ã€ŠThe Rise of Certonaã€‹


 TRC- Prologue

    Prologue.

    I grunt as I sit up in bed, my body feels hurt all over because of the training from yesterday.  Annoyed beyond belief my hand crashes down on the blaring alarm that already looks like a car has driven over it. Seeing the time I feel like falling over and going back to sleep, but I know Frederich, the butler won¡¯t allow it. As if on cue big double doors to my room opens.

    ¡°Good morning Master Macedon.¡± I squint at Frederich with one eye.

    ¡°Morning Frederich, how many times have I told you to just call me Klaus?¡± He opens the curtains with a flourish, which causes me to squint even more. Looking satisfied he turns to me; he rubs his white gloved hands together. The round spectacles on his face along with the slicked back black hair does not fit the image of his humongous frame.

    ¡°Master Macedon, as I have been telling you since you were able to talk. It will not change no matter how many times you ask.¡± Saying this he makes his way outside and returns pushing a tray with nothing but fruit, some milk and the dreaded ¡°healthy cocktail¡± as he calls it.

    He sees my face cringe up in disgust when I see it. ¡°This will keep you strong and vitalized.¡± I snort at him.

    ¡°You have been saying that since I can remember¡­. It still tastes terrible; I can already see my life flash before my eyes.¡± He lets out a chuckle, but I know if I don¡¯t drink it I¡¯ll be force fed!

    After eating my breakfast and drinking the shake from hell while almost gagging with every swallow. I get dressed in my training clothes. Which consist of a tank top and a pair of PT shorts. I brush my teeth and quickly run my hands through my dishevelled black hair before making my way towards the three flights of stairs on the west side of the manner. The hallways are big enough to allow a Hummer H1 to drive around in them. All along the wall are paintings of fairy tale creatures ranging from fairies to demons.

    As I go, I trace my hands down the ornately decorated hand railing, on it is what looks like runes inscribed; it had always fascinated me for two reasons. One, I can read it although I don¡¯t know what it means and two it gives me a feeling of safety. Finally reaching the bottom I turn left and make my way over the cold marble floor. In the centre of the huge hall is a statue of a man holding a flaming sword above his head his foot is placed on a horned beast in an incredibly cheesy heroic stance. ¡°Good morning Captain Morgan.¡± I point at the statue.

    I tare my gaze away from it, smiling as I remember how it used to give me nightmares when I was younger. I look in the direction of the East wing, its quiet as usual. Father has not been home in three years¡­ A feeling of loneliness grips my heart, but I push it aside. The memories I have with the old man can be counted on one hand.

    I take another set of stairs down into the basement or what is supposed to be the basement. A familiar sight comes into view. The gym is huge complete with a pool and training equipment. On the side of the wall hangs an assortment of weapons ranging from shorts words all the way to kunai the deadly assortment ends with ranging from 9mm to M5 machine guns. The bigger stuff is hidden away in a secret room.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time Master Macedon, you are already two minutes late.¡± Frederich is standing in the middle of the padded floor, which fills my heart with dread. His muscled and scarred body is clearly on display with the clothes he has on. Knowing this is going to hurt. I bow before I put my foot on the mat.

    Frederich bows back and like a flipped switch the ever present smile disappears and turns serious. He throws me a pair of gloves and a head guard. My heart races the way it always does as I put them on. I know it¡¯s going to hurt yet I still look forward to the day I put the big Butler on his ass!

    Frederick puts on his own pair of very thick gloves and beckons for me to come. ¡°It¡¯s on!¡±

    My legs propel me forward as my eyes assess his stance. ¡°His guard is low.¡± I suddenly bend my knees as if I want to slide, it causes him to go lower. My hands shoot up hooking behind his head and I thrust my knee up with all my strength while forcing his head down to meet it. *PAh!*

    My knee meets gloves! My knee impacts again and again with my arms keeping his head in the lock. He suddenly pulls back just as I am about to knee, pulling me off balance. His leg sweeps mine that¡¯s still planted on the ground and I flip over hitting it hard.

    I roll away just in time to miss his stomping foot. He smiles at me kindly as he takes up a stance that wrestlers use. ¡°Shit, that¡¯s cheating!¡± I switch my style as well from Muay Thai to Jiu-Jitsu. I can see the change makes Frederich a bit more cautious. After all he is the one that taught me to use soft against hard!

    He stays low and dives in targeting my left leg. I step back and grab his wrist wrenching it forward in the same direction he dove. The force pulls him of balance! Excited at the thought of a possible win I pull his hand back putting my other hand on his shoulder to lock the joint as he face plants into the mat¡­.

    I drop down on him with my knee on his kidney and get rewarded with a painful grunt all the while wrenching the arm with all my strength. ¡°If he gets loose I am dead!¡±

    ¡°Give up old man I have-¡° his shoulder suddenly gives way and before I know it he has my arm in a straight lock. My muscles, bones and sinew protest against being twisted this much. Before it breaks I tap out.

    He gets up and smiles at me. I grumble something at him which only broadens the smile. ¡°All you have Master Mecadon is your foot in your mouth. Never become complacent in a fight, or it will be the end of you.¡± The last words he says makes my skin crawl.

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    ¡°Who exactly will I be fighting against, I am not allowed to do any sports or take part in any activities.¡± The Butler grunts, he knows where I want to take this damn conversation.

    ¡°As I have said before your family has many enemies.¡± I shake my head at the well-known reply, arguing won¡¯t help so I just take up a new stance intending to beat my frustration into his face.

    Two hours later and sore all over. I check myself in the mirror to make sure my ty is straight. Wearing a tie is like second nature to me now. ¡°A great heir to the Mecadon can''t step foot out of the manor without being presentable.¡± My mocking voice draws the butler¡¯s attention, but he says nothing.

    ¡°Frederich, I think I am going to take the bike today.¡± Frederich frowns. ¡°Your father said-

    I interrupt as soon as he starts to protest. ¡°My father said, when I am eighteen I can drive whatever vehicle I want.¡± Saying that stops Frederich from uttering another word, I can see the dissatisfaction clearly on his face.

    ¡°Master, I do not like you driving on that thing I am very dissatisfied.¡± I snort at him.

    ¡°My foot still hurts from that ankle lock you had me in, so your dissatisfaction gives me great pleasure.¡± His frown deepens. ¡°Fine, fine if I promise not to take off and leave you behind like last time will that satisfy you?¡± The frown lessens. ¡°Frederich is such an easy guy to understand.¡±

    We make our way to the garage which is a separate building altogether. Inside are a total of sixty three cars, some vintage and others the latest sports models. I ignore them and head to my section of the garage. My three beloved angels are there to greet me. I walk to the first and trail my finger down her beautiful curves as I walk past. The bike is a pure white with streaks of red. On the side is a name proudly on display.

    I read it allowed ¡°Agusta.¡± I make my way past her to my favourite. It is matt grey while the rims are a blood red. My heart beats in my ears. ¡°Ducati 1199 Superleggera, how I have missed you!¡± Frederich clears his throat behind me.

    ¡°Master if you continue fraternizing with the bikes-

    ¡°How dare you hurt her feelings, these are not bikes¡­. They are my girls.¡± The last part I whisper lovingly. He frowns at me interrupting him but says nothing.  The last one is still under her blanket. I have not touched her yet. A prototype sent from my dad for my eighteenth birthday. I feel guilty for neglecting her, but I want to be able to take responsibility when I take her out for the first time. My heart races and my cheeks go red as I think about it.

    I make my way to the biking gear hanging against the wall. I am not stupid enough to ride without it. I choose my red helmet with a grey stripe through the middle. Matching leathers are hung up next to each helmet. I make my way toward the safe where we store our keys. As soon as I take the key out of the safe and get within five meters of the bike, it starts automatically.

    I hang the key that looks nothing like one around my neck and tuck it inside my jacket. It¡¯s basically a small black square that reads my thumb print before starting the bike.

    I drive up the ramp and make my way outside while revelling in the sweet sound she makes. My enjoyment only lasts until I see Frederich. He looks like a big gorilla sitting on a hog that¡¯s going to collapse at any moment. His voice crackles through my helmet. ¡°I made preparations so you can¡¯t pull another stunt.¡±

    I sit there staring at him. My mind tries to put a smug face behind the dark visor but fails miserably. ¡°I have never seen him make a face other than smile or ¡°Dissatisfied¡±. I think to myself. ¡°Let¡¯s just go.¡±

    We make our way along a long winding path. My girl purrs with glee as I open her up. The clocks say 220km on the digital clocks and I look behind me to find Frederich sticking to me like we are taking a jog in the park. I swear in frustration and go faster. The bike responds as I move my wrist immediately.

    I gear up to sixth something I rarely do and speed down the straight the bike and I becoming a blur! I know this road by heart and just as I crest the hill I start to slow down in preparation for the sharp turn ahead. I lean down and the knee guard scrapes against the road! My heart pounding in my ears I open up again with nothing but a long road ahead of me. She wants to lift her front wheel, but I manage to keep her down.

    ¡°Come on baby, come on!¡± I look behind me and laugh Frederich is only now cresting the hill. But by the sound of it he has a bigger cc than I have so he will catch me on the straights. Not far ahead are a bunch of curves in the road, I can lose him there!

    That¡¯s when it happens. The world seems to slow down to stop along with my heart. My ears start to ring as my brain only registers one thing¡­. Danger! I push down with my right foot causing the bike¡¯s back wheel to come to a sliding stop. Frederich is there in an instant. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I can¡¯t breathe it¡¯s too hard. My voice does not work causing me to make horrid croaking sounds as I try to talk. All the hair on my body feels like it¡¯s being electrified and standing on end!

    My vision becomes blurry. ¡°Frederich¡­.. Danger.¡± Are the last words I get out before everything goes black¡­.

 TRC Chapter 1

    Hello guys to get this story going I finished Chapter one as quickly as possible. I may make some mistakes since I am not used to First person POV so I am relying on you guys to tell me If I mess up somewhere.

    If you like it please follow or favorite it, please note any feedback is welcome!

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________

    1

    Run!

    I sit up like a corpse rising from the dead! ¡°What? Where am I?¡± A quick glance around makes me relax. Frederich behind the wheel of our Bentley only gives me a few glances through his rear-view mirror. I sigh and lean back it¡¯s not the first time I have passed out like that. Frederich calls it panic attacks and for some strange reason I can never quite remember what happened before I keel over.

    ¡°Master we are nearly at your school, you should take of the leathers you have on.¡± Looking down I see what he says is true. While undressing I look around me confused, my eyes settle on Frederich¡¯s sleeve¡­ ¡°Blood?! Why is there blood on his sleeve, is it mine, was I hurt?¡± I feel each body part as I was trained to, but there is no pain at all.

    I finally get the riding pants off, my eyes never leaving the sleeve. I check myself in the mirror straightening the tie back into its immaculate state. The tie is purple¡­. Like my eyes. Pretending it¡¯s not a big deal I ask Frederich innocently. ¡°Why is there blood on your sleeve?¡± Frederich at first does not reply, but just as I am about to ask again.

    ¡°I had a nosebleed Master, nothing serious it was due to your well placed knee attack this morning.¡± We drive in perceptible silence; my mind is anything but silent though.

    ¡°Bullshit he clearly blocked it¡­. He actually gave me a compliment which makes it even more suspect. Something is being hidden from me. The training, the restrictions and now this¡­. Panic attacks my ass!¡±

    I sit back brooding while I stare at the blood on his sleeve. My vision suddenly changes as if zooming in I can see every fiber of the sleeve. ¡°No, not just see I can smell it as well! What the hell?¡±

    I take a whiff feeling a bit disgusted with the thought of smelling someone¡¯s sleeve covered in blood, but the Gorilla is not going to say anything and I need to figure things out for myself. It smells like iron but there is also something else, something sweet¡­. The car goes over a speed hump and my focus gets broken. I swear under my breath and focus on the sleeve again but¡­ nothing? ¡°Was I imagining things?¡±

    It¡¯s not long before we reach the school which means we have driven through a small town in the middle of nowhere without me realising it since all my attention was on the stupid sleeve. Frustrated I look out of the window.  I remember when I was younger I used to look through this window dreaming of what it would be like to walk in the streets with friends. To go shopping, eat at a restaurant with other people and¡­. Family.

    I sigh as I get out, not caring enough to say goodbye. I look around seeing the other kids around me. I am taller than most but that¡¯s obvious since I am a senior and this is my last year of school. People avoid me like the plague though, either whispering or just rushing past.

    If I were to describe the people in this school, including myself I would only need one word.

    ¡°Snobs.¡±

    Even the guys and girls that are friends compete to see who has the most money, cars, and possessions. I lug myself in there although I don¡¯t really have a friend to compete with.

    Lifting my head like the people around are beneath me, I make my way through the huge and ornate gate. Guys looking like they come out of a men in black movie stand everywhere. ¡°Bodyguards.¡± The school probably has a small army in its employ after all this is the only school in the world that caters for the richest of the rich.

    Only five kids per class. Tea is served at ten along with all kinds of things like cookies and scones. I of course have never tasted it. All I get is the awful ¡°healthy shake¡± of death and destruction that completely and utterly nukes your taste buds into oblivion! This gets delivered personally by Mr Gorilla himself.

    At lunch you get to choose from a menu that changes every day along with the five star chef attending.  I usually get something meaty, but guess what. As soon as I am done like clockwork the ¡°healthy drink¡± from hell appears bubbling and green, one time I even thought I felt a frog¡¯s leg slide down my throat. I threw up for nearly an hour, but once I stepped outside. Frederich was waiting with another serving.

    The gate I pass through is made out of thick steel rods, interlinked and woven to make it look beautiful and fool us kids into seeing it differently then what it really is¡­ a prison gate! Ten foot walls with electrified wires on top along with sensors that alerts the security team if anything crosses it keeps us securely locked inside. I found out about the sensors when I tried to sneak out needless to say, it did not end well.

    I walk down the pathway where a golf cart waits for me at the end. The same driver I have had for¡­ well since forever sits there waiting to take me to class. ¡°Morning Freddy.¡± The old man with grey almost white hair puts down the newspaper he has been reading and stands to attention. An old craggily voice escapes him as he places the chauffer hat on his head in a practiced fluid motion.

    ¡°Good morning Sir.¡±

    I scoot onto the back. ¡°Did you sleep well Freddy?¡± I ask as he makes his way painstakingly slow to the steering wheel.

    ¡°Just wonderful Sir.¡± Another short and quip reply. The old man has always acted this way, indifferent, nonchalant and cold. Short replies while he zips around the freak of St Marks High.

    The school grounds are huge! The grass is taken care of better than a golf estate¡¯s. Everything is green accept for the winding roads the golf carts travel on.

    We make our way through an outcropping of large oak trees and I lean back and look through the leaves as the sun rays play through them. Then it starts again a feeling of danger! My body goes rigid with fright and my hair stands on ends again. My eyes go blurry and I can¡¯t make myself move. Inside, my mind is telling me to run!

    ¡°Something or someone is watching me, but who? What is this feeling?¡± As I think that the feeling fades allowing me to breathe easy again. I look around to spot¡­ something, anything. ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary. Alright Klaus now is not the time to lose your shit!¡± The trees end and we reach a building that looks older than time, but kept in pristine condition. It has a very sharp roof with sharp poles on either point. The roof is broken halfway with another small piece of wall that has windows in it.

    I climb off, right in front of the huge wooden door and open it gingerly by turning a huge brass knob. *Creeeeaaaak* ¡°So much for trying to make a stealthy entrance!¡± The ¡°classroom¡± is the size of house that common people stay in¡­. I think. In front of me the four other students are turned around in their huge CEO boardroom chairs trying to spot whoever just came in.

    As soon as they see me three turn around immediately, trying to avoid eye contact, the other a girl smiles and waves in greeting before turning. ¡°She is new?¡± I think to myself as I take in her looks. She has dark brown hair that¡¯s tied in a ponytail which comes down to rest between her shoulder blades. Her face is open and without makeup which is quite an achievement for a girl my age in this school. I did not see it clearly but I think her eyes are hazel.

    The last a guy with blond hair cut in the latest fashion glares at me. His brows are furrowed above blue eyes. I have been in class with this guy since primary school. If I remember correctly he is the son of some kind of lord in England. ¡°What did I do this time?¡± I wonder as I make my way to a desk so large it could be the base of two queen sized beds stuck together. On it is a printer, scanner laptop and an assortment of books thicker than my middle.

    The others have more things littering their desk. Blondie especially has a lot of shit. The most out of place thing is the steel statue of a knight on a horse, which is basically the size of the laptop screen.

    Still a bit jittery with what happened I make my way to and plunk down on my own chair. The teacher a professor of some kind arches his eyebrows at me. ¡°Another new teacher, wonder if they leave because of nervous breakdowns?¡± The teacher has a thick monobrow that makes it look like he has a moustache growing on his forehead speaking of which the way he styles his beard reminds me of a walrus. The few hairs on his head stand up straight as if to show they are there at least.

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    All in all a pretty normal looking professor. He stands up and starts the lecture not caring to introduce the new student. He talks in a monotone while scribbling on the board and that¡¯s when it starts to get really weird! A few minutes after he turned I see a tail sprouting from Professor Walrus¡¯s lower back. Its feint as if out of focus but the more I look the clearer it becomes, fascinated my eyes follow the tail as it swishes around gleefully. In the corner of my eye I see the blonde kid motion to the girl, to witness the weirdness. ¡°Before the end of today she will be just like the rest.¡±

    Seeing things have happened countless times before. Strange creatures, beasts, ghosts you name it I have seen it, but lately the frequency has increased. When I was little I used to talk to them which won me the ¡°freak status¡±. Growing up I started to ignore it more and more, however the things became clearer and clearer. Now I simply don¡¯t care, I am already labelled a freak so what¡¯s the harm in looking at them?

    The day continues without incident; except I can¡¯t focus on the board with the damn tail swishing around the whole time! This causes my gaze to switch between the swinging tail and the board which Walrus has been writing on the whole time. My gaze settles on the last object that gets the most of my attention, the clock set against the wall to my right. Now and then I catch the new girl staring at me. Not knowing what to make of it my mind starts to think up reasons that are improbable and simply stupid.

    ¡°Maybe she likes me? Do I have something on my face? Does she want something? I wonder if she will talk to me¡­. Right I will give it a try at tea time!¡± After the thought my gaze lingers more on the clock than anything else. 9:45 am, 9:46pm¡­.9:56pm. Something starts to ring. I look around trying to find the source only to see the others looking at me. ¡°What are you looking at me for; I don¡¯t even own a cell phone?¡±

    Even while saying it I realise the noise is coming from my desk. I open the drawer on the bottom left, the first time in years! The ringing becomes louder. I take out the small smartphone and with every ring my heart shudders. Instinct tells me to not answer, that this can only be bad! .....I answer it anyway.

    ¡°Hello?¡±

    A female voice panting for breath that sounds hysterical answers back. ¡°Run Klaus, they are coming!¡±

    I frown confused and getting more and more worried. ¡°Sorry, do I know you?¡±

    ¡°No, but there is no time¡­ Ahhhh.¡± She screams in pain and I hear sounds that are unearthly, growls and scratching and what sounds like swords clashing?! I stand up losing all composure. ¡°Lady, hey lady are you okay?!¡±

    The sounds suddenly stops for a few seconds. It''s followed by what sounds like something being dragged. The voice returns, much weaker this time almost non-existent. ¡°Klaus, there is no time¡­.*Cough*.. your father  dead¡­ seal is broken, they arrre coooming.¡±

    My heart stops and I stare at the phone distraught. Without knowing it, I have started crying. ¡°Father dead? Can¡¯t be, the few times I saw him he was strong untouchable, even to me he was distant.¡±

    The girl comes closer and and puts her hand on my shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I look at her stupidly.

    ¡°I think I just heard someone die over the phone.¡± She takes it from me and checks seeing the phone is still connected she puts it against her ear. She obviously can¡¯t hear anything and looks at me skeptically.

    ¡°The woman said my father is dead, I should run? I¡­I don¡¯t understand, what?¡± A sudden sound draws our attention to the door the whole situation is out there and hearing strange sniffing and growling¡­. Growling? ¡°It¡¯s the same as on the phone, everyone hide get away, run!¡±

    Professor Walrus steps in front of us glaring at me. ¡°Don¡¯t be daft boy there is nothing out there.¡±

    ¡°Like hell there is, I am not waiting to find out!¡± I make my way to the back of the class the girl follows me. I wipe away the tears and start looking for a way to escape! Professor Walrus steps forward and puts his hand on the knob! The scratching stops¡­.

    There is no sound except for me climbing on the desk in order to break a window that leads to the slanting roof! I hear the knob turn just before I hit the window with Blondie¡¯s steel horse statue which I grabbed from his desk. *Bang* *Crash* As the window breaks the door bursts open to the inside! Walrus is sent flying with the force of it. His back hits one of the huge desks and nearly gets folded double; I can hear the bones crack as they break before he falls limply to the floor. The girl screams.

    ¡°No, no, no.¡± Not waiting to see what caused it I grab the girl and shove her through. I hear the growl again perceptibly louder, as well as the kids behind us screaming. The girl is through and I jump, but something grabs me and pulls me back¡­ Its blondy! ¡°How dare you, I am the son of-¡°

    His sentence gets cut off midway his face filled with shock. I hear a sickening crunch and the bottom half of his body gets splattered into mince! I scream not wanting to see more and jump towards the window again. My head is through, but my shoulders are too broad and I get stuck. As I struggle I hear sickening sounds. I realise its flesh being torn to shreds! I scream again and pull myself through tearing my shirt and cutting a deep gash into my left shoulder and arm.  I pull again forcing myself to go even faster.

    Searing pain makes me arch my back. Something has my leg in its grip. I can feel it slimy and wet. My leg is in something¡¯s mouth! I pull again and manage to get one leg out! I thrust it against the little wall splitting the top roof from the bottom intending to use it as leverage to pull myself out of the thing¡¯s grip!

    The thing shakes and I get pulled back making my heart race with fear. Haah! I push again and gain some distance. I look up to see the girl carrying a spike and running frantically towards me, she thrusts it into the window but misses whatever has me in its grip. I grab the spike and stab down next to my leg repeatedly!

    *Welp* I must have hit something sensitive, since the thing lets go giving me just enough time to pull myself out! I roll away as far from the window as I possibly can before getting a glance at a red lizard-like eye staring at me. ¡°What¡­.the¡­.hell!¡±

    The eye disappears and I can hear things crashing as it is most probably trying to makes its way to us. ¡°We cant stay here we need to move I say to myself more than the girl.¡± She nods but looks at my leg. Her face cringes up, so I decide not to look at it.

    Trying to stand on it sends spikes of excruciating pain through my body. I also start to feel woozy. ¡°I think I have been poisoned.¡± Remembering my training I take a deep breath and embrace the pain. I run crawl over the roof towards where I know Freddy always parks.

    Blood stains litter the cart informing me Freddy is no more. The girl grabs my shoulder in a panic. ¡°I can¡¯t see it, I can¡¯t see it.¡±

    I put my hands on the side of her face to force her eyes to focus on me. Then I start to lie like I never have before. ¡°Look at me we are going to be okay.¡± She nods a bit calmer for the moment. I clench my teeth and turn around. ¡°We are so going to die!¡±

    I turn back to her. ¡° Here is the plan. We run like hell and jump for the cart at most we may break a leg or something but the cart is our best bet.¡± She keeps nodding until she hears the breaking a leg part.

    Her eyes widen and she stomps her foot. ¡°Are you crazy!¡±

    I look from the roof to the cart trying to judge the distance. ¡°Listen I have been poisoned and I don¡¯t have a lot of time here. So we either jump or stay here and wait for that thing to come finish us off.¡±

    She measures the distance and purses her lips. The thing has perfect timing and starts to growl on the opposite side of the roof. We freeze and hear it sniff, all is quiet the wind rustles in the trees. My heart pounds in my ears, but we don¡¯t move. Like rabbits, scared of the wolf we stand frozen.

    As it walks something, claws, talons I don¡¯t know what scratches against the roof. I whisper¡­ ¡°Jump.¡± She looks at the cart again and grabs my hand. ¡°On three¡­ one, two, three!¡± We run towards the nearest point forcing our bodies to move faster and faster.

    The thing is right behind us, I can hear it coming like a bat out of hell on our heels. The end of the roof comes closer step by step I take a deep breath and using my good leg, push myself from the roof.  The girl screams shrilly. I want to throw away the spike still in my hand but a thought stops me.

    ¡°What if the creature can jump?¡±

 TRC Chapter 2

    2

    A week of learning.

    *Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump* My heart beats in my ears, as air rushes past. The ground moves closer with every beat. It sounds like we are falling a long way, but it¡¯s the complete opposite. We hit the ground almost a second after rushing off of the roof! My legs get jolted to the bone, but I bend them to take to absorb the force of my decent.

    The girl plows into the ground despite my best efforts to keep her upright. I want to see if she is okay, but I have no time! I swing myself around and finally get a clear view of the creature. My breath catches in my throat. This creature is on one of the paintings in the Manor. The name of it engraved in a frame made of gold.

    ¡°Manticore!¡±

    It has the body of a blood-red lion, the face and ears of a man. It sees me at the same time I see it and lets out another loud growl revealing three rows of razor sharp teeth. The red eyes bore into me, evoking fear. The one in the painting had been bigger, something which makes me thank my lucky stars. It closes the grotesque mouth and its legs bend in preparation to jump. Its tail swishes lazily and I realize the tail is fanned out at the tip, not with hair, but barbs!

    I reach behind me blindly feeling for the girl she takes my hand, but I shake it off. ¡°Get in the cart and go! Bring the first person with a gun.¡±

    She takes my hand again and replies with a shaky voice. ¡°What about you!¡±

    I shake my head. ¡°I have a feeling its after me and there is no way that cart can outride it. Go now!¡± Like a signal the shout causes the Manticore to jump. It launches at me like an arrow leaving s bow. I step forward holding the spike so tight my hands are white. Its silhouette grows as it bears down on me until I can only see its ugly face.

    It crashes into me, knocking out my precious breath, but I don¡¯t forget to put my plan into action! Falling back I plant the spike against the ground. The creature¡¯s face changes from one of victory to pain and disbelief. Warm fluid runs down my hands. It lets out a deafening roar which causes rancid spittle and drool to fly into my face. It takes a shaky step back and another. Pulling the spike, which is stuck in its chest along with it.

    My wet and slippery hands cant hold on and slips! ¡°I am so dead, so dead. The plan was to make it impale itself and die! Not make it even more hungry for my blood.¡± It steps to the side revealing the barbed tail. I roll out of instinct, the action saving me as it smashes down next to me, making the earth shake.

    The thing then pounces growling in anger and pain grabbing the same leg it had earlier. I let out a scream at the fresh wave of pain. The little reason I have left disappears! ¡°Bastard, let go of me!¡± My kick lands on its face, but it doesn¡¯t let go, my hands frantic searches around for anything to grab onto while I stomp its face repeatedly.

    My body lifts into the air as it picks me up and starts shaking me like a chew toy. I scream again as my leg breaks because of the abuse! It falls over after a few shakes its jaw still locked in place. Battered and bruised with clenched teeth my eyes wonder around looking for something to hit it with.

    Thoughts are slow, caused by the poison. For some reason I start to chuckle deliriously while struggling in vain to move. My body soon becomes too heavy and I lie still just staring at the sky. ¡°Is this how I am going to die?¡± My gaze settles on a cloud in the sky. It drifts lazily along without a care in the world. ¡°I wish I was a cloud. My father is dead. Pffft it¡¯s not like I knew the guy. I wonder if my existence will fade like the cloud will? Will someone remember me? It¡¯s not like I ever made an impact in anyone¡¯s life.¡±

    My vision starts to fade along with the pain. Sounds like footsteps reach my ears, but I am too tired to react, too tired to care.

    ¡°Master, don¡¯t give up.¡±

    ¡°A familiar voice? Go away, let me sleep.¡± Slap! I want to laugh at whoever just slapped me, I didn¡¯t even feel it.

    A female voice joins the familiar one. ¡°Klaus I got help, just like you asked. Please don¡¯t give up.¡± A soft and cold hand brushes through my hair. It¡¯s the last thing I feel before everything fades into darkness¡­.

    ¡°Mommy, mommy look.¡± Little hands come into view holding a grotesque boat. ¡°It¡¯s me, when I was young?¡± The person I am holding it out for looks¡­ well not human. She has long coal black hair framing a pale face. Her delicate hand reaches out and ruffles my hair, its cold and soft. However it makes me feel loved.

    My little hands reach up to hold onto her arm that is white as snow. She leans to the side peering at me with eyes that almost look evil if not for the big smile on her rose-red lips. The biggest contrast to the kind smiling face is two horns that sprout from her temples.  They are red at the base turning darker as they curve gracefully.

    ¡°We will have to show your father how creative you are.¡± I giggle with happiness at the praise, and start to run around the meadow. Flowers of all kinds of colours are everywhere around us. The horned woman is sitting on what looks like a pelt of some kind of beast. As I look up I realize we are in a huge cavern since I can¡¯t see the sky, a huge ball of energy lends its light to the darkness smaller spheres surrounds it like the earth around the sun they revolve around it, as if forever caught in a trap of gravity.

    Over the trees that have red and blue leaves I can see a Palace in the distance luminescent, glowing with a pale white light. It feels like hours that I play with the ship made out of bark and sticks, but they are hours that feel like the happiest time of my life¡­..

    It starts slow, a feint rumbling in the distance accompanied by a sound dull and indistinct.  My mother jumps up at the sound and runs over to me. A second rumbling makes my entire world shake along with the leaves. She scoops me up in her arms and we take off flying! Black wings with a red glow sprouting from her back. We soon reach a small tunnel hidden by brush. She puts me down with tears in her eyes. ¡°Listen Klaus, you need to hide here for mommy. Only come out when you hear me or¡­. Or daddy.¡± Another crash that causes rubble to fall down from above increases the sadness in her voice.

    Her hands run through my hair and she holds my face planting a kiss on my forehead. ¡°Always remember mommy loves you. People may hate you in the future for what you are they may call you bad, or even evil. At those times remember that to me you are special and that I love you.¡± Saying this she pushes me inside and closes her eyes as she mumbles something. The earth around the tunnel starts to move by itself.

    Too late I realise the entrance is closing! I try and run toward it, but by the time I reach it all I can see is her crying face through the small opening that closes a second later, throwing the surroundings into darkness¡­

    Light spills into my room through the large windows, making me squint as I open my eyes. I lay still for a moment taking in the familiar surroundings. The walking in cupboard that you have to walk through to reach the bathroom is open and I can hear the water of my shower running. ¡°Who can it be? What the hell happened?¡± It all returns like in a flash. ¡°Must have been a dream, yeah just a dream.¡±

    Is what I think until I try to move! Pain shoots through my whole body making me squeeze my eyes shut. I calm my breathing and exhale slowly. ¡°Embrace the pain, pain is your friend it reminds you that you are alive.¡± Frederich¡¯s voice with his teachings runs through my mind and I take another slow breath.

    My arm lifts the thin blanket placed over me; I look down trying to discern the damage. ¡°Leg is in a cast, a few scratches bumps and bruises on the rest.¡± Something in my hand catches on the blanket which draws my panicked attention. The panic in my heart subsides as soon as I realise it¡¯s an IV drip. What surprises me, is that the liquid inside is a sickening yellow colour. I turn my gaze away not wanting to look at it.

    The running water stops and I hear the automatic body dryer. My eyes rests on the ceiling as I try to focus my hearing to figure out who it could be. The ceiling has arches that run to a circular flat area. My room is in the West wing near the top of the tower which explains the weird build. The flat area is painted. When I was small I used to stare at it for hours before I fell asleep. It depicts a human like figure with wings, What makes it strange is that one wing is golden and feathered like that of an angel the other look like, like¡­ ¡°The wings the woman had in my dream?!¡±

    A startle yelp comes from the walk in cupboard. I look at it. ¡°Who is there?¡± After a few seconds two shapely legs come into view. ¡°It¡¯s the girl? ¡­. In my clothes¡­. In my room?!¡± The confusion I have must show on my face because she quickly starts to explain. ¡°Sorry¡­ its been two days and Frederich has forbidden me from leaving.¡± She stomps her foot while saying this her eyebrows drawn close together. ¡°I feel like a prisoner in this place. I had no clothes nor do I know any other place in the mansion, so I uh I took a shower and borrowed some clothes¡­.sorry!¡±

    The last part of her sentence was said with flushed cheeks. My gaze drifts over her again. She is wearing one of my black t-shirts, which hangs to just under her hips. My blue training pants covers her bottom parts all the way to below her knees. She has to hold it up with her hands otherwise it will fall off.

    I want to laugh at the sight, but being in my situation I really can¡¯t make someone angry at me. She pouts. ¡°Stop staring.¡±

    I look away quickly feeling my cheeks go red. ¡°Uuh.. Sorry it¡¯s not every day I see a girl in my clothes.¡± Hearing me say it she looks down inspecting herself self-consciously. After a few seconds she shrugs and walks over. Not knowing what to say, the first thing that comes to my mind gets blurted out. ¡°Sorry about what happened, are you okay?¡±

    She sits down on the corner of the bed and starts to giggle. ¡°You with a broken rib and leg, are asking me if I am okay?¡± I nod not knowing what else to say.

    ¡°Well apart from being held prisoner, I am all good.¡± She smiles and looks around the room. ¡°Do you really not have any games or something to keep yourself busy with?¡±

    I shake my head. ¡°No, my time is all spent on training. The closest I have come to a game is when Frederich and me play dodge.¡± Her eyebrow arches at me. ¡°You see we take knives and throw each other with it while dodging.¡±

    The one lifted eyebrow turns into two. ¡°What the hell kind of game is that, what if you accidently throw someone¡¯s eye out or something. DO your parents know he is treating you like that, its abuse!¡±

    I frown at her feeling a bit wronged. ¡°It¡¯s not abuse it¡¯s fun, besides the blades are blunt at most you get a bruise for a few days if you are hit.¡± She shakes her head with a face that says. ¡°This guy is a lost cause.¡±

    I swallow which reminds me how damn thirsty I am. ¡°Have you seen a trolley with a jug of water nearby, there is always one somewhere in the room?¡± She nods and points into the corner on my right side.

    Clenching my teeth I turn to look at it. ¡°Well here goes nothing.¡± My face cringes up in pain, as I move to the side of the bed intending to get up and fetch me some.

    Her panicked voice stops me. ¡°Are you crazy?! Stay in bed.¡± She quickly walks over and pours me a glass.  ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just ask me to get some for you?¡±

    I frown in confusion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I?¡± It dawns on me. ¡°It just never occurred to me¡­ I.. I have always been by myself.¡± I stare at the glass after taking a sip. Remembering the dream or vision, whatever it was I had.

    Her angry gaze softens at my words. ¡°I guess rich people; really don¡¯t have everything like I thought.¡±

    Surprised I look up. Its no secret that only rich people go to the school. The very town was built by the school for the school in order to give the students some semblance of a normal life. ¡°You are not rich?¡±

    She shakes her head. ¡°Nope, my mom works as chef at one of the restaurants in town, its called Caprinja. Have you ever eaten there?¡±

    I shake my head. ¡°I am not allowed to go into town.¡± The answer makes her frown.

    She soon shakes it off and starts to explain. ¡°Well every year the children of the people working for the school gets a chance to get into it with a scholarship. I did not want to go, but mother forced me and look where that brought me.¡±

    I look at my hands. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Its not your fault, however that thing and what happened¡­the other guys.¡± Her eyes start to tear up, which makes me uncomfortable.

    ¡°What do I do?¡±  I remember reading somewhere that compliments make girls happy. Slapping on my best smile, stupid words escape my lips. ¡°You have real pretty eyes.¡±

    She freezes and her body starts to shake. ¡°Oh no, did I do something wro-¡°

    Its then that I realise she is laughing at me. Feeling stupid I frown. She wipes at her tears while trying to stop laughing. ¡°You are so weird you know that? Its like you have never spoken to a girl before. That coupled with your appearance¡­¡±

    I cut her off, feeling annoyed with being laughed at. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my appearance?¡± She completely stops laughing at hearing the tone of my voice.

    ¡°Yesterday, your eyes were blue with a tinge of purple, not only that your hair was black, but today¡­¡± She stops talking and walks heads towards the bathroom. After a few seconds she returns carrying a mirror and hold it up.

    I stop breathing for a second. My eyes were slightly purple before, but now they are full on violet, my hair as well¡­. It looks like it¡¯s turning silver. ¡°What the hell is going on.¡± I say aloud without intending to.

    She sits back satisfied. ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know, Frederich said when he gets back he will explain everything.¡± I barely hear her. Kids already avoided me like the plague because of my weirdness, now my appearance¡­ wait.

    ¡°Where did Frederich go?¡± She looks at me a bit worried.

    ¡°He went to go fetch my mom. Apparently she has threatened to go to the cops, the army and the FBI.¡± She blushes while saying this, but a part of me feels a bit jealous. Then I remember the woman on the phone. ¡°My father is dead, what does that mean, does it even change anything?  I never knew him. Is he really dead?¡±

    My thoughts threaten to drive me crazy and I close my eyes afraid I may start crying in front of a girl if I don¡¯t. I feel the bed move as she comes closer. ¡°Klaus, are you okay?¡±

    The question makes me feel worse, more fragile. ¡°Yeah I am fine.¡± I manage to croak out. Silence fills the room and soon I fall asleep my thoughts still in turmoil.

    I wake up because of a tugging at my hand. My eyes open to see the gorilla standing over me. Evidently he is busy removing the drip from my hand. ¡°Frederich?¡±

    His hands briefly stop before continuing with its work. ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living Master.¡± After removing the drip he walks out and brings in a cart. Out of habit my eyes search around for the ¡°healthy shake¡±.

    ¡°No shake today?¡± He shakes his head.

    ¡°The potion is no longer needed.¡±

    For a moment I feel so happy I could dance. ¡°What do you mean the potion is no longer needed?¡±

    He sighs, it¡¯s the first time in my life I have ever seen him do it. ¡°I will explain everything once the woman and the girl join us.¡±

    Grudgingly I keep all the questions I have to myself. If there is one thing about Frederich I know, it¡¯s that he is bull-headed and stubborn beyond compare.

    Its not long before we hear a knock on the door. Frederich walks over and opens it. A woman enters, dressed in plain clothing, but the brown hair and eyes makes it rather obvious who she is. The girl follows behind and I realise I never got the chance to ask for her name.

    Three chairs have already been place at the foot of the bed. Frederich gestures for them to sit down. Before taking his own seat. The chair protests against the enormous weight being placed on it, but luckily manages not to break.

    The woman speaks first. ¡°Alright, you said you would give me answers if I came and here I am.¡±

    Frederich rubs over his sleeked black hair that is never out of place. ¡°What you know about your world is very limited and many things are hidden from your kind.¡±

    The woman frowns confused before saying. ¡°My kind?¡±

    Frederich nods. ¡°I am referring to humans. You see around 356 BC my people found a way using¡­. A certain method to travel to this world. The person who did this was the mother of Klaus¡¯s great,  great, great grandfather. Because of this he was tasked with guarding this doorway and it led him to many wars. Being half human however he soon met his end, but not before having an heir with an ancient race from my world.

    The lineage continued there growing stronger until the human gene was all but gone. However because of this, something came to light. Something which I cannot speak here.¡±

    The woman is dumbfounded along with me. Then the unexpected happens, she starts to laugh. ¡°You must think I am crazy if you think for one second I am going to believe that poppycock!¡±

    Frederich smiles. ¡°If you believe me or not is not my concern, however since I have told you this much you fall under the official secrets act and cannot utter a word of what was said to anyone, I am telling you out of courtesy, not obligation so I suggest you listen very intently.¡±

    The woman aims to stand up, but the girl grabs her hand and pulls her back down. ¡°Mom let¡¯s just listen, you didn¡¯t see what I did, that creature¡­. It was not from this world.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    The woman purses her lips and sits back down. ¡°Alright say I believe you, who is this great grandfather and what is the purpose of this other world?¡±

    Frederich stabds up and points to a painting on the wall. ¡°The name of this person is commonly known as Alexander the Great.¡± He then motions towards me, his tone turning softer. ¡°Master would you please tell them your full names?¡±

    I blush a bit at the astounded and unbelieving gazes that are pointed at me. ¡°Klaus is short for Nicholas.¡± I swallow. ¡°My full names are Nicholas Megas Alexandros Mecadon.¡±

    Frederich luckily picks up from there. ¡°As you know in the old days there were no such things a surnames however you were¡­

    The woman holds up her hand her gaze never leaving me. ¡°I know Alexander was also known as Alexander of Mecadon since he was born there.¡±

    Frederich nods pleased that he does not need to explain any further. ¡°As for the purpose of the world. What is the purpose of any world to exist, the creatures on it to survive. However there is power struggles in any world, wars for land, resources and even less trivial things. Right now there is a power struggle in my world, you see one group wants to take earth expand their borders here while another wants to protect it. This power struggle is not an old one and has been going on since the discovery of this planet.¡±

    The woman snorts. ¡°If that was real we humans as you call is would not take it lying down.¡±

    Frederich smiles and bends down holding out his huge hand. In his palm a flame suddenly comes to life. ¡°That may be true, but we have magic which has also been mixed with your weapons, apart from that we have creatures, which your people have only learned of in legends. Dragons, is a good example, but finally and this is the most important part. The world of Certona is a hundred times bigger than earth, the populations are larger, and the strength of the average sentient being there is four times more powerful than the average human. If the faction that wants to take earth wins.¡± He leans closer to the woman until she is force to sit back. ¡°You humans will have no hope.¡±

    An audible silence fills the room. I don¡¯t know how to feel after hearing this. Frederich has never really lied to me, but still this is a bit¡­.

    The girl speaks. ¡°What does that have to do with Klaus?¡±

    My gaze also turns to Frederich. He stays quiet obviously thinking for a while. ¡°I cannot tell you, but he has been found and because of that we can no longer remain here. The young lady has also been seen in his presence and whoever sent the manticore will know this, so you are not safe.¡±

    Her mother takes her hand. ¡°What do we do now?¡±

    FFrederich sits back down and gestures at me. ¡°You have two choices. Come with us, we will keep you safe in return you must swear loyalty to the master.¡± The woman wants to object, but Frederich lifts his finger for silence. ¡°Or you can take your chances with your government, I have already phoned them and told them about the situation, it is up to you however I feel obliged to tell you, your chances of survival will be slim.¡±

    The woman sits back into her chair and looks at her daughter who is on the verge of crying.

    I feel the need to apologise again, but I can¡¯t find the words. All of this is new to me as well. I swallow hard knowing the answer for my next question may be painful, but I need to know. ¡°Frederich, is it true¡­ that my father is dead?¡±

    Frederich¡¯s fists clench and a vain pops out on his forehead. The air around him looks like its bending with his raw strength. ¡°It is true master, I am sorry.¡±

    After hearing it I turn onto my side. Subcontiously my mind notices that there is considerably less pain, but I don¡¯t care. ¡°I have no father, no mother, no family. The dream may have been real, but what does that change? ¡­.I am alone.¡±

    I vaguely hear the others talking. ¡°How long have we got to decide if we want to go with you or not?¡±

    Frederich sighs. ¡°You have a week I am sorry I cannot give you longer than that and until then you can¡¯t leave the manor. It has wards to protect against magic and right now is the safest place for you to be.¡±

    The chairs creak as they all stand up and leave. Inside I am screaming, hurting, hating. ¡°I will find whoever caused my father¡¯s death and make them pay and after that. I will find those who tore my mother from me.¡±

    The next morning Frederich enters my room to find me standing in front of a mirror inspecting myself. The change is huge and I feel like I am looking at a different person. When I woke up the cast was broken from my leg, I have no Idea how though.

    ¡°Everything about me is changing Frederich. I feel¡­. stronger, faster and full of energy. My mind feels like it has been blocked and last night it had finally broken through whatever was blocking it. I even heard you coming up the stairs. I can smell you from where I am standing. What is happening to me?¡±

    Frederich pushes the trolley into the room and closes the door. ¡°You are becoming the real you master.¡±

    I look at him annoyed. ¡°What the hell does that mean, stop playing games!¡± My new keen eye sight picks up the small mannerisms of his body, His nostrils are slightly flaring, and his eyes are slightly wider, pupils contracted. ¡°I can even hear his heart rate has increased? He is afraid of me.¡±

    ¡°I apologise I did not mean to upset you.¡± He bows low, something he has never done.

    ¡°You do not have to be afraid of me, just tell me what is going on.¡± I say while walking over to make him stand straight.

    ¡°It¡¯s the shake I have been givingn you, its wearing off I just did not expect it would happen so quickly.¡±

    I turn back to the mirror. My face is smoother, skin a bit more pail and slightly glowing. My black hair has almost entirely turned silver. It¡¯s only broken with streaks of purple here and there. I am taller this is obvious since I no longer need to look up when I talk to Frederich. My body looks leaner, built for speed yet I feel stronger than ever.

    ¡°What am I?¡± I ask no one in particular, but Frederich quickly answers.

    ¡°You are a culmination of everything powerful in our world. The first of your kind, but at the moment also the most fragile. People may hate you, shun you and even call you evil because of what you are.¡±

    My head snaps to Frederich. ¡°What you just said, I believe my mother said the same thing before hiding me.¡± Frederich starts to sweat.

    ¡°My Lord, you remember your mother?¡± I nod, but I don¡¯t feel like explaining.

    A knock on the door makes us both turn around. A sweet smell reaches my nose and I a smile briefly before it disappears. ¡°What will her reaction be if she sees my like this?!¡± I quickly jump into the cupboard, as Frederich opens the door.

    The girl¡¯s voice fills the room or seems to with my enhanced hearing. ¡°Where is Klaus?¡±

    A short silence, I assume it¡¯s because Frederich turned around to find me gone. Knowing there is no way out of this. I raise my voice. ¡°Uuum¡­ I am in the closet.¡± Hearing her steps come closer I start to panic! ¡°Wait, don¡¯t come closer!¡± She stops.

    ¡°What, why, are you getting dressed?¡±

    I shake my head but soon realise she can¡¯t see me. I rest my head against the door frustrated and scared I may lose the only sort of friend I have ever had. Closing my eyes I talk. ¡°I have changed and I am afraid you may think I am a monster.¡±

    Her heartbeat starts to speed up, whether it¡¯s out of fear or excitement I can¡¯t tell. Her hand touches the door and slowly pulls it open. Her heart beat increases as it does until finally¡­. She gasps as soon as she sees me.

    ¡°What the¡­. Why would I think you are a monster you are¡­ you are beautiful!¡± She realises what she has said a second later and starts to blush profusely. My heart jumps at what she said.

    I step closer. ¡°You really mean it?¡± She nods still blushing and takes a step back her heart beating even faster.

    ¡°Anyway¡­ I uh came to tell you that¡­. Whatever see you later.¡± She rushes out head held low.

    Turning to Frederich I ask. ¡°What just happened?¡±

    For some reason the gorilla is smiling. ¡°I have no idea my Lord.¡±

    After breakfast I headed to the training room following the same path I always have. The house has now completely changed! The paintings and the runes that are inscribed everywhere glow a feint blue colour. When I asked Frederich, he said I had somehow learned the ability to see mana, however the feint blue is the most basic form of it and there are some in our world who has trained for hundreds of years to see more.

    Furthermore upon touching the paintings information flowed into me, telling me all about the creature¡¯s abilities weaknesses and so on. Frederich also commented by saying it is a sort of encyclopaedia my father left me for when it was time to return. After touching a few, I started to have a headache; obviously my mind is not powerful enough to process so much information in one go.

    I quickly reach the training room after perusing the rest of the paintings to decide which ones to process next, which failed miserably. I feel like a child that has woken up for the first time knowing nothing at all.

    Thinking on this I nearly walk into her. She looks just as surprised at seeing me as I am at seeing her. ¡°I umm, felt bored and wanted to explore so I took a walk around the place.¡± I eye the bow in her hand and smile. For some reason it makes her blush.

    Ignoring it I reach for the bow. ¡°Do you know how to use it?¡± She shakes her head before replying.

    ¡°Not really, but I have always wanted to learn how.¡± I think for a second and then nod.

    ¡°Okay let¡¯s make a deal. I will teach you how to, but in return at least tell me your name?¡± She looks up and smiles a bit more relaxed.

    ¡°Sorry I didn¡¯t realise I have never introduced myself. The name is Raina.¡± She extends her hand making a business like face.

    I laugh at it and take the hand lightly. ¡°Klaus, its nice to meet you Raina.¡±

    Our hands stay together as we look at each other a bit longer then we are supposed to. She realises and suddenly breaks it. Its followed by an awkward silence, but I am the one that breaks it.

    ¡°Ah-ahem, so you have fulfilled your end of the bargain, now it¡¯s my turn.¡± I hold out the bow and she steps closer, her face set with concentration. ¡°Alright so this is a composite bow, which was a good choice from your part since a composite bow gives you more force then a normal one of the same length. Not much history is known about it accept it came from the Asiatic countries.¡±

    I give it back to her before walking to the wall on the far side and pressing a button. Four targets come into view as I walk back.  ¡°For now I am going to have you shoot the one that¡¯s ten meters away.¡± She nods looking a bit excited. I smile back remembering my first time. Then I remember how Frederich made me shoot it until my arm and fingers were bleeding.

    Shaking the memory I walk to a shelf. ¡°Give me your arm.¡± She does so obediently and I quickly slip a bracer on.

    She looks at it curiously. ¡°What that for?¡±

    I grunt. ¡°If you knew what I know, you would be thanking me right now. When you fire arrows in rapid succession people tends to forget to hold the bow correctly so when you lose the arrow the bow string chafes off a nice layer of skin, until your arm looks like a raw liver!¡± I shudder at the memories.

    She swallows and rubs over the brace looking a bit more thankful. I quickly hand her an arrow and step back. ¡°Without lifting your bow, turn until your shoulder is facing the target.¡± She does as told.

    ¡°Klaus I am feeling a bit nervous about this.¡± I walk a little closer.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, you will do fine. Now look at your target. This is your head¡¯s unstressed position, leaning forward or tilting it back will cause your shots to be inconsistent.¡± Bending down I take her leg and spread the out about shoulder length. When I stand up she is blushing again which in turn makes me feel awkward.

    ¡°Look at your target not at me.¡± Her head quickly snaps back, but she starts to laugh faintly. ¡°Now lift your bow, make sure you hold it so that when you pull it the bow is resting against the meaty part of your hand that¡¯s in line with your thumb. Don¡¯t grip so tightly, loosen up if your grip is too tight you are going to torque it.¡± Her head turns back to me with a vague expression.

    ¡°Torqueing a bow means you turn it once you let go of the bow string remember when you hold the string you actually anchor it so when you let go it moves, making your arrow miss the target.¡±

    I quickly walk around to spot and correct any mistakes. ¡°Now draw the bow.¡± I watch her struggle a bit before intervening. ¡°Okay hears a trick that makes it a little easier, however it means you have to let go faster. Lower the bow until it¡¯s in front of you then while taking a deep breath pull the string while lifting your body into the position we practiced.¡±

    She grunts as she does, which makes me want to laugh, but I keep it in. ¡°It seems like you have got it, more or less. Now for anchor points, when you have anchor points the bow will be held steadier the first is your hand which should be held against your chin, the second is the bow string should touch your nose. Aim in a way that makes you feel comfortable.¡±

    She practices to draw a few times while I watch and correct any mistakes she makes. ¡°You ready?¡±

    She nods still looking at the target. I step back holding my breath she bends down as I told her and draws it while coming upright. I hear her exhale slowly¡­. *Twang* the arrow zips through the air and hits the target just a bit off to the left.

    She looks at me surprised and smiling. ¡°So cute!¡±

    We continue to practice a while longer before her mother finds us. The woman walks in anger on her face, but the more she looks around the more baffled she becomes. ¡°Weapons, so many weapons and you bring my daughter here!¡± She walks over and grabs Raina¡¯s hand and before I know it the two have disappeared leaving me behind looking at them stupidly.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with weapons, I shot my first gun when I was nine?¡±

    The week goes by uneventfully. I spend most of my time in the training room trying to get accustomed to my new body. My mind keeps going to Raina though, since that day with the bow I haven¡¯t seen her again and I think her mother is keeping her away from me. By now I have finished all the paintings in the West wing and had started in the East.

    During the last day here I have learned many things about the other world and new most of the races and their characteristics. It still didn¡¯t feel real thought, like I am learning about some story fairy tale in a book, but each time I look at myself I am reminded its real.

    I also asked Frederich to teach me what he did with the flame, but apparently it¡¯s a trait from his race and he can¡¯t really do magic. When I asked him what race he was, he just smiled and said it would be a surprise.

    So the last day came, the day they had to choose. ¡°I feel pretty confident, since their safety should be the mother¡¯s top priority.¡± Thoughts like this one is what I use to placate myself, thinking of any  other result then them going, makes my heart sink lower then low.

    Frederich knocks while I fix my tie one last time. ¡°Someone from the Macedon family needs to look good after all.¡± My ears can hear arguing on the other side, but I shut it out wanting to give them privacy.

    The door opens and I immediately know things are bad. Raina¡¯s eyes are swollen from crying the usual smile nowhere to be seen. Frederich pretends not to see and steps inside before speaking. ¡°Have you come to a decision?¡±

    Raina¡¯s mother nods even now I can see her still looking at her mother with hope, but it¡¯s no use. ¡°We have decided to stay on Earth.¡± I look at the mother, my dislike for the woman growing.

    Frederich nods.¡±I will phone your government and have them pick you up.¡± Raina looks at her mother again this time with anger. Frederich leaves, but turns as soon as he sees I am not moving.

    Logic tells me it over, but my heart does not want to let go, my first friend, a person that accepted me and everything else. I turn to the mother. ¡°Please Mam it¡¯s for your own safety.¡±

    She looks at me with a face near disgust. Before speaking. ¡°Look at you, you may be pretty but I see the evil in you. Me and my daughter do not belong with creatures like yourselves, now leave we need to pack.¡±

    For a moment I want to rip her head off, but Frederich¡¯s hand on my shoulder lets my sanity return. ¡°As you wish, but know this if anything happens to your daughter and you survive, I will kill you.¡± Both woman stop and stare at me.

    The mother turns to the daughter. ¡°You see I told you they are monsters!¡±

    Holding my finger up for silence, which surprisingly works? I turn to Raina. ¡°Despite what you may now think of me, I consider you my friend. You may take any weapon you want in the training room, just make sure to train with it. I hope to see you again someday.¡±

    I turn around feeling my heart break at the same time. ¡°Frederich I want to leave as soon as possible I am thoroughly fed up with this place.¡±

    ¡°As you wish my lord.¡±

    I had learned many things this week, but the thing that stood out the most was that getting close to someone, can hurt like hell!

    <hr />

    Hoped you enjoyed the chappie.

    If you guys have not noticed yet whenever the MC thinks it will be in Italics.

    I split paragraphs whenever a new person starts to speak. (there was a lot of dialogue in this one. Let me know if it feels a bit dry.)

    If you like it please favorite and follow if you don''t like it please tell me why.

 TRC Chapter 3

    3

    Left in the dark.

    Watching the government car leave from my bedroom window I let out a large sigh. ¡°I hope you have a good life Raina.¡± My eyes go out of focus and my reflection comes into view. I now have sharp pointy ears, or I simply just never realised it before.

    Turning away from the window with a pang of guilt mixed with resignation I head to my cupboard. In it is a shoe box more precious to me than all my belongings. I take it out and set it on the bed. Inside are letters, letters from my father. Before I never cared for them, and only the first few are open. Since the age of around fifteen I never opened any that came.

    I open the last one that I read.

    Son, I know it has been a long time since I have seen you but I will be coming home for your fifteenth birthday. I apologise I know its been two years since we last saw each other and I hope you find a way to forgive me. My work has kept me from home. Work that is important to the safety of our world, please know that this is the only thing that could ever keep me from you.

    Frederich tells me your training is going well, don¡¯t tell him I told you that.

    My eyes go blurry with tears. ¡°Sorry father, I actually did tell him you said that.¡± I take a deep breath to calm my feelings and continue to read.

    I know you must be wondering why, why you have to go through it, why I am never home. The truth is it¡¯s to prepare you for what is to come since someday you will take over the family business, so to speak. The reason I stay away is also for your safety, I have many enemies and they can easily use you against me.

    Study well, train hard and make me proud.

    Love Your Father.

    For a second I wonder if he would have been proud, but then I push the thought aside. Folding the letter carefully I look back in the box. There are five more unopened ones. My father had been at my fifteenth birthday, but he then also told me he would be going away, for a very long time. We had a fight and since then I never opened the letters again.

    ¡°If only I knew, if only I could go back. I would not have fought him.¡± Feeling a bit ashamed I take out the other five letters, they may contain some clues as to what happened.

    I open the one dated for when I turned sixteen. Tears start to flow as I read how he apologises for our fight. My father was a proud man, apologising is something he ever did.

    After reading it I take out the next and continue to read. As I do the rage in me grows along with the shame. The dream that felt so real is also still in the back of my mind. ¡°What was happening, why did she hide me? Those bangs were definitely someone attacking, but why?¡±

    I continue to read and as I do my feelings go through twists and turns like they are on a roller-coaster. ¡°The last letter¡­.¡±

    Klaus it has been three years since we last saw each other. I know you may not believe it, but I miss you. I have been busy with dangerous work and I cannot risk going back in fear that my enemies may find you. I think there may be a traitor in my company. If something were to happen to me I hope you will remain safe.

    I have tasked more people to guard you, if something was to happen, but the chance that here is more than one traitor is very high. I know I may be putting you at risk by doing this, however my trust in Frederich overshadows the fear I have.

    You can always trust him, be safe the time is almost ready for you to return to my side. Frederich will explain everything at that time. Please give him this letter; he will know what to do.

    Placing the last words from my father back in the box I head over to the cupboard and start to pack clothes, making sure to put my favourite hoody aside. I have no idea how we will be traveling and it will help conceal most of my features.

    A knock on the door draws my attention.  Before he had knocked I already knew from the heavy steps, who it was. ¡°Come in Frederich.¡± The door opens and he pushes in a cart that has lunch on it. To my surprise it has seven different dishes.

    ¡°My Lord since this is your last day on earth I thought you would want all your favourite foods.¡± I smile at his thoughtfulness, it has never occurred to me, but the big man has his own way of showing he cares.

    With that an idea pops into my head. ¡°Frederich, do you know what my father meant by this letter.¡± I hand it over paying close attention to his face. There are almost no changes, almost¡­. my eyes catch a quick almost snarl on his face before he recovers.

    ¡°Traitors? It explains a lot as for the what I need to do, it is no longer possible.¡± I look at him questioningly, which makes him continue. ¡°Your family has a tradition, where a certain item is handed over from father to son. Once they become twenty one. Your father may have said the time is almost right, but time is different to our people than it is for the humans. ¡°We live longer, for example I am almost seven hundred years old and compared to most prominent people that is still young.¡±

    I can feel my mouth hang open, but I have no will to close it. ¡°Seven hundred years?!¡±

    He nods. ¡°It is nothing; some races are immortal, unless they pick up some kind of disease or get killed. They will live forever.¡±

    I sit down and start to eat, not knowing what to say while processing the situation. It gives him a chance to take in the surroundings. ¡°My lord there is no need to pack; where we are going; human clothes will onlt make you stand out like a sore thumb.¡±

    I frown while looking at the clothes. ¡°Can I take weapons with me?¡±

    He smiles apparently liking my question. ¡°Yes you can take weapons with you, in fact I implore you to.¡±

    After I have eaten we head to the training room. I make my way to the gun rack but Frederich stops me. ¡°Those weapons won¡¯t help for where we are going. He walks over to a big steel door and places his hand on a normal looking part of it. A green light suddenly scans his hand followed by a strange light that has the same blue colour as the runes.

    Silence¡­. Nothing happens.

    I am just about to comment on it when a loud clacking sound starts to reverberate through the walls. An instant later the huge door slides open revealing a room that practically glows with magic power. He walks in and I follow. My breath catches as I take a look around the room. There is basically the same assortment of weapons as on the outside, only here all of them have some kind of rune ore are decorated more lavishly with diamonds and other precious rare stones I don¡¯t really recognise.

    ¡°You can choose anything you wish?¡± Says Frederich from the corner in which he stands. I walk over to the first things that had caught my attention, as if calling me. Two blades in an ornate wooden case. The blades are not large or flashy. The handles are straight as well as the blades not thick or thin. They almost remind of samurai swords, but are not as curved and are double edged.

    The blue light that shines from them far outstrips the rest, which had caught my attention. Frederich who had seen me heading towards it can¡¯t help, but comment. ¡°Ah, the twin blades of Sotal. Your grandfather got those from an ancient city in the demon lands. Truly master works.¡±

    My hand rubs over their scabbards. One is bone white the other black as night. ¡°It is said that the two blades were made by the last demon craftsmen. He wanted to make a sword that gave life and took it unfortunately this proved too difficult since the two magic¡¯s imbued into one blade would cause it to explode. Failing this he decided to make two. No one knows their names but once it is discovered the power the swords have will increase beyond imagination. Without the names though, the swords are barely mid-level magic weapons.

    I pick up both to feel their weight, but as I do the jewels in the pommel of each sword lights up. Frederich walks forward to take a closer look. ¡°This has never happened before, what could this mean?¡± It occurs to me he is talking more to himself than anyone else.

    ¡°The jewels feel warm to my touch almost welcoming.¡± He looks at me and smiles bigger than I have ever seen.

    ¡°My Lord, my people have a saying. That a weapon chooses its master not the other way around, I believe this is a sign.¡±

    I nod still confused. ¡°Alright I will take these.¡± Frederich nods, satisfaction clearly on his face.

    ¡°If I did not know better I would think he was the one getting weapons.¡± I am just about to walk out when he calls to me.

    ¡°My Lord where are you going, we are not done?¡± I turn back feeling annoyed. It¡¯s time for me to go, to this new world to see these other races¡­¡­ to find out what happened and he wants to stay here and admire weapons all day.

    ¡°The pair of swords has a matching dagger, here.¡± The dagger is as long as my forearm, with a normal looking blade. But also glows with blue energy. He hands it over. I turn to leave again, but he calls me back. In his hands is a box made out of what looks like stone, but smoother. ¡°These belonged to your grandfather, he was a huge fan of what the Earthers call cowboys. Frederich snorts and mumbles something about cowboys and how it¡¯s an insult, even though I try and ignore him his deep voice still reaches me.

    The box is inlaid with purple silk that has two revolvers about the size of my forearm inside it. They lie with the gun butts in the opposite direction of each other. The guns are almost white silver and have runes all over them so intricate just looking at it makes me get a headache. To my surprise the guns have no hammers and the sizes of the barrels are larger than any other I have seen.

    I personally have no love for revolvers, they may have more stopping power then the newer handguns, but they are a bit harder to control, not to mention these are bigger!

    ¡°Frederich, how do they shoot without hammers?¡± He smiles as if I just gave him a gift.

    ¡°Its quite simple My Lord, they don¡¯t fire bullets, but magic. You see your grandfather was rather bad with magic so he had these made. What the guns do is enhance your magic before projecting it out, let me just warn you though. It does not make you invincible, the guns have their limits and if you put too much magic into them they could explode.  With that said these masterpieces of craftsmanship are perfect for dealing with large crowds of weak enemies.¡±

    ¡°Do they have names as well?¡± I ask a bit curious. Don¡¯t get me wrong the guns are beautiful but I have always been a close range type of guy and they are a bit bulky for gun-fu.

    Frederich looks at me and sighs. ¡°They do have names, but let me warn you, your grandfather was a very strange character. You can read the names on the other side of the guns.¡±

    I take them into my hands a bit surprised at the weight. ¡°Your grandfather had them put bicronium, the heaviest metal we know, into the gun butts, saying that whoever used it should feel the weight of someone¡¯s life in their hands.

    I nod with understanding. Thinking of killing someone and actually doing it are two different things. I have no idea if I will be able to do it when push comes to shove. I turn the guns to the side and my eyes widen in surprise, the names have been engraved in English. Confusion shows on my face when I read the names aloud. ¡°Reason and Master key?¡±

    ¡°Like I said my Lord your grandfather was strange. He named them thus because according to him. Everyone listens to ¡°Reason¡± and when pointed at the right person ¡°Master key¡± can open any door.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I wish I could have met the old man he sounds like an interesting person.¡± Hearing me say this, Frederich starts to grumble again. Lifting my eyebrow at him I ask. ¡°Are we done now, can we leave?¡±

    ¡°There is one more thing, please follow me.¡± Frederich quickly exits and the door closes behind us. Leading me towards another corner of the room he opens a safe in a similar way. ¡°We need clothes that will fit in with the rest of the people of Certona. I had something specially made for you. It may not be the best of quality, but it will do until we reach where we are going.¡±

    I step inside only to see a suite of armour that can only be described as a Batman suite. ¡°You must be kidding me.¡±

    Half an hour later we exit the room, to my relief the batman suite was not for me, but Frederich! ¡°I¡¯ll just pretend I don¡¯t know this guy wherever we go.¡± What I am wearing isn¡¯t much better. If anyone from Earth were to see me they would think I am busy with some kind of roll play. A material almost like leather but more supple covers most of my body. Boots made of the same material are on my feet. Here and there extra padding has been added to protect important organs and veins. It makes me look a bit bulkier then I really am, but at least I won¡¯t look too scrawny? I hope!

    Everything I  have mentioned so far is black. Gloves made of a silky material covers my hands. They are so thin it feels like I am not wearing any. The only things that are a different colour is my bracers and shin guards. They are silver with purple runes inscribed into them, which only has a very feint mana glow. Last but not least is a cape that is also silver with strange writing embroidered into the seams.

    ¡°Frederich, how did you know what colours to choose?¡± Frederich looks at me as if I am crazy before he answers.

    ¡°I had it made this week. Despite what you may think, many from our planet live on Earth, it¡¯s a long process to get permission and you have to agree to help the human government with certain things, but it¡¯s a lot safer than a world where monsters and beasts are everywhere. That¡¯s why many others will be traveling with us.¡±

    I frown at the last part of what he said. ¡°Others?¡±

    ¡°You will see my Lord.¡± Says the gorilla before chuckling at an inside joke.

    After that we don¡¯t wait long before the chop of helicopter blades can be heard.  Before walking out I pull the hood over my head in order to hide my face. Subconsciously my hands travel to the blades and guns. The blades are strapped to my back  and can¡¯t easily be drawn with the cape on however the dagger has been sheaved into my belt, that was especially built for it. All I have to do is reach to my lower back to draw it.

    The guns are in low slung holsters to ensure a fast draw. They also have runes engraved that only allows for the one wearing the holster to draw them. ¡°I will have to learn more about magic and runes, since the applications seem endless.¡±

    We quickly make our way to the helicopter. As I climb in I see a huge sticker on the side written in gold. ¡°Mecadon Industries. It¡¯s not very subtle, but it works.¡±

    The rotors soon power us into the clouds making my stomach lurch, like when you are standing in a lift. My eyes are locked on the manor. ¡°How long will it be before I return to this place, once it felt like a prison, now it feels like home? The only memories I have of my father resides there. A father that I never knew, but obviously did his best to keep me safe. If only I had read the letters sooner, If only¡­.if only.¡±

    The manor soon disappears and its followed by a multitude of lights as we travel over the small town that I never set foot in. This too fades into the darkness. ¡°I wonder what is happening to Raina?¡± She had taken the bow; I saw it missing from the rack when we went down.

    We land once to refuel somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Frederich brings me a small plate of bland food. To my surprise I discover that I don¡¯t feel tired, nor hungry even while I eat it makes no difference and I assume that I could eat forever if I wanted to. ¡°What is going on with my body?¡±

    Frederich¡¯s voice breaks my line of thought. ¡°The heli has been refuelled and we are ready to leave.¡±

    [Raina¡¯s point of view]

    The men in black had not said a word on our way to the strange facility we find ourselves in. After taking a lift that went underground for I don¡¯t know how long, we found ourselves in a concrete room with an irritating, headache inducing florescent light and a camera in the corner. In the middle of the room is a steel table with two steel chairs that make you want to stand as soon as you sit.  On the table is a jug of water and two plastic cups.

    My mother in the corner suddenly stands up and screams at the roof. ¡°Helllooooo! We have been sitting here for hours, can someone please tell us what the hell is going on!¡± She screams again and again but her only reply is the stupid flickering light.

    ¡°Mother I told you we had to go with them.¡± My mother rounds on me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you start with me missy! Those monsters barely gave us any information to go on not only that, the boy changed within a day. What if we go through the same changes?¡± I roll my eyes at her.

    ¡°As if, we are not like them. At least we had soft beds to sleep in!¡± She paces up and down, but stops when the steel door to the side opens up with a click to reveal a woman dressed in a skirt and white blouse. I look her up and down. ¡°Those shoes don¡¯t fit with the outfit.¡±

    The woman walks over carrying a file and her own shitty chair to sit on. She plonks it down and puts down the files before sitting on it daintily. ¡°Yeah, how does the cold steel feel?¡± A hand without any blemishes reaches up and briefly touches the bun on her head.

    After that, like we have suddenly materialised out of nowhere she finally greets us. ¡°Good evening, I am Miss Pons.¡±

    Me and my mother both look at each other before we look at her. Then my mother speaks. ¡°Thank you for gracing us with your presence Miss Pons, if that is even your real name.¡±

    Miss Pons smiles, but it does not reach her eyes. ¡°Please take a seat it will be a lot more comfortable.¡±

    ¡°As If.¡± Is the reply in my head, but I plant myself anyway in the hope that it may speed things up. I cross my arms and my mother soon joins me, both of us staring at the woman venomously.

    She smiles her fake smile again and then starts to talk. ¡°So you two have come into contact with a Fye.¡±

    I can¡¯t stop myself before the words get blurted out. ¡°What is a Fye?¡±

    She clears her throat. ¡°That¡¯s what we call the creatures from the other world. You must have been very surprised, please be assured it won¡¯t happen again in your lifetimes, unless¡­..¡±

    Hearing that upsets me a little¡­. I want to see Klaus again. She smiles again and pours a glass of water for herself. ¡°I am going to cut right to the chase, you are not to speak of this to anyone, if you do you will get arrested for treason against the country. Alternatively, since your daughter is so young, we can include her into a program that is still young, but quickly growing.¡±

    My mother slams her hand on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t care about any programs; just let us go on with our lives.¡±

    Another fake smile. ¡°I am afraid that won¡¯t be possible, you see you came into contact with a Fye family that is powerful enough to wipe out a country by them-selves. To ensure the happiness of said family we need to keep you safe at all times.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if Klaus said anything like he did with mother. Or was it perhaps Frederich, he seemed a bit cold towards us though.¡±

    I look at my mother and swallow, she may hate me for what I am about to do. ¡°Miss Pons, tell me more about this program you mentioned.¡±

    ¡°Well, this program is to train humans to fight the Fye. However it¡¯s all thanks to the Mecadon family that it¡¯s possible. You see, the humans get augmented with enchanted armour provided by the Mecadon family since we do not have the ability or recourses to do it ourselves.¡±

    There are many Fye living as normal humans on Earth, the Mecadon family suggested this trade in order to allow them to. Please don¡¯t look so worried it is very controlled, I assure you. The terms of our agreement is top secret and most of it I don¡¯t even know, however I do know this. If we use the weapons on other humans, we will be annihilated.¡± Another fake smile as if that¡¯s not a problem.

    My mother who has remained quiet through all this decides to pipe up. ¡°My daughter won¡¯t become some kind of ghost buster, you can forget it!¡±

    The woman ignores her and looks directly at me. ¡°Your file says you are eighteen, the choice is not hers but yours. In returns your country will look after her in a more¡­.. human friendly facility.¡±

    I swallow hard. ¡°So what you are saying is, if I don¡¯t join this project we will basically live in a prison for the rest of our lives?¡±

    She smiles. ¡°Not at all, but I strongly urge you to make the right choice.¡±

    I have seen way too many movies not to know that was threat. I look at my mother who seems about to burst into tears. Feeling defeated I nod my head. ¡°Fine I will join your program.¡±

    ¡°Excellent, please follow me.¡± My mother looks at me as we both get up.

    ¡°You were right, I am so sorry.¡± I shrug, In my life I have moved more than thirty times after my father died of cancer my mother had to, to get better jobs to look after us. Adjusting and fitting in, is my specialty. I tell myself this to make me feel better, but it¡¯s no use I know I am in deep trouble and there is no way to get out except this way. Looking at my mother and seeing her face, I decide to lie to her for the first time in my life.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay mother, everything is going to be okay.¡±

    [Klaus¡¯s point of view]

    After refuelling the helicopter had travelled mostly over the sea. It was near daybreak and the sun was just starting to peak over the waves in the distance, when it came into view. A huge ship bigger than anything I have ever seen, not that it means much since this was the first time seeing a ship that wasn¡¯t in a book. It looks almost like a carrier class only bigger. Even as we made our way there, I could see other planes, ships and boats arriving and leaving intermittently.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Then I realised what it actually is. ¡°A mobile airport only much, much bigger!¡± We soon landed and that¡¯s where I find myself now. Standing on the deck with the thick scent of the sea accosting my sense of smell.

    We landed astern next to a big glass dome like building. I am about to ask where to now when the platform we landed on starts to sink slowly but surely. A small control tower is on the bow probably directing all the air traffic around. On it are flags from counties I know and don¡¯t know. ¡°It resembles the united nations.¡± I say aloud.

    Our pilot comes to stand next to me. ¡°That¡¯s correct sir. This here boat is a proud product of all the countries worken together.¡± I look at him and get rewarded with a crooked smile.

    ¡°What do I say? Am I supposed to say anything?¡± While pondering what the hell to do now, he makes the decision for me.

    ¡°Not much of a talker are ye. My pappy always used to say, a quiet man is a smart one. Or he just be planning nefarious things.¡± He starts to laugh.

    ¡°I am not planning anything nefarious.¡± I say while looking at the guy. He is wearing what looks like an old leather jacket and a cap. Almost grey eyes sparkling with a lust for life looks back at me.

    ¡°Well I guess that makes you a smart one. Just remember Sir. Keeping things bottled up, never was a good thing in any situation¡­. Especially with farts.¡± I nearly fall over as he says it, but keep my cool.

    It seems like he thinks he did not get a reaction yet, so he continues. ¡°Ye see when a man keeps his gas in it all goes to his head, this causes major problems.¡±

    I chuckle while thinking. ¡°This guy can¡¯t be serious, can he?¡± ¡°And what sort of problems does it cause?¡±

    As if he was waiting for me to say that he smiles and nods. ¡°Well, it gives you shitty ideas of course.¡±

    After that he walks off to go discuss some things with Frederich. ¡°What a strange guy, but he sort of made me feel comfortable talking to him. Was that the purpose of the absurd conversation?¡±

    I make a mental note to remember him and the way he handled my awkwardness. The platform finally moves past the deck and an amazing site comes into view. Hundreds of people are walking everywhere most are passengers, but others are men tending to the different aircraft in what seems to be a huge hanger we are sinking into. I look up to see another platform has replaced the one we are on.

    The pilot comes back. ¡°She¡¯s a beaut, aint she?¡± I nod feeling a bit overwhelmed.

    Scraping some courage together I manage to say something. ¡°So many people, where are they all going?¡±

    He looks at me. ¡°The same place you¡¯re go¡¯en, Certona of course.¡±

    Unbelieving I look between him and the people. ¡°So all these people are-¡°

    ¡°Yep that¡¯s right, all of them are Fye like you. Oh yeah you may not know this, but we humans calls ye Fye. On the count of you being like fairy-tale creatures an all.¡±

    The platform finally stops and he doesn¡¯t hesitate to take off with a duffel bag over his shoulder. ¡°Well Sir I¡¯ll be see¡¯en you around, don¡¯t be too quiet around the ladies now.¡±

    Once more his candid and unworried behaviour baffles me. I smile. ¡°I rather liked the guy.¡±

    Frederich joins me and we move from the platform, as soon as we do. Soldiers fall in line on either side. The equipment they have on all glows with magic. My gaze travels to Frederich questioningly.

    ¡°They are humans with magic armour which makes them a bit stronger. Since the humans insisted on making their own security force to ¡°help¡± If any of our people stepped out of line, we provided them the means, but in return they had to grant access to qualified people from our world to theirs. This world is like a paradise compared to some of the places on ours, so many want to come here to live in peace. Only a select few are allowed to though. Half humans are also allowed into our world, but they are mostly looked down on. The only race that really hates earth, are the Eldenari. Humans call them wood elves, I call them tree huggers.¡±

    ¡°Why do they hate Earth?¡± Frederich snorts, he seems to have become more animated, now that we are outside of the manor.

    ¡°The Eldenari are a race so closely attuned to nature they can speak to it. Most humans have no regard for plant life which upsets them greatly. If it wasn¡¯t for their peace loving ways they would have joined the Zogodan group long ago. Before you ask the Zogodan group are the ones that want Earth.¡±

    The human leading our small group suddenly shouts out. ¡°Halt! Do not come any closer.¡± I lean to the side to try and see what is going on. A female voice travels to my ears.

    ¡°Who is it that gets so much VIP attention and gets to pass every line while we have to stand here and wait for hours?¡± The human steps forward.

    ¡°That is none of your business mam. Please fall in line like the others and follow procedure.¡±

    ¡°Procedure my tush, this is unfair.¡± Somewhere in the crowd I hear another voice shouting. ¡°Yeah get it line!¡± The voices grow, until Frederich lets out a deafening growl, that makes my ears ring.

    The humans that had surrounded us turn to us in fright nearly raising their weapons. ¡°Shut, up you ungrateful dogs!¡± The people around me suddenly double in number making the human escort move even further back in fear. ¡°All of them more or less have the same build as Frederich?¡±

    A soft hand touches my arm. A hooded figure leans close to me. ¡°Quickly, follow me.¡± Frederich gives me the nod and I run with the figure. The ranks of the others that were around me suddenly close making it look like they are guarding someone inside the circle. As we run I continue to hear Frederich¡¯s voice.

    ¡°You people dare block the path of the one that made this all possible for you!¡± people start to mutter everywhere.

    ¡°No wonder, its someone from the Mecadon family?¡±

    Another. ¡°Bull, I heard the last Mecadon heir died a week ago! ¡°

    The words cut into me like knives. What was an exciting experience had suddenly turned deadly serious.

    The figure guides me through the crowds with practiced ease. We soon reach a small door to the side guarded by two more hooded figures. As soon as we enter and close the think door the roars of the people and¡­.. Things outside disappears.

    The room we are in is not big, about four squire meters. I finally get a good look at the figure in the black hood. Whatever it is, is a bit shorter than me. It turns and presses a button. A lurch in my stomach lets me know we are in a lift. To my surprise, tacky music starts to play.

    It causes me to get a fright and my hands drop to the revolvers on instinct. It turns around and gives me a look. A female laugh joins the music.

    ¡°Well at least you are not completely helpless.¡± The figure removes the hood and the first thing to catch my eyes, are her ears. They are pointy and long. Reaching almost behind her head. ¡°It¡¯s rude to stare you know.¡±

    I catch myself and quickly look away. ¡°In case you were wondering, I am Fye. My race, well that¡¯s a bit complicated. The name is Aerilaya, but you can just call me Laya for short.¡± Not knowing what to do, I stick my hand out?

    ¡°Kl¡­ Klaus, nice to meet you.¡± She looks at my hand with a face that says: ¡°What am I supposed to do with that?¡±

    Feeling the situation getting worse with her staring at my hand and me just standing there. I quickly tuck it back in under my robe. Her unnaturally green eyes float back to my face that¡¯s half obscured by the robe.

    I take a quick peak at the rest of her face. She has full lips and a small snub nose which lends her a haughty air. Her face and eyes are a bit bigger and angular then that of humans. While inspecting her, she was doing the same to me. ¡°You know it¡¯s rude to hide your face in a lady¡¯s company?¡±

    ¡°Uuum, sorry I was told to keep it hidden for my safety.¡± She looks at me unbelieving.

    ¡°No matter, hide if you want. Can¡¯t believe mother made me come out for some VIP from the Victoriana race.¡± The more this girl speaks the more I get confused.

    Finally building up enough courage I get a few words out. ¡°What¡¯s the Victoriana race?¡± Her face says it all and her next words reflect her face¡¯s expression exactly.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know anything do you?¡± Looking like she enjoys talking down to people while educating them, she starts to explain. ¡°Well the Victoriana race is a race of beast-men, that have the traits of lions¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Is she waiting for me to say something?¡± She sighs and places her hand on her forehead.

    ¡°You don¡¯t say much do you?¡± She enjoys talking and keeps going on about things I don¡¯t care about. Like how her sister got in trouble, for overloading the load crystal in the palace and all the light crystals blew up and that¡¯s why she was sent.

    The lift finally stops and I nearly run out in order to escape the enclosed space with this strange girl that can¡¯t stop talking! ¡°Anyhow this is the room that belongs to the Mecadon family, I have no idea why they would let a commoner live in the great lords place. If he wasn¡¯t dead this woul-¡°

    I have had enough from this imbecile at this point. Throwing away any inhibitions, I turn to her. My voice turning cold. ¡°Hey you¡­.shut¡­UP!¡± her mouth freezes mid-sentence¡­.for not even a milli-second.

    ¡°What did you just say, commoner!¡± She asks and I walk closer.

    ¡°I said shut up, are you deaf even though you have those big ears?¡±  Her brows furrow together as she stares at me.

    ¡°Those will be your last words, my mother will hear about this!¡± After saying that she storms out and slams a door behind her.

    ¡°Blessed silence!¡± I say and spread out my arms. Then I hear.

    ¡°I heard that, you commoner filth!¡± From the other side of the door.

    ¡°What, haven¡¯t you left yet, are you eavesdropping, you¡­ you weirdo!¡± I look down and at my hands, thinking what a stupid comeback that was. ¡°I really should work on my insults.¡±

    Luckily there is no reply and I focus my hearing. ¡°No heartbeat she is finally gone!¡±

    I spread out my arms again, wanting to say my previous words again, but the door opens. I let them droop down and I start thinking of shooting her. ¡°Yes, maybe that will shut her up, I won¡¯t aim for any vitals, just a leg or-¡°

    Frederich¡¯s voice startles me out of my world. ¡°My Lord, I saw Aerilaya just now, she seemed upset. Did something happen?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she talked me half to death!¡± His brows furrow into his displeased face.

    While he ponders what I just said, I take a look around the room. A huge window grants a view of the sea, which even now has a few boats in it. Where I am standing is a huge table of glass with strange lights floating in the middle of them. Ten long backed chairs surround it. In the corner near the window is a large bookshelf with three different chairs and fluffy beige rug that breaks the red-gold colour of the wooden floor that covers the rest of the room. Two doors are on the left and another two on the right, one of which is where I came from. Aerilaya exited through the other

    Frederich finally speaks. ¡°My Lord Aerilaya is part of the hierarchy of the high elves; it would not be a good Idea to get on her bad side.¡±

    I look at him annoyed. ¡°She got on my bad side, not I on hers. She spoke of my father¡¯s death as if it¡¯s a trivial thing and even called me a commoner.¡± The last part I threw in there to get an ally. I am used to being called worse things.

    Looking at Frederich¡¯s face I realise it didn¡¯t work. ¡°My lord it¡¯s not that simple. We are in a precarious position right now. It would not do to make unwanted enemies.¡±

    I sigh and rub my forehead suddenly feeling mentally spent. ¡°Fine, I will apologise if she apologises.¡± Not waiting for a reply and considering the matter over and done with I turn back to the large window. ¡°Is there a place where I can bathe?¡±

    Frederich points to one of the doors to my left not saying anything, but looking worried. I make my way towards it. Opening the door I find a hallway. Luckily there are sign boards with arrows that take me directly to the bathroom. It is not very big compared to my old one, but it¡¯s just the right size for me.

    To my surprise I find strange looking robes on a small rack when I get out. Next to it is a small washing machine like thing. I pick it up and start to dress. After a while of cursing it still does not look right on me. ¡°Am I wearing it wrong, I don¡¯t even know what I am doing here?¡± Feeling dejected and depressed I lean against the basin and just stare at the wall.

    Time seems to have flown by, because by time I regain my wits its dark and I realise I have been crying. A knock on the door had pulled me back and I quickly wash my face while giving permission to enter. Frederich comes in dressed in his own fancy robes. He looks over me and shakes his head. ¡°You are wearing it wrong My Lord.¡±

    I don¡¯t have the will to reply with a snide remark so I just stand looking at him for a second. ¡°Show me how?¡± He steps forward and starts to explain. Luckily my new body learns fast and he only needs to show me once. The robe is made of a light white material and has a golden sash that goes around the middle like a belt. The sash gets twisted in a specific way which then gets thrown over the right shoulder.

    I turn to look at myself. ¡°It¡¯s like I am wearing a dress, I don¡¯t like it.¡± Frederich¡¯s eyes gaze around the room awkwardly.

    ¡°My lord it¡¯s the way nobles dress from our world. The sash represents your station. If I were to speak in human terms at the moment you are the same as an arch duke. Once they have determined that you are in fact your father¡¯s son, you will be on the same level as a King.¡±

    His words are like blows. It causes anger in me to grow. I can feel changes are happening to me as I look at Frederich. His panicked expression also gives me a hint it¡¯s not a good thing. ¡°Who cares, I get dragged into this shitty boat, lugged around blindly without time to mourn my father. I get told nothing, yet I just have to accept and follow and now THEY have to determine if I am in fact his son or not!¡±

    The floor cracks under me as well as the basin causing water to sprout out of the pipes, but they don¡¯t run down and simply start to float around me like little stars flickering with a purple light. ¡°Frederich, I have listened to everything you have had to say and followed everything blindly. This all I can accept, but I will not accept this any longer! You had better tell me what is going on, right now!¡±

    Without me knowing it I had spoken in a completely different language. One which had sent Frederich to his knees with but only a few words. ¡°My Lord I apologise, I only wanted to give you more time to get accustomed to the new circumstances-¡°

    ¡°Frederich, my father is dead, this I understand. Things are going to change and I need to know what I need to do in order to fit into this. You call me Lord yet treat me as a boy! I understand it is out of caring for me, but that time has long past¡­.¡± The force around me starts to fade and the water suddenly falls to the ground. I suddenly feel very tired, but refuse to sit down or show weakness.

    ¡°I need to know, what needs to be done. I may be weak in your eyes, but I am not the one that asked to be sheltered or hidden away. My father is dead! Dead! Don¡¯t you get it! He is dead and I am alone, now its time for me to learn or die. You and my father have given me no other choice but this. So tell me. What is going on and what needs to be done.¡±

    Frederich looks to be at a loss for words at first, but soon gathers himself and stands up and bows. ¡°I am sorry My Lord. Your words although harsh are true, to think you have grown to-¡°

    ¡°I have not grown, simply changed and I have a feeling I have to change even more to survive and I will. I have to, there is no other choice.¡±

    Frederich nods. ¡°I will tell you all I know.¡±

    Frederich motions for me to leave with him and as soon as we do he calls for a repair team by using a phone set against the wall. By the time we reach the first room we had entered three people are waiting, I can hear worry in their voices as they talk to each other.. Frederich motions for me to wait and then enters.

    Frederich is about to speak, but a familiar female voice interrupts him. Her tone is filled with scorn that belittles Frederich with every syllable. I clench my hands in frustration, but barging in when I don¡¯t understand the situation will only make the words I had spoken earlier void.

    ¡°Victoriana, what just happened what was the cause of that magic flux? Speak now or I will leave this place immediately.¡±

    Frederich holds his hands up is surrender. ¡°I apologise my lord and ladies. It was just my master feeling out his new powers.¡±

    All three of the people utter the same words at the same time. ¡°Your Master?¡±

    It¡¯s no secret that the Victotiana had served the Mecadon family since before the door to Earth had opened, so for one to call someone master is a big deal and drew everyone¡¯s attention. Frederich does not answer directly and instead drags it out a little. ¡°My lord and ladies, May I introduce Nicholas Megas Alexandros Mecadon, the son and heir to the Mecadon empire.¡±

    Before anyone can say anything, I step out and enter the room drawing the attention of everyone present. The girl I had heard earlier was none other than Laya. Her face is now flushed with red cheeks and an unbelieving gaze. She quickly recovers and turns into her haughty self. She looks away and self-consciously tucks a strand of green hair behind one of her long ears.

    The other two look older and more experienced. The woman did not show any reaction except to smile knowingly. The man looks upset his eyes drawn into slits as he stares at me through half-moon spectacles that are right on the tip of his nose. They both look human, but a feint blue glow around hem tells me that they are not.

    The man turns to Frederich ignoring me completely. ¡°So the rumors are true, Lord Mecadon had an hidden child somewhere, however this appearance is a bit¡­.¡±

    The woman interrupts and walks towards me extending her hand to cup my cheek and inspect me better.

    ¡°Despite how he looks, he has his father¡¯s air about him.¡± Frederich clears his throat causing all three to regain them-selves.

    The woman is the first to speak. ¡°I apologize, forgetting my manners so easily.¡± She bows making me uncomfortable. ¡°I am Lady Madeline an Arch mage with the council of mages.¡±

    The man joins her in bowing. ¡°Head Master Aricard from the academy of Ifn Ennore.¡± Laya does not bow, but gives her name and station again with an unsure air about her.

    I guess it¡¯s my turn now and I also bow like they had causing the woman and man to mutter to each other. Ignoring it I swallow my fear of talking to strange people, my palms feel sweaty as I introduce myself. ¡°Klaus Mecadon, pleased to make your acquaintance.¡±

    Frederich nods to himself as if approving something. ¡°By now it should dawn on all of you, why have asked you here?¡± They all nod their eyes not leaving me. Their gazes especially drift over my hair and settle on my eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s be seated then. Dinner will be served in but a moment.¡±

    We all take our seats. Frederich saves me by pulling out the chair at the head of the table and motioning me to sit. I take it and the others take their seats. ¡°Is this some kind of etiquette thing that I am not aware of?¡±

    Everyone still looks at me, which makes me want to crawl under the table and die, but I keep up the strong front and look at their foreheads instead. I read in a book that it helps with these kinds of situations and gives the illusion that you are looking back at the person and making eye contact.

    The man with the spectacles speaks first. ¡°I assume that you would like the Lord to join my academy, however I will need to know how far his magic ability has been developed. Judging by the glow around him, it has reached master level?¡± Frederich and me shake our heads at the same time.

    ¡°He has had no magical training whatsoever.¡± The other three nearly fall from their chairs!

    The woman nearly shouts as she speaks. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious just look at him. He is brimming with magical energy! How can it be?¡± I decide to stay quiet seeing as I don¡¯t know jack about anything being said. Once again I feel a bit of anger towards Frederich for leading me into this situation blindly.

    Aricard speaks up after that. ¡°That is indeed true, however looking at his appearance I believe this may be a clue. We will start with basic magical training, but in order to admit him we need a race. I have never seen anything like him and would like to know.¡±

    Frederich sighs deeply and gives the woman a meaningful look. She nods and spread out her hands. Light flares on the tips of her fingers briefly and the air around me seems to double in pressure and makes my ears ring with pain. Intending to complain I nearly stand up, but a second later the pain stops and I can hear normally again.

    To make sure I play with my jaw a little. The woman looks at me curiously, but says nothing. Untill the Head Master looks at her. ¡°I apologize for using magic without you expecting it, but I sealed of the room from unwanted ears that could be listening.¡±

    Frederich nods his thanks. ¡°My Lord is a Mixture between Angevon and¡­. Dragonus.¡±

    ¡°WHAAAAAAAT?!!!!¡± Shouts everyone at the same time making me start.

    ¡°Is this a bad thing? I feel so left in the dark, who am I really?¡±

    <hr />

    Okay guys here is chapter three if you see any plot holes or anything please let me know.

    As I mentioned before I am used to third POV so if you pick up any mistakes please let me know

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    Hope you enjoyed the chappie.