“Wake up,” someone said and slapped me across the face, “Wake up, wake up!”
I groaned and rolled over, they sighed, snapped, and said, “Ryze Varus, I command you to get up this instant.”
Against my will, my body shot up and went rigid, “AHHHH WHAT THE FUCK?” I screamed and tried to move, my body wouldn’t budge. Someone snapped again and I collapsed back onto the ground.
“What was that?” I asked and looked around, Cassie stood over me and looked around.
“Ryze, are you ok?” she asked with concern, I narrowed my eyes at her and she blinked innocently. Her eyes changed color rapidly, “You stood up and screamed, then fell back down.”
“Eh yeah, I don’t know what came over me right there.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re up because we’re almost to Leviathan. Pack your gear and prepare to disembark.”
I nodded and started stuffing my equipment back into its bag and looked around, Noah was still tinkering with his brass pieces, Sam was passed out on a bench that barely held his weight, and Alex was nowhere to be found. I walked over to Sam and shook him while yelling, “Oh god the ships going down! There’s fire everywhere!”
His eyes snapped open and he leaped off the bench and looked around in bewilderment. Then he turned his attention to me and groaned, “are you fucking serious?”
I laughed and patted him on the shoulder, “we’re almost there so get your shit together.”
The city appeared over the horizon and people gasped and pointed, it wasn’t nearly as large as Byrum or Forest Deep but it was no small city either. Its skyline was dominated by two large towers and a massive keep. I assumed that was the school, surrounding the city was a short stone wall and as we drew near to the gate I noticed the guards were far and few in between.
“Why don’t the walls have many guards?” I asked Sam, he looked up and shrugged, “the city isn’t very important economically or strategically. It’s mainly a place of education, hell the entire economy of Levithan is based on supporting the school.”
I grunted and we sat in silence as we passed through the water gate and into the city. On the inside it was clean and well maintained, I noticed we passed an abnormally high number of parks and fairgrounds.
The ship slowly came to a stop and draw boards were pushed out and we were promptly told to “get the hell off my ship.”
“Welcome to Leviathan,” a man said as we all got off the ship, he was tall and lean with white hair and glasses. He wore a green suit and had a mug in his left hand and a cane in his right. “Is this everybody?”
People looked around and some said, “yep,” or “yeah.”
“Very well, my name is Burnie Lancaster. I am the headmaster at Leviathan Battle Academy, from now on you will refer to me as sir or headmaster. Is that clear?”
Everyone nodded, “yes sir.”
“When you asked to join Leviathan, you decided that you wanted to become a Guardian. Whether that was for family honor, prestige, or simply for the power and money that comes with the job. But becoming a Guardian is no easy task, that is why you are at this Academy, here you will learn history, science, combat, tactics, politics, and teamwork. Those are all skills you will need to become the protectors of the people. While our empire is in a time of unprecedented peace and unity, it does not mean there are no threats to humanity.”
People shifted uncomfortably and the man continued, “make no mistake, becoming a Guardian will be the most difficult thing in your entire life, you will face threats beyond your comprehension and meet the likes of which would only otherwise be found in fables and nightmares. But if you truly believe yourself to be capable and are willing to push yourself to the max, you will join the small group of individuals called Guardians.”
I shrugged, I had already made my mind when I walked out the door of my father's manor. There was no turning back for me, either I would become a guardian, or I would die trying. It seemed that the others had also made their minds as well and we all waited for him to continue.
“Take this road up and follow the signs, you will reach the school shortly,” he said and disappeared.
“Welp, I guess this is the part where we get going,” Alex said and started walking. We trekked up the road for close to an hour, “Didn’t he say we would get there shortly?” Arya asked and put her hands on her thighs.
“Maybe this is some sort of test,” Val said, “maybe he wants to see if we can find the school, that is what my father's first test was.”
“Ok, so what are you saying? That Lancaster was lying to us and we need to find the school on our own?” Sam asked.
“We could always just ask one of the locals,” suggested Cassie, we looked around at the empty street for a moment. There wasn’t a single living being to be seen and the other students were all far away by this point.
“That’s odd.” Arya said and scratched her head, “you know what, I don’t actually remember seeing any locals earlier.”
“Yeah neither do I.” I said and everyone else agreed, “This is definitely a test.”
“Yep, so how are we going to do this?” Cassie asked and looked around, “Does anyone have a trait that can let them see really far or move really fast?”
The guys all looked at me and I raised my hands, “Woah, Woah, I can go fast but only for a short period of time, and it is really taxing to do it. After like three quick times in a row, it’s got like a ten-minute cooldown.”
Then they all turned to Arya, “why are you looking at me?”
“Well, we don’t know what your trait is.” Sam said Alex cut in, “She gets stronger the more negative emotions she feels.”
Noah blinked, “What so like a temper tantrum?”
Arya turned on her heel and glowered at him, her lilac eyes burned purple flames as she stomped towards him. I had a strong feeling that there was going to be one less Nixon in the world.
Alex ran up and stood in front of her, he put his hand out and said, “Hey, hey now, there’s no need to kill him.”
It was quite an interesting sight to see, Alex stood in front of her as she looked down on him. He gulped and closed his eyes expecting to be turned into mush but instead, she laughed and picked him up. Noah blinked and looked thankful to be alive as Alex flailed shouting, “Put me down, put me down, this is super fucking embarrassing.”
Sam and I exchanged looks and broke down with laughter. Arya set him down and hugged him. They both blushed and she patted him on the head.
“Well that was something,” Cassie said and frowned at me and Sam, “get up you dolts, we still have work to do.”
“Anyways, I doubt I will be of any use here,” Arya said and cleared her throat. We then turned to Vivian, she sighed, “I mean I guess I could lift one of you into the air so you could scout out the area. But let me warn you it's quite the odd sensation.”
“Perfect.” I snapped, “Noah, you said you can fly right?” he shook his head vehemently, “Good to know, so we just have Val lift you into the air and you take a look at the roads and see which one leads up to the school.”
“I never said I could fly!” he shouted but Vivian had already hefted her staff up, and probably not wanting to look like a coward in front of her, he sighed, “Fine I’ll do it.”
“Yay, I’ve never done this on a living person.” she clapped her hands happily, before kneeling and slammed the butt of her staff into the ground.
“WAIT WHAT?” Noah shouted in alarm before rocketing into the air. He swore and cursed as he floated some three or four hundred feet in the sky.
“Do you see anything?” Alex yelled after Noah calmed down.
“Yep, we’re on the right track but we are definitely on the wrong road. The rest of the students are also on completely different trails. Now please for the love of God let me down!”
Vivian stood up and dusted off the bottom of her skirt. Noah plummeted down screaming, “Not that fast!”
“Wh- OH!” she exclaimed and slowed his descent. He still hit the ground like a wet meteor wheezed, “there goes my back.”
Vivian ran up to him, “Oh my God I am so sorry.” she squeaked.
“Why?” he asked weakly.
“I forgot,” she said sheepishly. “Most of the time, the inertia kills the animal and I freak out.”
“Wait what!?” he yelled, “you mean you killed them?”
“MOVING ON,” I shouted and lifted him off the ground, “Which way do we go now?”
Around thirty minutes later we made our way up to the school, or well we made it to the outer campus. It was a huge park with statues of famous Guardians and lords on either side of the walkway.
“Ey Ryze, ain’t that your old man?” Arya asked and pointed at the statue of Kaedin.
I shook my head, “He isn’t my father,” I had lost count of how many times I had said that to people. “My father is Arminius, the one over there,” I said and pointed to his statue.
“Oh, well the more you know I guess.”
We walked past statues of the BrightKing, Lord Arcturus, Lord Occam, and a dozen other lords that I had never met. At the end of the row was a huge fountain and behind it was the entrance to the school. Two massive doors hung open and inside about a dozen people were milling around and talking to each other.
“At least we were not last,” Sam said and walked into the building, we followed shortly behind him. The inside of the building was some sort of ballroom with a large stage on one side and chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling.
Lancaster stood talking to a woman with green eyes and brown hair. She was wearing a business-like shirt and a short skirt. She had a wand at her side and was carrying a Pad.
“Names please?” she asked, we gave her our names and she typed them in. Then with a flick of her wrist, she materialized seven Pads and handed them to us. I blinked and looked down at mine.
“These are ours now?” I asked and tapped at the screen. It came to life and said, “Welcome Ryze Varus, to Leviathan Academy.”
“Yes, these are yours for the duration of your stay at Leviathan. If you graduate in three years' time, those will be yours for life. However, if you are expelled then you will need to return them.”
Noah and Alex looked down at them in confusion, “ma’am, what do these do?” Noah asked.
“These are Pads, they allow for instant communication within a certain area. For students, that would be the city of Leviathan itself. Outside of the city, these devices will not work. You may use them to send videos, messages, or pictures to each other. You will also find an accurate map of the school and city on it.” she said and turned to Lancaster, he looked around at everything except for her.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Alex said and we took a seat at one of the many tables. I glanced around on the Pad and fiddled with the settings while everyone else got the tutorial. I had managed to liberate one from a servant a few days ago and familiarized it before getting caught.
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“This is rather advanced tech.” Arya said while messing with the screen, “Why don’t we have this everywhere?”
“It is incredibly new technology and quite expensive,” Val said and pocketed her Pad.
“We should probably exchange numbers,” Sam said, “That way we can find each other more easily.”
We nodded in agreement and tapped devices together. While we were doing this Ilia the elf popped into existence on top of the table. I jumped back and pulled out my knife, Arya stood up while Alex jumped into her arms. Noah and Val looked at her with surprise and Sam just shook his head.
“Hi Illia,” he said, “took you a while to get.” Arya looked at Alex and he sheepishly smiled back. She rolled her eyes and put him down.
“Wait how did you know where he was?” Val asked suspiciously. Illia turned to look at her.
“What do you mean?” she asked sweetly.
“You know what I mean, you appeared right next to Sam, meaning that you would have to know exactly where he was.”
She shrugged and Val continued, “meaning that you put a tracking spell on him, didn’t you?” she asked accusingly.
“Tracking spell?” Sam asked with alarm, “You were stalking me?”
“I did nothing of the sort,” she said happily and the woman from earlier walked over.
“Ah Ms. Mallory, it is good to meet you again,” Illia said and hopped off the table. Ms. Mallory blinked at her in surprise before recovering quickly.
“Illia is it?” she asked and Illia nodded, “I assume you are our exchange student?”
“Yes,” she said and was handed a Pad. “It is a pleasure to meet one of the Fair Folk,” Ms. Mallory said and walked off.
“How did you know her name?” Sam asked, Illia turned to him, “it was on her shirt.”
I blinked and looked over at her, she was right. In red letters on the collar of her shirt was the name, Mallory. I felt really stupid for not noticing that.
“I’m not the only one who feels really dumb for not noticing that right?” Cassie asked and we all nodded.
“Well, then Illi-” Val started then stopped when she realized that Illia was nowhere to be found. “Where did Illia go?”
We looked around before noticing that Sam was gone as well, “Where did Sam go?” I asked.
Alex grinned, “Maybe they went off together, you saw how they were looking at each other.”
“Yeah, the same way you look at Arya,” Noah said and Alex and Arya both turned red.
“Anyways, I’m sure they’re fine.
Sam screamed as he felt his body pop out of existence and renit itself. He opened his eyes to find himself in a room with Illia. It had four beds and a window. To one side was a door that led to a bathroom.
“Quit screaming,” Illia said and slapped him in the face.
“Why did you bring me here?” he asked and looked around, “Also where is here?”
“I brought you here because we need to talk, and this is one of the dorms.” she said, “first off, I know you’re in there Caesar. I need you to come out. This is important.”
“What in the world are you on about?” he asked her.
She growled at him, “Don’t play dumb with me! That Valentine girl could sense you.”
“What the fuck?” he asked.
“Caesar now! I’m not playing any of your games today,” she yelled at him, Sam put a hand to his side and his sword materialized.
“Listen Illia, I don’t know what's wrong with you, but please if you could just explain to me what’s going on. It would be greatly appreciated.”
She rolled her eyes and put a finger on his chest, “I’ll give you till the count of three before I put this hand through your chest.”
His eyes widened and he swung his sword at her. She ducked under it and slapped the blade. Sam gasped in pain as he felt the sword leave his hand. He rematerialized it and tried again. This time she froze his arm mid-air with a spell and with one hand lifted him up the wall.
“Caesar, why won’t you just talk to me?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Who the fuck is Caesar and what do you want with me?” Sam shouted in fear and tried to move his arm.
Illia sighed and thought, “Maybe they haven’t made the bond yet, I know my love wouldn’t just ignore me like that.” Then she got an idea, she lowered him from the wall and pulled him in, and kissed him. She pulled away and looked expectantly at him. He blinked in surprise, opened his mouth then closed it, and opened it again. Looking like a fish out of water he sputtered, “WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?”
She groaned and said, “I guess he hasn’t, that is fine I will wait.” she turned around, “Also Sam, if you tell anyone, I will kill them.”
With a flash she disappeared, “Wait no don’t lea-” he began before he too disappeared.
Kaedin rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked down on the two scouts. One was quietly praying for his life and the other had gone catatonic. Both were in chains and guarded by legionaries.
“Ninety-three,” he said, “That is the number lost in the last attack, ninety-three of your brothers in arms killed because of your failures.”
“Please Lord, forgive us!” one begged, “I have a wife and child!”
The other one didn’t even look up, he knelt on the ground barely breathing. Kaedin gave the man a disapproving look, “Do not ask for my forgiveness, ask for it from the ones you got killed.”
The man started crying and he sighed, “to repent for your crimes I give you two options. Either you two will bury all ninety-three of your brothers by yourself and your service years will be reset. Or you may choose death.”
“I’ll do anything to see my family again, please!” the scout begged, Kaedin nodded to him and the guards took him away. The other man whispered something incoherent.
“Speak up man.” he commanded, the man looked up with dead eyes and whispered, “Death.”
“So, have you put any thought into who you want to be teammates with?” Cassie asked.
“Not really, though I feel like being teammates with Alex might be interesting,” I said and looked over to where Alex was waving his hands around and gesturing at his Pad.
“Interesting is not always a good thing,” she said and gave him a disapproving look.
“Eh well then there's Noah who seems quiet but nice and finally your brother,” I said and turned around as he walked into the building. “Speaking of which.”
“Yo Sam where'd you go?” I asked, he looked pretty shaken up and had a thousand-yard stare. “Bro?”
He looked over at me, “oh sorry what’s up?”
“I said where’d you go, you’ve been gone for like twenty minutes.”
He looked alarmed, “That long?”
“Yeah Illia’s also gone, have you seen her by chance,” Cassie added in.
“Yep, I’m right here!” Illia said happily as she popped into existence right next to Sam. We all jumped, “Ah! Illia you gotta stop doing that.”
“My apologies Ryze.”
“So anyways where’d you two go?” Cassie pressed. Sam looked down at the elf with a panicked expression and she smiled up at him.
“Nowhere,” she said slyly. I grinned at him and behind me, I heard Alex shout, “My man!” and Noah yell, “Hell yeah!”
“No wait it’s not like that,” he said quickly. Cassie raised a brow at him, “Oh? Do tell me then dear brother, what was it like?”
Sam sputtered and looked down at Illia for help, she shrugged and winked out of existence. “Oh that is so not fair, you can’t just disappear whenever you want!”
She returned, “Why not?”
“Because…” he said and tried to think of an answer and came up blank. A few moments later Illia disappeared again. Sam let out an exasperated sigh and sat down.
“So really, what did you guys do?” I asked.
“We…” he started slowly, “went out to get some fresh air.”
I gave him a disappointed look, “really that’s the best you can do?”
He gave me the finger, “Fuck off Varus, quit nosing around in my business”
Ms. Mallory stormed up behind him and smacked him over the head with a long metal stick, presumably her wand.
“Watch your language young man! You may be the prince but that does not make a difference when you are on campus.” she declared and smacked him again for effect.
“Damn that hurt,” Sam said and rubbed his head, only to get hit again. He cursed and was hit a fourth time. This turned into a cycle of Sam getting hit and then cursing and Ms. Mallory hitting him again. I looked in disbelief as he kept on swearing and cursing.
“Damn you woman!” he yelled and Ms. Mallory raised an eyebrow and hit him a lot harder than before. The light in Sam’s eyes extinguished for a moment and he collapsed. Then he opened his eyes again and rubbed his head.
“I hope you have learned your lesson.” Ms. Mallory said and brandished her wand at the rest of us, “That goes for all of you, I will not tolerate swearing or slurs of any kind.”
“Yes ma’am,” we said meekly. Sam rubbed the top of his head and rested his forehead on the table. I walked over and patted him on the shoulder, “hah you dumb bitch.” I whispered in his ear. Ms. Mallory's eyes flashed for a moment before a sick grin spread across her face.
“Uh oh.”
After a thorough thrashing and a promise of more if I ever swore again, Ms. Mallory the Child Beater left us alone. Sam and I moaned and groaned as we rubbed the various lumps that were forming all over our bodies.
Noah and Alex were laughing like maniacs and pointing at us. Arya and Cassie gave us concerned looks and Val was quietly reading a book. Cassie walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
“Are you ok?” she asked gently, unbenounced to her. She had put a hand on one of my many bruises.
“Hand. not. there. Please.” I grunted and she let go.
“My own sister goes to another before her own brother,” Sam said, “you traitor! What happened to all those nights I spent reading stories to you and comforting you when you couldn’t sleep?”
Cassie flushed red, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she declared.
“You bi-” he started before I clamped a hand on his mouth, he looked at me and I shook my head, “not again my friend, not again.”
I closed my eyes and noticed that there were a lot more people talking than before. I looked around and saw more than eighty percent of the students had made it.
Lancaster looked at his watch and gave Ms. Mallory a nod. She rolled her eyes and with a flick of the wrist, the missing students appeared, about thirty feet in the air. Twenty or so students rained from the sky and crashed into the ground. Lancaster sighed and walked up to the stage and everyone quieted down.
“Good afternoon students,” he began, “today some of you have shown quick and precise thinking while others have not,” he said and looked around the room.
“This school was created in the aftermath of the Reclamation wars as a way for young nobles and common folk alike to unite and work together. It gives an equal opportunity for all to achieve their goals and help the people of the Empire. Therefore I expect civility and cooperation from each and every one of you. I will not tolerate any prejudice or discrimination, I will not tolerate any cheating or dishonest behavior. I would also like to wish you good luck in your initiations and the rest of your stay here at Leviathan. Good night.” he said and walked off the stage and out of the door.
Ms. Mallory walked up to the stage, “For tonight, you will be sleeping in the ballroom until teams are formed, then you will be moved into dorms. Do not stay up past curfew and do not be late for initiations, if you are. You will be dropped in your sleep.”
I wondered what that meant, where we going to be kicked out of the school, or was it something else. She walked off the stage and disappeared, it seemed like people with magic really enjoyed doing that.
“So everyone’s going to be sleeping in the same room huh.” Alex said, Noah, turned to him, “Yep, is that going to be a problem?”
“Not at all, I have eight siblings and I shared a room with four of them. This’ll be luxury compared to having to deal with Landon’s snoring.”
“Eight siblings?” Sam asked.
“Yep, four pairs of twins and me,” he said happily. “Don’t ask me why I don’t have a twin. But I’m glad I don’t.”
“Yeah as are the rest of us,” I muttered and they laughed.
“I’m not sure, I think I would like another Alex,” Arya said, Alex smirked and a copy appeared next to her. She screamed and punched it in the face, Alex shouted in pain and fell down while the copy disappeared.
“Why?” he moaned and grabbed his nose. Arya looked at him in confusion, “Wait what, who was that?”
“That was me you crazy woman!” he shouted, “well, that was my trait at least.”
“Do you make copies of yourself?” she asked, he shrugged.
“In a sense yeah,” he said and explained it to the girls and Noah, Arya was incredibly fascinated by it and asked some peculiar questions.
“So you feel everything?” she asked, “like touch and pain?”
“Yep, so please don’t get in a habit of punching them like the princess,” he said the last part and glared at Cassie. She shrugged, “you shouldn’t have been doing that anyway.”
“Doing what?” she asked, Cassie opened her mouth to reply but I clamped a hand over it.
“Nothing, he was playing a joke on a friend and Cassie stabbed his copies.” Alex gave me a relieved look and mouthed a thanks. I nodded and let go of Cassie, she glared at me with red eyes and slapped me.
“Ow!” I yelped and touched my face, “What was that for?”
“You know damn well what that was for,” she said and Sam and I gasped. For a moment she went pale as we stared at her in shock. But sadly Ms. Mallory didn’t come to deliver the pain train and we looked at each other in disappointment. Cassie gave us a disbelieving look and rolled out a sleeping mat.
“Might as well go to bed early,” she said and lied down, “We'll need to be up at 6:00 for initiations.”
“Wait how do you know that?” I asked and she tossed her Pad at me, “read a little from time to time you dunce.”
On the Pad was the schedule for Initiation, at 6:00 we would wake up and be dressed for combat by 7:00. Then we would be sent off tell 5:00 and at 6:00 we would be assigned, teams and partners.
My stomach grumbled and Sam looked at me, “you too?” I nodded, Alex and Noah also nod and together we went on a quest to find dinner.