Chapter 1.3

Rayval's Faces

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His bones groaned after his awakening. Loskai didn't expect to fight last night but did make sure they aren't coming back to school anytime soon. It would be better if he could just leave their bodies in the alleyways of these dark streets. Fortunately for them, they live on the side of town where the police cares to uphold.

But they ain't got solid evidence of the fight. And no police would willingly venture this deep here. Just goes to show how bad this place really is. Loskai thought to reassure himself.

A sudden small, but brief presence entered his senses like a rat sneaking across the room.

Massstteeer~!

'Hm?' Loskai looked around yet somehow his focus landed on the little alarm clock besides him. This cause him to rub his temples to release and unconscious stress.

'Pressure points...' Loskai though hazily. 'Another one above and below there-. What's the neck one again?'

He pressed and rotated the knuckle of his thumb there anyways. As long as it was in his flavor, Loskai didn't hesitate to pressure the spot.

Nevertheless. Today he was going to buy lunch during school with his extra money, and that alone brighten his mediocre mood.

As usual, his sack wasn't suitable to hold food but he didn't need to get a proper bag. The sack Loskai uses is waterproof and flexible, qualites that are expensive for packs.

The two large blurry men in the corridors weren't here. Either earnt a room or in the process of one like how all recruited members went through. And lastly, there was those who failed but were allowed indoors.

'Our own society.' Loskai though to himself.

From the edge of the college where the cafeteria is. Loskai was holding today's special sandwich roll and a flavoured milk carton.

Seats were everywhere yet all occupied so he was strolling outside, searching for a secluded spot with the sun above and cooling breeze below.

He knew the school well enough that the back of the campus and the front are always bursting with activity, as well as the the other two sides.

'Upstairs in the hallways then.'

And his friend in the library?

His chessmate can find another player or would keep practicing his ukulele. It was only Loskai who thought of him as a distant friend, after all, that diligent weirdo was the only one who was waiting for the world to end as he plays a chore.

Loskai was unwrapping his sandwich as he climbed the stairs to what seemed like an partly empty building, but a classroom door opened from the upper level and several people were coming down.

"So that's what happened." Was the first word that Loskai heard before he encountered them as they appeared from the corner.

Glaring down at Loskai were his nemesis. Both frozen to the ground as if there was an animal about to charge.

Everyones hearts were beating consciously, the air if affected by it was pushing them side to side as they held balance. Trying not to fall. To leap. To fail and break the silence.

"Yes, that's whats happened." Loskai said plainly. However, due to the atmosphere it was more like a challenge than anything else.

One descended down the flight of stairs and pushed his body against Loskai, trying to push him down if not making Loskai step back.

He did not budge but even won the aggressor backwards without the assistance of the handrail.

"You need to at least ambush me with all you got, like last time to get me pussys."

Unfortunately for them, they are still in school and there was a mounted camera on the top corner of the ceiling behind Loskai.

Rayval's group finally brushed past him hard enough to get away without suspension. Muttering a threat in the progress.

"Nice sandwich. You'll be wasting it after school in Iggulden's park."

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A record already made. It was the first time calling him out twice in two weeks in a row. The first time he ignored it was when they decide to fight(ambush) him in their own time.

In short. It was better to answer the summon and fight face to face than living with being stalked.

Proceeding upwards, there were only loners playing on their phones while their heads loomed over it. Keeping to themselves which made Loskai remember about those homeless, yet placed lingers back in the apartments.

'Nevermind. Guess sitting on the stairs will do.'

As Loskai began his quiet meal, he thought of last night. His kick replayed and various scenarios, the experience made him feel like an almost movie director.

Chewing thoroughly, his actions reflecting his mind. If Cain dodged his heel. Caught it or change his target of aggression in that direction. It was: What could he do more efficiently? Used another technique, focus on a fighting style. Keep training?

'If he passed that kick..- Do another spin kick below? Flying knee on the go?' He questioned himself.

Visualization both named and unnamed moves his shadow fighters were demonstrating, Loskai lost his sight of what was infront of him. His mouth still chewing.

"The hell are you doing Loskai?"

The student was holding his ukulele in one hand and his bag in the other. That chess guy. His question sounded like a rhetorical one with his light tone and cherry expression.

"Nearly class already." Loskai said as a jolt shock him.

"No. The library is even more crowded, something's happening there."

He too sat down and fidgited with his musical instrument, strumming a few strings and stared at it hesitantly. A true artist.

Comparing Loskai and him. The only thing separating them was sheer luck against sheer talent. Loskai belonging to the former.

It was luck he was able to stay alive this long. From old comrades of his father taken pity to having grown his size to belittle those in the streets.

He knew it well fully. His maturity came earlier than most and at times, sometimes his conscious would do a burst of acceleration into the past, replaying the chapter after the days of scandal. It bit him like an cold iron chisel, forcing him to never forget, and never forgive.

The young man circumstances is a 180° to Loskai. Rather than belittling others, he was the one most ignored.

A miserable chuckle spilled from Loskai lips. Fitting for a miserable par.

"What are you laughing at? You got that creepyas smile on your face."

Loskai shook his head. Only giving one sentence.

"Cruel irony of us, huh?"

"You're seriously weird." He said loudly, yet it wasn't at him directly.

Everyday is always different. Always something coming up or going down. There is no exceptions in life. That word itself only had meaning in a world full of chains.

Exceptions.

The two bruised and plastered sitting under the shade of the tree behind Rayval and his group were watching eagerly, yet unsure whether this was okay.

"You don't need them right? Rayval... We just need to beat him up." One of his friend consoled.

Rayval arm swung at large young man.- The difference between their heights was more than his own armspan. However, holding a sheathed sword surpassed Rayval's limit.- He was able to crack his 'friend's' nose.

Blood sprayed away and across the grass. The sword was still unarmed. Expected from the first son under the wing of mother, he was able to not make the sheath slip off.

Those minor details were ignored by the others and instead rushed to help the big fella. Striking him was just to show his dominance. But to Loskai?

Rayval still considers Loskai as a threat, a nemesis that will forever stain him and his house. But despite knowing this, Loskai couldn't find any other reasons.

The park was secluded of all kindness and generosity. Neglected of care like most people who lingers around on the wooden post or hanging on the branches of the tress.

Moving over to Loskai, Rayval lifted the sword and shoved the metal-capped sheath at Loskai chest. Their stares matched each other, mutual intensity.

'Touch it bitch.' Rayval's eyes said.

When the moment passed unmovingly. Rayval spoken his intentions.

"Lately you've been getting cocky, Loskai." The sword was pressed harder at him, now being able to feel the chape edge apon his ribs.

The sword was long, dangerously long for both himself and Rayval. Both the scabbard and handguard was wonderfully embedded with decorative features made of gold. He could only assume the handle and blade were of the same quality.

It made him wonder how he was able to own such an expensive heirloom of mother's family.

'It seems unused. Is it new?'

Beside the sword. Loskai only knows of mother's gold and silver dragon hairpin, phoenix fan and father's obsidian edge axe.

"Are you going to use it on me?"

"I don't know. I got nothing to do."

'So he's doing this because he's bored?'

Thinking about father's axe, he couldn't help but ask about it. It was then Rayval though briefly before a mocking full lip smile grew on his face.

"-? Ah. Mother threw it away."

"... Where?"

"Huuuh?! Why should I tell you?"

The sword punched Loskai indifferently at Rayval's lousy response. This action seemed to irritate Rayval himself rather than Loskai. Because of Loskai's unresponsive nature, their interactions came to a choke.

There was an unease behind Rayval. The victims wanted revenge by trying to record Loskai carnage by provoking him. But things went amiss when Rayval went his own way.

Loskai saw the phone they were holding. Waiting for the moment to begin.

'This isn't like him.' Of all times Rayval wanted to assault him. Rayval would only go so far as spectating his schemes in person, but this itself was so odd that his goons were at lost.

"What happened back at the House?"

"Why do you want to know?! Your grades are shit! Your a disgrace. I'm glad mother kicked you out!"

Rayval's hand twitched, wanting to swing and strike at Loskai but the pressure unknowingly held him still.

It was unsettling to Loskai that Rayval started to aim at him for whatever happened back at the house. It was likely that it was going to get worser if Loskai did nothing.

Loskai folded his glasses and putted it in his pocket. Those large frame glasses which made him look like an easy target of abuse now were off, revealing a face similar to father's one. And by no means it was a kind and soft face like Rayval.

If mother was the deceiver, underhand poisoner. Rayval was the pitful spoilt dragonling. And for father who was the once great Basilisk, his petrifying eyes and bold face and build has passed on to Loskai.

Rayval was always mistaken as the younger brother of the two, and perhaps it was because of other people's judgment that cause Rayval's undimmed rivalry.

A fast vice-like grip grabbed the scabbard of Rayval's miaodao.

"You would be worser off than me if you start it. But then again. You always chose benefit over blood."

Minutes counted down. Rayval clearly wasn't happy with Loskai holding the sheath nor how wiser he sounded in the situation.

"Why do you want dad's axe for?" Rayval finally said.

"... To honour him."