They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

When I climbed back up, Dad and Lista was confused how I landed safely in the ground. I was tempted to say a girl saved me, catching me as I fall like a princess. But that would garner suspicions, and stupid sneers. 

So I held back. I didn't tell them about the address the girl gave me. I want to find her first. Or the Scarred man I saw in the weapon room. Just to assure myself they're not ghosts. They could be allies. I huffed.

I know you'll say I'm too trusting. But the way that girl came to me is the same with how Moon rose appeared before me.. Moon rose didn't save me but she always show herself whenever I'm in danger. That should mean something. There could be a connection between them.

Maybe the Scarred Man is a Ranker like Magnus. And that girl who has the same crimson eyes with Moon rose is an Eklektos. Like me. 

For the whole day, Dad and Lista put me under extensive training. In the morning, I was forced to face three ugly Beasts. My movements were getting faster. My eyes are getting used to their habits. My body adapted to the danger and responds solely by instinct. 

Dad said the Beasts are categorized based on colors, I thought it must be their appearance or blood. That has grey, red, white and black color. I was too stupid to realize their talking about the Beast's skin. The idiot who named them must have run out of cool names from the unending list of monster names. That guy should have said sooner. I could offer him many badass names I written down whenever I play dungeon games.

The Grey Beasts were slow, only know forward movements and a bit whacked in the head. The Red Beasts were faster, bigger, can transform their body to any materials or scary things they see in their surroundings.

That leaves the question where the Red Beast who destroyed my bed got his clown face from.  Dad hates clowns. I hate clowns. I don't know Lista but whatever. No need to sweat for small details. 

White and Black are mysterious. Lista said only the Rankers can handle them. His strength and experience weren't enough to face them. Dad too.

So I must compensate using the blessings flowing in my veins. The power that was given to me freely. To make use of the gift... so I could do better. Be stronger. Do the things they weren't able to achieve.

Dad said that was what Eklektos are for. To be the heroes of the Gifted People. Who has no mana or blessings in their bodies, to save them from the vile Faeries.

Our arrival, the Eklektos, has surely shaken the Faery race. They might envade the borders of the Gifted People and use them against us. That is why the Seeker must hurry in gathering all of us twelve. Fighting the main force of the Faeries that came here to hunt us down...to lessen the danger Gifted People will face in magical realm.

As I listen to them explain, my mind can't comprehend any of it. If the main force of the Faeries move here. And they're enhancing their manas by absorbing human souls...Isn't it more important to save the humankind first?

In the end, I never get to say anything. Although the purpose might be different, (they want me to save the Gifted People, while I want to save the humans from becoming slaves of the Faeries) the goal is still the same.

We must defeat the Faeries....

So no more victims will fall under their soul slavery.

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.

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The next morning, my mind circulates around those thoughts. Faeries, faeries, faeries. Fairy tale books are all about Faeries with flappy wings and shimmering dust. Not vicious ones like they've been telling me.

The cold air entered my lungs in frosty ice. The smell of cold pine is filling my nostrils. I stared at the cold metal gate of my new school.

The welcome arc, instead of the school name, contains the logo of an eagle with two swords crossing each other. The metal whirred and it slowly open, letting the black van Dad, Lista and I are riding.

Lista is driving. Dad is on passenger seat, while I'm at the back. For sometime now the Mark of Five is itching. It's like small pine of needles stuck in my skin and got pinched everytime I move my arm.

I checked every three seconds just to see no mosquitoes or any insects sucking my skin. My arm is fine. The Mark is still there. I'm just paranoid. Or having skin irritation. This is definitely not a sign of danger.

Everything will be okay here.

Lista stayed behind the van while Dad went to the principal to work on my additional paperworks. My enrollment is taken care of. I'm good to start today.

This month is possibly the quickest time I changed schools. Two weeks ago, I was a new student in Opra. I met Magnus while he fell off the gates. I met Moon rose when I'm barely conscious. Other schools I went to is almost as dull as eating unflavored oatmeals at breakfast.

Except for the time I beat up a bully as a first and attended a school fest...everything pass so fast like a blur.

I barged into the lobby of closed off five storey building and joined a group of students around my age, standing with their backpacks, shuffling on their feet. Unsure what to do with themselves.

I stood beside the girl with auburn deadlocks. I felt her stare, pretended not to notice I trained my eyes ahead.

"You're new too?" She asked. My neck whirred like mechanic wiring to her direction and stared at her.

Big sparkling hazel eyes, red puckered lips, curvy eyebrows, slender porcelain neck, bust thrice the size of my fist. Two word.

She's HOT.

Out of manly - want - to - impress - a - hot - girl instinct, I combed my hair with my fingers and smiled slightly.

"Yes, you too?"

She beamed. "That's great! I'm Meira by the way. And my friend Ava. We moved here in Chicago two weeks ago, from Kansas." She pulled the arm of the girl beside her. Because of Meira's gifted chest, I can't see her friend's face.

Wonder how that happened? You see, this girl is wearing high heels. She's already tall, around my height, plus the heels. Now she's taller than me. Imagine the pain of a handsome guy, who only wants to get a girlfriend, and just when the favorable chance presented itself, a great hurdle called 'height difference' blocks the way to girlfriendhood.

No other choice, I'm forced to give up.

"Hello new students and welcome to Eagle and Cross Academy. I'm Mrs. Hedge and I'll be touring you around the campus." A slender woman in a tight skirt and white fitting sleeves tapped her clipboard on her chest with a pen. 

I was too surprised by her sudden appearance behind the receiving counter I almost slip on my foot. But it was enough to take my mind off things. Enough to shut up the hot girl at my right, whose too chatty and friendly for her own good she started to call on the attention of the other students who lined up with us. 

I know this type. Mostly new students, especially joining term at the middle of first term like me. Finds it bad to jump inside a classroom where everyone else know each other. Unless they're too brazen, too feeling pretty and proudly hipster they want to join a group of other cliques like them. 

And they are bad news. Because this also means they're good at spreading gossips. Target whoever they want just to have someone at their side sneering at the poor victim...Seriously they're the worse. 

I tentatively take a step back and tried to sneak a peek at the others. I know I came in and found there are five of us. Remove chatty Meira here, her friend Ava, I caught sight of two boys, same football height, buffy build, same undercut, and shirt that almost burst because of their ripping muscles..

Okay, looks like I'm in a trip where I'm the poor ordinary meek, Meira is the cheerleader beauty idol, Ava the sidekick and the two other guys.. most possibly become the infamous star player of the year.

Another new student initiation for me then. For being the most boring and victim looking lanky. Hooray.

"Now, before we start, I'm sure I don't need to remind you the basic school rules that's been posted in BOLD LETTERS at the entrance." The campus tour guide woman actually raised her voice in a sing sang tone, which didn't match to her eye protruding stare to each of our faces. As if we are the naughty kids and she is the scary big bad witch.

"And of course, the set of papers sent to your parents for you to read and memorize after you were officially enrolled. I'm sure you have read it, yes?" She asked, but her tone sounds like a threat to me than a question.

"Yes," we said in unison. A mix of rough, soft and barely audible voices of bored and definitely wanna speed up the time to get out of this dull situation. 

"Good, now follow me." The tour guide woman flipped her ponytailed hair and turned on her heel. I know Meira did the same with her auburn locks. I didn't see it. I just feel the slight touch of hair in my skin. 

I get a whiff of her sweet grape perfume as she walked by. When the two burly football guys followed, I tentatively fall back behind them. But I felt someone's stare behind my back. 

The same stare I felt back at the cornfields. My breath got hitched in my throat. I looked behind my shoulder. Thought I won't find anyone. 

Looks like I did. 

The owner...is the girl who was standing beside Meira. The same girl who catch me falling from the window and handed me the Wayne Rec Center address. 

Wow, what are the chances this will happen?