Meanwhile, Navina Criminal Settlement
~Cassius’ Perspective~
FWOOM!
I block another one of Selene’s light beams with spirit energy. She lunges at me and punches at me. I block it and kick back off the ground away from her. I land near my sword and reach for it.
BAM!
A blast of shadows hits the sword and sends it away from me. I look back to see Selene running towards me with magic-charged fists.
“Shit,” I swear. I ready myself as she runs at me, imbuing spirit energy into my fist and forearm. We exchange blows with each other as chaos rages around us.
She lands a fist on my spirit infused arm. I stumble backwards before regaining my balance. My breaths come out in heavy gasps. I whip out my flintlock and aim it at her head. She freezes, as I move my finger to the trigger. I feel a pang of guilt.
“What did they offer you?” I ask. “What did Kellan offer you to get you to go after the contact?”
“None of your business,” she spits. “Why should you care?”
“Because I know what they did to Lageros. I was born there too.”
“And you ran away and came back the adopted kid of some 4th Sea inhabitants, with a new last name to boot. Calling someone who wasn’t even blood-related to you ‘brother.’ Spitting in the face of everyone back home. And you destroyed us economically with your choices. Don’t even mention the fact that you were born there. You stopped being a child of Lageros the moment you left, Cassius Kestos.”
“You know that we didn’t-”
“It doesn’t matter if you never meant for it to happen.”
“Selene. Calm dow-”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”
She sends a shot at me. I dodge it.
“You lost that right,” she growls, her voice deathly quiet. “You lost that right the moment you killed her.”
She blitzes at me in a flash of light. I barely dodge it and begin to run back to the group of captains. I grab my sword en route and continue running, putting it into its sheath.
BAM!
I’m sent flying forward. I roll on the ground before stopping. I groan as I push myself up. Pain laces through my body as I look up. Selene walks towards me through the smoke, a magic circle glowing in her right hand.
I feel a pair of hands grab me. I’m pulled off the ground as the person who grabbed me uses their sky skates to fly out the hideout.
We weave through the caverns leading up to the surface. As we fly out to the large cavern leading out to the open sky, I see a group of AG ships fighting the fleeing criminals. On the frigate, the eagle of the Bellona family is emblazoned on a sail.
We fly past the ships, dodging gunfire and magic attacks. One of the captains fall into the water when a bullet hits them.
As we fly by the frigate, I lock eyes with a familiar face. Kellan Bellona’s green eyes stare back at me. I flip him off.
We fly away and escape the chaos unfolding behind us.
–
11 years ago, Arcane Government Military Academy, Mainland, 4th Sea
The assistant guided Cassius down the hall to one of the many doors lining the walls.
“This is your dorm,” the assistant began. “You and your roommate will sleep here. Remember to head to the main hall to listen to the introductory speech at 5. There are desks for you to do homework among other things.”
The assistant walked away, leaving Cassius standing at the door. Cassius stood there for a few moments, unsure of what to do. After a few moments, Cassius knocked quietly on the door.
A few moments later, the door opened. Standing in the room was a boy Cassius’ age with messy brown hair and green eyes.
“Hi,” the boy said in a friendly tone. “Who are you?”
Cassius felt his throat close up.
“Hello? You ok?”
Cassius tried to respond, but his voice failed him. The memories of being bullied back home flashed through his mind as Cassius felt that familiar fear of being hated rise up in him.
“Oh wait. You’re my roommate, aren’t you? What are you doing out here? Come on in.”
The boy moved back, allowing Cassius to walk into the room.
2 beds sat against the walls on the left and right. On the ceiling, a bar of light embedded in it was turned on. 2 desks were placed on either side of a bookshelf half-filled with books. Above the bookshelf, a clock hung on the wall.
“I’ve been here for a week,” the boy explained as he sat on the bed to the left. “I’ve already set up my belongings. Why don’t you set up yours? I can help you if you want.”
Cassius shook his head before putting the sack containing his belongings onto the bed on the right.
“What am I doing?” the boy continued. “I haven’t even introduced myself.”
The boy jumped off the bed and walked over to Cassius. He held out his hand to Cassius. Cassius hesitantly took it.
“My name’s Julian,” the boy began. “Julian Kestos. What’s yours?”
“Cassius,” Cassius mumbled. “Cassius Nevos.”
Julian grinned.
“Cassius. That’s a nice name.”
That was the first compliment Cassius had heard from someone that was not in Selene’s family in six years.
End of Chapter XXX