The Coming Darkness

So this is it...I'm a part of Sorcerers.
Jacen looked around his dorm room after setting his stuff up. Just as the receptionist had told him, the room was finished at 6. He hung up a few posters, organized his clothes and accessories, making sure to keep 2 shelf spaces open for his hats. As he changed into his sleeping attire, he laid back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. His amulet cast a reflection as the light from the desk lamp hit it. I wonder...if it'll be the same...
FLASHBACK
Jacen sat in the guidance counselor's office, once again being sent here for their "weekly chat" as she liked to call it. Jacen saw it as a way to get out of dealing with class and the students involved for at least an hour. She would ask him the same question, and they'd just sit there for the next 45 minutes making small talk while Jacen sketched out something in his pad. Something was different today...she didn't open up with "Hello Jacen." Or ask how things were going. She simply sat down at her desk and sighed.
"Jacen...what am I going to do with you?"
She pushed her midnight black hair behind her shoulders before tying it in a ponytail.
"You walk around here like you're trying to distance yourself." She grabbed a file from her cabinet and sat back at her desk.
"Distance myself from what? I go to class, I don't skip. I get everything done. Get to the point here." He said, not feeling up to it today. It was 10AM on the day of the school before students were released for the winter holidays, where they let them participate in activities around school and not have classes. He was going to set up a gaming area with Marcus and Triela as their last day inside that damned building for nearly a month.
"Fine. You're a smart kid Jacen. I won't mince words. You try and seem as little of an Eirsith as possible. What does that little amulet mean to you anyway?" She pointed to the Silver cross with 4 sapphire spheres at each point around his neck.
"It means I am who I am. I won't mince words, you're a smart woman." He spoke with the most condescending tone he could manage. He was really starting to get aggravated.
"Exactly my point. You're normally calm, but so brash lately...unlike your sister. She's like your opposite Jacen, easy to understand and work with. Never questions anything, and is always so...trusting. I don't get you. You make excellent grades...you're a talented writer...but you dress and act like you're someone who doesn't care much about anything. Not to mention you hang out with those two delinquents."
Jacen took in what she was saying...his sister Lissette was almost his opposite. She preferred to wear business or uniform attire, always dressed so neatly. Skirts, blouses, pantsuits, the whole nine. She excelled in music and art and was always soft spoken. She was the classical woman in a sense, always kind and docile. Jacen was calm, rarely expressive with most of the school outside of anger and indifference. Had a more urban sense of dress...and an attitude along with it. He didn't play any sports or do any extracurriculars that weren't necessary to graduate, whereas Lissette was always involved in something. He loved her to death despite their differences, and this...woman in front of him was making it like they aren't family at all. Which he didn't take well to say the least.
"I thought we were talking about me here...leave my family out of this."
"But that's just it! This is about you AND your family. Your mother and father have given so much to this school, and yet you give nothing in return. Are you ashamed of being an Eirsith? You don't know how to live up to it, so you try to look like something you aren't."
"I'm not trying to look like anything...are you upset that I don't walk around here like a rich kid? I'm no better or worse than anyone else in here, despite what you and the Principal say."
She looked up, surprised at what she had just heard.
"Come again?"
"You heard me. I heard how you and some of the other teachers talk with the principal. You think you're 100% secure in those meetings of yours? It's always the same. You talk about how I dress like this, talk like this, act like that...but you can't do anything about it. I don't break any rules, I get all of my work done, you said it yourself. I make excellent grades. You try and run a school with pretty much everyone in here from every part of the spectrum, but you look down on the ones who aren't privileged. I see how the principal and the teachers treat the jocks, the preppy kids who have parents that benefit the school. Your problem is that I don't act like them, and therefore you don't have another tool in your pockets." He said as he stared at her with intent to burn a hole through her. He felt something swelling inside of him...different from his usual anger. Something...powerful.
"You're just making up stories Jacen...we don't treat anyone better or worse depending on their status. We just want to hel-"
"SAVE IT. I already know that everything you can say to me right now is nothing but bullshit. I knew there was something different about you. You acted as if you cared, simply to open me up...never thought I would catch on. I'm done with this meeting, and with this school. You leave me and my sister alone, or so help me."
"Or what? You'll attack me? You can't do anything and you know it...you'll bring shame to your family's name. We've got you pegged Jacen. You're ours until you graduate...and even then, we'll just pull you back in."
She gave a sick smirk to him that made that feeling of his swell up even more.
He stood up and grabbed his bag, ready to just find Marcus and Triela and try and bring up what was left of the day.
"I wonder how kindly Lissette would take to having her entire music career finished before it even got a chance to start."
He stopped at the door and that feeling exploded inside of him.
The lights that illuminated the office flickered before going out. He looked down as his amulet began to manifest a faint blue glow around his frame.
The counselor looked in awe and fright, but didn't let it show on her face.
So the rumors...were true.
Jacen flipped his hat backwards and held a death grip on the doorknob. He took a deep and heavy breath before delivering his last two words to the woman still seated at her desk.
"Fuck. You."
He then slammed the door and walked down the hall, lights still flickering but going to normal after he passed. He wasn't even concerned about seeing his friends anymore. He just needed to be away from this...place.
He held his amulet in his hand and walked out of one of the school's exits.
If anyone at home asked what he was doing back, he'd simply say he wasn't feeling well.
-END FLASHBACK-
Jacen laid on his bed, still gazing at the ceiling. Subconsciously holding his amulet between his fingers. He was snapped out of his thoughts when his phone rang.
He looked at the screen and saw it was a video call from his father. He set the phone in the dock and selected "answer call"
An image of his father, seated in his study appeared on the screen.
"Hello son. Sorry it's a bit late, I didn't know what time you'd get settled in." He said putting a bit of a smile on his face.
Jacen still had a reserved expression as he responded.
"It's fine, I wasn't asleep yet. I had just finished unpacking a little while ago. How's everyone doing since...you know?"
"Everyone has seemed to gotten back to normal. Your mother's back at work, I'm still handling the company. Your sister is asking about you all the time, wondering when she can come and visit you."
Jacen laughed a little despite his feelings on the entire event.
It's your fault she can't see me right now...
His father looked closer and saw that the amulet was still around his son's neck. Faintly glowing.
"Uhm, look Jacen. I know things seemed way too sudden, and that you're upset about how it happened. But I did it only to help you. You've seen how they look at...the different ones these days. I didn't want you to have to suffer through that. I've got to make this brief, so I'll call you tomorrow to see how thing's are going, but I did want to say this. I do know about all the things that happened at the old school. You are an Eirsith, but everyone is not the same person. No matter what path you take, or what abilities you may have...your mother and I will always love you just as we did before, and I'm sure Lissette will too. She'll call you tomorrow as well, she's at a late rehearsal right now. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you."
"I love you too, dad. I'll tell you when all my stuff gets sorted out. Bye." He managed to give the first genuine smile since he had gotten here mere hours ago before the call ended.
He looked outside the dorm window, looking at the campus grounds in the moonlight.
Just maybe...it'll be different.
A small tear rolled down his cheek as he looked down at the amulet in his hand...
Just maybe...

Maya kept silent, feeling as if she weren't helping the situation at all. Then, she finally added: "I'll train with you, if you don't mind." She lightly pushed away the rest of the food that had been sitting in front of her. She looked up at the others for a brief moment before smiling and cracking her knuckles. "I never got a chance to test out my abilities, anyways." She looked David up and down. "Just don't bring or wear anything you value greatly." Ready to leave, she waited for David to get up, also leaving time for the others to join in.

Venciersio sighed. "Malinda. It goes a lot father than a simple explanation. Just know, you were bred of a man more evil than anyone in this world. I refuse to let his blood roam this earth..." He raised his hand and the ground trembled, gravity was intensified, and any wind found inside the area of distortion continued in wayward currents. "Before I kill you, know that you'll see him soon." Before he threw his hand down he was struck by a stray shadow bolt in his back. He stumbled a bit and the spell was canceled. "You've joined up again, Volitaire." Volitaire was in the distance, hunched over and damaged from the spells from before. His head was bleeding and his clothes torn. "Don't..hurt her.." He tried to make his way over but he was staggering and limp. "I won't let you take someone else away from me..!" Venciersio slowly shook his head, pushing Volitaire back into a stone slab raised by Montesque's previous magic. Dust flew off Volitaire's body and his clothes. Venciersio kept up the shots until he was carved into the large stone. Volitaire's shirt and jacket were completely destroyed, and his upper body ravaged with scars and patches of skin missing. He fell over, but stopped him self from hitting the ground. "I'll come back to you in a moment.." Four black balls surrounded Silver and encasing her in a magnet field, immobilizing her movement. He walked over to the badly wounded Volitaire, his aura was rising and falling. "The Virus is beckoning..I can't let it get to me..I'll lose all sense and he'll pick me off easier..just like before..but I'm nearly done.." Volitaire threw everything he could in his weakened state. His Spell Chains, Shadowy Tendrils, Bolts, and Fireballs were all pushed back by Venciersio's Spatial shields. "Volitaire, I thought you's stay down." He gripped him by his hair and threw him onto the rock. "You're depressing. You come here on your vengeance mission, thinking you could make a difference by facing me. You can't even harm me. Even sadder that you bring my own family against me. You Lucaths were weak. Took your power for granted. Never knew how to properly utilize it. And look, they all died for it. And you're going to be the next I kill, I'll make sure you don't get out of this alive."

In his subconscious he could see his life flash before him. All his friends he made within this short time, what he remembered of his family, all the people he's helped, all the battles he's had. "I'm not surprised it ends this way...they way it began, by the same man too...I failed in my own vendetta, what would Mom and Dad think...what would Einso think...did I do good while I was here? I made friends...and fell for someone...I guess that's good enough. I won't complain..." He began to remember his falling outs with his Virus, all the bodies he's torn apart, the curses he's laid, the tears he shed over his own dying in front of him. "My Mortal Sin...I die learning nothing about it, and to be so easily broken by it...it made me weak..." Another memory played by, it was Eos, treating his wounds, and helping him when his Virus overtook him. "Eos..she made it better, I could try my best to be someone and be strong around her.." He remembered their last tender moment, before he left for this battle. "I need you to come back with me..." "I promised I would...I stare my death in the face like that never mattered...why am I suddenly like this. I guess I always thought I couldn't live forever...but she made me feel like I could take everything this world had to give me...Eos, I..." On the outside Volitaire's fist clenched, Venciersio was too focused on delivering the fatal blow to notice. "Part with your others, Lucath." His hand spun a black ball, The force around his made Venciersio's suit coat flap and the dust spiral under him. He prepared to strike.

Enki stayed silent as JD left, and knew how awkward the air around them felt. Sky wouldn't have wanted this. He thought. Despite some not wanting him around, David brought back a little life to the group, and soon, Maya too.

He looked down at his plate and realized he had finished his food. He felt he should leave, but then again, that would have made things worse, or would it? Maybe the reason they were so uncomfortable was because they were all pitted against him in a battle to the death not even a week ago? He looked around the group, looking to see what they would do first.

"You? Well, alright! Sounds fun." David hopped up, eager and ready. Anything of value, huh? He cracked his knuckles and smiled. This will be fun. "Ah, and just to let you know, I know no magic of any sort.." He figured he might as well get that out there now, before they started.

A man more evil than anyone else?... She frowned. Who could he possibly mean by that? Silver kept getting angrier each moment. He was about to finish off Voltaire, but Silver couldn't let him do that. What could she do? "Voltaire, move! You can't die yet. I won't let you!" she yelled out to him, still holding one of her swords in her left hand. She switched hands quickly and spun it once before throwing it directly at Venciersio's back.

Maya tilted her head down. Competition and battling sounded amazing right now, for whatever reason. "I guess you could say I dabble in the magical arts. Because of that, I'll try and go easy on you." She smiled, standing up beside David. "Come on, Enki, Eos." She beckoned. "Battling is sort of a tradition in this group now anyways."

Maya examined her ring again, wondering if she could make the same powers that appeared last time appear again, and, maybe even new ones. It'll take time and... I don't have that much time, she thought. I need to learn now. Her face became stern.

Silver's voice woke Volitaire up. "Silver..!" Venciersio turned to see the sword coming towards him and stopped it in midair. "This...was your last resort? To save him? Tsk, tsk, tsk..." He let the sword fall and turned his attention to Volitaire. "Now, you." He threw his palm at Volitaire, the spell in his hand about to strike. "No.." Volitaire swatted his hand away, the blast shot to Venciersio's right. A catastrophic blast tore the ground apart, leaving a clean but large indentation in the ground. "I said you're not taking anything else away from me..that means my life too.." Volitaire gripped him with dozens of tendrils before tossing him into the ground and further into the forest. With Venciersio damaged the focus on his magnet field spell wore off around Silver. His aura was flowing in a strange yet powerful fashion. He was getting close to falling to the Virus. He walked over to Silver, handing her sword to her and helping her up. "Silver..go. I'll stay here and face him myself. You can't be hurt. He's already managed to see through your illusions...I'm relying on my Virus one last time. If I don't come back, you know what happened. As for you, I want you to go back to Sorcerers, avoid 'him', and stay with JD." His voice was low, and his eyes were glowing a bright red. He turned to Venciersio's direction who was walking back towards them.

"You idiot, I'm not leaving you. We are a team, and I still want my answers. If I were to go back unharmed, what would I say to Eos? Oh, yeah, I let him die there, no big deal. No. I can't do that. And I can't leave you here to die. Even if he saw through my illusions once, that doesn't mean he can do it again. Not to mention.." she twirled her sword. "..I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." She grinned. Her stubborn personality was showing. "You're like a brother to me, Voli. I'll help you as much as I can."

"No need to go easy on me, I've dealt with lots of folks who had dozens of advantages over me. I can handle anything you throw at me." He responded with a grin and a thumbs up. Now he was getting excited. He looked down at the ring she had on, which she was staring at. "That's a nice ring you got there."

Enki stood up, and looked over to the table were Sasha was. He figured she would be better off alone for now, so he didn't say anything.He walked over to David and Maya, who were apparently going to practice.

"You haven't dealt with our kind before." Maya emphasized, holding up the ring. "Apparently, we're powerful or something. Enki is something else, though. He took out me, Silver, Eos, Volitaire, JD, and Sasha with no problem. No use in trying to battle against him." She shrugged as she spoke. "I guess we just don't have 'flames' yet, but Enzo..." Maya stopped herself, feeling as if she was rambling a bit. She wasn't even mad about how badly she had lost to Enki. She only wanted to get better, to be a more vicious fighter.

Maya looked over Enki. He was a friend, not an enemy. She smiled at him.

Volitaire remained silent and walked forward towards Venciersio. "Silver...thank you." Venciersio cloacked his fists in Spatial energies. Volitaire summoned his Spell Sword. "Your magic is climaxing. This is what I wanted to see. Actual valor. Prove your ambition is greater than mine!" The two ran for each other. Volitarie swung his blade wildly at Venciersio. He parried with his hands and went for blows towards his head. "He's aiming for my head...just like Montesque..." He ducked one of his punches and reappeared in Venciersio's shadow, cutting his back. A shriek of pain came from Venciersio. He quickly turned to continue his attack, but Volitarie with his rising power began to see through it. They went back and forth exchanging blows, sparks flying from the collisions.

David giggled. "Whoa, you guys sound intense." He looked back to Enki. "Are you Enki? Nice to meet ya." He smiled. He decided to pull out his two daggers, and showed them to the two. "This is all I got. But I don't plan on using them unless I have to. Which, I kinda doubt I will. I'm not feeling too many overpowering vibes from anyone here." He slid his daggers back inside his pockets, and put his hands behind his head. Perhaps he was being cocky, but he couldn't deny he was talented when it came to hand-to-hand combat.

Silver watched Voltaire walk away, and watched as they began fighting back and forth. She looked to where Montesque got knocked back and frowned, deciding to run and check on him to see if he was okay. She began searching for him. "Montesque? Where are you?"

Maya looked over his daggers, noting his obsession with Silver. They both seem to love their knives, but at the least, Silver has some advanced illusion abilities. "I don't use weapons. I have natural senses somewhere around 3 times as developed as a normal person, and a few secret abilities which you'll find out about later." Maya smiled, her retort to David's insult. Considering the people she usually fought with, a normal human should be nothing. She couldn't wait to fight him.

Seraph walked into the restaurant with his hands in his pockets. He was pretty tall for his age and was wearing a black trench coat and dress pants. He looked casually all over to see if their were any available seats, and decided to just plant himself next to the others table. He then pulled out a book from his jacket and started to read.

Enki smiled at David. He seemed pretty nice and welcoming, though he was still upset about how his 'friendship' started with the group. He listened to the both of them talk, and noticed someone enter. This person wasn't just a regular citizen, or magician. This person had a strange, elusive presence to him. Who is that? Enki wondered, as he watched him sit down.

Seraph looked up for a moment to clear his throat, in the process he noticed someone from the table beside him was looking his direction. He brushed his black hair to the side. Is their something I can help you with? Said Seraph in a calm but serious tone. As he said it he put his book away

Enki realized he was staring and stumbled a bit. "Oh, I um.. Realized you're very strong." He said, straight-forward. "Are you.. a professional wizard at Sorcerers?"

The fierce blows continued. Volitaire maneuvered around Venciersio's fists, dodging a potentially fatal blow. A swing fell on Venciersio's hand, he pushed him back with Spatial blast. He let the sword take the brunt of the attack. Only managing to push him back a fair distance. Venciersio twirled his hand and four black balls surrounded Volitaire. "His magic..perhaps I can.." He jumped out the way before the spell was cast. So it is possible to out maneuver it. The field of distortion doesn't follow you, it stays in one place...that's one flaw. I need to figure out if there's anymore..." Venciersio shot blasts up at Volitaire while he was airborne, he put his sword in front of himself to protect himself. The shots hit the sword with a hard metal clang, shortly Volitaire made his descent. The more he got into the mind of battle, the more his aura began to rise. He was determined to beat Venciersio, though his Virus was beckoning that much more. His iris' began to glow brighter, and his cornea turned black. He nose dived to Venciersio who readied his fist. Volitaire hed his sword back handed and readied himself to stab Venciersio from above. "Heh! Now we're murderous!" He threw his fist at Volitaire's blade. The black sphere at the center of the distortion was punctured, it expanded from the added pressure inside from the blade. It made a loud whirling noise and blew them both back, leaving a crater. The skid across the ground from the force of the explosion. "He..managed to hit it dead center. I got too excited...he can't do that again!" Volitaire got up from off the ground. "The sphere...when I struck it, it must've not been able to take the force of my blade. Though, I've seen him destroy objects with those...wait!" He remembered back in Gaze when Enki shot a beam at his own Spatial blast. The beam hit the black sphere and caused the same violent explosion. "My sword isn't exactly a natural alloy...it's made from magic. Those sphere's must react negatively to other forms of magic being in contact! That can turn things around in my favor.."

Montesque lied in the rubble, unconscious but alive. His robes were torn and his hood blown off.

Seraph looked straight at him, without hesitation "Thank you, for someone who can pick up that much from keen sense alone must be pretty strong aswell. However, to answer your question I will say that I do possess magic, I will not speak any further on that matter. In fact I have just arrived to this city. Seraph had one hand on the table and another under the table. The right hand was inside his jacket. I am Seraph Ulaerc.

Maya followed Enki's gaze, standing firmly beside him. She felt easily threatened, but this man's demeanor was not insulting. If this new person somehow hurt Enki in any way, she was prepared to kill him right then and there. However, until that moment, she let it go and looked back to David.

I'm... not usually... I just need to fight something. She shook her head to herself. "Seraph Ulaerc?"

"Well good then, I'm quite eager to get going. Shall we?" But before she could respond, David heard a voice not too far away from them, and turned to see a strange man there. He stared at him for a moment before realizing he gave off a vibe quite similar to Silver's, only less friendly. He seemed to be talking to Enki, who was also staring. Then, they began talking. David frowned. More friends?

Silver found Montesque. "Ah!" He seemed to be unconscious, even when Silver smacked his cheek lightly a couple times. She decided she should take him away from here, to a safer place and then come back to help Voltaire. She pulled his arm over her shoulders, and stood, slowly taking him away in the opposite direction of the battle.

Enki smiled and nodded once he had introduced himself. "I am Enki." He said. Good.. A friendship that won't start with a fight.. He thought.

"Well met Enki."Seraph took his hand out from his jacket and placed it on the table, he seemed a bit more relaxed but still serious."If I may ask, who are the rest of these people here, friends of yours?"He looked intrigued.

The two stood up and eyed each other. Venciersio had a grimace across his face. Volitaire took note of that and chuckled. "You find something humorous?" Volitaire walked towards him. "You're Spatial Magic. It seems to be a flawed. Venciersio growled under his breath. "Those black sphere. I assume those are the sources of the spells. They create the distortion effect that turns the atmosphere around them into a impenetrable and entirely destructive force. Capable of destroying anything. Am I correct?" Venciersio tightened his frown. "Yes, as I'm sure you know, raw Manna is used to penetrate gravity and the space around it. Opening that black hole, the same black hole, while in oxygen, will inevitably attract everything around it. Manna is what keeps the distortion effect around the black hole and blocks larger objects from getting sucked in. With the black hole attempting to close because it is not a natural occurance it wouldn't take a abnormal force, such as other forms of magic. Along with that magic clashing with the Manna. It can make for a horrible result. Though, it just simply expands from the added force and explodes. The black hole would close too fast, and the Manna inside wouldn't take the sudden compression. With two traces of Manna being forced upon each other they wouldn't attract, as long as it's from a different source. That is how it would be used as a defense...as offense, the Manna woul-" "Shoot forward, and distort space around it's trail. With the black hole taking lead. With the distorting space, it easily destroys whatever is touched, depending on the force." Venciersio remained silent and slowly began to levitate. "I underestimated your knowledge. I can see that..." A large black ball expanded and began to vacuum everything around it. The ground was being ripped apart and thrown into the hole. Along with Volitaire. In a panic he shot Shadow Bolts into the hole, but it left no effect. "That won't work...this is a literal black hole, Volitaire. Leading to a point of no return!" Volitaire was running out of options. Magic wouldn't cause the hole to erupt like before. Just take everything in. He was slowly getting suck in as he resisted the pull. He jabbed his sword into the ground, but the ground around it broke apart. He despawned the blade and used his chains to keep from flying in. He was getting desperate, his aura began to get stronger, his ring also made a faint glow, and began to flare.

Montesque was regaining his conscious, when his body was moved. He looked to see he was over Silver's shoulder. "Silver..? Where's Volitaire? Where's Venciersio..?"

"Yes, we're all well acquainted with one another." Maya put a hand on Enki's shoulder and smiled. "My name is Maya Morrison." Her display was mostly just marking Enki as part of her property. Most things she was doing now were completely unlike her, but it felt right. It felt like how she should be. Maya had also put a hand on David's arm.

Seraph turned his attention now to Maya. "An honor to meet you my lady."Seraph stands from his chair and nods his head to her. "I feel that I am causing you stress or tension, I hope I do not offend you in anyway."Seraph then smirks a little bit, very faintly but in calm manner. "I can tell you are all quite powerful with magic..."The smile disapears. "If a fight were to break out it would proove quite a challenge. But not to worry I am not looking for a fight, Im more interested in finding a place to stay for the night."

"Ah-" David was surprised when Maya put her hand on his arm, but he didn't think too much of it. "I'm new here too.. My name is David!" He replied, with a huge grin on his face. "We were just going to train, would you like to join us?" There was never any harm in being friendly to people, even if ones presence did make him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Shh, you're hurt. They are still fighting, and I'm taking you to a safe place so I can go help without having to worry about you accidentally ending up as one of my victims." She practically hissed the word 'victims', looking back to where Voltaire and Venciersio were fighting. She frowned. They were far enough away now, so she set him down carefully, leaning against a rock she found. "Are you going to be alright sitting here?"

"I would be honored in joining you all for training, thank you David." Seraph ran his fingers through his jet black hair and looked like he was on a mission, although it was only training. "I am expecting good things from you three, it will be exciting seeing what you all can do."

Enki smiled, though he wasn't sure if they could handle him. He decided he should test them anyway. "Okay, training it is." He said. "I'll follow whomever."

Maya nodded and barely smiled. Maybe this new man isn't so bad after all. "During training, we can figure out some sort of deal to see who you're rooming with tonight. If you do turn out to be a friend, then we can't just leave you out by yourself with nowhere to stay."
She tugged on David's arm, turning to leave. "Shall we?" Maya walked out of the restaurant confidently.