The Living Flames

Maybe challenging one of the best Void Slayers was really a bad idea.

He was walking to the training room where he was assigned to learn about the history of the war but the people who's within those class suddenly had the balls to whisper around my name.

"That punk kid just fucking laid his hand on the queen!"

"Yeah they should just beat his ass!"

"Hey guys isn't that the guy who confronted Catherine?"

"Let's beat his ass."

Everyone began to talk about him, continuing their whispers about him which made Araza so annoyed but of course he knew if he does shout at them...

He would pay the price of getting demoted by ranks and people won't like him anymore if he continues.

"Hey new kid." someone called him from behind.

His eyes followed where the voice can be heard, he saw a man in a blue vest with two guys at the back.

"I heard you challenged Catherine in a sword fight." he glared at him with his hands balled into a fist.

He looked at everyone who were frightened from the mention of her name.

'So she is scary... Maybe it was really a bad idea." he mentally said to himself still looking at the guy who asked him.

"So did you really challenger her or not?!" he shouted in an angry tone.

The atmosphere of the room was really intense, people staring at both of them and was waiting for a fight to happen.

"You know, if you introduce yourself first then you wouldn't be considered rude." he said to the guy who was now flinching.

He then smirked at Araza and pointed himself using his thumb being proud of himself.

"My name is Vector Moria II. How about you, Peasant?" he said and continued to look at everyone who was cheering and gasping in surprise.

"Oh my God! Isn't he like the prince of Sumalfia and her boyfriend?!"

"Who's boyfriend?"

"Her. Catherine! She does have a boyfriend!"

Everyone was shocked by that statement and began to talk to their friends.

"Yeah beat his ass, VECTOR!"

As Araza just looked at him not really surprised that he is a part of the Royal family.

"Are you really her boyfriend?" he asked him.

He just looks at him with a smirk plastered in his face and waved his hair back trying to look cool and handsome.

"To be honest with you, kid... He's not really that powerful. I don't feel any threat to this guy." the creature tells him.

"In fact, I a-" before he can finish his statement the door opened to see someone familiar enter the room.

"That's enough, Kaine." a familiar voice said behind him.

He looked at the person who's behind him and was shocked when he saw him.

"Oh Commander "V". What are you doing here?" he shouted in surprise and bows with respect.

He just looks at the prince with a smile.

"Oh actually I came here for you actually." he said to the prince with a smile plastered on his face.

He just walks out with him signaling the prince to come with him.

"We need to talk, Prince Vector." he said with a serious tone as he just follows V onto the hallways.

"Araza, Do you feel the intense power? That man clearly is going to be a threat to my kind." Vaduu said in fear and anger as he just looks at both of them as they leave the room.

********

"I suggest not provoking the new rookies and just let go of the issue." he told the prince with an intense glare.

He looked at V like 'ARE YOU MAD?!' kind of look since he threatened his woman.

his woman...

"V, you know why I'm doing this... He threatened my woman!" he shouted while glaring at the Elite.

He had one eyebrow up and was confused at what he said.

"Your woman? She broke up with you three years ago and now you're trying to spread some rumor about her and you being together still? Are you that obsessed with Cat?" he was annoyed at the prince.

V was now glaring at the man trying to see if he'll attack him or not since emotions tend to overpower logic.

"NO SHE'S MINE AND MINE ALONE! Do you hear me, V!" he shouted still glaring at him.

He just stood there waiting for him to calm down.

Vector was pissed off at the moment, he can't believe this man was defending a rookie and actually this is the first time he has done this.

"Why are you stopping me from pummeling this kid? Is it because he's RELATED to you?!" he asked him angrily but V then shook his head immediately.

"No but I know his... mother figure right now." he said.

He finally admits the truth but the prince didn't really take it lightly since when did he care about other families.

He ignores the warnings of the Elite Slayer and just walked out of the room.

V was just staring at the door and slowly looked behind seemingly was watching him but then ignored the feeling and walked out of the door following the prince.

Araza overheard the conversation and was asking himself... How did he know Lillian?

"So why were you listening to their conversation again?" asked Vaduu.

He ignored the creature and just ran to the gate where no one will spot him.

But lurking from the shadows was a woman with red hair.

"What is that Rookie doing here?" she asked herself and walked to where he was going.

She hid on plain sight and quietly followed the man as if something was up.

"Catherine what are you doi-" the woman suddenly was pulled by Catherine and signaled her to be quiet.

She nods to her and looked at where she was looking and saw a boy just seating there reading a book.

"Ah so the "GREAT" Flame Princess is stalking a teenage boy because she's in love!" she whispered and giggled at the thought.

Catherine was getting defensive as she shook her hands and began to blush from the idea.

"NO WAY! I WOULD NEVER DATE A MAN YOUNGER THAN ME! THAT'S SO WRONG!" her face was all red because of the thought of her dating a ROOKIE!

That's just so wrong.

She looked at where the boy was and all of a sudden...

He's gone.

"That brat actually managed to get away!" she said to herself mentally.

******

Araza was now waiting for the opening ceremony to start, many people were chatting while some are using their phones and plugged in their earphones because the room got too noisy at the moment.

He was used to quiet places since he grew up getting home schooled by Lilian's parents due to the trauma he had.

"Welcome everyone to the VSC where everyone needs to got guts to join this organization." the speaker said with a serious tone and everybody stopped talking and listened to the speaker.

"We all know that these creatures called the Voidlings are attacking some of our cities but it's not only in our country...

Even the Western side of the world is getting attacked by these monsters!" he showed us a holographic video of the attacks and everyone was getting bad reactions, some are angry and most are getting sick of it.

Araza didn't even flinch but he was getting disgusted on the video because the video shows Voidlings eating the adults while the children are being kidnapped.

"We don't know what happened to the children but there were some rumors from the scientist that they are the reserved meal for later due to their meat not yet fully developed." the speaker said in disgust and the response was getting louder.

Everyone now talking about what the speaker said while I stood up and exit the room because it's pointless to listen to these lies about the creatures.

They should at least give true details on what happen to the children when they get kidnapped.

"Hey rookie!" his eyes widenned and then everyone became silent for some reason.

"Yes, you! Where do you think you're going, Rookie?!" shouted the woman in the mic while everyone now their eyes fixated to him.

He looked behind him to see the Flame Princess walking towards him actually more like charging towards him with her signature weapon "Spathí Flógas" one of the most powerful blades a knight can wield but she is an exception.

She jumped into mid-air and prepared to strike with her blade but Araza knew how to fight due to his step-families heritage. He jumps out to the side and then charged in with his fist balled up ready to punch the woman.

He was about to punch her until she moved fast enough to make a counter blow to his guts. She dodges his attack then kicked his face making him fly to the wall face first.

"See a rookie just needs to be taught a lesson, that's all." she smirked at herself claiming victory against her enemy.

"Why are you holding back, Araza?" Vaduu asked and was confused about the whole situation but it found no answer.

Araza just smirked and smiled enjoying the moment.

Everyone cheered for the Princess which made her smile and wave to everyone she was trying make herself look good until they heard something fall to the floor,

A large thump creating a powerful impact in the floor.

His body was now laying down in the floor and his face is bleeding alot "Oh geez MEDIC!" she called out to help the now damaged Araza.

*******

*Flashback

Everything is red blood, all the children being tortured by injecting something that's a fluid which makes your body ache. It will hurt the body non-stop. This is the kind of training these Void-Warriors are getting when they're finally injected with it.

"Mama, Papa please.. help... Me.." the little boy crying for help while the other kids were chained and tortured in a different room. As Araza looked at the door it opened to see the creature walking towards him. He looked at it and tried to look away but the creature's hand suddenly held his jaw and made him look straight to its eyes.

"Please don't hurt me." he begged as the creature lets go of his jaw and began to walk away a little still eyeing him out until he was about to get punched in the gu-

"Araza. Araza!" a voice called out his name, slowly he opened his eyes and looked at Lilian with a confused look.

What happened? Why was he back at his room? And what happened to his first day as a VSA rookie? So many questions left unanswered then he remembered that he was punched by one of the Elites and he didn't fought back because that is not the way of the Matsuva blood.

"Well it looks like I missed the first day of being a rookie huh?" he asked himself before laughing like it was no big deal but Lilian was looking at him concerned and confused as on why he's not scared to lose the application he worked hard for?

Maybe he just wants to make himself better since he was embarrassed by one of those Void-Slayer Elites...

"I'm fine now, Lily. I'll be fine on my own for now" He smiled and looked at her proving it while on the insides he was already screaming in fear that he will lose all of his hard work.

As he sat up and looked right at his hands, they were shaking as felt his eyes water a little.

He was scared to lose this job because he knew, he hasn't helped her too much ever since he was taken in by her family but now he wants to pay them back and thank them for everything they've done.

Tears rolled down his cheeks and his eyes widened at a thought of being a nuisance to the family like he was just a free loader but Lilian then held his shoulder and squeezed it softly.

She looked at him and sighs.

"Why are you crying, Araza. Please don't think about not helping too much because we know that you're trying your best to do so." she said worried and she does understand why he felt that way.

Ever since he was determined to repay his debt to us but we're always reminding him that he is family no debt is not needed.

Yet he still wants to do it and that's why they love him because he has determination.

She hugs him while he is still crying...

Then someone knocked at the door, Lilian looked at the door and wondered "Someone is still awake at this hour huh?" she stood up and walked to the door.

She opened the door to see someone in a white lab gown and a weird looking bag held by a man with white hair and is wearing glasses.

"Elite rank "V", What are you doing here?" she asked in a serious tone while V just still had a straight face and said.

"Hello Elite Rank... Arachnid, we need to talk."