Derec awoke to a pain in his chest. During the day he never had any issues with his injuries, he watched how he moved so there wasn't much pain to complain about. But when he slept he wasn't aware of his own movements, he would lie on the wrong side or completely on top of his injured arm.
Medical research had leaped from what he had known it to be. His bones were held together from the inside, completely hiding the fact that they were broken and a salve had been used on his cuts and scraps so that now all that was left of them were scabs and scars for the smaller ones.
Derec made his way to the capsule and immersed himself in the gentle darkness.
Darkness lifted slightly to show the sky lightening in the predawn hour, Cloud stretched like a cat and lept lightly from the inn rooftop to the one beside it. He quickly made his way to the city walls despite the early morning shadows.
He practically slithered down the city walls making his way to the ground. He had waited long enough and it was time to do as Magnus asked of him.
Cloud looked out to the field, empty in the early hours and surveyed the creatures before him. Closest to the city walls, rabbits wondered. Farther out raccoons appeared and foxes after that. From what Cloud could see beyond that in the darker reaches of the forest, dark shadows moved swiftly beneath the brushes; that he could only assume what they may be.
Pulling out the wooden sword attained from the training hall Cloud slowly approached a rabbit, creeping up behind it. When he came within five feet of the rabbit he paused, the rabbit lifted its head from the grass. Its nose twitched and the ears moved. The rabbit turned an inspected Cloud, not really viewing him as a threat.
Cloud had basically no battle experience other than the fox, and that he had won mostly through luck. He had to prove that he could actually take down an opponent.
The bunny hopped toward Cloud raising its head higher and sniffing the air vigorously. As Cloud waited for the bunny to make an action he raised his sword. Quick as lightning the rabbit leaped and bit Cloud's hand.
Jumping back, Cloud shook his hand. The pain was manageable, but the bite itself bled profusely compared to its size. The bunny approached again to take a leap at Cloud. Moving cautiously, he didn't know what he was doing. With the fox it was more of a blood-fest than a fight. When the rabbit attacked, Cloud side stepped and spun to face the rabbit once again.
In normal circumstances, such a low level play would not have been able to dodge the swiftness of a rabbit. But due to Cloud's quests as a messenger he had the agility of a higher level player by far.
The moment the rabbit righted itself to face Cloud, he stepped forward and swung his sword. But the instant his sword curved toward the rabbit, it jumped above the arc of the wooden blade, only to bite Cloud again. Shaking his hand, Cloud found himself losing another 5 points of health along with quite a bit of blood.
Trying again the swung the sword, and found himself with another geyser spurting from his bare forarm. It went like this for a short while, Cloud would swing and the bunny would bite.
'This is the definition of insanity.' He thought to himself. 'I'm getting nowhere, and if I continue like this I'll probly kick the bucket.'
Scowling Cloud stared down the rabbit. So far he had always been the one to attack first, and the the only one to get hurt. Now Cloud waited, the rabbit should eventually attack if he waited long enough. After a full five minutes staring one another down, the rabbit leaped at Cloud. Spinning to the right, his arm followed his momentum and smacked the rabbit in its hind quarters. The blow caused the Rabbit to stumble as it landed and Cloud took the opportunity to swing at it.
For an instant, he almost thought he had won. Yet the rabbit staggered back barely dodging the end of the sword so Cloud waited. A little wary, the rabbit took longer to attack, but Cloud didn't waste it. Yet again the spun and hit the rabbit. Then quickly stepped forward to strike again.
The bunny faded and left meat on the ground. Picking up the meat, Cloud frowned at the ground. He searched the immediate area hoping he had just missed seeing the rabbit foot. But he hadn't.
'This really isn't going to be as easy as I thought.'
For the next few hours Cloud slaughtered the rabbits and gained three lucky rabbits' feet. It really was a repetitive process, and if not for the need to show up Magnus he would have given up hours ago. But the experience wasn't all bad. Within the third hour of hunting his the style he used proved smart.
Skill: You have learned Counter Strike
Cloud was quite happy with this outcome. At least he had learned something from the gruelling work. Now that he took a moment to rest he opened the window to look at his new skill.
Counter Strike
This skill allows you to strike at the critical moment when the opponents defence is down, with higher damage and success ratio of a clean hit.
+2% Critical hit
Looking at the sky, Cloud saw he had a few more hours before darkness. In the waning daylight he killed more rabbits until he attained his last rabbit foot. Feeling tired, Cloud couldn't rustle up the energy to deal with Magnus at that moment.
Powering off the capsule to opened his consciousness to knocking on his bedroom door.
“Derec! Time to get up. Breakfast in twenty, so take a shower and come when you're ready!”
Rubbing his dry eyes, Derec staggered to the bathroom to shower and change into clothes that he thought should be too big. On his way down the hall he smelt pancakes and heard Henry humming.
“Oh, good you're done. I didn't know what your favorite was, but I didn't think I cold go wrong with pancakes?”
“Sweet! I love pancakes! Thanks Henry.” Derec quickly took a seat and attcked the pancakes that were set on the table before him.
“So today is your fist day, are you excited?”
“Mmmmhmmm” Derec said through a mouthful of food.
“Swallow before trying to speak Derec, you may actually get some words out that way.”
“Sorry....But yeah I guess I'm excited though I don't know what I'm doing besides gym.”
“You didn't look at the sheet Miss. Mitchell gave you?” At the shake of Derec's head, Henry sighed. “Well you might want to so you know your schedule, and what classroom each class is in. Anyway, you're in all applied classes, because they haven't determined your aptitude for each subject. But you--”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“What's aptitude?” Derec interrupted.
With a sheepish grin Henry berated himself 'Of course a ten year old wouldn't know what it meant.'
“Well, aptitude is your ability to do something, or how suited you are to something. Anyhow that might change depending on how you do in your classes. But so far you just have the basics like Physics, English, Functions, History, Phys. Ed. and a Virtual Simulation Technologies course. But remember based on how you do, you might get other classes, so I don't want you just doing what you're told. Try to excell at every opportunity and you might find it much more fun when you're challenged than when you're bored out of your mind...Okay Derec?”
“Yes sir!” Derec answered with a salute, and Henry grinned.
“Good, now you want more pancakes?”
“Please!!!”
Henry set the next plate on the table and leisurely ate as he watched Derec. He was still surprised to see a teen acting like a child even after the week he has spent with Derec. Yet because of what Henry knew about Derec's state of mind there were some things that confused Henry. Derec never complained, ever. Dr. Hans had explained that Derec would experience pain even though he appeared mostly healed due to the mending of bones. But Derec hadn't spoken a word of complaint, nor had he asked about his father.
Since Henry and Miss. Mitchell had thought it best they don't mention what happened—during their conversation late last week—the only thing Derec knew about his father was that he could no longer take care of him. This Made little sense, the only thing familiar to Derec was gone, Derec had no idea why but he accepted it and didn't question why.
Glancing at the clock Henry snapped out of his musings.
“Oh sh—er....shoot....Derec be quick now, we've got to leave soon. Come on, go brush your teeth while I clean up the table.” Rushing around to gather his things, Henry made it to the door after Derec. “Derec grab that bag by the door would you?”
“What's in here?” He asked while lifting the backpack onto his shoulder.
“Oh just some supplies for school. Mostly binders, paper, pencils, a ruler and calculator. Oh, I got you a laptop, I thought you could use it and a phone. My name is already in the contacts to just text or call me if you have any problems that I need to deal with. Other than that you can go to Miss. Mitchell, or the guide she will assign to you today.”
“Woah, you got me a laptop. But they're so expensive aren't they?”
“Don't worry about it Derec, in the recent years it has become a lot cheaper to produce computers, and a lot more efficient.”
Derec just nodded at this, and was reminded about his memories or lack there of. Hopping into the car they listened to the radio on the way to Derec's school. Coincidentally, Henry and Derec enjoyed much of the same music, making Henry feel more like family to Derec, more like an older brother.
Arriving at school, Derec hopped out of the car in excitement and waved to Henry as he headed to the guidance office.
“Derec! Good morning.”
“'Morning Miss. Mitchell.”
“Okay, since you're a little earlier that most of the students, and the guide that I picked then we can have some time to talk about your classes. So you have your schedule with you right?” At Derec's nod she continued. “Today you start with English, which shouldn't be too difficult I hope. But the class I'm sure you will enjoy the most is Virtual Simulation Technologies or VST.”
“Ummm, What's that?”
“Well. Derec. VTS is mostly the study of RR.” Miss. Mitchell grinned, at Derec's happy reaction. “The class is conducted within the game, where the students will mostly play the game but be expected to find the answer to questions or complete a task during the course of each week. All your other courses will be learning during the week and assignments will be given on Friday and due Monday. Okay?”
Before Derec answered there was a knock on the door.
“And that must be Cameron now.” Walking to the door Miss. Mitchell opened it to reveal a dark skinned boy with casual grin. He was a little shorter than Derec, he would guess. But that really made him about average in height.
“Hey Miss. M. How's it going?”
“Good, Cameron. This is Derec, he's the new student you'll be guiding around the school.”
“Hey, man. The name's Cameron but you can call me Cam.”
“Umm,.....hi.”
“Don't be nervous Derec. Cameron knows about your memory, but no more. If he wants to know more then it's up to you okay?”
“Yeah, don't worry about it. You don't have to say a word and I won't ask. If you do, I'm awesome at keeping secrets, won't tell a soul.”
“Thanks.”
At the sound of a toll, Derec followed Cam out the office and down the hall. Packed with students the two boys struggled through the masses. Often Derec got stared at, being the new student in a prestigious school meant everyone knew everyone by name.
“'Kay, What's the first class D?”
“English.”
“Okay. Down this way, in 149 right?”
Nodding his head Derec followed Cam until they stopped at a door midway down.
“So, after class I'll be back here and show you to your next one.” Derec just nodded and looked at the door, watching students pass by him and settle in a desk. Soon enough the halls emptied and they stood by themselves outside.
Shifting his weight Derec looked uncomfortable, he didn't know what to do and felt completely out of place.
“Hey D?” Derec turned to look at Cam to see him grinning. “Every need a shoulder to cry on, or a really good hug, I'm right—”
At this Derec lightly punched Cam's arm grinning himself.
“Okay, okay. Truce right?” Cam raised his hands in surrender. “Gotta get to class, seeya.”
And with that Cameron moved swiftly away turning into an adjacent hallway and disappearing from sight.