Chapter 2 of my elements the game novel, The People of Time. The title is Rogue. Please tell me what you think.
I was surprised to find next morning that the girl I met at the <<Forest of Reminiscence>> was actually a classmate at Professor Claire’s <<Comparative Elemancy>>. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I think she was the girl who woke me up yesterday. I got the feeling she recognized me even though she never mentioned it during our encounter. Anyway, it was a relief seeing a familiar face for a change. Now I atleast have someone to talk to, even if just short crisp whispers.
Heather wasn't really the type to talk once she's concentrated on something. She was smart as well as beautiful, a model student in every way, and once she's seated herself on that high and magnificent chair beside mine and put on her thinking cap, there's seriously no budging her. The only chance I get any response again is when the lesson is over and we're about to leave. I guess that's the price for having an information factory by my side.
Professor Claire wasn't exactly a strict teacher (I believe the fact that I managed to sleep my head off yesterday without getting told off should be proof enough), but I swear by the God of all <<Chroniclers>> her lessons are just beyond reason. For example, the Radial Flow between <<Time>> and <<Entropy>> exhibits a Harmony of Relevance but only during the Tributary State, in which case <<Entropy>> is characterized simultaneously by both Quintessential Timeline Disarray and Terminal Congruence.
"It just means Entropy is in order and disorder at the same time," Heather said as-a-matter-of-factly, slinging her bag across her shoulders.
"That doesn't make any sense. How can something be in order and disorder at the same time?"
"Because the Differential Timelines converge at one point. The end result is the same even though the processes are different."
"You know what, forget this," I said in resign.
"You really shouldn't take this lightly. It's bound to come up on the exams you know."
"Then I'll worry about it when I get there," I replied, zipping my backpack close. "Afterall, that's why I have you right?"
I may have said this a little too casually, as Heather gave me that "I-don't-know-why-you're-doing-this-but-I'm-not-even-gonna-bother" look. "Just don't go crying on my shoulder when you begin to regret your actions."
"Don't worry. I won't"
We made our way out of Professor Claire's classroom into the Friday morning, the part I hated the most. Because Heather and I took different subject courses, this is always where I we see each other off.
"Guess I'll be seeing you at <<Basic Grimoire Manipulation>>," I managed to say, pretending to scan the list on my timetable.
"Yeah," she waved back before heading into the emptiness of the hall. I know we've only just met, but somehow, seeing her leave made me feel like I'm losing something. I kept watching her, the gentle flow of her silky hair resonating with every step, until she disappeared through the crowd, and the place was empty again.
Even so, I kept watching her, still gazing into the unseen distance, waiting for the wind that always blew across my face. But this time, it didn't. I know I'll still see her, but even as I turned back, until then, it felt like time would blissfully stretch its hands away from me.
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The day passed on like they did before. My schedule isn't particularly tight during Fridays, which only gave me less chance to get my mind off her. Aside from <<Basic Grimoire Manipulation>> and <<Comparative Elemancy>>, the only other classes I have to go to are <<Historical Artifacts>> and <<International Relations>>, both not enjoyable in any way.
<<Historical Artifacts>> wasn't hard, just boring. Just like with any history subject, it's loaded with countless facts that won't even be the slightest use in life. Not to mention Professor Williams barely knew the subject any more than we do. Sometimes, I even wished for something like stories from the summer of '85, but instead he just droned on and on with names and dates and what was established where.
<<Differential Timelines>> on the other hand wasn't as boring as <<Historical Artifacts>>, but really wasn't any easier than <<Comparative Elemancy>> either. It had to do with relative rates of timeline propagation and other Math stuff I didn't even know existed, and that's not all. The weird part is having to call your teacher 171-16.9.2015. He told us he was from the land of <<Gravity>>. That's all we know about him. Other than that he just kept criticizing how "primitive" the land of <<Time>> is and ranting on about the simple changes that would radically improve the system if only the <<Council of Twelve>> would approve.
There really isn't anything unusual about Professor 171-16.9.2015, unless you count the fact that his right eye is a ball of metal and wires and flickering colored lights . They looked like tiny fireflies nesting inside a robot and always gave you a piercing sensation, as though you're being x-rayed, whenever he looks at you. Whether you're looking back or not has absolutely no effect. That's why his classes are often filled with tension in the air. It's like he can see your exam paper ten feet away and all the nonsense you're filling it with out of desperation.
Following <<Differential Timelines>>, I have a good two-hour break ahead of me, which of course I only used waiting for the last class alone. This was my first session of <<Basic Grimoire Manipulation>> so I have no idea who the professor is or what kind of things are taught there for it to be taken only on Fridays. I hope it's something easy for a change. I don't need to add one more into the mounting pile of unbelievably hard subjects. Then again, if it does turn out to be a lot more difficult than I expected, I can always ask Heather for help. Thinking of Heather only made me feel more alone, but much as I tried to clear my mind, my thoughts just kept coming back to her.
After what seemed like the longest day I'll ever have in my life, afternoon finally came and before I knew it, it was five minutes before the first session. My back ached and my legs yawned from not being able to do anything the whole day. I went on my way to the classroom, past the golden statues that lined the hallway, but as I walked past the last statue right before it, I noticed something peculiar. When I looked around, there were only two statues with nothing but solid brick wall in between. According to the guide, I should be standing right in front of the classroom right now.
I tried to feel some sort of hidden hinge or knob on the wall, but it was flat as ever. It tried kicking it. It hurt. Since I now have as much chance of opening the door on my own as acing all of 171-16.9.2015's tests and getting a candy, I decided to just sit on the floor and wait for someone else to come. I was early after all. There's bound to be a classmate somewhere in the school heading straight for this spot right now.
Minutes passed. I was starting to doubt whether I really had the right place when a glum looking girl passed by. Her face was hidden beneath the hood of her long black cloak. She walked past me, scanned the rows of bricks and tapped five times with her finger. Suddenly, two wooden doors, a dull shade of gray with carvings that looked like white skeletons, appeared out of nowhere. They and swung open to let her in, then closed and vanished as quickly as they appeared.
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Good thing I was watching and not just sporting a mesmerized look on my face. After I had time to close my mouth, I stood up, walked over to the wall and looked carefully at the brick she just used. It was just like any other block of stone, but when I gently tapped on it five times like she did, two gray doors suddenly swam into view, with carvings of two dragons winding through each other on the left and right slammers. One was completely black, as though its very scales were made of coal, while the other was just a bodiless white skeleton.
They swung open without the slightest creak, as though the doors weren't doors at all. Inside was a wide, spacious, but oddly dark and cold room, made of what looked like shiny black marble. Looking at my reflection, the darkness made my face seem even more disfigured than ever. It looked like I was sawed halfway through my cheeks and my right eye was just floating out of nowhere. I shrugged off the idea and looked away.
Up high on the ceiling hung various white skulls, but the threads were so thin they were almost as good as floating. The only light in the room came from a few torches on the far corners. It looked closer to an abandoned house rather than a classroom, especially since there was barely anyone yet. Over the dimness I could hear the shouts of someone in an argument.
"Never," said a smooth taunting voice. "Not even in a million years." It came from an older student, who appeared to be relaxing at the teacher's desk with his legs raised. He wore a clean white suit, with matching pants and shoes that contrasted with the darkness of the walls around him. He was oddly neat and his silver white hair well groomed. Although he radiated an air of nobility, I could sense from him something other than that. Just then, two pristine hands slammed themselves against the table, just a few inches from where his feet rested.
"Try saying that again!" It was a girl, with familiar golden hair and a voice that resounds far back into the <<Forest of Reminiscence>>. My mouth fell open.
"Hmmm?. If you're so bent on proving that feeble element of yours, then come at me. I'm always up for a duel."
I don't know why, but Heather looked furious. She took out the cerulean flute she used in the forest. The guy in white smiled at this and stood up from his chair. He gently backed into the nearby wall, not bothering to take out both hands from his pockets. They stared fixedly at each other, their eyes glinting by the dance of the firelight.
"Should we really just let them fight?" I heard someone say weakly from behind. I turned around. There were two others in the room. It came from a short plump boy with a round face full of freckles, carrying a sledgehammer over his shoulder and wearing a blue jumper over his clothes that made him look like a young technician in training. "I mean- s- shouldn't we stop them?" he stuttered to the two of us.
"Frankly, I don't care," replied the girl in black, not bothering to make eye contact with either of us. Just as before, her face was hidden beneath the hood of her cloak. The only thing I could see from the shadows was the movement of her lips. "But if they end up destroying this room, I guess I'll have no choice."
I looked back at Technician, who gave me an equally puzzled look. "So," I said, gesturing to the guy who sat at the teacher's desk. "Who's that?"
"Probably a student assistant," she replied.
It seemed that all the while we were talking there, the conversation on Heather's side had taken a toll to the worse. They were at whisper level now so I could barely make anything out, which was probably for the best. I don't think I need to find out what they were talking about. I don't know why she was angry but I know I have to stop her. I was about to take a step closer when Heather immediately put the tip of the flute to her lips and blew heavily on it. "Don't!" I tried to shout, but my voice just drowned in her note. It was a high, shrill waving sound. I had to cover my ears just to stop the ringing. Suddenly, all the air in the entire room began to move.
PAGE 4
"I cast <<Tumult>>!" she bellowed. They began to spiral around in circles and then, in one swoop, dived towards White.
However, just before they made contact with White, or atleast that's as far as I can tell, thin web-like flaming lines appeared on the black floor where his feet were, temporarily forming what looked like a mesh of fire. They dashed away in all directions, climbing their way through the walls. One of them snaked towards us and would've burned my foot along if Cloak hadn't pushed me out of the way. I toppled a few feet away into the row of seats.
The thin lines crept around the walls and ceiling, weaving themselves in random directions almost grazing the delicate threads that held the skulls. Their huge shadows danced even more hauntingly around us. One fell swiftly onto my lap.
The lines eventually came together at the torches, where the flames ignited into a wide blaze before returning to its normal size. Just like that, without even taking out his hands, Heather's spell was completely dissolved.
"Is that seriously the best you can do?" White chuckled. "Come on. I expected better."
Heather was about to cast another spell, but out of the pile of chairs I managed to call out her name. She stopped turned to look at me with an expression of mingled surprise. I wish I hadn't. White used this opportunity to launch another of those fiery streaks. It separated into two and wound a circle around Heather.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's impolite to turn your back from your opponent?" he said lazily. My insides suddenly burned with anger.
He took out his hand and I saw, for a fleeting moment, a stick of match held gently between his forefinger and thumb. With one swish of his hand, a ball of fire quickly shot out and zoomed straight for Heather. She barely had time to react.
I was sure I was sure the spell would hit her, but just before they made contact, it swerved and changed course. As though an invisible magnetic force was pulling it away, it rose and curved a long arc high in the air, before diving into the cold stone floor. I couldn't tell clearly because it was dark, but even if it was stone, I'd say the spot it landed on must've been heavily scorched.
I looked back at White, whose expression told me that was not what it was supposed to do. He wheeled around, and so did I. Technician, who was moments before reluctant to disturb the fight, held his hammer proudly up in one hand as though it weighed no more than a feather. However, the moment he noticed we were looking, he quickly withdrew it and scrambled under the row of chairs.
"<<Gravity>>, eh," White remarked. "Fine. I'm up for two against one."
I was hoping they'd stop, that someone would come out somewhere from the darkness and end this fight, but at the same time something stirred up inside me. Somehow, I was feeling angry for no reason.
Cloak walked over where White could perfectly see her. He raised his eyebrow, but didn't speak. "I think this foolishness has gone on for far too long," she finally said.
"What? You think you can handle me?"
PAGE 5
She looked like she was thinking for a moment. Then, she raised her hand forward, as though saying she could fight toe to toe with this guy, and my insides raged even more at this. I thought she was finally going to stop the fight, but the way she's acting is just creating more tension. What made me angrier was that White was actually preparing to cast another spell at an innocent student.
However, deep down I knew these weren't the reasons. I was twisting logic, but the truth is something was currently messing with my senses, and probably not just mine. I can feel it circling around the very room. It's like it was controlling my emotions.
"Stop!" I yelled before I could stop myself. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Picking on girls! Why don't you fight someone you're own size?" I shouldn't have said that.
"Too bad. I don't really care."
And his face was soon replaced by the image of a giant ball of fire quickly heading towards me. In one gulp, all the anger that had been building up inside me was replaced with cold fear. My body went numb. My feet went frozen. "Look out!" I heard Heather yell, but it was useless. I didn't know whether to dodge it or what. The spell was hurtling faster than I could think. I closed my eyes, and prepared myself for the worse.
A loud resounding boom echoed throughout the entire chamber. I expected something like burns and stings, pain to the point where I couldn't move my body anymore. However, when I tried to feel my limbs, every thing seemed to be intact. No broken bones, no burns. Everything was exactly the way it should be.
I could smell something like wild smoke. I opened my eyes a little, wondering who my savior was. There was something oddly white in front of me. I opened them a little more, and found to my surprise a giant wall of sharp pointed bones towering before me. They looked like the ribs and teeth of an enormous monster that suddenly sprouted out of the ground. Each was taller than a person, except the parts in the middle where the spell should have hit. There were wide cracks and some of the bones were completely broken in half, making it look like a meteor just crashed through it. Small pieces fell to the floor just a few inches from my feet.
"That's enough," a hoarse monotonous voice called out from behind. It was from a man dressed in a cloak even darker than the girl's. Although unlike her, his face wasn't covered by the hood, I half wished it was.
He had shoulder-length black hair, though I could see some white parts on the right. His lips were as black as his cloak and the dark side under his eyes made him look like he hadn't slept for a week. His pale skin made the visible parts of him look like they were floating in the darkness. There was something about his cold steel gray eyes that shone ominously in the dark. It's as though he's always thinking of how to kill you without anyone knowing. They penetrated five times more than Professor 171-16.9.2015's robotic eye ever did.
I heard the sound of dropping books followed by a small shriek as two girls watched open-mouthed by the entrance door. He, however, took no notice of this and strode towards me. In the darkness he looked more like a drifting ghost. He stared down at me through the corner of his eye, his very gaze sending chills down my spine. It felt like I was being electrocuted.
"What are you still doing here?" he hissed. "Get back to your seat." And without sparing me a second glance, he glided towards the front row desk. The giant bones dissolved into thin air.
"Clean this place up," he ordered to his assistant, who was straightening himself up. The matchstick in his fingers lit up into a sparkling crimson feather. With one lazy wave, he sent a jet of golden glitter across the room and instantly, the chairs returned to their original positions.
"Are you alright?" Heather panted as she came running towards us.
PAGE 6
"Yeah, I'm fine," I tried to say, but the words wouldn't come out of my mouth. Instead, I just nodded my head. Cold sweat was running down the side of my face, and I could hear my own heart beating.
"I'm really sorry this happened," she moaned, bowing her head more than necessary. "I shouldn't have let him get the better of me." I couldn't find the right words to say, nor did I understand what she was saying.
"What?" I asked. "Why?"
"I wouldn't blame you," the girl in black called out from under her cloak. "His <<Flame Aura>> was by far the strongest I've ever seen."
"<<Flame Aura>>?"
"It's a <<Fire>> spell," Heather explained, looking up. It was not in her usual teacherly tone anymore. "It stirs up rage and anger from the people around."
Thinking back, I remember feeling very angry earlier for no apparent reason. It would make perfect sense since the supposed student assistant didn't use words when using his spells. Perhaps he already cast it without me knowing.
"That aside, I'm going to take my seat now," the cloaked girl half said and half muttered. "The same goes for all of you."
It really seemed like talking to us was the last thing she'd want to do. She strode past the boy with the hammer and proceeded to seat herself at the far back. We three soon followed, and unfortunately, I had to be the one who sits right next to her. We waited as students came one after another and the cloaked man rummaged through files. I wondered if we were in trouble, even though his assistant technically started it.
However, when I think about it, although the <<Flame Aura>> earlier was quite overwhelming, it doesn't feel like it was meant to cause an outrage. I know Heather wouldn't fall for just some cheap trick. There's more to what the student assistant said than I think, but I didn't feel like pressing the matter anymore. After all, she's just calmed down, so I'll keep my nose out of her business for now.
To my left sat the hooded girl, who was still as quiet as ever. Things soon began to feel a little awkward so I figured I'd go talk to her.
"What's your name?" I asked. I thought she pretended not to hear me, so I just looked back away. After a while however.
"Aurora," she said.
"Oh, um, hi. I'm Synth." This time though, I was sure she deliberately didn't take notice. Feeling that I wouldn't get any more words out of her, I turned instead to the technician-looking boy who, although wasn't exactly friendly (he still seems to be suffering from shock), atleast didn't turn the cold shoulder on me.
He told us we could call him Tommy. It was true he was a <<Half-Blood>>, having alignments with both <<Gravity>> and <<Time>>. Apparently, he was considered a miracle in his family because his father only had a small portion of <<Time Quanta>> in him and his mother was a pure <<Fallen>>, or rather, <<Gravity>> elemental. Nobody expected him to be a <<Chronicler>> as well.
Soon, more than half the seats were taken and the man wearing an evening black cloak, who I assume was the professor, took out a long piece of parchment. He began calling out names, which I found hardly believable considering how dark it was. Of course, I was fully convinced he wasn't just making up names when he got to Tommy and Heather, of which the assistant gave a small smile. He stopped at it, and took a good long (freezing) look at me. He didn't do that with Heather, Tommy or all the other students. Either he's really angry of me or just thinks I have a stupid name. Not both, I hope.
I'm not sure if I just wasn't paying enough attention, but I don't think I heard any "Aurora" in the roll call. Still, I'd like to think my mind just slipped for a moment. She didn't seem like the type who'd lie after all, nor does she have any reason to. When the professor had finally called the last name "Marilyn", he rolled his list and placed it back inside a drawer and faced the class with his spine-chilling gaze.
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"Good afternoon," he spoke in a fashion that was more like a hiss than anything. "I'm your <<Basic Elemental Manipulation>> teacher, Professor Rogue. Before we begin, I have a question for all of you. Do you believe in time travel?"
A series of murmurs and whispers filled the room. His sunken eyes slowly scanned us left and right.
"I repeat. Would it be possible under the laws and dynamics governing time, to go back to the past, or perhaps, to the future?" His eyes finally stopped in my direction. "You, boy."
Why me? I mean, was I really that special in his eyes? I stood up from my chair, not having really thought of the answer at all. Everyone's eyes were on me now, though they weren't even close to Professor Rogue's exceptionally cold gaze. "Yes?" I guessed.
"Yes," he calmly repeated. "If that were the case, I would have already gone back and picked someone else." I could already tell I'm gonna be busy hating this guy all year long.
"Time is not as simple as a path in the snow, where you can easily go back and forth whenever you feel like it. It is not a toy for anyone to play with at their own will." He rose up, and began pacing around his desk.
"As <<Chroniclers>>, you should know this long before you even set foot in the academy. It is your sacred duty to protect the flow of time and ensure that nothing happens to it. Do not take this subject lightly. <<Basic Elemental Manipulation>> is the foundation of all the skills you will require to become an effective <<Chronicler>>, namely..."
The student assistant in white from head to foot held out his hand. It glowed a brilliant golden flash, temporarily blinding us all. After a while, the room went dark again and in his hand hovered the glimmering blood red feathered quill he used earlier.
"The <<Grimoire>>," Rogue continued. "It is the vessel through which <<Quanta>> is channeled, as may already be evident to some of you." He cast a menacing look at the four of us. "Spells, creatures and permanents, all of them require first a <<Grimoire>>, and the <<Grimoire>> requires that its owner completely and fully understands the mechanisms of the given element." He returned to his seat.
"A <<Grimoire>> takes on different forms, depending on the element in question. As you can see, the <<Grimoire>> of a <<Chronicler>> appears as a quill."
I had a mental image of Heather's purple flute. Perhaps that's the <<Grimoire>> of <<Air>>.
"Also keep in mind that no two <<Grimoire>> are exactly the same. Each person's <<Quanta>> is unique and will hence reflect its signatures on that person's <<Grimoire>>. However, we won't be summoning them until next week."
The lesson droned on, each minute more unbearable than the last. There was nothing wrong with the way he taught, it's the way he always looked at me. Everytime I look into his eyes, I see cold blooded hatred and despair. I grew sleepier and sleepier from his explanations.
Allen.
"I don't like that guy," I said straight out when we were finally outside his room.
"Yeah," Heather said, though I think she was just trying to make up for what happened earlier. "He gives me the creeps."
"So, what are your next classes," asked Tommy the <<Gravity Half-Blood>.
"I don't have anymore subjects," I replied. "How about you?"
"<<Alchemy>>,"said Heather. "Sorry guys. I can't stay long, I'm gonna be late." And with that she sprinted down the length of the hallway, leaving me and Tommy to deal with her.
"Ummm,"
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"I still have things to do," Aurora said, turning her back on us, and she stode off in the other direction without another word. What those things were, I had a feeling we'll never know.
"Well, I'm going to my <<Dragonology>> class now."
"Yeah. See you," I said after Tommy. It wasn't until I was walking down Analog Lane back to our house that I noticed how tired I actually was. After all that happened today, now I just want to lie on my bed and forget everything as quickly as possible. My head ached and my body felt heavier than lead. With every step I took, my legs felt like they were being crushed, and by the time I reached the front door they were less than paper thin. For some reason, this day lasted a lot longer than it should.
Allen.
"Evening, Synth," I heard Legalmier, my mother's boyfriend, greet jovially. He was at the dining table drinking coffee as usual.
"I don't feel like talking right now," I said as I dragged myself up the stairs.
"Why? Are you sick?" I just pretended not to hear him.
I barely had the energy to open my bedroom door. As I went inside, a white fox, with nine long tails protruding from its back, stretched out of my bed and went over to brush itself on my legs. However, I didn't have the energy to pat her head anymore.
"Sorry, Nine," I mumbled. I wanted to lie down as quickly as possible. Just seeing my bed made me feel even weaker. I walked over to it. I don't know why I was feeling so weak. It was only after I got out of Professor Rogue's room that I got like this. I wondered if it really had something to do with him. I forced myself to stand up, but I just couldn't anymore. I fell down my bed and eventually, into the darkness beneath.
Allen, wake up.
I opened my eyes, which seemed a lot harder to do now than it had ever been. I couldn’t make anything out of the tiny slit of light.
“Brother, mom said breakfast is ready. You’re going to be late for school," squeaked a little girl's voice.
Then I heard the sound of footsteps followed by the slam of my bedroom door. I heaved myself up. My head was aching and my body felt like water. I opened my eyes to find the morning rays of the sun gently flowing down the window curtains.
“I’m going.”
