A flashback begins with two 10-year-old children running at the park, a young boy cornered a frightened young girl embracing a plushie that resembles a white rabbit with blue eyes and a light green scarf around its neck.
The young boy has tan skin, dark brown hair, and beige eyes, as he wears a dark blue hoodie with gray jean shorts and black sneakers.
The fair-skinned little girl has shoulder-length, brown hair with a burgundy red hairband and blue-gray eyes, wearing a blush pink dress, an open sky blue and white varsity jacket, and fuchsia and white high-top sneakers.
"Do you want to do this or not, Alyx?" the young boy questioned the little girl.
"I... I don't want to" the little girl in the pink dress said quietly.
"I said, do you want to search for Xander or not?!" said the boy in the hoodie.
"We can't do this, Tydus!" said the little girl. "We'll get in trouble!"
"Do you want to know if your big brother is still out there?!" said the boy.
"Not like this, Tydus," the girl said. "NOT LIKE THIS!"
she shouted in tears at the boy, refusing to find out about her brother's disappearance.
After that, the girl is left alone by the bully at the park, with the young girl looking down with a frown on her face with a single teardrop running down her face.
When I was ten, my brother never came back from a mission, and some people even said he could be probably dead or something.
And then I thought to myself "Well that's messed up, did you seriously wanna go that dark?". I didn't believe everything they said about him being dead. But I accepted the fact that he is. My brother is the reason that I wanted to be just like him.
I have always wanted to become a scythe wielder... If I keep messing up or tripping, or falling, I will always get back up and keep trying...
Chapter 1: Alyx Grace
A long time ago... The world was plagued by evil creatures that cause chaos, destruction, and negativity... Evil creatures are known as the Yokai.
In the world of Etera, they are many regions with each of the four main cities. The eastern city of Kagamiyama... The western city of Vermiculo... The northern city of Cheimonas... and the middle center city of Adenavale... A long time ago, the four cities were founded by many famous warriors that can wield magic and/or weapons.
After they discovered the new cities in this fantasy world that they live in, they opened up academies for warriors-in-training... Some are magical... Some can wield a weapon, either singular or dual... or wield a sword and shield, it does not matter what kind of magic or weapon they wield...
But not all people are inspired to become magical warriors... But a lot of people were inspired by warriors from history or fairy tales and stuff...
Like me... and everyone else.
My name is Alyx Grace, and this is my story.
The city of Adenavale is a modern city alongside the other cities, from the city of Kagami to Vermiculo City and Fulmine City. Adenavale City is known for one of the famous academies in Etera; Commonlance Academy, one of the academies for warriors-in-training. The marketing place in Adenavale has about everything you need, the vendors sell about everything, whether you should your not.
Two young teenagers were running in the marketing area, the same young girl who was bullied at the park four years ago, who goes by the name Alyx Grace, is now a teenager, just about 15 years old.
Alyx's brown, shoulder-length hair is now cut in a short, neck-length bobbed hairstyle with the two front strands of her hair remaining shoulder-length hairstyle, and her bangs are swept-sided to the left. She also wears a red-violet hairband instead of it being burgundy.
Kairi's outfit consists of a very pale gray collared shirt with gray buttons, including a buttoned-up light purple tuxedo vest, with pale pink buttons, a double-layered, rose-ebony color, a pleated skirt with goldenrod belts, and a golden yellow zipper in front of the left side.
Her outfit is covered by a short, open, tailcoat-blazer jacket with a burgundy color block on the shoulders, also colored on the inside of the tailcoats, and heather pink at the end of her sleeves, silver zippers in front of each side of her jacket, and colorful buttons on her blazer. She wears a pair of maroon-color fingerless gloves, with three colorful bracelets worn on her left wrist.
Alyx wears purplish-brown tights and black-soled, burgundy-red, hi-rise boot-like sneakers with a vermillion design, a singular yellow strap apiece, with brownish-purple tips and dark red, low wedge heels.
"Come and catch up, Alyx!" A young, slightly tanned-skinned boy, who appears to be about Alyx's age, with a black hair undercut hairstyle and jade green eyes appears to be racing with his friend, Alyx.
Alyx groans with annoyance.
"Are you kidding me, Ryuga?!" she complained as she continues to race Ryuga.
This is Ryuga Nightvalor, he's a really good friend of mine since we were ten.
A flashback shows four years ago when Alyx was crying alone at the park, embracing her rabbit plushie. Ryuga, at age 10, walked up to the lonely child.
"Hello," he said.
10-year-old Alyx stopped crying but still has a sad look on her face, looked at Ryuga with a single sniffle.
"Hi there," she replied.
"Are you okay?" Ryuga asked.
"No," Alyx replied. "My friend... wanted me to look for my big brother, but I don't want to get in trouble because of him. I think he's not my friend anymore..." tears continue to run down her face.
"I'll be your friend," Ryuga said, "My name is Ryuga Nightvalor"
The girl stopped crying. "Alyx Grace" she replied.
The flashback ended.
Ryuga's outfit consists of an open dark blue leather short-sleeve jacket with a light blue color block with a brownish-gray, short-sleeve shirt. He wears a pair of tan wristbands and a gray belt he wears a pair of dark navy jeans with a white patch placed on the left knee and black high tops. He also wears a brown belt around his waist along with his sash, which his belt consists of two sheaths for a pair of dual swords.
"Try to catch up, slowpoke!" Ryuga teased.
That childish insult causes Alyx to catch up even more.
As a result, Alyx summons her scythe, Twyla, just to use her speed magic to catch up with Ryuga at full speed. "Hey, no fair!" Ryuga complained.
After the young scythe wielder passed her best friend, she accidentally crashed into a shop of trinkets. Luckily, the shop owner moved out of the way before Alyx crashed.
Ryuga walked towards Alyx. "Yeah, in all honestly... I can't see you making that far" he said.
Alyx gets up and she sits down cross-legged. "Your right," she said. "I guess I got a little too carried away" she smiles awkwardly.
"Come on, Alyx. We're gonna be late!" said Ryuga.
Alyx gets up on her feet and continues to run alongside her best friend. After running and searching for the arena all over the city of Adenavale.
The two best friends finally made it. Adenavale City's Ironriver Stadium.
"So, this is the place?" said the curious Ryuga.
"Yes" replied Alyx. "This is Ironriver Stadium. One of the famous stadiums in the world of Etera"
"And our ticket to the academy" added Ryuga.
"That's right," Alyx said, she begins to run. "Last one there is a dingbat-" the young scythe wielder runs into someone and fell backward while the person fell frontwards.
"Damn it..." Alyx said.
The girl Alyx bumped into has fair skin, light blue eyes, and long, blonde hair that reaches down to her knees that is styled in a high off-screen ponytail.
she also looks beautiful, but her outfit is very fashionable.
The fashionista wears a purple strapless dress with pink lining and a white sash wrapped around her waist. She also wears a dark gray denim vest with gold buttons and pockets to store some dust supplies and light gray boots with pink straps and two-inch heels. She also wears a pair of light gray, long point gloves that extended to her mid-upper arm with pink lining and her emblem is in white on the upper part of each glove.
For accessories, she also has a set of pearl earrings, a white infinity scarf, and white sunglasses with light blue lenses. She also carries a dark grayish magenta cross-body purse.
"What is wrong with you?!" the fashion girl said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" added the apologetic Alyx, as she gets up on her feet.
"Sorry? You're sorry?! Didn't you know how much my outfit cost!?" the girl said.
"Uh, I-I-I don't know," Alyx said with a curious look on her face.
"It cost me 300 dollars, you dolt!" the rich girl replied by yelling at Alyx.
"Oh..." the scythe wielder had a blank expression until she realized and became surprised that the pink-outfitted girl's outfit cost a lot of money. "Wait! 300 dollars?!" Alyx said with a shocked look on her face.
"Do you even know who I am?" the girl said. "Or your just too stupid to know"
After Ryuga witnesses how Alyx bumped into the spoiled rich girl, she runs up to Alyx and the fashionista. Ryuga also recognizes the girl.
"I know," he said. "Your Quinn Rosewood; daughter of the world rewound fashion designer, Karissa Rosewood, and your father is an engineer, and your grandfather, and his father before him"
"Whoa, how'd you know about her?" said the curious Alyx.
"They helped my clan supply their weapons," said Ryuga.
"Well, thanks for the recognition," Quinn said with a smug look on her face.
"However. If you going to be considered about your clothes, I'm not sure you'd make a good warrior" said Ryuga.
Taelia was offended by Ryuga's words. "Well, I'm not gonna get my clothes all wrinkled, dirty, or tattered either" she replied.
"A true warrior worries more about being in the heat of battle not what he or she is wearing, honestly I'm not sure why you're here," said Ryuga.
"who you're to talk to me like that anyway? and what do you mean your clan?" then Quinn realized who she was talking to.
"I know you," Quinn said. "Your Ryuga Nightvalor, Jiraiya's grandson from the Nightvalor Clan"
"Yes, and I also don't appreciate you bad mouthing my friend," said Ryuga.
"Your friend? F.Y.I she ran into me" said Quinn.
"And she tried to apologize but you were too busy losing your temper. I suggested you take care of that" replied Ryuga.
"Fine," she said. "I'm sorry"
"Apology accept. What should I do to make it up to you?" replied the curious Alyx. Quinn walked up to the scythe wielder.
"Don't ever run into me again. Don't ever mess up my outfit again, and don't ever make the mistake again!" Quinn said with a threatening tone.
"Uh, okay...?" Alyx replied awkwardly.
"Are you gonna come with us or not?" questioned Ryuga.
"Ugh. Whatever, I'll come" replied Quinn.
Alyx, Ryuga, and Quinn enter the Ironriver Colosseum. Many warriors-in-training who are attending Commonlance Academy is excited about the entry exam.
"Welcome warriors-in-training, to day three of the entrance exam," said Headmaster Goodfey. "If you wish to become a warrior, worthy of protecting our home, then let's put that to the test" Headmaster Goodfey begins to explain the rules.
"Each of you will be fighting one of the professors, any lethal attacks pulled will not be allowed in this exam. You are not allowed to hit any male professors below the belt"
After hearing the below-the-belt part, Alyx snickered a bit, as Quinn rolled her eyes at the scythe wielder.
There are two ways to make your opponent yield or knock them out of the ring. If you succeed, you will be allowed to attend Commonlance Academy. If you fail, then you probably have to wait until next year"
Alyx gulped quietly after hearing the fail part by Headmaster Goodfey as the young scythe wielder feels nervous about the exam. "I don't understand why your doing the exam since you're from one of the top clans. You should've just been entered from a letter of recommendation" she said to Ryuga.
"I mean I could, but I want to scoop out the competition for myself" replied Ryuga.
The warriors-in-training walked up to the board to see which professor he or she is fighting. Ryuga looks at the list and looks at who is he fighting and sees the name of a professor who goes by the name Yaiba Yukimiya. "Looks like I'm the very first match," he said.
Ryuga walks into the arena as Professor Yukimiya is cleaning her rapier's blade and the stagehands remove her cleaning supplies. "I should feel honored to be fighting somebody from the Nightvalor Clan. I hope their legacy isn't a waste for nothing" said Yaiba.
Professor Yaiba Yukimiya has fairy skin with beautiful platinum blonde hair with her hair in a low side ponytail, with a fencer's combat gear, but with a female professor's touch to it.
The referee begins to count down and said "Three. Two. One. fight!"
The fight begins with Ryuga and Professor Yukimiya. Ryuga got behind Professor Yukimiya and knocked her out of the ring within the first few seconds. People are amazed at Ryuga's fighting and how he won. They clocked his victory at 1.40 seconds. One of the professors says "I think that's the fastest battle on record!" he said.
"That Jiraiya trained his grandson well, did he?" said the dark-haired professor.
The dark-brown-haired professor is Drayden Grace, Alyx's father and the professor of Commonlance Academy, and the heavy hitter of a warrior that everyone in Adenavale City knows about.
"Tch. A new record? I can top that" said Quinn as she flipped her blonde hair once.
"If you didn't top that, then better luck next time, Quinn" replied Alyx.
"Excuse me?!"
"Alyx?" A young man about Alyx's age has tan skin, dark brown hair with dark blonde frosted tips, and beige eyes. It was Alyx's former childhood friend. His combat outfit consists of a black sleeveless shirt with a tan short-sleeve moto jacket with dark blue trousers, black fingerless gloves, and brown laced boots colored silver at the toe.
Tydus now wields a pair of silverish-gray gauntlets.
"Alyx Grace... What the hell are you doing here, little wimp?" said Tydus.
I forgot that detail... That jerk is Tydus Freethorn, he was a friend of mine and now we're enemies, all because I refuse to go with him to find out what happened to Xander.
"Tydus... I didn't see ya there" Alyx said in an unenthusiastic tone. Alyx was not expecting to see her former childhood friend in Ironriver Stadium. They haven't spoken to each other in four years until now.
"Wait, you know this 'little wimp' you called her?" said the curious Quinn.
"Quinn Rosewood, Tydus Freethorn. Tydus, Quinn" Alyx made a quick introduction.
"I've heard about Quinn Rosewood, the daughter of the woman behind the 'Verity Queen' fashion brand," Tydus said. "Unlike me, I got to train for the test twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five, at least I'm not a spoiled brat or complete garbage"
Alyx was offended by her former friend's insults. She looked down with a frown. Quinn looked at the girl she just met being insulted in front of the scythe wielder's new ally.
"I don't think she's complete garbage," Quinn said. "And I'm not going to let Alyx get insulted by some mouth-breather with a pair of shotgun bracelets who insulted me and my friend!"
"Quinn" Alyx is surprised about how Taelia stands up to Tydus for her.
"I will prove myself I am worthy of becoming a mage. I will prove to myself I am more than just a Rosewood" Quinn turned to her new friend.
Alyx's sorrow turned into a determined look on her face. "And I will prove that I am ready to become a master scythe wielder just like my brother," she said.
"And now, Alyx Grace will be facing Professor Drayden Grace" Professor Goodfey announced.
Alyx is surprised that she will be facing her father, who is one of the teachers in Commonlance Academy. Everyone is talking and whispering to each other about Alyx's familiar surname, wondering if there is a relation between her and the professor.
"Wait, Grace?!"
"Is there a relation?"
"I guess they're related or something"
Alyx keeps on hearing the whispering from the people who are going to watch the fight between the young scythe wielder and her father as she walks up to the arena.
"I figured this might happen," Drayden said as he enters the arena to face his daughter and vice versa.
"Is she really going to go face-to-face with her father? Kinda like I did with Canalo" Quinn thought.
The father and daughter finally made it to the arena. Finally, face-to-face with each other.
"The battle starts..." The referee began as Drayden unsheathes his buster sword, Yamikawa, and Alyx summoned her scythe, Twyla.
"NOW!" The referee called out.
The fight has begun. Alyx rushes to her father by using her speed as she is about to slash her father, but Drayden blocks his daughter's attack by using Yamikawa. The father and daughter pushed each other back. Alyx jumps backward and landed on her feet. "Dammit, he really is one hell of a hard hitter!" she thought to herself with a glare.
Tydus, who is watching the fight between father and daughter, is with some other students who passed the exam yesterday. "That loser's not gonna pass" Tydus scoffed.
Alyx begins to perform her scythe magic. "Alright. Time to show you what I'm made of, Dad!" she said.
A magical glyph appeared with a reaper user's emblem of two sickles together with a pair of angel wings behind them.
"Darkside... Pulse!"
A pulse of dark purple magic blasted a burst of magic as it hit Drayden. Drayden begins to find that Alyx isn't there in front of him. And then somehow was low swept by someone as it turned out to be his daughter who did that. After Alyx knocked her father over, she sends Drayden flying.
"WHAT?! How the hell is she doing so well?!" said the surprised Tydus.
"I thought you said she's a loser," said the student with light brown hair. "But she doesn't look like one to me"
Drayden tried to recover and strike back with his buster sword but Alyx blocked the attack with her scythe. And then finally, the scythe wielder begins to push her father back out of the ring as the bell rings twice after Alyx claimed a victory.
Alyx begins to pose with her scythe hanging behind her with a grin on her face. "Nailed it," she said with a sing-song voice.
After Alyx's victory by passing the exam, Quinn has a loss for words as her eyes widened while covering her mouth with her left hand. Ryuga walked up to his best friend.
"You actually did it," said Ryuga.
"I did" Alyx replied with a smile on her face, and then her smile turned into a surprised look on her face.
"Holy crap, I just beat my father during an exam!"
Drayden walked up behind his daughter as he smiles. "Looks like you made it in," he said when Alyx got startled as she turned around to see her father.
"Well... yeah," Alyx said with awkwardness. "I mean, you're one of the strongest fighters with a badass weapon. The strongest ones in Etera to be precise"
Drayden gives a small chuckle after hearing his daughter's compliment. "Welcome to the academy, Alyx," he said as he walks away.
Alyx's surprise face returns.
"Just so you know, Alyx, I passed the exam since day one" Quinn said with a smug look on her face.
"Wait, what?!" Alyx said, "Why didn't you tell me and Ryuga?!"
"Because I wanted to give a reaction out of you," Quinn said.
"I'm not that surprised, Quinn, I just heard about it on social media," said Ryuga.
"Wait, social media?! Why didn't you tell me this earlier after you recognize me?" said the surprised but curious Quinn.
Alyx is proud of herself and her friends for passing the exam and getting into the same academy in Adenavale City. She gave a small chuckle as she smiled. "I've finally done it, Xander. I will make you proud," Alyx thought to herself, thinking about her late brother; Xander Grace.
Next Time:
Alyx: OMG! I wonder what It'll be like being a student at Commonlance Academy! Going to class, making new friends, and most importantly, being a part of a team!
Ryuga: Slow down, Alyx. We need to get to training soon.
Alyx: What, what?! I thought we were done with the exam
Quinn: (scoffs) Alyx, not only did we pass the exam, we need to prepare for survival training.
Ryuga: I was just thinking about that, Quinn.
Alyx: Hell yes for the survival training! Wait, what about our new friend?
Quinn: Don't even think about bringing him up, Grace.
Next Episode: Welcome to Commonlance