*this chapter has been edited*

"Two sides Cecile."

"What do you mean Josh?" I

questioned.

"We can't talk for long Cecile, trust him. All is not as it seems." He spoke with an urgency.

"How can I when they are the ones who have done wrong."

He shook his head, giving me a sad smile. Thats where you're wrong."

"Trust him Cecile." I turned to find my mother standing before me, she looked so angelic, her pale skin seemingly glowing from within. She was smiling warmly.

"Mom?" I questioned, instantly tearing up and running towards her. Her arms were wide open and she hugged me as my body shook from the sadness within.

"Shhh, it is okay Cecile." She cooed, running her hand through my hair.

"Nothing makes sense Mom, I don't understand. I'm doing this to protect you and Josh to protect everyone and humanity, to stop them from destroying us," I whispered quietly. Her and Josh shared a look.

"Oh it's much more complicated than you think Cecile." She said.

"Much more complicated, indeed. You've been misled dear sister." I frowned.

"Dad would never-"

"Stop!" A sharp voice yelled.

The small boy with the multi colored eyes stood before me.

Yet he was not a boy anymore, he'd morphed into a man, with the same eyes yet different in age and appearance.

"No..." was all he said.

My mother and Josh each took a bow.

"You've been misled." Josh repeated.

"Don't be one of them Cecile," he begged.

"Why is it that you know my name? Who are you?"

He looked at me sadly, "You've known me for quite a while Cecile. I am Redain, current King of Escrade."

"I do not remember ever laying eyes on you." I protested.

It was simply impossible.

"Your memories--" My brother tried saying, but my mom and Redain shook their heads.

"Not now." My mother warned.

"She must willingly accept that there is more to this and after deter herself from Monroes hold." She finished.

Looking at me she smiled and placed a kiss on my forehead, "Until next time my sweetheart. Use the book to help you." She advised, with her body slowly evaporating.

"Wait!" I tried reaching out to her, but only grasped thin air.

"Goodbye Cecile." She disappeared.

I turned to find Josh and Redain staring intently at each other. "I must be going as well. Read the book Cecile, it will help you," Josh spoke, starting to fade.

Before he could fully evaporate he hurriedly caged me in his arms, I immediately held on tight. "Stay safe," he whispered.

"You too." But he was already gone.

I felt my body shake. It was just Redain and I now.

He came close, putting his hands on either side of my face, "Do you believe me now?"

"I-" I was confused more than anything.

He sighed, "Don't worry about it. Take your time." He connected our foreheads and the world around me started fading.

"Use the book..." my Mom's voice whispered.

I opened my eyes and Redain was staring intently at me, his eyes swirling violently, waiting for my reaction. I took a deep breathe, "How did you do that?" I asked.

"It is part of my powers, to read minds, go through memories and telepathically contact or talk to people as well as mind control. But that one is hardly used." He explained.

"I wanted to give you another view. You need to trust me. You have been misled, and you're certainly not where you'd want to be."

"But how would my brother and mother know anything? How would I know you didn't use your mind control for this?"

"Cecile!" A voice yelled, causing my body to jolt in fear, and refrain Redain from answering.

I turned to see Tom running towards me with Miss Gen and my father right behind him.

Realizing now that I was standing at the academy gates. I turned to Redain but he was gone.

They reached me immediately just as a swift breeze blew past me, "Until next time, Cecile. I hope you'll get back to the right path." He whispered.

I turned but couldn't see Redain anywhere, but I'd heard his voice.

"Thank goodness you are alive," my father hugged me, I gingerly placed my hands on his back. Smiling softly.

"When Tom told us what happened we immediately set out to find you." Miss Gen said.

A question that had been drifting in my mind surfaced and I couldn't help but ask.

"How did you get here Tom?" He looked caught off guard by my question.

"I-"

"One of our Bandid's took him after discovering his abilities, unfortunately it dropped him in sight of a Turap, the creature you battled." My father immediately interjected.

Miss Gen crossed her arms. I was starting to doubt that was what happened but just opted with nodding my head.

"A keta has arrived."

....

"The Turap is a creature that is a mutant of a wolf and bear, it has the size and width that surpasses a bear, and can stand on its hind legs like one. It has blood red eyes and is known for its brute strength. Be careful around them, they have a strength and predatory instinct that is to be feared." Miss Gen explained.

She didn't have to tell me twice.

We were suiting up. Ready to deal with our first creature. The leaders, with Tom included were all being briefed about the creature we'd battle first.

"The leader of the Turaps has jet black fur with brown strips while the subordinates have brown fur. He is taller than his troops, and a ruthless beast. Capture him and find the elemental which will either be with him or hidden somewhere. Bring him to us if you fail to get the elemental."

I looked on towards the faces of everyone. Some looked scared, others ready to fight. Ready to die. Me on the either hand, I couldn't be quite sure.

Not with all the confusion.

I don't know if my confusion simply numbed all my emotions, but I knew the battle would be different. Miss Gen passed by all the leaders giving them instructions.

She finally reaches me and places a few small daggers in my hand, "These are for short ranged fights, and if you ever find yourself having been separated from your bow and arrow. They do not illicit the same effect, but have the same power as your arrow." She said giving me a pouch in which I would be holding my daggers.

I strapped the pouch to my leg and looked at Miss Gen. "You'll do great, but even if you don't, the fight won't be over."

"Thank you." I responded.

Miss Gen nodded and walked to the middle of the podium and she then proceeded to address everyone, "Today you will be going against your first creature. Now as I have stated just earlier this monsters are called Turaps" Miss Gen started.

I glanced at Aria, Sylvia and the other leaders, all faced her with determination.

"Turaps are savage killers with hearts that do not know neither show any mercy. They are stone hard killers with eyes filled with hatred. They will not hesitate to kill you meaning you will not hesitate either to kill them. Get ready for a start to your survival."

After her words we all started packing up and making our way towards the door. But I stopped abruptly when I realized something.

"Miss Gen! Wait!" I called out to her hoping she'd turn back and to my luck she did.

"You never told us exactly where we will find the Turap's elemental." I said watching her quizzical expression morph into one of understanding with a bit of amusement.

"Yes, I didn't tell you. The exact location of this elemental is not known, only the leader can say, even we don't know for sure where they are. But I can assure you that not every creature's elemental will be in the same place as the last." She said whilst exiting the room leaving us all stunned by her revelation.

We reluctantly left the hall room and made our way outside the training school. We reached the fences to be greeted by Monroe and two Bandids who stood at his sides.

He nodded his head at us and motioned for the Bandids to open the gate that led to the forest. "I wish you all the best of luck and may you return safely in the morning," he said stepping aside giving us space to pass through.

We started sprinting towards the forest and I made sure I was well hidden behind the shadows.

The shadows gave me a feeling of security, comfort and safety. I felt I was well hidden and nothing can harm me, not like how I'd felt like in my dreams.

I had felt like a helpless child, completely defenseless and under the Turap's mercy, 'Not this time' I thought.

I was kneeling behind a tree checking for any movement but when I found none I signaled for the rest to follow.

Jade seemed to be casual about this matter as she jumped on my back to lift herself up towards a nearby branch.

I glared at her, but she seemed nonchalant as she hung upside down making faces and waving at us.

"Get down Jade," I whisper-yelled trying to get her serious, but she just giggled in response.

I was about to go after her but I was interrupted by a twig snapping and a few angry growls. I stopped dead in my tracks feeling my heart rate sky rocket to an abnormal pace.

My body was frozen in place and I was shaking uncontrollably. I felt the cold air wisp past causing more chills to run through me.

I heard the creatures slowly approaching, which brought my senses back to reality.

I was a Sarion after all. I need not show any fear. My mission was to kill and take this creatures elementals.

Jade above me was now crouching on the branch with her bow and arrow ready to shoot whatever was coming.

I held my breath as there was another snap followed by a few more growls. My heart hammered in my chest to a point in which I thought it would explode.

Everyone was on their guard when a silhouette of something started to come into view. I had my bow and arrow in hand ready, yet still anxious.

The figures emerged from the light and it was a couple of stray dogs. How they are in this forest? I don't know.

I laughed and chastised my previous weakness and proceeded to grab a nearby stone to scare them off. By the time I threw the stone they had already sprinted off.

We were about to proceed on with our quest when I was hit with an oncoming stone.

"Ow," I said rubbing my arm, confused I picked up the stone and threw it back only for it to be thrown back at me.

I bent down to pick it up only for my nightmare to step out of the darkness. The blood drained out of my face and I was as pale as a corpse.

In front of us stood five Turaps their sadistic smiles scaring the confidence right from my system. As if their smiles were not sinister enough but their height was about 3/4 of a full grown tree.

It was much larger in person and more gruesome to look at. It looked like an overgrown bear with canine teeth that could grind and tear me into pieces. They all had brown fur except for one which I presume is the leader which had black fur.

The Turaps leader smiled before its deep voice broke the peaceful silence, "How I'll enjoy killing all of you, its time to play," it said causing me to take a nervous gulp.

"Let's get them, the rest will soon follow suit and help us kill them," it said as its subordinates knelt ready for their master's command.

"One!" It counted.

"Two!" They all got ready to attack.

"Three!" "Run!" Both the monster and Sylvia yelled.

The Turaps started chasing after us while we tried to get back to the training school.

The grounded put us to a halt as it started shaking. I held on to a nearby tree trying to steady myself. Walls that looked like a maize started to emerge from the ground enclosing us and the creatures inside.

I lost sight of everyone as a wall had emerged and blocked me from them. The stone walls were part of a maize that had covered everyone who was supposed to be in for the first battle.

The wall started glowing and a message was encrypted on it before it disappeared like it was never there in the first place. It read:

Once entered there is no escape

the battle always ends at the break of dawn

Survive till then

Keep your guard up

and stay alive

I realized the only escape was victory or death.

×××××××××××××××××××××

Gosh I can't wait for the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it.

Thank you for reading this and until next time my warriors.

This has been another edited version.

Mwah!

Mercy💜