Chapter 2: Battle

Running through the halls we bump into nobody, meaning that class is about to start.

"THREE!!! TWO!!! ONE!!!" The class starts counting down as I'm frequently late.

"You can't be late on your first day!" I grind out as I'm throwing May into the classroom.

Stopping just inside the doorway I slump over, hands on my knees. I look up to a variety of expressions while teacher Rian marks on the board my fourth time not late in a row. Some expressions were congratulatory and others smuck. Most expressions were pointed not at me but at May and this other guy laying in a pile.

"Please take your seats.." Rian assumes his spot at the podium "We've got.. two new students as of today."

"Chrome Maetrixs is the name, and if you want any more information you're gonna have to beat me in a duel for it." The new guy states standing up, dusting himself off. I help May up and apologize for throwing her so suddenly.

"You can sit up there Chrome." Rian points to the top left seat.

"Looks like it's my turn then.." May says poking her cheek. "May Bloom, came from a small town in the middle of nowhere, and I always shoot for the stars!"

Glancing at me Rian says, "You can sit to the right of Arlinn, since you tow somehow know eachother."

We head to our seats as Rian pulls out his lecture and some chalk.

"Now, there are three intelligent races of this world." Rian begins drawing on the chalkboard. "Humans, Hybrids, and Deamos... Humans, being the weakest sought after the help of our God, many of us try to give our deity a name and appearance, but all we know about it is that it sends a "chosen one" once every hundred years. Each hero holds a marking or tattoo of sorts, differing in design for each hero but each has a mark from around their birth." Hearing this I cover my hand hoping no one has seen it up until now. "Any questions? No? The Hybrids are simply Human but with a few added perks. For example, the Cat Hybrid has ears wiskers and a tail generally, they also have great balance and excellent reflexes, but cut off one of their wiskers and they are helplessly vulnerable. Questions?"

"Sir?" The boy in front of me raised his hand so abruptly I had to dodge a blow to the face.

"Yes, Almin?" Rian concedes.

"If a Cat Hybrid gets their wiskers cut, will they eventually grow back?"

"Ah, yes. Although they do grow back, the Cat Hybrid race has found a more permanent way as punishment, exile for example. Now the Deamos race is the disgrace to all intelligent life, using their seductive or otherwise charming powers to destroy even the purest of families." Rian, glaring at his toes, slams his fist against the Deamos drawing he drew. "They generally have more horrific features: tusks, horns, longer canines than humanly possible; but most have the ability to disguise themselves as human beings or that of a Hybrid race. Once under one's charm your will is henceforth no longer yours, it generally takes an extreme amount of willpower to fight their charm off and they can simply reapply the charm as well. Deamos generally get more powerful by seducing one to invite them to bed only to be found the next day consumed or drained of a lifeforce." Everything went silent and before I noticed Rian was crying the bell clanged. "Now hurry up and get to Combat Training!"

"Soooo, do you want to show me where the girl's changing room is?" May says leaning into me. I blush.

"Let me get my stuf real quick." I quickly grab my gear and lead May through the halls to the other side of the school where the girl's changing room was.

"W-wait here.." May said slightly embarrassed. "and NO peeking!" she shouts with a bit of emergency in her tone.

"Okay-Okay.." I yeild with arms raised in surrender. Feeling astonished by how much emotion she put into that last sentence, and slightly disappointed that she didn't trust me yet, I put my half-mask, and gauntlet on.

It didn't take her long to come out in tight black shorts and tank top, with a leather half-plate and bracer all to her left: she must be right-handed. Her shortsword was at her left as well, knife was in the back. She was blushing a little.

"Let's go." She wispers before she darts past me.

"Uuummm.. The Combat Training is the other way.." I say.

She turns around beet red and races back at me. Once she reaches me, she stops and puts out her hand, somehow getting even brighter red than before. I simply smile and take her hand. I lead her to the door of the Training Yard.

"This is far enough. We don't want them thinking you're a little girl, do we?"

When I get through the door everyone is encircled around Chrome.

"I challenge the next person to ckme through this door!"

I immediately stop May from moving forward.

"What? Whay are you stopping?" May protests.

"I'll be your opponent!" I yell, "Move. May."

"I'll be the ref!" the trainer of the day anounces. "Start!"

With that Chrome lunges at me with incredible speed. I block for a moment only to hop over him, hoping May had moved.

Busting through the door, he finds may on the ground surprised.

"I see." Chrome analyzes.

He presses a button and the head of his joust shoots at me, barely missing I say, "Missed me." Just as I notice the cord attached he is flying fast at me, I've got to evade that or I'll be in the infirmary for a week! I hop onto the head of the joust and wait, once he gets within ten feet I jump high enough to somersault and landing on his back I boost off of that. He retrieves his head. Running at what looks like full speed he jumps and shoots the ground retracting it so fast it clangs so loudly I can hardly focus enough to block a few kicks to the face. I reposition a good twenty feet away and wait. When he shoots the head at me again I sidestep and grab hold of the head tightly, turning it around and throwing it at him then running around to attack him from the side.

"Tch." Chrome sidesteps and starts retracting his head, "This battle is over."

"As Chrome surrenders Arlinn is the victor!" the Teacher anounces raising my arm high. Relieved I look at May and smile until I notice she was so worried she was crying?

Here's some concept art!

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***