《How Not to Use Magic》


 A Cliche Beginning

    Ever since Patrick had entered the district, he knew there would eyes on him. It was inevitable, what with his humanity sticking out like a sore thumb.


    Monsters just had a way of sort of... smelling it on you, your differences.


    Odd. Weird. Freak. Other.


    Even with the scent talisman stuck in his pocket, he didn''t look like a Ferin, he was too skinny and short. All Ferins, from what Pat had seen, were different flavors of divine beauty.


    Naiads? Wet Beauty.


    Demons? Bad-boy Beauty.


    Angels? Literal Divine Beauty.


    Ferins were loud, their presence demanding your attention.


    Being a human was a quiet fate, well, quiet in how no one will be allowed to talk about your death.


    Wow, Patrick was just amazing at making himself more anxious.


    In the back of his mind, he could feel himself walking towards his destination, but there seemed to be too much going on for something as easy as manual walking.


    It faded into the background, the whirring of Pat''s thoughts ridding anything that wasn''t terror.


    Maybe he should be terrified, his parents had taught him never to interact with a Ferin if he could help it. Yet here he was, waltzing into one of their parties.


    Pricks of attention washed over the boy as he passed through an alleyway, much to clean to match the movies.


    He really, really, really wanted to go home to where some rich boy won¡¯t either buy you or murder you.


    It was too late for that anyway, he had days to do it. Patrick overheard a pair of foxes in the Nexus talking about someone from Vinike hosting a back-to-school party.


    How cliche, right?


    But well...


    "If I''m going to die, might as well do it in style."


    That''s what he said, at least. Truth was that Pat had been so dreadfully lonely for so long, he couldn''t bear it anymore.


    It was only this or...


    Flashes of a red-eyed boy, too sweet, too caring... and much, much too close.


    He couldn''t go back through the Nexus, it was too late for him. Pat had doomed himself, so he might as well see how alcohol tastes before he dies.


    Honestly, he had been doomed the minute he began imagining drunk Ferins trying to court him because he was just the prettiest person there.


    He hated Ferins, definitely, but they were still hot... look but don''t touch, right?


    Pat said all this, but he already planned to avoid any halfway attractive boy. It was a temptation, Ferins had always been good at it.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    His legs had stopped, perhaps they had stopped moving a while ago, Pat wouldn''t have noticed while devoured by his thoughts.


    He forced himself back into the present with some difficulty. Apparently, if you could just perfectly anchor yourself to the present, anxiety wouldn''t exist at all. What a world that''d be, but it''s not his.


    Patrick glanced up at the castle-like home, it was literally like a king''s keep.


    Neither is this...


    His world was waiting back in the Nairiq district, this sort of decadence was alien to him.


    Towering stone-brick walls, royal blue roofing that just screamed opulence. This was a whole other dimension. Syca''s world, where order was prized, anything out of the ordinary would be eliminated.


    Maybe that''s why it was so quiet, volume was disorderly and chaotic and interesting. Can''t have that, of course.


    The quiet was odd though, wasn''t this some guy''s party? Are there like... He didn''t know... sound-proofing spells? Sure, that sounds magic-y enough, let''s go with that rather then the fact that you got lost in Canti.


    The dedication to order, right, let''s get back to that. It was easier to swallow.


    The sentiment was unnerving, the promise to eliminate disorder.


    Not very comforting message especially when your whole existence is "out of the ordinary".


    Patrick looked back at the house... it didn''t even feel like a house...


    Spires and towers and iron knockers, Pat would appreciate the dedication to an aesthetic but there were a few things off.


    First, the castle looked disappointingly new, mowed lawn, scrubbed bricks, the works. The only thing hinting at the castle''s original age was the cracked stone, but even then it looks like most of it was repaired.


    And speaking of the lawn it looked extremely manicured, forcefully tamed by the residents.


    How could you be so rich, yet suck this badly at decorating? If I was a quadrillionare or whatever, the first thing I''d invest in is seeds to make this damn lawn look less like a suburban nightmare, like that garden over- wait what!


    Over off to the side of the manor, almost as if the family were trying to hide it, was a massive garden!


    "They for sure were trying to hide it, it''s a wonder they hadn''t burnt it down, the Zantiri''s seem like the type..."


    A massive, magical garden!


    It was full of colors and scents. It was chaotic, and it didn''t try to hide it. Flowers of all shapes and sizes, colors and scents, swirled about the ground. Some were glowing, some burning, some seemed to move unaided.


    Magic plants were fun like that. Pat wanted to get some, but his father wouldn''t like it. He wouldn''t like the boring ones either though, Varian Alixa simply hated plants.


    The flowers grew wild and free, unaffected by Syca. As If Mivos freed them herself from the captivity of order and control. It all was beautiful, it was disorderly, and it was amazing. Whole trees grew in the garden, branches winding and growing unbound, unabashedly chaotic.


    It was a breath from fresh air, a haven from the outside''s expectations, and the roles.


    Woah, look out Crito.


    Patrick wanted so badly to say "fuck it" and just stay here all night, but alas.


    Pat was almost sad returning to the door, he felt poor just standing before it. The double door was made of oak, carrying a sense of importance. The knocker was made of solid iron and had the insignia of a lion''s head engraved into it.


    As he stepped closer to the door to examine said knocker, magic slammed into him.


    It was quite odd since he had never been able to sense it before this. Too much weird stuff was going on, he just wanted to get inside before he questioned too many things and got, like, black bagged by the lord.


    But as he took in the waves of power gently slamming into him, he could only reflect on his pitiful talent with magic.


    Pat could barely use it, could barely sense the stuff sloshing around his own body, nevermind anything outside. A mana bolt could be flying at the back of his head and he''d still be drowning in... maybe he should go inside before Pat manifested something.


    Just as Pat began the tedious process called "gathering enough courage to go in and not wuss out" a piercing voice rang out, not annoying, but the kind of voice that a king would have.


    "Are you gonna move your ass, or just stand there?"


    Fuck.


    ***


    Nicholas only had two things on his mind tonight, getting blackout drunk, and getting laid.


    Nick had spend days preparing for this, and it was going to be epic. He''d make sure of it. As he almost ran up the driveway of Jackie''s house, he saw a blockade.


    A blockade wearing too tight jeans and a lost expression.


    Perhaps he was just going to complete his second mission...

 Intensity

    "Are you gonna move your ass, or just stand there?" Nick questioned as he glared at the small boy, annoyed.


    Maybe he was being a dick, but who the heck just stands outside a party? Not Nick, that''s for sure. Nick had been waiting for this all day, he wasn''t going to waste free beer for anything.


    He felt his eyes drift down to those damn jeans...


    Almost anything.


    Fyner, no wonder Ben called him a deviant.


    The blockade slowly turned around, nearly trembling. They didn''t seem familiar, and the only people invited go to... oh? A transfer, how... mysterious. Nick was into it. So a confused little transfer drops right onto his doorstep, fun.


    Nick couldn''t resist playing with the blockade, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance after all.


    "I''m waiting." Nick crossed his arms, "subtly" flexing his biceps. Hey, if you got it flaunt it, right?


    The transfer glanced at Nick''s arms, not having missed the motion. A split-second later looking literally anywhere else.


    Fuck... they''re so cute.


    "I... um... uh..." Looks like Nick was so devastatingly handsome that the blockade was struck speechless, this is fun.


    But let''s wrap this up, before they think Nick was an actual dick. So much time for that later.


    Nick began walking closer, invading the transfer''s personal bubble. Nick never would''ve tried this if he wasn''t sure that the transfer thought Nick was hot, he''s not that much of an ass.


    "Now, either move aside so I can drink myself to death, or..." Nick let the sentence fall off, he''d always loved theatrics.


    The transfer''s breath wavered, and they began avoiding eye contact even harder. That wouldn''t do, not at all.


    So Nick grabbed the transfer''s chin as gently as he was able, and forced those void-filled eyes into his.


    He could smell the adrenaline coursing through the transfer''s veins... wait, he actually couldn''t...? Huh, maybe not so easy after all.


    But those the flushed cheeks and widened eyes gave it away all too well. No one could say that Nick wasn''t a master of his craft.


    ***


    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.


    Patrick was worried about hot boys assualting him with their hotness, but this was even outside the possibilities his over-thinking brain could come up with.


    This guy had to know what he was doing, there was a knowing light in his eyes.


    Pat would know, he was forced to look into them.


    Gleaming emeralds sparkled as they started at him, cocky and arrogant. Exactly his type... What? He never said he was mentally stable.


    To avoid looking into the gems more, Patrick chose the lesser of two evils, the rest of the womanizer''s  -or I guess just manizer- appearance.


    A crown of brown waves, body built enough to shame any human, diamond-bladed jawline. There was a definite air of superiority, not as if the Manizer was judging him, but as if Pat should just know who was better.


    Totally Ferin, totally a threat, totally attractive.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    But there was no time to stare longer, much as Pat would like to, this guy was expecting an answer.


    "...Or what?" It was incredibly to egg a Ferin on, but what choice did he have?


    The Ferin smiled, expecting that answer, what other one was there? Closer the giant stalked, forcing the gap between them to mere inches.


    "Or give me a reason to stay." If Patrick weren''t compelled to take off his pants right now, he''d have laughed at the auadacity of this man.


    Even horny Pat didn''t want to give in that easily.


    "Give you a reason to stay? I don''t even know you" Horny Pat countered, still debating whether or not to suck this guy''s dick.


    Were there aphrodisiacs in the air or was Pat just touch-starved? Who knows.


    "Well now you know me, I''m Nick."


    Nick... what a fuckboy name., still cute though.


    Nick waited for Patrick to respond with his own name, but Pat had an idea.


    "What, you wanna know my name?" Pat asked, shocked as if he hadn''t known. He didn''t continue until Nick was forced to nod like a child "Well look who''s desperate, give me a reason to stay here talking to you."


    This is what happens when you try to beat humans at theatrics, tsk tsk Nicholas.


    Nick blinked as he processed his words being thrown back at him, before he grinned at the Human.


    "I can give 8 reasons if you wanna get outta here~" Patrick chocked, surely it wasn''t- Oh fuck it was. It very much was.


    The grin grew wider upon seeming Pat''s reaction "Yeah, that''s what usually happens after reason 6..."


    Patrick did the mental equivalent of a keyboard slam.


    "Yikes, I''m leaving." Patrick slipped out of this giant''s grip, and made it seem he was really about to leave.


    Patrick was also a master of his craft, as Nick began after the Human, panicked.


    "Shit, wait! I was just joking!" Wow, almost genuine worry there, how smooth, Nick.


    "Were you Nicky?" Patrick asked. "You seem oh so bothered, or is that just a dagger in your pants?" Patrick glanced down with mock surprise, the Ferin really did have a boner.


    The sane part of him screamed that flirting with the scarily-into-it Ferin was a horrible idea. The rest of him screamed at that small part to shit up and let them get some dick.


    "A dagger, give my genes some credit transfer, it''s a broadsword at least, but I''d be happy to duel..."


    "A duel... where are your manners Nicky, this is hardly the proper place for a battle, now your bedroom on the other hand..." Pat didn''t finish the sentence, letting the giant soak it in with his tiny little Ferin brain.


    After Nick.exe finished loading, something about Nick changed, the air about him unraveled revealing hunger. Not for food, but for Pat.


    It was terrifying, but Patrick literally couldn''t stop.


    Something out of his control pushed him onwards, to go and prod the beast.


    Once again the giant ignored the perfectly nice bubble of space between them. Suddenly Pat was against the wall, with the poor lion knocker digging into his back.


    Nick whispered, with this terribly hungry look about him.


    "I... wouldn''t be opposed to a change an scenery." Nick admitted, breaths becoming heavier. Was he about to jizz himself just from the thought? That''d be embarrassing.


    And yet, Patrick wanted to see it happen, but he wanted this even more...


    He leaned in and up towards the horny teen, so close that the hitching of Nick''s breath rung in Pat''s ears.


    "Nah."


    Once again the executable began loading, neurons firing with much intensity.


    "...huh?" The Ferin looked utterly dumbstruck, mouth wide open and head tilted. How one could come up with such flirty, cheesy lines to nothing at all...


    "I have a party to go to, maybe drink myself to an early grave, but this has been fun."


    "Wha..uh..but..." Nick stammered, throughly confused. Nick was a true linguist, not even Crito could match the sheer poetry Nick was spewing.


    Gone soft from the shock, Nick was easily pushed off of Pat and out of his prized personal bubble.


    "See ya, Ni-" Pat began, turning towards the door before he was, quite rudely, cut off.


    "Wait! Uh, I''ll go with you, I can introduce you to my friends!" Nick looked desperate at this point, and Pat almost felt bad. Perhaps he was taking this too far...


    Something changed.


    Or maybe I''m not taking this far enough?


    "Oh? And why would I want to meet with your friends?" Patrick asked. Nick scarmbled for an answer, racking his Ferin brain dry hard for Pat. He was al,ost flattered.


    "You''re a transfer right? I''m like, popular, I can make sure you walk in your first day on everyone''s minds!"


    "Hmm..." Patrick pretended to sound unconvinced, in all honestly he was down without any convincing, he only wanted to see Nick squirm a bit. Well, not him, but the very incessant force with no survival instincts.


    Nick, upon seeing that Patrick looked on the fence, hurriedly added:


    "P-plus, everyone wants a piece of the new kid, I can protect you!"


    Now that was truly ironic, the Manizer himself talking about horny teenagers. Patrick even said so out loud.


    "Did you not also want a peice?"


    Nick went white... whiter than normal.


    "uh..."


    Patrick let to facade drop, else this would go on for years.


    "Ok, fine, but only cuz you''re like 9 feet tall, let''s go."


    Nick''s eyes lit up and he practically jumped up and down with excitement. It was... cute. Cute to the actual Pat, as well, not the force.


    "Yes! I promise you won''t regret this... uh... you still haven''t told me your name."


    Oh, right. Pat had genuine,y forgotten.


    "Pat, my name is Patrick."


    "Well, Pat..."


    Nick shifted again, and sauntered up to Pat with a preadetor''s grace. Not so flustered anymore.


    He grinned with almost scary levels of mischievousness.


    "I also promise that I''ll get you back for blue-balling me."


    Once again, Fuck.

 The Party

    Nick was hit by the smell of alcohol and hormones, he loved it. He wanted to get wasted immediately, but even his uncultured ass had to appreciate the place.


    Jack knew how to throw a party, this place was great! Considering how great this place looked, Nick knew he''d brought the ¡°good¡± beer. He could smell it from here, it was strong.


    Was it privileged to call a probably quality beer, trashy? Probably. Did Nick care that much? Nope.


    Nick turned around to make sure that his... friend was still with him.


    Pat stood there twirling his hair, face still red from earlier. Nick mentally chuckled to himself, how he would abuse this power.


    It was extremely fun to tease Patrick, it just felt right, so Nick did it. Nick prayed half-heartedly to Fyner to give him the strength to not a dick to Pat for a while. Though truthfully, Nick was having fun. Though, maybe he should calm down; can''t go all in the first time.


    Not like I''ll be gentle the first ti-


    Bad Nick, save it for the tissues, you creep.


    Nick led Pat over to the drink stand and got himself a beer. He started drinking it, he loved the familiar burn as it went down.


    "Want one?" Nick asked, pointing to the beers. Patty shook his head, Nick assumed Pat didn''t like drinking. Nick could respect that, but could never follow the example.


    "Ok, I''m gonna find my friends. I''ll find you afterward, that all right?" Nick asked, and Pat nodded, still quiet.


    He seemed much less talkative now, Nick hoped Patty was ok. Nick was a bit surprised at his concern, he''d only known the kid for like 10 minutes, and who knew if he''d see him after this.


    But I hope I do see him again...


    Nick would never admit it, but he liked talking to Pat. Even when he wasn''t flirting with him.


    He liked talking to Pat, but he loved Patrick''s reactions to Nick''s ¡°jokes¡±.


    That''s why he couldn''t help but blow a kiss and wink as he walked away from the boy.


    The way Pat flushed at everything he said made Nick all riled up.


    ***


    Pat flushed at the action, as always.


    Pat wondered if he got repetitive, reacting the same way each time.


    Nick left, taking another drink with him. He truly was an alcoholic. Pat started to wander around, he didn''t know what Nick expected him to do. Patrick didn''t know anyone here and didn''t have nearly enough confidence to walk up to someone.


    As always.


    So Pat ended up watching everyone while sitting on the floor, his back to the marble wall.


    It was surreal. Seeing all these people dancing and laughing, without a care in the world. Meanwhile Pat was chock full of them.


    Maybe if you stopped being a little bitch and did something for once, you wouldn''t feel this awful.


    Par internally flinched, guess he couldn''t hide forever.


    It was extremely hard to hide from his own head, and his internal voice was loud.


    I wouldn''t have to be this loud if you weren''t so damn pathetic, I mean, look at you.


    It''s pitiful really.


    It was almost like talking to an entirely different being, with how much it shamed him. He treated it like one, it was easier that way.


    If they were a different person then maybe they could be wrong about Patrick.


    It''s been there for a while, and doesn''t want to leave.


    Pat wondered if that''s why people got drunk, to escape themselves. To escape from the prison that is their minds, or maybe Patrick''s just insane.


    Probably insane.


    Maybe he should get one of those drinks.


    On one hand, it might shut his mind demon up- never call me that. -on the other, Pat didn¡¯t feel comfortable leaving his fate in the hands of Nares.


    Especially when he didn''t know anyone here. Plus he not addicted like someone.


    Acting like you know anything about that guy is cringy, even you know that.


    Ok, that''s kinda true, for all Pat knew this is the first time they''ve ever drank. If Patrick had accepted Nick¡¯s offer, it would''ve been his first time. Being drunk didn''t sound like a good idea, Pat couldn''t afford to spill his guts tonight.


    Pat unconsciously reached for the amulet in his pocket.


    It was a shoddy, crumbling relic of the past.


    The carved symbol for durability in it''s wood was likely the only thing keeping it from shattering completely. He should''ve thrown it away by now, and almost did. But that was about 3 years ago, the day his Papa died.


    Great, here comes the pity party.


    No one told him how it happened, he didn''t want to know. Patrick remembered sitting on the floor of his room, in their little shack of a house.


    ...


    Pat stopped, the voice was quiet now.


    Don''t stop, keep going.


    Papa had always been a huge man, so the house seemed so much bigger, so much colder when he was gone. There was a hole there that could never be filled, and Pat could never mend it. When that hole tore open, it left a scared little boy in its wake, who missed his dads. Pat had almost threw the talisman against a wall, back then.


    ...


    Patrick and his Papa had made it together, and Dad laughed when Papa had proudly shown it off... much to the small boy¡¯s embarrassment. Papa had carried Pat on his shoulders shouting entirely too loud about how his son was going to be a master craftsman someday.


    And for a second Patrick had considered it, simply because he''d loved his Papa. But how do you become a crafter if you can''t sew? And Patrick couldn''t even weave his family back together.


    ...He¡¯d been so proud of you... y¡¯know.


    The demon apparently liked when Pat faced himself and his memories, but...


    Please don''t make some dumb excuse for not being vuln-


    But right then some guy conveniently walked up to Pat! Better pay full attention to them!


    Ughhh-


    The man walked up to Pat, swaying. It didn''t take a genius to see that he was drunk. The man had medium-length black hair, and his eyes were an amber color. He was about as tall as Nick''s 6''5, maybe even a couple of inches taller, and just as muscular. Pat assumed both of them were on a sports team or something.


    He clumsily got down on the floor next to me, he spoke, slurring his words slightly. "H-hey dude, wh- hic why are you here all alone? It''s a party!" Gesturing around him, he turned back to Patrick, grinning brightly.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "I don''t know really, I just don''t know a lot of people. My friend also ditched me" Pat snorted, Nick wasn''t even really his friend. Though he was the closest thing Patrick had.


    Liar.


    There''s Ry-


    The man thought for a moment, trying to process my words.


    "Well, now you know 2 people! That''s a start." He pointed out, it was kinda cute how he wanted to cheer Pat up. Pat had never expected rich kids to be this nice. Not saying he didn''t like it, it was just unexpected.


    There''s also Z-


    "Hm, ok, this isn''t the b-best first impression, give me a sec." With no explanation, The teen snapped his fingers. Sparks of magic started rushing around him, before dissipating. He seemed sober-er, at least enough to talk without slurring their words.


    Hmmmm, isn''t there also-


    "Sobriety spell," he explained at the confused look on Pat''s face. "It''ll only last for a few minutes though."


    "That''s cool! I never used that before." That wasn''t a lie, Pat had never used it, He''d never gotten drunk before. So he never really needed it, The man smiled at Patrick''s embarrassing enthusiasm towards probably basic magic.


    You can''t ignore me forever, this guy ain''t that cute.


    Now look who¡¯s a liar~


    The demon was always nicer after Pat got introspective. Patrick even occasionally held somewhat friendly conversations with the demon on good days, they appeared to be just as into guys as Patrick was.


    Shut it, he''s conventionally attractive, what do you want?


    "Usually, I prepare it beforehand so I can stay sober for the night." He continued "But guess who forgot."


    "Who?" Pat asked, playing along with the dumb joke.


    You''re really playing along with this clownery, huh.


    "This guy!" He exclaimed, pointing his thumbs at himself, the joke was so bad it was funny.


    No, it''s just bad.


    "My name is Jack," he said, holding out his fist for a fist bump. What a dork.


    Ok, I can agree with you there.


    "Patrick" Pat replied, bumping his fist with Jack¡¯s clumisly.


    Wow, you really just messed up a fist bump... Awkward.


    "But seriously Pat, you should enjoy yourself, this is a great party. I''d know, I''m the guy who set it up!" Shit, Pat just met the dude who threw this party. He looked around at all the people, Jack must be popular. There were a ton of people here.


    Or he''s just rich and has a huge house... money can buy you a bunch of friends.


    "So this is your house?" Pat asked, wondering who''s garden that was.


    Gasp! What gave it away?


    "Yep, and trust me. I know how stuffy the outside looks." He chuckled.


    "Though it plays into our favor. Along with the soundproofing spells set up, this place looks so boring. No one would suspect anything fun happens." He explained. Pat had to admit, that was smart.


    "Wow, that''s really smart coming from someone like you."


    Jack faked hurt and put his hand on his chest dramatically. "Oh, and what does someone like me usually talk like?" Patrick was silent, which made Jack chuckle. Wow Pat, remind me never to invite you again." He joked. Though Pat''s face went pale, He hadn''t known people got invites.


    "Actually, I don''t remember ever inviting you..." His eyes were inspecting Pat, they locked onto him to the point where Pat couldn''t look away.


    Ummmm.


    Note to self; never underestimate jocks, they can get scary.


    "I''m kidding," The eye contact was broken, and Pat could breathe again "everyone at school was invited. I probably just never saw you, though I don''t know how I missed someone this mean to me." Jack said, draping his arm around my shoulder. Pat had to bite his tongue to keep from choking.


    Uh...I...um-


    I''m too gay for this shit.


    "Actually, I''m new to this school. Monday is my first day." Pat hesitantly admitted, hoping Jack wouldn''t make a big deal of it. Though that was giving him too much credit, Jack looked really excited.


    "Wait really, that''s cool! Wait then who''s your friend, if you''re new here?" Jack questioned.


    "Well he isn''t my friend per se, but he''s the closest I''ve got." When explained it was so embarrassing, imagine saying you had no friends to a popular kid.


    "No, he isn''t, I''ll be your friend." Jack smiled at Pat before seeing his shocked face and added. "If you want, that is."


    "Nah, I''m fine not having any friends. I wanna be alone forever." Pat said jokingly.


    Jack''s smile dropped.


    Aw fuck, he''s a damn puppy.


    "Of course I want to be friends! But why would you?" Patrick asked, why would Jack want to be friends with a loser like him?


    Hey! Only I get to rag on you!


    Wow thanks, I feel so much better.


    Jack smile picked back up and his eyes brightened, he looked confused at Pat''s question and responded:


    "Why wouldn''t I want a new friend? You seem cool, and I want to get to know you. Don''t overthink it, bro" Even Pat wasn''t that nice.


    How do people get to be nice, hot, and rich? Gross.


    Luck.


    We talked for about half an hour, the spell eventually wore off, it didn''t matter much though. Jack was really funny, in just a few minutes he knew exactly how to make Pat laugh.


    As Jack was telling Pat a story of the time he got into a really stupid prank war with someone named Zane, Pat heard footsteps walking towards the two of them.


    Pat knew that people with a little training or talent could sense auras relatively easily, Jack seemed to fit one of those categories.


    The moment Jack sensed the person strutting towards them, he stiffened and his smile evaporated. It was replaced by a weak smile faker then Pat''s mental stability.


    Uh?


    They both looked towards the sound and saw Nick standing there. He looked drunker then he was when he left.


    Oh great, the deviant¡¯s back, drunk now too.


    What''s wrong with Nick?


    Everything.


    When he saw Jack he broke into a grin and loudly said "Hey asshole! We''ve been looking for you everywhere! He then noticed Pat and grinned even wider "Oh hey, Pat... Wait, I''ve been looking for you too, you dick!" Pat couldn''t tell if he looked more or less cute standing there trying to look mad at them.


    Less.


    Oh, so you admit he''s cute?


    Objectively.


    "Oh h-hey, Nick, I-I didn''t realize this was the friend you were talking about...heh" Jack said, nudging Patrick. Jack got up and held his hand out to help Pat up. Patrick took it and got hauled up.


    Is he... nervous? What the hell?


    "L-let''s go, Pat, I still owe you remember?" Nick started to head off to where Pat assumed Nick''s friends were. It was exactly at that moment Pat realized he was still holding Jack''s hand as Jack followed Nick, dragging Pat along with them.


    Ew, let go. You aren''t drunk enough to get to do that.


    You let Nick do it.


    Nick can literally crush our arm in 2 seconds.


    So can Jack?


    Speaking of Jack, seems totally different now that he''s here.


    That could be a coincidence.


    Ok, I know you aren''t that naive.


    ...what''s your point?


    I just have a bad feeling, ok? Be careful.


    ***


    After a minute of walking...


    Gods damn this mansion with its million square feet.


    Pat eventually was dragged to someone''s room. Where he saw a bunch of people looking at the three of them, looking at him. He felt a more then a bit uncomfortable.


    Run, this ain''t worth the dick.


    I-


    "Hey everyone!" Nick all but yelled. "I found our lovely host! Everyone cheered with drunken enthusiasm. "I also found that kid I was telling you about." Everyone stared at Pat like they were examining him. He felt like a piece of steak thrown into a den of hungry animals.


    Nick turned to Pat, smiling. "Pat, these are my friends"


    "This crybaby is Ben" Nick then pointed to a boy with auburn hair, pretty blue eyes, and with, what Pat could only assume was his, too big varsity jacket on. "Hi." He waved, visibly trying not to hit Nick for his comment.


    Come on, Ben! I believe in you!


    "That asshole is Ethan" Nick pointed to the guy sitting right next to Ben, suspiciously not wearing a jacket... Ethan didn''t even look at me and started talking to Ben.


    They did look cute together.


    That''s not the point, he''s an ass.


    Guess Pat was right about them being jocks.


    Don''t ignore m-


    "That bitch over there is Eliza" Nick continued, pointing to a redheaded girl with a really cute dress. "Boy, you better shut your ugly ass up before I come over there and make you." She snapped, glaring at Nick.


    Please make him.


    Ignoring Eliza''s comment, he pointed at the final person. "This is Sarah" It was a girl with violet hair and color-changing eyes. He had always wondered how people keep up those illusions for so long. Pat could barely hold his for 10 minutes, and those were the practice ones. Though, that was why he was going to that school.


    At least you''re improving yourself?


    Jeez, you wouldn''t think they were just ranting about how pathetic Patrick was.


    How do you go from mean to supportive on a dime?


    Uh... Bipolar?


    Yep, a bipolar mind demon, fun.


    Go away.


    Fine, fine, you know how to find me.


    No? Pat didn''t?


    I literally don''t, you just show up.


    Just call for me in your head, duh.


    Ah yes. ¡°Mind demon, where are you, mind demon?¡±


    Fuck off, just call me... Whatever, I don''t care. Just... don''t be stupid. These people may not look like the Ferins you remember, but they''re just as dangerous.


    Awwww, you care.


    Fuck. off.


    "hi..." She said, she seemed to not say a lot it to Pat out of shyness, and not a lack of interest. Which was a relief, at least one of these people didn''t ignore his existence.


    Though, maybe he didn''t want their attention.


    "Everyone, this is Pat." He smiled. Everyone turned to look at Pat, even the popular kids.


    "hi..." Pat said, suddenly understanding Sarah on a spiritual level.


    Everyone looked away from Pat, returning to what they were previously doing. The kids that Nick didn''t mention seemed to be preparing for something. A select few were even praying to their preferred god. There were about 32 of them.


    Pat tugged on Jack''s shirt since Nick was talking with his friends. He led an obedient Jack to a quieter area.


    "What''s up?" He asked, no longer slurring as his body flushed the alcohol out. It always amazed Pat to see what a Ferin''s body could do compared to a human one. Apparently, they recovered from drunkenness a hell of a lot faster.


    "I have like a million questions, for one, who''s the room is this?" Pat asked.


    "It''s mine," he said, causing Pat to examine it more. It was covered in posters of various sports teams, magical lights floated in the air, changing colors, combining and splitting with other lights. The room was clean, a little too clean honestly. Pat wondered how much time he actually spent here. Other than the posters, the room itself was bare, devoid of any personality. Jack seemed like the person to not leave an inch bare on his locker, much less his room.


    Sus.


    That was quick, miss me?


    I''m just here to make sure you don''t die. It''s not that hard, for you.


    "Ok, next, who are those people and why does it look like they''re preparing for battle?" Pat then asked, Jack looked sort of embarrassed and then answered.


    "They''re preparing for the game, it''s this thing we do when we go to parties. We play a game and the winner gets to hang with us." He explained.


    So, basically gladitorial combat and the victor gets glory. When''d we get to Kinis?


    Pat remembered hearing about Kinis and their famous dueling team, Pat couldn''t imagine being in a duel.


    Hopefully you never will.


    Maybe that''s what sport these guys played, Patrick wanted to watch.


    And check out the sweaty guys.


    Of course.


    Anyways, these guys had a hangout? Actually, why am I surprised? They are rich and magical.


    You spent an hour in a fucking mansion, this surprises you why?


    But it sounded fun, Pat wanted to play. Plus if he won, Pat would get to hang out with Jack and Nick and their friends.


    Sorry, what?!


    "Oh, that sounds fun, can I play?"


    Jack looked really nervous but said "Ok?". His tone was more like a question.


    Take the hint, idiot!


    "Yay! So what game are we gonna play?" Pat asked Jack, excited to hang out with people. He usually was anti-social , but right now Patrick wanted friends. it was better then being alone again, at least.


    This is not the way to do that!


    "Well, we usually start with ''Truth, Dare or Punishment'' then when they aren''t as many people we switch to... this game we... made up. Jack explained, looking extremely embarrassed.


    "What kind of game?" Pat asked Jack who looked mortified and like he wanted to fall off the face of the earth.


    "I''ll... explain later, probably". Jack said, seeming like he''d much rather not explain.


    Take. The. Damn. Hint.


    "Are you ok?" Pat asked, Jack seemed upset.


    "I''m fine," he said, clearly not fine. "Please just make sure you want to do this."


    "I want to do this." Jack looked like Pat just sentenced himself to death.


    You probably did.


    As he said that, the redheaded girl from earlier popped up and said "Well good luck, Jackie can''t save you from total humiliation." She giggled. Jack looked to be having a panic attack. "Jeez, I was kidding Jack. You don''t gotta shit yourself"


    "I''m Not-" Jack said indignantly, before being cut off.


    "Don''t care, good luck new kid. Hope you win, been a while since we had a new victim." Eliza joked.


    That''s concerning, right Pat?


    "For the record, the second game might go by faster if you get smashed, just saying."


    "Eliza-"Jack started, but Pat hardly heard him, Pats heart was beating too loud.


    Fear crept into Pat¡¯s heart, he sort of knew why his mind demon had thought this was a bad idea.


    Still.


    ...Pat?


    ...


    Patrick?


    "I think I will" Pat mumbled, walking over to where there was a case just for the people in the room. As he took a bottle, Pat heard Ben call out.


    Oh gods, you''re really doing this, huh? Fine, t-try not to die.


    "Alright, get your asses over here, and let''s have some fun!" Pat heard the grin in his voice. He''d heard Ferin drinks were a lot stronger than human ones, and Pat couldn''t imagine himself being anything but a lightweight.


    Get ready, Patrick... This is probably going to suck.


    Ready as I''ll ever be.


    As all the people started to head to the center and sit down, Patrick Alixa started chugging, preparing to be a statistic for humans dead due to rich kid shenanigans.

 Schooling

    It tasted awful, like carbonated sewage. Pat couldn''t imagine how people drank this stuff, but he kept going. Patrick had a bad feeling about what was about to happen here, and even humans trusted their instincts. He still had to do this, there was no other option.


    Uh... I think there is?


    Pat couldn''t risk looking like a loser in front of these people, Pat couldn''t help but imagine what people would think of him if he left.


    And? They don''t matter.


    Would Jack not like me anymore if I didn''t do this? Would Nick start talking about what a loser I am? Is that why I''m doing this? Gods, aren''t I shallow, crying over what people you just met think about you.


    Woah, woah, when I said to be vulnerable this is not what I meant.


    Par couldn''t hear them, he was lost to it all.


    I don''t want to disappoint my new friends.


    You.. aren''t disappointing them.


    I just want to be good enough for them to like me... is that bad?


    I keep telling you to listen to me! Of course it''s not bad, it''s natural, it''s mortal.


    Pat recognized a newfound softness to their voice, one the demon would vehemently deny.


    Gosh, I can''t even keep it together for a fucking day, no wonder-


    ...Patrick. Please listen to me, please?


    Pat finished the bottle without knowing it, only realizing that he had drunk it all once a weird feeling had replaced all the anxiety he had. It wasn''t a bad feeling per se, but it felt weird. It was kind of funny, everything was funny actually.


    Stop running from this, it''s not healthy.


    Being drunk is funny, like what the hell was I thinking? How did I even get drunk this fast? Oh, right, magic.


    You really can''t hear me, huh? Oh well, just know I''m here for you... Alright?


    I mean, we''ve been together for what, 4 years now? Can''t let you die, yet.


    Pat wished this softness had come earlier, when he wasn''t a mess, perhaps? It was welcome, little comfort here though.


    He wouldn''t remember the pleas or the support. But he''d remember the comfort. He''d remember the warmth of someone wanting them to succeed, a feeling he hadn''t felt since...


    Why did I do this again... Oh, right.


    Pat looked behind me and saw almost everyone already sitting down, guess that was his cue. Patrick was going to murder past him...


    I''m going to kill future you.


    ***


    Jack deeply regretted letting Pat do this, He felt like a terrible friend, and they''ve just become friends. Jack guiltily watched as Pat walked to the circle with a big smile on his face.


    Jack could smell the drunkenness on Pat''s lips from here. He shouldn''t have let his friend join, he''s not ready for this, he''s too... nice for this?


    All Jack could hope was that he was eliminated in Truth, Dare, or Punishment. If Patrick made it to Inixza, he''d be miserable. Jack doubted he even wanted to hang with them, he doesn''t want this. Well that wasn''t quite right, Jack doesn''t want this for Pat.


    Jack knew he was selfish, Patrick is a person who can make their own choices. But he just knew that Patrick wouldn''t like what happens next... Jack didn''t... he''d never...


    ...


    But there was nothing he could do, Pat chose to do this while sober. As selfish as Jack was, he was not going to force Pat into anything. But if things went too far, Jack would stop it. He... he could stop it... right?


    That didn''t matter right now.


    The game had already started, anyway. The others had seen him, even if they didn''t act like it. He wasn''t in the background anymore. The spotlight was shining and the stage was set.


    How ironic, a stage for a human. Ugh, dramatic irony is stupid.


    Jack walked over to one of the chairs set up for his group. As he sat down, I noticed a lot of people eyeing Pat.


    They looked curious, it''s not every day that a completely new person rocks up on the scene. He was the fresh kill to a bunch of cions. Jack had no idea why Patrick thought this would be a good idea, to throw himself into the limelight this quickly.


    Jack had no more time to worry about his stupid, stupid friend however, as Ethan started the game by standing up.


    "Hm, which one of you losers should I pick?" He said, cartoonishly evil. Ethan looked the whole group in the eye. With a single sweep around the room, a quarter of the circle sat up and left.


    That was rude, even for Ethan... guess he chose to be a jerk today.


    As the circle moved to fill the space, Jack could only think about how they dodged a bullet.


    Smart people, I wish this idiot would join them.


    "Ok, now that we got the boring people out of the way. Who wants to go first?" Ethan said, half yelling the word boring so the people leaving could hear.


    This was how the game started though, the smart people would leave, realizing how much of a bad idea this was. Then Jack and his friends just let the idiots who remained tear each other to pieces.


    It was simple, really. Easy and impersonal...


    The perfect superiority cocktail for a bunch of self-righteous dicks.


    Except one of these idiots, Jack gave a damn about. All the others had been through this before or had at least heard the rumors.


    Wow, the lengths mortals go to delude themselves is... Astounding.


    Jack never felt bad for them, they never hid how cruel these games could get. Everybody knew, everybody except his drunk friend. If anything they deserved this.


    A kid wearing a denim jacket rose their hand, Jack thought their name was Kai. "Truth, dare, or punishment?" Eliza asked, looking down at her phone, bored. Jack wondered who would ever pick punishment, it was always terrible.


    Jack always hated having his mind read, none of these people were very good at it, so it always felt so violating. It''s like they''ve never cast a spell before, Gods.


    As it turns out, not everyone can cast every single spell that comes to mind. Odd how someone who''s never had that problem gets to complain.


    Jack could only guess who awful this sounds to a stranger, but usually people already know this going in. Pat was one of the first to go in blind.


    Jack thought about this kid a lot, but he couldn''t help it, he was at fault. If he''d just grown a pair and told him not to do it, Jack wouldn''t feel this guilty and Patrick wouldn''t be in this mess. Jack looked over at the boy, he looked way too excited.


    He don''t know why, but Jack''s instincts were telling him that he needed to protect Pat. As a Ferin he''d learnt to trust his instincts, even if they seemed weird or out of nowhere.


    "Truth," the Kai responded, snapping Jack from his thoughts. Jack looked at Kai, poor kid, there was no good option in this game. No matter what you picked, it would suck for you.


    "Is it true that you sucked Jay''s dick for 30$?" Ben asked, Kai simply nodded.


    "Well it''s not fun if you just say it, where''s the drama?" Ben scolded. "But I''m still impressed, a amateur, for 30$, that''s impressive. Mind teaching? I still have a hoe phase to go through." Ben joked to Ethan, who did not look amused.


    Ethan simply looked forward, his hands gripping the chair tightly.


    Magic swirled around Ben as he checked if their answer was true, apparently it was, and Kai got to ask next.


    "Hey, Trina! Truth, dare, or punishment!" Kai asked enthusiastic, seemingly glad to have survived.


    "Punishment, because I''m not a coward." The girl named Trina replied, partly annoyed to be called next.


    "You sure?" They said as if she needed reminding what Punishment entailed.


    "Yep! Give it to me!" People were enthusiastic about playing, Jack guessed they didn''t realize how serious this was to your social life, or maybe they didn''t care.


    "I want you..." The spell was cast, and it must have been juicy because Kai snickered a bit.


    "-to let this spider crawl in your hair for a minute." Kai looked proud of themself, and Jack canceled them. That was... just... no. Spiders were disgusting. Jack would''ve destroyed anyone who made him do that.


    Not because he was scared of insects... or anything like that. They''re just gross, alright?


    Said spider appeared in Kai''s hand, unmoving.


    "Fuck that." Trina instantly said, staring Kai in the eyes. Kai tilted their head, looking a mixture of surprised and confused.


    "But you just said to-" Kai started, looking really confused.


    "Did I stutter?" Trina asked, and that shut them up. Her tone left no room for argument. She was Jack''s new idol.


    Sometimes he wished he could tell people no that easily...


    She got up, ignoring the teasing from the other people in the circle. She conjured a chair and sat on the sidelines, looking keen to see how this all this ended.Stolen story; please report.


    "I''M NOT A COWARD" Someone mocked, they were hiding themselves though, and Jack was too emotionally exhausted to look.


    Oh, poor you! Gods, I guess you''re just EXHAUSTED having to deal with the consequences of your actions.


    ...


    Jack felt a link opening inside his head, he tensed for a moment before recognizing the presence.


    Gods, imagine being that confident then deflating ''cuz of a spider.


    ...Yeah, heh. They... really... are stupid for that.


    Maintaining that cheery yet condescending tone took work, but Nick always gave Jack some practice. There was always this... tension, when talking to Nick. Even when they were just hanging out, there was this sense that Nick shouldn''t be talked to recklessly.


    Let''s hope no spider "accidentally" falls on little Ms. Coward soon, right?


    Nick... you shouldn''t... do things like that.


    Oh, and why not? It''s what someone like her deserves for being so pathetic.


    Jack couldn''t hold back a tremble at the half growl at the word "patheitic". That tone was one Nick only used if it was a bad day or he was having a tantrum.


    Today wasn''t bad, Nick seemed fine. Why was he getting upset?


    Jack would have to tell the others about this, something was wrong. Nick''s mood was dropping and there wasn''t a specific reason.


    Usually when they were all together Zane would crack a joke to calm him down, or one of them would distract the boy with some random fact that needed Nick''s full attention.


    Jack almost mentally called out from them, but there was huge pressure blocking outside interference.


    His heart dropped, and Jack''s eyes unconsciously flickered to Nick, the most likely source. Nick had that rising anger about him, but looked unaware of the block. That meant Jack couldn''t bring it up...


    Jack was alone until Nick got bored of him.


    But... how is a phobia pathetic.


    Hm?


    Jack should''ve shut up by now, but something kept driving him to fight, to push at Nick''s ego. Jack was searching for an answer, but he couldn''t think of what.


    Oh, I''m sorry... I should''ve known someone like you would be offended. Say, met any Triyapedes lately?


    Jack ignored the jibe, but didn''t press further. Jack knew that once the insults started gettting personal, he should back away. He couldn''t keep all the hurt down, Nick knew how Jack felt about bugs. He swallowed the pain away, Jack couldn''t be the reason Nick exploded.


    Because after the insults came the breaking point, and gods have mercy to whoever was around him at the time.


    Jack wished for the better times back, when the good days heavily outweighed the bad. When talking to Nick wasn''t this... tiring. Looking back, there was even a time long ago where there weren''t any tantrums.


    Yeah, it was tiring...


    Jack assumed that came with the job of being someone''s friend, but...


    If that was the price... then why did he never feel that with Zane, or Ben, or the rest of the group? Hell, he never even felt that with Patrick, and he didn''t expect to. How did talking to a random kid he''d met that day feel less stressful then talking to one of his best friends?


    What was it about Nick that made him not walk, but tiptoe on eggshells?


    Truely impressive, quite a talent you have for lying to yourself, little one. If your introspection is going to be this unfulfilling, you should focus on the game. Wouldn''t want our little Bunny to get slaughtered, now would we?


    Perhaps Jack should focus on the game now, thinking and toeing lines wasn''t doing any good.


    He let the link close, and felt a bit of relief when he glanced over to see Nick slightly bored, but otherwise fine. The pressure was gone, but Jack still had a feeling that reaching out would make everything worse.


    "Well since she doesn''t wanna go, Kai gets to pick again," Eliza stated, bored out of her mind. Until Inixya it was fairly pedestrian.


    "Cas" Quickly said Kai, dragging Jack out of thought yet again. They seemed to be really good at that.


    "Cassidy, trut-" Ben said, though getting cut off immediately.


    "Dare," she said, cutting Ben off confidently. Jack almost felt bad for these people, they all seemed so... normal? If he didn''t know that they wanted to tear his friend and each other apart he''d want to get to know some of them.


    You really think everyone here walked in just to break each other down? Come now, I know you''re smarter then that.


    Though, you''re still ignoring me so maybe not that smart.


    "Damn ok, just like, cut me off then." Ben said, jokingly annoyed. Ben knew it all was in good fun though, he didn''t mind much, he was much too busy staring at Ethan''s biceps to care anyway.


    Ethan had the decency to half hide his glare, Cas still gulped though. Ethan was beginning to be another issue, he also seemed upset. While he''d always been overprotective of the group, there''d never been outright hostility other then with actual threats.


    Kai seemed to notice, because they had an odd glimmer in their eyes now. A spark of something sinister.


    "I want you to-" Kai started to magically whisper the instructions to her. After Kai finished, Cassidy paled. She looked really nervous, she closed her eyes. She seemed to be attempting to steel her nerves. After 30 seconds of silence, Cas stood up, looking resigned to her fate.


    She looked towards someone sitting across from her, and said in a tiny, shaky, much less confident voice;


    "H-hey Ethan-" Oh gods, everyone knew Ethan was being a hot head right now, this oughta be interesting. "M-maybe if you stopped being such a trash dueler, you could actually win 6th for o-once..."


    "Oh? I couldn''t hear you, I think you''ll need to repeat that." Ethan growled dramatically, his expression both, annoyed and embarrassed. It would be seriously stupid to repeat that, but... they weren''t wrong.


    Jack smiled to himself, Ethan''s face when they won 7th was hilarious.


    He must''ve let his grin show a bit, as Ethan spoke to him magically.


    Fuck off, that guy was tough and you know it.


    It was kinda true, but Zane had been able to beat ''em. Plus they were 6th, not exactly the next Silium.


    Silium was a champion dueler from Kinis, launching the town from backwater to dueling capital of the kingdom.


    His team had steamrolled over the completion, They were so cool! Silium''s use of seer magic was famous, he''d basically formed a whole new way of utilizing spirits.


    Silium was basically the reason that seer magic is recognized as a combat school in the first place.


    Seers were sorta rare and if you weren''t born one, you had to train your ass off. That along with the limited capabilities of combative seer magic led to it being overlooked.


    In fact, Silium Goldentongue was the only combative seer, he really was so cool. Silium and his team was the reason Jack had gotten into dueling at all.


    It had also helped that Silium was easily a 12 in Jack''s book. With his mane of fiery hair, Zalio blue eyes and dueler''s physique, they looked unexpectedly like the king. To the point that it was rumored that Silium was a bastard, with his looks and skills.


    Jack had only spent a straight week looking, so he wasn''t too knowledgeable about all that.


    Jack had prided himself on only crushing on Silium for a year, a new record when it came to celeberty crushes. Well... a year so far.


    He was a grain of sand compared to Silium and his team...


    Zane is on a completely different level and you know it.


    Also true, Zane trained harder then any of them. He had a burning desire to be the best at fighting, never told the rest of the team why. He could be trying to avenge a dead ex, he could be trying to kick Silium''s ass, who knew.


    Awwww, baby mad he couldn''t defeat a freshman?


    They were like 8ft tall!


    Also true, but that was obviously magic. And shitty magic at that, it flickered away like halfway through.


    And? You can grow to like 13 feet with magic, step on them.


    That''d been the last time they checked too, which was last year.


    Ethan groaned, and Jack let the link snap shut.


    Even Ethan actively being a bitch was much easier then a neutral Nick. Ethan, even at his worst, held a lightness in his voice that Nick rarely did. Ethan''s bite mostly came in the form of playful abuse of his strength (he always held back) and dumb pranks. It was almost scary how even when Ethan was uncharacteristically angry, it still felt like Jack was talking to his friend. When Nick got angry, it was like talking to a whole new person. Ethan''s wrath was teasing...


    Nick''s came in bruises. Not that Nick meant it! He just lost control of his strength sometimes. It was fine, they healed quickly anyways.


    He glanced towards his friend, and saw Ethan look at Jack with an a-bit-annoyed-but-I''m-dramatic smirk.


    But.. after glancing away for a second, his expression changed...


    Ethan looked even more pissed off then usual...


    Whoops, sorry Cas...


    Fortunately for Cas, she noticed, quickly sitting down.


    This is what Jack meant, people just wanted to rip each other to shreds. Knowing that this was happening to someone he...


    Jack cared a little bit about, suddenly everyone seemed so much less distant.


    He glanced around the room, he hadn''t noticed before, but people were talking to each other.


    Cas was being reassured by her girlfriend that Ethan wouldn''t actually eat her alive. Jack could remember himself saying that to Ben, after he bumped into the 2nd place after the competition.


    The guy had looked like he wanted to shatter ever bone in Ben''s little 5''11 body...


    5 minutes later they were cracking jokes about how badly Ethan had lost, apparently they still talked too. Ben was good at making friends, hell, Ben would probably be buds with the prince if you gave him long enough. And that bastard didn''t like anyone.


    Jack pulled away from those that train of thought, he felt he needed to focus on these people. It felt like he was grasping at sand, and this was his one chance to catch it.


    Trina was being teased by her friends for her unfounded confidence, just like he and his friends had always done to Ethan.


    These people all cracked jokes and annoyed their friends and rushed to school and forgot their homework... just like them.


    Gasp! People they''re... they act like people! Wow, Jack, you''re a genius!


    You''re lucky the spirits are taking an interest in you, that complex isn''t doing you any favors, little one.


    They didn''t feel like strangers anymore, they were people. They were just like Pat...


    They were just like Jack. These thoughts, that he perhaps had known all along, created a new train of thought... a dangerous one.


    Why do I get to look down on them? What do I have that they don''t?


    Birthright? What did that mean here, we''re all teenagers.


    What if the only diffrence between me and them is that I didn''t let them get on my level. What if I''m the one keeping these people beneath me?


    Jack had no idea where these thought came from, he''d never thought about this before.


    Though that''s the funny thing about privilege, huh? You don''t have to think about this stuff.


    Where the fuck was this coming from!?


    Don''t act like you don''t know, little one. You''ve known all along.


    You wanted a prayer after all, now you''ll need to be ready to hear what I have to say.


    What if he stopped pushing people down, l-like humans, how strong could they get?! He''d never seen a strong human, though he''d never seen a human, period...


    What if humans were already strong, he''d just never bothered to look.


    Jack was shaking now, the voice which had spoke earlier was gone. He wanted it back, it had to be the reason he was thinking these mutinous things.


    It needed to explain this.


    Nothing made sense, he never prayed for this, who was the voice, why was it here? What the hell was going on?!


    A laugh shot his thoughts back into the game.


    Jack didn''t know anything about the voice or the thoughts... what he did know? He hated this.


    He hated the fear, worry, and heartbreak that constantly radiated off these strangers auras. The laughs as their social lives were ruined.


    He hated the guilt he felt, despite doing nothing. Jack was part of the problem, too. He hadn''t said anything because he''s a coward.


    Ah, there we go. See? All you needed was a little push.


    For once, he let himself think those thoughts he''d kept buried.


    I... I-I don''t like this.


    Why were we even doing this? This isn''t fun anymore.


    This feels wrong, really wrong.


    Maybe we should sto-


    And that''s all it took... Didn''t last much longer then I thought you would. It was a good effort, though. At least we''re finally at the starting line, my little embryo.


    ***


    Pat now realized now why Jack didn''t want him playing, this was brutal. He watched as the game continued, people using everybody''s fears against then, not just during punishment.


    If people had any knowledge about anyone else, they used it without hesitation.


    Only about half of the people who started the game were left. The ones eliminated either gone back downstairs or sitting on the sidelines.


    Eventually, someone worked up the courage to ask Pat. He was shocked he didn''t get picked first.


    They know nothing about you, that''d be stupid.


    Though Pat guessed since he was new, nobody knew how to get him out quickly.


    "Hey, new kid, pick!" A guy demanded. Ethan, Pat remembered.


    He didn''t even know the hosts could play, but...


    I know you can''t hear me, but maybe you can use this.


    Maybe I could use this...?


    Oh lovely, looks you can hear me just enough for plagiarism.


    Drunk Pat was much more devious then sober him, that''s for sure.


    Yeah...sure.


    Ethan seemed to be hotheaded, easy to anger... cocky, they would want to "knock him down a peg"...


    What they didn''t have was info.


    They know nothing about me... best to keep it that way.


    It seems to have worked so far.


    This could work, at least until the "other game". This would mean I couldn''t get a punishment though, can''t trust them not to go poking around.


    Not like Pat could afford that earlier either, one peek and his secrets out.


    Damn, looks like you can be smart... could''ve used that earlier.


    "Dare," Pat said simply, trying to keep a poker face. He couldn''t show emotion, these people can literally smell it.


    He found it just as annoying as he did when his... when Papa told him.


    Pat...


    He had to be neutral and cold. Act like nothing phased him, and maybe he can make it through the night. Nothing, could break him, or he''d die here.


    Emotion was costly, and Patrick was poor.


    "I dare you to kiss me," He said, a smirk on his lips. He was obviously trying to humiliate Patrick, and he might be hot enough for that.


    As Ethan said that, Pat suddenly noticed Nick''s eyes on him.


    Patrick turned to meet them, there was humor, and something darker flickering in them. He knew, he had to. You can''t just look at someone like that, with those heavy, hot eyes and not know they like you. Pat heard a whisper in my ear, even though Nick was sitting a little ways away from him.


    "Survive until the next game, I want to see how I match up."


    Jealousy is not a good look, asshole.


    Was Nick... jealous? He seemed mad, there was venom in his words. Well, he had bigger things to worry about then Nick''s jealousy.


    Hey, that''s what I''ve been saying! Finally, you listen to me.


    "Ok," Pat said, nonchalant. Ethan looked confused, Pat''s demeanor had dramatically shifted. He glanced around the room, some were confused, some suspicious, all a threat. Pat stood up and slowly walked over to the man.


    "No emotion, no feeling, give them nothing to get you with."


    Looks like they did come in handy, huh?


    His dads'' words echoed, all the lessons... the training. A human life was a hard one, so there were unwritten rules to get by.


    "A mask should be be the first thing a Ferin is greeted with... a small, shy little smile and there''s no way this human could dislike you for any reason."


    "Act like you''re hanging off their every word, and they won''t notice the venom in yours."


    Despite not having shows since before the war, humans were as good actors as ever. A good facade and no can even tell how much you hate life, how much you hate them.


    Pat hadn''t used these lessons here, why would he? These people weren''t scary, they were just... people. He had friends now too, and he couldn''t just lie to them.


    "Friends" aren''t people you''ve known for a day. Survive tonight and maybe we can think about friends.


    Despite his misgivings, Patrick knew instinctively that this... man? was worth using them on.


    These words, these lessons were Pat''s mantras as he approached the man, he could clearly see his face now.


    He was attractive, with his golden hair and eyes. His expression ruined the image, quite a different sight from when they looked at Ben or their friend group. The fury in his expression looked hideous on Ethan.


    Ethan looked his best when he wasn''t filled with jealousy.


    Who knew people looked better when they weren''t jealous pigs?


    Pat really didn''t want to kiss this guy...


    Pat glanced around, but couldn''t take in any faces as his vision was slowly consumed by the man, who had also started forward. It was like Ethan was stealing away his attention, literally.


    Just kiss him on the cheek or something.


    Maybe I don''t have to... I mean, he never said I had to kiss him on the lips.


    Pat kissed him on the cheek, and quickly returned to his seat. Pat now knew the importence of carefully wording his dares.


    "Wha? That wasn''t a real kiss, do it again!" Ethan said, outraged that he apparently wasn''t good enough to kiss. Or perhaps that he hadn''t gotten to rub the kiss in Ben''s face. Unfortunately, that''s not Pat''s problem.


    "If you wanted a kiss on the lips, either start seducing me or word your dare better." Pat shot back, the mask of nonchalance slipping for a moment.


    Damn it Pat, stop being stupid.


    Damn it Pat, stop being stupid.


    Ok, now you''re just full on copying me.


    "I could make you fall for me if I wanted, h-" the boy said hotly, he was cut off as Eliza spoke up.


    He really was committed to making Ben jealous, but there was something darker then jealousy in his eyes.


    it was much more... violent. It didn''t seem natural on Ethan, like a shirt that didn''t fit. This hatred didn''t match up with how Jack had described him.


    At least to Jack, Ethan was way more friendly and laid back. Most of the time he was too busy trying to get Ben to kiss him to hold a grudge.


    That wasn''t the person Pat was seeing.


    The way it contorted his features into something different was frightening.


    After a second it vanished, and Pat couldn''t stare any longer into those eyes. They were too hot and angry and bright. As if Raina lounged in them.


    "No rules against loopholes, bitch." Eliza finally seemed interested in Pat''s existence. He supposed that was good... or really bad.


    Ben started laughing, almost seeming happy.


    "Ethan, stop being dumb, since when do loopholes not count? Is this your first time?" He glanced at me for a second, smiling.


    "We''re switching now since Ethan couldn''t keep it in his pants! I still can''t believe the newbie knew how loopholes work before you, you loser!"


    That laugh was definitely fake, and they look heartbroken, poor kid. Don''t worry, Pat knows allllllll about falling for a stupid prick.


    "Like seriously, how long have you been here?" Ben teased.


    Ethan blushed madly and glared at Pat.


    Then Pat realized what he said, they''re playing the other game now... Pat hoped whatever it was, he wouldn''t be humiliated. Though Pat also had a bad feeling, and he kinda wanted to get more drunk.


    "Ethan, since you''re soooooo thirsty, pick!" Ben did sound jealous, like he wouldn''t mind if Ethan was thirsty for him... wait...


    That bad feeling? Now 10 times worse.


    If mission accomplished... then why did Ethan still look at Pat with that angry, scorching look in his eyes. Why did hatred overtake his features, twisting his ichor eyes into butterscotch... then to coal?

 Feathers and Mud

    Apparently, Patrick couldn''t get more drunk. This is stupid, this had been a bad idea. Pat knew that, perhaps had known all along. He also knew from experience that it could get much, much worse.


    Those damn eyes were locked onto him, black as night. Something was happening, changing. Pat neither had the knowledge or talent to check, but he could swear that magic was being cast here.


    It was pathetic, really.


    Sensing magic was something humans learned young, at about 2-3. Ferins knew from birth, to them it acted more as a sense then a skill.


    Lucky bastards, magic simply came easy to them. Hell, he''d even heard that certain kinds of demons and angels had affinities for types of elemental magic.


    To humans it was just a rumor, It wasn''t their place to ask, and even if they could ask such questions. No demon or angel interacted with humans civilly, finding one willing to educate a dumbass human? Unlikely, to say the least.


    Pat could technically sense magic, could feel his own swirling around his body. It was outside magic that alluded him, no matter how hard he tried he couldn''t sense a manabolt even if it was crashing into him.


    It hadn''t been a hereditary thing either, Dad could always find Pat. No matter where Pat had scurried off to when he was younger, Dad had always found him within minutes. Hide and seek with magic was a nightmare...


    Papa though... he''d been on a whole other level when it came to magic. To someone of Pat''s talent, Papa might as well have been a god.


    Perhaps that''s why it hurt so much to be weak. Everyone around you always told you how great you are, but the truth was on their faces. No matter how good they were at lying or how much fake encouragement they gave, their faces always told the true story.


    Pat was a failure. He''d always been, ''cuz people who weren''t failures could sense magic. People who weren''t failures didn''t need everyone protecting them.


    People who weren''t failures didn''t let their Dad die.


    Pat needed something else to think about, so he looked at the people surrounding him - specifically the men.


    It almost seemed like all Ferins were born attractive, and maybe they were. Pat wouldn''t know, and why would you let humans know about your species.


    Some of the men looked back, smug smiles on their faces. Their eyes searched his body, and Pat shivered under their gross gazes. Pat hated that look, yet it had followed him all the way here.


    Ferins like these always had that look, as if you''re lucky to even be looking at them. As if their attention was supposed to be the highlight of your day. It made a twisted version of sense when they knew Pat was human, but he was just a, albeit weak, Ferin here. So why did they have that horrid look, that look that said they wanted you.


    Pat wanted to smack that entitled look on horny amusement right off their faces, he wanted to stomp over there and demand to know why they thought they could look at him like that.


    He''d seen that same disgusting look on... he''d touched him, when he did not want to be touched. They''d looked at him like a piece of meat, no... Not a piece of meat, because that implies that the meat was once living, that Pat had once been breathing, like them.


    No, more like a toy. Something to play with then leave when they finally broke.


    But don''t worry, it was just a coincidence he started getting those looks after hitting puberty.


    He wanted to know why they thought he''d wanted the attention or the looks, or the fucking comments. No, of course Pat left the house all those times just begging some strong man to make creepy comments towards him. Why they were allowed to act like he hadn''t just been wanting to go home. That he wasn''t there for their amusement, to fuck or to torture.


    How could they look at him, a child, and only think of how to screw him or to grind Pat beneath their feet.


    Pat had always wanted to punch Ferins in the face when they did stuff like this. But he couldn''t, because then he''d just be seen as the crazy kid who can''t take a compliment.


    Pat had never been so... angry like this before. He felt furious like he''d never been before. Pat wanted to leave, or to burn this gods damned mansion to the ground... either worked.


    Pat could only sir there, stewing in his unprompted anger til he saw Jack. His anger was quickly overtaken by confusion, and a hint of worry for his new friend.


    They boy was there, yet not there. Jack''s eyes were glazed over, light gone from them. His seemingly ever present smile had disappeared, his expression now blank and lifeless. Jack sat there limply, as if you could push him over and he''d just not react.


    It unnerved Patrick, but he just could only assume that Jack got bored and cast some sort of spell. He wasn''t that good at these magical things. He''s had no reason to be, at least until school started. Since he had no way to know what was happening with Jack and was too shy and cowardly to ask, he moved past it.


    Seeing Jack, Pat forgot his anger and slipped into his thoughts for the... Who knows how many, but a lot.


    He never thought about one specific thing during these, his mind always bounced around from mundane topic to mundane topic til-


    Boom!


    The final game was about to begin.


    I seriously need to stop zoning out... Pat thought, kinda weirded out by this problem of his. It wasn''t like it was a new thing, but this was like the 9th time he''d done it today... or something like that.


    Perhaps it was because he was too scared to talk to people and had nothing to do, and thus retreated into his own mind? Nahhhh.


    Pat mentally smacked himself, the game was literally starting and he''d almost got lost in his thoughts again.


    Pat finally looked up and at the people left. Though as a whole this time, so his burning desire to kick a few men in the balls didn''t resurface.


    The 8 or so people left around Pat were staring each other down, trying to intimidate each other and him. He avoided eye contact because It kinda worked...


    Don''t look me in the eye, people, I will literally crumble before you.


    "So who''s volunteers to go first?" Ben questioned, despite his words earlier. Ethan was about to comment before Ben shut him down. "Shut up Ethan, I was kidding." Ben snapped, not even looking for a reply he turned back to the group.


    Silence.


    After no one answered Ben tried again, pratically begging. "Come on, please don''t make me choose again," he pleaded.


    There was an awkward pause, a silence that Patrick refused to break.


    "Fine." He said at last, determined to forget Ethan existed. "Hey Nick, you look like you wanna kiss a certain person. Soooooo, you''re going last." Pat thanked the gods for their intervention, he could not handle Nick actually trying to flirt with him. This soaring feeling lasted until a smug voice sounded in Pat''s ear.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Everyone gets a turn, Patty, I''ll wait."


    Pat froze and immediately thought of those "men", until he recognized the voice as Nick. He calmed down, Nick wasn''t like that.


    Pat could now focus on what the boy had actually said as he didn''t catch in while frozen in terror.


    ...oh.


    Pat was gonna be screwed, in many ways. He pretended he didn''t hear that and watched as Nick glanced over at him, gauging his reaction.


    Probably hoping to see a blush on Pat''s face, he looked faintly disappointed to see... well not that.


    ***


    Patty had this weird look on their face for a second, it almost looked like... fear?


    Well, it wasn''t a blush... Nick was a bit disappointed.


    Not seeing the response he expected, Nick decided to calm down a bit. Now thinking with his head, he realized how weird he must seem to Patrick. Nick hadn''t meant to be this desperate. Gods, he must seem like such a loser drooling over Pat like that.


    Pat was hot, and Nick has just always found himself wanting to kiss the boy he so easily flustered, despite the time they''ve known each other.


    He needed to play this cool, before Pat''s image of him was ruined. He had this one chance with a new student, it would be so lame to mess it up. Who else could say they were the first to sleep with a hottie like Pat, the other guys would be so jealous.


    He (reluctantly) decided to back off for now, lest he scare away his future hook-up.


    ***


    "OK, this isn''t working."


    This surprised Pat, he was unsure if the guy was joking or not. He was also unsure if he wanted his flirty friend to stop at all.


    He tried to speak through the link Nick created, and succeeded right before Nick shut him down.


    "Wait I-"


    "You don''t have to say anything, Pat."


    Why... did he call me Pat? Did I do something wrong, oh gosh I bet I messed something up.


    "I just don''t know if I can stand being around someone as short as you... it''s really messing with my mental health y''know."


    ...what? Was he joking or... I''m so confused? What''s wrong with my height? Pat had no idea why Nick would bring this up.


    "I mean, just imagine how I feel having to look down at you, my neck is aching."


    That made Pat feel a bit bad, he wasn''t that short.


    "I just don''t think I can go on like this, sorry Pat, but I''m gonna have to break up with you." Nick sounded mournful, as if he''d just actually broken up with Pat.


    "Shut up, Nick"


    It was Nick''s turn to be cut off, because Pat was a bit mad.


    "Uh... What?"


    Nick sounded confused. Good, because Pat had no time for idiots who don''t know how to keep their mouths shut.


    "I don''t like you making fun of me like this, pleas-"


    "But you were liking it earlier, why is it so bad now?"


    "It''s beca-"


    "You can''t just suddenly decide you dont like it, all this switching up is confusing me."


    "Well I-"


    "Like, I''m sorry you can''t take a joke, dude."


    Why does he keep cutting me off?


    Pat wanted to speak and defend himself but Nick wouldn''t let him.


    "But I ca-"


    "It''s really not my problem that you''re so sensitive."


    "I... I''m sorry." Nick was right, Pat can''t just change his mind on a dime, it''s rude. Maybe he''s being too thin-skinned, it must sound so annoying. Pat really shouldn''t be mad.


    "It''s fine, it''s not that serious."


    It really wasn''t, it was immature for Pat to get so mad. Getting mad over a joke was embarrassing, Nick must think that Pat''s so lame.


    "Get back to the game now, it''s starting."


    "I volunteer as tribute, so long as you don''t start crying." A voice broke through Pat''s thoughts and he realized that this was the guy he had loop-holed... Ethan?


    "Oh, um, uh... k" Ben blushed but quickly tried to hide it. It was kind of cute to see him drool over a guy like Ethan.


    "So who do you choose?" Ben said hopefully, he probably hoped that Ethan would choose him.


    "Hm, I don''t know..." Ethan said, looking like he knew exactly who he was going to pick.


    "How about... Mr. Mystery over here" he said, gesturing towards me smugly.


    At that moment, both Pat and Ben uttered a single word; "Oh". They both glanced at each other, a mutual discomfort giving them a certain understanding of each other.


    You can have him... Pat thought, Ethan made him a bit uncomfortable.


    Ok, a lot uncomfortable. It was odd, he only got this feeling once the games began. He glanced up at the guy coming towards him, his expression wasn''t smug anymore... and that scared Pat.


    Pat''s gaze was pulled into those angry eyes again...


    They were black.


    And suddenly... deep in the confides of his... once safe mind, a new kind of link was created. One made of arrogance and pride, of deadly power that not only could, but would delight in crushing him instantly.


    Pat lurched in his seat, unable to locate this disturbance''s source. He wanted- needed it gone. It was like black flames, invading his mind, his vision, his soul. It stole his energy and his vision. Pat was struck dumb - not able to see, or move.


    "See, I was just trying to make Ben jealous, but you''ve pissed me off now. This is what happens to little human whores who don''t know how to stay in their fucking lane, you don''t get to reject me"


    Pat could only vaguely note the hypocrisy: he was a whore for rejecting this man, unclean for refusing to have sex with someone. He wondered why the man was even so mad: he was apparently lesser to Ethan, so why was he so upset that this lesser creature rejected him? Perhaps that was the point, how dare this thing reject someone so greater then itself.


    At these thoughts, the flamed burned hotter, seemingly reacting to Pat''s defiance. They clambered to cleanse these idiotic thoughts, because obviously the Ferin was right... right?


    Patrick could do nothing but sit there as this... monster bent down to whisper in his ear.


    "Submit, Aalkya" The monster whispered, his voice sweet as honey, ironic compared to the rotten words they spoke.


    Slave of Dirt.


    Patrick recalled through the torment. A insult often said behind closed doors by what Patrick assumed were drunk uncles now roared in Pat''s ears. That''s what monsters like this thought of his kind, pitiful creatures destined to stay at the bottom, in the mud.


    Perhaps I should just give up, what would even happen if I did somehow win this battle of wills. What did I even have to win for; I have no friends, only people who loved having their own personal jester. At least I''m following tradition.


    Did you really think that Jack wanted to be your friend? Why would a person that powerful and rich want a measly human as his friend, the thought''s hilarious. Jack, who could, and did, get any sort of formidable people as his besties, wanted the worthless human?


    And Nick? Someone so popular and strong, who had girls and boys waiting on him day and night. Beautiful girls and boys who would kill for a glance, a touch... and you somehow attract him? What a silly concept.


    Your fathers hate you, and for good reason. What a lazy, weak son they''d had been stuck with.


    T-they didn''t...


    At least one had finally escaped you through death.


    This school? It could never help you, this place was for the rich and influential, the strong. How did you even get here? Who made the mistake of letting you in?


    What pitiful hopes, but of course such pitiful fantasies would come from a pitiful creature. A worthless aalkya who would die as he lived, unspectacularly, mundanely, worthlessly. He would meld into the dirt, Patrick only helping anyone as soil for the plants and food for the worms...


    Especially about the shifter- Who? Do I know any shifters -as if Nick - he didn''t know Nick was a shifter... - the famous human hater, - Nick hated humans? - he obviously didn''t know, maybe I should educate him.


    Pat''s mind was utterly muddled, thoughts swirled about, he had no idea what was happening in the real world.


    Why were his thoughts conflicting, he knew stuff he shouldn''t, stuff he couldn''t possibly know... right?


    As Pat noticed the dissonance, The flames once again grew and it hurt unbearably, it felt like something was ripping him apart, Pat could hardly breathe.


    Perhaps they were right though, Honestly, who was he to even be here? He really had no right when he came down to it, he simply didn''t deserve to be here. Not at this party, not at that school, not in this town, not in this world.


    In the back of his head, he felt something slip out of his pocket... no, something being grabbed out of his pocket. He couldn''t remember what, though. At this point Pat couldn''t even think anymore, he could only feel the pain.


    He couldn''t how much time past, for all Pat knew it could''ve be minutes, seconds, or centuries.


    He had nothing, except his thoughts. And what good were those against this?


    Pat didn''t know how things had gone so wrong so quickly, or... maybe he did.


    Patrick had made 3 mistakes on this hellish night, the first was showing up in the first place. From the very beginning, he had known he hadn''t belonged or fit in, yet he remained like the persistent little bug he was.


    He had showed up, and now he suffered for it.


    The second, was forgetting the rules.


    It had been so long since he had seen a Ferin, they had been broad, tall men in what was supposed to be non attention grabbing but was much too nice for them to be local.


    He had been uber polite, as he''d been instructed to, he didn''t want to be a bad boy. It was easy, they didn''t want to talk to a 8 year old anyways. One had been nice, they were younger and likely wasn''t as involved in the war as the other.


    He had given Pat a lollipop and ruffled his at the time longer hair.


    When he had to use magic, he always included a unnecessary bit of flair for Patrick''s amusement...


    Patrick couldn''t remember the rest, he only remembered enjoying when the man visited. They had come a few times every month, until they didn''t.


    And there began his fascination with magic... but that''s all It''d ever be.


    Yes, that was so long ago and they had been so... unnatural... so unreal to a child''s eyes.


    Not like these people, it was so easy to imagine them as humans like him. They weren''t a 8 year olds view of things, they were real.


    But they weren''t human, they were Ferins. They were better then him, better then humans. To compare the two was laughable.


    He had forgotten what he had been taught, and now he suffered for it.


    The third was getting involved with these people, despite how they wanted nothing to do with him. If he had just stayed quiet like he was meant to all would''ve been fine, but now it''s too late.


    Ferin''s have a good memory; and he had gone and placed himself in the spotlight.


    He walked into a game, and went seeking attention. He talked to Nick and Jack, because he needed them to notice him.


    Pat snapped at Ethan, because he wanted to seem cool.


    He had been too loud and bold, and now he suffered for it.


    He did this to himself, all this pain he''s feeling is his own fault. He should just fade away, and not cause a scene.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    No.


    His senses had come back to him, but Pat didn¡¯t want to open his eyes and meet their faces. See the monster who ripped through his mind, look at the ¡°friends¡± he didn¡¯t really have, have the existence he didn¡¯t deserve. He wanted that blissful quiet, where his thoughts didn¡¯t threaten to consume him.


    Pat took his time, but he had to wake from this eventually. All good things disappear, leaving you with fragments and memories, and pain. His father¡¯s death had taught him that.


    After a while of mustering up the strength to start breathing, Patrick opened his eyes to see the following:


    The popular kids staring at him, silent and ragged.


    The unconscious form of Ethan with a bloody nose lying under an indented wall.


    And finally, the lone figure of Nicholas, his bloody fist tightly clenching a cracked talisman, staring at Pat with an unreadable expression.

 Index

    Ferin, Children of Magic. (Layman''s term for anything not human. POC/BIPOC but for racists.)


    [Fair-In]


    Human, Children of the Clay, Clay Doll. (The first is the pre-war definition, the second is post-war.)


    [Hue-Man] Gosh aren''t I helpful?


    Buram Syca, God of Order. Patron of the Elite. Lawmaker.


    [Boo-Rum] [Sigh-Ca]


    Zantari, Urvu Slayer.


    [Zan-Tar-E] [Er-Vu]


    Citales Mivos, Goddess of Pranks and Disorder. Trickster.


    [Sight-Alleys] [My-Vos]


    Crito, Famous Philosopher (Yes I created this guy to make the Socrates joke, and?)


    [Cry-Toe]


    Cion, Dragon Wolf


    [Sigh-On]


    Vilos Fyner, God of Athletics, Masculinity, (Redacted), and (Redacted). Patron of (Redacted). Champion.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it[Vi-Los] [Fi-Ner]


    Zornata Vyat, God/Goddess of Love, Sex, and Attraction. Patron of Lovers. Heartbreaker. (Vyat appears in different forms and genders, according to the person. No one sees them the same way. Gender depends on what the viewer is most comfortable with OR their preferred partner''s gender. Some people have priorities.)


    [Zor-Not-A] [Vi-At]


    Inixza, Vyat''s Dice. (A game where pairs take turns participating in increasingly flirtatious behavior until someone yields.


    Literally only teenagers play this stupid game, I literally can''t count how many annoying ass couples came from it. -Some lonely person)


    [E-Nix-Uh]


    Zalio, Whirlwind''s Jewel. (A fabulous Jewel mined in Opati famous for it''s color, people with this eyes the color of this gem are thought to be extremely powerful.)


    [Za-Leo]


    Silium Goldentongue, Flame Child.


    [Sil-E-Um] [Goal-Den-Ta-Ung] Just so helpful <3


    Kinis, Home of the Silver Vipers (Whooooooo go Vipers!)


    [Kin-Is]


    Nuxvata Raina, Goddess of the Sun, and Light. Motherly.


    [Nooks-Vat-Uh] [Rain-Uh]


    Aalkaya, Slave of the Dirt. (Humans are so special! They even get their own slur!]


    [Al-Kai-Uh]


    Nitras Ervos, God of Chaos. World-Eater. (VERY different from disorder.)


    [Ni-Tras] [Er-Vos]


    Zait, Cup of Illusions. (The Academy of Illusionary Theatre hands these bad boys out, but the grandeur and awe-inspiring power of a Ziat depends on the scale it was handed out at, and the rank of the actor. Actors are ranked as thus:


    Nobody, Familial, Starving, Local, Regional, Prodigy, National, and Global.


    "Yes, those are official.


    Yes, Familial means that only your family would watch you.


    Yes, I want to go to bed". -Academy of Illusionary Theatre Employee Makrum Silari, right before drinking 7 cups of coffee, using 4  lesser-energy spells, and still passing out.)


    [Zi-At]


    Saetari, Whisperer of the Blaze.


    (Say-tar-e)


    Spellbaring, the act of helping a less... magically gifted person with a spell/spells in return for money or other such compensation.


    Mages, Offical spellbarers authorized to cast Class 6 and below spells on their own.


    Zanitis, the continent the story takes place on.


    ¡°Monster¡±, among most if not all Ferin societies, The term Monster has vastly different connotations compared to Human societies.


    With humans (After the Blood War), Monster is a term used interchangeably with Ferin.


    For Ferin children, it is a joke term mocking humans for their language.


    In serious contexts, Monster is a grave word, meaning that someone is beyond help and is evil.

 Human?

    30 Minutes Earlier...


    Nick had thought their talk had gone well, so he closed the line. Nick had saved his image, and looked awesome, as always.


    Nick was on the track to Pat''s sweet ass, Gods all this work would be worth it. Nick could barely contain himself as he imagined the small boy''s body beneath him. He could almost taste the kids lips, almost hear their sweet mo-


    Ahem.


    Nick really hoped Pat won this thing, Nick wanted the extra time to get to know him.


    As horny as Nick was, he really did want to befriend Pat. They seemed like a nice person. And, while Nick would never admit this in a million years, Pat made Nick feel another type of emotion... the type that made his heart race and his cheeks redden.


    Nick, unfortunately, had to lock up those thoughts. It was too early to get this riled up. For now, he should just stay put and let everything play out, not do anything rash... yet.


    "I volunteer as tribute, so long as you don''t start crying, Ben," Ethan said out of nowhere, or maybe not, Nick had been too focused on Patrick to pay attention.


    "Oh... uh... k" Ben replied, with a totally hidden blush.


    Those two were not subtle in the slightest, everyone was just waiting for them to kiss already. They were always together, Ben in Ethan''s lap. Even now they were sitting right next to each other, for fuck''s sake they were holding hands.


    Gods they were cute, if only they knew the other liked them. They were power-couple material.


    Nicholas loved his friends with every fiber of his being, he wanted them to be happy.


    ***


    They were upset, how dare this mortal think about the child like that. They just wanted to help, but even together, they weren''t strong enough. To help their friend, they''d need help themselves, to get it would be costly.


    "That really depends, how much are you willing to give?"


    ...What are they willing to do?


    What is needed.


    ***


    He... just wanted everyone to be happy.


    "So, who do you choose?" Ben asked, looking hopeful.


    You don''t need to hope Ben, who else would he pick?


    "Hm, I don''t know..." Ethan said, knowing exactly who he was going to pick.


    Fyner, just kiss him already.


    "How about... Mr. Mystery over here" he said, gesturing towards Patrick smugly.


    Finally, you guys take... wait... what?


    Both Patty and Ben whispered "Oh." at the same time, In that moment, they seemed to understand the other.


    But as cute as that blossoming friendship was, Nick could only gape at his friend''s now slightly punchable face.


    ***


    No one knew what to do, the newcomer hadn''t even been an option in this game, not with how Nicholas looked at him.


    Off-limits.


    A silent message Nick unconsciously sent and none of them were strong enough or stupid enough to disagree. Ethan was both, however.


    ***


    Acting innocent to the staring of his classmates and friends, Ethan strode up to a... surprisingly not nervous Pat.


    Patrick just looked calm, perhaps an act?


    Nick watched as Ethan whispered something into Pat''s ear, so quiet even Ferin''s couldn''t hear. Patrick didn''t react... even when Ethan was an inch away from his face.


    Nick''s blood simmered, jealously searing it.


    I should be the one up there, why is Ethan even doing this? It''s not like Patrick''s... even...


    What Nick had naively mistaken as calm was, in truth, emptiness. A blank stare, dead to the outside world. For all that was left of Pat was locked up in his own mind, trudging through memories and secrets, thoughts that weren''t even his own.


    A simmer turned to a boil.


    What was he doing, surely Ethan must know that Patrick was his.


    By now Nick was becoming lost to his anger, he didn''t have the care or the sense to correct himself.


    True, Patrick wasn''t his, at least not yet, but right now that mattered little.


    All he could think about was his best friend touching his... sorta crush in ways he shouldn''t.


    He was just about to intervene, consequences be damned, until...


    Ethan, who had just seemed to be whispering sweet nothings in a not-panicking Patrick''s ear, grabbed something out of his pocket; something wooden and hand-made.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    It was a talisman...


    A FUCKING-


    ***


    Jack had no idea what was going on once he awoke.


    The people around him were terrified, staring at something... someone? His friends were wide-eyed and alert, as if this game had just become anything but.


    He was confused until he saw... a scene.


    Nick was there, a fiery, red aura raged around him. He wore a cloak of fire, not a very good sign.


    Ethan was also present, holding a shoddy wooden amulet with the smuggest of expressions.


    Patrick was... Patrick wasn''t there, not completely. His eyes were foggy, and he looked empty; as if he were dead to the outside world. He looked as if you could push him over and he''d just sit there with that blank look on their face, unmoving.


    What the fuck happened, how did this happen?


    Jack couldn''t remember the last hour, the last he remembered was starting the game. What happened after that... he couldn''t remember. While Jack would just love to sit for hours and dwell on it, he had a bigger issue to worry about; Nick.


    He could be a time-bomb and from the looks of that aura, the fuse might already be lit.


    "Guess your crush is a little liar, huh Nicky?" Ethan chuckled humorlessly, unlike his usual snicker. Ethan had this weird look on his face, was... was he enjoying this? This isn''t like him at all... What the fuck is happening.


    "He..." Nick looked like he could murder, never a good sign.


    This was why his friends were so alert, someone had to intervene before Nick exploded... he had to do it. He couldn''t let Nick hurt anyone, no matter what.


    "C-can I see that?" Nick asked, deadly quiet.


    "Sure, take it!" Ethan basically threw it at Nick, who caught it without even flinching.


    Nick merely held it, examining it, for a moment. He seemed determined to disprove what his senses were telling him.


    That he was holding a scent talisman, which only humans used. That said talisman reeked of Patrick.


    Pat was a human...


    How did he feel about this?


    Does it matter?


    Yes, at least Sarah would say so, She always advocated for sorting out emotions...


    So, how did he feel about this.


    He looked back to Patrick, who was on the path to becoming Jack''s friend, he looked into those... empty eyes and thought of the person he hung out with all today. It wasn''t that shocking, when he looked back...


    It didn''t take as long as he expected for him to come to the conclusion that he didn''t care if Pat was human, and that was a little scary. The moment he held the thought he banished it as deep in his subconscious as he could.


    He resurface it later when his friend wasn''t about to break something.


    But for now, he wasn''t brave enough to let the thought truly surface. Not when Nick could see.


    He turned to his friend, he needed to end this before it started. Once Nick got going, it took him a while to stop.


    "Nick, I need you to calm down."


    Nick didn''t respond...


    "Nick? Please, let''s just calm down" Jack pleaded, appealing to Nick''s mortality was easier said then done, as he still didn''t respond.


    This wasn''t working... damn it.


    "Nick," he put on his most calm tone "Please, look at me... come on, dude."


    Seconds felt like hours as Nick slowly turned around and stared down Jack, his eyes red as blood. Nick grabbed Jack''s arm, and nearly broke it with how hard they squeezed.


    "H-hey bud, l-let''s just calm down." Jack couldn''t keep the tremble out of his voice, he couldn''t keep the fear from leaking out of his scent and aura.


    Nick never liked it when people were afraid, it pissed him off.


    He squeezed harder, almost teasing Jack with the promise of a shattered arm. Jack had to place his good arm over his mouth to keep from screaming.


    Jack was terrified, he hated when Nick was like this.


    He''d been foolish, he couldn''t do this alone. He needed back up before-


    "I do wonder," an insidious voice sounded "how many of you''re so called friends knew? How many tricked you? lied to you... you arn''t gonna just let them go, are you?" The awful voice sounded nothing like Jack''s friend, it sounded like chaos. The voice speaking to the... monster inside Nick was like the whispers of annihilation, the sweet nothings of Ervos themself.


    Ethan... what''s wrong with you?


    The monster formerly known as Nick considered this, before slamming his fist into Ethan''s face so fast and so hard, his smug expression didn''t change until he hit the wall.


    "I do wonder..." Nick said, echoing the haughty tone that Ethan never could''ve had "how you can say that when you knew... friend."


    A distraction. For just a moment, Nick''s iron grip on Jack''s arm slipped, letting Jack slip out.


    He mentally reached out, searching for his friends, a plan was needed.


    He didn''t even have to ask, his friends were already there.


    Eliza was to restrain him physically. She was enchanting her arms to overpower Nick, now just waiting for the perfect moment. Ethan and Jack would usually take on that role, Ethan being the physically strongest of them all, and Jack being ok enough. But Jack''s arm couldn''t take the stress of that, and Ethan...


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    While Nick was distracted, Sarah zapped him of stamina, he would slowly grow tired. She was already prepared, her face didn''t show any of the immense force she put into readying the cast, the only tell was the flash of her illusions as they ran out of energy.


    Jack now had to drain Nick of magic, much easier said then done. It had been hard enough for Jack to drain without a near broken arm, but with his magic all frazzled... he had to try.


    He reached inside himself, grasping for the waves of magic inside him. Jack found his core, a hazy ball of heavily condensed magic. Well, at least that''s how Jack always liked imagining his magic.


    He took from it, let it empower his aura. He did this until his aura was at its max capacity, and just let the magic wrap around himself. His teachers always said it was a inefficient way of imagining magic, requiring too many steps to cast any noteworthy magic. But it worked, that''s all that mattered for now.


    Jack didn''t have the time to heal himself, there wasn''t enough time. His magic felt in shock, it was because of his injury. Well... it was because of the man who caused the injury. Nick''s magic had painfully collided with his own. It would wear off in about about an hour, but they barely had seconds much less that.


    He slowly let his magic envelop Nick''s, careful not to get close enough to touch. If the magic touched, it''d either alert Nick, Collide, or both. Now he just had to wait for the right moment, he couldn''t trip up.


    That''s what all of this relied on, a single moment. That was the only way they could win.


    As Eliza slammed into Nick, knocking him to the floor, his laser focus scattered a bit. Nick had been focusing sensing any magic, but hadn''t been as prepared for a physical attack. His loss of concentration scattered his magic, it was just enough for Sarah to unleash her cast on Nick. He growled as her magic began, but he was too preoccupied with getting Eliza off of him.


    He was so preoccupied with tearing Eliza apart, that he couldn''t feel the leak in his well of magic. Nick only began to notice once the leak became a hole with magic gushing out of it. Jack couldn''t afford to be wasteful, so he collected the dispersed magic, made wild by the leak. He used this to push his cast harder, creating more and more leaks, scattering more magic ripe for the taking.


    Nick, even in this enraged state, wasn''t stupid. He now put all his effort into reaching Jack, the loss of magic a much more dangerous threat then the angry girl trying to pin him down.


    Eliza tried her best, but Nick was on a whole other level o pared to her when it came to physical strength. The enchantments were the only reason she wasn''t getting flung off. It was also the only reason that her wrist was bruised, and not her whole arm broken.


    He was getting close, much too close... Jack tried not to shiver when he looked into his friend''s eyes, where he only saw rage. Nick was way too close. Jack could just feel Nick''s hot breath on his skin, when the effects of Sarah''s spell and his own exhaustion caught up with him. He dropped onto his hands and knees, breathing heavily.


    Those hands had been inches from Jack''s face...


    Immediatly Jack scooted back, away from the danger zone.


    Jack couldn''t even let out a sigh, because it wasn''t finished. Ben dropped in front of an exhausted Nick, and began to cry.


    ***


    Stupid.


    That is how you could describe all his decisions, idiotic.


    Although, Ben had always made stupid decisions. Like when he chickened out of confessing to Ethan that he liked him, back at Ben''s own birthday party. Or how he joined the student council, only to hang out with his friends more. But letting this go on for so long took the cake.


    He''d known for years that Nick hated humans, yet he let one walk in and possibly get hurt.


    He''d seen for years, the consequences of Nick''s rage, yet he stood by and never took action.


    He''d realized for years that pitting their class against each other wasn''t a good thing to do, yet he participated in it and laughed at people suffering.


    Nick''s hatred for humans was like a grain of sand compared to the desert that was Ben''s hatred for himself in that moment.


    It was supposed to be fake, Nick never could handle people crying around him. It was the perfect way of calming his anger. Ben had planned for it to be fake, yet he could only sob.


    "Nick, p-please stop... you''re scaring me..." It wasn''t a lie, Nick truly did terrify him. Though that wasn''t what made his breathing speed up and his chest compress a hundredfold, well... not the only thing.


    His own disgust with himself was what did that. But his self loathing wouldn''t stop Nick from killing them all.


    He looked into Nick''s crimson eyes with as much pathetic sadness as Ben could muster.


    Those burning eyes dimmed a bit. There we go, just calm down... calm down from your bitch fit.


    "B-Ben?" His tone was a question, as if surprised that he''d been out of control. As if shocked that this happened again. Still, he continued the act.


    At this point Nick''s arms gave out, forcing Ben to hold up his fat ass. Yet he still put on the front, Ben deserved an award for that. He also deserved an award for not shivering when he felt his crush''s blood soaking into his clothes, from Nick, of course.


    "Nick, you don''t have to be afraid, I''m here for you" Afraid, as if Ben hadn''t been scared, as if Jack wasn''t trembling at the sight of Nick. Almost as if that kid-


    Shit.


    He glanced to the kid, who was beginning to stir. Ben hoped they were alright, they''d seemed nice enough. Ben could imagine them being friends, in another life.


    But my friend just had to hate you and your people for existing.


    "Ben... are you-" Ben almost heard concern in Nick''s voice, before he saw the kid. Any semblance of care for Ben went out the window as they stared at the k-


    ...Pat. They aren''t 5, they have a name, Ben.


    "Slut." Nick whispered, his rage coming back; non-explosively this time.


    "What? You mean P-" Ben was cut off by a growl.


    "That whore tricked me, they lied to me. Should''ve known, only humans would wear clothes like that" Nick fumed, like a child. Patrick was wearing a crop top and some ripped skinny jeans, which was apt attire for a party. Nick was just reaching now, He''d even gushed about how hot Pat had looked in those.


    Ben was about to say something else, until he saw that Nick wasn''t even registering Ben as there anymore. He''d literally put on a Ziat worthy performance and Nick wasn''t even aware Ben existed anymore.


    Ben dropped him, not caring about the groan of pain he heard he went to his friends. He was just about to ask to do next when Pat woke up.


    Ben couldn''t bring himself to speak, as no words came to mind. he only felt guilt claw at his throat, guilt and anger.


    The boy looked around confused, taking in the situation. They looked around till their eyes found Nick, who now somehow stood with the amulet, staring at Pat with not just anger, but disgust.

 Monster

    Pat was extremely confused as to why Nick was stomping up to him, murder lurking in his eyes. That was, until he saw what exactly the talisman he clenched was.


    It was a scent talisman, his talisman. It was used officially by soldiers and adventurers on stealth missions, to hide their presence. Illegally it was used by criminals to disappear, to fall off the face of the earth. Humans used it to survive, they didn''t have the knowledge of enchanting to completely hide their scents with it. Though the power they could imbue into it was enough to hide their humanity from Ferins. Without it many would not last through to adulthood...


    While it wasn''t technically illegal, the guards would often take the talismans to... inspect them. For contraband, obviously, it was a mere coincidence that they got lost.


    So all the public saw when viewing a scent talisman was a lying human, not much different from how they already saw his kind.


    Pat was on red alert suddenly, because he''d just remembered what "Ethan" had said in his mind. Nick apparently hated humans, and Pat was defenseless. Of course this would happen to him, his mind demon literally called it.


    Nick reached Pat in 4 pissed off strides, before he slammed the talisman into his chest with just enough force to not break anything but to knock the wind out of him. It was sadistically precise, to apply just enough force to hurt like a bitch without "accidentally" breaking a bone. This is what he had to face, not just a brute, a smart one.


    The time for breaking bones was soon though, as Nick ripped Patrick from his seat and slammed him against a wall. Everyone else could only watch in horror because as someone (Patrick was a little busy trying to not get crushed to see who.) tried to step forward, Nick growled at them. "Ethan" did say Nick was a shifter, how... stereotypical.


    Shifters were the jocks of the Ferin world, smug assholes who think sports and being able to turn into an animal were personality traits. Unfortunately for humans, they were big and strong enough to do stuff like... well... this.


    Pat was so confused, was his existence really this much of a sin? Did he truly deserve this for existing?


    Perhaps that''s not the right question, maybe the question is if Nick thinks Patrick''s existence is a sin. Pat already knew the answer to that, it was apparently a big, fat yes.


    The next question is how did he escape? He thought back to the last time this had happened, back in middle school. Well, if you can call kids sitting in a circle while Fara taught them how not to die; middle school.


    Those too were part of the lessons, his parents couldn''t teach everything. Some had to be learned from a teacher... and experience. Fara tried her best to protect them but Ferins could go wherever while humans were (mostly) confined to the Nairiq district. Not exactly much place to hide when Ferins can literally barge into your home for no reason. But that was then, and this is now.


    There''s no time to get stuck in your own head, save the quirky character trait for later.


    The boy had also slammed-


    "Fucking look at me, asshole." Nick really had a way with words, so creative, so unique.


    Pat couldn''t look at the boy, because if he did he''d most likely collapse under the pressure emanating from Nick. He didn''t have the time to break down and whine about how much his life sucked, he had to survive.


    The boy had also slammed Pat into a wall for the crime existing, and wanted Pat to look at him as he screamed insults and obscenities. He''d grabbed his chin-


    Nick had gotten sick of waiting and forced his chin up, he wanted Pat to look into his rage-filled eyes.


    -and told him how much he hated humans, then-


    "I hate trash like you, why couldn''t you freaks just die already, the world would be so much better."


    -gave some bullshit excuse as to why they hated Pat''s kind...


    "You take up all the land, with your slums" They''d talk about us taking up the land they forced us into. Humans never wanted the district, but that was the only place they were "graciously" given.


    "You leech off all the rest of us, you contribute nothing to no one," As if Nick wasn''t a privileged Ferin kid who''d never have to work a day in his life if he wanted. As if having old money was contributing anything.


    "you should just go back to where you belong." They talk as if we could leave if we wanted to. They speak like there was another place to go.


    After the excuses, came the pain.


    And that''s when Pat got away, after they got frustrated enough to throw a punch. When they got tired of Pat not reacting, ''cuz what fun is this if the human just sits there, right?


    As they readied their fist, Pat had-


    "Nick..."


    That''s all how it went... unless something changed.


    "What the fuck do you think you''re doing?"


    ***


    No, that wasn''t right, Eliza knew exactly what he was doing... Nick was having a tantrum, and finally a human had gotten in his way.


    In all honesty she feared him, she feared that her wrist might never heal. She was terrified that this dread she was feeling would always be there. She laid in bed at night wondering if one day she''d come home one day to find that all of her friends were dead because of Nick. She wouldn''t let this slide, Eliza had to bring about justice. If she didn''t then she didn''t deserve to have her friends, if she refused to protect them.


    Nick turned around and grinned. That pissed her off more then words could describe. It was the same look he''d given her when he convinced her to go cliff jumping with him. The same smirk that led her to following his plan in capture the flag (and losing horribly). It was the same fucking grin he''d always give her when he needed a wingwoman. Like how just 45 minutes earlier he begged her to help him score with the same boy he now slammed into a wall, which he''d need to pay to fix.


    "What does it look like I''m doin''? I''m taking out the trash, I mean, we didn''t even invite him." That was a stupid excuse at best. The way he said trash made his face 100 times more punchable. How do you go from being a terrifying beast, to a entitled oaf? She almost wanted to ask, but she kept her mouth shut. This wasn''t about her, after all. It was about all of these people here, her friends, the human.


    "A-actually I... I kinda invited the whole class..." Jack, you sweet, lovable idiot. Please stop talking. He wasn''t wrong, the whole grade was invited, but... stop.


    "Well, obviously he ain''t invited anymore right? ...right, Jacky?" If Nick didn''t shut up, Eliza would actually punch him, he was a easy target, what with the kid.


    She glanced at the human, he was his type. If only Nick wasn''t a raging asshole.


    He didn''t seem like this awful piece of garbage, they just seemed like... a kid. He reminded her of those first year brats she tutored, they were always so eager to please. This kid, Patrick, seemed the same. Just a normal little brat who, with enough time, probably would dig into her heart like all the other losers she hung with did.


    She could almost imagine it, imagine a better world.


    Maybe they''d be friends with Ben, while Ethan got all rude yet still overly protective. Jack would gush about his stupid garden, shoving some new odd, yet beautiful flower in their faces. Nick would flirt and joke, nothing new. Zane would joke and laugh and start with his stupid games. She laughed mentally, for all those muscles, the dueling team were a bunch of puppy dogs... at least... most of them are.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    But that wasn''t reality, the truth was she couldn''t be friends with both Nick and Patrick. She couldn''t stop Jack from breaking down in his room after Nick stomped off, defensive because Jack had been worried. Jack had wanted to talk about these "outbursts" of his, and Nick had instantly checked out.


    She knew that their little group had been falling apart, she didn''t know how to stop it.


    Maybe that was why Eliza suggested this party, she... just wanted her friends back. She only wanted everyone to be happy... but all she did was make everything worse.


    Ben and Jack were at their limits, emotionally. Ethan was... she glanced towards the form of her...friend? She heard groans. He turned out to be a bitch. Zane stopped being all smiley, a travesty, he''d always had the cutest smirk.


    And Nick... these were becoming more frequent, and he was in denial. He wanted to pretend that everything was fine, when it couldn''t be further.


    Eliza loved her friends, that''s why she had to do this. She had to make the hard decisions, so her gang of puppy dogs didn''t have to. So she didn''t have to lay awake at night listening to her best friend sobbing into his pillow. Eliza couldn''t spend her time in her fantasies anymore.


    "Well... I...."


    "Right, he ain''t, so I''m just gonna-" She hated the way his accent came out when he was emotional, it came with too many memories. It came with a sweet boy who had protected her from bullies, who had wanted the best for everyone. He''d even wanted to help humans, before his parents got to him... But his parents hadn''t made him slam a boy into a wall for the crime of humanity, it hadn''t made him scare Jack, or hurt her.


    He did those things, so he needed a wake up call. She did this, in part, for that boy she''d loved.


    "Nick... get out." Everyone, even the kid, stared at Eliza. Different emotions playing out on their faces, ranging from shock from the kid, to relief from Jack, pride from Ben, and outrage from Nick.


    Nick was so mad and shocked that he forgot about Patrick and dropped them. The kid looked at Eliza with gratitude. They looked at Jack, then Ben, then even Ethan, before they could look at Nick. Emotions rushed through his eyes faster then Eliza could keep track of, but she saw regret... no, she saw fear.


    Not just for Nick, they feared all of them... all of them.


    Once again, Nick had broken something he wasn''t meant to. The boy escaped, without that amulet she could smell the adrenaline coursing through him. She knew Nick could too, but he''d lost interest. All he could do now was stare bewilderedly at Eliza.


    "What!?" He sounded confused, like it was such a shock to have consequences. "You can''t just-"


    "I can, and I will. Get out." She needed to do this fast before she crumpled, before the urge to protect driving her forth was overtaken by the pain and heartache.


    "No, you know how this works, everyone has to agree. Well... Ben?" He had always been this stubborn, this was the only way he might go.


    Ben stared, emotions also flickered in his eyes but the main one was horror. He looked to Ethan, then looked to the spot where the human had been. He probably blamed himself, just like she did. Eliza wondered if the same thought went through all of the present (and conscious... and not Nick) council members heads;


    "Did we turn him into this?"


    Ben continued to stare where the human had been before they escaped. His eyes hardened, the quaking stilled for a second.


    "Nick..." Ben''s voice began to crumble to dust halfway through "you... need to leave" he choked out, and immediately looked away. He seemingly couldn''t bear the weight of Nick''s stare, which held only shock.


    He seemed to have spent all his anger, leaving only...


    "Sarah?"


    What was the emotion that bled into his features?


    "Nick, please... just go." She also looked away, trying to hide the tears that streamed down her cheeks.


    This cold intensity it displayed... it was...


    "Et-" Instinct drove Nick to ask, to look to his friend. He stared at Ethan, having cooled off enough to realize the gravity of his actions. Something inside Nick broke, and Eliza knew what the emotion was...


    Desperation was a pitiful look on Nicholas Saetari.


    It came not in sobs and wails, but in a somber, pitiful whisper that asked;


    "Jacky?"


    ***


    Jack looked for anyone else he might be referring to, anyone else. But that hope was dashed when he was faced with Nick''s tearful gaze, it was the desperate look of a child.


    How he wanted to tell him to stay, to reassure him that everything was all right. He so wanted to reach out and find not the angry, sharp boy that overtook his friend. He wanted the real Nick back.


    Jack couldn''t bring himself to hate Nick. This feeling couldn''t be hate, because hatred couldn''t possibly make him this miserable.


    He had to end this, so he could bring the real Nick back. They had all let this beast go without consequence, and this is what developed.


    "Nick, I need you to go."


    ***


    Nick had the "decency" to not cause anymore of a scene, he simply nodded.


    "Well... I...." Nick didn''t know what else to say, perhaps there was nothing left to say.


    Nick couldn''t help but feel abandoned, perhaps he really was an entitled brat. He ruins everything and everyone around him then has the audacity to have a pity party.


    The message hidden in their faces was clear, and it was the same message they had tried telling him so many times. How pathetic it took abandonment to get it.


    Nick needed help.


    Serious, professional help.


    He knew that, but as he stumbled past the wall and friend he destroyed, out of the house he shouldn''t have came to... he went home, for once.


    Like the spoiled idiot Nick was, he went crying for his parents. He glanced back to the house, he could still smell the beer and hormones, but also a deep sadness. He''d ruined everything... Funny, he always said he''d never turn into his father.


    ***


    Pat was good at running from his problems, quite literally in this case.


    But it wasn''t just the monsters he''d have to face in a few weeks he ran from, it was anyone and everyone.


    Pat barely remembered the Nexus, it all blurred together. Suspicious shopkeepers with their distrustful gazes, parents holding their children a bit tighter as if the raggedy boy before them could harm anyone before the guards severed his head.


    Pat could vaguely recall that man from before, sensing Pat''s distress, trying to pry tonight''s secrets out of him. Patrick ran past the checkpoint the moment he was allowed to.


    Fara easily let him pass, but gave another one of those stupid looks, like they''re trying to read your mind.


    He sprinted past Zara, the baker''s daughter... She always had flour in her hair and a new sweet concoction to brag about. Patrick had a baking "rivalry" with her, but they still sat together and ate frosting by the spoonful once it was all over (they always conveniently tied).


    She tried to stop him, to ask why fear flooded out of his aura and he looked like he''d been someone''s punching bag for the night.


    Patrick didn''t stop.


    Next he ran past Ryan, who looked more Ferin then Human. He stood at 6''2 and looked like he could crush steel with his bare hands. Ryan was practically the guard of the human district and took pride in it.


    He was good at his job too, the sword was admittedly cool but not necessary. Pat had always asked where his large friend had gotten it, but they''d always just smiled at Pat.


    Despite being the intimidating warrior, Ryan always took a special interest in keeping Patrick from harm. Except when he didn''t, but that, like everything else, was Pat''s fault.


    Perhaps that''s why he worriedly reached out for Pat, maybe Ryan didn''t like his friends to be upset. Or maybe he still wanted that talk, he had seemed pretty adamant about it.


    He even caught Patrick, but it wasn''t enough. He slipped out from Ryan''s usually unbreakable grip and ran harder, faster. Ryan was probably used to this, Pat always ran away from difficult things. Pat ran so fast that he didn''t even wonder how he got away from Ryan.


    Now? The difficult thing was "friends".


    Pat didn''t deserve them, he didn''t want to eventually disappoint them. Zara and Ryan were much too good to be his friends, no matter how much they denied being superior to Patrick.


    Zara had always held back in their little competitions, he''d never catch up. Anything he could do, she could do it easier, faster, and better.


    Ryan would always have to protect Patrick, because he couldn''t protect himself. Ryan would dutifully guard Patrick, and likely would grow to like it... too close, Pat.


    Pat didn''t want to keep Ryan trapped like that, nor Zara for that matter. Despite the competitions and the protection and the "fees", Pat didn''t want to get too close to them.


    He kept his distance, he only came close because they wouldn''t let him be a stranger.


    He couldn''t keep his friends without hurting them, so he just lets them go from the start. He wouldn''t win the fight to stop them from leaving, so why try? After all, who''d want to stay by him?


    "Garbage."


    "Weak."


    "Disgusting."


    He ran home, where he didn''t have to face them.


    He ran to the kitchen and opened the cabinets, He''d always had baking ingredients on hand.


    Patrick would bake a pie. Apple pie.


    Baking had always calmed him down as long as he didn''t think about who taught him for too long. It was his escape, it was simple. There were rules to baking, and he knew how not to get hurt.


    The rules didn''t change or get more nuanced as he grew and understood more... they were constant and unyielding, they wouldn''t die on you when you needed them.


    After preheating the oven (it took a while, most just used fire magic) he''d make the dough.


    He knew how to do this, there weren''t any strong, kind, attractive warriors to mess with his head. Ryan never saw Pat bake, which was a relief. Ryan, like Papa, filled the room. If he were here, there wouldn''t be enough space. With Ryan, It took him mere minutes to become too close in every sense of the word.


    Pat took 3 parts flour to 2 parts of his butter to 1 parts oil. It was a simple dough, with no humiliating games that made him get drunk for the first time. He wondered if he was still drunk, he barely knew how alcohol worked, after all. Much less the magic stuff.


    He rolled it out, and then started on the filling. He peeled, cored, and sliced the apples. It was so easy it hurt, but not the same hurt as when a monster forced itself into his mind. Pat couldn''t see that thing as Ethan, they were too different. Pat got... a different feeling from the Monster.


    It was like Pat and his own Mind Demon, if he accepted the demon as him then he had to face it. That was why he refused to listen to the demon, to let them comfort Pat.


    It was just another friend he couldn''t get too close to, or a part of himself he didn''t want to accept.


    He added tapioca, sugar, salt and his spices; nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon. Afterwards he let the filling sit and began kneading the dough.


    He tried not to think about the ocean-eyed man who taught him this recipe. Patrick tried so hard not to think about his scratchy beard and warm hugs.


    They didn''t talk about Papa much, and for good reason. Dad still cried at the mention of his late husband.


    Papa had been like Pat''s dashing warrior in a lot of ways, they both looked scarily like Ferins if you didn''t look too closely.


    They both were funny, and sweet, and way too touchy for their own good (Pat probably had bruises from all the times Ryan had squeezed too hard).


    There were more, gods there was so much more...


    But Patrick didn''t need anymore salt for this pie.


    He needed to put the dough in the tin and and poured the filling inside, by now the oven announced it was done preheating.


    Pat didn''t want the memories to come back. He couldn''t face the truth, because that''d make it real.


    Patrick really was just a shambling mess of insecurities, secrets, and cowardice.


    He set a timer for 55 minutes, and pushed everything out. All the mess, all the scary things, all the whispers of a flour covered girl who''d challenged Pat to make this dough faster then her. He collapsed, he finally could afford to stop.


    Though he really didn''t want to, stopping meant confronting what happened today, and all the other days.


    Was life supposed to be this overwhelming? Was Patrick meant to always feel like he was dying? Why couldn''t things just be easy for a day.


    There was a reason he went to that party...


    He wanted to escape from his own head.


    He curled into himself, shaking.


    I need to sort these messes out, before I have to face those people again.


    Tomorrow he''d try and fix this.


    ***


    The little ones started to come soon after, drawn to his emotions.


    They were little glowing puff balls that were warm and soft. He didn''t know what they were, and by the time they found him: he never could gather the energy to care.


    They covered his body, trying to lull him to sleep. He needed to sleep, this had been an "eventful" day.


    He went to bed for the first time in the last 2 days, covered by a blanket of magic cotton balls.


    ***


    Everyone was still tired and scared. Thank the Gods Nick had left quietly, but this awful night wasn''t over yet.


    Jack had ordered a meeting, they needed to talk about this. They just so happened to forgot to call Nick.


    Eliza texted Zane, he hadn''t come this time, probably for the better. The student council (excluding Nick, for obvious reasons) had all experienced Nick when he had his tantrums.


    They all knew that this might come, where they had to kick him out. Of course, they never dared to believe it, but it came. It came in those anxious whispers in the middle of the night. In the suffocating depths of fear...


    That''s why it was relatively easy to type in the code word they all knew. Something awful happened, and action must be taken...


    Justice must be wrought.

 Side Story #1 - Monster鈥檚 Gaze (reupload)

    Patrick was excited.


    Tonight he¡¯d be attending a party one of his future classmates were setting up.


    Normally Pat wasn''t that into parties, or people, or... going outside...


    But this was different! He was going to learn magic, he was finally gonna be something. Pat''d never been to a proper school before, so this was all new.


    He might even make friends, might even get a boyfriend! The possibilities were endless!


    "Yeah, until you inevitably mess something up."


    Shush you, we''re going to have fun tonight and there''s nothing you can do about it.


    "Just please be careful..."


    I''m always careful!


    "...sure."


    Oh come on, it''ll be fine!


    Patrick couldn''t imagine anything could bring him down now!


    ***


    "Hey, Pat!" A voice sounded out, freezing Patrick in his tracks. Ugh. What did he want?


    Patrick was still mad at Ryan, or at least, that''s what he wanted Ryan to think. The last time they''d talked, the guard made a disgusting, gross, ugly, annoying, mean, heart-breaking joke.


    He''d said that Patrick''s cookies weren''t that good...


    Patrick''s self esteem had shattered, his skin had broke out, his house instantly burned to ash, and the world imploded!


    ...Ok, maybe he was being a bit dramatic, but who would say such an awful thing?


    Patrick was pretty much over it, but he wanted to see Ryan beg for forgiveness. His plan to get that? A cold shoulder, and some passive aggressiveness.


    Ryan was a huge attention whore, he couldn''t go 5 seconds without poking Patrick, complaining that he''s bored. In a game of attrition, Ryan would crack in 2 minutes top.


    He didn''t respond to the large boy''s greeting, and simply kept walking as if never having heard. Ryan groaned and started walking closer, trying to get Patrick''s attention.


    "Patrick? Hey, did you hear me?"


    Patrick just kept walking. Ryan made a offended scoff and began to walk alongside Patrick. He kinda wanted to start running to see what Ryan would do, but those damn long legs. Even now, Ryan had to purposely slow himself to keep to Patrick''s pace.


    Patrick had always complained that Ryan''s legs were too long, and offered to cut them off... Ryan always refused because he was evil and greedy.


    "Pat, you wouldn''t be ignoring me, now would you?" Ryan asked Patrick, a smirk on his annoying face.


    Gosh, and Patrick thought he hadn¡¯t been subtle enough.


    "Cuz if you are, then I''ll have to make you pay my protection fee," Ryan said nonchalantly, side-eyeing Patrick with one of his wicked grins.


    Patrick almost shuddered, the last time he''d had to pay a "protection fee" Ryan had eaten a whole red velvet cake and still demanded a tray of cookies. The guy had a black hole for a stomach.


    In Pat''s defense, if you didn''t want to get kicked in the nuts you shouldn''t have snuck up on someone. Obviously Patrick had felt terrible and was in near tears afterwards, Ryan had to reassure Patrick like 20 times that he was fine.


    Yep, Ryan had been fine, but assaulting a "guard" was technically a crime. Pat''s "sentence" had been the fee, and Pat paid with sugar and diabetes.


    Which made it worse that this selfish brat had said Pat''s cookies were bad!


    Pat refused to back down, and continued in silence.


    "Wow, you''re really determined to make me punish you, huh? I didn''t think you were into that." Ryan snickered,


    Patrick almost choked at the comment, but he kept it down. He also somehow managed to keep the fiery blush from spreading across his face.


    Ryan sighed at the silence, and continued with mock sadness. "Pat, why do you make my job so difficult... oh, well!"


    Patrick began to prepare himself for whatever Ryan demanded of him, he just hoped his pantry could take it.


    Well, his pantry could probably take it, but Patrick''s heart couldn''t as the giant scooped up Patrick in his muscular arms.


    Patrick immediately tried to push this overgrown rat off of him but Ryan didn''t even flinch.


    "What, you wanna be put down? Well, you should have thought of that before hand. If you wanna act like a kid then I''ll treat you like one." Ryan grinned like the monster he was, and began walking in the direction Patrick had been going.


    "Well, you already have the body for it." Patrick immediately smacked Ryan on the arm. Being restrained, Patrick only had a limited range. He personally would have chosen the balls again. Let''s see if your future kids can survive this time.


    Being a tall, muscley brute was so unfair in Patrick''s humble opinion. If that wasn''t bad enough, Ryan had to be handsome enough to put some Ferins to shame.


    Ryan was large for a human, with disgustingly long legs and upsettingly broad shoulders. There was a sheathed sword at his side, glimmering in the moonlight. Ryan''s guard outfit looked like one you''d genuinely find at Kiolite, or Canti, but the way he wore it blew the others out of the water.


    The way it stretched over his annoyingly, hideously, perfectly sculpted body set Patrick''s heart on fire. If he didn''t know better he''d think Ryan knew how Patrick felt about it, because Ryan seemed to wear it more and more. First it was once in a while, then once a week, then to multiple times a week, and now Ryan wore it whenever he was on duty.


    That was part of the reason Patrick needed to keep away, He might start staring more.


    Speaking of staring... Ryan''s campfire eyes conveyed his amusement as he looked down at Patrick.


    Patrick had never mentioned Ryan''s looks. He had the tiniest crush on Ryan, but he would never bring it up. Patrick didn''t want to make things awkward, or even worse... Patrick didn''t want Ryan to feel the same.


    As much as Pat wanted a boyfriend, he didn''t want to be broken up with. It was bad enough to have to constantly take care of your "friend", but a boyfriend?


    Patrick once made a bet to his demon that if he and Ryan were to date, it wouldn''t last a week before Ryan ended it. Patrick wouldn''t even blame the guy, but he sure couldn''t take it.


    That was why he had to keep his distance, Ryan already thought they were close enough to do things like this.


    Patrick didn¡¯t want there to be any attachments left when Ryan finally decided he¡¯d had enough.


    He sometimes wished his comments weren''t as funny as they were, if his tone was harsh enough maybe Ryan would just leave... he had to try, right?


    "I''m so sorry for my pitiful, pitiful stature, Mr. Ferin." Patrick''s tone dripped with as much sarcasm as he could force into it. Ryan hated being compared to a Ferin, despite almost looking identical to some werewolves Pat had seen in the Nexus before while shopping.


    He never yelled at Patrick for the comments, but maybe today...


    Ryan froze, before glaring at Patrick with that smug glint in his eye. "Well aren''t you uppity today, huh? Your fine is doubled." Now was Patrick''s time to freeze, his poor ingredients couldn''t take that abuse! Ok, Ryan seems like a huge prude, maybe...? Well, either Patrick didn''t have to bake for a giant, or Ryan leaves anyways. Win-Win... perhaps Patrick was gross, yes.


    "Well... is there, any other way I could pay you... mr. guard?" Pat felt disgusting just saying that, and it must have sounded it too, because Ryan almost dropped him right there.


    "Gods Pat, Don''t say things like that! Well, just... tell me where we''re going." Ryan looked a bit grossed out, but it wasn''t enough. Well, at least there''s an way. It almost seemed like there was nothing Patrick could do to make Ryan not like him.


    Now he had to explain where he was going... wait, we?


    Oh Nononononono... This was getting too close, Patrick didn''t like it. Pat needed to put up some walls, before something... bad happens.


    "I''ll tell you if you Put. Me. Down." Pat had gotten so caught up in this fool''s demands he''d forgotten that he was currently in their arms.


    Ryan seemed to also realize this and immediately set Pat down, looking embarrassed.


    "Well, I''m going to the Nonya district, down on the business sector." Patrick remarked dryly.


    Pat was kinda proud of himself for that joke, he wasn''t usually that funny. But he didn''t want to be funny, he wanted to be a Bitch!


    Ryan paused, confused until he got the... joke. He genuinely laughed, a bit harder then the stupid joke probably deserved, but Patrick kinda appreciated it.


    "Ok but seriously, I''m going to this stupid back-to-school party thing." Patrick begrudgingly admitted. Pat had to answer, else Ryan would just start prying and Pat might say something he can''t take back.


    Pat neglected to mention the district, and hoped Ryan wouldn''t notice.


    "What district?" Ryan immediately asked, dashing Pat''s hopes of being sneaky. There obviously wouldn''t be a party in here or the Kiolite, which only left Varta, Warnum, or Canti.


    Varta was out, same problem as here, no one parties when one of your neighbors is starving to death and the other mysteriously disappeared.


    Ryan would never let Pat go to Canti, that''s a place where humans weren''t allowed. While technically you could go anywhere, you shouldn''t be surprised if your house burned down after a visit... ok, maybe this is a terrible idea.


    "Warnum" Pat lied, though a little too quick. Ryan looked into Pat''s eyes, and Pat knew he''d been caught.


    Pat didn''t like it when Ryan did that, because Ryan always knew Pat was lying afterwards. Magic''s a bitch, and Pat didn''t know of any way to block it.


    Pat expected that usual feeling of someone watching you, and a gaze from somewhere hidden. It never came.


    "Ok, where are you actually going?" Pat was confused, Ryan hadn''t done it? How did he know, then? Pat didn''t think he was that obvious. Pat looked down at his feet, trying to hide himself in case Ryan changed his mind.


    "It''s Canti, isn''t it." His tone read more like a statement then a question. Pat sneaked a glance up from his shoes, to see Ryan''s disappointed expression. Pat felt bad, despite wanting Ryan to hate him.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Seeing someone mad at you was so much better then them being disappointed in you, because you can see the care in their eyes when they''re disappointed.


    Pat couldn''t lie.


    "Yeah..."


    "Who''s party?" Patrick registered the cold tone, yet he could feel the burning eyes.


    "I dunno." Ryan seemed to get ticked off by Pat''s answer, because they responded:


    "Why the fuck would you go to a random person''s party in the Canti district." Pat wanted to bitch about how it was his decision to go, but Ryan was right.


    Pat shouldn''t be going to this party. There was a good chance he¡¯d die. But...


    Wow, you''re making a stupid decision, surprising.


    Maybe death was better then whatever the hell his life had become.


    His papa is dead, his dad is inconsolable, rent is coming for his ass, and someone worst of all there¡¯s a fucking demon in his brain!


    Pat remembered when he first started calling them the mind demon. When Pat was 13 he''d heard that demons existed with an affinity towards mind magic.


    Pat had only ever been contacted through magic a few times by then, and the way the voice talked to him felt similar to that. Not that Pat could go off anything but intuition for that.


    "So, it''s a mind demon" 13 year old Pat had thought.


    The demon had, obviously, taken offense to that. The name stuck, and here they are.


    The demon was either friendly or mean, and Pat couldn''t predict when the bitch would come out. All he knew was that it eventually would, and that it was coming more and more.


    Pat couldn''t escape it, but he could stuff it down with enough force.


    In a social situation, he''d have to. Apparently people get upset when you tell them to fuck off, the demon had been particularly annoying that day.


    But that didn''t matter, what matter was that this was Pat''s chance. Ryan was getting genuinely annoyed, this was his only chance...


    Go figure the one time Ryan gets mad, it''s because he wanted Pat to be safe.


    You should try pushing everyone away, it works wonders for not getting your feelings hurt.


    "Because I feel like it, now I need to go, but thanks for the talk... Mr. Guard¡­ oh wait, you¡¯re just a shitty copy of one.¡±


    Pat felt awful as he injected the nastiness into his voice. At the very least, this won''t happen to Ryan again, should it go well.


    Pat started forward, he couldn''t watch as one of his only friends began to hate him. He was almost running, desperate to get away from the man with shock written all over his face. He was suddenly running, sprinting even... until he felt it.


    Pat could feel Ryan''s cold expression thaw, and his eyes turn into an inferno.


    Pat could feel the anger radiating off his former friend, felt the ache of his own heart. He was still running, until he wasn''t.


    In a split second, Ryan loomed over Patrick. Pat couldn''t look away from those fiery eyes, as Ryan grabbed Pat by the arm, preventing him from leaving.


    Suddenly, Pat realized what was going to happen. He began to tremble, as for the first time in his life... Patrick feared a human.


    The enraged man leaned in towards Pat, and pratically growled into his ear.


    "When you get back, we are talking about this." Ryan was gone after that, and Pat realized what had just happened.


    Ryan had left to cool off, that was probably the only reason Pat could still go to the party. He wondered what Ryan would have done, should he have decided not to leave.


    Pat now really couldn''t turn back now, because if he did Ryan would want to "talk".


    Pat really didn''t want to face that, so he kept going.


    ***


    Pat knew he should''ve turned back before he even reached the Canti district.


    More like he knew when he arrived at the Nexus. The nexus was Biko City''s hub, and where every human learned the truth of this world.


    The Nexus was where you got all your shopping done, it was chock full of restaurants, grocery stores, alchemists, enchanters, even blacksmiths and stuff if you were into that.


    It was also the border and path to the 6 districts, and the city''s entrance.


    Basically, if you needed to do anything, you went to the Nexus.


    Most Humans don''t really come here if they can, despite it being one of the only places of relative safety. Jini Quant made a rule forbidding violence within the Nexus, Kiolite, and Canti, all the "common folk" were pissed about that, the one instance of Ferin-Human solidarity. It was literal solidarity, as in Ferins were genuinely escorting Humans home for about 3 months.


    That was 35 years ago, if she was to include an exception for violence on humans? There''d have been riots. Even now, Jini Quant couldn''t even glance at the rule except to remove it or include all the districts, else there''d be riots.


    Thanks to that humans were "safe" in those places. The only real safe place? Nairiq, because Ferins didn''t like going there and humans had an understanding. Humans knew that Ferins had the best stuff to steal, and felt the most satisfying to kill, if you''re strong enough to do that.


    And if you pissed a Ferin off enough for them to visit you personally? Well, your neighbor''s safe at least.


    But, that just meant people found new ways to be assholes...


    Humans were allowed out of the Narique at age 12, and all of them left excited, happy to finally see a bit more of the world!


    Then they got stopped by border patrol.


    It wasn''t the Nairiq border, as only a human would lower themselves to that level. Patrick had met the human border guard, she was chill. She tried to let you through as fast as possible and let Ferins wait.


    Fara was likely the only reason some people are alive today. Well, due to her guard duties, anyways.


    Her teachings? They probably saved hundreds. Not just because Humans need all the info they can get. But because that meant most Humans grew up together, and that along with the understanding meant that a human had to be a real bastard to hurt another human.


    She had to be strong too, because not even Ryan can get a guard job while she''s alive. Being the sweet old lady she was, she would''ve given it to him in a heartbeat if she could.


    However, apprenticeships weren''t allowed for humans, not even for a replacement. Succession wasn¡¯t even an option, Fara would be alive for a long time.


    Most Ferins live to be 150 if they¡¯re unlucky, 200 if they aren''t. Magic was a bitch though, so a decently strong Ferin could live to 300, a master could live to... probably 1000.


    They also had the magic to not look a day over 22 until they''re on their deathbed and the magic runs out.


    Fara was 83, and she was the strongest human in this city. She looked like she was 40, but had the personality of a grandma could kick your ass.


    Unfortunately she couldn''t talk to her students on the job if she wanted to let them through quickly, it was a shame, but even she knew the dangers on hanging around the Nexus too long.


    So yeah, not the Nairiq border. The Canti border though?


    "Sir, our detectors have picked up some disturbance, we''re gonna search you now." That was a common phrase to hear when you were a human. There wasn''t even a please, or any hint of remorse. Fuck, they didn''t even try to not phrase it like an order.


    The guard ordering the search was like every other Naiad, a tall man that was fit but not bulky, that looked like they were born to go swimming. Which¡­ they were.


    People say that zalios are the prettiest color of blue, but Pat would disagree. Maybe this was because he''d never actually seen a zalio, but Pat thought the prettiest color of blue was a Naiad''s eyes.


    Though that was a tad unfair, as Naiad eyes aren¡¯t one specific shade of blue. The eyes of a Naiad were like the sea, they constantly changed and shifted, never static.


    But the eyes of this Ferin were dark. Dark, deep, and endless. Like being pulled under in a storm. They barely changed, only getting darker and never lightening past that smoky blue. His voice held a bored tone, sorta tired. It was hopefully a tone of someone who''d just want to ge this over with.


    There was no getting out of a search.


    "You do the search, or you rot in jail for the rest of your inconsequential life." That was the message they sent.


    Pat had been through this many times, so he just followed the man. Patrick kept pace with the Patrick was led into the guards building, he looked at his feet, not wanting to see the faces of the guards as they caught a look at the newest "human criminal scum".


    "Look, I''ve seen your mug around here before, you know what to do." The man said as he closed the door behind him, though he never stepped away from it.


    Pat froze, he''d never had this happen before. The other times the guards had always guided him through the process no matter what.


    Pat just assumed that this man was tired or something, it must be exhausting having to deal with Canti people, from what he''d seen they weren''t exactly friendly.


    He didn''t want to make life any harder for the guard, so he complied. He knew what it was like to just wanna get through the day. Pat took off his shirt, and left it on the floor.


    The guard smiled "Good, at least some of you can be obedient!" The guard grinned at Pat, but didn''t move from his spot.


    Pat once again froze, mind now racing. How did this guard know he was human, Pat still had his amulet. This Naiad said that he had been watching Pat, and Pat had just assumed that the guard had seen him once or twice.


    The nexus is extremely busy, with dozens of people coming to and fro at the same time. With magic, most people didn''t have awful clothes, and no one went that hungry.


    Though, magic clothes were stiff and scratchy, only looking like wool. Magic food had a 5th of the calories, that''s why his baking was actually helpful.


    But to an outsider, everything would look fine. That''s why it was so easy to pass as a Ferin once you hid your scent.


    If this man knew Pat was a human, how long had he been watching him?


    "Now, do you have any enchantments or castings to declare?" The Naiad asked, that bored tone returning to his voice.


    Well that''s stupid, you should''ve asked that before I took my shirt off.


    Patrick was a little annoyed at that, til he realised that there was no reason to make him take his shirt off first thing. Usually they asked you questions, checked if you''re lying, then patted you down for any disguised weapons or contraband because humans are sneaky little things and can somehow get passed a lie-detecting spell.


    This is too weird...


    I... have a bad feeling about this...


    Mind demon, got anything?


    ...


    Uh... hello?


    Oh, Gods...


    What''s going on?


    Why is this guy acting all weird?


    Why did he make me take my shirt off?


    Why is he just standing there!?


    W-why is he smiling!?


    Why the hell is he smiling!?


    WHY DOES HE HAVE THAT DAMN LOOK ON HIS FACE!?


    Click.


    ...why did the door just lock?


    The sound had been quiet, Patrick might not have heard it if not for the silence as the guard waited for Pat''s responce.


    Except, the guard wasn''t waiting anymore. He was walking towards Pat, and Patrick backtracked, trying to remember what the Naiad had said.


    "Are you not gonna answer? Jeez, and I thought we could get through this quick."


    Patrick panicked, the man was likely coming to manually search for enchantments. What scared him was the look on the guards''s face, even with the "annoyance" there was a hint of that earlier smile.


    That earlier smile wasn''t friendly, it was... different.


    Patrick quickly responded, trying to keep the man far away.


    "W-wait I don''t have any-" Pat began, but the man cut him off with sigh.


    "Nah, you shoulda responded right away like a good boy, can''t trust you now." The Naiad said huffy, almost as if he were pouting.


    Pat''s skin crawled, the door was locked, he was sure of it. This man isn''t going to listen to Pat, they''ll do what they want.


    How do I get out of this without getting hurt or arrested?


    The answer was awful, to let them do what they will and hope they''ll be gentle. It was the only option however, the guard had power over Pat socially, magically, and physically.


    Pat forced himself to stand still and not back away from the man. He forced his hands not to tremble and his legs not to shake. Pat even raised his arms to make it easier for the guard to search him.


    At that, the Naiad''s grin grew, and their awful aura returned full force.


    "I''m glad you''re ready to make it up to me." Pat forced himself to not shiver, or scream.


    Finally the man had reached Pat, and stood with their chest to Pat''s back. Arm''s grazing over skin and magic trickling over Pat''s torso. Even with the horrifically gentle touches Pat could feel strength, power. The man had a foot on Pat, at around 6''8. Naiads were more tall then broad.


    "Ok, no enchantments on your upper body, now take your pants off." The Naiad demanded, without a hint of subtlety.


    Pat did it, the guard seemed happier when Pat complied quickly. Pat was left in his underwear, and the Naiad has this gross twinkle in their eye.


    "Y''know, you should be lucky. It''s not everyday a human gets my attention." Pat almost threw up in his mouth at that, he just wanted to leave.


    Why did he have to be so unlucky? All Pat had wanted to do was go to a stupid party.


    The arms began their search once again, except this time they routinely prodded and massaged Pat''s skin.


    "Fyner, your skin is so soft..." The Naiad said softly, like you would say to a sleepy child.


    Of course it would be Fyner...


    The magic wrapped around Pat''s thighs, doing a lot more than searching. It was like having a thousand extra hands caressing your body, Pat hated it.


    The man then tried to slide his fingers under Pat''s underwear. Pat was terrified, it didn''t take a scholar to figure out what this man planned to do.


    What with the dick poking his back...


    But before it could go there, and Pat broke completely, the doorknob rattled.


    The Naiad froze, and Pat debated calling out for help. Before he could think on it further the man covered Pat''s mouth.


    "Say a word and I break your neck." The man ordered harshly, with a hint of panic coursing through his voice.


    The doorknob continued to rattle, before the person stopped. They must have thought no one was inside, because they used a spell to unlock the door. The lock slipped open, and the person stepped inside the search room.


    Two people stepped inside, a man and a woman.


    The woman had curly black hair, with charcoal eyes. Her lips were a bright red and her body was fit and curvy.


    The man had sandy hair and cobalt eyes, with a physique much like the Naiad''s but a bit buffer. He looked young too, 20 at most.


    They both wore guards outfits like the Naiad''s, and looked confused at the human and Naiad being there.


    "Oh uh, sorry Foks. I was looking for my badge... so... uh... bye? I''ll be in the lounge Zane... please don''t assault someone." The women explained awkwardly.


    It was obvious why she was so uncomfortable, The man... Zane, looked at the Naiad named Foks with cold fury.


    "Yeah, see ya Kala." Zane responded, still staring at Foks.


    Kala left, and Zane drew closer. They glanced at Pat, before saying. "I''ll take over, Foks. I''m on my break anyways."


    Foks didn''t even get a chance to respond as Zane tore Pat from the Naiad''s grip and shoved Foks out of the room.


    Pat signed in relief once the Naiad was gone, he was safe. The door was open and the young man wasn''t blocking it.


    Zane stared at the door for a moment before turning to Pat... then immediately turning away again at the human''s lack of clothes.


    "H-hey, he''s gone, you can put some pants on now..." The man stuttered out, not looking nearly as intimidating as before.


    Pat blushed and ran to become decent once more. After he was fully clothed Zane turned back to him, though not looking any better with Patrick clothed.


    "You can go now, you obviously don''t have any contraband..." Zane paused for a moment, mulling over his words before he continued. "You''re not from the Canti district, right? I''ll get a night shift, you won''t have to see him again."


    Patrick looked at the still flustered man with relief, he''s safe.


    "Thanks, I''ll... be going now." Pat stated, not knowing what else to say.


    "Oh...yeah, but um, let''s talk more later. For a report, obviously..." Zane was an awkward thing, obviously not used to saving humans from r-


    From... that.


    Patrick agreed, and Zane left first. They made sure Foks wasn''t around first before they went.


    Pat quickly exited the building, praying to avoid Foks. Obviously, he pushed down his emotions.


    Patrick didn''t think on what happened, refused to think about anything but this stupid party he was going to. He even noted that his scruffy appearance made him stand out.


    Patrick didn''t belong in Canti, he was sure he''d get some looks.

 A Chat

    As it turns out, Patrick didn''t end up sorting all his issues the next day. He decided to do what he always did, bury them and focus on something unrealted.


    Though Patrick couldn''t claim it was completely unrelated. Vinike Academy had been sending letters for a while, practically ordering his parents to come in and officially enroll him.


    Well, one couldn''t come in on account of being dead, the other, well...


    "Mornin'' Sweetheart..." The soft voice rang familiarly behind Pat. Oh no, Pat hadn''t expected him up for at least a couple hours, much less come out.


    Fuck, this was gonna be awkward.


    "Uh Dad... It''s 2pm..." Patrick hesitantly admitted. Var¨ªen blinked, only partly surprised by that.


    Its not like it was anything new, this routine they had. Patrick would practically beg his father to eat something, anything.


    Var¨ªen would complain but relent after about 10 minutes and then they would eat, and stay quiet, and try not to address the huge elephant in the room.


    Patrick glanced at the rickety table they''d had since he was a toddler, glanced at the third chair that used to house his papa, and the love of his dad''s life.


    He refused to let his gaze linger, to let Dad catch him staring at it. If Patrick was found out, Dad would get that awful look in his eye.


    The look of someone who''d lost a piece of their heart and soul, a haunted look. Patrick remembered when that look first settled into place...


    ***


    A preteen boy sat on the wooden floor of his shack-like house, drawing with his likely budding magic. Despite how they flickered from time to time (Likely the innate instability of human magic, a pity he hadn''t inherited Silas'' natural talent.), they were pretty good, as expected of a human.


    Patrick''s other father, Varien, was making lunch for his son and him, floating different ingredients around and lighting their stove on fire (Varien has fine control, just as Silas said.).


    Both were smiling, they laughed and joked with each other while completing their various tasks. They wouldn''t be happy for long...


    Dolan Greeve knocked as softly as he could on the wooden door, afraid applying too much force might break it down. It wouldn''t be the first time when around these human houses. Despite knocking so softly, he could hear footsteps speed-walking to the door along with a still-childlike voice calling out "I''ll get it!".


    Dolan turned to his partner, Mason Poline, and grimaced. Both of them hated this part, Especially because that had met the child before. He was a funny, intelligent, cute kid. Now they''d have to tell the little one his father died, it never went well. Why would it?


    The door opened revealing Pat, smiling brightly, eyes even brighter. He''d probably been expecting Silas.


    When Patrick realized it wasn''t his father he dimmed.


    "Oh, hi Mr. Greeve, Papa''s not here, do you need something?" The child questioned, Dolan was suprised the kid remembered his last name. They hadn''t visited that much recently, a shame.


    Dolan steeled himself, and began softly.


    "Hey kid, is Varien home?" Dolan asked, a pit in his stomach.


    "Yeah, you want me to get him?"


    "T-that''d be great, thanks kid." Dolan''s voice trembled and he had to use all of his self control to stifle it.


    Patrick thankfully hadn''t noticed, nodded his head, and ran to get his dad.


    Once Pat left, Dolan''s hands began trembling too. He soon felt Mason''s muscled hand at his back, steadying him.


    Dolan didn''t know why though, it wasn''t like his knees were-


    Oh.


    His knees were shaking.


    Dolan glanced up at the berserker, who looked worried, as always.


    Despite the terrifying things Mason could achieve with a warhammer, he was one of the kindest people Dolan had ever met.


    Dolan glanced up at the hulking beast of a man, a man who was weaved of sunlight, illuminating everything in his warmth. He looked up, and saw that the sun had gone cold, merely a white dwarf now. Still blazingly hot, but merely a shell of the radiance that he had once exuded.


    The two of ''em came here to officially create a widow, a half orphan, and a grave. Neither of them would leave this district unscathed.


    Well, it''s only fair, to receive this retribution, while coming here to-


    The door opened quietly, almost too quiet for a human to hear. Varien Alixa smoothly stepped out, almost gliding across the ground, for how quietly he stepped.


    Varien had always been like that. He seemed small, but even among other humans. Varien blended into the background, but only physically.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    His presense rivaled some of the strongest warriors, demanding you look at him and him only. It was not unexpected, one had to be a font of personality to keep up with Silas. Or, well... kept up.


    Looking at their relationship, someone unacquainted with the two would believe that Silas had dominated. That was a total lie, one Varien would have likely smacked you for.


    The greatest example of the balance they had created in their marriage, was with their son. Patrick had always been an insecure child, not quite fitting into himself. Despite this, Pat had a way about him, something in those eyes that made you wanna know more.


    It was obvious, kid was gonna have a harem someday.


    That vulnerability only made you want to get closer, to protect him. That small smile could make your day.


    Just like Varien.


    His eyes glowed with delight when the people he cared for were around.


    Just like Silas.


    Why, oh why did Dolan have to be the one to-


    Dolan felt an elbow nudge him. He snapped back from his thoughts at the action.


    Mason was trying to get his attention, because Varien was waiting.


    "Hello Dolt, Machild, what bring you here to our... humble abode." Varien questioned, slipping into an over exaggerated bow. Eyes sparkling with humor.


    It was a running joke, to treat the Ferins like royalty. The nicknames a side effect of Varien''s... unique sense of humor. Unfortunately, Dolan couldn''t match the energy.


    "Hey Vari, we... need to talk." No sense wasting time, right?


    Instantly Varien sobered, looking a mixture of curious and slightly worried. "We need to talk." Never meant anything happy.


    Why did it have to be us?


    ***


    Patrick was eavesdropping.


    He knew he probably shouldn''t, he didn''t even mean to. But something about Mr. Greeve'' tone made him worried.


    It betrayed the calm facade the adventurer was forcing. Even Mr. Poline looked grim.


    Patrick had to know, had to be sure Papa was alright. Papa was supposed to be back days ago, and now his team was back without him.


    Surely, he was just doing super cool adventurer things right?


    Wait... no...


    "Yeah, what is it Dolan?"


    Dad asked, seeming to have noticed Mr. Greeve''s tone as well.


    "It''s about Silas..."


    Patrick recognized the name of his Papa... surely everything was fine.


    Papa couldn''t possibly be hurt? Right?


    No more... stop!


    The memories began to get fuzzy, things started to blur together.


    "Silas'' dead, Varien."


    Silence, horrible, horrible silence, then a scream.


    A scream of pure anguish and grief.


    Quick breaths, desperate to get air to lungs.


    A totem slamming against a wall, thrown in rage and self-loathing and sorrow and a thousand other emotions.


    Papa had gotten himself killed.


    Dad, not leaving bed for days, wasting away.


    Please...


    A lonely boy who had to grow up too fast, because he''d lost both his parents on the same day.


    STOP IT!


    The memory faded, having completed its mission of terrorizing Pat.


    Patrick would''ve felt shocked by the forced resurgence of the past, but he already knew the cause.


    "Why did you stop?"


    No, don''t you even start with all that "be vulnerable" crap. What the fuck is wrong with you!


    "You were the one who remembered, I just gave a little push."


    You will never do that again.


    "Or what?"


    Or I will rip you out of my head. Either you leave, or I die and you can torture the void instead.


    "..."


    Glad we figured that out.


    While it felt like he had been in that memory for hours, it had only been a few moments. Dad hadn''t noticed him still looking at the chair.


    Patrick looked away before that changed.


    "So uh, I need to go to school today." Patrick told his Dad, slowly.


    "Alright" Was all his father responded with, unsurprisingly.


    Patrick still wished his dad had asked why, despite himself. But that was all his dad said.


    Patrick slowly got up, staring at his father. But they spoke no more words to each other. Pat tried holding out hope, readying himself as slow as possible, but no. He even waited at the door for a moment.


    Varien didn''t notice.


    "Bye, dad..." Patrick called out weakly, throughly disheartened.


    "Why should today be any different?"


    Patrick ignored the voice that echoed his own thoughts.


    Stepping outside his home, Pat took in the Nairiq district. The ground was dirt, the grass stripped away long ago.


    The dirt itself was hard and compact, hard as concrete and rough as stone.


    2 years ago the dirt around his family''s house had been actual soil. Rich and full of life. Thanks to Papa, flowers of all kinds had lived around. Thanks to his magic.


    The magic had died out 3 weeks after Papa did. And nothing was left.


    Patrick had tried to revive the soil, recreate what his father had started. Papa would''ve loved it, he had taught Patrick how to care for plants after all.


    Varien had cried for 4 hours upon seeing the seed packages. They were the same ones Silas had bought when Pat was a child.


    It wasn''t like Varien hated plants, he hated the memories they brought back.


    Patrick turned away from his home, also hating the visions of lazily waving flowers and friendly, bumbling bees that had visited.


    This part of the district was filled to the brim with small, wooden houses like Pat''s. The other, filled with complex''s and apartments. If anything the shacks were better, at least you didn''t have to share the depression with neighbors.


    As Patrick stared at the wooden houses, Ryan exited one of them.


    Patrick immediately hid, knowing what would come if Ryan noticed him.


    The Talk.


    Obviously Patrick wanted to avoid that at all costs, so he just stalked his crush like a perfectly normal, well-adjusted teenager.


    Ryan had his uniform on, continuing the infuriating trend. His hair was messy and ungroomed, Ryan had obviously woke up recently.


    It was odd though, He was usually much more meticulous about his appearance. Always something about impressing his fans... whoever they were.


    Pat watched as Ryan left his house and began down the path towards Pat''s stretch of the woods. Ryan slowly went over to Pat''s house and sat on the steps. Quite literally twiddling his thumbs.


    "Patrick." Ryan said quietly, almost whispering. Pat froze, though he should have expected that. How could even a trainee guard not sense someone''s presence.


    "Can we not play like this today, we need to talk." Ryan continued, his voice softer then Pat had ever heard it. Patrick had been expecting anger, maybe even hatred.


    Never this.


    It was this unexpectedness that made Patrick leave his hiding place and go to sit beside his friend.


    There was a moment of silence, before Ryan turned towards Patrick, and hugged him.


    Ryan had always been a touchy guy, but this was different. My, oh my was this different. Before it might''ve been like a force of nature, crushing and yet gentle all at once.


    This was only gentle, scarily so.


    "Please... forgive me." Ryan begged, voice strained.


    What?


    "I never meant to hurt you... I-I had promised myself to do the opposite... I''ve failed."


    Pat''s shoulder felt wet, he''s crying. Ryan, mr. tough guard guy... crying for Pat of all people.


    Guess Patrick''s plan hadn''t worked, huh?


    "Ryan, I..." Patrick started, unsure of what to say. Oh this was the completely wrong reaction. What was Ryan doing?


    The guard''s head snapped up to look at Pat. Ryan''s eyes were red-rimmed, too much to be from just 5 seconds of tears.


    "I forgive you, Ryan. It''s my fault." Patrick admitted, feeling like a complete jackass.


    Ryan pulled away from the hug and stared Patrick dead in the eyes.


    "No, it is not. Never blame yourself for me scaring you, for hurting you." Ryan declared fiercely.


    Patrick was feeling worse by the minute, this wasn''t supposed to happen. "I-I provoked you, I insulted and demeaned you. Fuck Ryan, I practically called your dreams stupid and pointless!"


    Patrick had begun raising his voice, Gods know why. Gods know why he does anything he does.


    "Pat... I know you were trying to push me away, you try to push Zara away too. That''s what I really wanted to talk about... why?"


    Pat flinched, and suddenly everything grew exponentially more wrong.


    Air seemed to be vacant, suffocating the boy. In Pat''s imaginenstion, he could see the clouds darken and spark with thunder. He could feel the earth quiver as it moved to shallow him whole, well... that part wouldn''t be so bad right now.


    "Gasp!"


    "Well that''s a plot twist if I''ve ever seen one."


    Pat didn''t even bother pushing the traitor back down, maybe they''d even help out if they felt nice today.


    "Ha... no."


    "You need this, Patty."


    Fuck, there was no time to think or plan, Ryan was watching expectantly.


    "I don''t do th... Ok, yes I do." Ryan had only raised an eyebrow before Pat admitted it, no point lying now.


    "I''m not waiting around for you to realize you can do better, is all."


    Ryan looked only confused, too confused to think about Pat''s words too hard, hopefully.


    "It''s obvious I''m only here until you find something better, and I''m fine with that."


    Ryan''s face turned to stone, expression unreadable.


    "Dont look at me like that! I''m only saving us both the trouble! With Zara too, you both can do much better, so go do better!"


    Stone hardened to steel.


    "STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT! I''M PRATICALLY HELPING YOU, IF YOU WON''T LEAVE ME YOURSELF THEN I''LL JUST DO IT FOR YOU!"


    Now Patrick''s pants were wet... when had he started crying?


    The guarded expression shattered, and suddenly Ryan was upon him. Showing off his superior strength by wrapping those tree-trunks around Patrick and pulling him closer then ever before.


    That was saying a lot, considering how often these famous Ryan-style hugs happened. Patrick was too mad and surprised and flustered to even blush.


    "You are my best friend, practically my only friend. I couldn''t do better then you, no one could, because you are the most amazing person to me Patrick.


    If you ever are stupid enough to doubt that about yourself, then I will love you so hard that you won''t have any room for that nonsense."


    Now Patrick had time to blush, but he wasn''t as flustered as he thought he''d be. He wasn''t enjoying this because his crush mentioned love or something silly like that.


    He was enjoying this because he was his best friends'' best friend as well.


    So feeling loved too much to think about stupid stuff, Patrick could only enjoy the moment.

 Snakes and Songbirds - Part A

    <u>CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT</u>


    Extracted from "The Songbird" Eliot Skybell.


    Year 1682 of the Mana-Blood Era, November 13th, Day of the Clipping.


    Eliot Skybell''s Dressing Room, 17:34


    Eliot thought life was pretty nice.


    He had always thought that, deep down, but today was a reminder of how much there was to be thankful for.


    Maybe the dinging at the edge of his consciousness was the cause of all this sentimentality, alerting him that his purchase was approved for.


    For years he had felt intrinsically wrong somehow, like who he was and how people looked at him were fundamentally different.


    No more, it had taken 3 months salary, but he''d finally found someone willing to do the spell! Mages didn''t often like helping people like Eliot, well, if you could even call Eliot low-class anymore.


    It didn''t matter if he''d be eating junk for a while, it didn''t matter if hiring a Mage was accepting that he wouldn''t be able to cast a Class 5 spell on his own. (Wasn''t like he hadn''t tried.)


    All that mattered, was that he would finally fit in his own body.


    This is what he''d been working for his entire life, this was the whole reason he''d worked his ass off to get recognized by Alicia Zantiri.


    ¡°If the entertainment industry was like space, she was a black hole. Sucking up any light and energy from people to feed her own massive structure.


    She¡¯s a massive bitch, but a connected bitch. Suck up to her enough, and whole countries of people are opened up to you, Elina.¡±


    That jackass had been right, for once it his life.


    Wolves, Eagles, Angels, Naiads, hell he''d even sung for a lion once. It''d been terrifying, what with her being twice the size of him... she''d tipped well though.


    Everything was finally coming together for Eliot.


    "Eli~" a cheerful voice called out, with a dark undertone.


    The men of the office chuckled as the woman strutted in the room, heels more expensive then entire lives clicking on the marble.


    Eliot gulped, had he done something wrong?


    ¡°Come with me, dearie!¡± She ordered, tugging at El¡¯s sleeve.


    He obeyed, not wanting to cause a scene in front of these dickheads.


    They chuckled as he left, talking about a cat fight¡­ fuck them.


    "Why didn''t you tell were going to sing for a DEMON audience?" Alicia demanded, voice terrifyingly sweet.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The laughter stopped, and they failed at the two. El was right there with ¡®em


    Eliot searched his mind hurriedly for whatever the hell she was talking about about, and only found confusion. "I''m not playing for a demon, I''ve only got that one... fuck."


    Alicia''s false grin widened.


    Eliot had only 1 performance for today, a new place that had opened recently, somewhere in Morsin.


    Funnily enough, no one had bothered to tell Eliot where and what Morsin is. And just the most hilarious thing, ''parrently it was a DEMON CITY.


    "I''m gonna have to cancel, who was gonna tell me the place is a demon city, much less you!" Alicia''s grin turned strained, and she laughed humorlessly.


    "Sorry dear, I think I just heard you were going to cancel? I simply must remind you to look over the contract." The threatening tone was easy to pick out, she must be pissed, she''s usually 5% more subtle.


    Eliot let magic flow out of and around him, he let in diffuse into the space around him. He then contorted the mana, distorting the space in front of him. He wasn''t truly breaking it, nowhere close, this was only a dimensional bag.


    Space folded over itself and bended til there was a bubble of nothingness in front of him. Out of that nothingness came a relatively fancy contract.


    Lord''s Court of Morsin


    Dear Mr. Skybell,


    We have been a fan of your work for some time now and would humbly like the request your services for a ball on the 13th.


    We shall be celebrating the 21st birthday and coronation of my first-born son Xavier.


    We shall pay 10,000 Gold for your 1-hour participation (Of course, you may stay afterwards for your own personal enjoyment.)


    Along with the monetary compensation will be the immense exposure of your work to the nobility of Zanitis.


    There will be many other lords and ladies to view your spectacular work, even the king himself has RSVP''d so we may well be blessed with his appearance.


    I hope to receive your reply at least 2 days before you are set to arrive so we can prepare for your visit!


    Yours, truely


    Waren Yiko


    (P.S. Xavier specifically requested your presence, and seems quite excited to see you there. I for one would love to see you two ¡°hit it off¡± as the kids say.)


    There was quite a lot to take in.


    So much so that Eliot could only stand there in shock for a few moments.


    "Wha..."


    Alicia stared at Eliot''s bewildered face and sighed deeply, like she was carrying several mountains on her back.


    The attention was off of them enough to where she could close the fire, shielding their true thoughts and feelings from the oafs outside.


    "Look kid, you do realize why I can''t let you cancel, right?" She questioned, tone changing to a more natural one.


    Alicia was a huge bitch, you had to be to get somewhere when you looked like us. Even when it doesn''t fit.


    There was a balance, bitchy enough to claw your way up the ranks in this industry, but not too much so that the men hate you.


    Alicia had straddled the line flawlessly, and could only let herself be a actual person in these small moments.


    They weren''t close enough for her to drop the armor all the time, but Eliot hoped that someday they would.


    Not just because her aura would be better directed away for Eliot, but that would be a welcome bonus.


    "Yeah... I do." Eliot replied, nearly grimacing before shoving it down.


    It wasn''t like Morsin would be that bad, the lord seemed lovely, to be honest. But as nice as they had tried to seem, there was still an order there.


    You couldn''t reject a demon, not if you knew what was good for you.


    But that didn''t matter, what mattered was that he would be getting 10,000 for an hour of work, that he''d get to party in a castle, and that, oh right, the lord''s extremely attractive son is a fan.


    All in all, everything seemed great.


    Everything would be perfect.


    END OF LOG, 1 OF ?


    Continue?


    "Of course."

 The Hell District

    Patrick revelled in the feeling of those two gigantic arms around him, perhaps for a touch more then was platonic. While he enjoyed being his bestie''s bestie, this was still his crush.


    Surely he was allowed this much, right?


    Perhaps it was pathetic, and needy, but Ryan had started this, so who was really to blame?


    "Ryan... as nice as this is... I kinda have somewhere to be..." Patrick admitted after a long while of them sitting there in a comfortable silence.


    Ryan hummed in acknowledgment, but made no move to let Patrick go.


    To be fair, you did you just give him the go ahead on all his infuriatingly adorable behavior, did you really think he was letting you go after all this?


    Ok you''re right... but shut up.


    Don''t you have a guard to bribe into releasing you?


    "Ryan, I actually need to go... Ryan!" In response to Patrick''s protests the guard groaned and reluctantly let go of Pat.


    Now in front of Ryan, Patrick could see an odd twinkle in Ryan''s eyes, pride, perhaps? Maybe amusement, though Patrick had seen that look on the wannabe guard many times.


    Ryan was looking directly into Patrick''s eyes, a toothy smile on his face.


    The things this kid was doing to Patrick''s heartstrings...


    "So where are you going that''s so important you need to leave your best friend." Ryan placed an immense amount of emphasis on the word best.


    Well, Patrick had showed exactly how much he cared about Ryan, Zara too. This was just his karma.


    "That school, Vinike, needs even more paperwork signed, they''re practically begging at this point." Ryan rolled his eyes, looking disappointed. Don''t worry though, my needy friend, I''ll be sure to give you all your precious attention when I get back."


    Ryan flushed at the patronizing tone, ears dusted pink, he grumbled for a few seconds, almost like he was arguing with himself, before asking...


    "Promise?" He mumbled, voice taking on that gentleness again. Those campfire eyes were looking at Patrick, completely serious, before they met with Patrick''s and immediately looked at a very interesting pebble to the left.


    "I promise." Patrick felt like he just made a deal with a demon, a red-eyed, stupidly handsome one.


    Upon hearing Patrick''s declaration, Ryan''s eyes snapped onto Patrick. The 17 years, and 215 pounds of muscle that made up Ryan focused directly on Patrick. A predator, waiting to devour its prey. Did he even know how he looked right now?This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    It was doing entirely too much to Patrick.


    "When you get back from your boring ass school, immediately go to my house, the door will be unlocked for you. My room''s the last one down the hall, I''ll be waiting there. Don''t even knock, don''t even bother being nervous... I am gonna milk this opportunity for all it''s worth."


    Ryan talked fast, launching a whole paragraph at Patrick in one breath as if to overload his brain before he could even begin to understand what Ryan was saying.


    "That''s how you sound when you try that."


    Shhh, I''m overloading right now.


    "I''ll see you there... best friend." This time, Ryan emphasized the word like he was trying to remind himself of its meaning... odd.


    6 years of friendship finally began to loosen, held taut for so long. It also began to transform, becoming something new, something weird.


    Patrick didn''t have a clue of what was going on, but something was changing between them. They both could tell.


    All the weight of the still-grining boy finally left Patrick, their odd staring contest broken.


    Ryan fled the scene, almost sprinting back home, only stopping to wave at Patrick one last time, wish him luck, before disappearing.


    Strange...


    Patrick could only stand there for a moment, brain finally having a chance to catch up.


    He was going to his crush''s house... a place he never dared venture before... and going to his room, a clear danger zone...


    At least I have plans today, right?


    Onto more pressing, less terrifying matters. Vinike.


    The Nexus was nothing compared to last night, the only thing being that the... well, actual guard... Zane, was there.


    Except something was different, there was a hollowness to Zane''s eyes. His right-hand fingers anxiously tapped the metal of his post as the left-hand ones tapped at his phone.


    He barely noticed Pat.


    As he was passed through, he had the thought that he should come back with a gift for the guard. Zane had helped him with... all that.


    Patrick didn''t know what Zane liked, and now didn''t seem like the greatest time, so that was put on the back burner for now.


    To Canti it was... yay?


    The minute Pat entered Canti he felt eyes on him, that was to be expected. This wasn''t a secret party in the dead of night, this was broad daylight.


    He ignored it, practice makes perfect, and he''d get a lot in today.


    As he began down the street he noticed a weird feeling below him. There was power radiating from the stones below him... Magic.


    It was overwhelming, a radiant ocean, pounding at his senses.


    What... is this...


    Patrick had never felt magic, well, at least not like this. The magic that swirled through his own body never felt this powerful.


    It had never felt like anything. Patrick could feel it, tell it was there, nothing else.


    Horrible...


    How do rich people take this?


    Do... they even notice?


    Perhaps not, maybe here so used to massive amount of magic running through their district that it didn''t even register just how much coursed through Canti.


    Nauseating.


    Both the magic and the privilege.


    Pat''s head was geniunely pounding, he felt sick...


    He had to get to Vanike, before he threw up.


    "Vanike will be even worse... but at least you won''t pass out in the street."


    Patrick was swaying, he felt really, really bad.


    "Hey!"


    So... much...


    "Shitshitshit! Please don''t die!"


    Pat''s vision was blurry, someone was apparently speaking to him.


    Why, can''t he just die in peace...


    "WHAT!?"


    This wasn''t worth it... he should''ve just... stayed in his...


    Patrick felt the echos of a monster, proclaiming him worthy of nothing...


    No.


    He would not die here. He wouldn''t die in Canti.


    Patrick would make it through this, like he made it through everything else. 16 years of the looks and the monsters, and the hatred and the pain, and some magic would kill him?


    No.


    He was going to survive. Patrick Alixa was going to thrive.


    There was no other option.


    Patrick stood up, energy flowing into him.


    Patrick would live, for the boy that waited for him in Nairiq. For the father that desperately needed him. For the one who lived 6 feet under.


    Patrick imagined their faces, their warmth. How could he die here, and leave them?


    Simple, he wouldn''t.


    Patrick took a shaky step forward, then another, and another. Eventually the shakiness stopped, eventually the steps became second nature again.


    Eventually, a school came into view.


    The magic intensified, pressing harder. But he was stronger then this.


    His mind wandered to the resting place of his magic, and it felt different now. It felt familiar. Before it had been tasteless, neutral and unfeeling. Now it felt like a part of him, steady and eternal.


    This was his power.


    And he''d need all of it for his final test.


    Ivory gates stood in front of him, leading to hell itself.


    The power pounded at his soul, threatening to invade.


    It pressed...


    Patrick pressed back.

 Notice

    The first few chapters will be going through a complete overhaul following the suggestions I''ve gotten from the reviews.


    Please be patient for the next chapter while I complete them!


    Though, as you can see, I am starting a poll for if you want these revamps to come after the next chapter, or before.


    I will try my hardest on these rewrites as I am now horribly aware of their amaturness.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    I don''t really have much else to say...


    *spams cutely*


    G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g G g g g. G g g g g g. G g g get. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g. G g g go g g g g. G g g g g g. Gg g g. G g gg g g. G g g g g g g g. G g g g g g g g g g g g g g g g

 Side Story #2 - Banes of the Blaze-Whisperer

    <u>Saetari Busters</u>


    11:42 pm


    Jackie- The Warden''s Coming.


    12:19 am


    Zane- hey just got this, the fuck happened?


    12:21 am


    Ben- if you couldn''t guess Nicky poo got his panties in a twist


    12:21 am


    Zane- well fuck, tell me everything


    12:22 am


    Eliza- Well it all started when ethan couldn''t keep his dick in his pants, lol sorry ben


    12:22 am


    Ben- well tbf that is how it started continue


    12:22 am


    Jackie-


    Sarah set down her phone partway through her stalking of the group chat. She hadn''t been able to bring herself to reply, couldn''t bring herself to do much of anything, really.


    Despite her dreary mood, she snorted at the "code name", the silly relic of past times. She supposed she couldn''t blame their younger selves, they''d only been what, 13?


    She''d been 12 when they had come up with the plan.


    ***


    Sarah could only watch in horror.


    Her mother always warned her that inaction benefited no one, but still, she stood there.


    Coward. Maybe if she¡¯d stepped in sooner, it wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this.


    It started small, as bad stuff always does, the occasional glare or cranky tone. Stuff easily brushed off as teenage mood swings.


    Then a boy named Fredrick Nozan picked on Ben a bit too much and had gotten his arm broken.


    The crack of Fred¡¯s arm was sickening, yet Nick had smiled while doing it.


    But still, it could be seen as a boy protecting his friends. And who wanted to believe that the friendly, sweet Nick Saetari would take joy in hurting someone?


    Certainly not his dearest friends.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Then Judah Tins got her hair ripped out of her head when she put gum in Eliza¡¯s.


    Then Nick put a hole in the wall after he lost some game.


    After Jimmy Quant got his nose broken for the heinous crime of not giving Nick his new (Childsafe version, too many lawsuits) Duris-Wand, they had to address it.


    ***


    ¡°What if... This is a misunderstanding?¡± Jack never wanted to go against Nick. He was crushing too hard to want to ruin their relationship. (Jack wasn''t too special, everyone ended up crushing on Nick, it was a rite of passage for every teenager that knew ¡®em.)


    Well, that and the fact that Jack was Nick¡¯s first friend, he''d known Nick longer than all of them. They''d practically grew up as brothers. He was willing to look past it all if that meant keeping Nick.


    But that didn''t hold true for the rest of them.


    ¡°Dude, Jim didn''t even do anything wrong.¡± Ethan reminded Jack, the angel irritated by his friend¡¯s passiveness.


    Ethan wasn''t wrong, no one would''ve given up that thing, it was hella expensive. (and so fucking cool)


    "We need a plan" Ben stated plainly, always good at summarizing (mostly) everyone''s feelings. "This is just getting worse, don''t tell me I''m the only one who sees it."


    That was also true, it''s not a coincidence that it started at defending friends, and is now as casual as a disagreement.


    "So, w-what do we do?" Jack shakily asked, still gut-punched by this conversation.


    Sarah only stayed quiet. It was easier that way. She had a plan, well, the barebones of one. But they''d have better ideas.


    Might as well not waste time with her thoughts.


    .


    .


    .


    No one spoke up.


    .


    .


    .


    Ugh, really?


    .


    .


    .


    "I... might have an idea."


    ***


    "Apologize."


    Too soon. Much, much, much too soon.


    They weren''t ready for this, they needed more time!


    But Nick didn''t wait for nothing.


    "Suck my dick, asshole..." Horas Xaigo spat, blood mixed with the saliva.


    "Demon blood and saliva have extraordinary healing capabilities when distilled into potions, if any of y''all want to get paid for spitting into a jar for 20 minutes, sign up after school!"


    Sarah couldn''t help but recall her Alchemy teacher explaining the properties of demonic bodily fluids. Unfortunately, demons couldn''t heal by spitting on themselves.


    Even if that was a thing, Little good it would do in the face of Nick Saetari, born with the force of a natural disaster.


    There was no time, and yet the seconds stretched for eons. A familiar voice rammed itself into her head, Ethan wasn''t subtle at all with mind magic.


    However, it got the job done.


    "Now!"


    Despite her crippling fear, she began her cast. Mana rushed from her core to her palms, forming sigils that served no real purpose, but Raina did it look cool. (Magic didn''t look so cool on its own, this was all her.)


    This was how she did it outside of school, when she wasn''t be graded on how she imagines it.


    She didn''t even have to try, it came instinctively.


    The sigils gave way to green-tinted mana. (She''d played far too many RPGs to see stamina as anything else.)


    When the mana became thick and dense enough, she launched her cast at her raging friend.


    Sustaining this took all her focus, it was all on the others now.


    ***


    Both Ethan Normani and Jack Zantari rushed their friend.


    Jack wasn''t the most muscular of people, a more ranged fighter than all up close and personal.


    Nick and Ethan were, Jack was only there to tip the scales.


    Jack enhanced his strength as much as he could, straining his core. Would it be enough? That depended on whether Nick remembered to use his own enhancements or not.


    In the back of his mind, he sensed Ethan laying down his own enhancements, becoming a beastly force of muscle for the next 15 seconds. (Buffs were never his strong suit.)


    It wasn''t as if their casts were weak, or their bodies frail. Nick was just in a whole ''nother league, especially when he was too angry to hold back.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Barely. Just barely were they able to stop the whirlwind of rage that was Nick.


    Jack and Ethan were almost thrown off, only spared by Eliza''s and Sarah''s casts working their... well, literal magic.


    He was vulnerable, physically at least. Ben kneeled in front of Nick, to make him emotionally vulnerable too.


    It was over.


    Distantly he heard the only half-fake crying of Ben. The heaving of everyone''s chests as they finally stopped fighting.


    Nick''s eyes were green again, it was finally over.


    Every time this happened, Jack aged by 20 years. He''d get grey hairs by 19 if this kept up.


    But he couldn''t leave Nick. It wasn''t only because of their lifelong friendship, which was admittedly a huge factor.


    It was the terrible, horrible thought that came from the nightmares.


    If I leave him, how long till someone turns up dead?


    Jack, Ethan, Ben, Sarah, and Eliza were the only things keeping Nick in. They protected the world from his wrath.


    They were his Wardens.


    But they''d never, ever get out. Not without consequences.


    So Jack stayed, with the monster. So no one else would ever have to witness him at his worst. No one else would ever have to be on the receiving end of such hatred.


    Jack would stay, despite it all.