Episode 4: Speak With Your Blade
Descending his eyes, Kameron raised up his pencil and planted it onto the paper. From the far left he drifted his pencil towards the right, carefully tapping the paper and without pressing into it. Moving his hand back to the left he slowly brought the pencil back down onto the paper, but...he soon retracted it away.
A small hum exited his mouth. His eyes slightly narrowed as his brought his pencil up to his cheek. Softly rubbing the eraser up and down his cheek he slowly sucked in some air through his teeth and moaned. Cocking an eyebrow, he removed his pencil away from his cheek and placed it back onto the paper.
'Well... Better than second-guessing.' Kameron thought to himself.
Removing the pencil from the paper Kameron lifted up his head. From left to right his eyes laid themselves onto the other people in the room. Most of them were still working on their individual papers while the rest merely turned their heads to the window on the right or waving their pencils around.
Among the people, Kameron turned his eyes onto Lars beside him. Flipping his pencil upside-down Lars quickly rubbed his eraser onto his paper before stopping and dusting the shavings off. Rotating his pencil back to it's point he then placed it right onto his paper, but halted his hand. Swallowing his saliva, Lars' hand started shaking. His eyes too began to shake as his teeth clenched themselves. His lips shook with a small groan leaving his lips. The more he continued looking at the paper the more his hand continued to shake.
Kameron looked at his friend with sympathy. Through the course of Lars' actions and body language was enough for Kameron to tell him what he wanted to do. And yet, it was impossible to put into action. If the situation was different then yeah, he'd act. Although, with the current situation now, there was nothing he could do at the moment.
Turning his head to the opposite direction, Kameron spotted Sadie in the distance. A smile formed onto her lips as she casually traced her pencil on her paper. Small happy hums exited her mouth the more she moved her pencil back and forth.
Kameron's lips curved upwards the more he looked at her. Just the sight of her was enough to increase his positivity vibe. That was just what Lars needed at the moment, yet the distance between the two was...kinda wide. If they were seated right next to each other then perhaps the positive vibe would give Lars a boost. How unfortunate it was for them to be seated so far away.
Right in front of him Kameron locked his eyes onto the back of Ronaldo. Although he couldn't see it directly, Ronaldo had his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth while he dragged his pencil across his paper. His eyes quickly moved from one side of his paper to the next, continuously moving his pencil and slowly pushing his face closer and closer to it.
Coming to the very bottom of his paper, Ronaldo removed his pencil from it and placed it on the side. Retracting his tongue back into his mouth, Ronaldo closed his eyes and dusted his hands off. Reopening his eyes, he looked down at his paper with a proud smile and crossing both of his arms. Raising up one of his arms he adjusted his glasses and keeping his proud smile.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Soon, everybody shook at the bell's continuous rings, making them turn their eyes to the front of the room. At the front of the room there was a woman with short pink hair, light-skinned, and showcased light pink eyes. The woman wore a pure-white collared buttoned shirt with black-dress pants equipped with a black belt and black heels. On the woman's face she wore black-framed glasses and casually pushed them up on her nose, showing her pink nail-polish.
Taking a few steps forward the woman's lips curved upwards as she started clapping her hands together.
"Okay, class. Pencils down." The woman said with a cheery voice.
Some in the class groaned as they removed their pencils away from their papers while others did so without much of a complaint.
Lars' pupils slowly began to shrink, making him look down at his paper. His paper was completely filled, yet...a negative vibe immediately began to surround him. His lips slowly started quivering as his pupils shrunk themselves even further. His lips curved downward with his head hanging off of his neck.
Walking among her students, the woman picked up their papers one after the other. Most the students handed her their papers and some just allowed her to take them off of their desks. Coming up to Lars, she gave him a sympathetic expression as she took his paper. Turning her head to Kameron, he picked up his paper and handed it to her. Putting the papers into her arm, she raised out her other hand and placed it onto Kameron's head, moving her fingers through his hair before moving along.
Gathering up the rest of the papers the woman soon made her way back to the front of the room. Walking around her desk she put the papers down and lifted her head toward her students.
"Okay. I'm sure all of you worked your hardest to be prepared for this. And for that, I'm so happy for all of you." The woman said. "I'm sure all of you will wonder exactly how you did, but since we're almost out of time, I'm afraid the suspense will be extended."
Most of the class groaned. Kameron tilted his head and planted his knuckle onto his cheek. Lars lowered his head onto his desk and placed both of his hands on the top of his head. Sadie let out a small huff. And Ronaldo remained smiling proudly.
RING! RING! RING! RING!
At the sound of the bell everyone began standing up from their desks and began packing up their belongings.
"Okay, class. You'll be getting your grades back by tomorrow as soon as you come in." The woman announced, watching her students packing up and heading out the door.
Putting his backpack on Kameron locked his eyes on the door ahead of him and started making his way toward it. Finally... after all that, it was finally over.
"Mr. Evans."
Just when Kameron approached the door he soon stopped in his tracks at the mentioning of his name. Turning his head his eyes were then placed onto the woman.
"May I have a word with you for a moment?" She asked.
A small groan exited Kameron's lips. Turning his head he watched everyone else exit the room before turning back to the woman. Letting out a burst of air through his nose he grabbed onto one of his backpack straps and walked up to the woman's desk.
Once the last person left, the only people left in the room were Kameron and the woman.
"Mr. Evans. While I am well aware that you're one of my best students, I'm afraid that won't excuse the many times you've been late." The woman said with a firm tone.
"Yeah..." Kameron replied. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cherry."
Closing her eyes Mrs. Cherry let out a small sigh and soon raised herself from her chair. Walking around her desk she then stood directly in front of Kameron while planting both her hands and butt onto her desk.
"Honey. I understand exactly why you always show up late, I really do. But this pattern is starting to get repetitive and it's really impacting your attendance record." Mrs. Cherry pointed out.
Kameron's lips curved downward as he increased the grip on his backpack strap. Sooner or later, this was bound to be brought up. It's not that Kameron wants to be late for class. Far from that. But...due to the circumstances, it's starting to become more of a pattern for him arriving later than everyone else.
"I don't want to be late, but... But when I get the call I have to act." Kameron replied.
"I'm sure that you do. But this can't keep continuing." Mrs. Cherry said.
"Mrs. Cherry. I'll try better to come to class quicker. I promise." Kameron replied.
Pushing herself off of her desk, Mrs. Cherry raised out her hand and placed it onto her chest. Within her bosom she pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Kameron.
Taking the paper Kameron directed his eyes onto it. "What's this?"
"I want you to hand that to your parents. I would like to speak with them as soon as they're available." Mrs. Cherry replied.
Hearing this, Kameron's pupils slowly began to shrink. No... No, no, no, no.
"But-" Kameron tried to speak, but Mrs. Cherry raised up her hand.
"No buts. I'm sorry, Kameron. If I could have my way, I would allow this to slide because of your "unique" situation. However, rules were made for a reason. And unfortunately, you're breaking one of them. So please give that paper to your parents. The rest I will discuss with them."
Gripping onto the paper Kameron closed his eyes. Sucking in some air he slowly exhaled it out of his nose and reopened his eyes, placing them onto Mrs. Cherry. She was doing her job. That's all that she was doing and Kameron knew that. Still...
Kameron placed the paper into his pocket and gave Mrs. Cherry a nod.
Approaching Kameron, Mrs. Cherry raised out her hand and placed it onto his head. Her fingers made their way through his hair as she moved her hand back and forth.
"You understand, don't you?" Mrs. Cherry asked softly.
Lifting his head, Kameron gave her a small nod. "I do."
Her lips curved upwards as she removed her hand from his head. "You can leave now."
With that confirmation, Kameron turned his body and began making his way out of the classroom.
Stepping off of the bus Kameron turned his body and made his way among the sidewalk.
With each step he took his grip on his backpack straps increased. His heart began conducting a collection of rhythms, making both his mouth dry up and his throat tighten.
As if he needed more to worry about... First was the obvious, the date with Elizabeth. That alone was the one thing that filled Kameron's head at the top. Seeing her walk in the halls... Her hair... Her smile... That sweet and tender vibe she has every single time he sees her... Ugh, he's gotta come up with a good plan when the day comes. No matter what, the date will not end in disaster.
The second was the piece of paper that Mrs. Cherry had given him at the end of class. Just the thought of it had Kameron's heart beat into a completely different rhythm. And to show it to his parents no less... Ugh...! Bringing that up would cause a plethora of conclusions that would either end decently or prevent him from going on his date.
Man... Being a teenager sucks sometimes.
Coming to a complete stop, Kameron turned his body and directed his body toward his house. Making his way pass the arches, Kameron soon approached the front door and pulled out his house-keys. Picking one out he soon put it right into the top-lock and twisted it before putting it into the bottom-lock and repeating his actions.
Opening the door, Kameron went inside and closed the door behind him, locking it back in the process. Turning around he made his way into the living room and took notice of Pyrope and Citrine sitting on the big couch watching TV. To his right, Kameron saw Onyx sitting on the smaller couch with a book in his hands. But right beside Pyrope and Citrine, there was someone sitting in the chair next to the bookshelf.
It was a man with light green skin, light green eyes, dark-green sideburns and long dark-green hair placed into a ponytail. The man wore a white-collared shirt with a black blazer, black dress-pants, and black dress-shoes. At the center of the man's shirt there was a green tie with a white-striped pattern. Lastly, on his right hand there was a large silver ring with an image of a bird at it's center.
The man lifted his head and lifted his eyes away from the book in his hands. Once his eyes locked onto Kameron the man's lips curved upwards before he closed his book and placed it onto the right armrest. Raising himself up the man was tall, although not as big as Citrine, yet his height was beyond normal. Walking across the living room the man soon approached Kameron before standing directly in front of him. Pyrope grabbed the remote and soon muted the TV before him, Citrine, and Onyx turned their heads to see Kameron in the distance.
Lowering his head the man raised out his arms, planting them onto Kameron's backpack, lightly pushing him forward until Kameron's head touched the center of his chest. "Kameron. Welcome home, my son." The man said in a deep voice.
Kameron slowly closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around his father's waist. A small sigh exited his mouth, taking off some of the tension building up inside of him.
"Hey, dad." Kameron replied.
The father soon released his arms from Kameron and slowly took a few steps back. Looking down at Kameron's face, the father's lips slowly curved downward.
"Is something troubling you, Kameron?" The father asked.
Kameron adverted his eyes from his father, though only for a brief moment. It was a better choice to tell him now rather than later.
"Can I talk to you and mom outside on the porch?" Kameron replied.
The father blinked at Kameron. The tone in his son's voice sent a wave of worry through his mind. Whatever was troubling him, he needed to hear it so it can be taken care of.
Giving Kameron a nod, the father and him walked across the living room with Pyrope, Citrine, and Onyx giving them looks before returning back to their activities.
Straight ahead Kameron and his father made their way forward. Ahead of them was a massively large wooden table with ten wooden chairs circling around it. On the table itself there were ten place-mats in different colors with clean white plates on top of them. To the left of the plates there were silver knives while on the right there were silver forks and spoons. Meanwhile at the center of the table lied seven colored-candles gathered into a small circle. And to top it off, directly above the table hanging on the ceiling was a golden chandelier with green crystals covering the light-bulbs.
Several feet away from the table a huge refrigerator stood in the corner. At the top of the refrigerator showcased a small handle, but right below it there were two large handles and just below them were two vertical handles at the bottom.
Next to the refrigerator was a large silver sink. At it's center showed a long curved facet with two flat handles next to it with the letters H on top of the left and the letter C on the right. In front of the facet there were two opened spaces with drains at the center of them.
Right beside the sink stood Lepidolite with a knife in her right hand and her left hand holding a carrot still. Moving the knife to the tip of the carrot she began to cut it before curling her fingers and slowly cutting the rest of it.
Next to Lepidolite stood Azurite and a woman. The woman was Caucasian with light-black hair ending at the middle of her neck. She has crystal-blue eyes while wearing black-framed glasses and wore a white collared-buttoned shirt, a long black skirt, and black dress-socks. The woman had on a small amount of pink lipstick and on her fingers each of her nails showcased a different color. Lastly, on her right hand there was a small silver ring with an image of a bird at it's center.
In front of Azurite and the woman were two small silver pots with hot steam coming out of them and a brown substance within the pots. Approaching the stove they grabbed two large black ladles and placed them into the substance before slowly turning it.
Next to the woman stood Charoite and Amber. With one hand both sisters grabbed two potatoes laying on the counter next to a large empty bowl and started taking off the peel using peelers in their other hands.
"Honey." The father called.
A small gasp exited the woman's mouth. Both her and the sisters halted what they were doing and turned their heads, spotting both the father and Kameron at the entrance of the kitchen. Putting her eyes onto Kameron the woman released her hand from the ladle and quickly approached him, wrapping her arms around his body.
"Hi, baby." The woman said, holding Kameron.
Kameron slowly raised up his arms and wrapped them around her waist. "Hey, mom."
Hearing the deflated tone in his voice the mother soon removed herself from Kameron to notice the frown on his lips.
"What's wrong?" The mother asked with concern.
"Kameron wishes to speak with the both of us. It is urgent." The father replied.
Turning her head to the father the mother soon turned her attention back onto Kameron. It was urgent? What does that mean? What was going on? Those three important questions entered the mother's mind in an instant. What was happening? The answer was unclear, yet whatever it was...Kameron would be able to answer them.
Giving both Kameron and the father a nod the mother turned to her daughters. "Girls, I'll be right back. I need to see what's happening with your brother."
The sisters immediately looked at their little brother with concern. They too wished to know what was going on, but...they were occupied at the moment. So their mother was gonna have to take care of it.
Turning their heads, Kameron, his dad, and his mom spotted a glass-door near the fridge and made their way toward it. Kameron grabbed onto the handle and moved his hand to the side, making the door move and unleashing a small gust of air into the house. Stepping outside the three of them walked right out of the kitchen and went straight outside.
Outside of the house Kameron and his parents turned their heads to a large collection of metal chairs and walked up to them before taking their seats. Kameron took a seat in the middle whereas his father seated himself to the right and his mother sat down on the left.
Reaching into his pocket, Kameron pulled out the piece of paper and held it in both of his hands.
"What's that?" Kameron's mother asked.
Turning his head Kameron removed a hand from the paper and gave it to his mother. Taking the folded paper the mother soon unfolded it. Adjusting her glasses she raised up the paper to her face and began reading it.
Dear parents of Kameron Evans,
It has come to my attention that your son has been continuously coming into my class later than the other students.
There are no issues revolving his grades or his attitude within my classroom. Kameron is a wonderful student and tries his hardest everyday, yet his attendance record is slowly declining.
I am well aware of the situation he is placed in. He has told me of it and has apologized many times for his delayed arrivals.
I would like to speak with the both of you about this so we may attempt to have it situated. This pattern cannot continue and it will have a negative reaction on his record.
Thank you.
Cassandra Cherry.
Once she was finished reading the paper the mother folded it and closed her eyes. Gathering every single word the paper had given her into her mind the mother opened her eyes and turned her to her son and husband.
"Kameron. What did we discuss?" The mother asked with a firm tone.
Looking at his mother Kameron opened his mouth, "If it's a school-day, I have to finish as quickly as possible."
"Correct. And have you been doing that?" The mother asked.
Kameron opened his mouth, but no words came out. The tone of her voice made his lips curve down before he shook his head.
"Perhaps it is better for you to go on missions when you are not occupied." The father suggested.
Kameron quickly turned his head to his father. "But dad, I can't just ignore a call when I get one."
"I understand. However, you are the youngest in the family, Kameron. You also attend school, which means it is important that you attend your classes on time." Kameron's father replied.
Kameron opened his mouth to respond, but he soon closed it back. There was truth in his father's words. Yes, Kameron is the youngest in the family and as a high-schooler he has to go to school to continue his education. If he was a normal teenager then there wouldn't be too many struggles he'd be going through in his life right now. Unfortunately...he wasn't a normal teenager.
Taking off his backpack and putting it down, Kameron leaned back into his chair, locking his eyes onto the darken skies above and stars making their way in.
"I'm sorry that I keep doing this." Kameron said to his parents. "I do understand what you both are telling me, but... I don't want my siblings handling the monsters somewhere while I'm just at school, knowing full well that I can fight with them. I wanna help too."
Kameron's father hummed at his son. The deflated and sad tone in his son's voice made the father stand up from his chair. Walking a few steps away from his son and wife, the father approached a large area of grass and made his way onto it. He soon stopped in his tracks and turned his body around, giving both his son and wife a solemn expression.
"Christie. May I provide Kameron with an arrangement?" The father said to his wife.
Christie turned her head to Kameron before placing it back onto her husband as she stood up from her chair. "Green. I'm not very comfortable with what you're suggesting."
"It will not take long." Green assured. "I promise."
An uneasy vibe began spreading itself around Christie's body and expression. She wasn't sure what this "arrangement" her husband mentioned was, but it wasn't hard for her to see where this might be going. Yet the intention was genuine.
"Very well." Christie replied. "Make it quick. Dinner is almost ready." Turning around she made her way toward the glass-door.
Watching his mother go back inside Kameron turned his head to his father.
Raising out his right arm, Green took his left hand and slowly pushed his sleeve up, revealing a large side-ways diamond-shaped Gemstone. Twisting his arm he opened up his fingers and a small crystal shard began to come out of his palm. The shard itself started to float upwards before moving itself forward and descending toward the grass below. Piercing itself through the soil the shard started to grow and expand. Little by little the shard started ascending upwards in front of Green until it came to a complete stop at the center of his chest. From the center a small and skinny shard began to come out and grow until it stopped at the end of Green's neck.
Raising his hand out Green grabbed the skinny shard. Tightening his grip he then pulls it out of the soil and pointed his construction at Kameron.
"If you can land one strike on me I will allow you to remain in the flock. Fail, and you must only spread your wings when you are not occupied. Do I make myself clear?" Green said.
Kameron looked at his father and blinked. That's it? This is the arrangement? That doesn't sound too bad to accomplish. All that he's gotta do is land a single hit on his father. Piece of cake.
Stepping up to the grass Kameron raised out his right arm to the side. From his palm a long skinny crystal started manifesting itself and grow. Curling his fingers onto the crystal, Kameron watched it's top continue to expand more and more and more until it's length stopped to an extent. Raising up his construct Kameron slowly lowered it and narrowed his eyes at his father.
Pulling the construct back and lowering his upper-body, Kameron pushed himself forward in a sudden burst, locking his eyes onto his father. Coming in close he soon waved his construct at his father, but right when it was come to him Green soon vanished out of sight. A small gasp exited Kameron's mouth as he stumbled on the grass before turning his body around. Right in front of him stood his father near the row of chairs.
Raising up his other hand Kameron placed it onto his construct and placed a good grip onto it. Gritting his teeth Kameron pushed himself toward his father again. Leaping straight at him Kameron swung his construct, but as it was about to make contact Green once again vanished.
Lowering his construct Kameron turned his head around and found his father standing farther away from him.
Turning around Kameron let out a long groan and dashed at his father. Lifting up his construct Kameron soon brought it down onto his father, but instead of vanishing like before Green merely turned his body to the side, making the construct pass him without making any form of contact on him. Kameron's eyes shot open at the movement his father just showed and gritted his teeth again. Picking up his construct he twisted his body, having his construct aim at his father from a different angle. Watching it come to him Green pushed himself away from Kameron, having his construct miss him by a small inch.
Green landed back on the ground and noticed the glare Kameron was giving him. To be fair, his efforts were getting rather interesting, but the results weren't what he wanted them to be. Still...as a neophyte Kameron's progression was coming in rather well.
Growls started exiting Kameron's mouth the more he looked at his father. Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! None of his moves were working! At the rate he's going for nothing is gonna change. Guess it was time for a different approach.
Bending his knees Kameron lowered his upper-body and pushed himself upwards. Pushing himself into the air like a rocket Kameron lowered his head to his father as he began to descend. Gripping onto his construct Kameron lifted it over his head, keeping his eyes locked onto his father.
Green locked his eyes onto Kameron descending from above. Raising up his own construct Green pulled it back with one arm as he watched Kameron come closer and closer to him. Then...Kameron swung his construct downward right when Green swung his own horizontally.
CLINK!
On contact both constructs impacted one another in a single strike. However... Kameron's construct began developing cracks on itself until it ultimately shattered into a plethora of pieces. Kameron's eyes shot open at his construct breaking apart right before his body got pushed back, making him fall into the ground.
A collection of groans exited Kameron's mouth as he laid on the grass. Opening his eyes Kameron spotted the night sky and the myriad of stars shining brightly. Although it was a beautiful sight to witness, it wouldn't change the sorrow developing in his mind, heart, and soul.
"Dammit..." Kameron whispered.
Coming up to his vision, Kameron turned his head to see his father approaching him. Piercing the grass with his construct, Green raised out his hand toward his son. Lifting up his own hand, Kameron placed it into his father's as he was lifted from the ground.
Back on his feet Kameron adverted his eyes as he raised his hand to his goggles, slowly lowering them onto his eyes. Great... The outcome was exactly how things were gonna play out.
Soon, Kameron felt some pressure on his shoulder, making his turn his head to his father.
"You have done well, Kameron." Green said softly.
Kameron raised up his hand and removed his father's hand from his shoulder. "No, I didn't. You won. I lost."
"That is true, yet your resolve was fascinating. Your talons are very sharp and your wings are desperate to soar into the open skies, young bird. However, you still have much to learn." Green said strongly.
Kameron turned his head away from his father as he walked up to the collection of chairs and picked up his backpack. Turning his head Kameron raised out his hand, causing the shards on the grass to raise themselves up. One by one the shards went straight into Kameron's palm, going right through his skin and vanishing without damaging his hand. As for the broken construct, Kameron decreased it's size, reverting it back into a small hard before absorbing it into his hand.
Turning his body Kameron made his way to the glass-door and opened it up before going inside.
Green watched Kameron go inside as he shrunk his construct before absorbing it into his body. Following Kameron inside Green watched him walk pass the kitchen and table, making his way toward the collection of stairs.
Turning his head Green saw his daughters and wife look at him with concerned expressions.
Dinner was finished, but it looks like one bird won't be joining with everyone tonight.
End Of Episode 4.
Hope you all enjoyed. Here was the introduction of the last core members of the Evans family as well as Kameron's teacher.
See you all next time.