Chapter 2: What the hell is going on!?

"Ok since it's your first day I'll start off with basic knowledge that everyone in here should know to get you all warmed up." Nine wrote the aim on the board and turned to the class, groaning when she found one of her students already sleeping so soundly. With a twitching brow, the teacher patted over to said student and pounded the desk until his now frightened eyes met hers. "Is my class that boring runt?" The scared boy shook his head as she trotted back to her desk and leaned against it. "So for today, we will be learning about the history of Ars magus and Armagus."

'At least something easy.' Ragna thinks as he tries to keep his eyes open.

"Ok now can anyone tell me, and I better see everyone's hands up what is Ars magus?" As she said that the entire class puts their hands up as Nine says, "That's the spirit. Now…" Nine scowered the room looking for who to call on, and she found them snoring in the back.

"Ragna! Wake up!" Nine screams as Ragna falls out of his chair, startled by his sudden awakening. As he gets up, Nine asks "So Ragna mind telling the class what Ars magus is?"

"Fine..." He growled

"You can start anytime." Nine said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Ragna exhaled. "Arsmagus is the foundation of our daily lives. It was created thousands of years ago and is the fusion of magic and science. It is used by using and manipulating a substance in the air known as seithr. Even though we don't know where seithr came from, we have learned to use this mysterious substance to perform various types of supernatural feats, such as controlling elements or changing weather patterns to suit our needs. Arsmagus was created for the many people who aren't able to use magic and has become the building blocks of many breakthroughs, such as weapons known as Armagus." Ragna finished as the class looked at him in astonishment. "What?"

"No its nothing it's just, we expected a more broken down answer not an answer like that." One of his classmates said still surprised by what he heard.

"Yeah, thanks. Your encouragement is appreciated." Ragna said sarcastically as he plopped himself back down.

"Guess you do know something." Nine said.

"Everyone knows that! Argh, bite me," Ragna growled to his teachers' joke. He looked to the window. Has it really been 10 years? Time sure does fly by quick. He laid his cheek into the palm of his hand as his mind became distant from reality, watching the birds fly high in the clear blue sky. Abruptly, and rather sharply, a pain lanced through his body as he winced. 'The hell...?' He looked to his right arm and groaned, "The hell is wrong with you now? Damn piece of work..." Ragna gave his appendage a few taps before resting his cheek in said palm once again.

"Ok, Tsubaki, continue from where Ragna finished."

"Yes Mrs," Tsubaki stood, her form dignified. "The weapons Ragna were talking about are known as Armagus. They are weapons designed off of Ars magus. We threw away our old weapons and developed these new and more powerful ones instead. But there are a few Armagus weapons that are well known such as the Sealed weapon Izayoi and the grimoires. The most well-known and most powerful grimoire is the Azure Grimoire. Researchers haven't been able to find the Azure Grimoire, so it's believed to be a myth. But aside from those, there are weapons known as Nox Nyctores. These weapons were crafted many years ago and are said to choose its welders and are also said to have a mind of its own."

"You're absolutely right. Look what happens when you actually listen. In fact, some of those weapons you just mentioned are in this room right now. But I'm not sure if a certain somebody wants me to mention theirs." Unknown to the rest of the class she was referring to Ragna which earned her a scowl and middle finger from him. The bell rang a moment after. "Oh break already? Ok class be back here in one hour, or I'll give you an essay to do for homework." With that, Nine took her belongings and walked out with her students soon following.

Ragna picked his sword leaning on his desk and stood up as Jin walked over to him and asked, "Hey brother, what did she mean by not mentioning someone's weapon?"

The two started out the classroom as Ragna said trying to feign ignorance, "No idea. Anyway, come on let's eat."

"Is there something wrong, brother?" Jin noticed his tired visage. Perhaps it was because he decided to stay up all night to binge watch a show, but this didn't look like sleep deprivation. Something was bothering him.

"Yeah, I'm fine just thinking." Ragna sighed as Jin started to chuckle. "Hey what's so funny?"

"There must be something wrong if you're thinking brother," Jin said which earned him a growl from his brother.

"Ha ha, very funny."

"If he's thinking, then hell has definitely frozen over." A voice behind them commented, the voice being none other than Kagura who walked with the rest of them.

"Well fuck you too." Ragna snarled as he turned to walk.

"It's a joke man calm down." Kagura chuckled up to him then tapped his shoulder and asked with a voice now filled with concerned. "Seriously man is everything ok? You seem out of it."

"Don't worry I'm fine," Ragna assured him, though, he wasn't sure himself.

"If you guys are just gonna stand here, I'm going on ahead," Kokonoe told them, walking along as they soon followed suit. They finally made it to the cafeteria and opened the door to find a long line of students waiting for food.

"Maybe we should just go to a store," Kagura suggested.

"But I'm broke..." Makoto groaned.

"Tough shit," Kokonoe shrugged, walking off.

"Seriously... Ugh! Ragna, you're buying me food." Makoto said, walking off after Kokonoe.

"The hell I am," Ragna groaned, following with the rest. Only halfway to the door did a sudden chill run up their spines and an odd pulsation stop them in their tracks.

"Ok, so... was I the only one that felt a chill?" Makoto inquired.

"No... You weren't..." Tsubaki said.

"Good. Just checking." Once more did their bodies pulsate, but this time, a strong vertigo followed, forcing them to grab and pull on their hair. Simultaneously, everything began distorted, as if space was shifting. Ragna went on a knee from the grueling pain and clutched his right arm, feeling it throb like mad as he shut his eyes. When the pain stopped, and he opened his eyes, he found their surrounding more than a bit surreal. They were still at school, but it all looked so pale and almost faded.

"Um... Kokonoe?"

"Don't ask me."

A pregnant silence hung in the air, later lifted by the sound of clapping heels echoing throughout the halls. Moments ago the halls bustled with noise from students. Kokonoe didn't mind the silence, but this was a little out of the ordinary. A sweat dropped from each of them, awaiting the arrival of the coming person. They were put to relief, sighing as it was only Nine.

"Oh! Mom, it's just you! Thank goodness."

"What do you mean? Of course, it's me."

"Sorry it's just we felt dizzy, must be seeing things."

"What are you talking about? Well if your feeling dizzy let's get you to the infirmary and have you looked at." As she turned around, they notice a small, dark, gaseous ball emanating from her chest.

"Mother, what is that? In your chest?" Celica asked, worried. She had never seen anything like that before and judged by the look on her friend's faces; they shared the same thought.

"Huh?" Nine turned back to them and looked at her cleavage. "Ok, now I really think you should get looked at Celica, your hallucinating." The mature woman started over to them. "Seriously, Celica... That's why I say no eating after 9:00."

'No...' Ragna scrutinized her chest (not for perverted reasons) and once more saw the ominous gaseous ball and if he wasn't mistaken did she just... smirk? "What is that? Celica get away from her!" Ragna quickly pulled Celica, surprising her.

"Ragna!? What's wrong!?"

"I don't know, but that's definitely not the Nine we all know," Ragna said as he put a protective arm before Celica.

"What do you think you're doing you, idiot!? Get away from my daughter so I can help her!" Suddenly, Nine's eyes turn red and strange marking crawl on her body like veins, bringing with it a cumbersome air and aura.

"W-what the hell!?" Kagura took a couple of steps back along with everybody else.

"Damn brats...!"

"So, I don't want to state the obvious here—just a little bit of advice here—but shouldn't we be RUNNING!?" Makoto stressed.

"Oh no, you don't!" Immediately Nine rushed them with them reciprocating by rushing to the entrance and bursting out the door to the open schoolyard.

"Get back here!" A red seal appeared before Nine's palm as a torrent of flame sprouted forth. Quickly, Kagura spun around as his blade sprang out from black flames and blocked the spell, but just barely. Not wasting any time to run he hoofed it to catch up with everyone else, wondering why in the hell it was taking so long to reach the gate. It's like they weren't even going anywhere. Not only that, Nine seemed to be effortlessly gaining.

"Bitch is gaining on us!" Ragna informed.

"We can see that!" Kokonoe looked back and clicked her teeth then turned to the school gate. "Why the hell does it feel like we're going nowhere!? She's gonna catch up to us at this rate."

"Then if we can't avoid a confrontation," Ragna dug his feet into the ground and spun around with his blade in hand and swung at Nine, missing as the mage leapt back.

"Brother!" Saya whipped around and ran to her brother's side along with Jin.

"Wait! What are you idiots doing!?" Kokonoe called out to the three.

"Come on, Noel! Tsubaki!" Makoto rushed over to them with said persons in tow.

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Come on," Kagura smirked. "Might as well." The man joined in as Celica followed, leaving the beastkin bewildered. She merely facepalmed and rubbed her eyes. So, instead of running away from the crazy bitch that is her mom, they want to fight?

"What the hell..." Kokonoe sighed and ran to join them, seeing no other choice in the matter.

"Who the hell are you! We know you're not the 'real' Nine!" Ragna said.

"Interesting... Heh heh heh...!" The so-called imposter's lips curled by forty-five degrees as a wellspring of power rose up from beneath her feet. With a snap of her fingers, javelins of flame appear instantaneously, each one aimed at them.

"Guess she ain't the talking type..."

"You all die here..." The mage callously stated as she snapped her fingers once more as each javelin sprang from their place in the air to the group. Quickly, they leapt out the way of the coming spears, gaining a bit more distance while managing to surround her, all of them equipped with their weapons.

"I think that's our line," Kagura pointed his blade at the mage.

"I don't care who you are at this point. I won't let anyone get away with impersonating my mother. " Kokonoe bit. "I'm gonna make you pay you bitch."

"Make me pay? What a farce," she narrowed her eyes at the beastkin, and once she locked onto Ragna, her glare became venomous. "This feeling is...!" Suddenly her eyes widened as she rushed Ragna with a burst of speed, arm surrounded by fire and eyes out for blood.

Well, I'm done with chapter two hope you all liked it. Please comment and tell what you think or what I should work on. Thanks and see ya!

Next Chapter 3: Fight for Survival

Revised.