chapter 6: Alkethra academy
His back met the thick bark of the tree. The fire soldier dashed forward, sword gleaming, Quinn's breath hitched. Just then, Sil reached, his dagger sliced at Quinn. Quinn turned instinctively, his lips widened. "Finally, I thought you wouldn't act." Quinn laughed. He swiped his sword at The fire soldier, the shadow leapt off the ground warping Sil. Quinn faced the soldier squarely. His sword slammed into the Soldier's flames sword. Sparks skidded off. The soldier turned, swiping the sword at Quinn's head, Quinn dodged slashing his sword upwards. Sparks spurted out of the soldier's chest. Before he could attack, Quinn turned slamming his neck with the sword.
The sword swiped at the Soldier's head, it swung to the floor, the soldier bursting into flames. Quinn's eyes slowly turned at the restrained Sil. The shadows couldn't restrain him for too long. Quinn smirked, the wound healed slowly. His eyes adjusted to see Sil's horrid expression.
"You were too calm in the bird scenario. And the little envy in your eyes said it all." Quinn smiled. He swung his sword lazily. His eyes fluttered with tiredness.
"It was all about timing. Back at the temple, you were not even attacking with your strength." Quinn yawned. Sil's grimace spread. He sneered, pocketing his daggers. "I don't need this against you. My powers are more than enough." Sil smirked. Quinn sucked his lips. His eyes glistened. "So what would you do with wind talent?" Quinn asked rhetorically.
Sil extended his arms, The earth trembled and from the sky, lightning flashed at them. Quinn arched his head, the sky bellowed. As soon as the lightning struck, Quinn dodged, the lightning struck, exploding beneath him, two more flashed after the first. Sil seethed plucking his daggers from his side. Quinn slashed at the first dagger lurched at him. Sil heard the dagger meet metal. A groan escaped his lips. He pushed his hands, wind strikes pulsated into the fog. He heard a muffled groan. A smirk tore his lips once more, and he dashed forward.
"You are not a match for my two talents!" Sil mocked. As soon as his head entered the fog. Blood sprayed the grass. Twigs crunched beneath his feet. He staggered backwards. His chest tore open. Black silhouettes twirled upwards, vacuuming the fog. Sil saw it now. None of his attacks had even caused Quinn to flinch. "You were doomed from the start." Quinn laughed. He sensed the mana drain from Sil's body. His daggers lodged firmly on a tree's bark. "You are stupid to think Mana reserves at this beginner level was infinite." Quinn mocked. Even he knew it wasn't. He moved slowly to Sil. His eyes narrowed.
"I knew how incompetent you were right when I saw you!" Quinn mouthed.
"You fool!" Sil seethed. "Don't think the shadows will rescue you." Sil laughed taking a stance.
"Oh that would be just a waste of mana" Quinn yawned. He swung the sword slowly. Sil took one last step backwards. Quinn lowers, his feets rose. Sil smirked his two arms slammed forward. Quinn smiled. Barrage of Wind strikes slammed forward, Sil took a run for it, sweat trickled down Sil's face. Quinn dodged narrowly, he took a step, as soon as he did The silence was pierced by a robotic voice.
[Trials complete]
[All survivors will now begin transportation]
Quinn gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowed. He clenched his right hand tighter. His eyes fixed on Sil. Sil stopped and turned to him. "We'll meet again! By then, you won't even survive" Sil mocked, his body began to emit white particles. Blinding light dimmed Quinn's vision. He squeezed his sword tighter. And instinctively as Sil faded slowly, Quinn's sword tire through space. Before Sil could move, His heart was already slammed out of his chest. Blood bursted out of the hole. He stared shocked, pain evaded him. This wasn't pain, it was death. One final robotic voice chimed.
[Candidate 496 Eliminated]
[Evolution beginning]
Quinn's vision blurred as he fell on his knees, He felt a numbness spread through his body, like his very soul was shattering. As he looked up, Sil's body began to transform, his eyes burning with fierce intensity. The sound of crackling bones and twisted flesh filled the air, making Quinn's stomach churn.
[Trial complete]
[Name: Quinn Stormblessed]
[Talent: shadow control]
[Attribute: 3]
[Echo: ----] [memory: 1]
[Grade: cursed]
A robotic voice added;
[First trial complete]
[transportation commencing]
Quinn felt his body slowly drain of blood. His vision blurred out, the scent of fresh paint lingered in his nostrils. He opened his eyes. He stood on a metallic platform, a man rushed to him, warding him to the side.
"Are you okay?" The man asked.
Quinn's eyes fluttered open. He inhaled. The air smelled of polish and life.
Quinn snapped his head at the man. "No." He shrugged swiping his hands off. He headed to a secluded spot and stood all alone. He watched the others laugh and hug their friends. His lips stretched to a scowl. He snapped his head back to the ground watching slowly as the teleporter vomited more marked ones.
The last marked ones returned, a slender boy with a black wavy hair and a girl looking dejected. "Eve!" Quinn thought. "So he passed the trials too."
His eyes wandered to the girl. He didn't hear any robotic voice saying she was eliminated. Finally she walked though. The last twin. Her body was covered in all manner of wounds. He smirked. She had her own fair share of pains too.
Quinn jerked his head side ways. His mind wandered back to the cell. He narrowed his eyes, they would be here any second now to take him in. He inhaled slowly glancing at his scars strewn palms. That was more than enough suffering.
"Mister Stormblessed?" The voice called. Quinn jerked his head up with clenched teeth. This was it, his moment of reckoning. He glanced up, his expression cold as he watched the surly man before him.
"Your ID card." The man handed.
Quinn jerked forward at the man, his fingers brushed the plastic. He waited for the man to turn and snatch it back. To laugh and say murderers were not allowed here. But the man just shrugged and left. His shadow slowly left Quinn's eyes.
Quinn slowly gazed at the card before him. Ash-grey eyes bore into his. The name remained planted before him.
"Quinn Stormblessed" His lips shivered. Not once had he thought he'd loved the sound of his name. He pocketed the ID card. His finger gliced over a metallic object. He pulled the circular object, the coin shimmered in the limelight. He tapped his chin thoughtfully at the coin. "I'll unlock your secrets later" He yawned. His mind raced over various notifications he received in the console. His mind wandered over various terms that were strange. He smiled, he would have to figure out on his own. Yet, as soon as he thought, A screen appeared before him.
[Name: Quinn Stormblessed]
[Talent: shadow control]
[Attribute: 3]
[Echo: ----] [memory: 1]
[Grade: cursed]
Quinn frowned, the interfaces supposed to remain in the console. He looked around, wondering if another student was experiencing what he was. But none was. He focused on it, his lips arched as he saw the talent. "Shadow control." He smirked. It wasn't a strange term. He knew that the shadows helped him in the console realm. His lips thinned. Sweat drenched his forehead just thinking. Back there, his shadows only worked instinctively to protect him. He didn't actually wield it, they were reflex actions.
His minds lifted to attributes.
[Attributes]
[divine added characteristics that can be a blessing or curse]
[Child of shadows]
[The shadows recognise you as one of theirs and are willing to protect you]
[cursed blood]
[your bloodline is cursed and spun you on the path of destruction]
[Bane]
[Your very existence create chaos, as long as you live THEY die]
Quinn stared at the highlighted word. "Who are THEY?" he tapped his chin. He wiped down the sweat from his forehead and focused his attention on the approaching man.
"Welcome all of you to Alkethra academy." The man started. "You have been handed your ID card. Some of you are new here. Some of you are used to our traditions. Here you are graded accordingly." Quinn snapped his eyes, searching for Eve and the others. "You are now first years currently called basics. Soon you will evolve to intermediate, advanced, superior and so on. You will lead the human race into the next level." His tone was blissful,the students chattered happily. Quinn grimaced, lead the next future? When deception is inevitable. His mind flashed back to the boy's face, Salem Novrochono why did you die?
"You will be trained for your next trial in the console. Remember, your survival depends on you." The man finally flashed a brilliant smile. The hall erupted Into thunderous clapping
As the friend making began, Quinn yawned. He turned to leave, when a voice so tender called out. "Hey!" Quinn turned, the slender silent boy glanced charmingly at him. Quinn's face froze. His eyes narrowed. "We were looking for you" one of the twin smiled. The slender silent boy was quiet, he only gave reluctant glances when necessary. Quinn noted, not that he'd ever need them. He turned to leave. The twin that spoke first called again. "We were wondering if you wanted to..."
"No!" He interjected firmly. He turned, his steel eyes masked from them. "Just...Leave me alone, Okay?" His voice barely audible from the pounding in his chest. With that his steps
walked slowly, fading from their sight. His heart recoiled within.
"If I am to rise, I must do it alone."