Rise looked on as the pint – sized teen closed the door before departing – his footsteps growing lighter and with every passing instance.

…

That is, until those same footsteps grew loud and hurried - quickly returning to their shared room, closing the door, and heading straight for their only window. Noel opened it up, asked Rise to close it and finally leaped out of the building from their second floor.

Rise scoffed and ignored the window at first, but soon realized that pulling such an action only served to make him feel cold. He stood up, comforted himself with the knowledge that if he wanted to mute or shut off the tv, he needed to walk over to the remote on a stand beneath it anyways, and unhurriedly closed the window. just as he finished walking on over to the remote and pointing it at the overhead and hanging tv at a corner of their patient’s room, there was an announcement that the second batch of Kings would be competing at around 6 - 7 pm, depending on how long it was going to take these three Kings to finish up their side – by – side gauntlet rounds. The way this new announcer spoke, was as if there was absolutely no disputing the fact they would all win the same as Harvey and Momo did before them. The bias was clear to anyone present, but it also spoke out most of their already formed assumptions and insinuations. The Kings wouldn’t lose. They were strong enough to out – match 30 fellow students who weren’t that much weaker than themselves. The next thing for everyone to look forward to was obviously the 1 vs 1 King matches, especially since some clever students among the onlookers picked up on the shots being fired by Harvey and Momo. A war was about to be waged by the King of Strength and the King of Speed!

Rise didn’t care about any of this though, so he shut the tv off, planning to take a little nap; yet something continued gnawing at his mind countless times, again and again.

Rise: “That list he made just now… everyone of those names he’d written were those that paid us a visit and got under his skin somehow… except for that one name…

Nathan Ericson… the Ericsons… Huh… It seems I have no choice. I need a lot more information about him. He’s an unstable factor that can’t be overlooked.

Haah, I have to be more vigilant with this soft - bellied ‘school’ life.

.

.

.

Mother… where are you right now? Where did you go?”

…

{Hmm. It seems like… I may have screwed my identity somehow.}

Noel smoothly and elegantly landed on the ground. He had looked below and scanned it meticulously, offering security for his questioning subconscious mind prior to his jump.

However moments after landing and before he could stand, Noel noticed a shadow overtaking his body, stretching forward and overlapping with his own. He didn’t dare turn around for a while and simply froze there, absorbed into his own thoughts.

Someone was here!

Moreover, this person had been laying in wait, to ambush him! Who was it – was is another murderer? Was it a real stalker this time? Or an over-possessive faculty member? Ahhh, what woulds be the right course of action to take right now?

,,,

{No. Calm down! There’s… phew. There’s no use dragging things out and getting worked up over things out of my control. I can only… adjust my mind back to it’s peak condition and move on with my plans. I’m a student too, she can’t keep me in one place! I think...}

Behind the small youth stood a six foot two high woman. Her fair hands showed signs of newly developing callouses, yet to anyone who knew her, this was a tell that she was getting ready for ‘extreme training’ once again. After she finished her uniquely extreme training regimen, her body would be full of unsightly marks, blisters, callouses and the like. She would immediately undergo treatment for her skin by a professional ‘Hero Healer’ in Herotopia’s capital: Revenice, and come out completely presentable once more, masking her body’s newfound strength with an indescribably beauteous demeanor.

Those fair and semi – calloused hands rested on her hips, granting her monstrous aura an overpowering and authoritative flair. Her outfit was a custom designed sweater jeans combo, with a strange design of golden armor decorating its surface. There was a light security vest that she wore over it, which held a unique badge firmly attached. Her long wavy hair flowed, vivacious and undisturbed. And her most attractive, yet, consequently recognizable traits, happened to be her unnaturally golden – blonde hair coloring and deep, tropical ocean blue eyes resembling sapphires, which give an overall brighter ‘glow’ to her appearance.

Noel: “…Uhm, heheh… can I help you, ma’am?”

Blair: “(Sure enough, that fellow Abrams knew his brand new student well. Even though they only interacted for a single day, he accurately pointed out this kid’s ploy. The moment his teacher turns his back, the punk jumps out the window! This sort of… mischievousness… it’s nauseatingly similar… I guess this much is to be expected from a little Malierano.)

Where do you think you’re going, kid? To jump out the window like that… was someone chasing you? Are you in that much of a hurry to die? It’s a relief that you’re alright. But I’ll have to make a note of the reason behind your actions. Behaving like that… it’s improper conduct.”

Noel: “...The hallway is too confusing and I was worried I would wind up getting lost. This is only my second visit, after all.”

Blair: “… Well then. If you enter the lobby from here, you’ll find an attendant fully capable of directing you to a map. Memorize the way back to your seat, room or wherever you originated from, please.”

Noel: “Mmm. No thanks. Now please excuse me--”

Blair: “I wasn’t asking. Return to your bedroom, Malierano.”

‘Malierano’, saying such a word finally caused his head, which was shifting to the left and right for the next best destination to alleviate his boredom, to lead his body in a direct 180. ‘Golden blonde hair’ and ‘ocean blue eyes’; the sapphire variant. Then there was that ‘casual attire’ with their family armor imprinted on it – sure enough, she’s an Ericson.

Noel: “No! It’s boring in there! I’m going to go outside for a little while – just a little while! I’ll surely be back before sundo-”

Blair: “(Maybe I can bluff him back inside…? I did promise but… he’s a Malierano. They’re not a trustworthy bunch.)

Return to your hospital patient’s bedroom, Malierano. Last chance.”

{…This old lady… that way she talks to me – so condescending…! Who does she think she is?!}

His eyes closed for a moment, before he took a step forward with his his left foot. Simultaneously, his eyes opened with a resolute air.

Noel: “…And what if I refuse? Hehe, are the Ericsons so simple-minded that they’d ‘punish’ a twelve year old child for some measly grudge formed by you adults? How sad…”

Aeron: “Pfff! Ahahaha~”

Blair: “…You know what? Fine.

(No choice, then. If I had to guess, based on Aeron’s strange confidence, the boy must be a speed focused build. I’m assuming about Nathan’s speed, no-- slightly higher even. After all, he’s got a power build, not a speed based one.)

I’ll give you a single chance to get past me. If you manage to *turns around* touch that tree before I can grab you, then I’ll let you go free. If I catch you though… hm~ then you must spend the next hour as my little deputy as punishment. And immediately after, head back to your shared patient’s room, without a single word of refusal. Understood? Malierano bra--t?”

Moments after she turned and pointed to the aforementioned tree, Noel already acted. He swiftly sped past her by circling around her left with speed a lot higher than Nathan’s, and after she finally returned her mocking gaze to his former position…

Blair began to hear his youthful voice startlingly originating behind her assumed post.

...In the same direction she just stared at!

Her only thoughts right now as her blue eyes widened from the shock of her own blunder…

‘I’ve been had! His speed is nothing like Nathan’s!’

Noel: “Okay I won. Don’t say that I cheated or that this wasn’t fair since you were still talking. You didn’t say there was a time limit or a starting call. And besides, with your age and the Ericson training regimen, there’s no way you won’t be faster than me, normally. Meaning this bet of yours was rigged from the start! So…

.

.

…See you later!”

*Whoosh!*

Blair: “…”

Aeron: “Mmmhmhmm~ Mmmmhmmhmmhmm~ … Mphhh—-ahahahahaha! Oh little Ty! I knew he wouldn’t let me down! I truly taught him well, when it comes to ‘bets’ and ‘deals’! If you’re feeling disadvantaged, then aim for a loophole!!”

Blair: “Aeron Malierano… Borg Ericson too, for running away! The both of you… JUST WAIT UNTIL MY SHIFT ENDS!”

Aeron: “Ahahaha--…”

…

And elsewhere… a bit further away from Noel’s escaping direction…

A strange black cloaked man is busying himself with a mysterious book that, for some reason; refuses to be touched. Every time his hand draws near, mysterious elements threaten to plague him.

But even so, the ominously stubborn glint in his eye refuses to waver or relent.

The distance between he an Noel – rapidly shrinks with each step the twelve year old takes.

---