Faris stared down the 9 remaining Pearl Initiates. "I've got to say, this is not a good look for you guys, I actually prefer your arrogant faces over the serious ones you're giving me now." He leapt in the air to avoid a slice of wind. They launched fire balls at him. "Vrangr!" (awry) He used a spell to redirect one into the other three, though the explosion still blew him back. He got his bearings before landing but his clothing was singed.

"Don't let up!" James yelled as they continued their attacks.

They're sloppy and desperate. Faris thought as he avoided their strikes. But even then, I'm in a tough situation. He had to rely on his magic to help him avoid the magic attacks, he didn't have the stamina to continue keeping it up for much longer. The mages pulled out various weapons.

Yacob licked his blade. "I remember, you aren't as strong as you let on, your sword skills are still so sloppy, and look at you, weaponless, maybe you should grovel before us."

"No thank you." Faris charged forward. Yacob grinned widely, preparing to cleave his head clean off his neck, two more mages swung their axes above and below. Faris short hopped, and used magic to aim himself in between the swinging blades. His leg swung towards Yacob, stopping short of his face due to the wards."

Yacob grinned, screaming out. "Brisingr!"

Faris raised his hand as the flames engulfed him. "Vindr!" A gust of wind hit them all, blowing the flame before it did too much damage and knocking everyone over. Faris struggled to get up, his skin warped and discolored from all the burns. Faris winced as the mages struggled to get up, he charged one of them, grabbing him and worming his way into the mage's mind. "Slytha!" As the mage fell unconscious, he used his resources to bolster his body and heal himself, it wasn't enough, but it removed his shaking, the mages got up and surrounded him again, launching various magical attacks. "Dammit!" He screamed as he grabbed the unconscious mage and his weapon.

Yacob growled as Faris was engulfed in silver light. He turned as he felt his wards dip again, turning he saw Faris had struck at his leg with a morning star. He raised his hand to kill the boy. Only to have him leap back again. "Dammit, why don't you give up?!"

Faris put down the unconscious mage, "You could have killed him jackass! He's your friend isn't he!?"

"Please, like I need friends, and all our futures are over, so we've resolved ourselves."

The other mages tightened their weapons.

"Fuck this city… why." Faris hefted the morning star. "So basically, I'm the only one not playing for keeps." He tested the weapon's weight, it was heavier than the long sword, but not too bad, and he could tell it did a lot of damage. "I don't like this situation at all, but you were the ones being stupidly unreasonable, I'm not going to backdown."

The mages began to cast their binding spells to seal his movements again. Faris closed his eyes as he felt the invisible cuffs hold him down. "Brisingr!" They screamed, launching fire balls at him.

"Drjugr líf galdr!" (Strong life enhancement)

Yacob narrowed his eyes as the area around Faris exploded. "Vindr!" He launched a short gust of wind to blow away the smoke, revealing nothing.

Any signs of guards in the area?! Faris sounded to Damien, who was extending his mind to search and spread while Faris was the offense and defense.

Not yet… a few, okay, I got one! He's getting reinforcements, we got to hold on for 2 minutes. Damien smirked grimly inside.

Should we run? Faris asked.

We aren't in any shape to run. Damien groaned.

Faris grinned angrily, his breath hot and condensing in the cold air. "I can only do this for maybe a minute at most now." He growled. The bindings were still there, but he chose instead to overpower them for a short bit. He leapt towards the mages, who flinched, unable to keep up with his speed. He targeted James first, striking him at the legs, it took three blows before his wards failed and he collapsed, Faris immediately felt relief in his left leg, and used it to kick another mage. He blocked a blow from Yacob, breaking the older boy's longsword with the morning star. "vergarí iet verkr!" (kill my pain). The morning star began to glow a bright orange as the mages attempted to heat it enough to force him to let go, Faris smelled his skin burn as he gripped it tightly, and heard his blood boiling at the area, yet he continued to grip, charging the offending mages, smashing his morning star so hard it shattered through two pairs of wards before breaking into the earth, his hand spasmed and let go uselessly. Ten more seconds, and my right arm's completely useless. He didn't look at the thing but he could tell it was distracting the mages. I can use this, I think. He extended his mind to attack the mages, but miscalculated their actions, they had pooled their energy into Yacob who prepped a larger than average fire ball. The five mages had produced a lot of power, close to what Venka had done to destroy the iron dummy. Of course, that wasn't her full power. But it's still enough to melt me down, to think they are that strong even when they are so exhausted. Faris grit his teeth and cut the spell enhancing his body, concentrating on creating a dense amount of air just in front of the mages.

"Die!" Yacob screamed as he launched the fire ball forward, only to see in shock as it expanded rapidly and prematurely exploded.

I'm still too close! Faris was launched back into a wall, he landed on his face and struggled to look up, he had turned off his pain receptors much like had been done with some of Galbatorix's soldiers, and the little bit of feeling his nerves gave off resembled an itching, or tickling sensation. He felt himself chuckling even as his ears rung and he could barely move his body. The mages had taken the brunt of the damage, many of them were covered in terrible burns. He saw in alarm as Yacob and the 4 others got up slowly. Yacob growled angrily as he clutched his face, which had been burned, but grinned when he saw Faris's condition.

"Well, look at you…" He groaned, smiling. "Groveling on the ground like the dog you are."

Faris still chuckling smiled at him. "Nice face Yakky."

"Shut up!" He grabbed a spear and charged Faris, stabbing him in the back. Faris felt something pop and it became hard for him to breath, even then he laughed, coughing out blood with each guffaw. "Shut up! Shut Up!" Yacob screamed, his face becoming twisted in desperation, as he brought the blade down to strike him in the face. Faris glared at him as the blade inched closer. But before it went down and killed him, he saw a flash of feathers and talons, followed by Yacob screaming in anger and pain.

"Huh?" He looked on stunned as Ventus knocked the boy down before flying towards Faris.

Friend! Faris! Hurt! Faris cocked his head as he heard those words.

"Ventus?" He looked at the bird, "Did you just talk to me?"

"Damn boy! Nothing goes right around you! Fine! Brisingr!" A fireball formed in Yacob's hand, "Just roast with your bird!"

"Ventus!" Faris yelled in his mind, desperate now, "Run away!" Ventus either didn't understand him or was directly disobeying him because he faced Yacob, who launched the fireball towards Faris. He flew up, aiming to fly through it. Faris opened his eyes, preparing to kill himself to block the fireball, but he was too weak to even reach his magic. "No!" He screamed. The flames engulfed the bird blasting past to burn Faris, as he closed his eyes, instead of the intense heat, he felt nothing, opening it to see that the flames had not reached him, and Ventus was fine.

"Huh?" Yacob was stunned, "did I use too little magic?" He charged another blast of flame, directly at Ventus, as the flames raced towards the bird they folded around and dissipated. Though this time around everyone could see the silver light emanating from the trinket around Ventus's neck. Ventus flew back towards Faris, nuzzling him. Faris looked on his stunned silence, reaching out his mind to connect to his bird.

"Ventus? Can you understand me?"

…Yes…

"WHAT?!" Faris was confused, he knew Ventus could understand vaguely what he meant with the ancient language, but he didn't think he was that intelligent that he'd be able to communicate back.

Faris, hurt, need… Faris got the impression of a soft warm silver light, his eyes wandered to the necklace he made for Ventus, he had enchanted the quartz to slowly siphon tiny amounts of energy from all the surrounding wildlife, as he entered the crystal his mind reeled at the level of energy inside.

"How'd you get that much energy?" He said, flinching as another fire ball harmlessly fizzled out, he turned to look at Yacob, who now gasped in exhaustion. He turned to the other mages.

"Ward piercing lightning! That's what we need!" They began to pool the last bit of their energy. Yacob's eyes narrowed as he saw a silver light begin to engulf Faris. "Don't let them finish!" They launched their spell.

"Vrangr!" only to have it veer off path. Yacob turned, impotent rage on his face as Faris rose from the ground, his owl perched on his arm.

"You really saved me bud." He chuckled, scratching the owl's forehead, Ventus trilled in delight. Faris turned to the mages.

Yacob's face twitched. "Damn you!" He charged forward.

"Jierda." (break) Only to collapse, screaming in pain as his legs gave out, the other mages followed suit as they were pushed down. They'd normally be able to fight against it, but they had exhausted themselves fighting. And, "You are wondering why it feels like your stamina is draining too quickly?" Faris smiled, over the course of the battle he didn't let up his mental assault, he had reached all the way to the center of their minds, and had begun to understand them, which let him siphon their energy to fuel his spell, even as he used the energy Ventus had amassed through the amulet to heal himself and keep himself standing. "I really need to understand healing better." He had stopped his bleeding, and was slowly knitting his bones and muscles back, but it was slow going. He turned his attention back to the still conscious mages, and spread energy, giving enough to wake up the other 7. They awoke in pained gasps. Looking up only to be pressed down by Faris's magic.

"Spa-spare me!" One of them screamed out, crying. "It! Yacob forced us to do this! I don't want to die!"

Faris cocked his head, frowning before speaking again. "Jierda". The girl screamed in pain as her arm broke. Faris sighed, "Anyone else trying to weasel out?" He scratched his head after no one answered.

"I see I did not need to come to help you." Faris snapped his head to see Lord Jaya emerge from the darkness, an entourage of mages and knights followed behind him, they were all on horseback.

"I see you could not be content to enjoy your magic safely." His eyes flashed as it turned to each of the collapsed Pearl Initiates, he turned to Faris and nodded to a pair of mages, who rode over to him. Ventus hissed at them but Faris nodded his head, allowing them to begin to heal him. His face showed evident relief. "Yacob, you and your friends have violated our rules for the last time." He looked at them, crossing his arm.

A group of mages broke off from his group. "Lord Jaya! Please, have mercy! They are merely foolish children!" Lord Jaya cocked his head at the mages. "Lord Rembrant, you wish to save your son's life? But you know the rules." The man bows his head, "Please…" Lord Jaya laughed, "Just earlier today you claimed you would steal my place and take over the council, now that you've seen your son's actual crimes, you have no leg to stand on.

"F-father…" Yacob stammered, wining in pain.

"My son! Why! Why would you do such a thing…"

Faris closed his eyes. He knew why.

A twelve-year old Yacob ran with his friends, enjoying himself and having fun, after that day, he returned home, to an irate father.

"What do you think you are doing associating with that drivel!?'

"But father! They are my friends!" He screamed as his father struck him.

"You disgust me! My son shouldn't associate with scum like that! You have talent! Magical ability! I will rule this school one day! And you must take over after me! My son should be strong!"

Yacob did not answer his father, this was not the first conversation with his father, and it wouldn't be the last.

"You leave me no choice son." He turned to his attendant, "Those children's parents, they work for my company, don't they?!" After the man nodded, he smiled grimly. "Yacob, if you associate with them again, their parents will experience hardship."

Yacob felt nothing as his father spoke his ultimatum, he couldn't let himself feel anything as he trembled, lowering his head. "Yes father, I shouldn't associate with trash."

"Good! You are learning!" Yacob's father smiled, and Yacob smiled back, before covering his face, holding himself back from screaming as his father kicked him viciously, "I expect as such from my son."

Lord Jaya looked at them, shaking his head. "Your son and is associates have broken several of our rules. So, they face execution." The man lowered his head. "Or…" Lord Jaya smiled, "If you wish to share in his punishment, I'll punish all of you together, and you can all accept the Vow of Abstinence like a family."

"That is too much!" The man cried out.

"Then you can stand down and your son faces the execution he truly deserves."

Faris shook his head and raised his hand. "Can I intervene on their behalf?"

"Oh?" Lord Jaya turned to Faris. The pearl initiates raised their heads.

"I'll feel bad if they die over me, so can you let them off a bit? I'd rather end it at this, I did beat them after all, and I'm alive."

"They have tried to kill you; I cannot let that go unpunished." Lord Jaya sighed, "But if you appeal on their behalf, perhaps I can let them off with a simple Vow of Abstinence."

"What even is this Vow of Abstinence?"

"We force them to swear by the ancient language that they can never use magic again, and curse them, if they somehow find a way to break this vow, their heart stops and they die."

Faris gulped. "Harsh…"

"Harsh, but fair. They did wrong by attempting to kill in a mage's duel, then by refusing to honor the contract of a mage's duel, then they assaulted a student outside a mage's duel, then tried to kill the student."

"Hmmm, the person they committed the crimes against were me correct?"

Lord Jaya nodded. "But then, even if you forgive them, they still must face punishment."

"What if this was actually a training session?"

"What?" Everyone turned to Faris.

"Yeah, we were training, I told them not to hold back, we got a little too into it. That's why I didn't demand the magical energy from them, and why they felt they should refuse."

"Really? But they stated you cheated."

"Did they state that in the ancient language?"

Lord Jaya chuckled, "Semantics, but basically, you are stating they are your subordinates, and you were training with them, thus, they never actually tried killing you? And this was a simple training session." He turned to the mages. "Is this true?"

The Pearl students all nodded except for Yacob, who glared at Faris angrily. His father pushed his head down. "This is true yes! Right son!?"

Faris connected his mind to Yacob.

Yo!

Why are you doing this!? What do you want?!

Well, I kinda want you to stop attacking me, and accept your loss fair and square, I mean, you should have just approached me if you didn't want to give me your magic, I would have said ok.

Lies! Yacob's face widened as Faris repeated himself in the ancient language. Why are you saying this!? Is our energy not enough for you?!

You're a cheery guy you know? I don't care to gain your energy because I've been training to increase my own abilities, I'd rather not become complacent like you lot have become.

How dare you! I- Yacob's face paled as Faris brought down the full force of his mental capacity.

I really, really despise you and your mage compatriots, and what you did now has not endeared me in the slightest. The only reason I've not killed you is because none of you are worth me bloodying my hands on your corpses. That and I don't want my friends to suffer. I'm saving you right now because I'd rather have you as allies than dead.

And what makes you think I'll help you?! Yacob showed bravado, though Faris could still feel the fear.

Because otherwise you'll die, or lose your ability to use magic, I mean that's why you attacked me right? You wanted to vent before you died, and you failed, and you almost killed Ventus. If you surrender now, I'll leave it at this.

Or?

Or I will lose my patience. And I will annihilate your entire family line, and make you watch. I am tired, and you do little to make me think to spare the effort of kindness. Faris's face was inscrutable, and he relayed the message so neutrally Yacob couldn't tell whether he spoke the truth.

Yacob looked up, then lowered his eyes. "Yes, Faris is our leader, after the mage's duel, we subordinated ourselves to him. Even then my pride prevented me from revealing that, we came to him for help, and to help us calm down he suggested we duel."

"Even when you stabbed him multiple times?" Lord Jaya raised his eyebrow.

"Yes. I wanted to test a spell I was working on to slow down bleeding." Faris chuckled at Jaya's bemused expression.

"That is still a tall order, I cannot truly believe that."

"Alright, what do you want?"

"Oh?" Lord Jaya grinned. "Are you saying that I should do this as a favor to you?"

Faris sighed.

"Then their only crime was lying to the council." He turned to the Pearl Initiates. "Alright then, take them to the infirmary, 1-week suspension."

As they were escorted away the man who was Yacob's father walked up to him.

"Thank you so much for saving my son's life!" He continued to shake Faris's hand while the procession left, once they were out of ear shot the man relaxed, and his face took a crueler and calmer expression. "That idiot still wears his emotions on his sleeve, and to think he railed that you were such a weakling. Tell me?" He grinned at Faris, the greed evident on his face, "What is the secret to your power? And perhaps the girl's?" Faris smiled at the old man, whose face twitched as he faced a mental assault unlike any he had ever felt, it bashed and twisted against him, striking hard from multiple sides until he was forced into a tiny nub of a center, and even then, it continued to squeeze against him, until his defenses were battered away and he collapsed.

"Rembrant was it?" The man looked into Faris's eyes; his pained Face reflected off Faris's blue irises. "Don't touch me again, don't approach me, don't look at me, don't even think about me, the same goes to my friends. Am I clear?" The man nodded fearfully. Faris cocked his head and laughed. "Are you sure you wanted to become the leader of the thirteen? Your son is stronger than you." The man opened his mouth to say something before doubling over, clutching his head. "I didn't say you could speak bastard! I've had a long day, and your son and his little friends did quite a number on me, I saved them out of charity, and nothing else, I don't want your sympathy, gratefulness, or kindness, I wish to avoid all of this stupid political bull shit you all try to foist upon me." Faris released the man from his mental hold.

"Y-you, h-how dare you!" Rembrant looked at Faris fearfully. As the boy turned to leave, he muttered. "I'll get you for this insult boy…"

"Ah I almost forgot." Faris turned to the old man, smiling. He walked back over to him. And removed the man's ruby ring.

"What! How dare!" He was gagged by Faris's magic.

"Say something again, and I'll go tell Lord Jaya to revoke this leniency." The man could only stare at the boy angrily, before sighing. Faris ungagged him.

"You already exert your power over others arrogantly, do you see yourself as a god, unreproachable?"

Faris shook his head. "I just have an extreme hatred for those who treat others cruelly, I'm fair to the fair, and cruel to the cruel, and if I'm feeling pity, I'll even be fair to the cruel." He inspected the ring. "Consider the energy in this ring as my received payment for saving your son's life, and sparing yours. Don't forget, never come to me again." He let go of the old man.

"Damn you!" He raised his fist to cast a spell, only to stare at the mangled mess it had become. He tried to scream in pain, only to see no sound came out. Faris walked back to him, face blank, as he broke the man's other limbs, then healed him, then broke his limbs again, repeating this cycle until Rembrant lost conciousness. Faris simply rummaged through his belongings removing any magical tools he found, before dusting the man off and sitting him at the side of the wall, healing his wounds completely, he left a note on the man's chest, addressed for his eyes only though an enchantment.

A little harsh… Damien sounded.

Is that a complaint?

Nope, not at all, just, a little wasteful of magic, could have just punched him out.

Wouldn't have been as fun. Faris smiled.

"Well, that takes care of that." Faris scratched Ventus's head. The owl was a bit confused that his master had not dispatched of the predators, he was full of energy, unless he wished to preserve it, much like he had wanted to against that hawk. Faris walked back to his dorm. "hey guys how are you-"

His friends looked at him in a bit of panic, like children caught with their hands in candy jars.

"Why are you TOUCHING MY FAIRTHS!?"