Chapter 24: Answers
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
The crowd around me screamed at the top of their lungs yelling the same thing. Everyone was staring at the two people in the center of the crowd, forming a circle and keeping a good distance from the two.
'Ah, the memories. This takes me back.'
"This is your last warning Sapphire! Stay away from Pyrrha!" The guy in front of me said.
"Twenty-two..."
"You are going to stop bothering her from here on!"
"Eleven..."
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"...What are you?" The guy asks confused.
"Oh No, go on continue, don't mind me." I wave my hand to him.
"...Uh... And. You won't be following her anymore!"
"Oh wow, Sixteen."
"Okay! What the hell are you doing?!" The guy asks angrily.
"Well, I started to pick up on this hobby. You see for the past week, I have been challenged to have these fights and I have been hearing the same speech. So I decided to see how many times you people are repeating the same shit."
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"You son of a bitch."
"Ha! Seventeen!"
"Yeah? Well...uh... I'm going to beat you up!"
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I just smile at him. "Three."
I see the guy yell in anger and begin to rush me.
'Man, it's so easy to make them angry at me.'
As he gets close to me I just stand still and wait for the last second of his punch and with a swift motion I dodge his punch by stepping to the side grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground. Once his back hits the ground I just kick him in the face and look down at him.
"Okay, so what was your plan after this?"
He looks at me with a daze on his face.
'Maybe I shouldn't have kicked him.'
"Oh well." I raise my head and look at the crowd. "Alright, you all know the deal. The next person who tries to fight me gets a trip to the hospital! So who's next?" I look around and see their face look at me with anger.
"No one? Alright well, I'm out!" I begin to leave and the people in front of me let me pass.
One week. ONE FUCKING WEEK OF THIS!
Those damn news people turn my whole experience in Sanctum into a hell week. It all started after the interview and everyone at school gunned for me. Every student Male and Female wanted me to suffer. The reason was that they thought 'I was using Pyrrha for fame.' Un fucking believable.
Now you might be wondering did Pyrrha do anything? Well, she did and I thank her for it. She confirmed to 'everyone' that those rumors were false. However, the students either didn't listen to a word she said or just really had some beef with me.
Either way, they just wanted to teach me a lesson and well they are still trying. You might be wondering why are you fighting then, just let it go.
I didn't want to do anything like this. But they did something to me that I was fucking pissed about.
They broke my sunglasses.
Oh, but Seth they are just sunglasses you can get some new ones?
No, I can't!
Well, I can but they were a gift that I treasure for almost three years. They were special and now they have crossed a line that even I was not even going to forgive. Also, it was my style. I just had to wear them so people could stop staring at me.
And me fighting them is kind of working on relaxing my anger.
I soon felt a buzzing sensation in my jacket and pulled out my scroll seeing that I had received a message.
'Where are you? I thought we were meeting up after school.'
'On my way. Just handed some homework.'
I quickly enter Sanctum and begin to walk to the other side of the school. As I walked past some of the classes I started to realize that this could be the final days being here. In just less than a week we will be graduating and leaving. Many memories of the school were now going through my head, every class, student, teacher, and room that fulfilled their training for me to become a huntsman. Sure this was the first stop. But it did its job. I just hope the next stop doesn't turn out to be so eventful. But we will see.
As I exited the doors on the other side of the school, I began to leave Sanctum and noticed that a few more students were watching me leave for the day. Honestly at this point, I just really wanted to be away from it all. Leaving the school grounds and walking to a nearby alley I turned a corner and saw Pyrrha waiting.
"Yo! Sorry for the wait I was-"
She turned to me and I saw that she was not happy for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
"You got into another fight huh?"
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"I... uh... No comment."
"Seth."
"Rule one of fight club... You don't talk about it."
"You just did." She tells me with a deadpan expression.
"Well, you found out about it. So who squeal?"
She simply shows me her scroll and plays a video of me kicking a guy in the face.
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"That could have happened yesterday or the day before."
"True but when was the last time you did your homework." I can see her smirk at me.
"Point taken." I begin to walk away.
I hear her follow me and she starts to walk next to me.
"So who was it this time?"
"Some guy in our Weapons class. Challenge me to defend your honor and whatnot. One simple throw and a kick and he was down. Honestly, I'm worried about these future huntsmans."
"Well, at least you are taking it easy on them."
"In one week I have been in more fights than I had back in fourth grade. I'm getting tired of this. And I get the feeling that they will only continue on."
"You know you can ignore them."
"I tried and looked at what happened. Broke my sunglasses and I lost it."
Pyrrha begins to laugh "Yet you still say they need better control of their emotions huh? I never heard you curse in old Vacuo before. It was something."
"One of my proudest moments. So what's up? You said you wanted to talk, so."
She stops in her tracks and looks at me. And I just stopped a few steps ahead of her.
"I have decided. On where I'm going."
"That's good."
"Seth."
"Look I'm just saying it was about time you made your decision on where you wanted to go and -"
"Where are you going?"
"I..uh...I still haven't decided. Look at what has happened over the last week and with me keeping my guard up the whole time trying not to get jumped. I really haven't put enough effort into this decision. I know we talked about it after the interview but-"
"Seth catch." I see her throw me something and I catch it.
Opening my hand it was a coin that she threw at me. I look at her confused.
"Did you owe me money?"
"No... But you said if you can't decide then you will flip a coin to see where you will go. So go ahead flip the coin." I look at the coin and back at her.
'Is this really how I'm going to make up my mind? A simple coin flip.'
"Whatever destiny has in store for you Seth, is going to be decided here."
"You know Pyrrha, for as long as we have known each other. I never believed in that."
"True... But I guess that was what made us friends."
"And our mothers at each other's throats." I flip the coin.
"Wait! What side is what?"
I look at her. "My little secret." I see the coin bounce on the ground and see it land.
'Huh... Well, this could be interesting, to say the least. But just in case I will have a backup plan.'
"Alright, it's done. Let's go home!" I turn and begin to walk away.
"Wait why didn't you tell me?"
"If I told you the options you might have used your Semblance on the coin to better the chances in your favor." I turn and see her face fluster at me saying that. "So, let's just enjoy these last few days in Sanctum."
The day we graduate was the day people will never forget. For some is the day all of us become adults, since once you enter an academy you are now legally an adult. For others is to say goodbye to those you have met over the years, maybe you will go with them to the same school or maybe you will all go your separate ways.
Many emotions, many touching feelings, and all that.
But for me. It was Tuesday.
"You think we can leave now? I'm getting really uncomfortable here." I ask Mom. As I looked around I kept on getting looks at me. Like at Any moment now I could get jumped. Also, this tie was not helping me. I know we had to dress up nice but I just could have just worn my jacket with the tie.
"Just a few more pictures and we are done. You just graduated and this only happens once in your life." Mom told me as she continued to take pictures.
"I mean I still need to graduate to become a huntsman Mom. You still got a few more."
"Yes, but that will be in five years, so for now just smile."
And smile I did. This was an eventful day for me, I finally graduated from Sanctum and now I am heading to the next major step in my journey of becoming a huntsman. All I need to do now is wait and see if I get accepted into the Academy. I mean I'm sure I will, I have the best reference in all of Mistral.
"And we are done! Okay, next we should go find Pyrrha and take some pictures with her as well. You both deserve the praise from me and-"
"Yeah about that, maybe the best idea should be for me to go and find her while you can wait here."
"What? Are you embarrassed of me?"
"..." I just look at her wondering if she was joking. "You know she is with her mom right?"
"And?"
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"I'm going to find her and bring her here. While you can wait 'here' for us to return. We don't need another fight on our hands right." With that out of the way, I began to walk away from her. Don't get me wrong I would like nothing else but to have a picture of all of us together but I don't trust either of them to start to throw hands at each other.
Speaking of throwing hands.
I am getting many looks now that I am getting close to Pyrrha. Really feels like at any moment someone will ring the bell and all hell will break loose.
And I'm hoping it doesn't.
Finding Pyrrha was easy, just find the big group of people surrounding the only redheads in the school. Many graduates and families surrounding them, trying to get some pictures with them or talk with them. Lucky for her the school was able to keep the paparazzi away. This was our time, not theirs.
Getting to her could be a problem, I don't want to bother them but then again I feel like Mom won't want to go home yet until she gets her pictures. So what to do?
"QUACK!"
The crowd of people all turn to me and look at me with a confused look.
"Seth. Good to see you." I see Pyrrha push her way from the crowd and head towards me.
"If you are busy I can just come back later." I started to notice some of the students looking at me.
"No, we were done. My mother really wanted to find you so we can take some pictures, but you know how that will turn out." She said that last part while looking at her mom.
"There is no need to be embarrassed Pyrrha. I am the adult here."
We both just looked at each other knowing that was questionable.
"Right... So let us get some pictures taken and we can-"
"Excuse me but we were waiting to take some pictures with Miss Nikos as well, so wait your turn kid."
"Yea, Sapphire! Wait your turn!"
A crowd soon started to form around us. And by the looks of it, shit was about to go down.
"Okay hold up." I raise my hands. "There is no reason to start something here. So how about you all just take your pictures and-" I felt something wet hit my back.
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Sigh... Take a deep breath, Seth they are just being childish.
"Hey! That was uncalled for!" I heard Pyrrha yell next to me. In all honestly I feel like coming here was a mistake on my part.
Soon I felt someone push me to the side and I fell to the ground.
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Sigh..."Self-defence is now Justified."
I get up from the floor and turn to the person who pushed me and with a simple smile I throw him a right hook to his face making him fall to the ground. In front of everyone.
"Seth just punch Mark!" "Get Him!"
Just like that shit hit the fan fast.
Now you might think that I, a well train person who fights can handle everyone right? Well yes... But actually no.
Dealing with the first two people who rushed me was a cakewalk, a few punches to the faces, some good kicks, and they were down. The problem came when they started to group up and attack me from all over the place.
From the front to the back to the side as well. Yeah, this was some pent-up anger they were letting out right now.
"Fuck!" I yelled out when one of the guys threw me over a table.
'Okay ow... Why did I punch the guy again? Alright, 'cause I was dumb.'
I get up and now see that I just grew my following of five guys into a following of fourteen.
'Yay, I made more fans.' I crack my neck and roll my shoulders getting ready to rush the group in front of me but then I hear my name being called out.
"SETH SAPPHIRE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" From the other side of the schoolyard, I could hear my mother yelling at me at the top of her lungs my name and by the sound of it, she was upset with my actions.
"I left you for four minutes and you already started a-" She stops in her tracks and looks at the scene in front of her. Or more the person a few feet away from her.
"Nikos..." I see her narrow her eyes.
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You know what? If it gets her off my back for the next oh I don't know four to five minutes I can work with this.
I roll up my sleeves and remove the tie around my neck and with a quick tap to my heart, I yell out.
"Pyrrha 'Don't Stop Me Now!' Cause I'm gonna have a good Fucking time here!"
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
I see my Mom run at Miss Nikos and like tradition, she as well runs at her. Evading anybody in their way being careful for the families around the area.
'Well, at least they care about them.' I shift back my attention to the group in front of me and duck under the table. Once under it, I flip it making it head in the direction of the group hitting three in the progress.
"Alright, guys one at a time." I raise my fist up.
They all began to charge at me.
"Figures."
Seeing the first few steps in front of me were easy to take care of, some kicks to the chest and some punches to the face and they were stun to do anything else for a good minute. But as soon as you were done with them another few were right in front of you. Landing a few punches on me.
The hardest part was trying to have them all in front of me. If by the off chance, they got past me or worse one of them getting behind me that gave them the opportunity to grab me from the back and hold me down so the others could land hits.
And boy that was my mistake.
"I got him! Punch him!" The guy behind me said.
As I struggle to get away from his grasp, I see a few more begin to get close to me and with my hands out of the picture I begin to kick them away from me.
"Hold him still!"
I turn my head and see a punch heading directly to my face, I brace for the impact but I don't receive it.
Looking at the guy that was about to punch me I see him punch the person holding me. And I could tell by the little black glow around the guy's hand I knew who helped. With an escape, I break free from his grasp and kick the person in front of me giving me some space.
"OW! Why you punch me you prick!?"
"I didn't mean to! I was aiming for Seth!"
"Bullshit! You always had a problem with me since we started!" The guy that got punched soon returned the favor and started to punch his attacker. And soon they started to have their own little fight.
And with some luck on my side, a chain reaction started having the guys who were fighting me started to fight each other.
Me seeing this in disbelief. I just laugh at my sudden predicament. Not a minute ago I was fighting a group of angry classmates and now they were at each other's throats. Man this was-
ACK!
Right! Some still have beef with me.
Blocking a punch I send a nice kick to the stomach of one of my attackers sending him to the ground.
Off in the distance from us, I can see My Mom and Miss Nikos throwing hands with each other. Landing punch after punch to the other face or body. It's scary to think what triggers them to always act like this. I did ask when I could but I always got a different answer when my Mom told me. Hell, I even asked Pyrrha but no dice on her.
Speaking of Pyrrha where did she-
AH!
I felt someone grab me from the back of my shirt and drag me down under a table. I quickly turned and saw it was Pyrrha.
"Sup! So how is your day so far? By the way thanks for the help." I ask with a smile on my face.
"I'm debating if I should beat you up as well Seth."
"Well, that's not very nice of you." I tap my heat to stop the song.
"Our mothers are fighting! Half the school is at war! And we just graduated. So tell me what part am I not supposed to be upset about?"
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"I just wanted a picture and leave, but Nooooooo. Some people just wanted these hands. Not my fault. And if it is, Well that's future me problem."
I see her sigh a breath and look at me. "I just hope nothing crazy happens once we head to a Huntsman Academy."
I laugh at that. "Yeah, but what fun will that be? If anything it will keep things interesting in our future. Right?"
A small smile starts to form on her lips "Yeah... It will at least be fun with us and the friends that we make."
"Exactly!" I put my hand on top of hers "In seven months we will officially become huntsman in training and the adventure of a lifetime will begin!" I pull her in and point ahead. "Look out Remnant Future Haven top Huntsman is coming for you!"
"Yea! Wait... Haven?"
"Yea Haven Academy. Why?"
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I see her face look down at the ground. "Seth tell me... What school did you apply for?"
"Uhhh. Haven Academy... Isn't that the school you were going to?"
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Why do I hear boss music?
"Seth I told you... That I was planning on leaving the kingdom. So why would I head to Haven?"
'You did say you were 'thinking about it' So that was my 50/50 guess.'
"What school are you going Pyrrha?"
"Beacon Seth!"
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"Aw shit! But hey don't worry I got that as a backup!"
All Haven has to do is not accept me and that rarely happens... Oh boy.
"Don't worry I got a plan! You see that tree over there!" I flip the covers of the table we were under and point at a tree.
"..."
"All I have to do is take a branch off the tree and begin to wack anybody that gets in my way. Have the news people take pictures. See that I'm the bad guy that they say I am and hopefully not get accepted into Haven and then Profit!"
This plan sounds crazy that It just might work.
"What do you think Pyrrha?"
I don't hear a response from her but when I turn my head back to see her. I was met with a punch in the face sending me away from under the table.
"OW!"
I look up and see Pyrrha leave from under the table and head in my direction.
"Why?"
"I have decided."
"On what?" I said while rubbing my face.
"On beating you up Seth. You can say this is also a part of your plan to not get accepted into Haven. So this is step one." I see her crack her knuckles once she finishes talking.
Well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions.
Off in a safe and distant place. Away from the school grounds.
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"You think we should stop this?"
"They have been going at this for the past five years. We did our time, I say let them deal with it themselves."
"I pray that their children never turn out like that."
"Well too late for that." The person points in a direction.
"AH! I'M SORRY!"
"For the first time in my life Seth! I am not Sorry!"
"Oh Gods! She means it!"
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"Well, at least they are keeping it tame for their part. Compared to the mothers." Another person points in a different direction.
"I'll rip your Fucking throat out, Nikos!"
"Keep talking and I'll make you see your own heart, Sapphire!"
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"To another successful graduation!"
"Cheers!"
The moment we arrive at our home we both lay down on the couch. Either to heal from any injuries they have received or tired of the events that happened today.
"I think today was a nice day. Don't you think Seth?"
"Emphasis on Nice day Mom."
"So what happened back there?"
"Alright... But you can't be mad at me."
"What did you do?"
"Okay, first I was minding my own business."
I hear her slam a hand on the coffee table in front of us. "Bullshit!"
"I was! I went to get Pyrrha, but she was surrounded, I Quack! Got her attention, people didn't like that, and well... They took exception to that, so all hell broke loose and everyone got into a fight."
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"I just hope this doesn't continue on when you get to Haven Seth." She rubs her face trying to calm herself.
"Yeah about that... Do you think I can change my options if I do get accepted?"
"You can, but only if you get accepted. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I kind of did an oopsie daisy on my part."
Sigh... We will deal with it tomorrow. Get some rest after the beating you received today I can bet you are tired."
"Not really I feel like I can take on the world right about now."
"Even fight Pyrrha again?"
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"On second thought I should go lay down. Oh by the way I was able to get something for all of us to enjoy." I pull out my scroll and send a message to her.
With that, I left the room.
Opening her scroll and sees the message she just received. She sees a picture of the four of them together. Even doe the picture was of all of them fighting with each other somehow they found away to have them in the same picture.
"That boy." I smile appeared on the mother's face.