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(Isaac’s POV)

As Isaac did his research he couldn't find much about the school except about the original owners who commissioned the construction. Originally it was built as an adventurers guild for different explorers to show and contain the various treasures they gathered from around the world but after the sudden death of the original owners it was sold off and passed hands multiple times before someone decided to turn it into a school. They remodeled the main building to hold some classes but left a lot of the original structure alone just fixing it up so it is no longer falling apart. As he stopped his research with a grunt of frustration his roommate entered the room.

"Oh you are finally awake." The young man said. "I tried to get your attention yesterday but I assumed you fell asleep in a meditative pose. When I woke up you were already gone."

“Sorry I was really exhausted from traveling and completing the enrollment in the school. Also when I meditate I block out all other senses. I didn't mean to be out all day. I’m Isaac, what's your name?” Isaac stuck out his hand for a handshake in a simple greeting.

"It's quite alright Isaac. I just wanted to show you around the school. I am Luke." Shaking Isaac’s hand returning the greeting he smiled. Luke was around 5ft 9in with a slim build and a plain face. He had bright blonde hair with bright green eyes. He was currently wearing a skin tight athletic outfit with a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows on his back. He also had a small tattoo of the breaking Ankh with the ring around it on his forearm. Usually it would be covered with the school uniform but it was visible because of his current training outfit.

“Oh you are an archer that is really cool! How long have you been training?” Isaac showed his excitement like a child which caused Luke to chuckle a bit.

"Yes I am an archer and I have been training in archery since I was 12. If you are interested I can show you around the archery club. You can join if you want to but you don't have to. Clubs aren't a compulsory thing for the school. But clubs are a great way to get to know classmates and also to get some extra credit."

“Sure, I've always wanted to learn archery. I've read a lot of books on the subject but never had any practical experience.”

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"Great, then let's go!" Luke led the way to the archery club while speaking about the different members. It wasn't a large club with just 5 members but the members were all close friends.

After a few hours of practicing and getting lessons from Luke, Isaac was exhausted. Isaac didn’t have much skill with shooting the bow but Luke said he had some talent. Heading back to their room Isaac suddenly felt a burning pain on his chest. With a gasp he fell to his knees.

"Are you okay?!" Luke looked worried, after trying and failing to get Isaac’s attention he ran off to get help.

As Isaac sat there panting he heard a voice begin to speak. [You who meddles in my affairs shall bear a mark of my curse. Bring me what I desire before the mark of life shatters. If you fail this then your life will be mine forevermore.]

The voice kept repeating and growing louder as the burning on his chest increased. Suddenly he felt Val in the distance underground in the same situation. The burning pain caused Val to collapse too. They both had felt their connection with each other and the pain they were in. Finally it seemed to stop as Isaac fully fell on the ground panting for breath. FInally Luke returned with a nurse with him. After the nurse did a checkup on Isaac she decided that he must’ve overworked himself today and told him to take it easy for the next couple days.

Luke helped Isaac to their dorm room and once they finally returned Luke gave a long sigh of relief. "What happened to you man?"

“I don’t know, I felt as if someone was branding my chest before I got a pounding headache.”

All of the color in Luke’s face drained as he asked Isaac to take his shirt off. Isaac agreed and when Luke saw the mark he panicked. "Oh god not you too, this makes number 5."

“If it makes you feel better I think my brother got the mark too. I heard him when I got mine somehow. I don’t know how but I can feel that he got the brand too.”

"It means you were cursed." Luke explained. "Although in the past the other marked ones were woken from their sleep as they were branded. A spirit appeared before them before speaking."

“I heard speaking but I didn’t see anyone. But it was like an old voice was speaking in my head. Constantly getting louder and louder. It mentioned something about meddling and bringing them something.”

"Yes there is an old rumor of a magic artifact buried somewhere at the school that will give you the powers of a god. The spirit wants it or it will kill us." Luke sighed while sitting down. "Well might as well show you the tunnel." Getting up Luke led Isaac to the main hall and into the kitchen where he slid one of the floor tiles a bit causing another floor tile on the opposite end of the kitchen to slide into the wall and revealing a ladder leading down. Heading down into the hole they reached the bottom where Luke pulled a lever on the wall causing the hole to close up. Pulling out a flashlight Luke led Isaac down the tunnel.

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