping. "Calyx what's oing on with him?"

"Were also surprised sir, he just suddenly wanted to help." said Elaine.

"That's good for him; his old self is coming back, Where's Cassey?"

"She's in the Stimulator too helping."

"I see, I hope everyone was having a good time and I hope your preparations will be the first to be finished."

William left the lobby. He walks straight to the stimulator. He saw that the RPG is almost finished. Brian was also there helping to build the walls. William walks into Brian and said "Good work dorm head."

"Thank you sir. My dorm mates were pretty obedient this time." said Brian proudly.

"What did you do to make Calyx help?"

"I don't know sir, were so surprised when he offers us his help." He said while scratching his chin. "I think it's good for him, I mean after what happened last year maybe he must push through with his life." Brian added.

"Yeah that's maybe right but what happened is not an easy thing to forget. I also ask you to help Calyx."

"I'll try everything I can.

"Very well, I'll just come back later. I still have some more work to do. Keep it up."