When Evia woke she found that she was alone in her bed. She looked up from her pillow to see Alexa, Adriane, and Marissa all sitting in front of the TV. Marissa looked over at her and smiled widely.
“ Come on Sleepy-Head! The results are going to be released!”
Evia groaned and pulled her blankets over her head. As she closed her eyes a familiar scent came to her. Evia’s eyes shot open and she threw off her covers. Following her nose, she saw a bowl in Marissa’s hand.
“POPCORN!!!” Evia jumped out of her bed. She pounced on the bowl grabbing it from the startled girl's hand. And shoved a hand full into her mouth. Buttery. Alexa stared at her then poked Marissa.
“ Remind me to get some of that. Evia sleeps like the dead.”
Evia ignored this comment and continued eating, and then yelped as the black screen in front of her flash a blue light before showing a person sitting at a desk, blue orbs floating in the background.
“ MOTHER OF ZEUS!! WHAT THE HELL?!?!?”
Adriane and Marissa looked horrible at her, while Alexa eyes widened with realization. Evia didn’t know much about technology and when she had seen the long black screen in their room. She’d been confused and Alexa had said it was a TV but hadn’t mentioned how it worked. Alexa slowly tried to calm Evia down and explained how the TV worked.
Evia was amazed by technology once again and after many demonstrations, she figured out how to work the remote. Marissa seeing Evia’s interest said that she had a computer at her house and that Evia was free to come by and try it. Evia agreed, pretending to know what a computer was. Alexa wasn’t fooled but just grabbed a piece of popcorn and popped it into her mouth. Evia watched as Marissa clicked a few buttons on a slim ¨remote¨. The screen flicked and three people now stood on screen. Two were half naked and were sitting on a bed, while the other woman stood in the doorway. All three were very attractive, though the woman in the doorway seemed very mad.
“ How could you Mark!”The woman in the doorway shouted. The man, mark stood up and came toward her.
“Maria please I can explain..”
But before he could finish the woman, Maria slapped him. Evia really wanted to know what was going on. But just then the screen went black and a timer went off. Evia looked around for the noise and found Alexa holding a small device.
“ The results for the exam should be up now!” Alexa said staring at the TV. Then the screen changed to three robed figures sitting at a large table. The oldest man stood up and cleared his throat. Evia recognized him as Headmaster Blackstone.
¨ Greetings, I, as you may know, am Headmaster Blackstone. I realize you all have much to do, so I'll make this quick.¨
The man looked kindly at the screen, before continuing.
“We thank all of our applicants and are pleased to announce this year's batch of first years at
Xioto´s Academy of Magic and Martial Arts.”He paused and a list of names appeared on the screen. The head master's voice read them one by one.
“ Piper Oconto ¨…..¨ Mike Solace¨…….¨ Adriane Allerton¨
Marissa whooped and clapped Adriane on the back. Alexa and Evia cheered.
¨ Alexa Vernandez¨.
Evia cheered even louder and hugged Alexa. She was getting used to the idea of ¨hugs¨ and rather liked them. Adriane and Marissa congratulated her, and Evia through popcorn into the air as Marissa´s name was called. The names continued, and the group became more and more tense. Evia´s name had yet to be called.
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“ Jake Simmon.¨…...¨ Ravic Morish.¨…...And last but certainly not least Evia.¨ There was a paused as the headmaster searched for the last name, but when he couldn't find one he simply smiled at the camera.
“Thank you again, and I hope to see all our new students on September 1st. If you are need of school supplies please visit our website for more information.¨
The screen went black once again and turned back to the dramatic show. Marissa jumped up and yelled.
“We're going to Xioto Academy!!!¨
The three laughed cheerily. Adriane leaned forward.
¨ We had an almost definite spot at the academy because were nobles. It's much more impressive that Alexa and Evia got in.¨
Alexa blushed at the praise. And Evia tossed her long black hair back and smiled arrogantly.
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Evia pulled on her hood and looked at herself in the mirror. It was a difficult thing to hide the allure of a goddess. The Gods were notoriously beautiful. Most of there looks were by choice, but there was something about them that drew the mortals in. GOD! She looked like a scrawny adolescent boy, still wet behind the ears. Evia frowned and silently slipped out of her room. The others had gone to town, but she had opted to stay and catch up on some sleep. Alexa had protested but eventually, they had left. It was broad daylight and Evia slipped out of the door of the inn.
She walked through the crowds. With a relaxed posture and casual gate, she made her way through the crowd. Evia had made it a point to check on there meeting spot the previous night and had not been very impressed.
Pin´s Bakery was a shabby place. Pin the owner was a gapped tooth man in his mid-50s. There weren't any customers, in fact, it looked as though there hadn't been for a long time. Chairs and tables were crapped into the enclosed space. And rust clouded the glass. There was a bowl of hard candy on the counter.
Before she walked through the door, an arm flew out of the shadows and tugged her into the darkness. She was expecting the act and did not resist.
¨ So you actually came.¨ The assassin said. She smiled under her hood.
¨ of course.¨ She responded.
After looking her up and down he scowled and muttered something under his breath.
¨ Alright, they should already be in there. When we meet them to try and be inconspicuous. Speak as little as possible. I'll introduce you as my...apprentice.¨
He seemed defeated as he said the word. She almost smiled again, he was probably still wondering why he had agreed to let her tag along. He also probably hadn't considered shed used magic.
¨ These are Assassin and if they decide they the don't like you. Don´t think I'll stop them if they try to kill you. She nodded not really paying attention. Seeing this the boy rolled his eyes and dragged her back out. He held her hand as they entered the bakery.
Pin smiled toothly as he saw them enter.
¨ What can I do for you?¨ He asked leaning forward on his counter. Beady eyes staring at them.
¨ Nothin much Pin, I´d just love one of your Gobstoppers.¨ The Assassin said adopting an accent of a common brawler. He smoothly made eye contact with Pin and the ¨backer¨ nodded.
¨ We should have some in the back, sir. ¨
The backer led them behind the counter and into the kitchen. Well, a poor excuse for one. It was smaller than the former room. And was mostly taken up by a large man-sized oven. Pin´s smile never left his face as he walked to the oven and tapped a couple of bricks. There was a grinding sound and the mouth of the oven widened. Revealing an opening.
The assassin gripped her hand led her toward the whole. Evia looked at it. It was big enough so that a full grown man could crawl into it. But it was still so….tight...and dark. Evia hesitated as they neared it. She really didn't want to go in there.
¨ Don´t be scared¨ the assassin whispered to her.
She let his words wash over her. She wanted them to be comforting, she wanted them to make her fear stop. But before she could continue to think about her predicament. The Assassin had already tugged her to the entrance and rather forcefully thrown her in. She slid down. And it took all the self-control she had to keep her magic in check.
She kept her eyes on the faint light at the end of the tunnel and before she could take another breath, she was lying on the floor of a dimly light room. She heard the sound of sliding wood behind her and she moved out of the way. Just as the assassin landed where she had been lying just a moment ago. Unlike her ungraceful fall, his movements were swift and fluid.
Evia stood and scanned the room. It was a spacious room that looked like a tavern. Chairs and tables spaced neatly, with a bar in the right corner. A longboard across the room. Had a little over a dozen sheets of paper. Due to her godly sight, she could read the paper and saw that they were simply job offers. Most of them you would normally see in a mercenary guild. Simple stuff, like getting rid of bandits, monsters etc. Others were a bit more what you'd expect to see in an assassin hang out. Killing warrants and offers from rich lords. Noticing her gaze, the assassin explained,
¨ We have a very open business. Unless the client specifically asks for secrecy, we´ll put up a job notice. ¨
Evia nodded, though in her experience assassins were supposed to be more….secretive. She shrugged and turned to her companion to see him already heading toward a table, were three figures assassins. She quickly walked after him.