Chapter 11 - Part 1

The red sister ruled the sky bathing the land in a bloody aura. The usually soft shadows that elongated throughout the grounds of the Academy now were born out of the blackest depths of the abyss. There was no penumbra, no shade, just black and the ruby glow of the night. Every soul, be it civil or not, avoided the red nights. They were marked by inborn tragedy, marked by predators from the most primal times, as only killers stalked in its quiet darkness. Just perfect for mischief.

In a night like this, Haiden usually laid awake, haunted by painful memories, regrets, and failures. His eyes stared blankly at the now black walls of his room, fingering the scar on his palm. Were it not for the soft sound of a pebble hitting his window, he would have continued his self inflicted torment until daybreak.

Haiden, curious but fearless, got out of bed to check out who was calling on him on a night like this. He looked out the frosted window and saw no moving, or still, human, or inuman, figure. Before he could pass it as an abnormal gust of window that picked up a pebble and threw it against the glass of his window, another soft tap drew his attention, but this time it was paired with a voice.

"Haiden!" the familiar voice rang in his ears, confused, slightly annoyed at the late hour, but mostly delighted to hear Tasgal's voice. They hadn't spoken much ever since Bras had tried to murder them in the Backwoods. He had spent the night at the infirmary, and was gone before Haiden could come and apologize the next morning. Something inside of him, didn't think he should apologize, the whole situation should not have happened in the first place. But, he could not deny the fact that it was Haiden's fault for IT even happening.

After that day, Tasgal had bailed on their lunch; and the day after that. And the day after that. Haiden soon got wrapped into his first ever evaluation, where Master Rwoy, Omnellia, and Parvelle would decide if the students would continue their study or take supplementary classes. No one wanted to be left behind and they all had been practicing fervently and cramming until the very next day. To Haiden's surprise the evaluation began with a written test, on all minor spells, and the second part they drew a piece of paper from a bowl with the name of a spell and they would have to do that for the three Masters. It wasn't at all the complicated matter Haiden had believed, his plan of using the spells synergistically was not needed. He had drew the Minor Liquify spell which was a breeze for him. Everyone asides for Maree and a few had passed. Maree had drew the Synthesis spells, the one he was dreading the most. Luckily for him, he would only take the additional classes for two weeks, so lunch had been restricted between him and Camila.

As much as he tried to lie to himself, he had missed Tasgal. So, now, was a moment to spend some much wanted time together.

The voice came again but this time asked Haiden to meet him outside on the lawn outside the dormitory. He had never, in his short career as a student at the Academy, had dressed so fast.

With keen eyes blazing and anticipation churning in his stomach he went outside to see Tasgal.

Outside, the dead lawn, waiting to be reborn in the coming Spring, was like a sea of tar in the reddish light of the moon. Nothing moved, not even the wind. Though the cold was visible from the skeletal shrubs lining the walkways that were now encased in delicate red glass.

Something rustled behind him, startling him slightly, only to be reaffirmed by the thought of seeing Tasgal. But, the cloaked figure that approached couldn't be him. The approaching person wasn't as tall, and he would never wear a cloak covering his face. Soon, another cloaked figure appeared, and then another.

Haiden was surrounded by a dozen or so people, who hid their identity. But he had an inkling of who some of them might be. He stood his ground, drawing on his fios to quickly raise a barrier if needed. Haiden waited, silent, for them to speak first. They took their time, trying to intimidate him, and it worked. He didn't know how well he would fare against so many people, but he was tired of giving them way and ignoring their behaviour. After that night everyone except for Maree and Camila targeted Haiden. Not only with words of insult but with gossip, pranks, and sometimes even trying him to incite a fight in front of other Masters. Everyone, aside from his friends, stood with Bras, and they all saw Haiden punch him. Most of them believed that a death sentence was too kind for his actions, while others thought it was just perfect. Bras was, after all, the Emperor's nephew. Even if his father owed Camila, his power was beyond that of wealth. On one of his lunches with Camila, ...... had spit food at him that was so moist and disgusting it made him gag. He told Haiden he belonged in the den with the animals and slaves. It took everything he had to maintain his composure, as well as Camila beating the crap out of that young man. So, it didn't really surprise Haiden the amount of support Bras had. But that didn't matter when it came to skill.

The first cloaked figure to appear finally spoke. "Look at you, trying to sneak off with your lover." Haiden's suspicions had immediately been confirmed.

"Disgusting." someone else said.

"Shit fucker." Another chimed in. Female and male voices began to chant slurs and derogatory names. Haiden's heart sped up but he held fast. He didn't want to give them what they wanted. To see him cower, scared, they wanted a reaction from him. It took everything he had to steel his face.

"What do you want, Bras?" He asked the figure.

"I'm not Bras." He lied. "I'm just someone who hates fucking Yeva'Ah."

"Then you shouldn't fuck them, should you, Bras?" The figure was taken aback. It was felt so good Haiden smirked.

"You're going to regret being born!"

"You know what Master Rwoy said about confrontation outside of the Trial. Why not just be a good boy and leave. I don't want to hurt anyone." Haiden pooled his Fios, he knew they wouldn't back down. The static from everyone surrounding him already danced on his skin. This probably wasn't Master Rwoy's intention when he asked him to keep his empath abilities hidden, but it offered him an unfair advantage. He knew that two behind him would fire first. Their eager energy edging to be released. Leaked so sloppy all over the place, he forced himself not to roll his eyes at the lack of control.

Bras snarled behind the cover of his hood and burst into a maniacal laugh. He pulled his hood off and sighed. "You don't see it, do you, Yeha'VAH? He said that for you. Not even the Headmistress can touch us. Our families rule the Empire, the Emperor is just a figurehead. You die tonight." The moment Bras ended his sentence the two Wielders behind Haiden released their spells. A quick barrage of force blasts which was easily blocked by his barrier. Haiden didn't look back at his attackers, he stared Bras down. Bras laughed again, and raised a hand. Haiden got ready and as soon as he let down his hand everyone surrounding him bombarded with every spell they knew. Forceblasts battered his shield. Icicles shattered in a spray of ice. Stones flung at high speeds, some burst in a cloud around Haiden, as if the terrible macabre light of the red sister wasn't enough for him to lose visibility, while others bounced back.

This lasted for a few moments, before the attacks thinned. Haiden was holding without a worry, Bras had his full attention. He was the only powerful one to be considered a threat. Bras raised another hand and everyone stopped. When the dust settled they gasped.

"He's a monster!" someone called out.

"You're just weak." Haiden said under his breath. Smirk visible on his face. His dark locks fell on his face. He would rather them fear him maybe then they would leave him alone. These people had no regard for human life from what Master Rwoy had told him, and he saw how his classmates behaved throughout his stay at the Academy, he had no qualms in hurting them. They probably felt like they were invincible. Being born in the most powerful families in the Empire, as Wielders, meant there were no consequences to their actions. Haiden felt good as he realised he's about to knock them down a peg or two. "Is that all you got?" Haiden called out. Bras' lips were now pursed in indignation.

"You will die tonight!" Bras called out

"Yeah, yeah. Didn't you already say that?" Haiden taunted. He barely blinked and Bras had four Icicles above him that flew true. Haiden wanted to humiliate him, so he didn't give him the satisfaction of allowing him to land his strikes. Making a swatting motion with his hands the four icicles changed course midd air and flew towards the Wielders surrounding him. They exploded in a spray of ice and snow throwing most of them back, while a few others held their shields strong. Distracted Haiden didn't see another three iciles that crashed into his already weakened shield. For moments making him waver and making him drop the invisible wall.

"That's all you - " Haiden didn't finish his sentences as the ground opened below him swallowed his feet immobilizing him. "Fuck!" he cursed as two stone spikes broke in the quick shield he threw up in the split of a second to protect himself. But it wasn't a complete barrier and a third spike grazed his leg. Two can play at this game he thought. He sent his Fios outward pulverising the remaining rock spikes and freeing his legs while renewing his barrier. He centered his weight and used the snow and ice around him to melt into water. He sent it towards the remaining wielders. Luckily for him they didn't use full barriers and managed to avoid it and enclose their legs and hands in ice. Bras began to throw force blasts and icicles at Haiden, but they met his barrier. His attacks were stronger than the others' combined, Haiden didn't know for how much longer he could last. He needed to end it now, so he used the additional ice from Bras' Icicles to send water like tendrils along the bodies of the Wielders he trapped. They screamed. For a fleeting moment Haiden thought back at Master Uligarth and where he was now. He should have been here stopping this the moment they started attacking, but no one came. No one. This made Haiden think a dark thought but he pushed it in the back of his mind. He concentrated on fueling his barrier and the water tendrils that kept climbing until they reached his victim's heads. Haiden sent the water through their mouths and nostrils. The screaming turned into a horrified symphony of gurgling. The other Wielders finally came to and scrambled to their feet and ran when they saw the horror.

Bras didn stop his assault as he sent even more spikes filling  the space around Haiden breaking through his shield. One penetrated Haiden's tight and the other sliced through his side. He screamed in pain. His rage intensified, seeing red in front him he sent a massive force blast towards Bras sending him back a few feet landing on his back. He tried to get up but Haiden threw another one this time catching him with his shield down. He hit the wall of the dormitor with a thud. It took Bras a moment to regain his senses and quickly raised his barrier before he attempted to limp back in attacking distance and continued battering Haiden with constant spells.

Between the gurgles of his victims and Bra's attacks a voice penetrated them reaching Haiden. It was Camila, in her nightgown, horrified. Her face showed fear and concern. She approached and used her own Wielding to free Wielders that were uselessly scraping at their throats through the water tendrils. They all heaved water from their lungs at once and gasped in relief they scrambled to their feet trying to get away as fast as possible.

"Cams?" Haiden said shocked. He looked at her running between him and Bras. Immediately he stopped throwing spells at Haiden, not to hit her.

"What the fuck is going on here!?" she screamed at both of them then turned at Haiden. "You were killing them, Haiden." her voice trembled and face concerned and fearful. Fearful of him. A shiver went through him. She was right, he wasn't punishing them, wasn't showing them nothing. If Camilia hadn't intervened he would have probably killed them. Screech's pitiful please taunted his mind.

"Stay out of this Camila. It doesn't concern you." Bras threatened.

"The fuck it isn't." she closed on Bras. He raised a hand to throw another spell at her. "Do it!

She taunted. "One hit and my papa will make sure your father is ruined." she threatened. Bras lowered his hand and backed away.

"You can't protect him like you do with your little pet. Your father won't care for shit if garbage like him gets hurt."

"But he cares about me." she replied calmly. Bras scowled. He spat on the ground and limped away into the red night. Once he was out of sight Haiden allowed himself to relax and collapsed next to Camila.

"Haiden! For fuck sake, what in the name of the Creatrs happened!?"

"I just tried to protect myself." he tried to rationalize the way he hurt those that attacked him. He winced when Camila prodded his thigh.

"I know, I know. But you should have woken me up, or run to a Master or someone. They might lie about this and get you thrown out." she sighed. Looking at the puncture wound, it wasn't too bad but it bled. He had multiple serious grazes as well.

"I don't think that was an option. Master Uligarth would have been out here sending us back as soon as he heard the first attack. But no one came. Here, help me to my room." He reached a hand. "Good thing tomorrow's a free day, I'll be out for a while once I heal."