The classroom buzzed with quiet focus; pens scribbled across notebooks and minds hung onto every word.
At the front of the room was Magnus Sir, composed yet intimidating.
"Those people that awaken the power in their blood," Magnus Sir spoke, "they don't merely gain supernatural powers, their strength, stamina, and durability increase, it is—five times that of an average human."
He paused to let the weight of the statement slap against the walls and ears of all who listened.
"This is why conventional weapons—guns, swords, etc.—have little effect on them."
Silence stood next. Every student statue-still with attention wide awake.
"In most countries, Awakeners are not in the normal military capacity." He explained. "This is way of keeping a balance of combat—normal humans against Awakeners." He continued. "They are being trained with special combat units, generally to fight demons. The more they train to hone the power, the stronger those abilities grow in their body with approximately a ten percent increase in strength through continued training."
As each student's mind flowed with this information, the desks creaked with the same call to lean across the table, pens gliding quicker and glueing their eyes to the board. Leon's pen moved at a constant pace as he maintained his eyes on the board. Isla, who was next to him had the same focus—hanging on every word, every moment.
Just two seats down, Finn had completely given up. His arms were wrapped like a pillow on the desk with his cheek smacked against the duct tape sleeve of his shirt. As the lecture moved on, soft snores escaped through his slack jaw.
Fanny glanced over and smirked. She raised her hand without a word - then she smacked the back of his head.
"YES SIR!" Finn squeaked, bolting upright and knocking his desk about.
Laughter erupted in the class. Even Magnus raised an eyebrow.
"Good morning, Mr Finn," he said, in an arid tone. "After class you will report to my office. Clearly, you need a reminder on how to stay awake."
Fanny bit her lip to suppress a smile. Finn glared sideways at her.
You're dead. You're dead, he mouthed.
The bell rang with a shriek. Books slammed shut, chairs screeched, and everyone tumbled out of class with lazy relief. Leon, Isla, Fanny, and Finn were leaving all together, the tension of the last hour had already dissipated into casual conversation - until they saw the movement by the cafeteria steps.
Two boys. Tall. Familiar.
Finn and Leon came to a sudden standstill.
One twin reached out, lazily. A tray, still suspended mid-air in a shimmering blue aura, slithered from the fingers of a girl and crashed onto the floor. Food was flung over her shoes, stains from the orange curry and rice mingled on pristine white leather. She flinched, cheeks flushed.
The twins lost it in laughter.
said. "No one was supposed to be touched."
"You know that won't go well for you if somebody gets in trouble for coming into contact with her," the other said.
"Sir, just channing some feelings."
Leon shifted nervously in between them and Fanny and the strange girl pulled up the rear.
"Let's just get out of school," he finally said.
The twins laughed, saying somberly "You will probably go crazy wrapped up in that sadness."
"It's apparent you're sister is untouchable, nothing good comes from that."
Leon was aware the twins were just winding him up.
"Don't forget you said those things at the lake, you know it was all said in a friendly fashion. "
Finn elbowed Leon along into the grassy area.
Fanny had come to see Leon but his mind was racing and his feelings flooded over him quickly, he could feel nothing from the others.
"Fanny, what are your thoughts to let us run a mock tour as both of you get acquainted a bit more?"
"More than anything, to see what Finn's relationship to Leon, how far back it goes."
"Also, first place the girl saw was when Finn said bringing the twins into this would not go far"
"Understood."
It was already approaching 4 PM and Leon was tired. "I need a nap."
The twins had drifted as had the girl. They flowed away as most returning towards their dorms stammered.
"Then stop talking," Isla snapped. "And leave."
They hesitated for a heartbeat, then turned away, venom in their eyes.
Isla turned to Leon, her frown lessening momentarily. "What were they talking about? The forest?"
Finn replied, voice low. "Yeah. Those two were pushing around a girl—Amelie--on the way here. Leon said he was from a noble house to help protect her."
Isla blinked. "Oh... so that is what happened."
The second Leon heard Amelie, he stood still. His whole demeanor changed. The sparkle in his blue-green eyes went dull. He turned without saying a word. As he walked away, his head hanging low.
"Leon--" Finn began, but Isla grabbed his arm.
"Let him be," she whispered. "He needs space."
Leon stood tall beneath a gnarled tree. The gnarly branches reached out towards the sky, like hands full of roots deep in the ground. The branches rustled softly in the wind. The leaves above him whispered secrets. His sharp eyes stared through every leaf on the tree, focused in a blank stare somewhere far beyond above the atmosphere.
Memories came rushing in.
Amelie's laughter.
Her tears.
The promise of that night.
The wound in his chest throbbed like a gash. The hurt of Amelie's absence felt like a post hole that had yet to be filled. The silence of Amelie felt like it was louder than any scream.
And then nothing. Then came a voice that was calm, grounded.
"Gorgeous sun today,"
Leon turned. Magnus Sir was standing a couple steps away, arms folded behind his back and eyes in the direction of the horizon. After a moment, he approached and sat down beside him.
"When we truly love someone, we wrap ourselves around them until they are our world. And when we lose them... it feels as if the world takes their exit too."
Leon remained silent.
"If we allow ourselves to be caged by grief," he continued, "then we let pain take the edge. And someone else—someone like her—will find themselves binding themselves to the same non-apparent fate."
Leon's voice came low. "I get it. But what you want?"
Magnus matched his eyes. "Nothing, Leon. Just make sure... what happened to you never happens to anyone else."
He stood slowly, resting a hand on Leon's shoulder for a foolish moment. He turned and levitated.
The tree shadow shifted slightly as the sun disappeared behind a cloud.
Leon didn't move.
Then, slowly, he wiped his eyes. Hands curled to fists, knuckles white.
"This isn't the time to be broken," he whispered. "I have to get stronger—strong enough to hunt and destroy every last demon."
He closed his eyes.
"I will keep my promise, Amelie. I will have them all pay."
The wind stirred like leaves above, lifting them up with a gentle rumble, as if the sky itself held her name as well.