Chapter 5: Aftermath

"I had a couple of colleges in mind that I wanted to apply for but oh well. It's kinda too late cuz I had Hoax Academy as my early decision. Angie from College Is Real was not particularly excited that I wasn't going to a UC or CSU. Or that I haven't even applied for one. I hope this doesn't bite me back in the ass. " 

- Dean's Diary

Dear Flare, 

If stars align and you do your job, we can launch a well executed attack on the academy. I, no we expect great things from you. Do not disappoint us, this is your one chance to prove your loyalty and allegiance to us. If you should fail, you must pray you are in the clutches of the academy instead of our hands. I do not have to remind you of what to be for your punishment unto you. Nonetheless good luck to you and should you succeed, you will be greatly rewarded by us. When you have done the work and we prepared our forces, we will give you the time and date. Be on the lookout for signs and messages from us. 

Sincerely, 

Sor

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPERO

November 1st, 2022 - 2:17 p.m. 

'Wake up.'

There was a bright light shining on my face. I shook my left and right. I started blinking my eyes and had my hands hover my eyes to block the light. I inhaled and exhaled slowly, taking a couple of deep breaths. I opened my eyes to see that I'm in a hospital room. I was still wearing my halloween costume from last night. I tried to get up but someone pushed me back down. 

"Take it easy honey, you need your rest." 

I turned to my left to look at her. "Mom? Wh- What are you doing here?" 

My mom had bags under her blue eyes. It looks like she's been here the whole time. Usually she would wear her black bucket hat but she had it on her lap. She was wearing a striped white and blue button up shirt with a light blue cardigan unbuttoned over it. The light coming from the window gives her golden hair a shiny look. 

"You gave us quite the scare last night. Not coming back home. All we got was a call from a hospital, telling us you and Dean were attacked by a random stranger that was looking to kidnap kids. You've been out for the whole night. The doctor told us you just needed some rest." 

"Yeah I feel fine." I said, trying to get up. 

My mom tried to push me back down but I resisted and she stopped pushing. "Spero? Are you sure you're fine?" 

"I really am mom, I promise." 

"Alright." There was an awkward silence. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" 

"I- no mom, I don't want to talk about it right now. I… just don't feel like talking about it right now." 

"Okay sweetie, just know that your father and I are here for you." 

"I know and I'll tell you what happened just not right now. Do you know when I can be discharged?" 

"The doctor should be here soon." Someone knocked on the door. "I think that's him." 

She got up and put her hat on. She then opened the door. "Hey, Mrs. Viceroy. Is Spero awake?" 

"He is. Come inside." She made room for him to walk inside.

"Hey Dean." 

He walked up to me, dapped me up and gave me a hug. "Hey bro, how you feeling?" 

He was wearing a white plain t-shirt with a black hoodie unzipped and a gold chain on his chest. He was wearing baggy jeans with rick owens on. He had a somber look on his face.

"I feel like shi-" My mom glared at me. "I mean I feel fine. Wait, how'd you get discharged earlier than me?" 

He ignored the question and smirked. He turned to look at my mom. "Mrs. Viceroy, can me and Spero talk privately?" 

"I don't think leaving you two alone is a good idea, previous experience says otherwise." She pointed at us.

"Please." We both looked at her. She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. After the intense staring between us, she relented and finally gave up. 

"Fine. 10 minutes." 

"That's all I ask." 

Mom walked towards me. She gave me a hug and kissed my cheek. "I'll be right back." She left the room, giving me and Dean space to talk to each other privately. 

"Last night was real?" I asked. Dean sat down on the chair where my mom sat a while ago. 

"What do you think? You wouldn't be in this hospital bed right now." 

"That's true." I looked down. Thinking about what happened last night. 

"I'm sorry." 

"What?" I looked up, surprised. "What for?" 

"For everything, I didn't think all of this would happen." 

I looked him in the eyes. "Don't be sorry. We're still alive and kicking. No permanent or lasting injuries on us. You didn't know all of this was going to happen." 

"But still I-" 

"Don't stress on it, Dean. Let's not worry about that. Tell me what's going to happen onwards. That I want to know about." 

"Okay." He took a deep breath. "I had a talk with a professor named Mr. Van. He spoke with the directors of the whole school to get us guaranteed spots to attend Hoax University. After we demonstrated massive potential fighting against Sor and how we lived to tell the tale. They want to develop that so they want our early decisions to be the academy. We don't have to worry about paying tuition fees or textbooks as that's already covered." 

"Wait, what's Hoax University?"

"Oh i forgot you weren't awake for that. It's just a paranormal university that heavily focuses on exorcism. There's some fine arts though from what I've heard. Luckily no need to take GE classes." 

"Damn, we got guaranteed spots? Guess we're all set then." 

"That's not all though." He scooted his seat forward and leaned closer to me. "They want us to corroborate the story they made up. They told our parents that we went trick or treating and stumbled into a sketchy house owned by a sketchy person kidnapping and trafficking kids. Another person that was trick or treating called 911 after hearing screams and yelling from us inside the house. The alleged kidnapper fled the crime scene after hearing sirens and is now being hunted down." 

"I guess there's some truth to that. It's not too hard to lie to our parents about what really happened." 

"Yeah but your parents don't really believe them but it is what it is. The university officials don't want us to go searching for ghosts and stuff again. They want us to wait until we go to the academy and learn how to properly exorcize ghost. All we have to do now is graduate highschool, get our diplomas and we're set for the university." 

I groaned. "All that waiting is going to kill me after what just happened last night." 

"I know right. I mean I guess we could pass time with extra curricular stuff and stack out our resumes." 

"Or hear me out, we could train our power." 

"They told us not to, Spero." 

"This is coming from you, the rebel, the one who disobeys what everyone says almost all the time." 

"This time is different, we could've died." He put his head on his hand. 

"But we didn't. We can't just lie here and stagnate. What happens if Sor attacks again? What then, Dean? Plus, we got our bonds to train us to control our power.." 

 "I still think we shouldn't." He shook his head. 

"What happens if we can't control our powers properly? What if we were in a fight and we shoved someone through a wall by accident or if you lit someone on fire for being angry. They're not going to teach us until we graduate and that's a long time in the scheme of things right now." 

"I didn't think you'd be excited about all of this stuff concerning what happened in your past." He looked up and looked at me. 

"I think it's time to move on from that. I-" 

"Are you sure you're not rushing these things? It's okay to think it over. To think rationally. This is a big decision, Spero." He wiped his face with his hand. "Why are we arguing about this anyway? Why do you want to get stronger so bad?" 

"I don't need to think this over, Dean. And why am I fighting about this? I finally found a reason to live. To fight back. To get my revenge and prevent what happened to me to others. I want to destroy them all." I looked him dead in the eye.

He turned away and looked straight at the window. He was thinking for a while, taking in what I just said. He smirked and then exhaled. 

"I do wanna be like every anime protagonist. I guess this is our training arc from here on." He got up and gave me a hug. He let go but still had his hands on my arms."But for real, Spero, I'm just glad we made it out alive." 

"Yeah, same here bro." Before he could walk away I pulled him in and bear hugged him. He returned the favor. 

We let go. He walked away from me and towards the door to leave. He looked back at me before leaving. "I'll see you at school whenever we're allowed to go back in." 

"You ignored my question earlier but you never told me how you got out earlier than me in the hospital." 

"I just woke up faster unlike someone else." We both laughed. He walked out. 

Thanks for being silent this whole time. I can feel the link between us. 

'You're welcome. Don't worry it is of no cost. Are you sure you want to be trained by me? It will be rigorous.' 

My whole life, I have never felt a spark in me. Even if I had a talent for something, I just never found a reason to live my life until now. I want to be stronger. I want to see how far I can go to become strong. 

'When you're fully recovered, we can start.' 

Bet.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEAN

"So what did you and my son talk about?" Mrs. Viceroy waited for me at the side of the door and glared at me with her arms crossed. 

"That's between us. Mrs. Viceroy." 

"Can you at least tell me what really happened? All we got was vague answers from shady law enforcements. And you know how Spero is, he's not as open with us as with you. Something, anything to put my mind at ease for what you both went through." 

"Just go in there and talk to Spero." He pointed at the door. "This event probably changed him for the better but It's not for me to say what his experience is like but I'm sure he'll tell you. And if he doesn't just be patient until he opens up. And I don't think you want to hear my side of the story more than his to be honest." 

"I know. I know. Just the wait of Spero telling the truth is killing me." She scratched her face and then balled her hands. She took a deep breath."Thank you for being here and being best friends with my son." 

"It's nothing, Mrs. Viceroy. He's the best friend anyone can have." 

"Thank you, Dean." She walked back inside the room

"Make sure you're resting too, Mrs. Viceroy." 

"Just worry about yourself, Dean." She closed the door. 

I took a deep breath and started walking down the hallway. What is there to do now? I can always learn a new instrument or practice one. 

'What about the key you've got?' 

I completely forgot about that. I can't go inside a dungeon right now. I don't even know where it leads to. I took the key out and identified it. 

Dungeon key of fate: (Your fate is a long road, take the first step forward to begin.)

Instruction: (Stand infront of a subway station to enter.)

Weird that I have to stand in front of a subway to enter. What if I'm missing for a whole week and especially this debacle. My parents are going to know something's up. I don't even know if time works differently there. 

'That is true. Do you know any available time you can enter without anyone noticing?'

Let me think for a second. I got to the elevator and walked inside. I clicked the button to take me down to the first floor of the hospital. Thanksgiving and Winter break. Those are the times where I can delve into the dungeon and grind for levels. 

'How long can we be inside the dungeon before your break is over?' 

A week for thanksgiving break and two weeks for winter break but I have to at least celebrate Christmas and probably New Years with my family. The elevator doors opened and I got out of the elevator. I started walking past people to leave the hospital and get outside to my car. 

'Are there more breaks that you have to spend inside the dungeon? '

I do but if I spend every break inside the dungeon and not with family, they'll be onto me and probably forbid me from going outside. 

'That is a problem. Can you skip school for a couple of days?'

I can't, I have band and orchestra rehearsals. Even then, skipping school is already suspicious out of itself. I'm always at school. People would want to know where I was and my parents would yell at me for missing school. People were looking at me and I realized why as I kept making angry faces. I quickly got out of the hospital and into the parking lot. I have a lot of time to train and practice so don't worry if you think I'm slacking. 

'We haven't thought of that. We are just trying to help you plan better for training.' 

Yeah I know. I couldn't have asked earlier but what does it mean to be Godkissed? You guys mentioned it last night right after I accepted your power. 

It means to be blessed by God themself. People who are blessed are called users who unlock something called the system which is an omniscient being. The system allows the blessed to gain strength through trials and tribulations like we talked about just now, dungeons. They gain levels and can be acquired through different means of activities depending on the user's class. 

'So, it's basically like an RPG game?'

What is an RPG game? 

Nevermind, I think I got the gist of it. I got to my car and opened the door. I got inside and sat down. 

'What sort of transportation is this?' 

It's a car. I put the keys in and turn on the engine.

'And?'

I drive. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean Inoue:

Age: 17

Race: Human

Level: 1

STRENGTH: 25

ENDURANCE: 15

Vitality: 25

AGILITY: 15

DEXTERITY: 10

PERCEPTION: 10

MIND: 10

INTELLIGENCE: 25

Abilities: Dominion(Locked), Suited up, My sword is my wand, Primary elemental blade, Chained Bonds, Last stand

Key items: Dungeon Key of Fate

EGORS: 

AGE: TBD

RACE: SPIRIT

LEVEL 1: 

STRENGTH: Tied to user

ENDURANCE: Tied to user

AGILITY: Tied to user

DEXTERITY: Tied to user

Vitality: Tied to user

PERCEPTION: 30

MIND: 15

INTELLIGENCE: 25