Chapter twenty four- back

1 week before the competition

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I found myself standing in the arena. the moon shining brightly and the clouds heavy in the sky. Just another night.

I had class tomorrow and for sure was going to be late for it.

I couldn't fall back asleep. looking up at the tall bleachers, I could see Mezy and Chihiro sitting in them. The shining light from Mezy's phone was heavy and the cold wind lightly brushed across my neck as I stare for a brief second.

I then slide my hands into my pocket just thinking of what it was like not too long ago before the attack. Seeing Kyutie's smile was my goal and I had done it before we were attacked. but she got hurt trying to save Markus.

Mezy and Chihiro stand yet I had no idea what they were doing.

They walk into the exit tunnel leaving me in the darkness.

"Well... you're up late." I hear.

I swallow and turn just a little to see King standing there. His wings covering his arms as his hair flows within the wind ever so beautifully. I go back to looking at the moon.

"Yeah... just had to come and get some fresh air. Somethings are just hard to forget," I smile. King stands next to me.

He too was looking at the moon.

"I know. I heard what had happened to Kyutie. Sorry I wasn't there to help. Many things go on in this academy you don't know about," he replies.

"I wonder if she's going to be okay," I say.

"She is."

"How do you know?"

"She's strong, Mann. She can make it,."

"And what if she doesn't?" I proclaim.

The tension in my voice raised as I turn my head looking at him. My eyes wide yet I could feel tears getting ready to form.

King looks me up and down before nudging me with his fingers in my stomach with a concerned look on his face.

"Calm down there, buddy. No reason to get mad," King says.

"She could've died for no reason. THIS... THIS academy. I felt out because of my power and could barely make any friends. And the friends I do make get wiped out by some damn robot we have no idea came from. My own family kicking me out of our home because they found out about my ability. That shows how much I can open up to people. Kyutie shouldn't be the one in that room, I should be! And if she is dead, Imma kill every fucking person who was in on that damn attack!" I growl at King.

I turn my back, ready to walk back to the dorm. but that's when I heard my name.

"Mann?"

I turn around in the nick of time, catching a scale from King's wing that came flying at me at the speed of sound.

The impact of the scale entering my hand sent me sliding back a few feet.

"Is that a challenge, King?" I throw the scale to the ground as his wings spread wildly. Larger than I had ever expected them to me. His horns creating a shadow that would be terrifying to most people if they seen him for the first time.

King comes walking forward with his chest popped out as we gradually began walking in a large circle with our eyes on each other.

"A little practice won't hurt anyone," King replied.

Before he could even get another sentence from his mouth, I launched myself at him. Throwing a punch yet he blocked my arm before punching me in the side.

I could feel the impact of his fist which was rare. The impact sent me flying back.

I look up with my arms out and fist made just as he came flying at me with one leg out. I dodged the kick before he went flapping his wings creating wind that was so harsh I had to use my forearms to cover my face.

I felt his leg kick my side in which it sent me flying to the right.

I roll on the ground before he pressed his foot on my chest.

I tried to grab his foot and move it, but I felt weak. He leans down on me and smiles in my face.

"You've grown weak. Worrying about Kyutie isn't going to help you win the challenge." King takes his foot off my chest before he looks down on me in pity.

"Is everything alright over there?" We heard.

I sit up just a little and look past King while King turned a little to look at who was talking to us. It was Markus.

"Yeah... Just a little friendly talk," King says. He looked back to me as I look back at King. "Tomorrow after the first period, you meet me here. And we practice until we can't anymore. Do you understand?" King demands.

I just look at him breathing hard. I was angry I'd lost so easily yet I wasn't mad because it brought the truth to the surface.

I would've been embarrassed if I'd lost against Jason.

Markus got to us before he held out his hand to help me up. I grab Markus's hand as King nodded to the both of us before taking off into the air to fly away back to his domain.

"What was that about?" Markus asked. He kept looking up to see King but King had already flown out of sight at this point.

"Just a little friendly practice me and him had going on," I answer.

I brush myself off before Markus and I began walking towards the exit. "He seemed to kick your ass," Markus says.

"Yeah. Shut the fuck up."

Markus laughed and I shake my head as I nearly just stagger to the exit from getting my ass kicked by King not too long ago. I didn't even know he could fight like that. It was surprising to me to be honest.