Before starting this chapter, I just wanted to thank AniMeTRantz998, GuestD, and the unnamed Guest for their reviews. It really means a lot to me, and helps me tremendously with confidence as a writer, but before I get it all sentimental...On with the story LOL
Chapter 9: Sanctuary
Shin awakes the next day by jolting himself upright before grabbing his head in agony. He moans before looking around to find himself in a large bed with golden, silk, blankets and sheets inside a large bedroom.
"What happened last night?...", groans Shin as he looks next to him to see a pair of clothes on a night stand. "What the hell?!", shouts Shin after he jumps out of bed, and realizes he is also wearing a golden, pair of silk night-clothes.
"I took the liberty of changing you last night, sir.", echoes Rotei's voice as he opens the door to Shin's room.
"You changed me?!", retorts Shin, staring blankly back at Rotei, who simply smiles.
"Yes sir. I was very gentle as not to wake you, but enough about that.", replies Rotei with a gentle smile, but changes the subject abruptly. "There are training clothes prepared for you as you can see. Also, the others are awaiting you downstairs in the breakfast nook.", he continues to say as he waves his hand towards the clothes on Shin's night-stand.
"Training clothes?", questions Shin as he picks up the dark-blue vest, white shirt, and black pants. "I still don't know how I feel about another dude changing me in my sleep, but whatever!", complains Shin as he begins to get changed into his only option for clothing at the time.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't drink so much if you're a light-weight!", chimes Arlo's voice as he enters Shin's room from the hall-way.
As Shin ties his shoes to finish changing, he looks up to see Arlo in the same attire as him, but his clothes are a gold and red color instead. Suddenly, Shin remembered everything that Arlo had told him the night before, and looks up at Arlo with sympathy in his eyes.
"Don't look at me like that, man! It's wierd!", shouts Arlo with a smile.
"I'm sorry I passed out, man. After you answered my questions, I kind of acted like an idiot.", replies Shin, while scratching the back of his head.
"Nah, you're good, buddy! I was just happy to be able to explain a couple things to you. I'm sure Eldriana can explain more though. I mean she is waiting for us downstairs, ya know!", states Arlo with a forgiving smile to Shin, who perks up when hearing that Eldriana is ok.
"Let's go get some breakfast then!", replies Shin with a smile, running out the door in excitement.
"I CAN do this! I just have to become stronger!", thinks Shins to himself as he runs down the hall.
Shin and Arlo make it to the breakfast nook located outside the mansion on a small patio, and get sight of Eldriana gazing at something in the distance.
"Hey, Eldriana! How are you feeling today?", asks Shin with a smile, but Eldriana does not turn around to greet him.
"I told you it would look a lot better in the daylight. Shin, Arlo. Welcome to Sanctuary.", replies Eldriana as she turns around with a bright, cheerful smile, and motions for the two boys to look out ahead of them.
Shin and Arlo both gasp in awe when they gaze out over the edge at a grand metropolis that stretches as far as they eye can see. The Mansion sits upon a hill that oversees the entire city, and Shin can see people bustling in the streets below. The city stretches for miles until reaching a large mountain range, and has castles and buildings of all sizes.
"Whoa, pretty cool, huh Shin?", questions Arlo in awe as he leaps up onto the bannister to get a better look.
"Yeah, you said it. So this is where you live, Eldriana. Amazing...", states Shin with awe in his eyes as he looks over the rail at the magnificent city.
"Yes, this is the home of the Mythos. They have long been our friends and allies, and have given us refuge in their realm from the Titans. But I guess I should explain the Mythos to you, Shin. ", replies Eldriana before forgetting that Shin does not know what Mythos are.
"Actually, Arlo covered that part all ready. I know all about the Mythos now.", proclaims Shin, while flicking his nose in arrogance.
"That's good because you will be fighting against two of them today!", announces Raiku as he enters the balcony with Mei and Yang at his sides.
"Good morning, brother!", greets Eldriana to Raiku, who nods and smiles in return.
"I'm glad that you have recovered, Eldriana. I'll be sure to thank Artemis and her team properly the next time I see them.", replies Raiku as he turns his attention to Shin and Arlo.
"Who's Artemis?", questions Shin, also curious about the person that saved Eldriana.
"She's a Goddess too, but you'll meet her and the rest of them in due time, Shin.", comments Eldriana as she sits back down to enjoy her breakfast.
"Yeah, about this training. What exactly am I going to be doing anyway?", asks Shin curiously to Raiku, who is ready to give his explanation.
"For the next ten days, I am going to train you to become an exemplary fighter, and someone that can properly use his divine power correctly.", begins Raiku in earnest before Shin cuts him off.
"Whoa, hold up! Ten days? I can't stay here for ten days!", interrupts Shin, while flailing his arms wildly in refusal.
"Don't tell me you're worried about school, man?", asks Arlo with a curious look on his face.
"No, why would I be worried about that?", states Shin flatly. "But, I do have a Dog back home, who is probably starving by this point! And there's Colyne to deal with...", continues Shin, giving a laundry list of reasons before Raiku stops him.
"Shin! Your dog will only have to go without food for one day; so, I think he'll survive! This is the fate of the world we're talking about! Are you this impossibly oblivious to what's at stake here!", scolds Raiku, who has not been too friendly with Shin to begin with.
"Yeah, he's kinda been like that his whole life.", adds Arlo with a chuckle.
"Man, what the hell, Arlo?!", shouts Shin, slightly insulted by his so-called friend's comment.
"Anyway!", begins Raiku again, ignoring Shin and Arlo's casual behavior. "We begin after breakfast! So eat your fill, and be ready for the start of the most intense workout of your two pathetic lives!", orders Raiku as he exits the balcony with the Twins behind him.
"Hey! I told you I can't stay here for ten days!", shouts Shin back to Raiku, but he ignores Shin completely.
"Do not worry, Shin.", states Eldriana in reassurance to Shin. "He forgot to mention, but time is far slower in this realm, and ten days here is the equivalent to only one day in your realm. So, you two can sit down, and enjoy your breakfast now!", explains Eldriana with a smile as she continues her own breakfast after the quick explanation.
"Dammit, why didn't he just say so to begin with?", asks Shin with a frustrated tone before sitting down to eat.
"Yeah, he's not really a nice guy. Well, have fun with your training, Shin!", snickers Arlo, turning his head to avoid showing Shin his smirk.
"Oh, you'll be joining Shin. He needs a partner, and who better than his best friend. Or are you just going to let him fight Mei and Yang together? They really are Dragons, you know?", asks Eldriana with a somewhat wicked smile as she sips her tea.
"I guess not! But you owe me one, Shin!", replies Arlo with a childish look on his face.
Everyone bursts into laughter, and sit down to enjoy their breakfast. They will need the strength if they are ever going to survive the first of the ten, grueling days...
After finishing breakfast, Shin, Arlo, and Eldriana make their way to the training field behind the mansion, and walk along a small, paved path through the courtyard to the fenced-in area. Inside the fence was a large open field with a rest area, medical station, and even a lighting system as well! Upon arriving, Shin gets sight of Raiku, Mei, and Yang all waiting for them, and Raiku signals to them to hurry towards him.
"Ok, you two!", begins Raiku to Shin and Arlo, who have just arrived in front of him, while Eldriana takes a seat in the rest area.
"Yes Sir!", reply Shin and Arlo in unison, mocking Raiku as they put their hands to their heads in salute before bursting into laughter.
"So you think this is all just a game, huh? Then I'm going to enjoy making you pay for your comment last night...", replies Mei with an evil look on her face as she begins to crack both of her knuckles.
"O-Oh dear, please don't hurt them too badly, Mei...", pleads Yang desperately, raising her voice above the usual whisper to show how serious she is.
"Quiet, Yang. These two idiots need to be tought a lesson in respect!", replies Mei with malevolence in her voice as her eyes begin to change into dragon's eyes.
"Whoa, what did I do?!", replies Arlo in defense as he waves his hands forward. "Shin's the one who got all in your face last night, not me!", continues Arlo as they are hit by a gust of wind created by the power of Mei's rising power.
"Geez, Arlo...thanks for the support...", states Shin flatly as he turns his attention to Mei in an attempt to stop her incoming rampage. "I'm sorry Mei! Please don't kill me, and I swear I'll never do it again!", begs Shin as he falls to his knees in forgiveness.
"No way! You're not getting out of this! I'm going to crush you two clowns!", shouts Mei in refusal as her teeth become more like fangs, and a large amount of purple energy begins leaking from her being.
Mei releases a huge amount of energy as she starts to transform right in front of the slightly intimidated Arlo and Shin, who look at each other in uncertainty. Mei's body becomes coated in white, armor-like scales, and her fingernails change into long, purple claws before she finishes her transformation.
"Whatever, then! Let's take this cocky girl down, Shin!", rallies Arlo as he looks at Shin with confidence.
"Yeah, bro. We'll show her the power of true friendship!", proclaims Shin as he points to the air in defiance.
"Yang stay back. I'll deal with these two fools.", states Mei in a cool tone as she balls her fists in a calm fury.
"Ok! Let's begin your first test, Shin! This will show me how skilled you are now, and allow me to evaluate what we need to work on! Do not worry because I gave Mei specific orders not to kill you!", orders Raiku, smiling after he finishes his sentence.
"You may begin!", shouts Raiku as he and Yang move to spectate along Eldriana.
"Heh...", chuckles Mei as she smiles before disappearing from Arlo and Shin's view with a flash of brilliant speed.
Mei appears between of Shin and Arlo before they even have a chance to prepare themselves, and brutally backhand slaps both of them with a quick spin move. Both boys crash backwards at great speed from the surprisingly strong attack before regaining their balance, and recovering from the nearly lethal first strike.
"Damn! What a hit! My ears are still ringing!", shouts Arlo as he stands again with a small grin.
Mei ignores Arlo's obvious taunt, and springs forward to attack Shin, who is still regaining his composure. Mei leaps into the air, and speeds at Shin with a flying kick aimed at his head.
"Enough playing around! Let's go, Hercules!", shouts Shin, beginning to summon the silver and golden buster sword to his hands.
"I'm here to help anytime, partner!", announces Hercules as Shin manifests his buster sword just before Mei's attack.
Shin blocks the incoming strike just in time to stop Mei's kick from colliding with his head, but he is still pushed back when she connects with the wide side of his sword's blade. Mei rebounds off the blade with a graceful leap, and prepares to hit Shin with another attack, but he is ready this time.
"Weapon Arcana: Climhazzard!", shouts Shin as he releases a crescent blade at Mei, who doesn't even flinch at the attack.
Shin is stunned when Mei easily catches the beam of energy in her hands, and stops its force with little effort. With a confident look on her face, Mei crushes the crescent beam between her hands, and the energy dissipates into the wind.
"What?! No way?!", shouts Shin in disbelief as Mei relentlessly charges forward again with her claw perched to attack, but suddenly a chain of searing, blue flames wraps around her arm to stop her.
"Hurry, Shin! Get outta-Whoa!", shouts Arlo before he becomes airborne when Mei effortlessly flings Arlo by his own chain.
In one quick motion, Mei slams Arlo into the ground with shuddering force, and his chains suddenly becomes loose around her arm; thus, allowing her to attack Shin freely again. She launches at Shin with a relentless assault of slash attacks, and Shin is barely quick enough to defend each strike. Mei surprises Shin by quickly jumping into the air, and kicking his sword with such colossal power that it sends him sliding backwards despite him guarding the attack. Shin comes to a skidding halt beside Arlo, who is just now getting back to his hands and knees.
"Damn...She's so powerful! What is she?", questions Shin as he looks down at his hands, which are still vibrating from her last attack.
"She's a dragon. The most powerful Mythos to ever exist, and the only Mythos nearly equal to the Gods in strength. We can't afford to hold back, Shin, or she might actually kill us. Let's go all out!", states Arlo, a serious tone in his voice to match the expression on his face.
"You're right, let's do it!', agrees Shin as his eyes begins to light up with light-blue, divine energy.
Shin clutches his sword with both hands as he becomes engulfed in a bright-blue aura, and Arlo releases a pillar of dark-blue flames that spiral around him into the sky. Mei smiles at the challenge in front of her, and untaps her full power as a purple aura, equal in size to Shin's, envelops her body. The sky above them begins to darken as all three warriors begins to increase their power, and appears to be ominously awaiting the approaching clash of powers.
"Arlo, attack!", shouts Shin, and both of them launch themselves into a head-on attack at Mei, who stands ready for them.
In a lightning quick flash of strikes, both sides rush past each other, and come to a quick stop. There is nothing but a still silence in the air; until, a small breeze whistles past them, and breaks the silence.
"It is over...", mutters Raiku to Eldriana and Yang, who both look at Shin and Arlo curiously.
"Sorry, Shin...I'm out...", stutters Arlo, falling to the ground as blood bursts from four deep, claw-like, slash wounds on his back.
"No way...She got us in one hit...", stammers Shin as well, blood spewing from four identical marks to Arlo's, but his were on his chest.
Shin falls to the ground directly after Arlo does, and both of them lie motionless as Mei deactivates her Dragon Form. Before losing complete consciousness, Shin looks up at Mei, who smiles back at him with a cocky look on her face, and grits his teeth in shame.
"Damn...Is this really all I have? No! I won't give up! No more giving up!", thinks Shin to himself as a sudden surge of power floods his being, and bursts from his body as he miraculously stands again.
"Don't you ever count me out!", roars Shin as he charges at Mei despite his grievous wounds, his aura turning crimson red with power.
Mei is shocked by Shin's resolve, and is completely unprepared for his sudden attack. The ground breaks apart from Shin's explosive aura as he rushes at Mei with his sword drawn to attack. Mei has no time to defend when Shin closes in on her with great speed, and can only shield herself in fear before his overwhelming power.
"Take this!", bellow Shin as he brings his sword down upon the defenseless Mei, but Raiku appears right in front of him to stop the attack.
With a swift strike to the abdomen, Raiku stops Shin dead in his tracks, and Shin stumbles backwards before falling to the ground in paralysis. Shin grimaces in pain as blood pours from his chest wounds, and his body begins to seize up.
"What...t-the hell...did you do to me?", asks Shin to Raiku as he struggles to force his head to look up at the person that disabled him.
"Do not worry. I've only paralyzed you, but I am glad to see you've finally found your fighting resolve, Shin.", states Raiku as he kneels down beside Shin. "But that's enough for today. I've seen all I need to see, and your real training will begin tomorrow. For now, get some rest, and let Eldriana heal those wounds.", he continues to say as he motions for Eldriana to come to him.
"Damn...you, Raiku...", is all Shin can reply before the strain of his wounds are to much to bare, and he falls unconscious...
On to the next chapter...
