1 1. In Plain Sight

"You gonna do something Gratos?" "You know I'm not Bruce." Bruce grinned as he approached me. "You're gonna stand there and let me practice my skills.... Don't worry I'll leave the face be after all the teacher's will know who did it if your face is battered." Bruce raised his open palm and I grimaced feeling the years of bullying, of pain rack through my body at that simple gesture. Bruce wasn't even the strongest hunter in the school, that honor was held by Arthur, but he was stronger than me. Everyone is stronger than me, I have no magical power. "I guess I'm ready Bruce, lets just get this over with." In a second I felt my body enveloped in a crackling energy before pain radiated through out each muscle in my body. After about a minute of mind numbing pain I fell to my knees while Bruce chuckled before me. "Told you once and I'll tell you again, You're a punching bag for us Hunters and always will be Steven." I tried to speak but my jaw was locked up. Darkness clouded the edge of my vision as all my muscles started to loosen up. I saw Bruce leaving laughing with some of his buddies. As they walked away I felt a soft hand lifting me up. "You okay Steven?" Arthur the ever present King of our school lifted me up. "I will be, today is the last day I have to see, him tomorrow we all go to military training and from what I heard he's moving far away so we'll be in different places." Arthur stared at me as he walked me to the infirmary. I'd been staying with Arthur's family since my parents had died in the war against the Alka. His parents and mine where in the same unit and became really close after they died Arthur's parents protected me. When they found out I had no magic capacity they cried as if I was their own. After that however I was left to my own vices as they saw little to no future for me. "Are you sure you're alright? I should've stepped in sooner." "No no then you would be in danger too, Arthur this is something I'll deal with with for the rest of my existence." "You shouldn't have too though." "Hey come on Arthur, Brothers for life?" Arthur sighed as we reached the infirmary and stated " Brothers for life, I'll see you at home once you get mended up. My parents want to see you about something so try and get home as soon as possible." "Right of course oh brother of mine." "Steven I mean it they said its about what your parents left for you after their death." "M-my parents? I'll be home as soon as I'm cleared to leave." "See you at home." "See you." With that Arthur left and the nurse started to tend to my wounds. "Well Steven you aren't anymore injured then normal lets get you cleaned up and out of here" She dressed my wounds and gave the 'okay' to leave so I picked up my stuff and started to leave. "Steven before you go remember that in Military training they'll push you hard even without magic." " I know thanks Miss Kingston." I left headed directly for home.

As I walked through the door I could feel the intensity and the heaviness looming from Mr. and Mrs. Alexander "Steven, we heard from Arthur that you were bullied today is that true?" Mrs. Alexander asked. "Relax dear, he's fine else he wouldn't have walked through those doors." "Right, you're right." I walked forward and sat down in the chair by the couch. "I heard from Arthur that you wanted to see me?" "Yes we did, before they died your parents left us something they told us that when you were old enough we should give it too you." "I see, I appreciate you all for holding onto it for me." As Mrs. Alexander approached me I saw a small box with engravings on the side. "What is it?" "We aren't sure we've never been able to open the box." "Well thank you. I-I'm gonna go up to my room and see if I can open it." As I stood I felt their eyes on my back. I reached my door and entered closing the door behind me and sat at my desk. I set the box and looked at the engravings. "This looks like it's from the the Elvish language but they don't look familiar to me. As I inspected the box I ran my finger over the engravings cutting my finger in one of the sharp grooves. "Ouch.. why was that so sharp." I sucked my finger and looked at the damage. "Not too bad in fact nothing more that a paper cut." I shook my finger out and continued inspecting the box before running my finger over the engravings once again. This time however the letters started glowing a dark dull purple color. "What the fu-" The box shone a bit brighter as I pulled my finger off of the engravings. Then the box started molding to my arm encasing it in the same strange material the box was made of. Then the strange material snaked around my arm creating a spiral design. It proceeded to absorb into my skin leaving the spiral design as a tattoo. The pain was intense and as I was passing out words appeared before my eyes.

[ Host Identity Confirmed]

[Assassin's System installing]