They bustled us into a shuttle that was parked outside the Growth Center complex. The shuttle was long and sleek and was the same purple color that represented the Xiomaran branch, the road on which it was parked was deep and rutted with shuttle tracks the shuttles roared in either direction in colored blurs.

As you, reader, know by now I have been dying to get outside the Growth Center my entire life. I lagged a little behind the others on the way to the shuttle, trying to take every possible detail in. Huge buildings and colored lights were everywhere, they overwhelmed my senses. A huge pyramidal structure covered in neon lights that displayed  an image of Empress Ava Storm with a slogan I didn't get the chance to read before it switched to a advertisement for some entertainment show. My eyes drifted eagerly to  a white building supported by white columns and covered in ivy. A flashing sign on it read ‘Token Redeeming Center’. A huge line of people extended from it stretching onto the sidewalk.

Oh my gosh people! Full grown people! My heart leaped with curiosity as I strained to see them. It looked like the girls mostly wore light flowy tunics, or at least most of them did. A few wore jeans like the guys with a flowy piece of linen over their shoulder like what I had been made to wear for the Waifing... and was still wearing I noted. I hadn't changed. Awkward. Most everyone around me was changed into clean clothes. I must stink! Oh well. Like I cared. Maybe if I stunk enough people would stay away from me. That actually wasn't a bad idea. I decided on that impulse I was never cleaning myself again.  

I was about to head into the shuttle when suddenly a figure was looming before me. “Head down, Wesley.” Instead of obeying I looked up, mostly out of instinct rather than rebellion though. There stood Luca Raspet. I instantly felt a twinge of annoyance at the sight of his twisted little smile.  “I am in charge of escorting you to Training Center X. I will not be slowed by some midget ogling the Token Redeeming Center.” He hissed, low enough so none of the others could hear him.

Midget. He thought I was a midget. I wasnt that far below average height. Only like half a foot- or so. I had to bite my tongue to keep from letting loose a list of profanities so bad it would have probably killed anyone with an ailing heart within hearing range.

“Get on with it then!” He shoved me roughly and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to brutally maim him. I walked stiffly toward the shuttle, going out of my way to crane my neck around to look at things to tick Luca Raspet off.

I boarded the shuttle, it shifted a little as I placed my weight on it. It was separated into benches on two sides. My heart dropped as I realized I was going to have to sit next to someone. I started edging my way down the narrow walkway between the two sides. The other Xiomarans all adverted their eyes before I could even ask to sit by them. I suppose the fact I was scowling didn’t help. I noticed Barricade and Wilder sitting together, both of their eyes shot daggers at me as they muttered to each other in low murmurs.   

I continued walking. Over on the other side of the shuttle I saw Lachlan sitting alone. So he somehow managed to become a Xiomaran. Probably because he was too dumb to fit anywhere else, I thought bitterly. His eyebrows raised when he saw me and he started to open his mouth to say something. This time it was me who averted my eyes and picked up my pace.

I was almost to the back of the shuttle and was about to turn around and just force myself next to someone when a hand beckoned me over. I glanced behind me to make sure it wasn't waving at someone behind me, I was alone in the isle, except for a disgruntled Luca Raspet who was muttering at the auto driver about something as if it could actually understand him.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you.” The voice laughed, I continued over suspiciously. It belonged to the red haired girl who had bumped me at the waifing ceremony, the only noticeable difference being she had removed any trace of the ink that had been on her face. A shady looking guy with thick black hair sat next to her. His face was gaunt and pale and his eyes were dark and slitted. I only knew one guy who looked like that. Zalick. The boy I had talked with before I smashed Yeardly with the ink pan.

I looked at the girl who was looking at me expectantly like I was supposed to do something. Cripe. “Are you going to sit down?” She asked raising an dark red eyebrow.

“Oh yeah that.” I said sliding into the booth next to her.

"You'd better get used to sitting with us. You're not really well liked and you don't fit anywhere, am I right? Don't worry though, it gets fun." The red haired girl said, sarcastically raising her eyebrows with a smirk on her face. What did she think I was new to this whole people disliking me thing? I was absolutely fine with it and the feeling was mutual.

"Once an outcast, always an outcast." Zalick said expressionlessly, his slanted eyes shifting toward me. "The rest of the world will rip your heart out and joyously stomp on it with yak tracks. You're stuck with us."

"Thanks for that beautiful vision..... What the fike even is a yak track?" The red haired girl said wrinkling her nose.

"They are these spiked things we put on our shoes so we don't slip for this voluntary ice chipping class I take, or that I used to take anyway." Zalick said still without his expression changing. It was kind of unnerving in a way.

  "Voluntary? What is wrong with you?" The red haired girl asked, rolling her eyes.

"Everyone needs hobbies." He said dryly, crossing his arms and leaning back.

 I just kind of sat there, unsure of what to do with myself. Well maybe they had already forgotten my presence and I could just go about my business, picking a secluded corner and staring into it blankly.

"Anyway, forgive his weirdness. It's not his fault. The nursery maids accidentally fed him paint chips when he was an infant, tragic really." She said seriously locking eyes with me and frowning a little, though you could tell she could really care less.

"It's true I tell you. I remember it like it was yesterday." Zalick chimed in sending her one of the most terrifying death glares I have seen my entire life, and that says a lot because I get them almost every day.

 "Yeah, sure, whatever, Zalick." She said unflinching, as if she was used to it. Then a hint of annoyance entered her voice as her eyes flitted to me. "Zalick! Look what you've done! You've scared him now! No wonder no one likes us!" She threw her hands up in frustration.

 "I'm not scared!" I snapped almost on instinct, crossing my arms over my chest and narrowing my eyes. I realized I was overreacting and I probably looked stupid, but I had already made the gesture and I wasn't in the mood to warm up.

 "Oh look it can speak!" The red haired girl laughed, hysterically. "Oh then 'Not Scared', I'm Revolutia, but my friends call me Revi.... And the gloom and doom, ice chipper over there is Zalick."

 I felt a twinge annoyance. My jaw dropped a little, then I gritted my teeth in annoyance. What a jerk. 'Oh look it can speak' What was that? “My name is Wesley.” I said glaring at them evenly.

“Oh yeah, we know who you are. You're the little guy who kicked Barricades sorry rear. Thats why no one wants you near them. Nobody wants to be on Barricades kill list with you. Me? I don’t mind. I could take that big lug with one hand behind my back.” Revi said folding her arms across her chest and smiling happily as if relishing the thought of being on Barricades bad side. This girl was crazy.

 ‘Little guy’? I snorted, I was so done with these people. "Yeah.... Look I'm going to go to sleep. Nice meeting you." I closed my eyes and leaned back.

"Its the middle of the day. You hate us don't you?" Revi asked frustrated.

 I sigh, feeling bad. I opened my eyes debating weather to be honest or not. I guess I really didn't have anything to lose. "Ummm.... Please, please don't take it personally, but I hate most human beings in general." As soon as I said it I regretted it. I was such a jerk. "But I like you considerably more than most." I lied, and instantly felt like stabbing myself. Why did I lie? I could always tell the truth and redeem myself from the lie- but let's face it; that wasn't going to happen. I just sigh in defeat. I just couldn't win.

"I hate people too." Zalick smiled, looking animated for the first time in... ever, I think. "I want to kill them all."

I stared at him uneasily, unsure what to say to that statement, luckily Revi saved me from having to respond by saying, "Remind me not to tell you what room they put me in when we get to the Training Facility." She didn't seem very concerned that she was hanging around a possible Xaron-possessed-cereal killer.

I suppressed an eyeroll. Just my luck to be sat with two maniacs.

“Excuse me, may I please have your attention.” A voice coming from the front of the shuttle demanded, and even though the words were a question the tone suggested that if we didn't co-operate heads would roll. I knew who it was before I turned my head. Luca Raspet stood scowling at everyone who dared to make eye contact with him. Looking at his tall wispy figure and his beady eyes one had to wonder why- or rather how a man like him had even managed to get into his position. How did one even rise through Xiomaran ranks? Was it the mysterious Council that The Guardians had mentioned who decided? Or more importantly why Evicia Lyveen Falconess had left him in charge of a class of children, the man clearly lacked any maternal instinct. Just tack that onto the list of things I don’t know.

 The room gradually silenced itself as everyone turned to look upon the man who wore the purple robes of a Xiomaran leader. “Thank you.” He muttered sarcastically, “Certainly took long enough.” He stepped forward and forced a thin wiry smile onto  his face. It looked like it pained him. “Future Xiomarans, I am the representative of our Gaurdian Evicia Lyveen Falconess who graciously charged me with overseeing your training. I shall be with you every step of the way and if you have any questions…” He hesitated referencing his sheet of  paper in his hands, a disgusted look came over his face. “...please… ask someone else.” He frowned, dropping his friendly act. “Listen closely children, because I will only explain this once. Now before I start, the goddess Xiomara asked me to make sure you understand the concept of learning about the world you live in gradually instead of all at once. Does anyone have any ideas of why we do this?” Luca Raspet paused politely, as if expecting to hear silence, and for the most part he was correct. Only one voice had a suggestion.

“I dunno, maybe because you guys think we are stupid and are too lazy to explain things to us?” I looked over, eyebrows raised to see Revi looking at Luca Raspet rather innocently as if she had no clue as to how obnoxious her question had sounded

“Respect your elders young lady! I shall see to it that you are punished once we arrive.” He walked over to us, his cloak rippling like water as he walked. He noticed me and his scowl deepened- if that was even possible, the man looked downright constipated as it was. He struck Revi across the cheek. Her eyes blazed as she turned to glare at Luca Raspet. “Look man, I have no idea what your problem is, you asked a question, prepare for an answer!” She shaped her fists clenched tightly under the table.

 He struck her again and this time she jumped to her feet, her eyes betraying the fire that had erupted within. I saw it before it happened, her smashing his jaw with all of the force she could muster. I mentally cheered her on.

 Luca caught her wrist midair, she wasted no time in attempting to kick him. The rat-man somehow managed to block her and grab her other wrist. “Wonderful, now you’ve gotten your entire table in trouble for your disobedience. You never question your elders, for the gods power flows strong within us.” He shoved her roughly backward  onto Zalicks lap. She had this stunned look on her face as if she had never been beaten before, though I can't say I was surprised. The girl looked as strong as an ox.

Luca stepped back from the table, as he walked up the aisle making sure to make eye contact with everyone he passed. “Take this as a lesson to all of you, disrespect of any sort is not tolerated, be it be a small scale offence such as this one, or a much larger  offence. If you ever know of anything questionable, you are to tell us, because if you are caught so much as, say, sitting...” he gestured to us. “...with the offender you will be punished.” He stopped talking and a heavy silence fell on the room, my stomach began to churn as I stared blankly at my lap. I thought of all the offences I had committed over the past 24 hours, if anyone ever found out... I shuddered. I didn't dare look up in the irrational fear that my eyes would give my crimes away…. I silently swore I would never do anything like that again. Knowledge didn’t matter. My life was more important than some information that I didn't even have a use for. If following the orders of some wack jobs in robes was what I had to do to stay alive, then so be it. I ignored the deep desire for knowledge that screamed at me as I came to my conclusion.

Luca spoke up again as soon as he seemed satisfied that we all understood. “So back to the question at hand, unlike as Miss. Revolutia here suggested we do not think you are stupid, in fact we believe you are our future so we want to instil the best possible learning programs for you. And we're not lazy, just calculated in what we do. We teach you things gradually because it helps you focus in the stage at hand instead of having to worry about the next step. Deependren scientists have found that students that are more ignorant at the time being, perform better and are more likely to succeed. We don't just want you to succeed, we need you to succeed because the fate of the the gods good world will rest in your hands after my generation has gone.” His eyes were alight with an emotion I could not identify. I found myself starting to believe him, this guy was good. I wondered If I should allow myself to accept the information he gave me and make it easier on myself. I stopped. I couldn't allow myself to forget what I had learned- I would just learn to live with the information I had and not seek to acquire more decided, very aware I was already bending my original resolution.

“Now at Training Center X we will train you in basics fighting skills until the Winter Lights Festival, after that you will be sorted by what we observe in the coming weeks to either serve as a patroller, firefighter or a soldier. The majority of you will become soldiers and continue onto the next, much harder stage of training. We will test you once again, this time to determine what type of fighting you will do best in based off of your body type and your combat style, but that isn't important now. Keep in mind that this test is unfailable, even for the most incompetent of you.” Luca Raspet said, sending a particularly cold stare in my direction. I sent my scariest glare as a response, trying to ignore the urge to chuck one of the benches at his head, I was already in enough trouble.

The fake smile plastered itself upon Luca Raspet’s face and he raised his arms  in a gesture that if I didn’t know him I would of mistaken as a welcome to the branch. The only thing Luca Raspet wanted to welcome me to was an early death. “In conclusion, train hard and serve our gracious gods! May Xiomara be with you!” He said before returning to his seat.

He is so fake he makes the make-up plastered Maevern models jealous. I turned around in disgust to face my companions who looked none the happier. Revi’s fist came down on the table- hard. A huge crack appeared in the glass counter. Zalick sat next to her, his head supported by his fist. His eyes looked on unconcerned by the barbaric rage his friend was showing. If I had been anyone else I would of silently removed myself to the next table for the sake of my health- but I wasn't someone else. I completely understood her rage. Luca Raspet had that effect on people.

“That- that auckal headed drame!” She hissed spitting the vulgar language out with every inch of spite in her body. She luckily had enough sense to keep her voice somewhat down. “I am so sorry he brought you guys into this! Heck I’m sorry he brought me into it! I will destroy him!”

In silent dread I wondered what the punishment would be… I really hoped it wasn't going to involve me being forced to spend time with these people. “You and me both.” I muttered without really thinking about it. “I say we roast him alive.” To my surprise Revi actually laughed.

Zalick clicked his tongue, “Roasting people alive isn't very nice, Mr. Wesley.” He chided. I wished he had more facial expression or tone change or something so I could know whether that had been sarcastic or not.

Revi pushed him playfully, “Pfft, nether is slapping little girls and punishing poor little boys for sitting in the wrong place.”

“Revi, I think roasting people alive and slapping them are on totally different levels.” Zalick said, the corner of mouth twitching a little as if it wanted to turn upwards into a smirk but didn't have the strength because he never used them. I studied the otherwise blankness of his face, this lip twitching must be his happy face.

 Revi swatted her hand dismissively at Zalick, “Eh, not really. So do you guys want to be military or just be a patroller or firemen?” She asked changing the subject, most likely to save herself from having to explain why roasting someone alive and slapping were equal crimes.

I looked at Zalick waiting for him to answer, he looked at me. Zalick leaned back, a sigh escaping his mouth. “I could really care less, I hate everything. What about you Wesley?” He asked apparently uninterested in what his future would hold.

 I already knew where I was headed if I didn't end up having my heart brutally cut out of my body, so I shrugged and said, “Military, I guess.”

“Yeah I don’t want to be some crummy old Patroler or Firemen. I want to fight in a war, see places besides this stuffy country, I want to have adventures….” She trailed off looking away, a restless look in her eye. That was when I realized ‘restless’ was the perfect word to describe Revolutia, the look in her eye, the way she was always moving (even if it was just a finger), that desperation in her voice for something more. Revolutia was restless- well, let me rethink that. I can describe Revi better in two words, restless being the first and stupid being the second.

 Sensing this was my opportunity to escape the conversation, I turned my attention to the window, trying to see what lay beyond. All I saw was smears of color flashing past the window, we were going too fast for me to focus on anything. I frowned, disappointed, but still kind of interested in the designs of color blurred past the window. I watched the color feeling the foreign since peace overwhelm my body. I was even tempted to close my eyes, I hadn't slept well last night. Apparently I had been deemed to high of a threat level and had spent last night in the waiting room. For those of you who have never tried it, sleeping on freezing marble with nothing but a pillow and blanket is virtually impossible. I felt drowsiness overtake me, and despite it being in the middle of the afternoon I closed my eyes…

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I was awoken from my peaceful slumber by being brutally catapulted forward hitting the ground underneath the table painfully.  “The vehicle has come to a complete stop you may now unfasten your belts.”

 I clawed my way upwards and looked over the edge toward Revi and Zalick. “Gee, thanks for waking me up and warning me.” I growled, easing myself into the seat and rubbing my poor temple which now had a large extension growing off of it. Thank you Revi!

 Revi laughed, “Toughen up Wesley. We didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful.”

 “Do I look peaceful know?” I demanded, coming to the unsurprising conclusion that Revi had it out for me. I’d smack her when my skull stopped throbbing long enough so that I could stand up without seeing black dots swim before me.

 “File out of the shuttle in single file, wait in front of the training center and I will give you the tour.” Luca Raspet said shoving some poor kid in the front out the door as if in demonstration. He disappeared from sight with a strangled yelp of surprise. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Luca demanded raising a thin eyebrow.

 Nobody waited any longer.

 I got the first glimpse of the building that I would be spending quite possibly the last months of my life in between the bodies of the kids in front of me. And let me tell you, those first glimpses were not comforting. The place was about as foreboding as one building could possibly be. It was huge and cement with large bars in front of the windows. We were a large V shaped courtyard. It was only one story and looked rather small. I wondered how all of the 400 plus kids who had been sorted into Xiomaran branch.

 My concerns were quickly put to rest by Luca Raspet who explained the training center was shaped like ax X and most of it was underground. He kicked the last kid off the shuttle and led us to the door that was found right in the center of the corner of the X. On the brief walk towards the door I tried to soak in every possible detail of the courtyard, though unlike outside the Growth Center, there wasn't much to soak in, just cement.

 Luca Raspet pressed his hand to the security on large metal door, it swung open. He took a step forward then paused and as if on impulse he said, “Oh and children,” His signature  snakelike smile slithered its way across his face, “If you don’t like the looks of this place, don’t worry you won’t have to stay here long… half of you will be dead before you graduate.”

 I felt my stomach flip and I was almost instantly bombarded by a rush of adrenaline.  How many human sacrifices was Luca Raspet planning? Before I pushed through the door I risked a final glance upwards at the sun. If what Luca Raspet said was true I might never see it again and I knew I never wanted to forget it.

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There is Chapter Seven! Okay, who is your favorite character so far? Do you have an ideas for other personalities of characters you want to see in training? Let me know in the comments.

Also! As you can see I have a new cover thanks to the incredibly fabulous @_ennavior! Go read her stuff and if you ever need a cover she's the one to go to!