Principal Valeria sat on her desk, her hands clutched at her face, her eyes sealed shut as she tried to digest what she was hearing. The Catalyst, they called it. She took a deep breath, her eyes peeling open slightly just in time to stare at Ares, who wasn't very comfortable with sitting down on the chair. Rather, he leaned against the wall, his arm crossed.
"You still couldn't find the source of the Catalyst?" Valerie asked.
Ares just scratched the back of his neck, clearly showing no interest in whatever they were talking about. But it wasn't something that'd affect Valerie in any way, seeing that Ares was just a man bored with his own life. "I have managed to find something....though it's gonna end up demanding a lot of work."
"You mean, soldiers?"
"Maybe."
She sighed. "Couldn't it get any worse? First, we have demons to fight. Now, we're fighting something within our Academy?"
"Life's unfair if you ask me." Ares said. "But not to worry, there are also methods that can used to understand the nature of this Catalyst."
"Methods? What's there to understand about that vulgar drug?"
"Well..... everything I guess."
"Can't the Church spare a few Paladins?" said after a moment of silence. "We might be in serious need of their assistance."
Ares was quick to roll his eyes. "Oh, right? The Church...and it's set of angels. Fuck it. Can't we just do this on our own? It's always the church this, the church that. It's annoying."
Valerie's eyes met Ares, her eyes piercing. "We can't afford to wait any longer. We need to take action, and we need to do it now before this entire thing escalates into something else."
Ares raised an eyebrow, his expression judgmental. "What did you have in mind?"
Valerie's voice took on a sense of urgency. "We need to start recruiting students into our guilds. Each guild will be given specific tasks to participate in, and it'll be a great opportunity for them to grow and develop their skills."
Ares chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That sounds great, but it's a lot of work. I don't exactly enjoy dealing with a bunch of teenagers struggling with adolescence."
Valerie's expression turned stern. "This is not up for discussion, Ares. It's a command."
Ares shrugged, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Sure, but any recommendations you've got for me?"
Valerie's smile was strange as she pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled a few names on it. "You see these three students? I want you to take them into your guild."
Ares took the piece of paper, his eyes absorbing the names before his attention snapped back up to Vanessa. "Really now?"
Valerie's smile grew, "Yes."
*
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Quinn." Lilith fondled with her hair, a finger curling thick strands of brown as she stared back at Quinn. Clearly bothered, Hanzo was quick to clear his throat, attracting her attention. She immediately said, "And I'm not so surprised to see the mermaid boy."
Hanzo looked away, pouting his lips and tucking his hands into his pockets. "Don't call me that."
"Why?" Lilith asked. "Does it strike a nerve?"
"Not really." Hanzo's lips stretched into a one sided smile. "It's just that, everytime you say it.... You make me realize how great of a summoner I truly am to be noticed by cabbage."
Quinn stared at them, disbelief washing over his face. This was the perfect opportunity for him to try out one of his spells, Telepathy, now that it had evolved. It didn't take long for their voices to pour into his mind, their thoughts exposed like the stars on a dark sky.
'Look at you, thinking you're better than me when we both know you're nothing but a bastard...son of a bloody whore,' this was Lilith.
Quinn took a step back, staring back up at Hanzo who was holding up a grin as if he wasn't bothered by Lilith. But his thoughts said otherwise, 'Why do you always have to make this hard for all us? I just can't stand you....'
"Uhm, guys...." Quinn snapped. "Would you mind going out for a drink or something later?"
'Hanging out with this dimwit?' it was Lilith. She wore a smile, her eyes sparkling. "Now that you've asked, yes. I'd love to go out with the two of you."
'Going out with Lilith? That's insane....i wonder how she eats...' Hanzo's grin faded, his eyes darting downwards as he raised a hand to the side of his head, his fingers rubbing against his temple. "I...I don't think..." he trailed off, clearing his throat before trying again. "I don't think that's a good idea."
'Look at you, cowering up like a little mermaid you're...' Lilith's smile never changed, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, come on, Hanzo. It'll be fun."
Quinn's eyes narrowed, sensing a underlying tension between Hanzo and Lilith. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice low.
'What's going on is that I have no idea how I feel when I'm around her,' Hanzo's eyes flashed up, his gaze meeting Quinn's for a brief moment before looking away. "Nothing," he muttered, his voice tight.
'Pathetic,' Lilith's laughter was like a bell, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, Hanzo's just being his usual self. Don't mind him."
'Why do these guys have to be so weird?' Quinn thought, his eyes lingered on Hanzo, sensing that there was more to the situation than met the eye. But before he could press further, Lilith's voice cut through the air.
"Shall we head out, then? I'm buying."
Hanzo's eyes snapped up, his gaze meeting Lilith's with a mixture of wariness and unease. "I said I'm not going," he repeated, his voice firm. "I'd rather eat with all these lovely ladies..."
"But you won't." Lilith pressed.
"Who are you to dictate what I can, and can't do? You're not my mother and you'll be anyone in my bloody life..." Hanzo spat.
Lilith cocked a brow. "Oh, and you think you bickering is supposed to make me feel like blood is on fire? You suck...suck more than anyone at this academy. You and your stupid mermaid!"
"These guys..." Quinn muttered, still trying to understand what was going on.
The doors to the Great Hall swing open, and an odd presence suddenly filled the air. It was heavy, thick, and it seemed to weigh down on everyone in the Hall. Quinn felt his limbs tremble, his eyes quickly gliding to the entrance.
Ares walked in, his white breastplate gleaming in the light. His sword hung at his side, and his dark hair was perfectly styled. He looked composed, confident, and utterly out of place.
Quinn's eyes were drawn to Ares, but as he stared, he felt a creeping sensation. It was as if he was seeing something, a presence so dark and unwelcoming that it made his blood run cold.
He tried to look away, but his gaze was glued on something behind Ares. Something that loomed, a shadowy presence that seemed to grow larger and larger with every step he took.
'What is that?' Quinn thought.
The figure turned its head, its facial expression twisting into a frightening grin. Its lips stretched forth, stretching to the end of its ears, revealing a set of sharp teeth. Its eyes glowed like burning coals, piercing through the air like daggers.
"Finally.." Its voice cut through the air like the crackling of flames, "..someone who can see me."