August 11, 2065

MDC Class A, Soneria

Alexia and Isendal took up opposite sides of the combat arena, both of them readying themselves for a match. Isendal had arranged all sorts of bottles around her waist, and had a pack of what looked like cards strapped to both arms. Alexia had a First-Aid kit placed in the corner, pilfered of bandages, gauze, and disinfectant. I stood in the middle of them, my arm raised. I looked at both of them.

“You two ready?” I asked, wary of how this might turn out.

“Almost. Isendal, how about we make this purely a battle of magic?” Alexia said, tossing her sword aside.

“Sure. This lance is to help me cast spells anyway.” Isendal replies, a smile cracking across her face.

“Heh, same here.” Alexia said, pulling out a small push knife. “Patrick, I think we’re ready.”

“Agreed.” Isendal adds. I drop my arm and run out of the Arena. The instant I leave, Alexia starts the fight by slashing both of her wrists with her knife and throwing it away. Isendal raises her Lance and mutters an incantation, firing a blast of concussive energy at Alexia. Alexia rolls away and charges Isendal, revealing that she had created two blades of blood, both roughly a foot long and protruding out of her wrist. Alexia swung at Isendal, only to have the blade shattered by a transparent shield that Isendal had summoned. Isendal leaps backwards, throwing a bottle at Alexia. The bottle detonates, causing the barriers to reverberate violently, and slams Alexia against the back wall. Alexia falls to the ground, coughing up blood, her blades dissolved. Isendal approaches her, hand raised.

“I believe that this is my win.” She says, confidently. Alexia laughs.

“Not yet bitch.” She says, as her blood that had pooled up on the ground suddenly shoots up and impales Isendal through the arm. Alexia kicks Isendal flying, staggering to her feet. Isendal catches herself and stands up.

“Hah. Well played.” Isendal says, holding her arm. Her expression turns serious. “I gotta admit...” She sticks the point of her lance into her arm, covering it with her own blood. “I’m having fun.” She takes her spear and deftly draws a sigil in the air, her blood floating into the air. Isendal flicks the covers on the card holders open, she was giving off a blinding purple glow. Alexia summons two more blood blades and charges her. As the two are about to likely level the building, a figure steps in. Alexia and Isendal both stop, a pistol aimed at Alexia’s forehead, a rapier at Isendal’s throat. Zigrus stood in between them, glowing a radiant yellow.

“Alright, you two, no need to level the classroom on the first day.” He says, lowering his weapons. Alexia immediately runs to where she had stashed the gauze and tape, and immediately wrapped up her wrists. Isendal slinks to the floor, breathing heavily. I run over to her, seeing that she is bleeding pretty badly from her arm.

“Are you OK?” I ask, grabbing a First Aid Kit.

“I’ll live. I think.” She replies. “Why did you run over to me and not your friend?”

“You were hurt more, Alexia overdoes things quite frequently.” I say, wrapping a bandage around her arm. “This is pretty bad. Come on, I’ll walk you to the nurse”

“There’s no need for that.” A voice says from behind me. I see Miri walk over to Isendal and place her hands on the wound. “You might want to bite on something, this’ll hurt a ton.” Isendal places her spear between her teeth and bites down. Miri focuses and her arms start glowing a brilliant yellow. Isendal’s eyes widen in pain, tears in her eyes.

“What are you doing to her?” I ask, worried. Miri gives me a nastly look.

“I’m healing her. Now shut up or I might fuck up, and that won’t be pretty.” She focuses on Isendal. After about a minute, Miri takes her hands off of Isendal, and removes the bandage, the hole in Isendal’s arm was gone, fresh skin replacing it. Isendal stands up, moving her arm.

“Thank you.” She says, giving a rare smile.

“So, what exactly did you do back there? Last I heard, I was the only blood mage in existence.” Alexia says, walking over to Isendal.

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“Blood Affinity” Isendal corrects. “I managed to catch a glimpse of how your Affinity works and modified it. I basically treat my blood as a focus, and use that to amplify my power almost tenfold.”

“Well regardless, that was cool, that was a great match.” Alexia says, extending her hand. Isendal turns to Zigrus.

“May I go home early? I am really worn out from that.” She asks.

“Sure, just make sure you do the homework.” Zigrus replies. Isendal leaves the classroom.

“Well, that was fucking rude.” Alexia says, taking a seat. Zigrus signals us all to take a seat as class was about to continue. I look at the clock, it was around 11:30.

“Well, it’s time for lunch. You guys go eat and your academic studies teacher will take it from here. See you all bright and early tomorrow.” Zigrus said, exiting the room. I walk up to the cafeteria and look at the options for the day. As I look at the menu something jumps out at me. They offer alcohol. I notice Alexia walk up beside me.

“Look at that.” I say, pointing at the menu.

“Not all that surprising. The drinking age does not apply to magi.”

“What? Why?”

“Probably because the government doesn't see us as people. We are relegated to the military because we are both dangerous and extremely convenient tools. That combined with the fact that the average life expectancy for a magi is roughly 28, we get plenty of personal freedoms so long as we stay in line.” Alexia says, while ordering a Cheeseburger meal. I do the same.

“That low?”

“Oh yeah. We do the bulk of the fighting so most people can live out their peaceful lives. We are living sacrifices for the order of society.” Alexia takes a seat. I sit across from her. “Well, that got deep. So, what does your artifact do?” She asks, completely changing the subject. I give her the rundown.

“And you?” I ask.

“I have an old terran artifact called Excalibur. For whatever reason, I can run affinity through it. If I put enough in, the thing awakens. Zigrus wouldn’t let me try it out, he just told me that it is really, really destructive.”

“Wow. That is awesome. Yep, it looks like I’m still boring compared to the rest of you. I mean, I have all this potential, and just a normal Spark Affinity. Oh well, I’ve always been in a shadow.”

“Patrick, would it kill you to get some self-confidence? Like, holy crap, it’s kinda depressing.” Alexia says, wolfing down her burger.

“Sorry.” I quietly eat my burger. I see Miri and Edward walk over to us.

“So, what are you two up to?” Alexia asks, motioning at some empty chairs. Miri and Edward sit down. Miri opens up a box full of sushi and starts eating.

“Same as you two.” Edward says. He pulls a pill case out of his pocket and opens a compartment. Twelve different pills drop out of the case. Edward takes a can of Lemonade, shoves all twelve pills in his mouth, and gulps them down, chasing it with the whole can of Lemonade.

“You sure you are fit for military service with that many medications?” I ask. Miri and Alexia shoot me massive looks of disapproval.

“Not one for tact, are you?” Miri says. “Ser-” Edward waves her off.

“It’s fine. It isn’t like I'm hiding it or anything. Patrick, what you just saw was a cocktail of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and ADHD medications. Being an ascendant fucks with your mental state something awful. This is pretty normal for an ascendant of my level.” He says, like it was nothing.

“And what happens if you forget or don't take your meds?” I ask, worried.

“Our Affinity slowly drives us insane, causing us to lose control of our powers, and we turn into Fallen Ones: deadly monsters that feed on the Affinities of others.” My eyes widen in horror.

“That’s horrible.”

“Well, that’s the hand I was dealt, might as well make the best of it.” He says, digging into a grilled cheese.

“Yeah, I couldn’t do that” I mutter under my breath. The bell rings for Academic studies, and I slink back to my chair, buttoning down for a long three years.