28 Stone Throne

A week later,

In a hospital room in the West Branch, Howard rested on the bed on a pillow as Monica rested her head against the pale, white sheets.

Every few hours, a nurse in a white uniform came into visit Howard, checking his pulse and the wounds on his chest before leaving the room. Monica, however, in contrast never left and stayed by his side. Even when other people brought her food, she let it pile up.

However, after ten days, she couldn't help but fall to sleep.

Opening his eyes, Howard immediately noticed Monica resting against his abdomen and smiled before stretching his arms. Looking over, at a young nurse walking in with a clip board, Howard smiled brightly, causing the overworked attendant to shriek in shock!

"Heh, are you okay?" Howard smiled at the nurse. "Why do you look like you saw a ghost?"

"Howard?" Monica opened her eyes, groggily looking at Howard's face before closing her eyes. "Ugh, I must be dreaming. I-I'm going to kill that jerk when he wakes up."

"Why?" Howard said with a smile, "Heh, I just woke up, silly."

"Howard?" Monica jumped into the air and swallowed him with her arms. "Howard! I-I'm going to kill you idiot!" She grabbed his cheeks and began to rapid fire kisses against his lips as tears fell down her eyes. "You-MM-You-you better not do that again, jerk!"

"Heh, that feels good," Howard rubbed her back and gently returned a press of his lips against her own. Her pink lips and dripping green hair caused his face to widen in happiness as he gently caressed her back. "However, how long have I been asleep?"

"Too long," Una walked in with a smile, "We have so much to explain to you, Howard. We found a very special place."

"You mean that portal?" Howard laughed, nodding his head. "What? Are you surprised?"

"That portal, Howard, is growing larger," Una sat down on a metal chair. "In a few weeks, it might even allow us to go back to the surface for one day."

"The surface? How?" Howard said, waddling his brows. The idea of going back to the surface terrified him, making his stomach turn at the thought of having to be condemned back to jail.

For years, every morning he woke up, Vicky would kiss him gently before pulling him into her embrace. For a few hours, she'd only exist, and then he'd receive his morning shots. They'd play fun video games together, and learn each other's secrets, however, seven times a day, before falling into her arms for sleep, she'd shoot him over and over and over again.

Thinking about her, Howard felt his hair rising, a consuming, anger yet sense of loss traveled into his body.

"Anyways, why only one day? We can't go for longer?"

"Nope, portals are Ki Distortions." Una gently massaged Howards head, brushing back his hair before gently kissing him on the forehead. "When you enter them, they pick up your signal and send it flying to another place. However, once that portal closes, like a ravenous beast that ate a bad meal, that portal spits us back out where we started."

"Then… What about those bats?" Howard shook his head, feeling lost in his thoughts. "How did they get here?"

"They caused the portal," Harley walked into the room and tossed a pair of clothes on the bed. "Anyways, get dressed, Kellen would like you to meet someone. You can thank him for stopping the Varlan."

"By the way, are we still dating?" Kellen said with a yawn, seeing Monica's eyes burning with fury in her direction. "What? I thought I'd ask?"

"Heh, don't trick me again," Howard said with a laugh, "Monica, should I say yes or no."

"I was thinking and… HELL NO!" Monica slammed her foot down. "Say hell no!"

"Not yet," Howard smiled and stood up, feeling a brush of air touch against his backside. Feeling at the white robe on his body, Howard blushed before realizing Monica could see him mooning her from behind.

"Get! Get dressed now!" Monica pushed him forward! "We-we got work to do!"

###

Outside, A throne made of stone had brazenly placed outside of the stone, metal gate.

Sitting on the cold, steel throne, a man, roughly 1.3 meters tall, crossed his arms and looked down at the small droplet of blood floating in front of him.

"I-I can't eat it yet. It'd be a waste," The small man stuck out his tongue, and gently licked it. "It's-it's tasty, but-I have to leave it for later."

"Hi!" Howard said with a smile, "Kellen told me you wanted to see me."

"Yes, Should I drink it?" A man with black hair sticking above his head, with two wings, turned to look at Howard with a terrifying, blank stare. "If I drink it, then it will be gone. WHAT WILL I DO IF ITS GONE!"

"He's been alone for hundreds of years," Kellen said, "However, he saved your life. Don't mind him, sprout."

"Hundreds of years? How old are you?" Howard scratched his head before sniffing the air. "Is-is that blood? Do you want some?"

"No, thanks, I'm trying to appreciate a single drop." The black haired Barabin laughed and hopped off his chair. "Anyways, Howard, I wanted to ask you if you'd be my student for a little bit. I heard you're all part of an Academy, correct?"

"Of course, but are you strong?"

"He's so strong that even that B ranked bat got ripped into shreds. The only one stronger I know is Teacher Annibell," Kellen patted Howard on the back and pushed him forward. "Anyways, I'll leave you two boys alone."

"Howard," Barabin said, creating a giant sword of stone in his hand that reached dozens of meters in the air. "For your first lesson, Howard, let's test your Ki Suppression."

Ki Supression was the ability of someone to resist higher class beings. For instance, when Reece froze in place, that was because of Ki Suppression. The more someone could resist Ki, the more explosive potential they had in store!

Howard had never had his Ki's potential tested, but because of his ability to dual wield as a conjurer, he could naturally be considered an exceptional student! However, if he wasn't a dual wielder, he would've naturally frozen in place in front of the B rank existence!

"I-I noticed something strange, Howard," Barabin said, "You can connect with Authoritarians, and synch with their energy. I'm not sure why yet, but for this lesson, I'm going to hide my energy okay?"

Barabin held out his hand and gently touched Howard's back before a gigantic force spread through his body, causing Howard instantly to drop to the ground.

"In an hour, if you're still alive, you can consider yourself talented."