Edits- i posted this up but instead it posted the chapter before it twice!
sorry about this, here is the NEW chapter, as promised.
Sorry for the late-ish update! I know i said 1-2 weeks, but I really try hard to get them within 1.5 weeks, which i believe i managed. I also want to apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter [around 1.8k, but I thought it was a good place to end it. The next chapter will be up within 1.5 weeks, probably even 1 week.
Thanks again to all my faithful readers
Disclamer: If I owned MapleStory/Nexon/Wizet, the Halloween event wouldn't be so lame.
Warning: excessive blood/gore in this chapter!
Side note: I didn't realize i had anonymous reviews disabled, they are noe enabled for all you shy ones, so feel free to leave ur insights!
Chapter 14
"All remaining trainees- or should I say employed protectors- please return to your respective seats. We will now announce the top ten rankings of each job, and finally the ten overall rookies of this year."
The thick metal slabs blinked to life.
Magician
1- Jorge
2- Mai
3- Jackie
4- James
5- Jonathon
….
Archer
1- Rick
2- Alicia
….
Thief
1- Jackie
2- Kaleigh
3- Mike
4- Jason
5- Nick
6- Anny
…
Warrior
1- Josh
2- Will
3- Myles
…
On the final screen, the top ten screen flashed.
1- Alex
2- Jackie
3- Jorge
4- Kaleigh
5- Mike
6- Mai
7- Josh
8- Rick
9- Jason
10- James
"How is that possible? She wasn't in the top list of any class." An older man spluttered.
He has rusted red locks of hair cut short and around his ears. A wave of anger flew through the crowd. Athena Pierce stepped forward, calling for peace and quiet. She waved her arm in a practiced flourish and the screens changed slightly. Under Magician, Alex ranked third, and under Warrior and Thief, she took first place. On the Archer board, she was tenth.
Almost the entire crowd still had no idea on what exactly was going on. The few that did looked at her with awe and slight disbelief. One person even bowed.
"As most of you should know, we have not had a Guardian in nearly five centuries. We also have a hybrid job specialist sitting in close proximity." Jackie blushed slightly, while Alex's face remained cool as ice, staring back at the glares she was receiving.
"You surely don't mean that this… this outca-"
"Silence! Hold your tongue before it is removed for you!"
Alex's friends blinked rapidly. Outcast… Alex?
"She is a true Guardian and deserves your utmost respect," The Dark Lord spoke swiftly.
"But she is a mons-"
"I SAID SILENCE," Athena Pierce roared, effectively scaring the life out of the red haired man,
"If you doubt her skill, observe the duel after this ceremony. Until then, keep your poisonous opinions to yourself. Like father, like son."
From this statement, Alex deduced that her soon to be opponent was the son of this outspoken man. She nodded briefly towards the Great Four.
"As members of the Victorian community, it is your job now to regulate laws and protect the innocent…"
Jackie was nervous, and no matter what she told herself, she couldn't help but be increasing worried for her friend. She knew Alex as strong and capable, but there was just no way her wound could be healed already. But Alex wore her confidence on her sleeve, not a cocky, undeserved yet still present, confidence like Brad or her opponent, but the simple air of a girl who knew exactly what she was doing.
"And do I get the privilege of learning the name of the boy I'm about to fight?" Alex inquired patiently, no sarcasm or malice reaching her voice.
"Hmph. My name is John, or Joni. Either works."
"So Jonathon, what are the stipulations of our match?"
"Any weapon." Alex shook her head.
"Please, do not underestimate me."
"Don't be stupid, boy," Athena Pierce had recovered from her initial anger and now spoke in her usually soothing but pointed voice.
"Fine," John snarled, "Hand to hand combat."
He had, after all been one of the top scorers in the martial arts.
"Grab your staff as well," Alex replied generously.
"How did you know I was a mage?"
"Well, mages carry themselves a certain way. And your name was kind of announced in front of everyone."
A ghost of a smile played onto Alex's lips, but her eyes were like cold slabs of steel. John tried to unsuccessfully smother a shudder.
"Let's start, no?"
Jonathon shot forward without a verbal response, punching Alex in the face. Or, at least where her face used to be situated.
Alex had sidestepped at the last moment. Most did not even see the movement, only realized what had happened when John when sprawling through the floor, utterly off balance due to his continuing momentum. He grunted as he hit the ground, his breathe escaping his body for a couple of seconds.
"Please," Alex repeated, "Don't underestimate me. If you come at me so recklessly, I will have no choice…"
John had an embarrassed blush on his face, which just further fueled his rage. He angrily dusted himself off, pulling out a battle mace and one handed axe.
Alex looked calmly at him, ignoring the destruction of the rules he made himself. Alex refused to draw her weapons, her metallic eyes hardening more, if that was even possible.
He launched the axe at her chest. Alex mapped the metal blade's journey with her eyes, picking it clean from the air. In fact, she was so intent on catching the surprising large axe that she almost missed the magic attack launched right behind it. She swung the axe up and cut through the magic bolt, dispelling it.
She then threw the axe up and out of the reach of anyone in the general vicinity. John continued to release magic attack after magic attack unrelentingly while Alex dodged them with ease, step by step getting closer to her enemy. When they were a mere five feet apart, John reached into his shirt to pull out yet another steel weapon.
The small dagger glinted in the open gaze of the sun, darting forward towards Alex's chest. She had no room to escape, he thought with a triumphant grin. Joni's heart leapt into his throat. Cold, hard metal pressed slightly up against his neck, with just enough pressure to pierce his skin.
Alex stood behind him, her eyes as chilly as always. Her mouth was pulled into a slight frown, which confused him.
"Yield?" She asked in her bored tone.
"I-It-"
"Yield." It wasn't a question the second time around as Alex pushed the dagger a little harder.
"I yield, I yield."
"It was a pleasure to duel."
Alex removed the dagger, discarding it without care to the ground. It bounced once before silently resting on the ground. John was still in shock as he bent down to pick up his tiny knife. He saw the disapproving stares that mapped his motions. He blushed in shame, and for the life of him, couldn't choose between challenging Alex to another match or begging for forgiveness. He chose neither.
"That was awesome!" Rick shrieked, a bit out of his shy character. Both girls had noticed how much Rick had opened up in the past few days.
Jackie looked at Alex with a glint of amusement on her face.
"You almost missed that first bolt, how careless," she gently teased.
"No wa-"
Rick was cut off mid sentence.
"Almost," she grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of her head with an arm.
"You did well though," Jackie patted Alex on the shoulder, "Let's go get some food. A victory feast."
The trio walked to a nearby buffet, found a booth, and quickly sat down.
"Do you think people will change?" Athena Pierce asked quietly, sorrow weaved into her voice.
"Not all of mankind is ignorant fools." The Dark Lord's husky tone answered.
"I was hoping for the children to develop their own opinions." A sigh escaped her lips.
"There is nothing we can do to help, it is much too late. The seeds of doubt must have already been placed. Don't worry too much; she does have some reliable friends now."
In a rare show of affection, the Thief patted the Bow woman's arm with sincerity. She smiled up at him, but it refused to reach her eyes, where worry and doubt pooled and spilt out.
"So," Jackie started nervously, "What was that whole… outcast… thing?"
Rick left the table seconds before, going back for a third helping. On the way up, he saw a friend of his father, and was quickly engaged in a conversation which seemed it wouldn't end any time soon.
"Are you asking why people call me a monster?" Alex regarded her in that cool, icy tone that Jackie had learned meant caution, hesitation maybe even nervousness and worry. She was still learning, but the one weakness Alex seemed to have was her eyes. For some reason they sparked a curiosity in her. Regardless, Jackie flinched at the bluntness of the words. "Do you remember…?"
A young golden haired girl still struggled through the streets, gagging once again on the tangible malice which had saturated itself into the air. Her eyes watered, but she remained determined, with steady steps full of resolve. After two more hours of the painful walking, she had reached the park.
The young blonde snapped her eyes shut, hands rushing to cover her nose, but it was too late.
Bodies lay strewn all over various parts of the park, strewn over picnic baskets with intestines pouring out of their stomachs, severed heads resting on soft flannel blankets, and even mangled limbs and digits tangled in thick tree branches, dripping with blood. Random organs and chunks of charred flesh lay thrown in even more disarray, some taking the appearance of being gnawed off the bone.
She tried to shut her eyes tighter, an impossible feat, but the glossy, glazed over eyes and tortured bodies were burned into her retina, forever burned into her photographic memory. She choked violently as the stench of death rolled down her throat, cutting off her access to clean air.
Her chest retched violently.
The young girl tried to push past the gruesome scene, but wound up gagging again, emptying her stomach onto the last patch of clean grass. She dropped suddenly to her knees.
The images would haunt her dreams for years to come, but what she saw next would last far beyond her lifetime, following her soul for all of its anguished eternity.
"Alex? Alex!" Jackie caught her friend who had previously had a glazed over look in her eyes.
Alex didn't finish her sentence, just sat rigidly stiff with that spacey look. She let out a sudden whimper, so soft Jackie had to strain her ears to hear it, before slumping forward into the booth table.
Jackie quickly caught her before her forehead connected with the hard plastic, threw money down onto the table, and scribbled a hurried note onto a napkin. She started carried her semi-unconscious friend back to her house.
Rick returned to the table, read a note, and looked around in confusion.
So, what did you think?
Good? Bad? Exellent? Horrid?
I must know :P
Anon reviews are allowed, once again, and the next chappie will be out short, very shortly i promise
That's all for now
your very own
- Dak