The streets were lively with music, dance, fireworks, and performances. Humble citizens stroll through the streets enjoying them and having a blast, while the masses gather at the town square of Regaila and await the Emperor's arrival with duels from rulers across the three nations.
The semester ended with Ajax and his comrades not having enough credit scores to advance to the Central Sacred. They promised to do their best and advance the next semester.
Before their dismissal to their various homes, they had to attend a festival. The three nations celebrated their 500 years of peace.
For each century, it is celebrated in one of the nations, and this celebration falls in the hands of the Sacred Nation. Just as they intended to, they didn't disappoint with the arrangement for the festival. Regalia was lively and colorful.
Ajax and his comrades strolled through the crowds, trying to make their way to the town square. The citizens glanced and pointed at them and murmured as they strolled in their West Sacred attire.
"Where is Ajax?" Skylar asked as her eyes glanced through the crowd. They stopped and started looking for him, screaming his name as they checked vendors.
Unbeknownst to them, Ajax had been shoved out of the crowd into a dark corner.
Ajax clenched his teeth. "Let go of me, you little…" as a mysterious man pressed his neck to a wall.
"He's too strong. I can't breathe," Ajax thought as he tried to reach his pocket. "He's different from the previous one."
"Grow up already. What a pain." The mysterious man grinned and tried to lick Ajax's face with his tongue.
He touched his ears, and his sarcastic expression turned steady. "Okay…Okay." He said.
Ajax was finally able to reach the stone Principal Elion gave him. Before he could break it, the man raised him with his hand.
"I have to leave, kid. This is my parting gift," he smirked and struck Ajax's throat, sending him collapsing against the wall.
Ajax managed to break the stone before the fist cracked his throat. Principal Elion arrived late and missed the mysterious man.
Ajax walked from the collapsed building, holding his throat as he fainted on his steps. Principal Elion rushed over to help him walk.
"What happened?" Principal Elion asked.
Ajax shook his head as he held his throat.
Ajax was taken back to the academy for immediate treatment. His comrades were made aware of the incident, and though it wasn't pleasant news, they were relieved to know where he was.
Ajax's throat suffered a moderate injury, and it was said it would take weeks to heal. This prompted his parents to take him home earlier than planned.
He didn't have time to say his goodbyes to his friends, but the break was a fortnight, and an immediate recovery was needed for his throat.
Ajax received strict instructions from his parents and the Romanov family, and Arrow did a constant check on him, but he still managed to sneak out to visit his usual spot with Emy in hopes she would show up—she never did.
A few days after Ajax's arrival, he turned eleven, but his condition prevented any celebration. His family simply wished him a happy birthday with a piece of cake, expressing their love and admiration.
It was a bit later in the evening; Ajax tried to sleep, but the sharp pain in his throat kept him up. He lay calmly as his mind wandered with his eyes closed. There was a sudden soft knowing; Ajax tilted his head to see who it was, and it was both his parents.
It was unusual to see both his parents in his room like that. They stood there and murmured words between them for a bit, before finally leaving.
These unusual moments came often, Athena and Alex became extremely cheerful and put up a faint smile whenever they were around Ajax.
Ajax wanted to know why, but unfortunately, he couldn't ask as they hardly met his gaze.
"Are they afraid I might die in the hands of those people?" He thought.
The break passed in a blur. The night before heading for the academy, he lay in bed with his throat partially healed. He pondered how he would be communicating before he could speak fluently and the most important thing, his recent encounters. As his mind wandered, he finally slept off.
"Teo, danger is coming. Remember what you've always fought for, FREEDOM. Do not forget about me, Teo." A voice murmured.
Ajax immediately woke up and held his head in agony. This wasn't a dream; it was a message.
"Am I Teo?" He thought. "He looked exactly like me, so why not Ajax?"
"What freedom is he speaking of anyway?"
Ajax sat on his for a moment and leaned over. "Can you all leave me be, please." As tears shed from his eyes.
Unceasing questions and yet no answers; he lay there completely hopeless until sleep swarmed in.
Before long, Ajax returned to Crownshard Academy. His parents came to drop him off and bid him farewell. Skylar and Lisa were already around, and they hurried to Ajax immediately when they heard he'd arrived.
Skylar was worried sick and swarmed Ajax with endless questions, but he barely could speak—he smiled at each question.
Skylar ordered Ajax to stay in bed and ceased him from speaking; he must write anything he had to say—she would be taking care of him till he recovers.
Days passed by, and Storm hadn't arrived. They grew worried, but there was no way to reach out until Principal Elion visited Ajax.
Ajax took the opportunity to ask if he had received any news on Storm and why he hadn't arrived.
"No. He's around. I can't believe he didn't tell you." He said with his mouth stuffed with snacks. "He's a North Sacred now."
"Huh?" Ajax's eyes widened in confusion.
Soon enough, Principal Elion had to leave for his chambers for a serious matter. Not long after his departure, Skylar came in to make sure Ajax had taken his potions.
Ajax made her aware of what Principal Elion told him.
"I'm not surprised. I guess," she said as she lay on Ajax's bed, "I had expected him to join for a while now; he seemed distant sometimes. But I expected him to tell you at least."
Ajax smirked as he stood in front of a mirror tying his braid with his red band.
Ajax had no desire to blame or resent Storm; he hadn't been honest with Storm himself. It's only natural to want to follow in one's parent's footsteps, but he worries that his desire to be like his parents will be his doom.
Storm had wanted to live up to his parents' reputation. Though his parents never pressured him to, he felt the need to act like the son of Savion and Scarlet.
This desire made him seek power, and along the line, he realized he would never be strong if he continued to stay in Ajax's shadow. Ivy promised to make him stronger if he joined her, so after careful consideration, he decided to join North Sacred and get stronger, just like his parents did.
In truth, Skylar and Lisa had sensed his desire for power and anticipated his departure but didn't expect him to leave without informing Ajax.
As Ajax's mind wandered, Storm's room had a tense atmosphere.
"Close your eyes and concentrate," Ivy said as she read a book to Storm.
Storm obeyed.
A blazing flame collapsed on Storm, and he immediately opened his eyes. Panting as sweat ran down his face.
"What was that? I left the flames." His eyes widen as he glances at his hands.
"What did you see?" Ivy asked.
Without a response, Storm began to meditate again.
A blazing flame collapsed once more but didn't burn him. He could feel the flames but did not get burned.
A blazing figure emerged from the flames and approached him. He began trembling in his boat, seconds away from opening his eyes. The flames ceased, and the blazing figure took a human form. His face burned intensely, with an overgrown white beard and a chiseled body.
"Do not be afraid, Storm Galehart," the figure said with a deep yet calm tone, "I am Lord. A member of the Arc of Heaven."
"Lord? Arc of heaven? I thought we summoned a demon?" Storm asked with a confused expression.
In a flash, Lord was in front of Storm. "I will make you stronger. Stronger than Ajax ever could be." He said with a steady voice.
Storm finally became interested in this encounter.
"But you will have to do something for me," he said.
Storm grinned, "Whatever you want."
"I want you to kill Ajax," Lord said firmly.
Storm slowly stepped back, terror gripping him, "What? Kill Ajax?"
"Fair enough, I will give you a day to think this through," Lord said and snapped his fingers.
He was gone; all Storm could see was darkness. He opened his eyes to see Ivy collapsed on the ground, her body soaked in sweat and extremely hot. He tried to get her up but had no luck; he then hurried her to the infirmary.
A mortal can get into a contract with a demon. The demon has two choices: become a slave or possess the mortal. Initially, Ivy had wanted the demon to possess Storm, but he met Lord instead.