----------------------------------------
<01/20/1972 – 15:30 | Lennith Training Academy, Junon Region, Sprawn Valley>
That same night after Jane left the building, Claudia left things to herself again. Hiding out in the dark room alone, she now had the clear space and silence to help her thoughts along, but there was so much to process all at once. Jane Venn; this is the name of a troubled wielder who appeared on Claudia's school grounds yesterday. She seemed somewhat exhausted at the time, but Jane managed to cross Route 96, winning most if not all of her battles. She must have been keeping this symbol business a secret for so long, but Claudia wasn't sure anymore. Today only proved how terribly she misread everyone.
Marked on her hand is a symbol which somehow fades from view all by itself, a design that has never before been observed. What the hell is happening in Sprawn Valley these days? Do people really hate Leray magic this much, that they would seek to take advantage of the freedoms and situations given to them? For Jane, Claudia couldn't be certain. It was most stressful, as enough had all gotten out of hand. Jane really is screwed no matter what she does. The Den of Purity is supposed to be off limits, and Brightworth is still public enemy number one.
Come to think of it however, there still isn't any concrete evidence that Professor Brightworth is the one responsible for the creation and continuation of Alpha Zero. Of course, who else could be responsible if not him? It's not as though there are other mages stationed in the Outback, and it's not as if Brightworth would let anything like this happen if he really cared. The man was hired by the mage council after all, and trained by some of the best. He isn't dead, so he must be on the wrong side of this catastrophe. And Jane wants to trust him...
Even if a man like that would be willing to help Jane after paying some fees, is it even remotely possible to remove symbol markings? Claudia could only remember ever reading about such things, where marked ones caught by the agents were thrown into Verlith Prison without so much as a trial, but what happens after? Do they remove those magic tattoos, or does the prison simply negate magic from being used? There sure isn't a clear answer for any of this, and it's impossible to imagine Jane ever getting prepared to survive dark magic attacks, let alone an entire dark zone. The Outback stretches on for about twelve miles going into the direction of the Den of Purity. Not even an army could make it there right now, but will Jane ever really refuse such an action? Even if she doesn't want to die, what life could she live here with that marking on her hand? Even if it is invisible when she wants it to be, nobody can hide a symbol forever.
"I thought I'd find you in here."
Claudia snapped out of her chain of thoughts momentarily, concentrating her gaze just behind her. Alyssa was here again. She was probably worried about the entire situation as it were; Alyssa has always been concerned about the happenings of Lennith.
Alyssa began walking over towards Claudia to join the depressing throttle of mystery, but her movements were slow. Alyssa noticeably exerted great strength just to barely shift her legs, and her arms intermittently tensed tighter and stiffer. Her chest felt like it was being crushed by several pounds of weight, her breath short and squeezed. This was the best she could manage right now, though Alyssa still made her way to Claudia shortly enough.
Alyssa Valor; a seventeen year old girl who has faced too much of a trauma to reconcile, for most people anyway. Claudia knew everything about this poor girl, but Alyssa was still slowly healing these wounds over the years of time. So much has held her back since she was a small child, but now, it's still amazing to see how much improvement she made. Today, Alyssa seems worse than yesterday and the day before. Given the craziness of today, it's only understandable that she would completely duck out on her routine magical training. She shouldn't postpone her treatments.
Claudia Stone; forty years old with deep beige eyes. She has been teaching Leray magic for twenty-five years, an impressive resume to hold down in all her accomplishments. She's always been at this school, and Alyssa would always admire how incredibly involved she gets in certain student's personal studies or growth. As long as one is passionate about learning Leray magic, there is absolutely nothing standing in Claudia's way of helping that person, outside of school, sometimes even in their own homes. It's a chain of free tutoring that not everybody gets to have, and Claudia devotes all of her time and energy just to make sure everyone is excelling and staying interested. That is why everyone here respects her so greatly, and Alyssa knew that Claudia was no exception for such kindness.
"And here I thought you would be studying back at home by now." Claudia knew it was no use trying to coax her away. Alyssa has always been so personally interested in Claudia's business, as if to return an old favor fulfilled long ago.
"And leave you here to worry about this problem by yourself? Shameful Claudia, always forgetting that we've got your back."
She coughed, "A nice gesture as usual, but this time things are dangerous." Alyssa turned her head at Claudia, quick to give that expression that screamed - nothing else mattered. "I'm serious Alyssa. I don't know how I'm supposed to handle this anymore." This can only be a colossal nightmare! Jane being marked is the most intense news she's ever heard since the formation of Alpha Zero, and Claudia acted stupidly by trying to give Jane access to her class without registration and payment procedures. If Jane gets caught, Claudia will go down with her.
"I can think of one simple solution." With Claudia's full attention, Alyssa tested her own idea. "Turn her in."
Claudia's face twisted in disgust, her stomach forming a knot inside. Alyssa still wasn't going to give up that easily.
"So what if you didn't properly register her into the class? The agents will overlook that in light of the subject being marked."
"The subject?" Claudia held some suspicion earlier that Alyssa didn't like Jane at all, but it was surprising to see how much hatred was still in her eyes just from the thought of her. "Her name is Jane, and your solution isn't as simple as it sounds. Even if the agency does overlook that detail, the school's principle and council representative will never let it go. It's inevitable that I'll be pushed out if light comes to this. Despite everything, I want to help her!"
"Why?" Alyssa's whine was almost close to a cry, but she didn't change her argument. "She lied to all of us! You let her in and trusted her, but in the end, she lied to everyone here! Jane doesn't deserve our help."
As usual, Claudia thought... Alyssa always has this one interesting trait about her. There is nothing else in the world that she hates more than liars. Interestingly, there is nothing more she loves than the arts of Leray magic, but her arrogance is going to cause problems if she can't control herself. "Listen. This isn't about who deserves what. We have a different kind of problem right now, and while this is Jane's responsibility, she can't fix this marking issue all by herself."
"I don't understand you," Alyssa complained. "How can you sit by and help someone so horrible? Jane is such a terrible person!"
What's crazier to Claudia's thought is that Alyssa hates Jane more because she is a liar, than she does for being marked in the first place. It sure did scare the hell out of her though. What was Jane thinking, exposing her crest like that? Claudia sighed, shifting the subject onto Alyssa instead. "It doesn't matter if someone is truly flawed. If there is a way to help them become better, then I have to try. Try to imagine the pain and fear Jane must be feeling deep down inside. What would you do if you were marked against your will, unexpectedly so?"
Alyssa went silent, unable to conjure a straight answer, but this analogy felt so unfair! Jane probably did something irresponsible to get herself marked in the first place.
"It is a fear I cannot imagine myself. But once upon a time, I remember that you were in a similar situation."
"Me?" Alyssa pointed to herself with confusion. When ever did she have to deal with symbol markings?
"The circumstances are different," Claudia admitted, "but the pain and fear that you and your family felt some time ago must have been more real than anything else imaginable. I won't ever pretend to understand, but you still worked hard. You made sure that you and your mother made a large recovery. The fact that you are both alive and well today is proof of that."
----------------------------------------
Chapter Theme Shift: Gossamer Wings ~ Derek Fiechter [Spooky Halloween]
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
----------------------------------------
"You're bringing this up again?" Alyssa knew what Claudia was talking about, but she couldn't see the relevance to Jane Venn. She is nothing like her at all. Alyssa never lied about anything either to get where she is today.
"I don't exactly know what it is that drives everyone else. It's not the same thing per person. In the beginning, all I ever wanted to do was teach magic, but the day I met you, that all changed fast. You and I both learned the true capabilities of Leray magic, and all it has to offer. I know you never stop thinking about those moments, and I know you still try your hardest every day, because that is the only thing you can do."
Alyssa remembered all of it, the moment six years ago when she and her mother were near the brink of death, their lives in the darkest moments of despair. Growing up in Narbrook Town, Alyssa has always been an only child, birthed by her mother, Dianna Valor. But when she turned ten years old, a horrible illness began to consume her mother.
Dither Syndrome; a new and rare medical illness that mysteriously attacks the nervous system slowly over time with an effect of full-body paralysis. The illness isn't contagious, rather is it a genetic problem with a very rare occurrence, happening to a tiny proportion of the world population, inside or outside of Sprawn Valley. It's hard to diagnose in the medical profession, but it also has no known treatment or cure. It's a worse kind of cancer, something that slows the body's physical capabilities down over a long period of time and progression. You don't die from it right away. It takes about sixteen to twenty-one months for the symptoms to progress to a point of no return. Eventually, the disease wears down the spinal region's nerve cells. You very slowly become paralyzed over all that time, until the vital organs follow suit, becoming paralyzed themselves and causing death in the final moments.
Even that wasn't the worst of the situation. Alyssa developed the same illness when she had just turned eleven, prompting her father to return home from America. He went there to take part in a study for a cure, but in one of the many tragic accidents that occur with the technology still in development for air travel, the passenger jet he boarded that day went down, killing himself and countless others in one of the world's worst plane crashes at sea ever recorded.
By that point, Alyssa was developing symptoms at a slightly faster rate than her mother. For obvious reasons, the family already broken apart by a terminal illness became incapable of self-sufficiency. A Leray agent eventually found them initially to report the bad news of the plane crash, but found something far worse inside of that house, the one Alyssa still lives in today. The sickness progressed within her quickly. She could remember in every fiber of her being just how difficult and scary this all was. It still haunts her to this day. After all those years, she and her mother cheated death. It wasn't just a stroke of luck.
As the day of death mystically closed in on Dianna, forcing her bed-ridden for weeks without end, it was Claudia Stone who stepped into that home, simply expressing her concerns and condolences for the hopeless situation, but Claudia couldn't just stop there.
Alyssa was dying, only months away from going into the same critical state as her mother. Her movements were difficult to produce, and she was barely capable of walking around on her own, let alone speaking for long periods of time. Still, Claudia wanted to show Alyssa what she did as a teacher, entertaining what was to be the rest of her days using Leray magic spells. Incidentally, Alyssa tried to learn and copy these easy and aesthetic spells. Claudia could remember just how high strong she was to continue trying to master the spells, never giving up despite her physical condition barring her from exerting enough magic.
The days passed from then on, Claudia making occasional visits there to check up on the family, simultaneously tearing up her own heart watching the inevitable destruction of such a young and innocent soul, being crushed by an uncontrollable, unfair disease... That was until the miracle presented itself.
All in an effort to cheer Claudia and Dianna up, Alyssa began to display and demonstrate the exertion of magical spells, mostly the same ones Claudia demonstrated earlier. It was impressive to see such a young kid use magic so easily, more impressive given her physical handicap, but when Claudia pushed Alyssa even further, she realized how much fun Alyssa was having practicing magic, and how hard she was willing to train in order to make it happen. Alyssa didn't stop at those spells either. She soon tried taking on the more difficult spells, difficult in the sense that they would require a lot of speedy physical movement, which she was not supposed to have anymore. She would strain herself every night trying these spells and magic casts. It was somewhat inspiring to see that such spirit would momentarily overcome her great challenge.
But what happened over the next passing weeks shocked Claudia, the agent taking care of the family, and the medical doctor called in to witness the amazing phenomena that nobody understood at the time. Given the time lapse, Alyssa's condition should have gotten much worse, but it didn't. Her condition only continued to improve, right in synchronization with the massive amount of physical training she was practicing for magic against previous medical advice. Her mother, desperate to match such jealous energy also sat up out of bed to perform various spells which Alyssa taught to her.
The stats were all impossible, never made known to any part of the world, but the results were tested and proven shortly after. The doctors all confirmed what was going on, and published best-selling articles about it. The Dither Syndrome that was plaguing this small and desperate family seemed to have some sort of cure after all. The actual effects of what was going on with the disease are still somewhat unknown to this very day, but as Alyssa practiced with Leray magic and spell casts, her paralysis slightly receded, little at a time. Even Dianna, who was in a much worse state of progression eventually got back on her feet, eventually capable of taking care of herself and Alyssa again. The more they practiced with Leray magic, the better their health became over the years. If they were to slack off, the disease would once again continue to progress; so it was only treatment to reverse the condition, rather than to cure it.
The officers theorized that a certain amount of magical training would eventually cure them both on a permanent state, but that theory had never before been tested. For some reason, magical infusion from the veil was slowly pushing back the condition of this particular paralysis. Everyone who has Dither Syndrome was called into a study, straight into Sprawn Valley for a promised cure given hard work and determination, though this was all done in secret supervision.
Needless to say, Alyssa has long since been pushing herself, her body, and her magical capabilities to the limits every single day. The results now are striking! After a day of practice, her body becomes easier for her to control. Rapid movement becomes more possible more often than not. Lately, her mother hasn't faced too many difficulties doing the same, though their recovery rates are not exactly equal. Alyssa easily works harder than anyone around, including everyone else in this school. She has no choice; the sudden lack of magical practice will push her closer to death.
Claudia took a particular interest in this girl, ever since the promise of this treatment made itself aware to her ears. She has personally trained Alyssa everything possible regarding some of the best and toughest magical spells known. Even now, Alyssa is only capable of so much, but her effort and determination to live is beyond inspiring, and this only makes Alyssa and Claudia both love Leray magic that much more. There are so many mysteries about Leray magic that people still don't know to this day, and Alyssa's family is one of the first pioneers to ride the advantages of magic this way. She really is an impressive student given everything that has happened. Lately, Alyssa hasn't pushed herself all too far today or yesterday, which explains the sudden limp and delayed body movements. Even after all these years, the disease still haunts her. Alyssa can never slow down or stop magical training. If she does, the progress she has made is slowly reversed.
It was one of the many great challenges Claudia had to share though. Alyssa was a case that took up so much time and narrowed focus; she was Claudia's only special student for the first year or two. Such a thing only forced Claudia to try and imagine herself in Alyssa's shoes. She had such a horrible early life, and still does she struggle every day to keep going. Alyssa never gives up though; that is what makes her so impressive. Alyssa probably thinks too highly of Claudia though, all since she helped her train directly after all of this time.
Trying to live and grow up with such a difficult physical disability has to be one of the scariest things anyone could deal with. It still affects the beating inside Claudia's chest to this day. Now Jane has shown up, delivering a news story far more frightening than she would have ever expected. Jane has had it easier though, given how short of time she has had those personal issues. Alyssa has been fighting for her life, for the duration of her entire life. Jane simply did something irresponsible not too long ago, and plans to fix it in less than a month of time. Being listed as a fugitive to be isn't much better of a situation, nor is it easy to face, but this is still short term comparatively speaking. Maybe Alyssa and Jane don't have anything in common after all, but even if that were true, it's easy to understand why Alyssa of all people can't get along with Jane. Claudia is the one who should be sorry about all of this.
"Alyssa? I'm sorry that I let someone like Jane drag us into this mess."
"You don't have to be! None of this was your fault! Blame that moron for what happened earlier." Alyssa wouldn't have this at all. Claudia can mope around later. Right now, Jane is a threat who must be dealt with!
"I was wrong to think that you could possibly sympathize with her." Claudia held her breath momentarily, making her decision despite Alyssa's feelings towards the situation. "However, I must stick with the current plan I have, developing the details as I go. Jane is to be trained vigorously over the next few weeks. As this is going on, I want you to continue your training as well. I don't want you to get weaker. Understand?"
"But— But Jane—"
Claudia cut Alyssa off before any more of a complaint could be made. "That's an order Alyssa! You don't have to remind me how complicated this is. I know what we're all getting ourselves into, but Jane is still a person, is she not? Who would either of us be if we simply turned her into the police instead of helping her? I won't do that to my students. She needs our help, and I'm going to give her exactly that."
"By letting her run into the dark zone to die?"
Those words chafed in the back of Claudia's throat, but Claudia still held the same decision in mind. "Jane made it clear enough that nobody can actually stop her from entering the dark zone if she wants to risk her own life. Whether you were to turn her in or not wouldn't even change that decision in her mind. She is determined to have that tattoo removed from her hand. I think she even intends to torture Brightworth and make him do it, as opposed to asking for a bargain. I know I can't change her mind. So instead, I'm going to deter her from going in."
"Deter her how?"
Claudia answered with simplistic confidence. "Leray Elite Cadastro is no pushover, and no fair match at all for Jane. Even after she thinks she is ready, even after everything I teach to her, I doubt she can win in a legal battle against a Leray elite. She won't be able to use her symbol to gain an edge either, because we'll make the event public."
"I'm kind of liking the sound of it so far..."
"But the chance remains that Jane might win. I have to remain objective to her claims as well. If Jane actually wins the fight against Cadastro, despite her level of training, and despite having not rely on a symbol, it means she may actually have what it takes to survive a few blows from one monster or two being thrown into the dark zone. Of course, only Jane and us two are to know about this. The class we have also knows what is going on, but Jane will have to be snuck into the back route."
"But, what happens if she dies in there?"
"Jane won't die. If she can defeat Cadastro with ease, then she'll be fine in the dark zone, and I'll feel comfortable having taught her how to use a power shield capable of blocking out the worst of damages. Trust me, I'm not happy about it, but if Jane thinks she is going into Alpha Zero with or without my help, the only thing I can do is try to eliminate any chance that she will be killed out there."
Alyssa was silent for the moment, her thoughts all floating around the idea. Claudia must have been trying to gauge how she felt about Jane, but she made the mistake in the first place, so she doesn't deserve such help. Claudia however won't turn down even this favor. It's truly admirable, but it just isn't worth it. Jane isn't worth any of this. Still, what more could Alyssa do to argue out against this?
"Right now," Claudia reassured, "we just go with what we can right now, and see what will come of the following days. Meanwhile, you are to say nothing to the agents about this, and that includes your family. Are we clear?"
With a delayed moment to ponder the request, Alyssa swallowed her pride and accepted the terms openly. "Crystal."