chapter 11: The explosion.
Blood sprayed the dusty floors. The tyrant screamed. All eyes turned towards the fallen heroine. Claws poised into her back. His nails dug in, channeling his shadow fragments into her body. As soon as he did, blood marred his arms. The unmistakeable sight of red met his face. Black hue warped his palms, sweats clinged to his forehead. Noelle's aim directed at the Tyrant's death. A mixture of blue and black flashed past the academy walls, bored a hole into the Tyrant's chest. Quinn fell back, his face drained off colour. Noelle took a step backwards. Sweat dropped to the floor, she tensed up. She jolted at the sound of magic fire exchange. Guards rushed to her, holding her up. "Miss Noelle are you okay?" The guards helped her. She staggered slowly, her gaze dropped to Quinn's breathless condition. A scowl flashed across her face. She hissed and staggered out of the building. Quinn groaned, he clenched his stomach tightly.
Blood drizzled out of the enclosing wound. The sight of red nauseated him. He looked around, bile rose in his throat. He tried to look downwards, the tyrant moaned in pain as more hails bombarded the academy walls. Tremors penetrated the air, the floors vibrated. Quinn moved away. His eyes gazed intently at the floor.
"It's going to collapse!" Quinn stuttered. Before the words left his mouth, the wall rippled and a large boom was heard. The walls gave way, stones and metals flew through the air. Wind wiped around his face as he fell. Quinn smashed into the floor, blood sprayed the floor. As soon as he did, pain skidded through his brain. His teeth clenched firmly and he squirmed in pain. Quinn breathed tensely, his chest rose and fell simultaneously. Quinn waited as rocks smashed his side. Silhouettes moved towards where he laid, conjoined to patch the leak in his forehead.
Quinn remained there, the remaining walls thrummed. Quinn waited as the pain slowly ceased. He finally twitched, he moved around slowly. He sat up and glanced around. Blood filtered through his nostrils. Pangs of headache washed through his brain. The air smelled of cements and charred flesh. He moved slowly, smoke erupted from what used to be the west wing, the tyrant heated up. Sweats mapped his forehead. The soldiers rushed forward, slamming their wrists together as a massive shield formed. Quinn moved slowly, his palm gliced through the air, and stopped. The yellow translucent barrier rose high, covered the academy's roofs. Quinn turned, he sighted reinforcement and docked. He winced as his elbow graced through the sharp metal bar. The stench of metal wiped his nostrils. He inhaled as the wounds healed. The shadow swirled towards his feets.
[SHADOW FRAGMENTS ABSORBED]
[shadow fragments: 10/20]
[exp: 20/35]
[grade progression 35%]
[grade: cursed]
[grade level: 1]
The screen floated before his face but he brushed it off. He stood up, his feets hurried against the rock slabs. He barely made it to the remains of the front gate before the tyrant exploded. Rock and metals bursted. He flinched, pain sparked in his leg as he fell. He fell, the ground rippled as lava bursted out of the ground. Quinn gritted his teeth as he dislodged the spear that bit into his left leg. He limped, his leg burned underneath. Quinn turned, missing a step. More guards rushed out. Quinn turned slowly as a woman rushed to him. "what are you doing here?!" her voice bellowed. Quinn raised his head, warmth trickled through him. Some other students helped him. "Take him in! we'll figure out the course of action later!" She charged. His eye lids fluttered, he blinked away the drowsiness.
[INTRUSION DETECTED]
[FOREIGN MATTER DETECTED]
That was the last thing he saw before his mind blurred.
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His eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The scent of chemicals wafted into his nostrils. The first thing he saw was a red cross. He groaned as he looked around. Behind the curtain was black. Darkness. He sat up slowly as the door swung open. A woman walked in, her orange curls flailed behind her. She glanced at him, strictness brimmed. Silence enveloped the atmosphere. Her gaze lingered. Words lost in her brain. Quinn watched her, her fingers clenched.
"You could have died back there." She bellowed. Her voice rough . He breathed. "This will not be condoned in Alkethra." She shot. Quinn nodded, as if he cared. "Your next trial is months away, you don't want to be expelled before then." she scowled. Quinn nodded. She made her way to the door and turned back to him. "You can't die in front of us, we have mure virus plagues. We don't need an additional one." She scowled. Quinn's lips thinned as he watched her leave. As the door locked behind her. He heaved a sigh of relief. His head rested against the pillow. He looked around. It was a normal clinic, except a mana replenisher hung above his head. He sighed and tried to recall the system.
[QUEST FULFILLED]
[+30 EXP]
[+2 IN STRENGTH]
[NAME: QUINN STORMBLESSED]
[TALENT: SHADOW MANIPULATION]
[ATTRIBUTES:3]
[ECHO: 0] [MEMORY:1]
[GRADE: CURSED]
[STRENGTH: 13]
[AGILITY: 11]
[STAMINA: 11]
[WILL: 12]
[QUEST: 1][find out about Noelle]
He watched the bar with intent. A small smile pierced his lips. He wasn't given an instant level up but it was better than dying. He smiled more freely now. Something he'd never do. He closed the tab and slowly moved towards the door. His watch beeped. It was already five am in the morning. He scurried to his dorm, swiped his pass card at the door. His eyes met cold ones. Evan Cinderhort watched him. His gaze cold and silent. Silence enveloped them. Evan inhaled and moved to the side,Quinn stepped in and dashed to his bed. Evan turned, noticed the tears in his uniform. He held his tongue from asking and gathered the two daggers. Quinn noticed them and smirked. They were too sinister for a harmless boy like him. He gazed at Evan secretly, a tab spurred up Instantly.
[NAME: EVAN CINDERHORT]
[TALENT: ILLUSION MANIPULATION]
[ATTRIBUTE:1]
[ECHO: 0] [MEMORY:1]
[GRADE: BASIC]
[STRENGTH:6]
[AGILITY:6]
[STAMINA:7]
Quinn meat fell at the talent. Evan scowled at his actions, moved to buckle his shoes. Quinn sat up again, his eyes hovered at the illusion manipulation talent. This was a once in a generation talent. To hide truths and lies, and Evan had it. Quinn tried to speak but he refrained. Evan and he wasn't on speaking terms. He inhaled slowly and moved to his wardrobe. He picked out another uniform.
While he did, the bathroom door opened and jack walked out. He froze as he saw Quinn. "W...What are you doing here?" he stammered. Quinn snorted, "I live here too." He moved past him and entered the bathroom. Jack flinched as his skin gliced through Quinn's uniform. He fell, Evan barely noticed as he tapped his watch hesitantly. Few minutes later Quinn came out of the bathroom, jack was gone, Evan remained.
Quinn dressed up and moved to his bed, he arranged it neatly. Evan stood up and left. Quinn's gaze trailed behind him. "Wow, you really are one kid Evan" He muttered. Quinn moved out.
***
The air chilled, cold warped the cafeteria. Quinn tugged at his uniform as he was served. He moved to a secluded spot to sit. His gaze flickered at various students who chatted away happily. He grabbed the spoon and ate away. The caramel warmed his taste buds. An eccentric feeling blossomed in his guts. "Hmmm...Is there a party? This is great!" He mumbled with food in his mouth. "It is!" A feminine voice chimed in. He snapped up, his eyes met her nice blue eyes. Uracia sat slowly before him. Quinn glanced around hoping to see her twin around. "Oh she is with her friends." Uracia smiled. Quinn breathing tensed, something stirred within.
"You need to leave." His voice hushed. Her smile slightly faltered. Yet, her look was strong. "I'm not leaving." She said strongly. Quinn groaned inwardly, his face steeled. Uracia smirked. "I never knew you were so anti social?" She smirked. A small moan escaped his lips. Deep down he wished the news spreading around him had reached her. "You wouldn't want to be associated with me" He whispered. Uracia beamed, her gaze focused on the steak on her plate. "And why is that?" She asked. "Because you are a murderer?" He felt the sarcasm in her tone. As if it were new to her. To him it was, someone aside Noelle wasn't scared of him. She looked up and flashed a smile. "We all have our own demons we are trying to outrun." She gleamed. Quinn clenched his fists. He wanted to shoot, to scream at her. But somehow lips remained sealed.
"So what class are you attending?" Uracia probed. Quinn dropped his plates and ignored her. His palms tucked neatly in his pocket. She trailed after him. "Are you in the mana management class?" She asked again, obviously all students were in the mana management class. Quinn moved slowly and stopped, she bumped into him and he turned. "Get the f***k off!" He thundered. She froze, deflated. He moved angrily away from the hall way. He cornered and laid on the wall, his breathing tensed. "This is hard." He muttered. Henzai's image slowly slipped into his head, he clenched his fists.
"I will be strong henzai."