Dark Magi: Dante's Story Book 1

There is an island of legend, a place hidden from the race of man behind walls of veiled enchantments. It is known in Arthurian legend as Avalon, and it is famed for being where Excalibur was once forged.

In ages past, the great wizard, Merlin, lead an exodus to this mysterious isle to flee the coming Christian reign. Those who refused to convert to the Abrahamic faiths sought out the magical isle. Few managed to find it. One such seeker was a man named Varego Gothi, of who would later be called the Witchking.

Avalon became a refuge for those who choose the practices of magic and the occult arts, where they live without the fear of persecution. They called themselves Witchblooded. Many cultures have been brought to Avalon, prospering its diversity. As time went by, Avalon's people embraced the technologies of the modern age. Still, none have abandoned the heritage of magic. These same sciences have managed to complement the sorceries of old. The isle gave birth to great cities and abodes. Yet still the sacred forests, groves, and mountains continue to be maintained, with nature and civilization neighboring each other. It is here on this sacred island nation our story takes place.

"Boom!" A thunderous sound shook the grounds of Avalon Academy. The academy was a large fortress of spiraling towers where many young students studied the crafts of magic, the arts of combat and warfare, and many other fantastic subjects. Within, groves of fruit trees releasing their alluring aroma in the spring like air. Their sweet scent carried off by the wind, greeting both students and educators alike with a gentle kiss.

The academy its self stood upon a cliff looking out to the wide blue ocean. The tranquil waters set the glorious ambiance as their waves crashed against the sandy shores. The sweet aromas within the academies mixed nicely with the smell of sea salt.

In the middle of the academy, centered in the court yard where all could see, stood a statue of the goddess Brigid. For she was patron over the academy, thus is paid tribute by all. At the front entrance of the fortress was a large gate where the land's local spirits were welcomed. It is here our story takes place. Here you'll find our protagonist, though this may not be the best of times to greet our impetuous hero.

Crowds of students gathered about a duel field to watch the match. The field was covered in a cloud of dark grey smoke, unable to spread past an invisible barrier. As the smoke faded away, the competitors slowly appeared. One of them stood six feet in iron clad armor. His build was mighty with bulging muscles. Clutched in his mighty hands was a great sword whose blade was etched with strange letters and symbols. This warrior was quite masculine in his facial features. His cheekbones were high, his jaw was mighty, and his hair at neck length as blond as the sun's golden light. Though his armor, face, and golden hair were covered in patches of soot.

Opposite of him his adversary. He stood five feet five and adorned in an ankle length coat colored of simple design. He had a comely boyish appearance with long brown hair that curled up in the back and combed to the side in the front. His build was scrawny yet his shoulders wide. In his right hand he wielded an athame, a sorcerer's dagger. The blade lit aflame with crimson fire. His midnight blue eyes, gentle as they were, hid a dragon's fierce ambition. Surrounding the lad was a crimson aura of flames outlining his silhouette. The flames cackled, flared, and encircled his being as if he was the sun itself. He stared with a smug grin towards the warrior, who in return glared in contempt. The crowd roared with excitement.

"That attack was going a bit overboard, Dante." Called the warrior.

"You're the one spouting your survival of the fittest bull crap, Haegan?" The sorcerer teased. "Stop complaining and show you can take it as much as you can dish it out."

Haegan grew irritated by Dante's jeering. With a roar, the warrior charged. His mighty arms, swinging his great sword in a forward and powerful motion. However the flames that permeated from the sorcerer's body gathered together, and somehow blocked and absorbed the impact, forming a physical barrier of flames right at the blade. Haegan channeled his fury, trying to push through the barrier, yet he managed not. His rage filled gaze met Dante's as the sorcerer's c.o.c.ky grin faded, putting his strength into maintaining the barrier. While the barrier absorbed the impact from the blade, it could only filter the force behind it. Dante's body began to quake from pain and stress, yet he kept his resolve. The crowd watched with anticipation.

"Do you know why you've never been able to strike me these last few years?" The sorcerer whispered as he strove to psych out his foe.

"It's because you cheat with magic." Haegan answered as he pushed harder upon his nemesis. Dante felt the burden of the extra force.

"Actually," Dante held his free palm out to the side. Bursting from it appeared to be a conjured flame. "It's because you're dumb enough to get in close enough for a point blank strike."

Haegan then realized what Dante was planning. He shoved Dante away, knocking the sorcerer off balance. As his foe stumbled, the bolt of flame misfired into the distance and was absorbed by the surrounding barrio. Haegan jumped backward.

"Stop using your tricks and fight me like a man." Haegan challenged as he banged his fist to his b.r.e.a.s.tplate. "Muscle to Muscle."

"That's just like you." Dante replied as he retrieved his footing. "Anyone you who relies on a different set of skills than you is either a weakling, a cheat, or a coward in your eyes. You just can't accept difference."

"And it's just like you to act all high and mighty." Haegan called to him. "You think everyone should follow your ideas; your way of thinking, like you're better than them."

"How is that any different than you calling me a coward for using magic?" Dante inquired.

"Cause a real man relies on muscle!" He shouted to the audience, flexing his arms as the crowd roared.

"A real man isn't some intolerant a.s.s hole." Replied Dante. "He fights for what is right and stands up to thugs like you."

Dante raised his arm into the air as he made the devil horns symbol. The cheered at the gesture.

"Enough talking." Haegan demanded. "Let's get back to the fight."

"I couldn't agree more." Dante grinned with anticipation as he pointed the tip of his athame towards his foe. "But let's end this quick. One final strike each with all our might. Last one standing is victor."

"Sounds good to me." Haegan concurred.

Both fighters positioned themselves for a final attack. Dante held his athame forward. The blade glowed a crimson red with smokeless flames. Haegan held the point of his blade in front as if to skewer Dante.

"Ready any time you are, brute." Dante taunted.

Haegan roared before a charge. He rushed towards his opponent as Dante stood completely still, lying in wait for the perfect moment to strike. As Haegan came in distance, he roared, lunging his sword forward as to strike with his great strength. Dante however evaded by simply stepping to the side. Flames spiraled across the sorcerer's athame as it prepared to fire off like a gun towards Haegan's exposed c.h.e.s.t. Haegan pulled back his great sword. And as the dagger's spell went off with a crimson cackling beam, he swung his mighty sword, slicing through the beam and deflecting it. The contact caused a fiery explosion that covered the dual field, unable to spread due to the protective barrier. It roared like thunder, a formless mass of bright crimson red which then turned into a dark cloud of grey and black. Within the cloud, Dante kneeled. He was writhe with burns, cuts, and exhaustion, as if he couldn't take the impact of his own magic. He struggled to lift himself to his feet as his breathing was short and heavy. He finally gained his composer, only to be confounded as he appeared to be alone. Then he noticed Haegan's figure within the smoke.

"Let me go!" Haegan's voice commanded from within the grey cloud.

As the smoke cleared, Dante noticed Haegan appeared to be detained by one of the academies guards. Out from behind, two large arms grasped onto Dante. He himself was now detained by a second guard. Both Dante and Haegan struggled to get free.

"That's enough!" Called a stern voice from the crowd.

Out from the audience came a strange creature, appearing human in shape and build but Dragonic in features. He was dressed in an ocean blue kimono. His clawed hands and feet were covered in blue scales. From behind came a blue tail ending with a tuff of white hair. The creature's head was that of a dragon. His long snout grew two tendrils that whipped and danced in the air. Two antler like horns grew from within his dark blue locks. The dragon man approached the two competitors with a furious look in his eyes. He turned to the audience and held out a clawed hand.

"Alright, everyone. Fight's over." He shouted. "All but these two trouble makers, leave now. Those who were ordered to leave but stay will be exiled. Those who were ordered to stay but leaves will also be exiled."

With a soft wave of complaints, the crowd slowly dispersed elsewhere. Soon the air grew silent.

The dragon man turned to the two boys as the academy guardsmen released them. He looked to Dante with a furious gaze.

"Explain to me what possessed you to set up this scandal." He asked.

"Master Mephose," Dante began. "I caught Haegan and his clique harassing a freshmen yesterday. I came the kid's aid, but once I approached, Haegan made a threat towards him. So I suggested we settle it in a dual."

Mephose turned to Dante's opponent.

"Is any of this true?" He asked with a storm's fury in his voice. "Were you harassing a fellow student?"

"We just saw this new comer and tried to toughen him up." Haegan pleaded.

"That's a load of shit and you know it." Dante shouted. "You told him you're going to f.u.c.k his sister. That's a threat."

"Language, Dante!" Mephose scolded. "And is this true, Haegan?"

"Maybe I did threaten him." Haegan replied with an arrogant smirk as he approached. "Don't you know only the strong survive? That's Charles Darwin."

"Darwin has always been invoked as an excuse for bigotry and you know it." Responded Dante as he moved forward to meet his foe.

"Bigotry?" Haegan chuckled as he flexed his mighty arm. "I'm just a believer in natural selection. Might makes right."

"Intellect always triumphs over brute strength." Dante contended. "Why don't you explain why your natural selection bullshit hasn't saved you once from getting your a.s.s kicked all these years?"

Haegan became fl.u.s.tered with a growl.

"Idealistic Moralist!" He shouted a mere foot from Dante.

"Brutish meat head!" Dante replied with eyes bursting with flame.

"Nerd!"

"Jock!"

"Enough, both of you!" Mephose scolded the pupils. At his signal, both guards grabbed the two students and pulled them to divided ends.

"Haegan!" Mephose turned to the warrior. "If you actually threatened another student, then that is unacceptable! The reason you are here is to learn to protect others, not to bully them around. Unfortunately this isn't the first time I've heard this story. There are many reports of you tyrannizing your fellow students while several of your delinquent friends willfully encourage you. You know exactly what you do and how it affects the student body."

"So what are you gonna do?" Haegan taunted with a smug grin. "I'm sure my family would call off their funding for the academy if I tell them I was ever so wrongfully punished."

"It's true your family's status has saved you plenty of times in the past." Mephose responded. "However, at your age, they've agreed to step back quite a bit. It's about time you are held accountable for your actions."

"What are you saying?" Haegan showed some worry.

"Haegan, Son of Jarl Erik," The dragon man began, "As Master of the Mephose Dormitory, I declare with the full authority granted unto me that you are exiled."

Haegan's eyes widened in shock.

"You can't exile me!" The warrior pleaded. "My family's one of the wealthiest of the whole Far North. What about the funding they provide?"

"Your family has been made well aware of your record." Mephose replied. "They will accept whatever punishment the academy deems worthy and will take full responsibility for it."

One of the two guards restrained Haegan by the arms. The lad struggled to get free.

"Please, I'll lose my inheritance if I'm exiled." Haegan continued to plead. "I'm nothing without my family's status."

Dante began clapping his hands in a sarcastic manner before folding his arms.

"Wow, bravo!" He sneered with his smug grin. "Haegan finally is being honest. Master, I think he's making progress."

"Dante, please. You're not helping." Mephose said.

Haegan managed to free himself from the guard and charged Dante with his blade, ready to swing.

"I'll kill you, Dante!" Haegan shouted.

Before Dante could brace himself, the second guard stood out in front of him. As Haegan approached, the guard unsheathed his sword and knocked away the blade in a blocking motion. The greatsword flew into the air as Haegan was now disarmed. It descended, blade first, and landed right in front of Dante. This was followed by a swift fist from his free hand into Haegan's temple. Haegan fell to the ground immobilized.

"I didn't need any help." Dante exclaimed. "I could handle him myself."

"You've handled him enough today, young scholar." The guard replied as he lifted Haegan onto his shoulder. "I suggest you let the academy officials handle him now."

Haegan was then carried off.

Finally, Mephose turned to Dante. His eyes didn't give off a look of praise.

Dante looked back at his furious master, knowing one word would set him off.

"Master?"

"How is it that my top student is one of the academy's biggest trouble makers?" Mephose raged.

"Master, I was just protecting a fellow student." Pleaded Dante.

"You were picking fights again." Scolded Mephose.

"This wasn't a fight. It was a duel." Argued Dante. "I went through the channels, made the appropriate challenge, and set it up, all within the regulations of the academy, the legal regulations."

"All that is true and I understand you're motivation." Mephose continued. "But whether or not you've broken the academy's written rules is not the issue. The issue is the reputation you have. You're inspiring unrest amongst your fellow students."

"I'm teaching them to stand up for themselves." Said Dante as he stood his ground.

"There's a proper way to deal with a bully." Replied Mephose. "That's what the academy masters are here for."

"You said it yourself that Haegan has a record of harassment, him and his clique. Yet only now has anything been officially done up till now." Dante argued with furious passion in his voice. "Nothing was done back in my human school and nothing gets done here. We the students have to fend for each other. Isn't that what being a hero is about, protecting others, especially those who can't protect themselves?"

"Dante," Mephose said with a voice as calm as a stream. "A hero is someone who protects others but he can't always do it by fighting. He can't just rush into the fray guns ablaze when the mood strikes him, hoping to take out the enemy as quickly as possible. Sometimes there are better ways to resolve conflict. I know it may sound cliché, but talking it out can be very effective."

"Brutes like Haegan only respond to force." Dante argued as his ire was raised. "They think they can do what they want and don't concern how they affect others."

"Then sometimes you need to be patient and not allow yourself be stirred by your foe." Mephose explained.

Dante fell silent.

"Dante, and I understand your determination and your motivations." He continued. "You can't sit idly by while someone else is made to suffer, and I understand you think you have the power to save them, but you have to learn not to rely on your battle l.u.s.t for everything. You need to learn to be more diplomatic."

Dante turned away from Mephose.

"Diplomacy, huh?" He said. "You know I'm not the best at that. I'm not graceful, no charisma. Combat's the best way I know how."

"Yes, you're one of the best at what you do." Mephose agreed. "I understand the difficulties you have, and what you went through in the past, but I hope through age you'll learn what I'm trying to teach you."

"Still, I can't allow these duels you keep creating." Mephose came back to the subject at hand. "Any and all duels must have a sporting atmosphere. I have to teach you a bit of patience. The academy just can't have you inspiring the same hasty quick to anger behavior in others."

"I guess." Dante sighed.

"Alright then. Now go get something to eat and rest. You can't waste energy that could be spent in training on petty rivalries." Mephose commanded.

"Alright." Dante Sighed.

"Alright what?" Mephose asked.

Dante straightened his back and looked his master in the eye.

"Sir!" He spouted.

The master's dragonic face formed a wide grin in pride.

"Good." He praised Dante. "Dismissed."

The two turned away from each other and walked off.

Time passed as Dante was having lunch with friends in the academy cafeteria. At the table with him were three other students. First there was Leo, a student from the Caribbean. Leo had a lithe athletic build. His hair was short and dreaded. Second was Enrique, a powerfully built individual from Puerto Rico. Finally, there was Dante's red haired companion, Brian, the charmer from England.

As the three compatriots shot the breeze, Dante had his nose caught in his book and headphones in his ears. This wasn't a rare phenomenon, for though Dante enjoyed their company, he often felt unable to contribute or respond to their conversations. He often felt uncomfortable in group discussions, and would every so often lift his attention from the book and remove the head phones from his ears as to contribute a b.a.r.e minimum to the group. He simply preferred to focus his attention on his various interests and curiosity with music guiding his imagination. A stack of books stood by his side at the table. Each he would switch to when the mood suited him. Suddenly the left head phone was yanked out of his ear.

"Yo, Dante. Put down the nerd book, dude. We got some girls here."

Dante recognized the voice to be Enrique. Enrique was known for his abrasiveness. A good friend in Dante's view, but the lad still wished he could get his attention without being so obnoxious.

Frustrated over the interruption, Dante laid his book down as he rolled his eyes. When he looked up, to his shock, his friend was right. Three girls stood over the table flashing their gem like smiles to him. Oh they were beautiful. The one in the middle particularly caught Dante's eye. She was Latin by origin, with beautiful caramel skin. The siren had a tight and toned build with her dark hair in a ponytail. With a giggle, she gave him a small wave. To the left was a girl with ebony skin and dressed in pink. To her left was a girl with porcelain skin and dressed in bright green.

Dante caught himself mid trance and snapped himself back to reality.

Brian moved from his seat and rose up. Standing before the one in the middle, inches in between. She lifted her head to meet his eyes as he flashed a charming white toothy smile.

"Hey." Brian greeted.

The two girls to the side turned to each other and giggled gleefully. The girl in the middle bowed her head and rolled her eyes.

"Back off, Jack a.s.s." She sighed.

Leo and Enrique burst into laughter with mocking fingers pointing at Brian. Still smiling, Brian took a few steps away. Dante rolled his eyes and returned to his back.

All three girls turned to each other and giggled.

"Umm, excuse me." The girl in the middle called to Dante.

The whole table was surprised. Brian especially. Dante, though, was back to his book. And yet he heard, just as shocked as the others.

"Umm…" Dante responded as he lowered the book. "Yeah?"

"Do you remember me?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, you're Serenity." He replied. "Right?"

"Yeah, I'm glad you remember." Serenity smiled. "It's been awhile since we last spoke."

"Do you remember us?" The girl to the left asked with a chuckle.

"Uhh…" Dante stuttered nervously.

"Damn it, Dante." Leo buried his face in his palms.

"Jasmine." The girl to the left said in an annoyed tone.

"And Brittany." Said the girl to the left.

"How could you forget us?" Jasmine complained.

"Shush." Serenity told her.

"Just ignore them." She said as she turned to Dante. "Anyway, could I talk to you?"

"Well…I…Um." The lad said.

"Dante, talk to ya girl." Enrique told him.

"Yeah, man. Don't be a p.u.s.s.y." Leo added.

"I'm not good at talking to girls." Dante whispered to them. "You know I'll embarrass myself."

"Dude, I promise you." Brian assured him. "You won't. Just be yourself."

With a nervous sigh, Dante rose from his seat and walked over to the girls.

"Go get'em, Dante." Brian encouraged, patting him on the back.

The lad looked into Serenity's sea foam green eyes and smiled an awkward smile.

"Sure." He answered, but with little confidence.

The English stud returned to his seat. Dante turned around to see his three friends watching.

"I'm starting to miss Haegan." He thought to himself as he turned back to the girls.

"What's up?" He greeted.

"Oh, come on, Dante." Enrique exclaimed.

"Enrique, shut up." Leo whispered. "He's got this on his own."

Dante turned his head to give Enrique a glare.

"Don't worry, you got this." Brian supported.

Dante turned back to the girls. He tried to flash a smile and let out a friendly chuckle, feeling ridiculous.

"Hey, Dante." Greeted Jasmine And Britany as they flashed their flirty smiles.

Dante opened his mouth to give a response, only to go silent as he couldn't think up one. The three girls once again laughed.

"Okay, can we cut to the chase?" Dante asked letting out his frustration. His jovial smile turned to a fl.u.s.tered look. "What do you want?"

Enrique let out a groan in disappointment, only for Leo to jab him in the shoulder.

"Oh, he's bold." Said Brittany to Jasmine.

"I like that about him." Said Jasmine to Brittany. "It's cute."

The girls giggled to each other.

"They're starting to bug me." Thought Dante. "Even Haegan didn't give me this much grief."

"We watched you're duel with Haegan." Serenity told him.

"What did you think?" Dante asked trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh it was so hot." Brittany exclaimed seductively.

"So hot!" Jasmine added as the two giggled to each other. "Like literally."

"Will you two shut up?" Thought Dante. "You're really just saying nothing."

Dante gave out a nervous chuckle.

"We heard you got him exiled." Said Serenity.

"Well, actually…" Dante began.

"Yeah, that's right!" Brian interrupted as he stood up, placing his elbow on the lad's shoulder. "My man, Dante, is top dog of Avalon Academy. Am I right boys?"

Leo, Brian, and Enrique started barking like dogs. Dante bowed his head and shook in embarrassment.

"We wanted to thank you." Said Serenity as she placed a single finger upon his chin to left his head.

She then looked into his eyes with a seductively submissive gaze.

"Yeah, he was such a creep." Jasmine laughed.

"He was creepy, wasn't he?" Brittany replied.

The two made Dante feel uncomfortable.

"Well, I appreciate how you feel." Dante stated. "But I only dueled him. It was….."

Brian placed his hand over Dante's mouth to silence him.

"Pardon us, ladies." Brian said as he stood up, grasping onto to Dante's shoulders. "I need to speak to my friend."

Brian and Dante walked a few feet away to obtain privacy.

"Dante, what are you doing?" Brian asked.

"Sorry, Brian." Dante replied. "But I didn't banish him. Master Mephose did."

"I get it, Dante. You're honest." Brian commented. "But Haegan did a lot more than what you think. You don't know it, but he would secretly stalk the girls."

"Wait, seriously?" Dante was shocked. "How didn't I know?"

"You wouldn't." Brian answered. "You spend most of your time training and studying. You hardly spend any time with anyone outside of our group, especially girls. The only time anyone else sees you is when you're dueling Haegan."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware." Dante replied, feeling guilty.

"It's okay, Dante. It's all in the past." Brian eased him. "In fact, it's a good thing. You wanted to be a hero, well now you're their hero. Not only did your getting him exiled help out weaker or newer students, but girls too. Especially girls like them. You should take advantage of your accomplishment."

"I don't know." Replied Dante.

"Dude, it's been long enough." Brian pressured. "She wants you. You should go get her."

"Now go back and take credit where credit is due." Brian suggested.

The two returned to the table.

"Thanks for explaining that to me, Dante." Brian said. "You really helped me out."

Brian placed his hands on Dante's shoulders.

"Girls, he's all yours." He said. "You take care of him."

The red head sat back down and watched.

Dante stood in front of the girls with his hands behind his back as he gave off a confident smile.

"Yep, I got him exiled." He chuckled.

"What am I doing?" He thought to himself.

Without a word, Serenity reached into her purse and took out a small piece of yellow paper. With her free hand she took hold of Dante's. Her soft touch left goosebumps upon his skin. She placed the small yellow paper into his palm. Serenity then leaned forward and left a titillating kiss upon his cheek. Then with her sweet pink lips she whispered into his ear.

"Text me."

Dante shook at the sensation of her breath.

"I'll be waiting to hear from you." Serenity told him.

The girls turned around and left.

"Bye Dante." Jasmine and Brittany waved as they departed.

The table was silent as Dante sat back down. He looked around as his friends stared right at him with astonished faces. Leo stood up and started clapping.

"My man!" Leo said.

The whole table started barking like dogs, fist pumping into the air.

"Guys, please." Dante pleaded as he tried to regain a physical sense of normalcy. "Please don't make this a big deal."

"Dude, the most popular girl in school just gave you her number." Leo exclaimed.

"You should wait a few days before texting her." Brian suggested. "Don't let her know you want her. Make her want you."

"Yeah, I don't think I'm doing that." Dante expressed as he stared down at the piece of paper.

"I get it." Said Enrique. "Don't make her wait."

"No, I don't think I'm going to text her at all." Replied Dante. "Or call her, email her, or anything."

The table went silent.

"Dude, she's the…"

"Hottest girl in school. I get it, Leo." Dante interrupted. "I've heard it plenty of times these last few years. I'm tired of these girls being treated like celebrities just because they're pretty."

"But she gave you her number." Brian responded.

"And that means something?" Dante asked in disbelief. "Back in middle school, a girl would still give you a number if she didn't like you. Sure she'd act all flirty when she gave it to you, but when you used it, she'd act like she doesn't know you at all or sometimes it wasn't even hers in the first place."

"But she's into you." Enrique expressed.

"No she's not. She's into what I've done. I'm glad I helped her but anyone who's seen a high school movie would know it's not the same. She'll just lose interest in a week or two." Replied Dante.

"Quite Wise, aren't you?" Said a strange man as he approached the table. "Impressive for someone your age."

The approaching stranger stood a statuette height of six feet. He had chiseled features as he was adorned in a formal and academic attire, a course black suite and silver shirt and tie inside. He appeared to be of Greek origin and stood with a disciplined posture with his hands tucked behind his back. A grin found its way upon his face.

"However, I feel your criticisms may be unfair unto this girl." His voice was eerily captivating, like that of a story teller. "Perhaps you could've given her your number instead. That would be my suggestion."

"I'm sorry, but are you a master?" Dante asked.

"I think he may be one of the clerics." Leo suggested as the group stared upon the debonair man.

"Come to bring us advice?" Bian asked in suspense.

"Shouldn't he be wearing his robes?" Enrique mocked with disapproval.

The stranger chuckled at Enrique's feistiness.

"True I studied specifically under the clerics," He replied, "But I am not one of them." The man held out his wrist. As he pulled up on his sleeve, he revealed the mark of The Shadows; a crescent moon with a silver bladed sword descending into it. "Though I am impressed, young Dante. You have an interesting perspective."

Upon seeing the mark, the five boys got up to catch a better look. Never have they seen this mark up close, only knowing it from the clerics' stories. They stared in awe upon the mark, as if witnessing a relic of glory. This mark meant something, it was the mark of an adventurer, a warrior, a hero, a member of The Shadows. They wondered what glorious tales could he tell? What wisdom could he offer? What magic could he teach?

"I'm guessing you're here about the duel as well?" Brian asked as they started to return to seating.

"Indeed, I am." Replied the man as he grinned in satisfaction. "I watched the whole event."

The four boys whispered to each other excitedly. The man grinned at their enthusiasm.

"Well, I'm sorry if my master sent you away with everyone else." Dante apologized timidly.

"Oh no, I wasn't in the crowd." The stranger replied. "I watched from afar. I got to see the conversation you had with Mephose."

"Oh, you saw that, huh?" Dante's turned his face a way in embarrassment.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, young scholar." The man encouraged. "After all, you were only trying to protect another student. However, it seems like the results of your actions helped out more people than you originally sought out for."

"Thank you for your support, Sir." Dante replied to the kind words. "Is there anything you need from us?"

"On behalf of my superiors, I'd like to offer you the chance to prove yourself to The Shadows" Exclaimed the man as he held his hand out, "and earn a place within our ranks."

"Are you serious?" Brian gasped excitedly.

"Indeed, I am." The man answered. "In acceptance, Dante and a few other students will be placed in a simulated virtual world. He will lead them as a squad on a mission against an enemy of my assigning to test his skills as a combatant and leader. If he passes, he will graduate from Avalon academy and become a squire within The Shadows. He will be assigned to a squad of those of similar status. This test will be held in the testing grounds."

"Oh, sweet!" Replied Brian. "That's the dream of anyone in the academy."

"Hey, can the four of us be on Dante's squad?" Leo asked.

"Sure." The man replied cheerfully. "Why not? I'll put in the request. Until Dante agrees, there's no one prechosen as of yet. We can certainly put all his friends on the squad."

"Dante, what do you say?" Brian asked.

Dante was utterly speechless. His eyes widened in nervousness.

"I…I guess I'll do it." He answered.

"My man!" Enrique exclaimed. "Future hero!"

The table once again barked like dogs while fist pumping.

The strange man laughed in pride at their celebration.

Enrique started patting Dante's back. Still, Dante did not seem comfortable with his choice.

"I gotta go." He said as he collected his belongings and walked off.

As he left, his companions continued to celebrate. The stranger, though, watched him leave, continuing to grin his proud and fatherly grin.

Dante dwelt on the unexpected circ.u.mstance thrusted upon him. Quite a strike of fortune it was, an opportunity many in the Academy would beg for, one that simply just approached out of nowhere. However, for Dante this was no fortune, for he did not feel he was ready. A scholar and combatant Dante was, but he's honed his skills only upon the duel field, not the battle field. A duel was a controlled combatant event held between two to four competitors upon a pre-decided arena enchanted specifically to keep the competitors and the audience safe. His inability to simply utter the word NO has basically set him on a path to failure. The worst part was his three best friends would be there with him. Someone more optimistic would say one's friends would provide support. However, Dante knew he built up a reputation these past few years, and as much as he hated to admit to himself, this was a reputation he wanted to keep. He surely didn't want to fail in front of his friends. Dante decided he needed inside information as to these simulation tests, and he knew the perfect person to ask.

As Dante exited the cafeteria, he stopped at a trash can. Searching through his pocket, he took out Serenity's number. He stared at the crumpled up slip of paper in the palm of his hand, thinking about her. He thought to himself about her caramel skin. He remembered the feeling of her full pink cherry lips upon his face and the intoxicating sound of her voice in his ear. The memory of her hand on his returned the goosebumps to his flesh. His heart bounded against his c.h.e.s.t painfully like a wild animal in a cage. The root of his being erected as if to shoot off. The d.e.s.i.r.e he felt was painful, both physically and emotionally.

Even for her friends, Brittany and Jasmine, he could feel an intense d.e.s.i.r.e for them, though he felt them to be annoying. It was carnal d.e.s.i.r.e, bright and warm like a dancing flame upon a candle. However, though his body hummed in longing, he returned from his amorous trance. Tight in his gentle hand he clutched the slip of paper.

"She'll just lose interest." He whispered to himself.

As he opened his hand, the slip of paper was further crumbled. Suddenly it lit like it was held to a match. As the flame consumed it and died out, all there was left was a small pile of ash. His gentle hand flipped over, dropping the ashes into the trash. He watched as they fell, destined to be forgotten. As they disappeared amongst the discarded potato chip bags, he turned on his music and walked off, holding the stack of books to his heart.