Chapter 17: Wake Up Alert!
Raziel's P.O.V
"It's a shame we couldn't have drawn out that fight..." Kryonas sighed. "Woulda been interesting to test our true strength against my creator." He'd been complaining about the fight for several days now.
"Shut up already!" I replied, rubbing my temples. "You're giving me a headache!"
"Did I just set a dimensional record then?" He asked. "I can see it now. Kryonas, the very first one to give a Vampire a headache, ever!" He giggled. "But seriously; why didn't you use your full power?"
"I told you already…" I sighed for the umpteenth time. "I couldn't risk hurting my friends with the wind's velocity. It could have ripped off their limbs!"
"Yeah, but not yours!" He said. "Who cares of a little friendly casualty here or there?"
"Your sister was in the mix!" I screamed in my head. "You don't care!?"
"She could have handled it easily." He responded matter-of-factly. I recalled the last time he had used that tone. Back when I first met him.
"Take that wolf girl!" The teenager laughed. "Eat that apple! The one on the ground, like the dog you are!" The guy launched a kick, hitting Melissa in the chest.
"Leave her alone!" I roared, unnerving the teen.
"What are you gonna do bloodsucker?" He held out his arm. "Bite me? Drain my blood?" He snickered. "Go ahead & try! You know what it means to attack a Human Prince!" I charged towards him the wind around me increasing in speed. The Human stopped the wind with his own elemental abilities & pushed me to the ground. He laughed & kicked me. "You can't beat me you little shrimp! And when I'm done with you I've decided that I'm gonna have a little fun with your sister!"
"Man, you're pathetic!" A voice inside me resonated. "Can't even save your own sister? Here, lemme help you…" The wind around me swirled, lifting the prince off of the ground. I stood & watched. "Well? What are you waiting for? Use the wind & get back at him for hurting your sis!" I did as the voice bade & increased the winds velocity. The Human spun around incredibly fast & was still increasing in speed. I stopped him & held him upside down in front of me.
"Apologize!" I demanded. The guy spit at me, missing by several centimetres.
"Bite me!" He roared flailing in mid-air. "I'll have you & your sister executed for defying my wishes!" As the last words left his mouth something in me snapped. It was like the elastic band that had been holding back what was inside me finally broke. I increased the velocity of the wind & sent it all straight at him from various angles. He screamed as cuts opened up all over his body.
As his lifeless form lay there on the ground, my sister sniffled. I looked over & saw that she was crying. Not for the one dead on the ground or in fear of me. But of what was now going to happen to me for killing another student, let alone a prince. I could hear their footprints coming. The Executioners. They would see the body, then me, then they would put two & two together & I would be 'retired'.
"My name's Kryonas…" The voice in me said in that same matter-of-fact tone. "From now on I'll lend you my power. Just don't be a pansy, okay?"
The guards came, saw me & the body. Then surprisingly, they patted me on the shoulder & praised me! Apparently they had been planning to execute the Human for continuing to abuse his power & violate the rules. I sighed in relief as Melissa hugged me, still crying into my shirt.
"It's been a while since you've used that tone." I replied in my head. "Do you have something on your mind?"
"Yeah…" Kryonas sighed. "The time of awakening is coming…" I had gotten up from my bed & headed to the door.
"Awakening?" I said, coming to a stop, my hand on the doorknob. "Why do I not like the sound of that?"
"It's really nothing to worry about…" Kryonas sighed. "But you'll need to get rid of that concern for your comrades."
"Why?" I growled. "I won't fight them! I won't hurt my friends!"
"The Awakening is a battle inside yourself…" Kryonas stated. "You will have to fight your fears, your friends…" He sighed. "You may even need to relive painful memories."
"I see…" I analysed the situation. "How long does it take?"
"Literally?" He asked & I nodded in reply. "A second, but in your head it could take days, years, possibly even a century. For my sister's previous 'host' it took almost a millennia."
"Okay…" I replied, trying to take in what Kryonas said. "How long until it happens to me?"
"I'm not sure…" I felt him shake his head. "It won't happen for another seven or eight days at least."
"That's good." I replied as a paper slid under my door. I went over to pick it up & noticed that the letter was in Zephyren's handwriting. It said:
The last match is going to be held in one week. Our opponents are: Xion (Zeonthrope), Tifa Lockheart (Human), Keira Grei (Zeonthrope), Rain (Anthro), Cadence Steele (Angel). I believe that Cadence will be turned into an Archangel before our match so be on your guard. See you in a week & remember to feed beforehand. I'm going away to train, later taters!
I seethed as I read the letter. One week. I had one week to prepare myself to fight against an Angel & an Elementalist. Why couldn't I just have an easy opponent?
"You're not worried about the Awakening?" Kryonas asked. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you never were the type to worry about matters that are somewhat unrelated to you. But you should know that if you fail the Awakening that you won't be able to control any Element ever again."
"And I care why?" I said, tapping my foot angrily. "It's not like I ever wanted to control the wind around me in the first place."
Keira's P.O.V
"It's good to be back!" I shouted as Cadence stepped through the portal after me. "I missed this place!" I stretched as I walked towards the guard outpost. I followed Cadence as she waved her way past the guards.
"Will you be able to fight Zephyren next week?" She asked as we passed through the doors of the school & entered the main lobby. I had never noticed how well the wood had been carved into the walls. There was a pair of wings etched into the wall above the doorway to the Instructors Office.
"Shouldn't be a problem…" I giggled. "Especially since I'm stronger than him now." I flexed my hand. "Well, at least I hope I am." I chuckled again as my hand glowed dimly.
"I wouldn't know if he is or not." Cadence said. "I can feel him trying to break seal containing Nexion. He can barely access the power now, but in a week he may be at his full potential." She shrugged. "Anyways, let's see what Kratos is up to." We opened the big double doors to his office. He was standing in front of the monitor that had previously shown the second match of the tournament. There was a silver-haired man on the monitor talking to a green hedgehog.
"I see your back…" He sighed turning the monitor off. "How was your training, Keira?"
"Easier than I thought it would be." I replied honestly.
"Did you see those two on the monitor?" He asked. "The Human & the Anthro?" I nodded. "Those two have been very bothersome, although helpful."
"How can someone be helpful but annoying at the same time?" I asked, confused.
"They helped Zephyren by pushing him out of the northern observation tower window." He said.
"They pushed him out of a window!?" I yelled. "How does that help anyone?"
"It allowed him to learn to transform in a last second situation…" Kratos sighed. "He couldn't do that before." He started to pace back & forth across the room.
"So do you know what they are planning?" Cadence spoke, I'd forgotten she was there & her voice caused me to jump. "Or are you theorizing again?"
"I think it is a bit of both this time." Kratos grinned. "I believe they are planning to quicken each the rate at which each of the 'Hosts' awakens & to increase their abilities. The theory part of that is that I think they are going to interfere in the Instructor match." He stopped pacing & stood in front of me. "Which is exactly why I chose you as the fifth participant for the match, Keira."
"What do those two have to do with me?" I asked. "I've already awakened Verina."
"They may go after Zephyren & cause him to break the seal on Nexion." He replied. "If that happens you have to calm him. You're the only one who can, remember what Reikourin said?" He asked.
"Yeah, yeah…" I said, getting off of the couch & heading for the door. "Where's Zephyren now?"
"He left with Reikourin an hour ago." Cadence answered for me. "He wants to increase his strength."
"I see." I sighed. Was Zephyren avoiding me? Ever since we kissed he's been distant. Is something wrong? I walked the halls of Eternia, unconsciously; I found my way back to my room. Our room. I opened the door & sat on the couch, I looked back on what I've been through lately. Meeting Zephyren, coming to Eternia Academy, the Vampire attack, the tournament, my training, meeting Verina. It seems like I've been here for years now. Though, it's only been a week or so.
"It's probably a good thing that he isn't here you know…" Verina spoke. "With Nexion & I being opposites, it wouldn't be a good idea to have us in the same room. We'd cancel each other out, making us powerless if we were attacked."
"We wouldn't be completely defenceless..." I said, taking off my clothes & getting into the shower. "We'd still have our transformations & Zephyren would still be able to use fire & electricity." I tested the water to see if it was warm enough & stepped in. Shortly after, I got on some pyjamas & fell asleep on the couch.
Sonic's P.O.V
"Amy I don't have time for this…" I said, pushing away from the love-struck hedgehog. "I have to find James."
"You like him more than me!?" She roared, pulling her hammer out of thin air. "What does he have!?" I backed away from the doorway she was blocking, my hands held up in surrender.
"N-now Amy, no need for the hammer…" I spoke as I looked for a way around her. Then realization struck. "Hey Amy! If I go out with you tomorrow will you let me by?" She lowered her hammer & a grin spread across her face.
"Tomorrow?" She said cheerfully. "That's perfect! When-"
"Great! See you tomorrow!" I cut her off & dashed by her. I'd see her around the usual time anyways so when didn't matter. Right now I had to find James & tell him what Shadow told me.
"Sonic!" Shadow roared after me as I jumped over a tree trunk.
"Hey Shadow!" I replied, coming to a stop. "What's up?"
"I got a message from Reikourin…" He said, stopping beside me. "You need to tell James that Myra is going to awaken in about a week or so."
"Isn't Myra the Goddess of Essence?" I asked. "The one that Reikourin based off of Tikal & Chaos?"
"The exact same…" He said, starting to jog again. "Tell him for me! I have to find Melissa & tell her!" His last words echoed off of the trees as he disappeared through the woods.
"James!" I cried as the silver hedgehog came into view. "I need to talk to you!"
"What?" He asked. He didn't look like he was in a good mood.
"Shadow told me that Myra was going to awaken in about a week." I said & he rolled his eyes.
"I know…" He replied. "Reikourin already told me." He turned & walked off down the hall.
"But Reikourin's with Zephyren…" I said, placing my hands on my hips. "There's no way he could have told you."
"Well, he told me around thirty minutes ago." He said over his shoulder, not stopping. "Sorry."
"Okay then…" I said. Now I had to go on a date with Amy for no reason. Great…
CHAPTER 17 END!
