{"sf1_id":274869,"sf2_id":"GnDAjd81","title":"Slayers GD: Book 1--The Assassin Strikes","author":"Behemel","words":34374,"posted_at":"2011-08-06T02:22:00.000Z","tags":["Fantasy","Human","Magic","Plot Development","Werewolf"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/274869-slayers-gd-book-1-the-assassin-strikes","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/GnDAjd81","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/39/5a/395a61da-50d1-4ec0-930f-1b3a46097d8f","description":"#1 of Slayers GD series\n\nZane Cosmon, a student at the Saillune Sorcery Academy, had always thirsted to aspire in sorcery to become a well renown sorcerer like legends before his time. Though powerful in his own right, he is a handful in the classroom. However he is put to the test when a mysterious assassin enters the once assumed impregnable walls of the academy. Dreaming of adventure all his life, Zane gets his wish as the assassin has set his sight on one perticular target. Him. This is a story of the next generation of Slayers! (A fanfic based on the Slayers series)","content":"Slayers  \nGD: Generation of the Dragon ©\n\nBook  \n1: The Assassin Strikes\n\nA  \nfan fiction by Behemel\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Aw crud,\" I said, \"Not another D!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I hated astral classes. Don't get me wrong. I loved magic, but every time I tried  \nto use a spell like Shadow Snap I'd screw up. The test we were taking was for  \nthe study of using magic upon the astral plane. My worst subject. The written  \npart I did well, but when I performed it, I guess I didn't use enough energy or  \nfocus. The spell was to nail a knife into a shadow and immobilize a person.  \nInstead, the knife appeared on my own shadow. The entire class laughed at me!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _I should have thrown a fireball at them._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Why! Why me!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Didn't you practice?\" Master Zolis asked. I had stayed after class to discuss my  \ngrades with him. Even though I wanted to be a full-fledged sorcerer, magic  \nschool can be a drag at times. \"Practice makes perfect, you know.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah, yeah,\" I groaned, slumping forward a bit. \"But I got most of the questions  \nright on the written test. How could I still get a D just because I failed in  \nperformance?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The old priest scratched his chin for a moment. \"To know something is important,  \nbut testing your knowledge in real-life situations is important as well.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I grumbled again, holding the knife I conjured from my failed spell. I was more  \nskilled in shamanic magic and black magic. I had put a lot of effort in my  \nstudies; however Shadow Snap was not an easy feat for me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You shouldn't really worry. It was just one test,\" my teacher reassured.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay. If you'll excuse me sir,\" I said and quickly left the room.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I suppose I should mention where my school was. The sorcerer's academy that I'm  \nattending is located near the heart of Saillune, practically next door to the  \nroyal palace grounds. What made this town a great place for the academy was for  \ntwo reasons. One, the city's layout itself was the shape of a giant hexagram,  \nwhich represented the balance of power and increased White magic spells. Also,  \nthe royal council greatly supports the school, making it a great place for  \nyoung sorcerers to learn sorcery.\n\nI strolled down the hall for my next class. Alchemy, another brain strainer because of all the  \nmathematics involved. Just to be clear, it wasn't as if I was dumb or anything.  \nBut sometimes my studies can have bad... _side effects_. In my first year, I  \nstudied like mad. I found every spell I could get my hands on. And then at the  \nend of my first year, I kind of did something I sort of regret. I cast a teeny,  \ntiny, itty-bitty Dragon Slave spell on the school gymnasium. In my defense, gym  \nclass was more of a hindrance. They should have thanked me for blowing it up,  \nnot scold me just because it wasn't my favorite class.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; From time to time as I practiced my spells, I had accidentally caused some property  \ndamage. Not as big, but still. What's the point of learning magic if you can't  \ntest your skills?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Come on here. Throw me a freakin' bone!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As I approached Alchemy class, I heard someone call my name.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh Zane! _Zaaaannee!_\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I wished someone had reduced me to a pile of ash just to avoid who it was. The  \noverly cheerful voice caused me to stop in my tracks as I turned around. To my  \nhorror, it was Cassandra. She held her books in her arms as she ran up to me  \nwith her smug little smile. I bet she loved to torture me this way.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Cassandra was one of the high ranked students in my class. She was skilled in the white  \nmagic and was an expert in Alchemy class. I remembered having to gravel at her  \nfeet to help me with demonic synthesis. Okay, gravel is pushing it a bit. But  \nit was not fun having her poke fun at my poor points.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hi Cassandra,\" I replied slowly.\n\nShe had long blond hair and wore a snug white priestess robe that hung off her. She smiled at me with another one of her playful looks. \"Another failed spell again? Tee hee!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh, sure. What a way to kick me while I'm down!\" I grumbled as she walked aside me.  \n\"Do you like seeing me mess up?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Of course not,\" she chirped, making me roll my eyes. She then spotted the knife I  \nstill held in my hands. \"Strange though. A Shadow Snap knife usually disappears  \nafter an hour or so. Its weird how yours doesn't.\" She almost sounded  \nintrigued.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Truth was, I never really thought of that. It just always happened. I was slightly  \nintrigued myself now to listen to her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I bet their trophies of your failed spells. You probably have a lot of them,\" She  \nchirped again in her cheery voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; OUCH! Now that hurt! I couldn't believe I actually thought that girl would give me a  \ncompliment so easily. I bet she loved seeing me steam.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Are you trying to get me mad?\" I asked in a raised voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She appeared shocked and shook her head. \"Oh no. I don't mean to infuriate you,\"  \nshe said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay. So she's not mean. Just annoying!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; No sooner had we entered the Alchemy lab, we got to our seats, Cassandra sitting  \nnext to me. As soon as all the other students got to their seats, our teacher  \nMaster Krots entered. To our surprise when we first met, he was a beast-man, a  \nbrown werewolf. He looked kind of funny all dressed in his red robe with  \nglasses on his mussel.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay class. Today we are going to finish our work on containment artifacts. For you  \nnon-listeners, they are objects that hold one spell that can be released upon  \ncontact.\" The werewolf then took out a small red stone from behind his desk and  \nplaced it down. \"Now everyone get out their stones and cast your spells on it.  \nNothing large, I'll remind you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Funny though that professor Krots's eyes came to me as I listened. In case I failed  \nto mention, I had a bad track record for small spells. As his gaze went away, I  \ntook out our stone. It was a brilliant blue flat gem that Cassandra and I had  \nmade together. Inside was a hexagram, the focus where the spell was to be sent.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay,\" Cassandra said as she reviewed her notes of what we did to make the thing. She  \nthen looked at the hexagram, checking to make sure our work was correct. \"I  \nthink we're finished all the touches of our work. Of course, this is my best  \nclass and reason I got the high honor roll!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _If you get high honor roll for being a know-it-all smarty-pants, then you blew  \nthem all away._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Now all we need is the spell,\" Cassandra said simply.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And then boys and girls, I jumped into action. \"I'll do it,\" I answered  \nimmediately.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She didn't listen. She just ignored me on purpose. She placed a finger on her chin  \nand looked at the ceiling as if in deep thought. I caught the look of dread on  \nher face. \"Hm, what spell should I put on it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay, now I was pissed._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Come on, let me!\" I said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Healing... no. Probably lighting...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"HEY!\" I practically shouted, grabbing her attention. \"I said I could do the spell!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A sweat drop dripped from her face as she gave a nervous chuckle. \"Are you sure?  \nI can do it myself.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Let me repeat: I'll. Do. It,\" I spelled out for her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Giving a shrug, she pushed the stone before me. As if to silently give her opinion,  \nshe pushed her chair a small distance away from me as soon as she gave me the  \nstone. She was making me feel as if I was some sort of monster or something.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; With a small sour look at her, I placed my hands onto the stone and chanted my  \nspell. My hands glowed with a reddish light as I focused my spell into the  \nsealed crystal. Cassandra listened as I chanted, recognizing the spell right  \noff the bat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Um Zane,\" she asked to be sure she heard right, \"What was that spell?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Not looking at her, I removed my hands as the red light disappeared into the stone.  \n\"Nothing big. Just a fireball.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"A FIREBALL!?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I immediately looked to her and held my finger to my mouth, telling her to hush  \nup. \"Say it a little louder, why don't ya. I don't think Master Krots heard  \nyou,\" I hissed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Actually, I did.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My gaze narrowed and a nervous sensation shot up my spine. I turned to who said  \nthat. To my left, standing right next to our table shadowed the beastly  \nwerewolf, Mater Krots. He had his arms folded across his chest and looked down  \nat me, his gaze peering through the corner of his glasses. \"A fireball, Zane?\"  \nhe asked in a calm, yet crossed tone.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _A footnote: Never, **ever** give a werewolf with a grade book a reason to get  \nangry with you._ \u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I gave a nervous chuckle at my teacher, seeing the unyielding, wolf-like nature  \nin his eye. \"Is that all you cast?\" he asked clearly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I nodded vigorously. \"Yes sir, I swear,\" I said simply.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His  \ngaze remained at me for a moment. Then with a huff, he stepped away back to  \ncheck on the other students' work. I turned to Cassandra. She too looked  \nuneasy. I couldn't tell weather it was because of our werewolf teacher or me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Are  \nyou sure you don't want me to do the test run on it?\" she asked me wearily.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; That  \nanswered my question.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \ncan do it,\" I said grumpily.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Before  \nlong, everyone was at the back of the lab. Master Krots had put up a barrier  \nnear the back of the room so any misfires or destructive spells would be  \ncontained. All of us now waited for the first instructions.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Now  \nclass,\" Master Krots said strictly, \"You are to place your containment stones  \ninto the field and unleash the spells you've placed in them.\" He waved for one  \nof the students into the field and he stepped in. The kid put the stone onto  \nthe ground and quickly stepped out of the glow of the barrier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Unlock!\"  \nhe spoke. With a glow, a ball of bright light flashed into existence from the  \ncharm.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Excellent,\"  \nKrots complimented as the student retrieved his expelled charm. \"Next.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nclassmates had cast pretty simple spells. Nothing creative though. Most of the  \ncharms held spells like healing and lighting, and the small fireball or two.  \nThen, it was my turn. Cautiously, I stepped into the field and dropped the  \nstone onto the floor. As I turned back, I saw that Cassandra had back away to  \nthe rear of the group. That girl had an unconscious way of ticking me off. As I  \nstepped out of the field, everyone as well took a step away except for the  \nbarrier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _What  \nam I, a calamity upon humanity!?_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Go  \non Zane,\" Krots said simply, the only one who hadn't backed away. \"Unleash the  \nspell.\" At least Master Krots wasn't afraid.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Acting  \ncarefully, I held my hands in the direction of the field and focused on the  \ncharm. \"Unlock!\" The gem let out a red glow and quickly let lose a small amount  \nof flame. Or at least that's what _should_ have happened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Upon  \nactivation, the red glow grew bigger and bigger in size, quickly filling up the  \nspace within the enclosed field. Truth was I hadn't anticipated the fireball  \nspell to be that powerful. It shouldn't have been. A loud hum echoed through  \nthe room, causing everyone to take a step back including me. Flickers of flame  \ncould be seen as the light filled up the space of the field and then it  \nhappened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; KA-BOOM!!!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Smoke  \nswept through the room, casting everyone into a coughing fit. I remained very,  \nvery still as if mortified by what I'd done. The smoke soon cleared and to my  \nhorror. In the back of the room, a large hole had appeared through the wall,  \nsmoldering smoke from it. The warding field on the ground had been reduced to  \nsmudges on the floor. And the worse case of all, stood next to me.\n\nI was thankful  \nthat the warding spell somehow diverted most of the damage to the wall, because  \nstanding before me was my teacher. Specks of black soot were dotted upon his  \nfur and smoke trailed off his robe. His red robe had several burns along it,  \nmaking his overall appearance a complete mess. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His  \nteeth showed as he looked at me with crossed eyes. A growl softly escaped his  \nlips. I swear I saw him shaking in pent up anger.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _This is not good,_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Voicing his growl, he angrily  \npointed to the door. It wasn't a hard guess. I knew exactly where he was  \nsending me. And another mark on my track record.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nelegant room glistened with the sunlight coming through the stain glass  \nwindows. The delicate decoration of the chamber seemed almost holy. I stood in  \nthe center before a wooden desk. Sitting behind it was an old lady in a white  \nand gold priestess robe with her staff near her side. She appeared harmless at  \nthe time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"NOT  \nANOTHER ONE!\" she shouted at me with a booming voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay, almost harmless..._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Her voice caused me to cringe at  \nher tone. She wrote down something on a form, her movements of the pen furious.  \n\"We had hoped that this time of devastation would be kept to a minimum, Zane.  \nAnd every time, EVERY TIME you have always exceeded our expectations!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ngave a nervous chuckle, hoping to put my cunning to work and turn my trouble  \naround. \"Well,\" I said with a smile, \"I'm happy to except your praise,  \nma'am--.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nbase of her pen suddenly snapped as she was writing from gripping too hard. She  \nbanged the table as she quickly stood up. \"I'M NOT PRAISING YOU!\" she scolded.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; That  \nplan backfired. _Where does the old lady  \nget all this energy? Geez..._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I decided then to keep my mouth shut for a  \nmoment as she steamed. Slowly she sat herself back down at her desk and placed  \nher broken pen to the side. \"As headmistress of the sorcery academy, you know I  \ncannot let such actions go unpunished,\" she breathed calmly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"But  \nheadmistress,\" I spoke out to prove my innocence. Okay, innocence probably was  \nthe wrong image to go with. \"It was an accident. All I cast was a fireball and  \nit just violently blew up. I didn't mean to blow a hole in the wall.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"THAT'S  \nWHAT FIREBALLS DO!\" she shouted again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nlowered my head to yield to her criticism. I couldn't understand it. The  \nbarrier in Professor Krots's class was designed to keep spells contained  \ninside. Even though it wasn't build to uphold super destructive spells, a  \nfireball could only do so much damage. Then again, I the strength of a fireball  \nspell differ from the person using it. Even so, _mine_ shouldn't have the  \npower to break a warding barrier and cause enough damage to blow up the Alchemy  \nlab.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _I'm  \nstarting to think I'm a jinks here..._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Taking  \noff her glasses for a moment and rubbing the clean, the headmistress, Ms.  \nMagdalene looked at me with her blue eyes and sighed. \"Zane,\" she said calmly,  \n\"I'm assigning you to help Master Krots clean up the Alchemy lab, starting this  \nafternoon. On top of that, you are to report to him for detention for the  \nremainder of the week. Do you understand?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes  \nma'am.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nturned around and headed for the door. Just as I was about to turn the  \ndoorknob, I stopped hesitantly. I turned back to Ms. Magdalene, who now looked  \nback to the papers on her desk.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Headmistress,\"  \nI asked hesitantly. She drew her gaze towards me. My gaze slightly trembled before  \nher. \"I just wanted to let you know, that the spell I cast _was indeed_ a  \ncommon fireball. Let alone it was within a warding field. I'm not lying to  \nyou.\" I caught a glimmer of, what surprised me concern and sincerity in her  \neyes. \"Good day.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \neasily left the room and closed the door behind me. As I walked to face the  \nmusic with Master Krots, I couldn't help but think that there was something  \nwrong with me. Why did my magic always go array in power and strength. When I  \nblew up the gymnasium, I had gotten wind of a couple of people that talked  \nabout me. That at my age of twelve, I was able to pull off the strongest spell  \na human being could wield. It had taken grown men years to learn it. I couldn't  \nexplain it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Don't  \nget a swelled head there, Zane._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then,  \nas I moved out of the grand hall into the normal school building, I ran into  \nthat overly cheerful, scorch from the bowls of hell itself, Cassandra again.  \n\"Bet she gave you something _baaaad!\"_ she teased.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Never  \nfireball a girl! Never fireball a girl!_\n\nToo bummed and too  \ntired to respond, I simply walked past her. I'd given up trying to outwit her  \nfor one day. She abruptly followed me as I made my way to the Alchemy lab.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Let  \nme guess,\" she quipped, \"She made you go and rebuild the lab, didn't she?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Again,  \nI kept quiet.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She  \ntried to look me in the eye as I kept my gaze to the floor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Would  \nyou like me to help you?\" she asked simply. Her words grabbed me by surprise  \nand I stopped.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Cassandra?  \nOFFERING her help?! I'm dreaming! The bane of my sanity is actually helping me  \nhere!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Still  \nwith the gloomy look on my face, to not give off my surprise, I turned around  \ntowards her. \"What's the catch?\" I asked, checking to make sure of her  \nsincerity.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No  \ncatch at all. I just want to know if you want any help,\" she replied.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwas caught off guard. After a moment to think it over, I released a small sigh  \nof relief. \"Thank you,\" I said hesitantly, \"That's very nice of you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Cassandra  \ngave a small smile. \"Of course, I'm nice,\" she said cheerfully, \"Do I look like  \nthe sinister type?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad to admit, she'd put a smile on my face. It was what I needed after all.  \nWalking along side her, we headed back to Master Krots class. She was actually  \nkind of nice. I might have been wrong about her after all.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So,  \nhow bad did she say you screwed up their budget? I'd hate for her to cancel any  \nclubs to repay the damages.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfell over.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _I  \nWAS RIGHT! AAUUGH!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nsunlight of the late afternoon shined through the windows and the gaping hole  \nin the wall as Master Krots and I tried to clean up the place. I had shooed  \naway Cassandra after she insulted me again. I swear the girl was hardheaded.  \nMaster Krots did the small work like sweeping and cleaning the soot off his  \ndesk and left me the grunt work. I was pushing rubble aside and moving the  \ndesks and chairs to the side of the room. After a while he did help me with the  \nheavy lifting. It was actually good at time to have a teacher who wasn't human.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After  \nthe two of us hauled a box of heavy equipment to the side of the room, my  \nwerewolf teacher gave a sigh and wiped some sweat from his furry brow. \"Whew,  \nthis is surely a workout for an afternoon, wouldn't you say?\" Krots asked me. I  \njust gave a grumbled hum in response.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad to admit, I admired Master Krots as a teacher. He was always the kind of  \nguy you could share a good laugh with. Besides, I always try to keep on my  \nteachers' good sides. Don't give me that look. So one or two explosions in  \ntheir class, I'm a nice guy. Really!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just  \nat that moment, returning to pay my dept to the destruction I caused kind of  \nmade me gloomy again. As I went to lift another box over to his desk, he gave  \nme an almost sympathetic look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane,\"  \nMaster Krots said, \"Come on, cheer up a little. You're acting as if it's the  \nend of the world.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm  \njust tired of getting into trouble because my spells are so strong,\" I wallowed  \nas I heaved up a box from the ground. In my stubborn state, I didn't know it  \nwas so heavy and at the time I didn't seem to care. \"It was an accident, Master  \nKrots! I'm sorry!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat time, Master Krots ran up to me with his impressive speed and grabbed the  \nbox from my hands. He took it himself and granted me relief of the heavy load.  \n\"I know it was Zane,\" he said kindly, an almost soothing tone of voice. \"But  \nnone the less, you are responsible for your actions. You know that right?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nrolled my eyes. Of course I knew! I always took responsibility for what  \nmisdeeds I did. I never tried to wheedle out of a detention or anything. \"I do.  \nI just want to be a great sorcerer. What's the point of learning these great  \nspells if I never get a chance to use them?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"From  \nwhat I know of offensive spells, like the ones you like to show off,\" Master  \nKrots said as he easily placed the heavy box onto his desk. \"Is that you know  \nthem in hopes that you never have to use them. To defend yourself.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ncocked a look at him, his back facing me. \"Defend myself from what?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He  \ndidn't answer right away. In fact, he stood there for a second frozen as if  \nhe'd stepped on a poisonous scorpion. He then turned around to me, giving me a  \ncarefree look. \"Oh, you know... just bad people... out there,\" he said cautiously,  \nending with a nervous chuckle.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Not  \nvery convincing, teach._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ I  \ncast a suspicious glance at him; not knowing what he insinuated with that  \nlittle comment. Before I could push the envelope any further on the subject,  \nMaster Krots headed for the door. \"Excuse me,\" he said calmly, \"I must use the  \nrest room for a moment.\" Acting quickly, he stepped out of the room and went  \ndown the hall.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nI heard his footsteps fade away, I stuck my head out of the lab. With a look up  \nand down the hall, the coast was now clear, allowing me to do my magic.  \nStepping out into the hall, I turned back to the doorway and the view of the  \nruined room inside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Cupping  \nmy hand as if to hold a ball I chanted a small spell under my breath. As I gave  \na small exhale of focus, a small ball of white light appeared in my hand. It  \nwas a little white magic trick I used when I was asked to clean my dorm room.  \nOne of my original spells. With a small toss, the ball of white light fluttered  \ninto the room as if it was a fairy's soul.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nit reached inside, it released a strong flash and covered the room in its glow.  \nThe light faded away, and I let out a smile of victory. The spell had worked  \nbetter than I'd hoped. The room was completely spotless. The tables and desks  \nwere all back in their original places. The shelves were in place and not a  \nsingle scorch mark was left on the walls or floor. What really surprised me was  \nthat the hole in the wall was completely gone. It was as if nothing had  \nhappened in there. I felt a little nervous. Obviously, Master Krots would know  \nwell that I had used magic to clean the room.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane,\"  \nI heard his voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _And  \nthe garbage has hit the fan._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Walking  \ntowards me was indeed Krots, back from his bathroom break. \"What are you doing  \nout here?\" he asked as he approached the room. I was about to convince him to  \ncome back later but he simply walked around me and looked inside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A  \ngasp of surprise came from him as he observed the clean room. He almost looked  \nfrightened as he saw it. Slowly he turned to me. Not with a look of scorn, but  \namazement. \"Did you do this?\" he asked me like a whisper. I nodded slowly.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After  \na spooky moment of silence, Master Krots cleared his throat with a small cough.  \n\"Well then, ahem, I believe then we are done with the clean up here,\" he said,  \nreverting to his kind expression. \"Why don't you go up for dinner now? You've  \nworked hard enough.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I had to admit, I was a little  \nhesitant to the way he was acting. It was almost suspicious. \"Okay,\" I said  \nsimply and walked towards the cafeteria, \"Goodnight sir.\" Heading for the  \ncafeteria, I couldn't help but think that Master Krots was hiding something  \nfrom me. As soon as I was about to become paranoid about it all, the sound of  \nmy growling stomach saved me from the headache. I quickly rushed for the dinner  \nhall.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After  \ndinner, I went strait up to my room in the priest's dorm. Stashing a bag of  \ncookies I salvaged from the desert table away, I immediately headed for my  \ndesk. Under the framework was a thin drawer. I had magically locked the draw.  \nIt was common among sorcerers to keep their spells and discoveries secret. My  \njournal held everything I learned and came up with to aid my magic studies.  \nMany go about hoping to steal one another's work. Garbage like that always got  \nme steamed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Disenchanting  \nthe lock, I opened the draw to reveal a light-tanned journal with a gold  \nengraving on it, supposedly Ceiphied the dragon god. Hastily, I grabbed the  \nbook and flopped onto my bed. I opened the book to the last of my entries.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad a dream, a dream that drove me to learn as much about magic as I could and  \nbeyond. I had read of great sorcerers, like Rei Magnus and Lina Inverse. The  \npowers they invoked and accomplished left their marks on history for all time.  \nMy dream was to one day surpass them all. To be the greatest sorcerer of all  \ntime.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwrote into my book like a poet in possession of a hundred muses. Casting a  \nlighting spell up towards the ceiling, a sphere of light lit my room. Time  \npassed unnoticed to me. The late afternoon quickly turned to night as I  \ncontinued to write and draw diagrams for my spells.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Taking  \na moment to look back at one of my favorite notes, I found a part with the  \nincantations and description of one of the most powerful spells in shamanistic  \nmagic. It was Rei Magnus's spell called the Blast Bomb. Only three sorcerers in  \nhistory have ever cast this spell. Rei Magnus, who invented the spell, a mysterious  \npriest, which had hardly any information about him, not even a name, and Lina  \nInverse. She had existed two hundred years ago, but her adventures are told far  \nand wide as a legend.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Anyway,  \nthe Blast Bomb was a spell I practiced when I ever got the chance to test it  \n(Particularly away from public property). I never got so much of a flicker of  \nlight from my attempts. I just knew if I could find a way to cast that spell, I  \ncould at least come close to my idols in magic. It was probably strong enough  \nto damage a dragon with a direct hit.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay, now that's my imagination running away  \nfrom me. Hey! Get back here!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;According to my research, it required a large  \namount of magic capacity in order for spells like that to work. That always  \nbrought me down. I'd practice spell casting exercised in order to slowly  \ndevelop a stronger magic capacity, but it hadn't gotten very far yet.  \nNonetheless, the Blast Bomb was my most favorite spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Before  \nI knew it, lost in my creative frenzy, I began to feel tired and my eyes felt  \nheavy with exhaustion. It had been a trying day. With my book still clutched in  \nmy hands, I curled up to my pillow and rested my head for a moment. The magic  \nlight I had cast finally faded out and left the room dark. The only light came  \nfrom the window as the clouds passed over the full moon.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Too  \ncomfy on my bed, I closed my book and held it close as I felt myself drift off.  \nAs I was only seconds from passing out, I imagined myself in the midst of a  \nmagnificent battle. Looking as dramatic as a superhero, I pictured what I  \nimagined Blast Bomb would look like. There I would be, standing high on a cliff  \nwith a band of bandits below me. With the release of my words, I imagined  \nseveral spheres of light would crash towards the ground on which the thieves stood.  \nUpon impact, the spheres released a devastating blast.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; KA-BOOOOOM!!!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \ndidn't do it!\" I shouted as I shot up from my bed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Sorry, reflex._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nsound of an actual explosion completely woke me, and probably everyone else who  \nwas smart enough to react to a giant eruption like that. I could hear the  \nsounds of shouts from the rooms next to me as I looked around in a panic. At  \nfirst, I thought that I might have actually blown up something as I dreamt the  \nBlast Bomb spell but the glow outside my window told me otherwise.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nquickly pulled myself out of my bed and rushed to the window. At the front gate  \nof the courtyard, the entrance was engulfed with smoke and flame. I was  \nsurprised to say the least. It was actually the first time I actually witnessed  \nsome act of terrorism. But why would anyone attack a school of all things, even  \nin the sorcery capital.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment, the headmistress's voice came out of nowhere with an announcement.  \n\"Attention all students, everyone is to stay within their dormitories until  \nfurther notice! Please remain calm and stay within your rooms! Teachers will  \ncome to check on you momentary!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Remaining  \nas calm as I could with such a disaster playing outside, I kept looking at the  \ngateway covered in flames. Just then a thought came to me. Why would someone  \ntry to attack an entranceway of all places? Any idiot would think to go after  \nbigger game if they wanted to. They would try to blow up the temple or maybe  \none of the dorms and cause a mass number of deaths in the process. So why did,  \nwhoever did it, blow up the place of the least importance. I came up with only  \none conclusion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A  \ndistraction!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Leaning  \ncloser to the window, I saw several shapes running from and to the place of the  \nruined gate. Just then, I sensed a slight presence close by. It was faint and I  \nalmost missed it, but just the feel of it sent a chill down my spine. Still  \nlooking out of the window, the presence continued to creep closer. I might have  \nimagined it, but the sensation that crept up on me spelled a sinister nature.  \nUnable to ignore the approaching presence, I quickly stepped back from the  \nwindow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It  \nwas a good thing I actually paid attention to sensing presences in gym class,  \nbecause at that moment it saved my life. No sooner had I back away from the window,  \na silver streak of light flashed and shattered the window to pieces. I gave a  \nsilent shout as the glass hit the ground and saw who stood before me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; There,  \na black figure stepped onto the windowsill. He stood there, hidden within the  \nshade of the black clouds behind him. The figure was completely clothed in  \nblack, except for his eyes. His eyes glowed with a stern yet feral gleam, as he  \nlooked right at me. In his hand was an assassin's dagger.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nstood there with gritted teeth and a frightened stare as I was face to face  \nwith; whom I assumed exploded the gate.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane  \nCosmon,\" he said in a deep, almost calm tone of voice. His eyes narrowed at me.  \n\"I've come for you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _I'm screwed! Officially screwed!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Chapter  \n2: Practice makes Perfect\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; You  \nknow how you wake up from a nightmare? You panic, relieved to know it wasn't  \nreal and then go back to sleep? _Yeah_,  \nnone of that happened here.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Wide-awake,  \nI stood in silent horror as a black-shrouded freak stood before me. The  \nassassin eyed me with steely eyes. Why in the nine hells my body refused to  \nmove while my brain told me to run was beyond me. He took a step closer.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Do  \nnot try to resist,\" he spoke in his cool-as-ice tone, \"and be honored to be at  \nthe mercy of my claws.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Claws?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Looking  \ncloser at the assassin, I noticed his stature looked most peculiar. Then I  \nnoticed that the shape of his face seemed pointy. But what really tipped me off  \nwas what I saw next. Sticking from behind his mask were two ears near the top  \nof his head and behind him, I caught a glimpse of a bushy tail.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nbreathing hitched. He was a beast man, a ninja werewolf.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \nknow who you are...\" I said in barely a whisper.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He  \nheard me without fail. \"You do?\" he asked as his eyes narrowed at me. His voice  \ngave a small hint of intrigue.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You're...\"  \nA small silence hung between us, as if my words would spur his attack. And  \nthen, I said it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"...The  \nBig Bad Wolf!\" I proclaimed aloud and pointed at him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nwerewolf assassin almost fell over, taken aback by my words. As he regained his  \nstance, he glared back at me. \"No,\" he rasped, perhaps to hold back a growl.  \n\"My name is Alpha.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sorry,\"  \nI corrected jokingly, \"Alpha the Big Bad Wolf.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; This  \ntime he _did_ fall over.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _The guy seriously lacks a sense of humor._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ The werewolf ninja quickly got back  \nto his feet. The guy looked as if steam would come out of his ears. \"No!\" he  \ngrowled angrily, \"It's Alpha! Just Alpha!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay,  \nJust Alpha,\" I kidded again. I couldn't help it. I loved the idea to see the  \nbad guys steam. I'm the _laugh-in-the-face-of-evil_  \nkind of guy. \"Tell me, were you the one who blew up the main gate?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha  \nnodded his masked mussel. \"It removed the hassle with dealing with the royal  \nguards to get here,\" he said in his calm tone again. \"Now, are you going to  \ncome quietly or...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Like hell I will!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Before  \nhe'd finished talking, I jumped for the door. I sprinted and reached the  \ndoorknob, but as soon as I turned it, something shot across my right flank.  \nNow, lodged in between the door and the wall was a throwing dart, nailing the  \ndoor shut. I pulled at the door but it would not open. After three or four  \nfrantic tugs, I slowly turned around. There stood Alpha where he was before. In  \none paw he held two more darts and he waved a finger at me with the other,  \nacting as if he caught a little kid with his hand in a cookie jar.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay, time for plan B._\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ I quickly began chanting a spell  \nunder my breath. In a dramatic motion, I crossed my arms across my chest and  \nthen threw forth my hands as I felt power come to me. A ball of fiery light  \nappeared between my palms. \"Fireball!\" I shouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nthrew the ball towards the masked werewolf. My aim was right on target. Then,  \nlike a rotten slot machine when you think you're about to score the jackpot, he  \nlunged out of the way with impressive speed. The fireball simply continued  \nforward and shot out the broken window.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha,  \njust like any werewolf had surprising inhuman speed. As soon as he dodged the  \nfireball, he jumped off a wall and made a sprint towards me. With the  \nrelatively narrow room, I didn't have many ways to maneuver. Then, with a  \nbright idea, I chanted another spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And  \nyes, I indeed meant _bright!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ \"Lighting!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; With  \na shout, I shoved my hand towards Alpha as he shot towards me. A quick,  \nblinding flash of light erupted from my hand. A small note here, the lighting  \nspell can become brighter in exchange for a shorter duration of time. In this  \ncase, I used the lighting spell for only one second, producing one hell of a  \nflash. It's a good thing to use to cripple an opponent's sight. As I expected,  \nI heard the werewolf ninja's shout of surprise as the light flashed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; When  \nI opened my eyes, I found the werewolf had leapt back with a hand clamped over  \nhis peepers. I knew that it wouldn't last long. No matter what light does to an  \nopponent, a flash is a flash. Nothing more. It only bought a little time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And  \na little time was all I got. No sooner had he taken that jump back, he removed  \nhis paw from his eyes and ran at me again, this time with his sword in hand. I  \nlunged towards the broken window, but as soon as I tried he darted across the  \nroom right in front of me. I gave a small gasp. His eyes were still shut,  \nbarely open at all. Was he following me by sound, or smell? Whatever physical  \nabilities this guy had, they were really hard-core.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Now  \nstanding before me, I chanted another spell. He now stood in the perfect place  \nfor me to trap him. With my hands out, I shouted my spell. \"Chaos String!\"  \nThreads of light appeared around the room. Throwing my hands towards Alpha, the  \nstrings quickly flew through the air. Like lightning, the thin strings of light  \nwrapped their way around Alpha's body, arms, and legs. The ends of the strings  \nquickly strapped to the floor like bolted chains as I finished throwing my arms  \nabout to direct the spell's movements. Within seconds, he'd been completely  \ntangled in a bind of lighted thread.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ha!\"  \nI couldn't help but laugh, as he stood wrapped in my spell. \"Got you!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nI gave a small confident smile, Alpha finally opened his eyes. He still had his  \nsteely gaze placed on me and my smile faded. \"You must be joking,\" he said  \ncalmly. The guy was really starting to creep me out, to say the least. Then in  \nthe blink of an eye, three quick, silver flashes cut through the dark room. As  \nthey ended, Alpha stood with his arm free of the Chaos String's hold with his  \ndagger in hand. A few seconds later, the strings of light that had once bound  \nhim suddenly shattered into shards of light and faded away.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfelt like hitting myself. I'd had forgot one key detail about Chaos String. It  \nwas a weak, crappy spell. It could be easily broken.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Is  \nthat it?\" he said in a dark growl and held his assassin's dagger at me. \"Surely  \nyou can do better than that.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Sure... If I wanted to blow the hell of us to  \nkingdom come!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ncould have done some heavy-duty spells on my attacker. The problem was that  \nthey were too dangerous to use in an enclosed space like my room. Plus, the  \nother students in the dorms could get hurt in the crossfire. I was running out  \nof options fast.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just  \nthen came a rather hard knock at my door. \"Zane? Zane!? Are you in there?!\"  \nMaster Zolis called out from behind the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nglanced at the door, about to yell for his help. Before I could shout for him,  \nAlpha made another sprint for me. I looked at the running werewolf ninja with horror  \nas I held out my hands to stop him. I felt energy run through my body as I  \nprepared a spell to divert him. \"Flare Bit!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Several  \nballs of light appeared around me, and then shot out at Alpha's path. The balls  \nerupted in a blast and hit Alpha hard. Score! With a cloud of smoke, the  \nassassin werewolf was thrown to the back of the room and towards the broken  \nwindow. He appeared stunned, but quickly got to his feet.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment after my spell had made a rather loud boom, the door behind me came  \ndown as Master Zolis broke it down. He stopped a short distance as he caught  \nsight of Alpha before him and me. \"Who are you? Halt!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just  \nthen, Alpha glanced at Master Zolis, and then back to me, as if in conflict of  \nwhat to do. Then he gave me a look, as if silently saying 'another time.'\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dark  \nMist,\" Alpha spoke. And then, there was darkness.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ncouldn't see a thing. So not only was he a kick-butt ninja, but he could use  \nmagic too?! That just sucked! As I walked about to find a way out of the inky  \nfog, it lifted as quickly as it came. I jerked around to find that Master Zolis  \nand I were still in one piece within my trashed room. As the two of us looked  \naround, Alpha was nowhere to be seen. He had escaped under the cover of the  \nDark Mist spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Quickly  \nrushing over to me, Master Zolis grasped my shoulders with concern. \"Zane, are  \nyou okay? What happened?\" he asked with an extremely stressed tone.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm  \nfine,\" I said a little shaken up. What do you expect I'd feel after getting a  \nhouse call at night from a psycho assassin?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment, Master Krots and the headmistress came running through my ruined  \ndoorway. Ms. Magdalene looked around the room with utter shock. \"What happened  \nhere?\" she gasped as she observed the smash window and blast marks on the floor.  \nSoon enough, her gaze came to me. A mix of confusion, worry and slight  \naggravation was on her face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane,  \ndid you do this?\" Master Krots asked in slight shock.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Thanks for the third-degree, teach!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ \"No! It wasn't me!\" I proclaimed  \nin almost a shout.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Master Zolis came from behind me and  \napproached the headmistress and Master Krots. \"Headmistress, an intruder broke  \ninto his room,\" Zolis explained calmly. The gazes of all three teachers came to  \nme again. Whatever was happening, I didn't like where it was going one bit.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nhour was now past midnight as I now sat back in the headmistress's office. The  \nnight revealed the true beauty of the stain glass windows as I sat there.  \nAround me were several of the teachers, including Master Krots and Master Zolis.  \nThe headmistress sat behind her desk with her staff close at hand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Master  \nZolis said an intruder had broken into your room,\" Ms. Magdalene asked with a  \nslightly concerned look. \"Is this true?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nnodded meekly. \"Yes, ma'am,\" I held my breath as I looked around me at the  \nteachers. I couldn't quite put my finger down on it, but this must have been  \none serious matter, especially if they had dragged me all the way here. \"The  \nguy said he came for me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Silence  \nfilled the room. The teachers exchanged glances at me then to themselves. The  \nheadmistress looked the most worried. \"Are you sure?\" she asked in tone of  \nvoice that made me uneasy. She was never this concerned for my well being  \nbefore. \"Can you tell us what he looked like?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nlifted my head up a bit to look at her and the other teachers. \"I can do more  \nthan that. The guy gave me a name. He was some sort of werewolf assassin. His  \nname was Alpha,\" I said calmly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Small  \ngasps filled the room. I glanced over to Master Krots, who looked at me with a troubled  \nlook. The headmistress's eyes were wide at the sound of the name. \"Did you say  \nAlpha?\" Master Krots asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah...\"  \nthe whole situation must have been worse than what I thought if the teachers  \nwere all in a fuss already. \"Do you guys know him or something? You all seem a  \nlittle shaken up by the name alone,\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just  \nthen, the headmistress jumped at my question with an almost reflexive answer.  \n\"Oh, don't worry. It doesn't concern you,\" she said in a bit of an anxious  \ntone.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ncouldn't hold back my aggravation any longer. \"WHAT?! A ninja bursts into my  \nroom to do me in and you tell me it doesn't concern me?! I'm twelve, not  \nstupid!\" I shouted angrily.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nlook on the headmistress's face slowly dropped into a calm, yet remorseful  \nlook. With a sigh, she closed her eyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Tell  \nhim,\" Master Krots added in. The headmistress looked at him with tired eyes,  \nseeing the seriousness of the werewolf teacher. \"The kid has a right to know  \nwho attacked him.\" The looks between the teachers almost gave away another vibe  \nthat they were hiding something. I was starting to get anxious.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay,\"  \nMs. Magdalene spoke as calmly as possible. \"There are very few who had not  \nheard of the assassin Alpha outside these walls.\" The looks of both the  \nteachers and the headmistress looked troubled. \"He is a famous assassin, known  \nfor killing over a thousand people in the past six years. His most accomplished  \nfeat was slaying the king of Gardin. Every single guard included in that castle  \nwas murdered in a single night.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nheart stopped for a second. A famous assassin? I didn't know what was worse.  \nHaving a ninja try to get me, or an _expert_ ninja trying to get me.  \nShaking the thoughts of him slaughtering me out of my mind, I leaned forward in  \nmy chair towards the surrounding teachers. \"What is he doing here anyway?\" I  \nasked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Another  \npause of silence filled the room. Master Krots turned his gaze away from me to  \nthe window. The headmistress closed her eyes again. All of the teachers had  \nglanced away from me. Upset, I stood up from my chair.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm  \nsorry Zane,\" Ms. Magdalene said, \"I'm not sure.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What  \ndo you mean you don't know?\" I asked aloud. At that moment, Master Krots looked  \nback to me with a concerned look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane,  \ncalm down,\" the werewolf teacher said as I took a step towards the  \nheadmistress's desk. \"We'll find out what going on here, I assure you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwasn't convinced. I reached to her desk and placed my hands on it before the  \nheadmistress. Yes boys and girls, I could be aggressive if I wanted to. I  \nwasn't the kind of guy who liked being out of the loop. \"What aren't you  \ntelling me? Why would someone break into a magic school of all places, even if  \nit were in Saillune? I know you have an idea what that jerk is after!\" I  \nshouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That  \nis confidential information, Zane,\" She spoke as she opened here eyes. She gave  \nme a slightly crossed gaze.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfelt like my blood would burst if I didn't get some sort of answer from her. \"I  \ncan't believe this!\" I scolded, sparking looks of surprise from the teachers  \naround me. \"Be that way! If you won't tell me what the hell he wants, then _I'll_ just confront him and ask him _myself_!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"YOU  \nWILL DO NO SUCH THING!\" she boomed at me loudly. Surprised, I backed away from  \nher. I swear I could feel the ground tremble with her voice. \"I will not have  \none of my students purposely looking for a cold-blooded killer!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Master  \nKrots then broke in, clearing his throat to do so. \"Actually, werewolves are  \nwarm blooded,\" he informed. Ms. Magdalene adverted her crossed gaze at my  \nAlchemy teacher, who quickly looked away from her with a nervous chuckle.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment, the door opened as one of the royal guards entered the room. \"Ms.  \nMagdalene, we had searched the grounds. No sign of the intruder,\" he said in a  \nloud tone.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Adverting  \nfrom me, the headmistress looked to the guard. \"And the walls?\" she asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \nregret to inform you that we saw no one leave the grounds. Ms. Magdalene, it is  \nvery possible that the intruder might still be on the campus,\" the guard said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Now  \nstanding up from her chair, the headmistress faced the guard with the most  \nserious of expressions. \"I want guards posted at all times and continue to  \nsearch the area. I want that intruder found and captured!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes  \nmadam!\" With that, the guard quickly left the room and closed the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nI looked back to the headmistress, she looked at me with the same serious  \nglare. \"Zane, I forbid you to do anything rash to endanger yourself. What would  \nhave happened if Master Zolis had not made it there in time?\" I tried to  \ncontradict her, but she was in so much of a fuss that she wouldn't let me speak  \na syllable. \"You are not to go looking for him! Do I make myself CLEAR?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Reluctantly  \nbacking off from the desk, I cast a crossed look at the floor. I held my fists  \ntight to hold back my anger. \"Crystal,\"  \nI grumbled back at her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; With  \nthat, she backed away from me and gave me a calm look. \"Now go outside and wait  \nas I speak to the teachers. Someone will escort you to a spare room for you to  \nsleep in until your room is restored,\" she said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes, ma'am,\" I said and slowly  \nwalked to the door. As soon as I left, I closed the door behind me and rested  \nmy back against it. Further down at both ends of the hall stood two guards.  \nSecurity probably was boosted tremendously after word of the attack that had  \nhappened here. I sighed with grief as I waited, daydreaming aimlessly with no  \ngoal in mind. This was going to be a bad week.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After  \nwhat felt like half-hour of a meeting, Master Krots led me to one of the royal  \nchambers that the main building held for royal guests. I was surprised at  \nfirst. I wasn't stupid at their true reason to put me there. It wasn't that  \nthey were treating me to a fancy night's stay at one of the finest rooms of the  \nacademy. They put me there because it was one of the safest places around. The  \nwhole situation became more and more curious as things progressed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nnext morning as soon as I woke up, I headed to my room, fetched my journal and  \nschool supplies and headed for breakfast at the cafeteria. The entire lunchroom  \nwas filled with the chatter of the news that happened last night. Most of their  \nrumors ended with imaginative conclusions, like someone tried to attack the  \nroyal palace next door and made a mistake, or that someone summoned a Brass  \nDemon by some sort of wacky experiment late last night. All the hype was enough  \nto make me roll my eyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nhalls were not as loud as they usually were. Instead of the loud discussions  \nstudents had between classes, their voices dimmed a bit as some of the royal  \nguards patrolled the halls. Even the teachers were on guard, looking cautious  \nas they walked the halls. If what the guards said was true and that Alpha was  \nstill on the grounds, he wouldn't be sneaking about in broad daylight. I was  \nslightly at ease unlike the other people.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; In  \nAstral studies and Shamanism class, the teachers wouldn't let students go out  \ninto the halls even for the bathroom. The entire situation seemed very severe  \nif the teachers were keeping their eyes on the students at all times. In  \nbetween classes when I walked the halls, sometimes a teacher would make an  \nexcuse to accompany me to my next class.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad just reached my White Magic class and entered when I was confronted by a  \nfamiliar cheery voice.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane!\"  \nCassandra called out as she entered the class. I turned around. Actually  \nsurprisingly enough, her cheery tone held a touch of concern in her voice. I  \nwondered how long that would last. \"Zane, how are you?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Fine,\"  \nI said simply, \"Why wouldn't I be?\" Okay, that was a stupid thing to say.  \nStill, there was no sense in drawing attention that an assassin had attacked  \nme. That would throw the entire school into chaos.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I've  \nbeen rather freaked out since what happened last night,\" Cassandra said as she  \napproached her seat in front of me. \"I always known there were bad people out  \nhere, but I always thought of this school as some sort of sanctuary.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nnodded simple as I sat myself down at my desk. She had a very good point.  \nBecause we were in such an isolated environment, we actually were able to learn  \nin safety and explore magic without any danger. It least until now.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So,\"  \nCassandra asked, \"Got any idea what happened last night?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfroze as I struggled what to tell her. I couldn't say 'Oh, nothing much. Just a  \nmasked werewolf attacked me in the middle of the night and is hiding somewhere  \non the grounds. No need to worry'.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Not  \na clue,\" I lied simply, keeping a strait face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She  \nturned to me. To my surprise, she looked rather distressed. \"Zane,\" she said  \nwith a soft tone. \"I'm really worried. I got this bad feeling.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Now  \nshe had my attention. To elaborate, priests had a special ability to sense  \ncertain things. I had yet to discover that talent within me, but I learned that  \nmany could feel when malicious events were about to come.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's  \nlike something haunting has taken grip around the school,\" Cassandra spoke in a  \nshallow tone. \"I've been shivering every time I felt it. It scares me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"When  \ndid you start having this feeling?\" I asked her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"About  \nlate last afternoon,\" she said softly, now only within my ears reach. \"At first  \nI thought it was just my imagination, but after the explosion I think  \notherwise.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nleaned closer to her. \"Did anyone else say they sensed anything malevolent  \naround?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No.  \nAnd well... there's something else too...\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment, our teacher came inside, Priestess Lauria. \"Okay class, to your  \nseats.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nclass lasted for an hour. As we focused on the use of a resurrection spell, the  \nstrongest healing spell in White Magic, I couldn't help but lose focus once and  \nawhile. As helpful as White magic was, it wouldn't really save me if Alpha  \nattacked me again. As soon as the class ended, I grabbed my books and headed  \nfor the door... that is until, Cassandra stopped me again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane  \nwait,\" she shouted and I pulled myself to the side of the doorway in the hall.  \nAs she turned to me, she gave me the same uneasy look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hey,\"  \nI asked, \"what was it you were trying to tell me?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She  \nhesitated a bit. Keeping her voice down, she took a step closer and spoke  \nsoftly. \"Well, as those feelings got stronger, I sensed something else too,\"  \nshe said. I focused on her with wide eyes. \"You see, it felt like it's after  \nsomething...or someone.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Who  \ndo you think it is?\" I asked\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That's  \njust it Zane,\" Cassandra answered, \"This evil, seems drawn... around you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ngasped. Okay, I knew I was already in the middle of something, but I didn't  \nexpect that Cassandra would catch on. She was a great priestess, but even she  \ncouldn't predict something that grand, could she?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \njust want to ask you one thing, Zane,\" Cassandra asked hesitantly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhitched my breath. Was she on to me? \"What is it?\" I asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She  \nwas quite, and then...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"When  \nyou die, can I have your stuff?\" She asked in her cheery voice.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"I'M NOT DEAD YET, YA PILL!\" I shouted. Hey,  \nyou too would get mad if people waited for you to kick the bucket. Still seeing  \na trace of her perky smirk, I marched away from her. As everyone was bent on  \nlunch, I had other plans.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nluck was impeccable. With everyone at lunch, the schools training building was  \nnot in use. The training room was the size of a large gymnasium. During the  \nday, students were allowed to practice their attack spells inside the building.  \nInside was a special magic field that contained spells inside the building. It  \nwas like Master Krots warding field back in Alchemy class, but on a much larger  \nscale. I spent most of my free time in here to practice my spells, mostly when  \nI wanted to attempt Blast Bomb. In case I failed to mention: that spell never  \nworked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nI entered the practice building, the inside instantly lit up. Indeed, it looked  \nlike a gymnasium. On the sides of the room were bleachers for people as the  \nlarge flat floor was spread out. On the floor was a magic circle with several  \nruins inscribed, entwined around a hexagram. The warding field was so strong it  \nwas almost like slipping into a warped space.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nstepped into the center of the large room with my journal in hand. Opening my  \nbook, I looked at the spells I copied from my schoolbooks and started  \npracticing. My time in the training room had its smooth points and its bumpy  \nones. I was able to pull off some black magic spells pretty easy. Even my  \noriginal spells worked rather well.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then  \nI moved on to try and cast my most desired spell. The Blast Bomb.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Reviewing  \nthe chant in my mind, I prepared to cast the spell. Crossing my arms in my  \nspell-casting pose, I chanted the spell clearly and aloud. With my aim clear, I  \nshouted my spell. \"Blast Bomb!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Nothing  \nhappened.\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nfirst you don't succeed, cast and cast again._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nrepeated the spell again and again, constantly trying to muster anything from  \nmy efforts. If anything, I thought it would at least raise my magical capacity.  \nAfter exercising that one spell for the twelfth time, I let out an aggravated  \ngrowl.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Okay,  \nnow with feeling._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Once  \nagain I held up my hands and spoke the chant with a raised tone of voice. As I  \ndid, I thought of Alpha. That masked, fur-fledged, ninja psycho's face hung in  \nmy mind as I attempted to boost my magic. I dwelled on those thoughts that  \nticked me off. Cassandra's teasing, when I accidentally blew things up _almost  \nunintentionally_ , people calling me SHORT! Then, what might have been my  \nimagination, I saw small glows of light around me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Keeping  \nmy concentration, I spoke the end of the spell and threw my magic forth.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Blast  \nBomb!\" I cried and threw my hands forth.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nmy words and to my surprise, three balls of light appeared before me. A smile  \nquickly spread across my face. But soon my joy got deflated like an overblown  \nballoon. In less than a second that the small balls of light had appeared, they  \nabruptly flickered out.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nstood silently for a moment. Normally I would have been sad and disappointed,  \nbut instead I felt a sense of achievement. Before now, I had gotten squat from  \nthat spell. The fact that I had even got a spark from it was good news to me.  \nIt meant that I was getting better to fully cast that spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Oh,  \nyeah! I'm good!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After  \ntaking in my latest success, I took a deep breath, brushed off my blue cloak  \nand made my way across the darkened room. Wait a minute, dark? I stopped in my  \ntracks as I noticed something terrible wrong. When I entered the room, it was  \nlighted. Absorbed in attempting Blast Bomb, I must have not noticed the change  \nin my surroundings.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A  \nlow hum filled the air, sparking my sense of danger. Then from the dark around  \nme, I caught the glint of several yellow eyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Lighting!\"  \nI quickly threw my hand towards the ceiling and a sphere of bright light burst  \ninto existence. With my bright sphere of light high overhead, I saw who, or to  \nbe technical, WHAT was around me. Now surrounding me stood several transparent  \nblack creatures with yellow eyes. They looked like humanoids whose limbs were  \ntwisted about to make them resemble spiders. I had seen them before. In combat  \ntraining, upper classmen were allowed to simulate actual spell-combat against  \nmagically conjured monsters. I was not allowed to participate yet, but I always  \nwatched as others fought them. They were artificially created Mazoku.\n\nI quickly turned to the far  \nleft wall, where the control panel for creating the Mazoku was. Someone had  \nturned it on. The strength, numbers, and skill of the Mazoku was determined by  \nthe training level on the gauge, differing from one being the lowest and fifty  \nbeing the highest. And what luck, the bastard had set it to FIFTY, expert  \nlevel.\n\n_Oh crap!_\n\nNo sooner had I breathed  \nthe shadow men scampered towards me. Spurred by their frightening advance, I  \nducked and lunged under them. There was a rough count of twelve of them, all  \nspread about the room. Getting to my feet, I started to chant a spell. No  \nsooner had I started, the monsters close to me opened their once unseen mouths.  \nWith inhuman bellows, they spewed out an array of fiery Flare Arrows. I quickly  \nleapt away as the arrows came exploding behind me. I kept chanting, luckily  \nuninterrupted from the sudden assault.\n\n\"Digger Volt!\" I cried, and  \na blast of lightning came shooting out of my outstretched hand.\n\nDigger Volt was a spell  \nthat created a lethal lightning blast upon opponents. Normally such dangerous  \nspells are against school rules to use on the grounds, but I felt this time  \ncould be an exception. Hey! I was being attacked by deadly inhuman monster  \ndrowns here, so sue me!\n\nJust then, as I had let my  \nspell fly, the bolts of lightning just passed through the animated Mazoku and  \nstruck the far wall instead. My jaw fell open at the result of my spell's  \neffect.\n\nA small note, considering I  \nforgotten myself, Mazoku are demonic creatures from the astral plain. Because  \nof that, they have no physical form. The only thing that could hurt a Mazoku  \nwas spells that can target things on an astral level.\n\nThinking of a way out of my  \npredicament, I quickly began running. Dodging both claws and Flare Arrows, my  \nmind raced for a spell that could damage these alchemically created rejects. As  \nI said at the very beginning, astral spells were my worst subject.\n\nThen I realized something.  \nWhile my performance of certain spells was not great, I recalled what Master  \nZolis taught us a few days before. He said that certain Black magic spells had  \nthe capability to damage low-level Mazoku. Even though the Mazoku around me  \nwere acting on an expert level of assaulting me, they were still low-level  \nconjures from the astral plain.\n\nIf I wanted to get out of  \nthis, I had to be swift. Even through it wasn't a lot, I did know a spell or  \ntwo that targeted spirits. Still running, I clasped my hands together and  \nchanted a spell. The shadowy, spider-men came running--er crawling after me.  \nThen with a twist back towards them, I stopped with my clasped hands aglow in a  \nbright red light.\n\n_That's right, folks!  \nZane Cosmon's back on the offence!_\n\n\"Elmekia Lance!\" I shouted  \nand threw my hands out, releasing a bright spear of light. Elmekia Lance is a  \nspell that targeted spirits or an opponent's mind. Since Mazoku are spiritual  \ncreatures, it can indeed do damage to them.\n\nMy spear of fiery light  \nstruck right on its mark. The spell skewered a shadow monster right in the  \nchest and continued forward, striking two more. No sooner had those three vanished,  \nmany of the fake Mazoku blasted another volley of Flare Arrows.\n\nIn an act of desperation, I  \ndived under the arching Flare Arrows and ran in the direction of the shadows  \nthat spewed them. Before you think I was crazy to charge at them, I had a plan.  \nPreoccupied throwing up their fiery arrows, I prepared to cast a spell at them  \nin their stationary state.\n\n\"Blast Ash!\" I threw a hand  \nout and let it fly. A pulse of black energy shot forward and spread out before  \nthem. In a flash, the monsters were vaporized into dust. Blast Ash was a spell  \nthat _incinerates_ anything with a spirit in the blast range. Since the  \nmonsters' bodies were spiritual manifestations, they were easily affected.\n\nNow only five Mazoku  \nremained. No sooner had the targets I just vanquished disappeared, I ran  \ntowards the center of the room. In the blink of an eye, a Flare Arrow came down  \nand struck in front of my path. I quickly turned to double-back but another  \narray of Flare Arrows struck and exploded around me. As soon as the flames and smoke  \ncleared, I found myself surrounded by the remaining shadow spider-men.\n\nSeeing their non-emotional  \nfaces, I quickly canted my next spell. With any luck, this would end the fight  \nright there and then. Chanting my words, a ball of blue light appeared between  \nmy hands and grew in size.\n\nThe ring of monsters  \ncharged at me as soon as they saw my spell took form. I didn't have much time.  \nI focused as hard as I could, compressing the spell into a denser form. Only a  \nsecond away, I aimed my hands towards the ground. \"Bram Blazer!\" With those  \nwords, the ball of blue light became a beam and shot at the floor.\n\nWith a bright flash, an  \naura of blue light erupted around me, followed by a shockwave of light. With  \ntheir final low cries, the shadowy Mazoku faded away under my light.\n\nTo elaborate, Bram Blazer  \nwas capable of both physical and astral damage. Instead of focusing on a  \nfrontal attack, I directed the spell's shockwave around me. Aimed at the floor,  \nit amp up the shockwave's strength just enough to destroy the remaining  \nmonsters around me. Like shadows before a bright light, the Mazoku threat  \ndisappeared.\n\nAs soon as the blue light  \ndisappeared, I quickly sprinted towards the Mazoku spawning machine before it  \ncould produce any more monsters. Running right into the wall it was attached  \nto, I punched the off switch and the low hum of the machine dissipated. With  \nthe machine off, I finally took the moment for a well-deserved sigh of relief.\n\nPants flowed from my mouth  \nlike water as a finally calmed down. Knelt with my hands on my knees, I took a  \nmoment to pull myself together and think of what happened. Someone had snuck in  \nhere when I was practicing, turned on the machine and had me fight for my life  \nagainst artificial Mazoku. For whatever reason, it was anything but a practical  \njoke. Just then, a faint gleam caught my eye. I looked up at the machine and  \ngave a small gasp. Lodged into the large on switch of the simulation gauge was  \na small silver blade. One of Alpha's throwing darts.\n\nWith a crossed grumble, I  \ngripped the dart and without ceremony yanked it from the machine. \"Alpha,\" I  \ngrumbled,\" That guy is starting to tick me off!\"\n\nQuickly turning around, I  \nbegan to scan the dimmed room for him. He might have been hiding somewhere,  \nhoping to catch me when I was exhausted. My nerves were on end, feeling ready  \nto snap.\n\n\"Zane.\"\n\n\"AAAHHH!\" I screamed out  \nloud and spun around to see who said my name.\n\nThere, standing just  \nthrough the lighted doorway was Master Krots. My werewolf teacher took a step  \nfurther into the room. \"What are you doing in here?\" he asked.\n\nSlightly on edge by  \neverything that had just happened, I felt rather hesitant to respond. \"Um... Just  \npracticing,\" I replied sheepishly.\n\nWith narrowed eyes, Master  \nKrots examined the room, seeing all the scorch and blast marks from what had  \nhappened. Then he glanced at me next to the training machine. \"Zane, were you  \nusing the training simulator?\" he said in a knowing growl. Still hesitant, I  \nstumbled what to say. He gave me a slight scowl. I swear he could get a career  \nat interrogation the way he looks at you. \"You know younger classmen are not  \nallowed to use the machine, especially without a teacher supervising. Even  \nthough they're artificial monsters, they're dangerous.\"\n\n_Gee? **Really**?_\n\n\"Uh, what are you doing  \nhere though?\" I finally asked, rather curious he'd showed up here myself.\n\nWalking across the large  \nroom, he approached me. \"I was monitoring the lunchroom and failed to see you  \nthere, so I went looking for you,\" Master Krots said, a faint smile on his  \nmussel.\n\n\"Oh, uh... sorry about that.\"\n\nWith that, he reached his  \npaw and placed in on my shoulder. \"Come on,\" Master Krots said as he tugged at  \nme to come with him. \"You shouldn't really miss lunch, you know?\"\n\nI was thankful he didn't  \nnotice the throwing dart in my hand as we walked across the room. It might have  \nmade him ask questions.\n\nJust then, a frightful  \nthought occurred in my head. Master Krots was probably just outside to hear the  \nracket I made against the monsters, yet why didn't he just show up after I had  \nfinished. I got a sickening feeling in my stomach as I thought about it more.  \nIn my state of shock, Master Krots was not surprised for some reason. And then  \nthere was the throwing dagger. He might not have noticed... or he just might have  \ndidn't care because he knew it was his.\n\n_Oh my god!_\n\nNo sooner had I thought of  \nthat, I immediately looked away from his face, thinking if he saw my reaction  \nhe would know what I thought. Could it be? My favorite teacher could have been  \nAlpha? I tried my best to remain calm as we walked side by side. It was  \npossible. Alpha and Master Krots were both werewolves. Master Krots was just  \npresent after Alpha's Mazoku attack just now. Even more curious, if Master  \nKrots had been just out looking for me, wouldn't he had told the other teachers  \nthat I'd gone missing, especially with an assassin sneaking around the school.\n\nRealizing the possibility,  \nMaster Krots's paw on my shoulder started to feel most uncomfortable.  \n\"Something wrong?\" Master Krots asked, looking at me with a calm, friendly  \nlook. He must have sensed my tension or something.\n\n\"Oh, no-nothing,\" I said as  \nwe headed towards the lunchroom.\n\nI  \ncouldn't be sure. There was a chance that Master Krots wasn't Alpha. I may be  \nimaginative, but I wasn't about to accuse a teacher that he was a mass  \nmurderer. If I wanted to find any proof that he was indeed Alpha, there was  \nonly one way to be sure.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nEvening was minutes away as  \nthe glow of the orange sunset gleamed through the windows of the hall. The day  \nhad gone easy enough. As soon as I finished my detention with Master Krots, I  \nhad gone up to the dinner hall. Let me tell you, when you have detention with  \nsomeone you suspect is a possible serial killer, it's easy to be nervous around  \nhim. Anyway, after dinner and dessert when the students headed towards their  \ndorms, I slinked away from them to head towards the school office.\n\nThere is a twenty-minute  \ntime frame between dinner's end and everyone reporting to the dorms. Which  \nmeant that I didn't have much time to look for what I wanted to find? The halls  \nwere empty as the sunlight lighted up the halls. Running with my blue cloak  \nwrapped around me, I probably looked rather suspicious myself. Well, to catch a  \nsneak, you got to be a sneak. I was able to slip by two guards who were  \npatrolling the hallway easy enough and reached the stairs.\n\nAs I got to the foot of the  \nstairs, I found the school office room. It was empty. Most staff and teachers  \nwere at the dorms and staff areas when the day was good and through. That made  \nmy job easier. Sneaking to the office, I slipped passed the doors. This room  \nwas where they held all the student records, where they came from, their family  \nbackground, grades, _the works_.\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad to admit I was tempted to sneak a peak at my grades, but I had bigger fish  \nto fry.\n\nSilently, I approached a  \ndoor labeled \"School Archives\". Score! No surprise when I tried to open the  \ndoor it was locked, but it was just your basic mechanical lock. That I can  \nhandle easy enough. Casting an unlock spell upon the door, I heard the sound of  \na click and the door opened ajar.\n\n_Am I good or what?_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Opening the door as quietly as I  \ncould, I sneaked inside and closed the door behind me. The room was rather  \ndark. Whispering a lighting spell under my breath, a tiny sphere of light  \nappeared in the air. Inside were several metal filing cabinets and a wooden  \ndesk on the side of the cramped wall. I scanned the cabinets until I found a  \nbin labeled \"Teachers and Staff.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Opening the cabinet, I immediately  \nlooked for the letter K. \"Let's see,\" I began leisurely, \"Karus, Kimar, Kimari,  \nKorius... Krots! Here it is.\" With excited hands, I yanked the folder from the  \ndraw and jumped towards the table. My lighting spell floated above my head with  \nits gentle light as I opened the folder upon the table.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; According to what Ms. Magdalene  \nsaid, Alpha had been knocking off people for the past six years. If I wanted to  \nmake any ground of my thesis, I had to see how long Master Krots had taught at  \nthe school. Inside were a series of papers. The first page was Master Krots's primary  \ninformation with a picture of him in the page corner. I scanned through the  \npages, looking furiously for the information I sought.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then I found it. On the third page  \nof the document, I found the registration date. I held my breath. According to  \nthe paper, Master Krots had been accepted at the sorcery school about two and a  \nhalf years ago. Wanting to find more, I scanned through the document some more.  \nThe next thing I found was a series of legal absences posted on his record. Now  \nI began to worry. According to this, he had been leaving the school grounds  \nupon weekends and certain school days on important business. He had been absent  \nfrom His total absences for this year alone were twelve.\n\n_Important business, my  \nbutt!_\n\nMy heart began to race a  \nlittle. The more and more I thought it all over, the more I was beginning to  \nthink that my own teacher was actually Alpha. A masked killer under the cover  \nof a teacher for a well renowned sorcery school; it made perfect sense.\n\nI gulped as I looked at the  \npicture of Master Krots with his wolfish grin. My hands gave a small tremble as  \nI closed the folder. \"No way,\" I said in a nervous tone, \"I just can't believe  \nit.\"\n\n\"And what might that be?\" a  \nlow voice answered me.\n\n_Oh, god no!_\n\nAll my muscles jolted in  \nplace at the sound of the familiar voice. My arms felt immobile as I had a good  \nidea who was there. With a faint whimper of reluctance, I slowly turned to look  \nbehind me.\n\nThere, atop of a pile of  \nmetal file cabinets knelt Alpha. The masked, black clothed werewolf looked down  \nat me coolly, sending a chill down my spine. The way he observed me from up  \nthere made him look like a raven watching a freshly killed meal. His steely  \neyes glinted with the glow of my lighting spell, making him all the more  \nfrightening.\n\n\"Uh-oh,\" was all I could  \nsqueak as I saw him above me.\n\n\"And just what are you  \ndoing here, I wonder,\" Alpha spoke calmly, as if he'd catch me even if he took  \nhis time.\n\nI had to think fast but my  \nbody was two seconds behind me. \"Um--well, _he-he,_ I was just here t-to  \nsort of--\" Hoping to throw him off in the middle of my sentence, I leapt from  \nthe desk to get to the door.\n\nApparently, Alpha had a  \nreason to be so calm. With movement which appeared like a blur to me, Alpha had  \nleapt from his perch on the cabinets and landed right in front of me. I began  \ncasting a short spell. Nothing fancy, but I just couldn't afford fancy! \"Air  \nValm!\" As I ran before Alpha, a barrier of wind suddenly came to life and threw  \nAlpha next to the door with a loud thud.\n\nGuessing that wouldn't faze  \nhim for long, I ran for the door and opened it. _Almost_ accidentally  \nwhile opening the door, I slammed it upon Alpha just as he was about to get up.  \nCome on? Wouldn't you do that too to a guy who was trying to attack you?\n\nNo sooner had I touched the  \ndoorknob I began to enchant it with my words. Now out the doorway, I witnessed  \nas Alpha leaped off the floor and attempted to grab me before I closed the  \ndoor. With my chant still present, I slammed the door hard, eclipsing the view  \nof Alpha. \"Lock!\" I cast the last word for the spell as I slammed the door. No  \nsooner had I did, I felt the door bang as Alpha collided with the hard wooden  \ndoor.\n\n_Ouch! I bet that hurt!_\n\nMy spell had taken hold. I  \nhad cast a locking spell on the door, sealing it with a magical force. Stepping  \naway, I heard several bangs upon the door. I guessed it was Alpha trying to  \nopen the door and come after me. I couldn't help but smile at his struggle.\n\n\"You little brat!\" he  \ngrowled aloud, \"Open this door!\"\n\n\"What're you gonna do? Huff  \nand puff and blow the door down,\" I teased gleefully.\n\nA few seconds later I'd  \nwished I'd didn't say that.\n\n\"Bomb Di Wind,\" he growled.\n\nA loud hum came from behind  \nthe door and caused me to jump back. No sooner had I did, the door came flying  \noff its hinges with a violent gust of wind. That spell must have been close  \nrange because as soon as it flew off, the door shattered into a bunch of broken  \nboards and splinters. I shielded my face from the flying debris for a moment.  \nNo sooner had I took my arm away, I was suddenly staring into Alpha's angry  \neyes.\n\nTaken off guard, he grabbed  \nmy neck hard. I cringed as I was held there. He lifted me an inch from the  \nfloor, only to weaken my resistance. \"I grow aggravated of you, pup,\" he  \ngrowled in his low voice. I felt short of breath as he choked me. I'd probably  \nonly be a matter of seconds before I passed out.\n\nWith every once of strength  \nI could muster, I slowly reached for the arm he used to choke me. He probably  \nthought it as a feeble attempted to ease his grip on my windpipe. To some  \nextent that was true. With my dieing strength, I gripped his wrist and took  \naction.\n\n\"M-Mono... Volt,\" I uttered  \nwith the last of my breath.\n\nAt that moment to my  \nrescue, my spell sparked to life. And boy did it spark! Electricity surged  \nthrough my palm and surged up Alpha's arm to him. Alpha yelled in a painful cry  \nas small jolts of lightning traveled up and down his body, delivering painful  \nelectric shocks. After a second or two, Alpha released his grip on my neck and  \ndropped me to my feet, allowing me a much-needed gasp of air.\n\nI let go of Alpha's wrist,  \nceasing the electric current on Alpha's body. With it, Alpha fell to his knees  \non the floor. With staggering feet, I quickly reached the office door. Getting  \nout of the office, I immediately took the door leading outside into the  \ncourtyard. \"Guards! GUARDS!\" I shouted as hard as I could.\n\nApparently I was still  \nlightheaded from having the oxygen cut off from my brain, because before I knew  \nit I saw several of the royal guards running towards me. They must have already  \nheard the large boom in the office when Alpha blew down the door.\n\n\"What happened?\" a guard  \nasked me. \"Are you alright?\"\n\nI gave a thin gasp. \"The...  \nhe's... the office...\" I said through ragged breaths. No sooner had I mentioned  \n'office', the soldiers came running towards it. Slowly but directly, I followed  \nthem back to the office.\n\nFalling a bit behind of the  \nguards, I walked into the now messy office room. The guards were gathered  \naround the remains of the smashed doorframe. To my horror, I looked around the  \nroom to find no trace of Alpha anywhere.\n\n_You've got to be JOKING!_\n\nI hit the guy with a Mono  \nVolt, a paralyzing electric spell and the guy just got up and walked away  \nwithout a trace. Why can't bad guys just stay down? After looking over the room  \nand archives room, one of the guards came up to me. He knelt down with his  \nspear still in hand and looked me in the eye. \"Can you tell me what happened  \nhere?\" he asked.\n\nAgain I felt in the  \nposition to lie again. I seemed to have been doing that a lot today. If I told  \nthem I was investigating who was the assassin, the same assassin I thought was  \na teacher in my school, I would have some heavy duty explaining to do to the  \nheadmistress. If you ask me, her wrath is worst than Alpha's.\n\n\"Well,\" I began meekly,  \ncoughing a bit with a rough voice. \"I was heading for my classroom because I  \nforgot one of my books. When I was heading back to the dorms, that guy attacked  \nme.\" I added a few sniffles into my voice, making my bluff more convincing.\n\n\"Did you see his face?\" the  \nguard asked.\n\nI simply shook my head. \"He  \nwore a mask,\" I answered.\n\nAt that moment, Master  \nZolis and Master Krots entered the wrecked office. \"What happened here?\" Krots  \nasked, slightly surprised.\n\n_Oh sure, **act** like  \nyou don't know._\n\n\"Zane,\" Master Zolis asked,  \n\"Did you blow up something again?\"\n\nI wanted to yell at him  \n'NO', but all I could muster was a low grumble.\n\n\"It was the intruder,  \nsirs,\" the guard defended for me. \"This student was just here to pick up  \nsomething from a classroom and got caught by him.\" Master Zolis and Master  \nKrots looked at me with concerned glances.\n\nI nodded at them. With the  \npain in my throat, I gently rubbed the sore spot. Just then, the teachers  \nlooked rather worried as they saw me reach my throat.\n\n\"Zane, are you okay?\"  \nMaster Krots asked. \"What happened to your throat?\"\n\nI panic a second, slightly  \nfrightened to what he'd do. \"Uh, nothing really. I'm fine.\"\n\n\"Zane, let me see your  \nthroat,\" the werewolf teacher demanded. With swift speed, he took a hold of my  \narm, lifted my hand away from my throat, and raised my chin up with his other  \npaw. Exposing the red welt where the werewolf assassin had choked me, Krots  \nlooked at it as well as Master Zolis.\n\n\"Did Alpha do this to you?\"  \nMaster Zolis asked. Painfully swallowing back my panic, I nodded. \"We should  \ntake him to the infirmary.\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't worry about it. I  \nsaid I was fine,\" I assured them.\n\nMaster Krots seemed to not  \ntake no for an answer. \"No Zane. You should have this looked at,\" Master Krots  \nsaid with a growl. \"Master Zolis, I'll take him to the infirmary. Why don't you  \nstay here and see what you can find.\"\n\nGlancing over to Master  \nZolis, I gave small, almost unnoticeable shakes of my head. The last person I  \nwanted to be alone with was the guy I thought to be an assassin.\n\n_No, no, no, no, no, no..._\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Okay, I'll clean things up  \nhere,\" Zolis replied.\n\n**_NO!_**\n\nI gulped again, painfully  \nthanks to the pain in my neck. \"Come on, Zane,\" Krots said. Still gripping my  \narm, he pulled me with him as he headed for the door.\n\nAs we entered the hallway,  \nwe walked silently towards the infirmary on the other side of the building. I  \nkept a nervous eye on him, wondering if he'd kill me right when we were about  \nhalf way there. I tried to pull my arm away, but he wouldn't have it. On our  \nway there, I couldn't help but picture an image of us entering the infirmary  \nwith no one there, he getting a medical scalpel from a draw and slicing my  \nthroat open. Again, I gave a painful gulp.\n\nAfter a few minutes, we had  \nwalked through the halls and made our way to the outside of the infirmary door.  \nHe hadn't tried to kill me. That was a relief. Then, as I was about to walk  \ntowards the door, his grip stopped me from proceeding. I cast a nervous glance  \nat him. He gave an unyielding look at me, making me want to back away.\n\n\"Zane,\" he asked slowly,  \n\"You didn't leave anything in a classroom, did you?\"\n\nThe guy was on to me.  \nTrying my best, I gave him the best ignorant look I could. \"What do you mean?\"  \nI asked.\n\n\"Don't give me that!\" he  \ngrowled, causing me to jump in his grasp. Gently, he let go of my arm and took  \na grip of my shoulders. He then slowly pushed my back to the wall, forcing me  \nto look into his wolfish eyes as he knelt to my height. \"You were there looking  \nfor Alpha, weren't you?\"\n\nBusted! I gritted my teeth  \nas he looked at me, his gaze practically piercing like daggers. Was he going to  \nkill me now? I could hear the headlines now. Zane Cosmon. Potentially promised  \nsorcerer killed by werewolf teacher. I'm not dying that way people!\n\nNervously, I faced his gaze  \nwith my own. Not getting a response from me, the werewolf teacher gave my  \nshoulders a shook. \"You know well not to go off on your own with that killer  \nrunning around! Do you want to die?\" I still remained silent. His unyielding  \nstare was frightening, but I did my best to be calm.\n\n\"I'd better not catch you  \ntrying to find him again, Zane,\" Krots said in a growl, \"Messing around with  \nsomeone like Alpha insures grave consequences.\"\n\n_Did he say **grave**?_\n\nTrying my best to give a  \nbrave face, I looked right into Krots dagger-sharp eyes.\n\n\"Who knows what he's  \nafter,\" he said.\n\n\"Why don't you tell me, _Master Krots_?\" I rebelled.\n\nHis eyes suddenly soften a  \nlittle at my words. \"What?\"\n\n\"_Why would_ Alpha want to attack me?\" I asked him rhetorically, \"I  \ngot nothing of value. I'm just a sorcerer trying to do well in his classes. _You_ wouldn't know of any reason why a _killer assassin_ would come after me, _would you_?\"\n\n_Okay, maybe I made that a little too obvious._\n\nTaking my words in, the  \nwerewolf teacher removed his paws from my shoulders, finally giving me some  \npersonal space. \"Zane, what are you implying here?\" Krots asked as he stood at  \nhis full height.\n\n\"Nothing,\" I said simply,  \nmy suspicious look still glued to him. \"I'm just asking you, do you know of any  \nreason why that rotten psychopath assassin would come after me?\" I purposely  \nchose those _subtle_ words for a  \nreaction from him.\n\nMaster Krots gritted his  \nteeth and stifled a tiny growl. He took his time to answer that question. \"No.  \nNothing,\" he said softly.\n\nWith that, I gave a small  \nshrug of my shoulders and a carefree look, the best I could give before his  \npresence. \"Okay then,\" I said with a huff. With that, I walked away from Master  \nKrots to the door of the infirmary. \"I think I can go in on my own, thank you  \nsir.\"\n\nHe gave me a slightly  \nquestionable look, and then slowly nodded. \"Okay. I'll wait out here to take  \nyou to your room.\"\n\n\"Nope,\" I interjected, this  \ntime clearly stating my discomfort around him. \"That won't be necessary.  \nGoodnight.\"\n\nWith that, I hastily  \nentered the infirmary ward and closed the door behind me. That settled it.  \nMaster Krots had to be Alpha. This was the second time he'd showed up after  \nAlpha attacked. He was always just a small distance away from the action. On  \ntop of that, he had appeared during my search through his records. He probably  \ngot threatened that I was closing in on him and decided to get me then.  \nEverything was pointing to him, plus how he'd talked to me earlier. Only guys  \nwith personalities of killers would be so aggressive.\n\nUntil I could find real  \nproof, I had to be on my toes. Whatever reason Alpha was after me, I was going  \nto give that fleabag assassin a run for his money.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nChapter 3: Suspicion 101\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThat night had been rather  \nuneventful after my little run in with Alpha, or whom I thought rather, Master  \nKrots. My throat was actually in worse shape than I thought. I was lucky that I  \nwas able to speak. After drinking down a tonic that tasted like puree spinach  \nand an hour's rest in the infirmary, I was allowed to head back to the dorms.  \nLike he said and against my insistence, Master Krots awaited me outside to  \nescort me to the dorms. He didn't try any funny stuff either. Still, I felt the  \nneed to keep on guard around him.\n\nThey had fixed my room, now  \nas good as new. Resting in my bed I quickly dosed off. No other events happened  \nthat night. I suppose after the ruckus Alpha caused that afternoon, he'd  \nprobably didn't want to rush knocking me off so soon. Despite how nimble he was  \nI must have given him a hell of a shock when I retaliated against him. Anyone  \nwould feel a little worn out after taking a Mono Volt to heart.\n\n\u0026nbsp;Morning came soon enough. Guards had now been  \nstationed patrolling the dorm halls at night, probably under the headmistress's  \norders to keep an eye on me. I wanted to tell her what I thought of Master  \nKrots, but the most she would do was tell me that I was overreacting.\n\nHow can one overreact when  \nsomeone tries to crush your windpipe, for crying out loud?!\n\nAnyway, for the rest of the  \nday I studied my butt off. In class I absorbed as much of the new spells as I  \ncould. When the teacher was simply talking, I would jump from my class notes to  \nthe textbook for spells that I'd thought would help me. If I wanted to fight on  \neven ground with Alpha, I was going to need to get a hell of a lot stronger and  \nable to use my heavy-duty spells freely. I even broke out the notes I made for  \nmy original spells. When we met, I was going to sock him with my bag of tricks.  \nThe day seemed to blur by, as time grew shorter and shorter. After mulling  \nabout all of today's class notes and about three textbooks, afternoon came.\n\nFinished with my last  \nclass, Black Magic arts, I decided to do my last bit of research in the library  \nbefore dinnertime. Walking down the hall, I reviewed over what I knew so far of  \nmy dilemma.\n\nSo far I had five of the  \nsix W's: **w** ho, **w** hat, **w** here, **w** hen, and ho **w**.  \nWho: Alpha; with the very promising possibility that his true identity was  \nMaster Krots. What: He wanted to kill me. Duh! Where and when: All this trouble  \nstarted three days ago at the school. And the how: Another Duh! Something to do  \nwith crushing my windpipe was a _distinct_  \npossibility!\n\nThat only left one, but a  \nvery important W. **Why**? Why would anyone wanted to come after me. Alpha  \nmust have bigger fish to fry than go after a youthful teen sorcerer. As  \ntalented as I was, I wasn't the kind of guy to make enemies. Perhaps next time  \nwe'd cross swords--_er_, claws to  \nspells, I could ask him myself.\n\n\"Zane, _Zaaaannnneee_!\"\n\n_Oh gods, I don't have the energy for this now..._\n\nI hesitantly turned around.  \nIt was Cassandra all right. Didn't she have anything better to do than pick fun  \nat me? I didn't have the time now to deal with her. With her usual cheery tone,  \nshe came running up to me priestess robes and all. \"Where you going?\" Cassandra  \nasked, a glint of suspicion in her voice.\n\n\"To the library,\" I  \nanswered with a grumble. I quickly made a retreat down the hall with her still  \nbehind me.\n\n\"But Zane,\" she called back  \nat me, \"Don't you have detention with Master Krots today?\" Her reminder caused  \nme to freeze in my tracks.\n\n_Detention, **right!** _\n\nI slapped my palm against  \nmy forehead and pulled it over my eyes. She was right. I still had detention  \nwith Master Krots. I might as well been brought before my teacher on a silver  \nplatter. I turned my head to Cassandra with a dour look. \"Thanks...\" I grumbled.\n\nWhat happened then actually  \nsurprised me. Instead of giving me her simple cheery response and smile that  \nmade me want to slap it off her face, she gave me a sincerely concerned look.  \n\"Is something wrong?\" she asked right off the bat.\n\nTruth be told, I wanted to  \ntell her. Hell, I wanted to tell anyone about what was happening. I guess all  \nthis anxiety began to take its toll on my nerves. But I couldn't tell her of  \nall people. Even if she did believe me, what I'd told her would only put her in  \ndanger. If I told her that Master Krots was a famous assassin and I was right,  \nhe would kill her too to keep her quiet. Even though I disliked the girl, I  \ndidn't want to throw her into harm's way like that.\n\nI can be a nice guy too,  \nyou know.\n\nHesitant, I looked to her  \nfully with a serious look. \"Cassandra,\" I started off, \"Remember when you told  \nme that you felt a malevolent around the school, and how it surrounded me?\" She  \nnodded slowly. \"Well, you were... sort of right.\"\n\nI think I surprised her  \nmyself because she gave a silent gasp at the news. I was lucky that the hall  \nwas mostly empty so no one overheard. \"I can't tell you everything, but someone  \nhas been trying to kill me. He's already tried three times to kill me and even  \nworse, I think he's someone who's been in our school the whole time,\" I told  \nher clearly.\n\nHer look of concern  \ndeepened, as she took as step forward. She gripped her books tightly like a  \nclassic, shy schoolgirl. \"Who? I can help you,\" she said.\n\n\"No!\" I jumped immediately.  \nI cast my gaze to the tiled floor. \"If I did tell you, he'd come after you too.  \nThe less you know the better.\"\n\nA rather deep silence hung  \nbetween us as she took in what I said. \"Never mind,\" I said sadly, \"I shouldn't  \nhave told you anything. Just forget it, okay?\" With that, I turned around to  \nleave.\n\n\"No,\" Cassandra pleaded in  \na strong tone. I still kept my back to her. \"Let me help you. If something  \nmalicious is going on here, I want to do whatever I can to stop them.\" It was a  \nside to her I never heard before.\n\n\"I got to go,\" I said  \nsolemnly, ignoring her brave words \"I got detention to go to.\"\u0026nbsp; With that I walked away, leaving Cassandra  \nbehind me. I had to admit, I was rather thankful that she actually expressed  \ngenuine concern for me. I'd had to remind myself to thank her if I made it out  \nof this mess alive.\n\nGripping  \nmy books tight to keep my nerves in check, I walked towards the Alchemy Lab. I  \nwas going to detention, managed by a teacher who moonlighted as a famous ninja  \nbent on skinning my hide. The entire scenario _screamed_ suicide.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe late sunset gleamed  \ninto the room from the back windows. There I sat, quietly in my seat with my  \nbooks on my desk. Sitting far ahead of me at his elegant desk was Master Krots,  \nor quite possibly Alpha, whichever you prefer. He sat there with his small  \nglasses perched upon his nose. He probably did so to make his appearance more  \ninnocent. Well, he wasn't fooling me.\n\nThe silence was so thick in  \nthat room you could probably cut it with a knife. We were the only two in that  \nroom. I kept my eyes on him, keeping him in constant sight in case he would to  \ntry something. Another daydream that haunted me was of one of those crueler  \ndetentions when they'd send the student to a torture chamber, all done my  \nMaster Krots's hands-- _er_ paws.\n\n_No_, they _really_  \ndon't do that here. J\n\nHe'd occasionally look from  \nhis papers and gave me a quick glance, keeping an eye on me. I continued to  \nkeep my guard up around him. It was impossible to relax around him as a  \nconstant chill grazed my body.\n\nTen minutes had past when  \nhe'd put his papers down and looked to me. He gave his gentle smile. That smile  \nshowed no more kindness for me. It was an act, nothing more. If he turned that  \nsmile in anyway icy, I was getting the hell out of there. My furious look  \ntightened at him as he looked towards me.\n\n\"So,\" he asked leisurely,  \n\"How was your day?\"\n\n\"Peachy,\" I replied  \ngrumpily.\n\nHe blinked at me, slightly  \nsurprised by my reaction. \"Are you mad at me or something, Zane?\" Krots asked.\n\n_Gee, how'd ya guess?_\n\n\"You know,\" I replied,  \ncasting a crossed look at him. \"How'd you feel if you were pushed against a  \nwall and threatened?\"\n\nKrots then closed his eyes  \nand shook his head rather remorsefully. \"I wasn't threatening you, Zane. I was  \nonly firm with you because I just didn't wanted to see you get hurt,\" Master  \nKrots answered.\n\nMy look upon him sharpened,  \nnow with a touch of suspicion. \"Why are you _so_  \nconcerned about me?\" I asked.\n\nI got him to blink his eyes  \nopen towards me. \"What do you mean?\" he counter-asked in a lighthearted tone.  \n\"You're my student. I take your well being to heart just like all my other  \npupils.\"\n\n_Not buying it, pal!_\n\nI began to tap my finger  \nagainst the book I had on my desk. All this info stalling was pulling at my  \ncool like an over tightened guitar string.\u0026nbsp;  \n\"Really?\" I played along.\n\n\"Of course. What other  \nreason would I have for your safety?\"\n\n\"You tell _me_?\" I said rather distrusting.\n\nMy tone might have been a  \nlittle too insinuating because at that moment, Master Krots's gaze at me became  \na bit stern. He looked at me with questionable suspicion. A silence hung  \nbetween us for a long time. That was when I knew something rather disturbing.  \nThere was no one else around. The halls were completely quiet and empty.\n\nAt that moment, Master  \nKrots stood up from his seat and took a step around his desk. \"Zane,\" he said  \nwith a soft growl, \"what are you trying to tell me?\" His wolfish eyes gleamed  \nwith the orange sunlight, casting a suspicious stare at me.\n\nThat veil of silence  \nquickly turned into suspicion. The sudden change in the atmosphere sent another  \nshiver down my spine. \"I just wanted to know,\" I found my tone of voice  \nwavering under Master Krots stern gaze. \"Why you're so interested in me?\"\n\nStepping next to his desk,  \nhe leaned against it and crossed his arms against his chest. \"Because, you're a  \ngood student who tries very hard to succeed,\" the werewolf answered. \"I notice  \nhow hard you try to master your spells. Especially how much you attempted to  \npull off Blast Bomb.\"\n\nJust then the guitar string  \nin my mind snapped at what he said. I immediately shot my eyes at him in full  \nattention. \"How did you know I was trying Blast Bomb?\" I asked hastily.\n\nHis eyes met mine, seeing  \nthe fright I clearly had at his words. A painful silence hung before us. How  \ndid he know I was practicing Blast Bomb... unless he was there to see me  \npractice!\n\nPushing my chair back from  \nmy desk, I stood up smoothly but swiftly. \"Um, Mister Krots, I-I really got to  \nleave now,\" I said rather aloud and grabbed my books.\n\nHe got off his desk and  \nstood up strait as he watched me gather my stuff. \"Zane, you still have thirty  \nminutes of detention,\" he said with a firm tone of voice. \"You'll have to  \nwait.\"\n\n\"I'll make up my  \ntransgressions later,\" I answered hastily as I headed for the door. However,  \nMaster Krots wouldn't hear of it.\n\n\"ZANE,\" he growled, his  \ntone of voice becoming frightful. \"You are not leaving this classroom!\"\n\nNeedless to say, as I kelp  \nheading for the door, Master Krots came after me. Before I reached the door,  \nthe werewolf teacher had stepped into my path. He peered over his glasses at  \nme, giving me a stare that denied any insubordination.\u0026nbsp; \"Get back in your seat, Zane!\" he growled.\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said with a  \nraised voice of my own, \"I have to go!\" With that, I attempted a break for the  \ndoor.\n\nWhat he did next gave me a  \njolt of fright. He quickly jumped before me again and grabbed me by my arm. I  \ndropped my books as he grabbed me. It appeared that he was being gentle with his  \ngrip, but for how long was probably not going to last. I pulled and struggled,  \nmaking my resistance against Master Krots all the more troublesome.\n\n\"Let go!\" I shouted at him.  \nHe just gripped my arm as I tried to use my other to push him away.\n\n\"Zane, calm down! Listen to  \nme!\"\n\nI was done being nice. I  \nplaced my arms against him and pushed. \"I said LET GO!\" I shouted as I threw my  \narms upward, throwing his grip upward.\n\nJust then when his arm went  \nup, I noticed the red sleeve of his robe slip down a bit to reveal his arm. My  \neyes widened with fright at what I saw. There, on his arm was a rather  \nnoticeable scorch mark. It dawned on me. It was the same place I had  \nelectrocuted Alpha with my Mono Volt spell when he was choking me. I had no  \ndoubt now. Alpha and Master Krots were one and the same!\n\n\u0026nbsp;Krots looked at me a moment with a concerned  \nlook, seeing the fear in my eyes. \"Zane, what's wrong?\" he asked. Still  \nupholding his act, he reached out for me again.\n\nBefore he could even touch  \nme, I had sprinted with all my might out the door. No sooner had I ran into the  \ndeserted hallway had I heard his call after me, followed by the sound of his  \npursuit. I had only run three feet from the doorway before I felt his paw clasp  \nupon my shoulder, stopping me.\n\n\"Wait a second--!\" he  \nshouted at me.\n\nInterrupting him, I twisted  \naround and shook off his grip on me. Taking a step back, I quickly brought my  \nhands together and a spark of energy came to life between them. \"Stay back!\" I  \nyelled, rather panicked at his attempted to grab me. I had enough proof to be  \nscared right then.\n\nSeeing my magic in hand, he  \ntook a step back with his arms up a bit. \"Zane! What's come over you?\" Krots  \nasked with a shout.\n\nI kept my stance firm and  \nmy magic ready; my eyes were fixed on his movements. \"Keep away from me!\" I  \nshouted, prepared to cast my spell. \"You can't fool me anymore!\"\n\nKrots looked surprised,  \npossibly for me figuring it all out. \"What are you talking about?\" he asked  \nwith a bit of a growl.\n\n\"Don't play dumb with me!\"  \nI spat venomously, \"I know who you are!\"\n\nHis eyes were wide at my  \nwords. Lowering his arms down, his tone of voice suddenly eased up a bit.  \n\"Zane,\" he said in almost a soothing tome. He took a step forward and attempted  \nto reach for my shoulder. \"Just calm down and--\"\n\n\"Diem Wing!\"\n\nAt his advance, I cast my  \nspell. A strong gust of wind erupted between us and right into Krots. With a  \nshout, the werewolf teacher was thrown backwards and sent flying across the  \nfloor. He landed on his butt a good few meters away from me and slid to a stop.  \nSurprised by my attack, he gave me a surprised look with his wolfish face.\n\nAs soon as he hit the  \nground, I took off running down the hall away from him. \"Zane, wait! Come  \nback!\" Krots shouted after me, but I just kept running. I wouldn't be doing  \nwhat he said anytime soon. I was positive Master Krots was Alpha. I couldn't  \nbelieve I ever thought he could be such a nice teacher, let alone one I would  \ncall my favorite teacher.\n\nI had  \nonly one option in mind. To face Alpha one on one, man to man... _er_, wolf.  \nTo hell with being safe. How the hell was I suppose to be safe if my own  \nteacher was the one trying to kill me? I made up my mind. I was going to  \nconfront that bastard tonight. If I was going to become wolf meat, I was going  \nto give him the mother load of indigestion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe crisp night air was  \nchilling as I waited to escape from my dorm room. I had been preparing myself  \nfor my encounter with Alpha no sooner had I entered my room. I quickly dressed  \nmyself with my dark blue sweatpants, my light blue shirt with a blue flame on  \nit and my favorite blue cloak. Finally I put on my favorite enchanted, moon  \ntalisman, used to increase spell power. If I was going down, I was going down  \nlooking good.\n\nI waited until the late  \nnight. All the while I studied my spells one last time. I reviewed every one,  \nincluding Blast Bomb but I doubted I could rely on that one. I waited and  \nwaited, until it was ten at night. It was time for me to take action.\n\nWaiting until I heard the  \nfootsteps of the guards outside pass my room, I got out of my bed and went  \ntowards the newly repaired window. I got discouraged for a moment. Someone had  \nput a protection spell around the window, probably ordered by the headmistress.  \nNot only did it keep the window locked and unbreakable, but it wouldn't allow  \nme to open it as well. I wondered if she had planned on that.\n\nAnyway, it was an easy  \nenough problem to fix. Taking my time, I ran my fingers about the window's  \nframe, my magic at my fingertips. After working my fingers around the hinges of  \nthe window, I felt a sudden breeze of air as the spell around my window was  \nreleased. I smiled coyly at my ingenious craftsmanship.\n\nOpening the window, I  \ncrawled onto its ledge. It was a four-story drop to the ground, but again, not  \na problem. Casting a levitation spell, I slowly dropped from my windowsill and  \nslowly floated towards the ground in a heavenly descent. In about twenty  \nseconds, my feet softly touched the ground. It defiantly beat tying bed sheets  \ntogether to scale out of my room anytime.\n\n\"Hey, you there,\" someone  \ncalled from behind me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;I slapped my forehead again. I had forgotten  \nabout the guards posted outside the dorms. Slowly turning around, I found two  \narmed guards looking at me. They appeared to be friendly in nature, but nothing  \nlooks friendly when they hold sharp spears in their hands.\n\n\"What are you doing out  \nhere?\" one of them asked, realizing I was a student and lowered his spear a  \nbit.\n\n\"It's dangerous, and  \nstudents are not allowed to go out of their dorms past curfew. I'm sure you  \nknow that,\" the other said.\n\nI did know, but I just  \ndidn't care at that time. Save neck first, worry about rules later. Giving them  \na smile fitting for my age, I gave a nervous chuckle. \"I'm sorry, sir,\" I said  \nwith a hand behind my head, \"Your absolutely right. I don't want to get in  \ntrouble and I really should be... Sleeping.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nJust as I had said  \n'sleeping', the guards suddenly collapsed with a sigh onto the ground. It  \nworked. I had cast a sleeping spell on them, a trick until now that I had a  \nchance to perform. With the two guards now sleeping lumps on the ground, I  \nquietly walked around them and made my way towards the school grounds.\n\nWith my blue outfit I felt  \npractically invisible against the night sky and the dark around me. I kept a  \nsteady pace. If I knew Alpha as I did up till now, he'd probably already knew I  \nwas out in the open and hiding somewhere among the buildings around me. Cutting  \nmy way across the deserted courtyard, I headed towards the one place where I  \ncould do battle to my full extent. The training building.\n\nMy trip there was quick and  \neasy. To my luck, no guards were anywhere in sight and hadn't spot me as I ran  \nthere. Weather it was from the cold brisk air of the night or just me at the  \nthought of Alpha, my body was shaking as I approached the door. With trembling  \nhands, I quickly opened the door and stepped into the dark room.\n\nThe large room again was  \nvery quiet. Now at night, the room seemed shrouded with shadow. It was easy  \nenough to see through, but creepy nonetheless. Taking a deep breath to calm my  \nnerves, I walked into the very center of the room. If me standing in the center  \nof the magic emblem on the floor like a giant bulls-eye wasn't enough to  \nattract Alpha's attention, then nothing would.\n\nI stood there for what felt  \nlike an hour, taking deep breaths to keep my cool. Eventually I was able to  \nremain calm. No matter if I'd stayed in my room and played it safe, he'd still  \ncome after me. This way, I was going on the offensive with him. I kept my  \nsenses open, focusing on the silence of the room around me. Then, as faint and  \nchilling as the first time I felt it, I sensed a presence from somewhere in the  \nroom.\n\n\"So, Alpha,\" I quipped  \ncalmly, my gaze still on one point of the room. \"How long have you been  \nwatching?\" I then turned around.\n\nFrom the framework of the  \nceiling, the werewolf in black dropped from the shadows above. He landed  \nsilently on the ground as if he was a phantom. \"Long enough to tell that you  \nknew I'd come. You got a lot of guts for a kid your age,\" Alpha said rather  \nleisurely with his low tone.\n\n_A compliment from a  \nkiller? Huh, go figure._\n\nI gave a sly smile at him,  \nreciprocating the incentive. \"How's the arm?\" I quipped, remembering the scorch  \nmark on Master Krots.\n\nHe gave me a low growl in  \nmy direction under his masked mussel. The thought caused him to give the arm a  \ngentle rub. \"Not too bad,\" he said, \"That little electric shock of yours really  \nstung you know.\"\n\n\"I do.\"\n\nHis steely eyes narrowed at  \nme as he stood at the edge of the room. \"So, why did you come out here?\" he  \nasked, \"Have you come to give yourself up?\"\n\nI gave him a challenged  \nlook. \"No,\" I said clearly, \"I came to fight you.\"\n\n\"Really?\" he asked. I think  \nI caught a small chuckle in his tone, causing me to give him a crossed glance.  \n\"Is that why you came all the way out here in the middle of the night?\"\n\nThe way he felt he could be  \nso relaxed, that my defeat was so inevitable had really peaked my ire. \"I came  \nhere because of this place in particular. You _were_ the one who deployed  \nthose Mazoku on me, _weren't you_?\"\u0026nbsp;  \nI asked rhetorically.\n\n\"I was.\"\n\nI gave him a confident  \nsmile. \"Then you should already know that this room was built to contain magic  \nenergy. When we fought last, I was holding back because I knew I couldn't fight  \nfreely on open school grounds,\" I explained calmly. I watched him as his  \nnarrowed steely eyes rested upon me. \"In here, I can fight you at my full  \nstrength, and not worry about blowing the place up.\"\n\nI thought I saw a slight  \nsmile under his mask as he looked at me. \"Very well. This place will do just  \nfine,\" he said, a bit of a quip to in his tone. Man, there were a lot of  \nquipping tonight. \"There's an advantage for me too. In here...\" he paused and  \ntook a small step forward. \"No one can hear you scream.\" As he took another  \nstep, he reached behind him for his blade.\n\n\"Wait a sec,\" I said just  \nbefore he reached his sword. \"Before we start, can I ask you a question  \nplease?\" I didn't know what stopped him first; that I caught him before he  \nbegan to attack, or the fact that I used the word 'please'. Either way, he  \nlooked at me with a questionable look and withdrew his paw away from the sword.  \n\"Why exactly are you after me? What did I do to you?\" I asked.\n\nAlpha just stood there in  \nsilence, taking his time ponder the question I had asked. After him glancing at  \nhis claws for a second, he looked back to me. He gave a small huff under his  \nmask. \"Hm, I don't see why not,\" he said simply as his eyes laid rest to me.  \n\"Maybe if I tell you, that will make your surrender that much easier.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\nI couldn't help but cock an  \neyebrow at what he said. \"What do you mean?\" I asked hesitantly.\n\nRelaxing again, Alpha  \nslipped into his leisurely tone of voice. \"To let you know, I am work for hire.  \nI do no less than what my employer asks of me.\"\n\n_A killer, teacher, and a  \nbusinessman. Will the surprises never cease?_\n\nI was growing more  \ninterested in what he had to say. I had been busting my brain trying to figure  \nout the why of all this for the past three days. \"I was instructed to  \ninfiltrate the school and find you. This, however, has been a most unique job  \nI've been asked to do.\"\n\n\"Why? Never killed a little  \nkid before?\" I butted in rather venomously.\n\nTo my surprise, he gave  \nanother huff at my rudeness. \"Not at all,\" he said, \"To my surprise, my  \nemployers asked me to bring you back... ALIVE.\"\n\n\"Alive?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" he replied, his tone  \nnow growing into a growl. \"Truth was if I were just asked to kill you and be  \ndone with it, I could have done so in a heartbeat. But you...\" I sensed his growl  \nwith a bit of anger in it. \"You sure made this task all the more troublesome.\"\n\n_Oh, boy..._\n\n\"I admit I had  \nunderestimated you as a mere boy. But this ends tonight. You're coming with me,  \nweather you want to or not,\" he said coldly. His steely eyes twinkled with his  \nkiller instinct trying to come out.\n\nRegaining my confidence, I  \ngave him an intrigued smile. \"So,\" I asked, \"Who is this employer of yours and  \nwhy do they want me so bad?\"\n\nHis eyes narrowed at me  \nthrough the slits in his mask. \"That I won't say,\" he stated simply.\n\nIt was clear he wasn't  \ngoing to spill any more info about why he was after me. He was just the  \nmessenger, which meant that I had more things to worry about. Just great.\n\n\"Now,\" he said with his  \nnarrowed gaze locked on me. \"This is your last chance. Make this easy for the both  \nof us and come quietly.\"\n\nI gripped my fists, holding  \nmy courage strong in myself. \"Alpha, I'm not going with you!\" I said clearly,  \n\"You might have to hold yourself back against me, but that doesn't mean I  \nwon't! I'm not going anywhere!\"\n\nAlpha remained still. That  \nleisurely attitude of his slowly melted away as he eyed me. \"So be it,\" he  \ngrowled and held the grip of his sword.\n\nThe two of us stood there  \nsilently. Neither of us moved, him awaiting my first attack and me awaiting  \nhis. He kept his paw on his dagger, prepared to draw it on an impulse's notice.  \nA minute must have past and neither one of us moved. Waiting for the other one  \nwas growing pretty old, pretty fast. Like a gunshot to start the battle, I  \ncrossed my arms across my chest and made my move.\n\n\"Get ready to fry, wolf  \nboy!\" I shouted and prepared my spell. With my words and extending my hands  \nout, a ball of yellow light appeared between my palms. A Fireball maybe? Nope...  \nsomething even better.\n\n\"Thunderball!\" With energy  \nflickering around my hands, I shot the ball of yellow light forth. It rocketed  \nright through the air with amazing speed right at Alpha. The werewolf only was  \nable to give a 'wha--!' as he barely dodged the high-speed ball of light. As it  \nstruck the wall, the ball of light exploded in an amazing blaze of lightning  \nand electrical energy. With the explosion, a large dust cloud swept over Alpha  \nas I watched with a proud smile.\n\n\"That,\" I said proudly to  \nAlpha, somewhere hidden in the smoke, \"was my original spell! Mixing the basics  \nof a Fireball and a Mono Volt spell!\" I wasn't stupid. That spell was indeed  \npowerful, but I was well aware that wasn't enough to stop Alpha. Then as the  \nsmoke cleared, I saw him.\n\nMy spirit dropped a tad.  \nNot only did he dodge the ball head on, but also he was without a scratch. His  \neyes sliced through the smoke as he looked at me. It was if my attack was more  \ntroublesome than painful. \"Now your mine!\" he growled and sprinted from the  \nsmoke towards me.\n\nI prepared my next spell.  \nTo pull it off, I had to juggle my energies at just the right time if I wanted  \nto throw him off. I had to focus on him, making sure my spell met its mark.  \nWith Alpha sprinting strait towards me, I took aim. He held his knife in his  \npaw, ready to attack. Then, closing in fast, I released my spell.\n\n\"_Hello there, handsome,_\"\n\nAt that moment, I could  \nhave sworn I saw Alpha's eyes bulge out of his mask and sockets. He came to  \nsuch a stop I'd though he'd fall over. Standing a couple of feet before him was  \na beautiful young, half-naked women with long blond hair and the face of a  \nbeauty queen. I heard a gasp from my attacker as he gawked at the beauty, torn  \nfrom how she got there and shocked from how she looked.\n\nThe women then bended over  \nwith a hand on her knees and held a finger to her lips. \"_Why wolfy_,\" she  \nsaid in a sexy tone, \"_Don't you want to play with me instead?_\" With  \nthat, she blew Alpha a kiss.\n\nThe guy completely froze in  \nhis tracks. I had bet under that mask, he went slack-jawed at the sight of her.  \n\"W-W-W-What the--\"\n\n\"FIREBALL!\"\n\nI cast my next spell.  \nBefore Alpha knew it, a ball of fiery light passed through the beautiful maiden  \nlike she was a ghost and shot right at him. Direct hit! Yeah! The ball of light  \ncaught Alpha right in the gut and propelled him backwards with it. In, what I  \nbet was a painful crash, he slammed into the wall and the Fireball exploded.  \nThe fiery explosion lit up the room, spreading fire into the air around the  \nwall. I couldn't see how Alpha could survive **that****!**\n\n\"Ha-Ha!\" I laughed out  \nloud. I pointed to the sight of the explosion as the flames died into smoke.  \n\"Gotcha, with my Fireball-Fake out!\" I had cast an illusion spell on Alpha as  \nhe came after me. Focusing as hard as I could, I was able to juggle upholding  \nmy illusion while I chanted up the Fireball. I had used that technique one, all  \nit got me though was a very displeased teacher and a week of detention.\n\nThe smoke hovered in the  \nair for a few second, and then slowly receded. My glee turned sour as I looked  \nthrough the smoke to find who stood behind it. There, with no more than a few  \nsinges on his already black outfit stood Alpha. He slowly stepped out of the  \nsmoke, his creepy eyes locked on me again. I couldn't believe it! The guy took  \na Fireball right in the chest and he wasn't cremated! There should have been  \nnothing but bones from a blast like that, but there he was.\n\n\"My, aren't we inventive?\"  \nhe asked leisurely, brushing a paw against his arm to remove some suit. \"Is  \nthere anything else you want to show me?\"\n\n_Now he's mocking me?!  \nThat's it! The only guy who gets to poke fun at the bad guys is me, pal!_\n\nNot giving me the time to  \nanswer, he charged again. Then, before he had made it across the floor to me,  \nhe disappeared in a blur of speed and vanished. It was my turn to be  \nflabbergasted as he pulled a Houdini on me. I glanced about, keeping my eyes  \nand ears open to find where he'd go. Then I sensed his presence again, right to  \nmy left. In an act of pure instinct, I leapt away from where I saw. As I did,  \nthree throwing darts struck the ground where I once was.\u0026nbsp;\n\nFrom a foot in the air,  \nAlpha had reappeared in another blur. He lunged at me, his blade poised towards  \nmy neck.\n\n_Hey! What are you doing!  \nYou want me alive, remember?_\n\nWith that steely knife  \ncoming at me, it gave me an idea. \"Mono Volt!\" I cried and held my hand out.  \nLightning quickly shot forth and struck Alpha's blade. I had figured I'd use  \nthe sword as a lightning rod for an effective attack. But before the electric  \nshock could even reach Alpha, he flung the sword away and towards the wall, taking  \nthe electric attack with it. It struck the wall and the electricity around it  \ndischarged harmlessly.\n\nI gulped, I hadn't expected  \nthat. Alpha landed on his haunches and faced me with his claws now extended.  \n\"Did you honestly believe that I would fall for the same trick TWICE?\" he  \ngrowled with an arrogant tone, sounding as if he was the most powerful foe in  \nthe world. Well, his tone left his mark at least as I took a step back.\n\nThose spells I created had  \npowerful results and all they did was slow him down. I'd bet a Dragon Slave  \nwould defiantly be enough to barbeque his tail, but I didn't know if the  \nwarding field I was in would contain the blast. Not to mention if I did, it  \nwould probably take me along with it.\n\nEven without his sharp  \ndagger, Alpha was still a force to contend with. Now standing a few feet ahead  \nof me, he watched me closely like a cat anticipating a mouse's movements. With  \nhis speed, he would grab me as soon as I made a run for it. \"Tired yet?\" he  \nquipped dully.\n\n\"You wish! Flare Bit!\" I  \nshouted.\n\nSmall balls of light  \nappeared around me. Throwing my hand down, they collided with the ground  \nbetween Alpha and me. Their combined force exploded on the ground and released  \na dense smokescreen around us. I doubt that Alpha would be fooled, but I wasn't  \nabout to nick-pick about diversions. Taking advantage of it, I ran to my right.  \nI escaped the smog and sprinted far from the area to gain some distance.\n\nSomehow, I figured Alpha  \nwouldn't allow it as he let out a growl in my direction.\n\n\"Freeze Arrow,\" he growled.\n\nFrom out of the array of  \nsmoke, three arrows of blue light shot out towards me as I ran. Two of the  \narrows shot over my head while the other struck the ground. At first what I  \nthought was poor aim I attempted to run, until I felt something snag my feet,  \nfollowed by a cold chill up my ankles.\n\nFrozen in place, I looked  \ndown. My feet had been frozen to the floor. Ice had formed around my feet,  \nsealing them to the ground with a thick coat of frost. I tried to yank my feet  \nfree, but it was as if my soles had been sauntered down. As I looked up towards  \nthe billowing smoke, I saw the silhouette of Alpha appear.\n\nHe stepped out of the smoke  \ntowards me and approached in his leisurely pace. On the approach, he held a  \nfist before him. \"Let's see how _you_  \nlike taking a Mono Volt,\" he said in a shallow growl.\u0026nbsp; Then, opening his fist, a ball of flickering  \nelectricity appeared in his paw.\n\nAlpha took his sweet time  \nwalking up to me as I frantically tugged against the ice around my feet. If he  \nstruck me with it, it was over. He might have been able to withstand a direct  \nhit from a paralyzing lightning spell, but I sure as hell wasn't that  \nresilient. The flickering ball of light lighted up his steely eyes as he  \napproached me.\n\nThen, finally calming down  \nto stop my frantic pulling at my feet, I came up with an idea. I chanted up  \nanother spell under my breath as he approached. Now only a few feet from me,  \nthe ball of electricity in Alpha's paw flickered madly in anticipation to  \ndischarge. \"Flare Bit!\" I cast again. Another bunch of balls of light appeared  \nbefore me and I threw my hand down... except, my target wasn't Alpha. I aimed  \nright below me.\n\nI felt the ground boom as I  \nthrew my hand towards my feet. The balls of light exploded with a heated charge  \nof air and created another smokescreen upon impact. Instantly, I suddenly felt  \nmy feet were no longer frozen to the ground. I had aimed Flare Bit on the ice  \naround my feet, freeing me just in time. Guessing where Alpha was within that  \nsecond in the smoke, I sprinted towards his left. I didn't know if it was  \nsurvival instinct or my going crazy to just survive that night. With a loud  \nshout I threw a high kick right for where Alpha's head should've been.\n\nMy foot was suddenly caught  \nby something, not really making a strong impact. As the smoke blew away, I  \nfound Alpha before me with a paw clamped around my ankle. The way he looked at  \nme showed a small hint of boredom at my attempt. \"I'll say again, you've got  \nguts...\" Then, with a murmur that escaped my hearing, a blast of wind suddenly  \nstruck me.\n\nI was thrown far, out of  \nthe array of smoke and sent spiraling across the floor. After sliding halfway  \nacross the room, I knelt up as quickly as possible. When I looked up, I saw the  \nblown away smoke give way to Alpha as he stepped forward into view. With a  \nscowl on my face, I got up to my feet to fight again.\n\n\"I can't believe I ever  \nliked you!\" I growled at Alpha, \"I should've known that a teacher like you was  \ntoo good to be true.\"\n\nStopping as he came out of  \nthe smoke, he looked at me simply. \"And why would you say that?\" he asked,  \nrather curious.\n\n\"Drop the act, pal!\" I  \nshouted and pointed right at the werewolf assassin. \"I know you're Master  \nKrots!\" My anger escalated as I thought of the whole idea of it.\n\n\"Really?\" he asked, his  \neyes narrowing at me with intrigue. \"And what makes you think I'm this... _Krots_?\"\n\n\"The most upstanding  \nevidence,\" I said as I looked towards the arm I had zapped last afternoon. \"The  \nscorch on your arm, you had the same mark when I had zapped you earlier.\" I  \ncaught a slight snicker from Alpha as he heard what I said. He may have pissed  \nme off before, but his snickering was just making my blood boil.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Go ahead, deny it all you  \nwant!\" I shouted aloud. Regaining my strength, I crossed my arms in my spell-casting  \npose. I kept an angry scowl on Alpha, showing that I was ready to fight with  \neverything I got. \"It doesn't matter! I'll expose you once I take you down!\"\n\nWith that, he took another  \nstep towards me, prepared to fight again. \"My, what spirit you have,\" he said  \nleisurely, and then glared at me with his silvery eyes. \"Enjoy it while it  \nlasts, because once this is over... I'll be sure to crush it!\" With that, he made  \na deadly sprint for me. My eyes flared with attention as Alpha entered his  \nsprint.\n\n\"Grey  \nBomb!\" I cried and threw out my arms wide. The ground trembled as my spell took  \nhold. The ground beneath Alpha suddenly erupted with a mighty blast, sending a  \ncloud of debris high into the air.\n\nI instantly took a few  \njumps back as the explosion of earth ended, preparing for when Alpha reemerged  \nfrom the smoke. Right on cue, Alpha jumped out of the smoke and high into the  \nair, poised for an aerial charge at me from above. With him in the air, I  \ndoubted that he would be able to dodge my next spell so easily. Holding my  \nhands out with my fingers in a crossed pattern, I chanted the spell.\n\n\"Scatter Brid!\" From the  \nspace before me, waves of small energy balls rained a hailstorm towards the  \nwerewolf assassin.\n\nThe annoying waves swept  \naround Alpha, not only hitting him with several electrical shocks, but also  \ndoing well to blind him in the blizzard of sparks. After a few seconds of  \nannoying pelts of the energy swarm, Alpha leapt from the air and to the far  \nside of the room. To my luck, he'd altered his express route at me, which gave  \nme time to cast one of my major spells.\n\nI closed my eyes as I began  \nto feel magic flow through me. Wind began to swirl around me, waving my blue  \ncloak in its breeze as my words churned it with magic. Opening my eyes  \nslightly, I saw Alpha now out of the storm of energy balls. Alpha charged at me  \nonce again. I kept chanting.\n\n_Wind which blows across eternity,_\n\n_gather in my hands and become my strength!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nwind around me picked up more, flapping my cloak upward as felt wind build in between  \nmy palms. The spell I had planned would unleash a powerful blast of wind in the  \nform of an arrow. With contact, the spell would shred the target to pieces.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nwords must have caught Alpha's attention because as I finished my chant, he  \ncame to a sudden stop. Can you say _sitting  \nduck_ ! It was my time to show him why I was so confident.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Bram  \nGush!\" I cried and shoved my hands forth. A gust of wind violently shook from  \nmy hand as my arrow shot forth. Like a hawk diving towards its meal, the arrow  \ncleaved its way through the air and hummed with its destructive cyclone within.  \nAlpha stood right there in its path, the arrow a second from impact.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Suddenly  \nwith a blur of speed, Alpha vanished right before my eyes. \"What!?\" was all I  \ncould say as my arrow missed its mark and continued on. Speeding onward, it  \nstruck the back wall of the training gym and exploded. With its blast of  \nrazor-sharp wind, the spell ripped a rather large piece of the wall with it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfound myself silent and mortified as my spell ended with a large crater nailed  \ninto the wall. Seconds after the arrow struck, Alpha reappeared with another  \nblur and landed right where he was seconds before. Unsurprised by the falling  \ndebris behind him, he locked his steely eyes towards me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Enough  \nwarm-up,\" he growled with almost an intimidating growl. \"Go ahead. Give me your  \nbest shot.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _THAT was my best shot..._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nfelt like falling to my knees, but I willed myself to keep standing. I was out  \nof ideas. That was the best spell I knew and he deflected it. I wouldn't have  \ntime to chant it up again without have him all over me mid-way in my chanting.  \nHe had walked away from most of my spells without serious damage.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Its  \ntime we end this game,\" Alpha said and raised a paw out towards me. A faint  \nglow showed over it as he began to cast a spell. \"Dark Mist.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Not  \nagain, I thought. Like a fast moving fog, darkness filled my vision and  \nsurroundings with the black mist. I couldn't see a thing, not even my nose in  \nfront of my face. It wasn't hard to tell that Alpha was planning to cripple my  \nsight so I was an easy target. If Alpha was like any ninja, he could find me in  \nthis unnatural fog without even trying.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nlooked around, trying to sense Alpha but found nothing. \"Lighting!\" I cried and  \nmade a ball of light appear in my hand. But to my shock, the lighting spell too  \nwas absorbed into the fog, only showing a blur of its glow. I waved the light  \naround me with its blurry glow, but it did nothing. I was just spinning my  \nwheels to find Alpha in his dark spell, but as he already knew, it was futile.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What's  \nwrong?\" I heard Alpha's voice from somewhere around me, \"afraid of the dark,  \npup?\" It was as if his voice was coming from everywhere, making it impossible  \nfor me to tell where he was. I was trapped and I had no way to escape the Dark  \nMist spell... or Alpha hidden within it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sleep  \ntight, kid,\" Alpha growled.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Flow  \nBreak!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Like  \na flare from the brightest heavens, a light suddenly broke the shroud of Dark  \nMist before me. With its brilliant light, it shoved the darkness back and  \nbefore long swept it away. I found myself back in the surroundings of the  \ntraining area. My mind raced for what had happened. I hadn't cast that spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nthe light faded away, I found Alpha where he was before. He stood a far distance  \nfrom me with his arm over his eyes. Removing his arm, he glanced around to find  \nhis Dark Mist spell gone.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What,\"  \nhe snarled angrily, \"What was that?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Surprise!\"  \na voice cried from high above.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Both  \nof us surprised, Alpha and I looked towards the row of bleachers that stretched  \ntowards the ceiling. Hidden in the shadows at the very top, stood the figure of  \na person.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Prepare  \nto face defeat villain!\" the jubilant voice shouted.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \neyes went wide as I looked closely through the shadows at the person hidden in  \nthem. As I saw the person's silhouette, I felt the sudden urge to roll my eyes  \nin grief.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Oh no, it's her!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Chapter  \n4: Bang from beyond! Blast Bomb!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Lighting!\"  \nour mystery savior shouted and launched a bright ball of light into the air  \nabove her. The light shined right on her like someone on a stage. There,  \nstanding dramatically upon the top bleacher stood Cassandra with her hands on  \nher hips as she stared down at us. She wore a white fighter garb with a flowing  \nwhite cape off her shoulders. Her flowing blond hair hung off her shoulders as  \nshe stood high and mighty like some sort of superhero.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nwhole sight wanted me to bury my head into the tiled floor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"CASSANDRA!?\"  \nI cried aloud, more in dread than in relief. \"W-What are you doing here?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; With  \nanother act of drama, she brushed a lock of hair over he shoulder and looked  \ndown at me. \"You think I'd let you have all the fun here?\" she quipped as her  \ngaze came to Alpha. He, on the other hand was anything but intimidated by her  \nstrong dramatic entrance.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Who's  \nthis girl?\" Alpha asked rather dourly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then,  \nshe held a finger out in Alpha's direction with a heroic pose as if she was  \nabout to rain hellfire upon him. Instead she was going to do something worse. A  \nspeech. \"Hear me, evil-doer! Your evil shall never prevail! For as long as such  \ndeeds exist in this world, there shall be good to stop it! I am Cassandra, THE  \nHERO OF JUSTICE!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Cassandra  \ntook a step back and then leaped off the bleacher into the air. With an  \nimpressive acrobatic somersault, she flew through the air as Alpha and I  \nwatched. She defiantly got the acrobatics down... except she underestimated her  \nlanding. Landing onto one of the lower bleachers, her foot slipped and entered  \na most embarrassing fall. She suddenly tumbled down the remaining bleachers  \nlike a heap of old laundry. Tumbling down, she fell face down to the floor with  \na rather loud and painful SPLAT!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwinced at the sight as she hit. A part of me felt sorry for her at that moment.  \nNo more than a second after she hit the ground, Cassandra pushed her self up  \nand stood up as if that rather embarrassing fall never happened. Both Alpha and  \nI stared at her with dull looks, seeing her proud and cheery look despite  \nfalling like a ton of bricks.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \nsee my grace and appeal have left you speechless villain,\" Cassandra said  \nbravely and pointed to Alpha once again. \"Now, prepare to taste my Justice!\"\n\n_I think I was better off with just Alpha..._\n\n\"Stay out of this  \ngirly,\" Alpha snarled, \"This got nothing to do with you.\"\n\nAt that moment,  \nCassandra did what I hated most. She let out a painfully shrill laugh,  \nannouncing her overconfidence and vast self-superiority. That laugh would  \nprobably make grown men cry. \"Ha!\" she announced aloud, far more than she had  \nto. \"You attack my classmate and say it has nothing to do with me? For such  \naction I shall not forgive!\"\n\nJust when I  \nthought Cassandra the student was a handful, Cassandra the superhero was  \nanything but subtle. I rolled my eyes as Alpha kept his eyes on her. I'd guess  \nhe was surprise to find someone else here after I had snuck in all alone. I  \nwondered how long she was hiding in the shadows.\n\nThe look in  \nAlpha's eye was clear that he was annoyed of Cassandra's over jubilant nature  \nas I was. \"You _don't_ want to fight with me, little girl,\" Alpha growled,  \n\"Go home and play superhero on your own time.\"\n\n\"You won't  \nintimidate me,\" Cassandra boomed, \"No matter how strong you are, you will never  \nscuff out my flame of just--\"\n\n\"FIREBALL!\" Taking  \nadvantage of Alpha distracted by Cassandra's motivational speech, I threw a  \nfireball from right next to Alpha and shot it directly into his chest. The  \nsphere of fiery light threw him clear across the long room and crashed into the  \nwall. The Fireball took effect and erupted right where he was. If my last  \nattempt to hit him with a Fireball proved anything, he wouldn't be down for  \nlong. It just bought me some time.\n\nWith an impressive  \nleap, Cassandra landed right at my side with a rather upset look on her face.  \n\"What was that for? I was in the middle of saying something important!\" she  \nshouted at me.\n\n_Gee, sorry  \nCassandra. I was only trying to... SAVE MY HIDE HERE!_\n\n\"What are you  \ndoing here?\" I shouted, particularly mad that she got involved after I told her  \nnot too.\n\nAgain, she gave me  \nthat overly confident laugh. \"Please Zane,\" she bellowed and held a hand close  \nto her mouth, \"You don't really expect a weakling like you to single handedly  \ntake down such a foe. Though, it's no surprise that I had to come and save  \nyou.\"\n\nShe called this  \nsaving me? I like to see her take on Alpha and see how she fairs against him!\n\n\"This isn't a game  \nhere!\" I shouted at her, now being serious, \"Run and get out of here while you  \nstill can!\"\n\n\"Oh no, you  \ndon't,\" a grim growl came from the other side of the room.\n\nWe both turned to  \nit to find that Alpha had once again emerged relatively unharmed by my spell.  \nCassandra's eyes went wide. Even she knew as I did what a direct hit from a  \nFireball would do and yet here stood a guy who wasn't a burnt corpse.\n\n\"I had warned her  \nto leave before,\" Alpha said as he fully emerged from the smoke. \"But now that  \nshe's here, I fear her fate will be **far** worse than yours.\"\n\nWith Alpha now  \nready to fight again, the both of us got ready. With a look of determination in  \nher eye, she began to cast a spell. Alpha made a deadly sprint for us, this  \ntime aimed particularly at Cassandra. I stayed by her side, preparing a spell  \nof my own, but she was already ahead of me. Alpha had closed the gap and  \nprepared to strike with his claws.\n\n\"Defense!\"  \nCassandra shouted.\n\nThen without  \nceremony and to my surprise, Alpha suddenly slammed into the air right before  \nus with a painful crash. My eyes went wide to find nothing was there, as if the  \nwerewolf ninja was playing mime or something. No sooner had he rammed into... whatever  \nit was, Alpha pushed himself off and jumped away from it.\n\nIt dawned on me as  \nI saw it. Cassandra had used the White magic spell, Defense, which created a  \ntransparent solid field of energy around us. The barrier was in the form of a  \nlarge, crystalline shape. It supposedly was the strongest defense spell known.\n\nAfter Alpha had  \nmade a long leap across the floor, Cassandra let go of the shield around us.  \n\"Go ahead, attack us with sword and sorcery alike!\" she laughed triumphantly,  \n\"You'll never break my spirit, nor my shields!\"\n\n\"DON'T ENCOURAGE  \nHIM!\" I scolded at her.\n\nWith that, I let  \nthe spell I was holding fly. \"Flare Arrow!\" I launched a volley of arrows right  \nat Alpha's direction. With blurs of speed, he dodged the arrows, leaving them  \nbehind his tail with fiery explosions.\n\nI hated to admit,  \nif we were going to do something that time was now. Now with Cassandra here, we  \nstood a glimmer of a chance against him. \"Cassandra,\" I quickly got her  \nattention, \"If we want to get out of this, were going to have to work together,  \nokay?\"\n\nHer face  \nbrightened up at the suggestion. \"Absolutely!\" she shouted, \"Prepare villain to  \nfall at the power of our unity!\"\n\nI slapped my  \nforehead with my palm.\n\n\"Okay,\" I began  \nquickly, \"this is what we need to do.\"\n\nAbout as I  \nexplained mid-way through my plan, Alpha had finished dodging the array of  \narrows I sent his way. Catching his sight on us, he sprinted our way with his  \nsteely eyes glimmering with bloodlust.\n\n\"Now! Go!\" I  \nshouted, and the two of us separated into sprints of our own. As I ran to the  \nright, Cassandra ran to the left as the both of us attempted to surround Alpha  \nourselves. Alpha came to a stop. Now with us separated, he was unsure who to go  \nafter. While he tried to decide, we took action.\n\n\"Aqua Create!\" Cassandra  \ncried, and held her hands out towards the ground. As if she was a living water  \nfountain, water came pouring out from the space between her hands and cascaded  \nacross the floor. While she did this, I prepared a spell of my own.\n\nWith Alpha now  \ncurious to what we were doing, he felt the water quickly reach his pawed feet.  \nThe water rose madly, reaching up to our ankles and stretched throughout the  \nroom. It was a simple plan. Cassandra would handle setting the stage, and I'd  \nfollow through with the fireworks.\n\n_It's Showtime!_\n\n\"Dolph Zork!\" I  \nshouted and let my magic work. From the water below me, I conjured a sharp  \nblade of water and threw my arm out, launching the blade at Alpha. Cassandra  \nalready jumped out of the way, but Alpha's stood right in the blade's path.\n\nSeeing the blade  \ncoming, Alpha ducked on both his hands and feet, looking now like an actual  \nwolf. The blade flew over his back and shot towards the wall, casting a breeze  \nagainst Alpha as he dodged it.\n\nNot getting our  \nhopes up on that one spell, Cassandra and I quickly sprinted in separate  \ndirections across the floor. Seeing us separate, Alpha made up his mind and  \nwent after me. With no less than a second, he cut off my path and I stopped  \nbefore him. He then lunged for me, but my accomplice already had me covered.  \n\"Elmekia Lance!\" Cassandra shouted.\n\nA ray of fiery red  \nlight shot across my flank and shot right at Alpha. Knowing the spell was  \ncoming; he immediately sprinted for his left and missed the spell. With his  \nsuperior speed, he sprinted through the air and landed on the other side of the  \nroom. At that time, Cassandra rushed towards my side and took her guard.\n\n\"Okay, villain,\"  \nCassandra shouted, \"I don't care who you think you are, but you're no match for  \nour COMBINED POWER!\"\n\n_She's getting  \nWAY too wrapped up in this,_\n\n\"Cassandra!\" I had  \nto burst her bubble and tell her who Alpha was. \"That guy is Master Krots!\"\n\nJust then, I saw  \nher jubilant exposure drop a notch. \"WHAT!!!\" she cried, apparently as let down  \nas I was when I figured it out.\n\nAll Alpha did in  \nresponse was narrow his gaze at us. \"You fools!\" Alpha growled in our  \ndirection. \"I have but one true name, one true identity. Whatever aliases I  \ntake mean nothing to me, and should mean nothing to you.\" The way he talked  \nonly did to ratify he was purely hard-core.\n\nHowever, Cassandra  \ndidn't seem to listen to him. Taking a step forward, she cast a gaze of watery  \neyes in a pleading state. \"No! Master Krots please, it's not too late!\" she  \ncried remorsefully towards Alpha. I ended up rolling my eyes and slapping my  \nforehead again. Why she would try to change the morality of a deranged serial  \nkiller was an utter waist of time. \"Repent for your sins and you'll be saved!  \nCast your killer nature aside and give peace a chance!\"\n\nAlpha's narrowed gaze  \nlooked at Cassandra as if she was a puppy dog that was gnawing on his slipper.  \nHe held back the urge to snarl as he tried to stomach the holy dribble my  \nfriend was force-feeding him. \"Enough of this,\" he grumbled and then proceeded  \nin another attack towards us.\n\nTaken aback by  \nAlpha's violent reaction to her pep talk, Cassandra backed up again towards me.  \nRather alarmed, she prepared another spell. \"Defense!\" she shouted again and  \nthat veil of impenetrable, see-through energy appeared around us.\n\n\"Not this time,\"  \nAlpha growled as he charged for us. \"Dill Brand!\"\n\nSuddenly the earth  \nbelow Cassandra and I began to shake and swell. We both looked down with  \nshocked glances before we got hit. The ground suddenly erupted with a large  \nblast, sending us flying upward. No sooner had the explosion gone off, the  \nbarrier Cassandra created shattered into shards of light. With the blast, the  \ntwo of us were sent flying. I fell to the ground hard and found myself  \nspiraling across the floor. I stopped only to feel the wind knocked out of me.\n\nI should have seen  \nthat one coming. Cassandra's barrier spell stopped at ground level, making us  \nvulnerable to underground attacks. Finally getting my strength back, I knelt up  \nas quickly as possible. The large smoke that had spread out from the blast area  \nclouded everywhere around me.\n\n\"Cassandra?\" I  \ncried out, hoping to find if she was unharmed. \"Cassandra!\"\n\n\"I'm... I'm okay...\" I  \nheard her answer from somewhere through the smoke. I was about to follow her  \nvoice to find her. Just then, I felt someone grip my shoulder and held me down  \non my knees.\n\nI gave a loud gulp  \nas I felt the furry hand upon me. Turning my head ever so slowly, I looked up  \nto who it was. Surely enough it was Alpha, standing just next to me with his  \npaw on my shoulder. Through his mask, his steely eyes gave me an unyielding,  \ncrossed look. \"This has gone on long enough,\" he growled in a shallow tone. All  \nI could do was give a nervous chuckle as he held me there.\n\n\"Dimilar Wind!\" I  \nheard Cassandra shout. With that spell, a ball of wind shot right over my head,  \ncleaving the smoke around us as if it was nothing. To my luck, the swirling  \nball of wind knocked right into Alpha and threw him several feet away from me.  \nWith that ball of wind, the smoke in the room was swept away.\n\nSurprised myself,  \nI turned towards the source of the spell. Knelt down with her hand held out was  \nCassandra, who had cast her spell while hidden in the smoke. As we got to our  \nfeet, she ran towards me. \"Saved your butt!\" she quipped playfully.\n\n_Urgh! Even in  \nthe heat of battle she finds time to torment me,_\n\nAt that point, the  \nwater that had once flooded the floor had receded and dried away. With the  \nsmoke gone, the both of us found Alpha had been thrown only a few yards away.  \nSlightly stunned by the wind attack, it gave me an idea of how to stop him. It  \nwould require me to use a spell I kind of stunk at, but I was willing to risk  \nit.\n\n\"Cassandra, we  \nneed light!\" I hinted towards her. To my luck she nodded, catching my drift.\n\n\"Lighting!\" With  \nher words, a bright ball of light appeared in her hand and like a baseball, she  \nthrew it at Alpha.\n\nSnapped back into  \nattention, Alpha saw the brilliant bright ball coming towards him. With no more  \nthan a shift of his head, the ball shot over his shoulder harmlessly. Just as  \nit shot behind Alpha, the ball erupted with a brilliant glow of light and  \nilluminated the surrounding area.\n\n\"Keep it up!\" I  \nshouted to her as I concentrated on my next spell. Like I asked, Cassandra  \nlaunched more Lighting spells in several areas around us. Alpha dodged the  \nlights as those came his way, thinking them as attacks. After four more light  \nspells, the entire room was as bright as day.\n\nAlpha gave us a  \nbored look. \"What are you doing--?\"\n\n\"Shadow Snap!\" I  \ncried. At that moment, a dagger appeared between my fingers as my spell took  \nshape. With a flick of my wrist, I launched it towards the ground and...\n\nBull's-eye! Yes!\n\nThe dagger struck  \nits target. Just then, I saw Alpha attempted to come at me... but he didn't. His  \neyes went wide as he looked at the ground before him. There, looking at the  \nshade of his own shadow he saw the dagger I had thrown into it. Shadow Snap  \ntargeted a person through the astral plain. By pinning Alpha's shadow, he  \ncouldn't move.\n\nBut I wasn't done  \nyet. I immediately ran towards Alpha's right. There, stretched out far across  \nthe floor was yet another, thinner shadow of Alpha. \"Shadow Snap!\" I shouted  \nagain and shot another dagger into the shadow.\n\n\"Damn!\" Alpha spat  \nas he felt another part of his body jolt with the feeling of immobility.\n\nFollowing my  \nexample, Cassandra went after another shadow as well. I felt great joy as I  \nfinally got Shadow Snap to work. As Cassandra nailed another shadow herself, I  \ncast my last Shadow Snap into a fourth shadow on the ground. My look of joy was  \nthe same as Cassandra's as we saw Alpha before us.\n\nIn a perfect  \npattern, four clear shadows were cast upon the ground in the four directions.  \nWith each one pinned by a dagger, Alpha couldn't escape. From what I learned  \nabout Shadow Snap in astral studies, one shadow originally halted a person from  \nmoving. But by pinning four shadows, it was possible to completely immobilize a  \ntarget to every limb and part of his body. From what happened then, I was  \nright. There stood Alpha as still as a statue. Cassandra and I had completely  \nimmobilized Alpha to every limb and part of his body. The only thing that was  \nleft was his head, which he used to look at the shadows of him pinned to the  \nfloor.\n\nWith Alpha  \ntrapped, Cassandra sprinted opposite of him with me on the other side. \"Let him  \nhave it!\" she shouted strongly. With her words, a fiery ball of light appeared  \nin her hands. I too began to cast a spell myself, and a ball of yellow light  \ncame into existence.\n\n\"Fireball!\"\n\n\"Thunderball!\"\n\nAt the same time  \nwe released our spells, hers of fire and mine of lightning. With large flashes,  \nthe two spells took form as large spheres of fire and electricity and rocketed  \ntowards their target dead ahead. With nowhere to go, Alpha remained frozen as  \nthe Fireball and Thunderball came at him from both sides. Moving his head as  \nbest he could, his eyes were wide with shock as he glanced at the Thunderball  \nfrom my direction before the spells struck.\n\n**_KA-BOOOM!!!!!_**\n\nThe two spells  \nstruck at once, hitting their mark with a wicked explosion. Fire and lightning  \nshot around where the spells clashed, releasing the mother-load of flashes that  \nI bet had surpassed the boundaries of the building we were in. I looked in  \nwonder as the lightshow slowly faded away and looked at the billowing smoke  \ncloud. As the explosion ended, the lighting spells we'd used to create Alpha's  \nshadows disappeared. Quickly retreating from where she was, Cassandra ran  \naround the boundaries of the explosion site and came to me. Her look shared my  \nexpression as well.\n\nAfter a small  \nmoment of silence, Cassandra, now cheerful as ever gave a humongous smile of  \naccomplishment. \"We... DID IT!\" she cried, causing me to jump back at her  \nenthusiastic remark. \"Justice: One. Evil: ZERO!\"\n\nI cracked a tiny  \nsmile and gave a sigh or relief. That's the extent of my joy at the moment.  \nCassandra, however, needed to know the meaning of subtle. She kept on cheering  \nlike we had just saved the world, followed by a parade in her honor.\n\n\"Yeah!\" she sang  \njubilantly, \"We did it, we did it!\"\n\nJust then, as if I  \nhad fallen into the worst nightmare of my life, we heard the sound of a faint  \ngrowl from within the smoke. Caught in mid-cheering, Cassandra's tone slowly  \nsank to a disappointing low as we looked into the smoke. There within the  \nshroud of smoke appeared the silhouette of our foe. He then stepped out into  \nthe open air. I looked at him with disbelief, dread and horror as I found Alpha  \nstill alive... _again!_\n\n\"_Oh boy_,  \ndid we _do_ it...\" I groaned in response to Cassandra.\n\nThe good news was  \nthat we did actually hit him with a rather good blast. Clear scorches were on  \nhis clothes, and he slightly held his arm as if to rub a sore muscle. The bad...  \nlet me rephrase, very, _very_ bad news was that the look in his eyes was  \nnow plain frightening. He looked at us with a gaze of rage and anger that made  \nit clear that he was really pissed off.\n\n\"You little brat!\" he  \ngrowled, his tone now showing the cold, beastly side of the werewolf assassin.  \n\"I was told to bring you alive... but I don't think they'll mind if you're missing  \na limb or two.\"\n\nI felt myself shake, and I  \nwas pretty sure Cassandra was trembling a bit as well. Alpha took slow steps  \ntowards us, in return the two of us stepped back. I wanted to cast a spell, but  \nit was clear if he could walk away after all we did to him that night, was  \nthere any spell we knew that could stop him? As he stalked towards us, he  \nlowered his injured arm, gave it a small shake to rid the pain and reached into  \nhis pocket. He pulled out one of his throwing darts. It gave a gleam, equal to  \nthe cold malice in Alpha's eyes.\n\nWith the sharp  \nknife utensil now drawn, Alpha made a deadly sprint towards us. Cassandra  \nprepared to cast a spell, but was caught mid sentence as Alpha disappeared into  \nanother blur again. He reappeared another place on the other side of the room,  \nonly to vanish elsewhere as he approached. Alpha was trying to divert our  \nattention, making us lose our guard. With his final jump, Alpha reappeared  \nbefore us and made a strait beeline right for me.\n\n\"Van Rail!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Cassandra  \nand I were surprised as we heard someone shout out that spell from somewhere in  \nthe room. A thick vein of frost suddenly streaked across the floor in front of  \nus. Seeing the frozen streak in his path, Alpha quickly came to a stop and took  \na small jump back. From the side of the room, several other veins of frost  \nspread out around the room like snakes across the floor. As some of the frost  \nattempted to come after him, Alpha quickly made several jumps away, steering  \nclear of the growing ice veins. Before long, the ice veins stopped growing,  \nforming intricate patterns around Cassandra and me as if to protect us.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Uh, what was that?\" I asked  \nrather dumbly as Cassandra and I looked around.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Rebellious  \nas ever I see, Zane,\" a voice spoke, and we turned to look.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; From  \nthe far side of the room, a lone figure stood in the shadows near the wall. Ice  \nhad covered the wall where he stood which had sprouted into the growing veins  \nof frost that had slithered across the floor. With a hand upon the ice wall, he  \nlowered it with a small stream of cold steam trailing off his fingers. After I  \nlooked closely into the shadows where the figure stood, I released a rather  \nlarge gasp.\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; What  \nthe--!?_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Master  \nKrots!\" Cassandra cried. Stepping out of the shadows was, to my grand surprise,  \nMaster Krots. The brown werewolf teacher walked onto the floor, carefully  \nstepping over the veins of frost he conjured onto the ground. His red robe hung  \nelegantly off his body as he approached us. The only thing different about him  \nwas that he ridded himself of his glasses, giving way to his famous unyielding  \neyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Master  \nKrots!\" Cassandra cried happily as he approached and stepped into the circle he  \ncreated around us. \"I knew you weren't evil!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Okay,  \nnow I felt stupid. I thought Alpha and Master Krots was the same guy. And  \nthinking that he was I had sent Master Krots flying down the hallway. Oh boy...  \nwas I in for an earful at the end of this mess.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Are  \nyou two alright?\" was the first thing he asked. We both nodded at him. \"Zane,\"  \nhe then came to me with a sly look, \"Didn't I say I'd better not catch you if  \nyou were looking for Alpha again?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; At  \nthat moment, being captured by Alpha was sounding mighty tempting.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; No  \nsooner had our happy reunion with our teacher started; a rather annoyed growl  \ncame from across the room. \"You again!\" Alpha snarled. Master Krots and the  \nrest of us looked to find Alpha was on the far side of the room. He stood clear  \nfrom the veins of ice as if they were deadly. I couldn't figure why. \"Why do  \nyou always interfere?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then  \nit dawned on me. Alpha was there in the training room yesterday. The only  \nreason he probably didn't attack me when I was good and exhausted was because  \nMaster Krots came and found me before Alpha could make his move. I had to  \nremind myself to give Master Krots an apple when this was all good and through.\n\nHearing the  \nwerewolf assassin, Master Krots grew a rather angry stare at him. He bared his  \nteeth and gave a rather frightful snarl in Alpha's direction. \"YOU!\" Master  \nKrots growled furiously, his claws now extended from his paws. \"How dare you  \nattack my students!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad never seen the beastly nature of Master Krots before. It was unlike  \nanything I've ever seen before. The very look on our teacher's furry face made  \nCassandra and me back up a bit. With a rather ferocious growl, Master Krots  \ntook of with amazing speed. Jumping over the veins of ice around the floor, he  \nmade his way right for Alpha. Still holding the dagger he'd drew, Alpha took  \noff himself and jumped away from Master Krots.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha  \nmust have been pretty freaked if he was going on the defensive. And for an  \nAlchemy teacher, Master Krots had really good moves. Sprinting across rivers of  \nice, Alpha kept his eyes on Master Krots as he attempted to strike him down  \nwith his claws. In an attempt to strike back, Alpha launched his throwing  \ndagger right at Master Krots. With speed almost as equal with Alpha's, Master  \nKrots dodged it and the dart went towards the ground.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nCassandra and I watched, we noticed as the throwing dart struck one of the veins  \nof frost. To our surprise, upon contact the dart was completely covered in a  \nthick sheet of ice, poised up from the ground as if frozen instantly. Master  \nKrots's spell arsenal was amazing. If his spells were anything like this one,  \nthen I was _glad_ he wasn't Alpha.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; From  \nthe looks of things, Master Krots had Alpha on the ropes. With so many parts of  \nthe floor lined with instant freezing trip-wires, the werewolf assassin's  \nmovements were quite limited. Alpha was casting several attack spells at Master  \nKrots, only to have our fast teacher leap away and dart towards Alpha again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then,  \nin a rather shocking turn of the tide, Alpha made a Houdini again and  \ndisappeared in another blur of speed. Master Krots stopped where he was,  \nperplexed to see Alpha disappear right before his eyes. Then, as we watched  \nfrom the safety of the ice ring, Cassandra and I saw as Alpha reappeared behind  \nour teacher, poised for a sneak attack!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Master  \nKrots, look--!\" Cassandra's warning barely got out before Alpha landed a rather  \npainful looking kick right at Master Krots upper back. With strength that was  \nhard to believe the assassin had, his kick sent our teacher hurtling through  \nthe air and into the far wall. With a growl of pain, Master Krots went crashing  \ninto a wall. Hitting the floor, he immediately got to his feet, but just as he  \ndid, Alpha was already on him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Snarls  \nflew as the two werewolves brawled on the floor, locked paw and paw as the one  \ntried to overpower the other. The scene looked as if they were real wolves in  \nmortal combat. Locked in their wrestling, Alpha had pinned Master Krots on his  \nback, still pushing against his attacker. Inch by Inch, the werewolf assassin  \nslowly tried to push Master Krots towards the ice vein, growing dangerously  \nclose to him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Watching  \nfrom the center of the room, Cassandra and I saw the sudden danger our teacher  \nwas in. \"Master Krots will be a wolf-sickle if he touches that!\" Cassandra  \ncried as she saw Alpha push him closer towards the vein of ice on the floor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nhad to do something. Luckily, Master Krots's rescue gave me time to recover  \nsome of my energy. I then looked down to the circle of ever-freezing frost  \nclose to our feet. Looking at it, I gave a smile as an idea came to my head.  \nBringing my hands together, I pointed my palms down towards the ice vein at my  \nfeet and power filled my hands.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dam  \nBrass!\" The air around my hands gave a faint hum as a bolt of light appeared.  \nWith my cry, the bolt of light shot right at the vein of ice. The spell I used  \nhad another name. A.K.A: Vibration Blast.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nbolt of light struck. Like a highly struck tuning fork, the high-pitched ring  \nechoed into the ice vein and with a jolt from the ground, the ice vein  \nshattered to bits. Just as I had hoped, with that well placed spell I had  \ncreated a chain reaction that began to shatter the other veins connect to the  \none I had shot. With the ice weaved like a spider's web, all the deadly frost  \nveins began to shatter like rows of dominos.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha  \nwas too busy trying to budge the resilient Master Krots to an icy doom that the  \nninja bastard didn't see it coming. Just as he was about to shove Master  \nKrots's head upon the deadly ice vein, it shattered and disappeared into shards  \nof frost.\u0026nbsp; Alpha's eyes went wide as he  \nsaw the vein of ice disappear.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Taking  \nadvantage of the surprise, Master Krots brought his feet against Alpha's chest  \nand heaved. He sent Alpha flying backwards and far, allowing him a chance to  \nget back to his feet. \"Thanks,\" he called in our direction, and then brought  \nhis gaze on Alpha again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha  \ngave a growl of annoyance, and I couldn't blame him. This fight had lasted  \nprobably after midnight.  \nYou'd be cranky if you were in a fierce battle in the middle of the night. Now  \nangry, the werewolf assassin attempted another charge at our teacher. However,  \nhe didn't count on Cassandra's interference.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Scatter-Brid!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Like  \nthe spell I had used earlier, Alpha was struck by a storm of small energy  \nballs. While Cassandra's spell took action, we both ran towards Master Krots.  \nWhen we got to him, he looked at us with a fierce look. \"What are you still  \ndoing here? Get out now!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"No  \nway,\" I shouted back at him, \"Alpha came here for me! I'm not just going to run  \naway!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That's  \nright,\" Cassandra shouted as jubilant as ever. \"And I too, shall not hide before  \nthe face of evil!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That  \nwasn't a request!\" Master Krots growled, clearly stating an order as our  \nteacher.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just  \nthen, a shrill buzzing noise interrupted our talk before Master Krots could  \nscold us anymore. \"GET DOWN!\" he shouted, grabbed us by our backs and shoved us  \nto the floor face-first. A rather violent wind grazed our backs as whatever  \ncame at us flew by. Then with a violent blast, it struck the wall and exploded,  \nsending pieces of the wall flying threw the air. I had realized that the spell that  \nwas thrown at us was a spell called Dark Claw, a rather nasty bugger in the  \ntear-your-foe-to-shreds column.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Looking  \nup, I found that Alpha had emerged from the gale of energy balls and had  \nlaunched the spell at us. His eyes now glared at all three of us with their icy  \nglimmer. Then, finally sensing his rage for the first time that night, I picked  \nup a now burning anger within him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Burst  \nFlare!\" Alpha growled. With his words a bright ball of light appeared before  \nus.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alarmed  \nby its presence, Master Krots quickly got up and stood before us as if to  \nprotect us. Speaking as quickly as he could, he had shouted out a defensive  \nspell I failed to hear. By the sound of it, it was probably Defense. My eyes  \nwent wide as I saw the orb of light before us release a rather strong flash,  \nfollowed by an explosion of flames.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Alpha  \nmust have done some serious amplifying or something on that spell because as  \nsoon as it erupted, it practically shook the defense spell around us. A second  \nafter that, the shield shattered and the shockwave from the fiery explosion  \nstuck us. We released a loud shout as we were sent flying backwards.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Smoke  \nclouded everything as we fell to the ground, tumbled on our backs and stomachs  \nas we tried to recover from that rather painful blast. I heard the groans of  \nMaster Krots and Cassandra beside me as I slowly regained my bearings. Not  \ngiving us the time to recover fully, Alpha stepped into the lifting array of  \nsmoke and before me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It  \nwas clear now. He no longer cared about what became of my friend or my teacher.  \nIf I didn't do something, he'd kill them right then and there. I couldn't let  \nthat happen. I wouldn't let that happened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Die,\"  \nhe uttered as he charged forth, making a deadly sprint towards Cassandra.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nmind snapped with anger and my blood became a broil in less than a second.  \n\"NO!\" I yelled aloud. \"LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!!!\" My cry had probably had been  \nlouder than any explosion that had went off all day.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nquickly got in front of Alpha's path right as he made a charge for her. I kept  \nmy ground. I had lost all sense of logic as I strived to protect her with  \neverything I had left. Just then, right as Alpha was about to collide with me,  \nhe was suddenly shoved back. Still mad as hell, I looked with surprise as I saw  \nthis. Master Krots was still on the ground just regaining his senses and  \nCassandra was still behind me. The only other person who could had repelled  \nAlpha like that was...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Me?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Suddenly  \nfrom below my feet, a brilliant gold light suddenly shined into existence. It  \nstretched out to me as I felt power like that of a spell. It was then I had  \nrealized that Alpha was thrown back by the power of my aura alone. When a spell  \nis being cast, a power aura is created. Most wouldn't do a thing, but this had  \nsomehow thrown off a charging werewolf.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Regardless  \nof all this news, I was still pissed at Alpha. My anger escalated beyond  \nanything I had ever experienced before. I wanted to end this, to get rid of  \nAlpha right here and now. As I wished this, only one spell came to mind. The Blast  \nBomb.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Everything  \nelse had done squat, but Blast Bomb was still the highest risk I ever took. The  \nmost I ever got out of it was a simple spark. Still, even if my spell didn't  \nwork, it was better off than just being a human shield for my friends. With my  \nanger driving me, I was prepared to blast his butt to hell. I promised I'd  \nfight him with everything I got, and he was going to get it!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \ngolden aura, whatever it was, stretched up around my body, illuminating my  \nsurroundings and wrapping me in its golden glow. I felt as if my soul was  \nburning with power from deep within. Whatever it was, it was making me feel  \nall-powerful. I began to chant my spell.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Regaining  \nhis senses after being thrown a distance back, Alpha looked towards me, drawn  \nby the golden light. For some reason he appeared shocked. I heard the sounds of  \nMaster Krots and Cassandra beside me but while lost in the overflowing energy,  \nI didn't acknowledge them.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwas seeing red... actually it was gold. Whatever! I was blinded with anger as I looked  \ntowards Alpha. The words of my spell began to flow like water. For a moment, I  \nfelt as if the words were coming out by themselves. The golden aura surged  \naround me as I felt my words brought more power forth. I caught a look of shock  \nin Alpha's eyes as the golden aura glowed brighter.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nheard new energy hum around me. Too forgone with anger and power, I finished my  \nchant.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Please  \nlet it work! Come out right this time!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ I  \nshouted at the top of my lungs. \"BLAST BOMB!!!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Throwing  \nmy arms out, the air around me whooshed and whined. Dozens of balls of solid  \nlight appeared around me, flickering with power and a brilliant fiery glow. I  \ncaught the look of horror on Alpha's face as the orbs formed. With an angry war  \ncry, I threw my arms in a downward swoop forward at my target.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \norbs of light then tore through the air; spiraling outward in the direction I  \nhad thrown them. I only saw the silhouette of Alpha's fleeing form as the orbs  \nshot forward all about the room and struck.\n\n**_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; KA-BOOOOOOOOM!!!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The explosion was so loud I thought  \nmy ears had been blown off. The massive roar led to a violent shockwave and a  \nblast of overheated air. The light from the explosion blinded my senses as I  \nfelt my anger vent away with the launching of the spell. As the loud boom and  \nlight overloaded my senses, I began to feel weak. The last thing I saw was the  \nblinding fiery light of my spell as I passed out.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane...  \nZane...?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A  \nfaint, gentle voice called out to me. I couldn't move my body, more exhausted  \nthan I ever thought I could be. My eyelids felt heavy as I tried to see. Slowly  \nwilling my eyes open, I looked. When I opened my eyes I saw a very bright light  \nfar above me. Hanging in the way of the brilliant white glow was the gentle  \nsilhouette of Cassandra. Her hair seemed to flow in the light as she hung over  \nme.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane...  \ncan you hear me?\" she said in an almost heavenly voice. She drew her head lower  \nto me, growing closer. As she came closer, I thought I saw her lips open just a  \ntad.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; If  \nI could move, I would surely react. But I couldn't, so I didn't. Still not  \nfully together, my mind raced with questions. What happened? Did I die? Why is  \nCassandra here? Is she trying to... _gulp,_ KISS ME?!\n\n_What is this? I  \ncan't tell if I'm in heaven or hell here!_\n\nDrawing closer to  \nme with that heavenly look on her face, she still called my name. \"Zane...\"  \nUnconsciously, I tilted my head a bit to receive the kiss. She drew closer with  \nclosed eyes. The heavenly light gleamed in her hair as she came. She drew  \ncloser; her lips drew near, then...\n\nSLAP!\n\nMy senses took a jumpstart  \nas I felt a strong blow to my cheek and threw my head to the side. My eyes shot  \nopened, rather alarmed as Cassandra gave me a painful slap across the face.  \n\"Ouch!\" I shouted alarmed, \"What the heck?\"\n\n\"Serves you right,  \nZane Cosmon!\" Cassandra's voice boomed. Still on my back, I turned my head up  \nto find Cassandra over me. She gave me a crossed look with her arms across her  \nchest.\n\nFinally finding  \nthe strength in me again, I slowly sat myself up. \"What the hell happened?\" I  \nasked, rubbing both my head and my cheek from Cassandra's painful wakeup call.\n\n\"What do think!?  \nYou almost blew us up, you idiot!\" she shouted, the last thing I needed as I  \ntried to remember what happened.\n\nAfter blinking a  \nmoment, I looked around me. I was still in the training area. Kent beside me as well was Master  \nKrots. Glancing around a bit, I noticed that several guards were posted about  \nthe tattered room. My mind was a bit bleary as I tried to remember what had  \nhappened.\n\nThat light I saw  \nwhen I came to was that of a healing spell. Cassandra must have healed me. What  \na way to sully your work by slapping someone right after you heal them.\n\n\"You okay?\" Master  \nKrots asked as he placed a paw on my shoulder.\n\nMy only answer was  \na small grown as I rubbed my head. \"What happened...to Alpha...?\" I asked while a  \nbit disoriented.\n\n\"Gone,\" Master  \nKrots said simply.\n\n\"Gone as in dead...\"  \nI asked hesitantly, \"Or gone as in...\"\n\nMaster Krots just  \nsmiled at me and tried to lower me back to the ground. \"Ran away, but relax. I saw  \nhim flee and run out of the school grounds. I seriously doubt he'd be back  \nanytime soon.\"\n\nI gave a sigh of  \nrelief. Sure he got away, but I felt safe for the first time in days. Lying  \nback on my back, I brought my hand up to my eyes and rubbed them. \"What  \nhappened?\" I asked with a groan.\n\n\"You don't  \nremember?\" Master Krots asked curiously, as I slowly tried to piece together  \nthe scattered jigsaw puzzle of my mind.\n\n\"I remember us  \nfighting Alpha...\" I began, announcing the memory as it popped back into my head.  \n\"I ran into Alpha's path as he attacked Cassandra... there was this strange  \nlight, then...\" the last part was on the edge of my mind. \"...then...\"\n\n\"Then sent us  \nducking for our lives after blowing the hell out of the place with that spell!\"  \nCassandra shouted, scolding me as I recovered.\n\nJust as Cassandra  \nfinished her shouting, my mind snapped in attention, remembering what had  \nhappened next. \"_That_ spell?\" I repeated in an awed tone. Finding my  \nstrength again, I sat back up and looked at her. \"What do you mean, _that_  \nspell?\"\n\nShe gave me a  \nnarrowed glance as if I was playing dumb with her. She seemed really angry.  \n\"The _spell_ you used to send that assassin running for the hills! _And_  \nthe one you almost _killed_ us with!\"\n\n\"What was it? What  \nwas it called!?\" I pleaded to her, grasping the helm of her shirt in a  \ndesperate action.\n\nShe backed up a  \nbit in surprise. \"How should I know?!\" Cassandra said in a frazzled tone, \"I  \nthink you call it Blast Bomb, or something!\"\n\nWith wide eyes of  \ndisbelief, I quickly let go of Cassandra's shirt. My mind went blank for a  \nmoment as I took those two words in. It worked? Turning around as quickly as I  \ncould, I looked at the room behind me. I gave a slight gasp.\n\nThe room looked  \nlike it had been hit by a thousand natural disasters at once. The walls were  \nscorched and parts were blown off it. Water damage had collected around the  \nfloor and the hexagram symbol on the floor had been completely demolished by  \nthe series of craters, scorches and frost marks on the floors.\n\n_The cleaning  \ncrew was going to have a fit tomorrow._\n\nThen my attention came to  \nwhat I was looking for. And truth be told, you'd have to have been freakin'  \nblind to miss it.\n\nIn the floor, to  \nbe more exact what was left of it, enormous craters had been pummeled into the  \nground. Each one was several yards wide and was probably six feet deep. Small  \nstreams of steam lifted from its bottom as the walls of the craters gave off a  \nreddish glow. My mouth went open in awe as I took it in.\n\n\"I...did it...\"\n\nBlast Bomb worked!  \nA large smile grew on my face.\n\n\"IT WORKED! I CAST BLAST  \nBOMB! YEEEAAHHH!\" I cried out jubilantly. I spun around with renewed energy as  \nI saw that the legendary spell I worked so hard to accomplish actually worked.  \nAfter growing faintly dizzy after spinning around a bit, I ran back over to  \nMaster Krots and Cassandra. They looked rather perplexed at my grand  \nexcitement.\n\n\"Did you guys  \nsee?!\" I cried out with glee, \"I did it! I cast the legendary Blast Bomb! I'm  \nthe forth person in history to _ever_ cast that spell! I did it!\"\n\n\"_Oh_, boy  \ndid you _do it_,\" Cassandra said bleakly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nballoon of celebration burst as she said those words. They sounded almost out  \nof grief. \"What?\" I asked simply. With a sigh of her own, she raised a finger  \nand pointed up. Innocently, I looked up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \njaw went open and I felt the blood leave my face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nceiling of the room was completely blown off. Ragged pieces of stone were all  \nthat was left connected to the walls. The now roofless building gave way to the  \nnight air as the stars' light came in. The Blast Bomb I cast was so strong it  \nliterally blew the roof of the place! I felt like screaming... so I did.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; What  \nthe hell happened?! The Blast Bomb was so strong it broke the warding field  \naround us and fired right through the roof. Was Blast Bomb even stronger than  \nDragon Slave? But the more pressing matter at the moment was... how the hell was  \nI suppose to explain this to the headmistress _this_ time!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"_Uh-oh_,\"  \nCassandra sang in her teasing tone of voice, \"_You're in trouble_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nwas starting to panic. All Master Krots did was scratch the back of his head  \nwith his claws. He observed the room and then looked to me as I came running up  \nto him and Cassandra. Again, did I mention I was in a panic?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"B-but  \nit was an accident! Plus it was self defense, right?\" I pleaded, looking to  \nCassandra, Master Krots and back again. \"The headmistress can't be mad at me  \nover this, right? RIGHT?!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then,  \nsprouting her annoying smile, Cassandra sprung her overly cheerful response.  \n\"Not a chance.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _I'M  \nDEAD!!!!!!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Dreadfully,  \nI slumped to my knees. \"_Not again_...\" I groaned, voicing my thoughts  \naloud. Hopefully, I brought my head up to look at Master Krots. \"So, what  \nnow...?\" I asked him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\"We'll speak of this in the morning,\" he said  \ncalmly, only to add to my gloom. With that, he reached for my hand and I took  \nit. He lifted me back to my feet. \"I'm sure the headmistress would want to know  \nwhat happened.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Master Krots, no!\" I practically  \nbegged him. \"Don't tell her I blew up the building! She'll never let me live it  \ndown! Please?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He cast me a stern look. \"Zane, I  \ncan't do that,\" he said with a growl. \"She's going to find out sooner or  \nlater.\" Master Krots then gave one last look to what was left of the training  \nroom, surveying the now roofless room. \"And trust me, she's not going to  \noverlook _this_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"WHY IS THIS ALWAYS HAPPENING TO  \nME!!!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"WHAT?!\"  \nMaster Krots shouted with amusement. He then actually began laughing as  \nCassandra and I stood there before him. \"You thought _I_ was Alpha?\" His laugh was almost unbearable for me. I made a  \nmistake, but it could happen to anyone, right?\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Don't  \nanswer that!\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It  \nwas now nine in the morning and the first things asked of us when Cassandra and  \nI stepped out of our rooms was to head strait to Ms. Magdalene's office. I should  \nhave been okay after dealing with a psycho ninja, but the thought of the  \nheadmistress smacking me with her mallet of punishment made me feel nervous.  \nAnd now there we stood, with Ms, Magdalene at her desk while Master Krots stood  \nbefore us as well. As I felt nervous however, Cassandra remained as cool as a  \ncucumber with that overly cheerful smile on her face. Cassandra, Master Krots  \nand I explained what had happened last night. Just between us, I left out a few  \nbits of information for later. If the teachers wanted to keep secrets, then  \nI'll keep my own.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And  \nnow we go back to when I mentioned I thought Alpha was Master Krots.  \nApparently, Master Krots found the thought humorous. \"What in heaven's name  \nwould make you think that?\" he bellowed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"A  \nlot of reasons,\" I began in a rather defensive tone, \"Both of you were  \nwerewolves, Ms. Magdalene said he's been killing for over six years and  \naccording to your records, you've only been here for two and a half.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Master  \nKrots leered at me with his knowing glance. \"And _how_ did you know that?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nbegan to sweat a bit. I hadn't told him or the headmistress that I snuck into  \nthe office for his records. I was enough trouble already. \"Well,\" I slowly  \nstarted, \"I just... you know, looked around.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"In  \nthe school archives perhaps?\" Master Krots asked knowingly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Ouch!  \nHe got me there. I sank my head down a little in shame. I then decided to try  \nanother question. \"Well, you always seemed to show up right after Alpha  \nattacked me! And how the hell did you know I was practicing Blast Bomb anyway?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Master  \nKrots then began to pace before us as he explained. \"Remember when we first met  \nin class at the beginning of the year. I asked you all what were your goals.  \nAnd you said...\" He went on until I answered for him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I...  \nwanted... to master...\" I said slowly, feeling rather stupid. \"Blast... Bomb.\" Master  \nKrots nodded knowingly. I was actually starting to feel like he was playing  \nwith me before he ate me for breakfast, considering if he actually ate people.  \nI doubted that.\u0026nbsp; I shook off my guilt and  \nwent strait to my most confident evidence.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yeah,  \nwell what about that burnt on your arm?\" I proclaimed and pointed at Master  \nKrots's arm, covered under the large sleeves of his red robe. \"I had zapped  \nAlpha with a Mono Volt on that exact spot and you had one as well! How do you  \nexplain that, Mr. Smart Guy!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Rather  \ncalmly and before Ms. Magdalene, Master Krots reached up to his arm and pulled  \nup his sleeve. He exposed the darkened singe mark against his brown fur and  \nshowed it to me. \"Zane,\" he said rather crossly, his tone coming down a notch,  \n\"You were there when I got this.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nblinked, looking at him rather curiously. \"I was?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; With  \na step forward, he stood over me with his towering posture. He showed the  \nscorch mark clear before my face. \"You remember, don't you,\" Master Krots said  \nwith a growl. \"The day you blew up the alchemy lab.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nmind jolted as I recalled that dreadful day. The entire scene replayed in my  \nhead as I remembered how Master Krots had looked right after my Fireball went  \noff. He had burns along his robes and soot and smoke along his fur. It was  \nbeginning to make sense. Master Krots had gotten that mark when my fireball  \nspell broke out and accidentally wrecked the lab.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; As  \nI came out of the clouds of my mind, I found myself looking right into Master  \nKrots unyielding eyes. I felt a wave of grief wash over me as I lowered my head  \naway from his stare. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'm  \nreally, really, **really** , **_reallyreallyreally_** sorry,\" I  \ngroaned meekly, bowing my head in Master Krots direction.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Now  \nstanding back up fully, Master Krots began to pace again with his calm look on  \nhis face. \"Well,\" he began with a sly tone, \"So far you've wrongly accused your  \nteacher as a killer, broken into the school archives, directly disobeyed me,  \nattacking me, snuck out after curfew... Shall I go on?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My  \nhead sunk down lower. \"I'd wish you'd wouldn't...\" I said meekly. I was so  \nembarrassed I just felt like dying.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane,\"  \nMs. Magdalene said rather direly. \"I'm very displeased with you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \nsuddenly sprung right up strait and faced her. This was going to hurt. She was  \nabout to yell at me about blowing the building up. \"Ms. Magdalene please,\" I  \nthink I pleaded rather pathetically, \"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I  \nspecifically told you not to go after Alpha,\" she said looking at me with clear  \neyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Huh?!  \nThat threw me there. I'd a thought she'd scream a fit after I had blew the roof  \noff the training building. I was speechless for a moment before she started up  \nagain.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Do  \nyou realize you could have been killed? Not only did you specifically disobeyed  \nme, but you voluntarily went out looking for the one who tried to hurt you!\"  \nShe said rather loudly. I had to admit, her words felt like daggers at me.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"But,\"  \nI couldn't help but ask, \"What about the building?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Zane!\"  \nMs. Magdalene shouted clearly, \"I don't care about that now! A building can be  \nreplaced! _You can't!_\" I felt really low then. I didn't know that the  \nheadmistress cared that much. She probably wasn't such a witch as I thought her  \nto be. \"Why would you go confronting him?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I  \ncast my gaze a little lower to the floor again. \"When I talked to you guys at  \nfirst, I felt as if you weren't telling me everything about why Alpha was after  \nme. You really got me angry. Also the fact that I thought Master Krots was  \nAlpha made it all the more suspicious. I knew Alpha would just come after me  \neventually, so I decided confront him.\" I remained solemn, speaking truthful of  \nwhat I felt. \"I'm sorry.\"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The  \nroom fell rather silent. Then, Cassandra spoke up. \"Well,\" she said in her  \nconfident tone of voice, \"I think my work here is done.\" She placed a hand on  \nher hip, looked at Ms. Magdalene and then to me. \"I'm proud that I, Cassandra  \ncould provide you headmistress with my help and happy to know I brought Zane  \nhere to face the justice of his transgressions.\" She gave me a rather playful  \npat on the head. I gritted my teeth, suppressing a growl of annoyance from my  \nthroat.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; _Cassandra  \nyou arrogant... AUGH!_\n\n_\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;_ Cassandra  \nthen turned around and headed for the door. \"Well, I shall be off.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Not  \nso fast, Cassandra,\" Master Krots said smoothly.\n\nAt that moment, Cassandra  \nfroze in her tracks. Hesitantly she turned her head to glace at Master Krots.  \nAn anxious look was now on her once overly confident mug.\n\n\"If I recall,\" Master Krots  \nsaid as he approached Cassandra, \"You _too_ had left your room after  \ncurfew.\" Cassandra then turned back around, looking directly to Master Krots as  \nhe stood before her. \"Also, you too disobeyed when I told you two to leave when  \nAlpha attacked, but you didn't. Am I right, Miss Cassandra?\"\n\nShe then became defensive,  \nas Master Krots looked her in the eye. A sweat drop dripped from her forehead  \nas she stood before our teacher. \"B-but... It's my priestly duty to seek out the  \nevils that lay afoot among us. Justice dictated me to come to Zane's rescue. I  \ncan't be blamed for that.\" She said in a bit of a plea. \"I'm innocent here,  \nright? _Right_?\"\n\nThen, with his sly look,  \nMaster Krots bent down and peered at Cassandra with his unyielding glare. \"_Not  \na chance_ ,\" Master Krots said, quoting Cassandra from last night. I saw as  \nCassandra's jaw dropped for a moment, followed by a heavy sigh of  \ndisappointment.\n\nI cracked a smile. Oh, the  \nlook on her face was just _priceless._\n\nMaster Krots stood right  \nback up. \"You both confronted Alpha, so the both of you can wallow in the same  \nboat,\" he said as he took a glance at Ms. Magdalene, who nodded to him with  \nsilent conformation. \"But I'm feeling rather lenient today, so I'll assign you  \nto... one day of lawn cutting _for the entire courtyard_.\"\n\n\"WHAT!\" Cassandra pouted,  \n\"N-No Master Krots! This is cruel and unusual punishment! I must be free to  \nfight the never ending fight for justice!\"\n\n\"Don't worry Cassandra,\" I  \nsaid rather wily, \"I hear crabgrass is _full_ of evil. You'll have a ball  \nweed-whacking your justice around.\" I sensed her give me a scowl behind my  \nback.\n\n\"I wouldn't crack jokes  \nyet, Zane,\" Master Krots said with his sly tone, \"Because you're joining her.\"\n\nThe look of glee left my  \nface as I spun around. \"Say, WHAT!?\" I cried at him.\n\nHe still had that look on  \nhis face. \"I said I was being lenient today,\" Master Krots said as he pulled  \nout a pair of small desk scissors from his robe pocket. \"Would you rather cut  \nthe lawn with _these_ alone?\"\n\nThe skimpy pair of metal  \nscissors gleamed a second as I firmly kept my mouth shut. \"Ahem,\" I started  \npolitely, \"I'll accept your earlier punishment without question.\"\n\n\"Smart kid,\" Krots said  \nsimply as he put the scissors away. \"Now Cassandra, go outside and wait for us.  \nThere is something we need to talk to Zane about.\" With a glum look on her  \nface, Cassandra hauled herself slowly to the door and left the room. Now only  \nMaster Krots, Ms. Magdaline, and myself were left.\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Zane,\" Ms. Magdaline said  \ncalmly, \"you were right to think that we were hiding something from you.\"\n\nI was surprised. I glanced  \nat her, then to Master Krots who nodded himself. \"What is it then?\" I asked the  \nheadmistress.\n\nShe cast her eyes down a  \nlittle at my question. \"Zane, I'm sorry but we can't tell you.\"\n\n\"Then I have no reason to  \ntalk to you anymore!\" I said rather angrily and attempted to leave the room.\n\nBefore I could get a few  \nsteps away from the desk, Master Krots stopped me with a paw on my shoulder.  \n\"Zane, wait a minute!\" he said with concern, \"What she means is that we can't  \ntell you because it's for your own protection.\"\n\nI turned to him for a  \nmoment. \"What do you mean?\" I asked, turning back to Ms. Magdalene.\n\nShe gave a sigh. \"I'll put  \nit to you this way,\" the headmistress said reluctantly, \"You have... an amazing talent.  \nYou are the most promising student we have seen in a very long time.\"\n\n\"And why would Alpha want  \nto attack a talented student?\" I asked knowingly.\n\n\"Zane,\" Master Krots said,  \n\"We can't tell you that.\"\n\nI gave a grunt of  \naggravation. What about me was so secret that they couldn't tell me? Seeing my  \naggravation, the headmistress leaned towards me on her desk.\n\n\"Though I will tell you  \nthis Zane,\" she said, \"I see great promise in you as a sorcerer and a priest.  \nIf what Master Krots said was true, you had cast Blast Bomb.\"\n\nMy look lightened up a bit.  \nI had expected her to yell at me for the building damage but she didn't do so  \nonce. I saw a look of pride on Ms. Magdalene's face as well as Master Krots.\n\n\"You're truly blessed with  \ngreat magical capacity if you were able to cast Blast Bomb all on your own,\"  \nMs. Magdalene complimented proudly, \"I'm truly impressed.\"\n\nI cracked a smile on my  \nface. It was actually nice that she would give me a compliment. Then, Master  \nKrots came up to me and kindly placed a paw on my shoulder. \"Zane, you really  \ndeserve it after all your hard work,\" he said with a friendly growl, \"I'm proud  \nto call you my student.\"\n\nI couldn't help but beam  \nwith happiness. \"You mean that,\" I said happily, \"Really?\"\n\nThey both nodded and smiled  \nat me with proud looks.\n\n\"And you'll let me off the  \nhook?\" I tried to spring on them.\n\nApparently that didn't  \nwork. Narrowing his eyes at me, my werewolf teacher came up to me and gave a  \npat on the shoulder. \"_Nice try_.\"\n\n_Oh  \nwell, can't blame a kid for trying._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What you mean you didn't  \ntell them everything?!\" Cassandra shouted at me with a scold.\n\nThere we were in the  \nbeautiful sunshine. The birds were chirping. The wind was blowing. The smoke  \nfrom the ruined training building was billowing. It was a great day... except we  \nwere out in the large courtyard. As everyone else was doing their business,  \nCassandra and I were casting wind-cutting spells to trim the grass and weeds.  \nGees, you'd think you could get a day off after fighting off a serious killer.\n\nTurning towards her, I gave  \nher a stern look. \"They won't tell me everything, so will I,\" I replied simply.\n\nSince Ms. Magdalene didn't  \nwant to tell me why Alpha was after me, I decided to keep out the small detail  \nof my talk with the werewolf bastard. The fact that he was work for hire only  \nmeant that this was just the beginning.\n\n\"But what didn't you tell  \nthem?\" Cassandra pried, launching another wind spell at the grass and slicing a  \npatch of it even.\n\n\"Like I'm gonna tell you of  \nall people.\" I turned my back to her and prepared another spell to cut the  \nlawn.\n\nShe gave me a 'humph' and  \ncleared her throat. \"Well, if you don't tell me, I'll go tell Master Krots that  \nyou're holding out on him and the headmistress.\"\n\nLaunching the spell at the  \ngrass, I froze. Damn her, why did she always do that? With a sigh I turned  \naround to her. She may have been a pain in the butt, but she still was someone  \nI could trust among other people I knew. Besides, she wasn't holding any  \nsecrets from me.\n\n\"Alpha is work for hire,\" I  \nsaid simply, catching a look of interest in her eyes. \"That means that someone  \nelse sent him after me.\" She turned around and looked at me fully, taking a  \nbreak from her grass cutting as I did at the moment. \"Before we fought, I took  \nthe opportunity to ask him why he was after me. He said that he had orders to  \ncome after me. He wouldn't tell me who, but he did give me a very important  \nclue.\"\n\n\"What's that?\" Cassandra  \nasked softly, taking my words seriously.\n\n\"He said his _employers_,\"  \nI said clearly, pointing out the word exactly for Cassandra. \"Which means that  \nwhoever is after me is a part of a group, like some kind of organization. At  \nleast, that's what I'm thinking.\"\n\nCassandra took a moment to  \nponder this.\n\n\"There's still more,\" I  \ntold her, grasping her attention. \"What surprised me the most was when I talked  \nto Alpha, he said his orders were to take me alive.\"\n\n\"Alive?\" Cassandra repeated  \nwith surprise. \"Why would a lethal killer want to kidnap you?\"\n\nI shrugged my shoulders.  \n\"Your guess is as good as mine.\"\n\nThe two of us remained  \nsilent for a bit as Cassandra began pondering again. Looking up to the clouds  \nin thought, Cassandra sighed. \"I've got nothing,\" she said at last.\n\n\"Well,\" I told her,  \n\"Whatever they want me for, I got a feeling the teachers already know about it.  \nSince they won't tell me, there is only one other way to find out.\"\n\n\"And that would be...?\"  \nCassandra asked curiously.\n\nWith her words, I chanted  \nanother spell to cut the grass, adding a bit of anger to the spells power. \"To  \nbeat whoever's after me and make them spill the beans!\" I shouted. With my  \nshout, I launched my spell and sliced the grass a good few yards away.\n\nAfter venting my anger  \nthrough that spell, Cassandra looked at me with concern. \"If Alpha was just  \ntheir lackey, as you say,\" Cassandra said as she put the pieces together, \"Then  \nwhoever's pulling the strings must be madly powerful.\"\n\n\"Don't get me started on  \nthat one,\" I sighed. We were silent once again. Cassandra was taking her time  \ntaking all this news in as our garbs flapped gently in the wind. The gentle  \nbreeze lifted the bits of cut grass into the air, and blew them away.\n\nThen, ending the peaceful  \nsilence, Cassandra cleared her throat. \"They are really going to come after  \nyou, aren't they?\" she asked rhetorically. Despite it, I nodded in return. \"I  \nsee,\" she added understandingly.\n\nSuddenly, she erupted with  \na rather loud battle cry. I jumped away as she raised her arms towards the sky  \nand shouted. \"Alright, it's settled!\" She boomed in a proud cry. \"Then I'll  \nfight them with you!\"\n\nI backed away again,  \nsurprised by both her words and her shouting. \"Say what?\"\n\nBefore I knew it, she  \npractically jumped right in front of me. She stuck her face right at me with  \nher eyes gleaming. \"You heard me!\" she said proudly, \"I'll help you fight these  \ncreeps and find why they're after you!\"\n\nI instantly repelled the  \nthought. I couldn't stand her when she was around me in the halls. Now she  \nwanted to join in my fight. They wanted me alive, but they probably wouldn't  \ngive a damn about her life. \"No, seriously! That's not necessary!\" I said  \nquickly.\n\n\"Don't be silly,\" She  \nboomed right in my face. In another jump, she leaped away from me. She then  \npointed out towards the sky before her and stood in her dramatic hero pose.  \n\"When those who fall into darkness against their will, they shall always seek  \nthe light! And I Cassandra, the Hero of Justice, vow to stand beside such souls  \nuntil the evils who seek them are VANQUISHED!\"\n\nI hung my head low with a  \ngroan. \"Oh, god,\" I mumbled in dismay. Her zest was just plain painful.\n\n\"Yes!\" She shouted again,  \n\"When we're finished, they'll beg before the awesome might of Cassandra, the  \nHero of Justice and my new, diminutive junior sidekick!\"\n\n\"Excuse me,\" I growled at  \nher, finally getting her attention. \"Who's a diminutive sidekick?\" I looked up  \nat her with a crossed look.\n\nTo my further dismay, she  \nonce again gave me that shrill, overconfident laugh. \"_O-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!_ Don't  \nbe foolish Zane!\" she said loudly, \"Any hero needs a loyal underling to cover  \nher back! You should be honored to bask in my shadow as we trek the trail to  \nvictory!\"\n\n_Like hell I'll be your  \nunderling you bimbo!_\n\nFinally, she calmed down  \nand reduced her voice to a regular low. About time too, any further shouting  \nand she might as well announce our plans to the whole student body. \"Okay,  \nlisten,\" I explained to her as if she hadn't invited herself already. It  \nprobably wouldn't help, but still. \"If you're going to tag along, for which by  \nthe way I TOTALLY DISSAGREE WITH, you can't tell Master Krots, the teachers or  \nany of the other students. Got it? It's our little secret.\"\n\nWith her cheery, little  \nsmile, she nodded at me with her approval. \"Okay. I won't tell a soul.\"\n\n\"Good,\" To that end, I  \nturned back to my work at cutting the large lawn.\n\n\"So then Zane,\" Cassandra  \nasked. I sensed her peeving nature creeping up on me. \"I just got one  \nquestion.\"\n\nI braced myself and spoke  \nthrough gritted teeth. \"Yes?\"\n\n\"When can you start being  \nmy sidekick?\"\n\nBraced or not, my temper  \ncouldn't take it. \"I'M NOT GONNA BE YOUR SIDE KICK!!!\"\n\nOnce I had finished telling  \noff Cassandra about her hopes of me being her sidekick... _Bleh..._we  \ncontinued with our punishment. With the sun overhead and the sky clear, I was  \nat peace for the time being. I flashed a smile at the sky as I thought of the  \nchallenges to come. Whatever would come, Zane Cosmon would be ready for them.  \nOne thing was for sure; this year was going to be pretty exciting.\u0026nbsp;\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Slayers GD series","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/275158-slayers-gd-book-2-mage-s-market-festival.json"}}