Hugh Prentice

"Black Totem, huh?" Robert muttered to himself. He turned to look at the figure laying on the floor. "How have I never heard of them?"

It puzzled Robert how the figure managed to laugh in his situation, but he did. Not the weak chuckle type of laugh, it was a cackle.

"You're the Martial kid aren't you?" The figure

said in between coughs. "I've heard of you". 

His words caught Robert and Ben off guard. And while Ben's shock was evident on his face, Robert had the same eerie calmness on his face.

"What do you know about me?"'Robert's tone sounded as if he was actually starting to take the entire situation seriously.

"I heard you've been going on a one m an suicide mission". He glanced at Ben. "It seems I heard wrong".

"What exactly do you know?" Robert pressed the knife softly on his skin as if reminding him that he still had the knife and could do whatever he pleased with the knife.

"The Totem is looking for you". The figure said. "They want to finish what they couldn't".

Robery had so many questions. First of all, who was 'they', secondly, why was the Totem, whoever he is, looking for him.

He stared down at the figure and sighed. He knew that he'd probably not be able to get any more information from him. He emotionlessly plunged the knife into the back of his head.

Ben's mouth was agape. "Why'd you do that?" He practically screamed. "I thought that you were going to let him go".

Robert sighed. At this moment he felt like he was a dad bringing his young, naïve, innocent child to work.

"If I let him go, they'd probably kill him where he's coming from". Robert shrugged. "Would you rather they kill or we kill him?"

Ben stared at his young master. He had been following him for four years now and every single day, he managed to surprise him.

"Come on". Robert had already started walking away from the forest. "Let's go find Hugh".

Ben groaned. "Why exactly are we going to him?"

"Do you have a better idea on how we're supposed to find the Totem?" Robert asked sarcastically. In response to this question, Ben muttered something and followed Robert.

***

In the middle of a forest range, there was a shabby looking building erected. The building's main foundation was on irregularly shaped wooden logs. The building itself consisted of small twigs fashioned together in such a way that it didn't seem at all astonishing how the building wasn't already collapsed.

The roof consisted of a few thatched leaves and some weeds that were knitted together to form some sort of a covering.

Standing in front of the 'strange' building was a youth that seemed to be in his early twenties. The youth had black hair and brown eyes. His pale looking face was riddled with so many scars and spots.

"Why waste your time coming here?" The youth that looked to be in his twenties spoke while looking in front of him.

The vague outline of two figures walking towards him was visible from his position. Robert smiled when he heard Hugh's rebuke, but still walked towards him.

"The black totem". Robert said as soon as he was in front of Hugh. "Who are they?"

Hugh shrugged. "I don't have access to that type of information. There's only one place that you can go if you want that type of information".

Robert smiled. "I'm not going to the academy".

"And how, pray tell, do you suppose you're going to learn how to use magic without the academy?" Hugh asked.

"I don't need magic to be nosy". Robert said plainly.

"If you want to be nosy about The Totem then you need to go to the academy, otherwise, you're just seeking death. Swallow your pride and go there". Hugh said.

"I thought you said you didn't know about The Black Totem, how do you know that they're dangerous?" Robert smirked.

Hugh scoffed, then shook his head. "Go to the academy Bob". Hugh said. "And leave my house".

Robert looked at Hugh for another moment or two as if asking whether he had been truly kicked out. Getting silence in response, Robert turned his back and started walking away with Ben following close behind.

"What's the big deal about this dumb academy in the first place". Robert muttered making Ben look at his master with a strange expression.

"Let's go pack our bags Ben". Robert said while walking. "You and I are going to the academy, wherever it is".

"It's in the capital". Ben said. Saving Robert from his 'plight'.