Chapter 1 

The meeting.

I stood up on my tiptoes trying to search through the crowd. My bow and quiver strapped tightly to my back so no one jostled it in the business of the crowd. There were so many people! I sighed and shoved my way through a mix of people. ¨Hello? Is there a guy named…¨ I glanced down at the paper card in my hand to read it only for it to be thrown on the ground because some idiot bumped into me. I spun around to face the guy. ¨What the heck do you think you´re…¨ I stopped mid sentence and backed away slowly. This guy was one of the Falcon jerks who always bullied me.
"Hey… Jason, whoa buddy I didn't see it was you. Could you maybe please let me go?¨

 He threw his head back and laughed and out of nowhere three more guys appeared and together they backed me into a corner. I kept walking backwards until my back hit a wall and I reached for my bow but they ripped it off my back and threw it to the floor. They then proceeded to grab my quiver and throw that down as well, spilling my arrows everywhere and then they began to punch me. 

Eventually I felt myself begin to slip out of consciousness but then, someone pulled Jason back giving me space to breathe and I sank to the floor still shaking. They then began to approach me and I  cowered thinking they were another bully. 

“Get up, and start to protect yourself.” As I looked up, my bow and quiver were thrust into my hands by a man wearing light leather clothing, with his face covered by a cloak.I nodded and immediately drew a arrow from my quiver shooting them at the guys and in a matter of minutes they were all stuck to a wall with arrows nearly missing their heads. I shoved past the guy and turned to leave. 

The man stepped in front of me and looked at me as if studying me. “Jewel, right? I’m supposed to be your partner. Name’s Connor. Nice to meet you. You could’ve had a better introduction though.”

¨Connor, yeah its Jewel sorry about that. Why don't I see if you can get reassigned to a better partner?¨ I shifted my mask covering most of my face. I was wearing a black hood and mask that showed only my light blue eyes with blue and white light weight armor and a small dagger and some white combat gloves that currently blinked light blue. 

“There’s no time for that. You can’t quit before we start. Come on,let’s go before we’re late.” Connor then turned around and started walking toward the registration table.  

I sighed and turned around and went the opposite direction of where he was headed without saying a word. I am not doing this today. I´ve had enough drama. I thought to myself.

Within seconds, I almost fell backwards, and started to get dragged back to the table. “I’m not letting you quit. Besides, you’re my partner, and-“

I jerked free from his grip and whipped around drawing back my fist but then let it fall to my side and turned around and headed for the table slapping my id card down on the table. ¨Jewel Santos, graduation permission now.¨ I ordered. The guy at the table flinched and within seconds I was authorized to start. I turned around to face Connor.  I whistled and a horse came running up to me with a bag of stuff equipment and I grabbed the saddle as it ran past hoisting myself up onto it. ¨Well you gonna register or what?¨

“I registered while you attempted to leave.” ¨ You coming?¨ I said sitting on the horse looking at him expectantly.

“I’m walking. I don’t have a horse.” 

¨Ï was joking. The school lends us these horses.¨ I said whistling and another horse came running up saddled and with a bag of equipment.  ¨What did you think I had no heart?¨  

Connor didn’t answer, and instead inspected the horse and its equipment.

I groaned and leapt down from my horse landing in front of him and pulling out the stuff in the bag, out came a flint and striker, a hammock, water, food, and a med kit. ¨See it's just some basic stuff I thought my par-teammate might need. Sheesh.¨ I then got back up on my horse and nudged my horse into a slow walk. ¨C´mon we need to do our first task. It's a fire dragon.¨  

¨Oh wait you´ll need these.¨ I tossed him a pair of black gloves. ¨They help make element shields and form weapons out of them.¨ 

Connor inspected them, then put them in a bag. “Alright then. Let’s do this task so we have something to celebrate.”

¨Sure. Whatever you say.¨ I said, nudging my horse into a gallop with Connor following close behind. A couple minutes later we arrived in front of a huge fire dragon with a red glowing symbol on its chest. ¨That's the weak spot, think you can bring it near me a bit more?¨ I asked jumping off my horse, drawing an arrow from my quiver and touching it with my hand, making the tip flow with water. 

“You can’t hit it from here? Fine, but you better not miss.” Connor then rushes forward, and grabs a dagger from his sleeve and throws it at the dragon. The dragon roars and rushes towards me and I hold my bow steady until it's only a couple inches away and then release hitting it dead center in its weak spot. I notice however it's not quite finished yet so I unsheath my dagger and slash it two times across the spot finishing it but not before it swipes at my arm drawing blood. It then disappears in a flash of red smoke. I check the injury, it's not too deep but still pretty big. I grit my teeth against the pain and swing back up and into the saddle. ¨C´mon let's camp somewhere else.¨ I nudge my horse into a light trot ignoring the small stream of blood flowing from my upper arm. 

Connor then stopped you and your horse. “Patch the injury. Now. We can’t afford this becoming a concern later.” 

I sigh. ¨I was headed for a stream that's like a couple of seconds away. I know medicinal herbs that grow there.¨ 

“Alright. Just hurry up. Last thing we need is some other animal following us.” 

I nudge my horse into a gallop and seconds later we reach a stream. I wince as I open my bag to grab the med kit and I accidentally drop it due to the pain. I sigh and leave it there and go and sit by the stream waving my hand over the water and it flows up and around my hand and then around my upper arm. I do this a couple of times, gritting my teeth to keep from making a sound. 

I turn my head slightly to look at Connor. ¨Could you grab that for me?¨ I ask, nodding my head towards the med kit. I sigh as he just stands there. I get up and grab the kit struggling to pull out some stuff from it. I eventually get it open and grab a small patch of gauze, a bandage and medical tape and try unsuccessfully to tape it in place around it with one hand. ¨A little help please?¨Connor shook his head as if getting rid of a thought, then moved to go help you.

“Nevermind I'll do it myself.” I grabbed the tape in my teeth and with my left hand pulled a bandage  tight around the wound and then took the piece from my mouth and knotted it. I then pulled out a hammock from my bag and set it up several feet away from where Connnor was and then got to work making a campfire. I then jumped up on the horse and set out to go hunting. 

Connor then grabs you off of the horse, and forces you to sit. “No. You’re still injured. I’m hunting.” 

¨Leave me alone.¨ I say my voice icy. ¨I don't care if I´m wounded, I can do it myself.¨ 

          “No, you can’t. Unless I’m mistaken, you need both arms to use a bow, and you need to rest. I’m hunting. That’s final.” Connor then walks into the forest. I sit there stunned for a moment and then my gloves turn a dark blue and blue fire weaves it way around my hand and I make a roaring campfire and pull out a pot and place it over the fire I then harvest some herbs from the stream and set them on rocks to wait until Connor brings back some meat. I hear some rustling in the bushes and jump up, placing my hand on my dagger. ¨Who is it?¨ I inquire my voice remaining calm and steady. 

“It’s me. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.” Connor says as he steps into view, and drops a deer, and a rabbit next to you. 

I visibly stiffen and back away instinctively, hovering back a few steps behind the pot then shake my head as if clearing an afterthought. I wait until he steps back then hesitantly and quickly reach forward grabbing the rabbit and then skinning it and adding it to the pot. About twenty minutes later it's done and when I approach Connor to hand him the soup I stay a good distance away. 

¨Here you should eat.¨ 

“I’ll eat later.” Connor says before walking a few steps away, and pulling out some equipment of his to inspect. 

I flinch and start to pack up my stuff, resaddling it and sliding my quiver and bow onto my back. ¨If you´re gonna act like this then so be it, but don´t count on me to stay here. I´m getting reassigned.” I push my horse into a gallop leaving Connor stunned. A couple seconds later I slow my horse and shaking my head I turn it around and head back to camp. Once I arrive I put my stuff down and lean against a tree at camp absentmindedly whittling a stick.  

Connor was twirling one of his daggers around his finger, but stopped when you returned. “Welcome back. That was quick. How was getting reassigned?” Connor said half jokingly, but there was a slight hint of sadness in his voice. 

I paused my whittling for a second. ¨Did you really think I´d abandon you?¨ 

“It wouldn’t have been the first time someone’s done that.” Connor said as he put the dagger back into his bag, then walked into his tent. 

I sighed for a minute noticing the untouched food and I poured it out and dished out a new bowl shoving it underneath his tent flap. I paused before I left. 

¨Y´ I know it wouldn't be the first time for me either. I was pissed but I wouldn´t abandon you like that. If you need anything well you know where to find me.¨ I walked off about four feet away and set up my hammock laying down in it, getting lost in my thoughts.  

I woke up the next morning refreshed but when I went to get out of my hammock and stretch I felt a sharp pain in my arm. I forgot I injured myself. Using my left arm I pulled out some food I had in my bag and a separate pan and set about making some food for me and Connor.  A little while later a very tantalizing smell wafted its way around our makeshift camp. 

Connor then slowly pokes his head out of his tent, rubbing his eyes. “Did you make food?” 

I laughed for the first time in a really long time. ¨Yes I did. Here this will help you wake up.¨ I grabbed a cup that had some tea in it and handed it to him. ¨Before you ask I put wild mint in it. It's how I wake up.¨ I shrugged and went back to the venison that was sizzling on the pan. It was done a couple minutes later and I pulled it off the pan and set it on a piece of bark. ¨Here eat something. Please.¨ 

Connor looked at the food, then sighed and walked next to you, and grabbed some of it. “Alright. I’m a bit hungry anyway.”

I gave the briefest hint of a smile and nodded digging into my own portion of food. 

Connor looked at you in the middle of eating with a look of curiosity. “I just realized, we know nothing about each other. We should at the very least know how we fight, cause most of these challenges involve fighting something. So, outside of that bow, what do you use?” 

¨Well I normally use my daggers, I do prefer a broadsword more. I´m decent in hand to hand combat.¨ I said in between bites of food. ¨Some of my arrows have special tip and are customized I can show you if you'd like.¨

“Nah, it’s fine. Besides, I don’t plan on being on the end of one of these arrows anyway.”

As soon as he finished speaking an arrow landed right next to him lodging itself in the log. I smirked but then my arm spasmed so I lowered my bow. 

¨You really wouldn't want to be.¨ 

“Dude, a warning next time? I almost-¨

I rolled my eyes walking next to him and leant down yanking the arrow out of the log. 

¨Almost what? Got hit? You really think with my aiming skills I´d miss? Trust me if I wanted to hit you I'd have done so by now. Not that I would just saying.¨

“I don’t doubt it, but I almost hurt you.” He says as he points to a dagger embedded in a tree right next to where your head was. 

¨Touche. But honestly I´ve been hurt before. I'm used to it. You angry go ahead lets spar.¨ 

I drop my bow to the ground and slip my quiver off my head and move into a defensive position expecting the usual beating. If you look close though you can notice the slight trembling as I stand. 

“You’re still injured. It wouldn’t be a fair fight. Especially since I know I’d win even if you weren’t injured.”  

¨Whether it's fair or not it's what I´ve been…¨ I closed my eyes against the memory and dropped the sentence. ¨Just strike already.¨ He didn't attack. I flinched involuntarily. I know this tactic. ¨Just fight me already!!¨ Still nothing. I dropped my position and collapsed. 

“That’s enough. You can stop. We’re not fighting.” Connor said as he sat back down and looked at the food again. “It’s obvious you don’t want to right now, and something’s holding you back.”

  ¨It's not my choice whether I want to or not.¨ I gasped out from shuddery breaths. ¨It's up to the fighter. Do you cancel this?¨ I grabbed my head in between my hands. ¨I said DO YOU CANCEL THIS?¨ There was desperation in my tone as I waited. 

Connor sighs as he makes the motion of pulling on a rope, and the dagger he threw earlier flew through the air, and back into his hand. “You‘ve already lost this fight. It’s over.” 

Instantly as soon as he finished speaking I relaxed. ¨I.. I´m sorry. It's… not something you'd understand if I tried to explain it to you. Its my fault.¨ 

¨How do you fight? You clearly use some sort of gravitational mechanism or magnetic pull. Am I right?¨

“Not exactly. It’s actually surprisingly simple. Catch.” He says tossing a dagger at you.  

I reacted immediately, snatching it out of the air and grabbing it. ¨Alright now what?¨ 

“Feel the hilt. Carefully.” When I focused on the hilt, I started to see, and feel wiring that’s wrapped around the hilt. “I use wires, not just the daggers. I make them thin enough so that unless you’re focusing on them, you can’t see them. Any questions?” 

¨Interesting, but can you do this?¨ I smirked as I tapped my gloves and no symbol appeared. I waved my hand over myself and I disappeared and I snuck up behind him. I then tapped him on the shoulder and dodged the inevitable dagger that flew at me. 

¨Well you want to see me again or no?¨ I asked, still invisible. 

“You should probably not be invisible around me. I have more than two daggers.” He says as he once again pulls his dagger back. “Now how did you turn invisible?” 

I phase back in and kneel down next to him. ¨Touch my glove gently.¨ I say, extending my hand to him. 

“How does that explain how you do it?” Connor said as he put his daggers back, and looks at your hand. I sigh and take my hood off for a second, giving you a glance at my face. I take off one of the leather armor pads and point to a small button on it. I press my glove and it turns invisible. “I created the tech to respond to the glove. It sends out a signal and it responds.” I quickly shove my mask back on but then my hood gets blown back by the wind revealing more of my face. ¨Ugh.¨ It reveals my long light brown hair that reaches to my mid back with piercing blue eyes, and light darkish brown skin. I slip off my mask. ¨Well I guess now you get to see what I look like. I can actually introduce myself properly. Jewel Santos year one”

       I step back so that he can see me better. My medium figure of about 5 '6 isn't all that impressive and there's a long scar that runs from above my right eye down to my chin. My light blue armor is light fitting but strong enough to fend off most attacks and I then sweep my hair back into a messy ponytail. I then stick my hand out for him to shake.

      Connor accepts your handshake for a brief moment before quickly letting go. He then looked down at his hand for a brief moment before looking at you. “Anyway, what’s today’s challenge?” 

“Galacyos flower.” 

“Bless you, now what are we killing?” 

“Galacyos flower. We just pick it and then we're done. It's light blue in color with white edges.” 

“Alright, now what’s the catch? Last time we had to kill a dragon. I don’t think that this challenge is that easy.” 

I walk to a shady area checking over my shoulder that he's following me and I point to a field full of flowers and dive in and then come up with a bunch of flowers stuck in my hair but I hold the blue one. “Look my parents back when they were alive used to take me here.” I suddenly turned my back on him for a moment. I scan the flower into the glove and it dings signaling the end of the checkpoint. “I know you don't care about any of my past so I don't know why I bother.” 

Connor shrugs, and starts walking back to camp. “You bother because it makes you feel better, I guess.” 

      I spin around on my heel, my once peaceful eyes turning cold. “I as far as you are concerned am a nobody. A nameless face in the crowd, an anonymous identity. Not a person. You don't want to be associated with me. It'd be best if you forgot I existed when this whole thing ends. It's for your own good.”

      I try unsuccessfully to pull the flowers out of my hair but stop once I figure I can't get them out. I start to walk back to camp but pause when a dagger flies past. “You coming?” 

       Connor sighs, and pulls his dagger back to him. “No, I’m not. I’ll be by myself for a while. You do you.” He then walks away from camp. 

            “Be careful.” I say a hint of concern in my tone. 

“Don’t pretend like you care for me. I don’t like people who lie.” Connor said before walking deeper into the woods.

¨I do care...¨ I said walking up to him and looking him in the eyes before heading back to camp. I almost… well no I did almost reveal it… I can´t let that happen. I settled down on my hammock before realizing I needed to change the bandages on my wound. 

Eventually, Connor returns to camp late into the night, and quickly walks into his tent after shooting you a quick glance. After a while, he walks back out the tent with his medkit in hand, and sits next to the fire, and looks at his leg. You then notice that his right shin seems to be bleeding quite a bit. 

¨Connor!¨ I yell running to his side and inspect it. It was deep and not looking good. Seconds later a bunch of guys run into camp and head towards Connor with swords drawn. ¨Don't move, stay right here.¨ I order. I then get up and immediately water starts winding its way up my hands surrounding them and I fix the guys with a fury blazing in my eyes like Connor hasn't seen before. 

¨I´m gonna give you five seconds to turn around and leave.¨ 

    ¨Nah, that guy is going down.¨ 

¨So be it then.¨ 

Without saying another word I stretch out my hand long tendrils of water surrounding them and binding their arms to their sides and I flick my hand and they get thrown on the ground. I then grab my dagger and slash all three of them on their arms leaving long bleeding gashes. The water winding around my hand changes to vines and I make a grabbing motion and throw them far out of camp.  

Once they are gone and dealt with I kneel beside Connor my eyes finally relaxing but filled with concern. He looks a bit weak and pale. ¨Connor, you okay?¨ I asked hesitantly and then gently took the medkit out of his hands and opened it. 

“Hey! Watch the people!” He says as he snatches the medkit from your hands. 

I roll my eyes and take my bow off my back and shoot a volley of arrows at them pinning them to the tree´s. I then use the nature vines to tie them up and then whistle for my horse and drop them off about five feet from camp and then use the vines to cage them in. 

  I gallop back to camp and kneel down next to him once again. ¨Sorry about those idiots I didn't realize they were still there. I then take the medkit from him again and open it, taking out an alcohol swab. ¨This might sting a bit.¨ I say and then gently dab at his shin with it. 

     He grunts as he feels it, then snatches the swab again. “I can do this on my own. I don’t trust those idiots over there.” 

I fix him with a glare. ¨Connor, let me do this.¨ I then gently tug it out of his hands and finish cleaning it. I then grab an antibacterial spray.  ¨You gonna let me help you or do you want this to get infected and I have to do more work on your leg?¨ 

       He grumbles, but doesn’t stop you. ¨This spray is gonna hurt a bit more than the rest of it but it´ll help clean it more thoroughly.¨ I then gently spray it over the wound and then grab a piece of gauze, bandage and medical tape. I don't realize it but there's blood trickling slowly from the right side of my face that's coming off in a small stream. I place the gauze over the wound and then pull the bandage tight, wincing when he grunts a little and then finish it by placing a small bit of med tape over it. ¨That wasn't so bad, right? All done.¨ I say moving to put the medkit away. 

 He then stands up almost immediately, and pulls out a small needle. Before I could say anything, he rushed next to my arm with frightening speed. “Hold still, or this will hurt.” He then unwrapped the bandage, and quickly stitched the gash in my arm together before replacing the bandages. “There. Now we’re even.” 

¨I didn't do it to get even. I did it because I care. Not because I owe you a debt.¨ I state standing up and moving away from camp. ¨I´m going to hunt you want any particular animal?¨ 

Connor sighs. “It’s too late to be hunting. We should stay near camp. Plus you still have that head wound.” 

     I sigh and sit down, dropping my bow and quiver. ¨What?¨ I reach a hand up to touch my face and trace where the wound is coming from. ¨Idiot! You did it again.¨ I yelled at myself and just sat there with my face in my hands. 

      Connor just looks at you in confusion. “So, are you going to do anything about it, or…” 

            ¨No.¨ 

      “… huh?” Connor says, looking shocked. “Why not? You’re better at this whole fixing people thing than me. You have to, or risk passing out from blood loss.” 

     ¨It's a wound it’ll close up eventually on its own.¨ 

      “Quit being stubborn and fix yourself before you pass out.”  

        ¨…fine.¨ I say  grabbing a bit of gauze and covering the large slash with a piece of gauze and a bandage and med tape. ¨Happy now?¨

       Connor nods his head before he returns to watching the attackers in your makeshift cage. 

    “Alright guys I'm going to let you out but you never come back do you understand me?” 

       “Y-yes ma’am!” 

      I sighed and let them out and they ran off 

screaming. I turned to Connor. “Let's move camp in the morning.” 

       “We’ll have to move camp now. You know those guys will probably come back right? They don’t seem smart enough to learn their lesson.” 

            “You really wanna leave now it's like nine o clock? Also we both have injuries.” 

      “You want to risk those jerks attacking us while we’re asleep? I know it’ll suck, but I don’t trust those guys to just sit by.” Connor says as he starts gathering his equipment up. 

            “Alright I'll start getting packed u-” My voice drains off and I suddenly collapse and the last thing I see is Connor anxiously standing over me before I fade into unconsciousness.

When I wake up, I notice that the sun’s rising in the distance, and I’m sitting next to the fire with a blanket around me. All of my bandages were mostly new, and the surroundings seemed slightly different, with a stream of water being heard nearby. I look around, and see Connor sitting nearby, facing away from me. He stands up, and starts limping towards the edge of camp, and checks something on the ground before limping back. As he came back and sat down, I noticed that his right shin started bleeding again, but he didn’t seem to care yet. He still didn’t notice I woke up yet. I got up and walked towards Connor slightly off balance. ¨Sit down and let me look at your leg.¨ I say gently but firmly. 

     Connor immediately turns around and looks at you as he takes a half step back. “You’re awake now, good. How do you feel?” 

       ¨I-im okay?¨ I stumbling as I try to get to the stream. 

“You need to rest. Sit down, I’ll get you water.” 

        ¨I´m going there for a different reason.¨ I say steadying myself and walking towards the stream semi-normally.

          Connor then steps in front of me. “For what reason then? You need to rest, not go for a walk right now.” 

      ¨I´m going to check out my head wound ok? And for that I need clean water in case it's all bloodied up again. Can I do that?¨ 

       “You can. Back at camp. I’ll get you the water you need. Now sit down before you pass out please.” Connor says as he starts to turn around and walk to his equipment to grab some bottles.

¨I will but you have to let me look at your leg when you get back or else I´m not sitting down.¨ 

Connor sighs and looks at you. “My leg is fine. I’m not going to pass out. You already did. Just sit down.”

I roll my eyes. ¨Yeah you might not pass out but I still need to look at it. I mean it, I will stand here until you let me get a look at it.¨ I cross my arms and lean against a tree for support. 

Connor sighs, then shrugs. “Ok then, you can stand there then. Just make sure you don’t move too much.” He then turns and walks towards the stream. 

        As soon as he leaves I sigh and sink down onto the ground. I'm not used to being this weak. I need to get up and back out there. Sure enough a couple minutes later Connor comes back with some water. ¨Bring it near me, I want to show you something.¨ I say.

        Connor hands her the bottles of water, then turns around. “Whatever you want to show me can wait until you’re better. Right now just focus on your wounds.” I smile and playfully flick the bottlecap at the back of his head making it bounce off. I then remove the bandage and clean it using the water element and place a new bandage over my wound.  I then flick the last cap off the bottle at his head again and it hits. 

A few seconds later, those same bottle caps hit you on your forehead. Connor then walks away from you with a slight smile on his face. I then smirk and burst out laughing and then use my water element to propel them at the back of his head again and they hit and I try to muffle my laughing with my hands. 

Connor tosses the caps back at you, then looks around for a moment. “Before I forget, what’s today’s task? I want to get that done as soon as possible.” 

“Um, it's uh..” I glanced at my gloves and sigh. “We have to cross the Asteria road. It's a long and tough hike that takes us eventually to the top to harvest the petals of the Sun Flower.” 

Connor sighs and walks into his tent. A few seconds later, he comes back out with a small bag. “Alright then. I’ll do this task as quickly as I can. You stay here and protect our stuff.”  

“I can't we have to go together.” I shoulder my quiver and bow and stand up. ¨And don't say I can't come. I´m feeling fine and besides I don´t trust those guys from the other day not to find you.¨ I move surprisingly fast and grab a bandage wrapping his bleeding shin. 

Before I can finish, Connor jumps a few steps back, and looks at me with concern. “You’re not fine. You don’t just pass out because you’re fine. You’re resting, and I can handle this task on my own, before the day’s over.” 

I roll my eyes and whistle my horse running up to me and I jump on. “Does that make you feel any better?¨ I then hop back off and grab a medkit and some water that's left in the bottle and tie it in the blanket around the saddle horn. ¨Come on let's go.¨ I say jumping back on the horse and making it gallop off before he can stop me.  

However as I gallop off something startles my horse and I´m thrown off. I hit the ground rolling onto my feet and looked up. In front of me stands a guy smirking proudly however it wasn´t one of the guys from before. I curse inside my head and run back towards camp. ¨CONNOR!¨ I yell but I only get about halfway before the guy trips me and puts me in a chokehold. I start coughing and try to break free but his grip only gets tighter and tighter. I thrust my elbow into his stomach to try to make him release me but it didn't do anything. I finally gasp out in a small whisper. “C-connor”

          Just as I say that, 3 daggers land into the guy’s arm, forcing him to let go, and scream in pain. As I catch my breath, I see Connor run up and tackle the man into the ground, and wrap several wires around his arms, legs and neck. He then pulls out the daggers, and starts pulling on the wires wrapped around the guy, causing him to scream out in pain a little. 

              “Connor, don't k-kill him.” I say before trying to stand, but realizing I couldn't. The world started to spin a bit and for the second time I faded into unconsciousness.

       I wake up back at camp as the sun starts to set. I look around to see the guy that attacked me stuck on the ground by wires and daggers. I jump up and scramble backwards a bit looking for Connor around the camp. Eventually I see him walk out of his tent, and look at the man before noticing you’re awake. “Oh, how was your nap?” 

     I sit up painfully. ¨Um ok I guess I have no idea why I´m in pain though. Did he do something to  me?¨ 

         “Since you passed out, no. Oh, by the way.” He reaches into his pocket and tosses you a small bag. “There’s the flower thing we needed.” 

    ..I smile, ¨Thanks and sorry about me running off. I can be too rash sometimes.¨ I gently take out the petal and scan it into the glove and a blue ray transports it back to the school. ¨Is there anything to eat?¨ 

         “No, I’ve been too busy. Also I don’t care about you running. I’m used to people running from me.” Connor says as he looks at his leg for a moment, then sighs and sits down. 

      ¨I… I didn't mean it like that.¨ I said hestating for a moment before I continue. ¨People are used to being afraid of me. You´re my friend, I wouldn't run from you. Like I said I´m a daft idiot sometimes.¨ 

       “People are afraid of you? I’ve noticed the exact opposite of that.” 

  ¨Certain people are, mostly the um  Arnains.¨

       “You say that like it’s a common name.” Connor starts to rub his leg for a moment before turning and walking to his equipment for a moment.  

       ¨The Arnains were the arena fighters.¨

         “You shouldn’t base your world views off of a crazy cult that forced kids to fight for, from what I understand, their own entertainment.” 

        “H-how do you? It's not a cult, it was the “Headmasters” decision. You probably haven't heard their name before.”

          “Not in the slightest, no. Anyway, from the amount of people that have tried to bully/kill you, you’re not exactly as feared as me.” Connor glances over at the man he has trapped. “In any case, do you know what that guy wanted from you? I would have interrogated him, but I don’t think you’d want to wake up to that.” 

          ¨I know him, he's the new Champion he's called Arnu. He wanted me to… to come back.  I´m going for a walk.¨ I said standing up and walking into the forest. I sat down in a clearing and sighed just thinking about the past I had suffered. I continued to stare off in the distance before I heard footsteps behind me. I rolled to my feet whipping my bow off my back and nocked an arrow. ¨Who's there is it you Arnu?¨ I asked hesitantly. 

     “Do you have that little faith in me and my wires? He’s not moving from that trap.” Connor says as he walks forward. “You shouldn’t walk off alone. You should know better.”

           ¨I said I wanted to go for a walk. You know that means I want to be alone. Stop following me.¨

           “Well, unfortunately for you, I can’t leave you alone. We have gotten attacked three times in total. All of them revolved around you, and all of them happened when we were separated.” 

          ¨Yes but they don't want me, it's not me they're afraid of. I need you to stand back and promise me the instant I stop to say Like a blazing star burn out okay?¨ I ask, walking backwards.

           Connor looked at you, confused. “What are you doing? And what do you mean they don’t want you? They've only been after you.” 

          ¨No they haven't. For goodness sake remember to say that and don't let me hurt you.¨ I say stepping a good deal away and then saying. ¨StarAlpha version four Lead the Way like a blazing star.¨ As soon as I finish I feel different, stronger, more powerful and more cruel. A bright yellow light surrounds me and I change. Instead of light brown my hair is white with yellow streaks and in a dutch braid and my armor is white with yellow streaks and the streaks on my armor glow and it looks heavier and in place of my bow there are two dual wielding katanas. And on my head there is a  yellow crown with a white star in the middle. My scar is still there but everything about me has changed. 

StarAlpha´s perspective: I open my eyes and I don´t recognize the guy in front of me so I step forward. ¨Welcome to the Arena fighter, what's your name?¨ 

“Um…Connor? I thought you knew that, did I forget my meds today?” 

¨Well, I see you're new here. I´m StarAlpha. Anyways let's get this over with you´re my challenger my job is to defeat you and trust me I will I don´t fail.¨ 

“I’m sorry, did you just say I’ll lose?” Connor then pulls out two of his daggers before he stops, and remembers something. “What was it again? I think it was like a blazing star burning out?” 

Jewel´s perspective: I immediately change back the katana´s and crown and armor disappearing.  

¨I didn't hurt you did I?¨ 

“Why do you assume that? I could’ve hurt you, you know. I’m not weak.”  

¨I´ve shown you who I really am. I'm going now. This is goodbye Connor.¨ I say walking off into the forest. 

“Really?! We just had this conversation to NOT run off!” Connor says as he turns around and walks back to camp.  

I whisper under my breath. ¨I'm sorry.¨  I turn to walk off again but something stops me. I sigh and reluctantly trudge back into camp and pull out my dog tag trying to yank it off my head but as per usual its stuck. ¨I hate you so much! I hate you! Jewel and StarAlpha! You both suck and don't deserve to be here!¨ I scream tears rolling down my face. I hadn't cried for a really long time. ¨I´m sorry Connor! Sorry you have to be stuck with me as a teammate. I shouldn't even be here!¨ I scream angry at myself, tears still falling.

“And I thought my past was rough. So… why didn’t you ditch me this time?” 

¨Because… I.. your… my friend I think?¨ I say hesitantly, still looking away, still crying. ¨I'm really really sorry I shouldn't have ever brought her out.¨

“Whoever you brought out didn’t even do anything, what are you talking about?” 

¨Do you really want to know the whole story?¨ I say sitting down. 

“Um, if you want to share, sure. Just don’t expect a backstory from me when you’re done.” Connor says as he sits down. 

¨I would never. StarAlpha, well it's kinda weird I won´t say all of it but I´ll say this much. StarAlpha is a different version of me.  She´s crueler, meaner, and way more powerful she´s the Arains champion and her deputy? VegaBravo  is Arnu although he's not nearly as strong as she is.

           I never asked for this to become StarAlpha. I never wanted to be. I'm a weapon, a tool useless in the sight of the arena fighters. Be glad you aren't Arain, they might have tried it on you as well.¨ I finished glancing away. 

They´ll keep coming after her your choice is either to ditch me or to stay it's your decision and I won´t stop you in whatever you decide.¨ 

“You keep treating me like I can’t fight whoever comes our way. Dude, you’ve attempted to ditch me, not the other way around. I’m not leaving.”  

“I tried to leave because the only way I can win is with StarAlpha. And I don't want you to get attached. Remember when I told you it isn't good to be associated with me? I´m not strong enough unless I change.¨

“Have you ever tried fighting without using her? Also if anything, it’s bad to associate with me. Not the other way around. At least you have an excuse for your actions.”  

            “I never use StarAlpha of my own will. She’d go too far and besides I hate her. She's the worst part of me. She's… she's feared for a reason because she always wins her fights.” 

           “Well, maybe you can control her then? Show her that you’re tougher than her, or maybe show her what it’s like to lose.” Connor says as he starts to stand up. 

             “I can't StarAlpha is me but different she does things of her own will that she's made to do.” 

         “Made to do things by who? By what? If someone or something can control StarAlpha, then you have a chance to take control back.”  

          ¨I can´t! Once someone says the activation words I´m back at the… the-¨ I end my sentence shuddering at the thought of going back to that place. 

“Well, you’re going to have to do something about her at some point.” Connor then sighs and starts walking back towards camp. “Come on then. We’ll deal with it later.” 

“Where are we going?” 

“Depends… do you want to fix this now, or wait?” 

“She's not fixable, she's permanently a part of me.” 

“Then do you want to control her or not?” 

“For the last time! She can not be controlled unless you are the one who made her!”

“Technically you made her, yet here we are, so I’m going to try something that might work. Are you willing to attempt to gain even a sliver of control, or do you want to wait until she comes out against your will once again?”

          I flinch away, stepping back from him. “Don't, don't do this to me not again.” I say my eyes filled with terror. 

Connor sighs, and continues walking. “It’s clear we’re going nowhere with this conversation. Let’s just go back to camp.” 

         “StarAlpha version four Lead the Way like a blazing star.” I say closing my eyes and the same white light surrounds me. 

              StarAlpha Perspective: I open my eyes. “Welcome back, challenger. Ready to fight?” I say dropping into a fighting position.

            Connor turns back around, and looks at me with a slight smile as he pulls out two daggers with a slightly bigger blade than the rest of his daggers. “You’re sure you want to fight? You can just quit now if you want.” 

        ¨I accept your challenge.¨ I say drawing my katana and stepping forwards. ¨Just so you know, fighting me won't change anything. You can´t change her and you can't stop me. I´m the better version of her, stronger, more powerful, smarter. Wouldn't you rather have me as a partner instead? You wouldn't have to listen to her pathetic whining and I don't get hurt as easily.¨ I say tracing my finger over my blade in thought. 

          “All I hear is an ego that needs to be cut down.” Connor says as he immediately dashes past you, and throws down three daggers as he does. He then throws the two daggers in his hand straight for your face.  

I smirk and grab the daggers out of the air before they even hit and throw them into the ground. I grab my katana and run straight at him, but veering to the side before I run into him and slashing his leg. I then step back and flick my katana, the blood flying off of it and onto the ground cleaning the blade. 

Connor, ignoring the cut, reaches into his cloak, and pulls out several daggers and throws them in seemingly random directions. As some fly through the air, they change direction by bouncing off several wires, and speed up, and fly towards me. I sense them from coming all around and slam my hand onto my gauntlets but the shield doesn’t activate fast enough. I move to hit them out of the air, but before I can, I sense Connor move behind me. I try to move to block him, but a dagger flies by my head, leaving a cut from my forehead to my cheek, then his heel slams into my head at full speed, and knocks me into the ground face first.  

       I groan and then move to push myself off the ground, a river of blood flowing down my face. I then stand up wiping my face with my fist and grab the second katana and move to slash his arm. 

Before the blade could reach, they were blocked by wires as Connor moved, and punched me in the stomach before pulling the wires, and causing the daggers to slightly cut up my arm, and shins.  I move to get up and punch him but before my fist connects with him something stops it from hitting him. I draw back again but, once more I´m stopped. 

Connor then rolls back one of his sleeves to reveal a motorized grappling system on his arm. He then activates it, which pulls in all of the wires, and traps me in a tangle of wires. ¨Heck to it all. This wasn't supposed to happen!¨ I yelled trying to break the wires. 

         “Well, too bad. You lost. Admit it.” 

            ¨Fine I lost.¨ I say through gritted teeth. As soon as I finish I glow white much to Connor’s shock and I turn back. Jewel´s perspective: I drop to a knee panting and bleeding from my head, arms, and shins. I take a moment to glance at myself and still panting look up with a half smile and say. ¨Well, I guess we won then right?

Connor quickly releases the wires wrapped around me, and pulls his daggers in. “Yep, and you thought we couldn’t.” He says with a smile.

¨I´m sorry I ever doubted you my fr- partner.¨ 

Connor looks down for a moment, then looks back up, and runs to your side to help you stand. “Oh, my bad! I’ll get you back to camp so we can treat your wounds!”

I push him gently away for a second and then gently pull him into a hug. ¨T-thanks for being here for me… friend.¨ I say and then embarrassed of myself turn away. 

              “Um… no problem.” Connor says as he helps me to stand, and helps me walk back to camp. Once back I do my best to gently lower myself down onto the ground so I can sit but groan in pain. ¨Ah, you really beat her up then huh?¨ I say smiling for a second but then wince because of the pain. ¨Hand me the medkit will you?¨ I ask extending my hand but it's shaking. 

            “No. I won’t give it to you.” Connor says as he runs to grab the medkit, then runs back, and sits next to me, and starts cleaning off my wounds. ¨Let me do… ah-¨ I stop feeling the cleaner do its job. 

             “No. I’m doing it. It’s the least I could do for causing your wounds anyway.” Connor says as he continues to patch up the wounds on my arms. 

I look at him and my expression saddens for a second and I glance away to blink away the tears that are trying to fall and not because of the pain. 

“Oh, are you good? Did I do something wrong?” 

¨No, it-it´s n-not you.¨ I say shakily standing up even though my head is still bleeding and walk over to the stream and sit there staring at the water shaking as I cry. 

“Hey!” Connor says as he runs over to her. “Don’t move too much, you’ll only make your wounds worse.”  

¨I… don´t care about them.¨ I say, staring at the water, the tears making little ripples in the clear surface. I shudder for a moment. ¨I… I´m not a good person, I don't deserve any of this. Your kindness, I'm a monster.¨ 

“You think I care? I’m far from good myself. You deserve kindness too. Now hold still so I can finish patching you up.” 

¨I don't deserve your kindness.¨ 

“Yes, you do.” Connor says as he starts to patch up the wound on my head. 

I look at him glancing over the wound I caused. ¨I don't look at what I did. I barely managed to stop her hitting you and let alone deactivate myself.¨ 

“Why does what you do matter? I’m going to heal you regardless.” 

¨Because, it… I was taught or tortured that my actions are not my own and they are to hurt others. At least as StarAlpha. And I hurt you… my only… friend.¨

“It’s fine. Besides, I hurt you way more than you hurt me. Trust me, I don’t even feel it. Now let me heal you… please?” 

I glance away for a moment and then give a small nod. Connor then continues washing off, and patching up all of your wounds. 

¨Well, I see you can't do anything by yourself anymore can you?¨ Arnu said, stepping out of the wire trap. 

¨VegaBravo right is that what they called you?¨ I asked, glancing at Connor. 

¨Yes although it should have been me who was called Alpha not you.¨ 

¨I don't want to be her anymore it's not who I am.¨ 

¨Enough!¨ He shouted, stepping towards me and drawing one of his claymores and swinging to hit me. I flinched and threw up one of my hands temporarily creating a blue fire shield. 

¨Connor, I need your help. I could activate but there's a chance she´ll side with him. What do we do?¨ 

“You don’t need her.” Connor says as he throws a dagger at Arnu, forcing him to stop hitting the shield. “You can do this without her.” 

¨Not in this condition I can´t.¨ I say wincing as a wave of pain flows over me. 

           “Then you do what you feel is best. I’ll handle what comes afterwards.” Connor says before leaving my side, and running around throwing daggers at Arnu. 

¨I… I want to help but I don't know how.¨ I say and then I get an idea. I change my element to water and thrust my hand out towards Connor, a thick bubble shield of water surrounding him. 

Connor looks around him, surprised for a moment, then he starts moving his fingers rapidly. As he does, the daggers he already threw out start moving erratically, and catch VegaBravo off guard, leaving scratches on his body.

As I focus on protecting Connor, VegaBravo runs towards me and I drop the bubble protecting him and reach for a dagger but they're a couple feet away. I slam on my gauntlets but the shields are very slowly activating. “Connor a bit of help over here?” I say throwing out a couple of effective kicks but they hurt a lot like my legs are on fire.

 I start to feel tired but keep up the onslaught throwing out punches and he hits me sending me flying across the camp and I slam into a tree groaning from the pain. I look around for Connor as VegaBravo, picks me up by my shirt and gets ready to slam his fist into my face. 

Connor then kicks him in the face, forcing him to drop me, and stumble backwards. I hit the ground hard  and my head bounces off the floor. “I can't stay… conscious for much longer Connor.” . 

“I’ll handle him from here. Get somewhere safe so you can patch yourself up.” Connor says as he rushes forward to trip VegaBravo.

“I… I can't walk. My head really hurts too.” I say trying to stand but the world spins around. And I almost lost my balance.

“Just keep trying. You’re not safe here.” Connor says as he continues to keep VegaBravo’s attention on himself instead of me. 

I try to steady myself but I can't so I whistle for my horse and using the little bit of strength I have left swing up into the saddle and ask. “Promise you'll be right behind me?”

“I’ll be fine. Just go!” 

            I nod and then push my horse into a gallop about five miles away from the area and very painfully lower myself off my horse and lay down on the ground raising my arm with my nature element enclose me and my horse in a big vine like cage but it looks like a bulb on the outside. I then flick my fingers making large thorns appear outside of the cage and finally fade into unconsciousness. 

      A couple hours later I woke up my horse laying inside the cage next to me. As I get up to stretch I remember leaving Connor behind at camp. “CONNOR!” I yelled, panicked and concerned for him. I use my fire element to burn a hole in the bulb and look out it's almost night time. I stumble out of the bulb and try to go look for Connor but the pain from my wounds stop me.  

          “Where are you?!” I still yelled out into the night. At first, I don’t hear anything, but a couple of minutes later, I see a dagger soar through the air, and land near my feet. On it was a note saying, “I’m alive. Follow wire” in barely legible handwriting. As you look, you notice the wire attached to the dagger heading back in the same direction where camp was.

            I very painfully lift myself up onto my horse and follow it to camp. I dismount and the camp is in shambles. The logs and fire pit we used to use to eat and sit by are gone. I sink to my knees in the middle of camp cradling my head in my hands as a flashback hits me.  

          I walked home after school and opened the door to the living room. It was in shambles and everything and all my family was gone. The sofa was overturned and the family photos lay on the ground amongst the pieces of broken glass. They said if I won they wouldn’t hurt you. They told me… 

       I started to sob violently, the sobs shaking my body which was already in immense pain. Why, me why is it always my friends and family who get hurt. 

“Aw, and here I thought you wouldn’t care.” Connor said as he limped into camp. His leg was bleeding from the same wound as before, and he was holding his left arm. There were slight cut wounds on his right arm, and he was still hiding most of his face in his hood. “Sorry, I had to get closer to you to throw the knife.”  

         “I… thought I thought I…” I continue crying, unable to finish my sentence. “Aaron, and Ruth and John. They said they wouldn't hurt you! But I lost it's all my fault! Of course I care! They took my family away from me!” I yell tears pouring down my face. “And now you? I thought you were my friend!” I sink to the floor shaking because of all that's happened to me that I just kept inside. I didn't notice but my wounds had started bleeding again. 

      He starts to approach me but I lift my head up and say. “No, just stay away! I'm a monster! If I had won, my mom, dad and sister would still be living with me not thinking that I was dead!” 

“You’re far from a monster… but I know you won’t listen to me about it. I’ll give you a bit of alone time.” Connor then limps away, and goes  into what remains of his tent to pack what’s left. 

I lift my head up and go and sit by what's left of his tent. “I'm sorry I don't really want to be alone. It's just…” I sigh and take a deep breath. “My family, they were taken away from me because I lost a round in the arena. They hurt them badly and told them that I was dead. They don't even know I'm alive. So I have no family. And it feels like my fault.” I finished closing my eyes and leaning against what's left of a log. 

       Connor then walks out carrying a small backpack. “It’s not your fault. You can’t control what crazy people do to you, so quit acting like you’re the one who ordered that to happen.”

           “How would you feel if your family replaced you? And you know they're happy because they walk around town with her smiling and laughing like you never existed. They don't even recognize you when you walk up and introduce yourself.” 

“At least you didn’t have to watch your family kick you out!” Connor said before he could stop himself. He then takes a deep breath. “Let’s get moving before another attack happens. We’ll talk about this later.” 

        “No, enough of putting other people in danger because of what happened to me you can go but I'm going to stay and face what they do to me. I've harmed enough people the least I can do is stay and face it.” 

“No, enough of you deciding things on your own. We’re leaving so we can both be safe. I’m not letting you stay and do something unnecessary.” 

        “You don't even care. You're a person who's assigned to me. This has hurt you. I'm sorry for what I've put you through. It's time for me to face my past.” I say grabbing my daggers and sitting down.

“What makes you think I don’t care? You don’t decide if I care, I do. You’re not hurting yourself again. That’s final. Let’s go.”  

            “STOP IT! Stop acting like you know what's best for me! Can't you see I have to do this?!” Then after a moment a pained look crosses my face. “You sound just like he did. You shouldn't care. I have nothing less to lose.” 

“Who’s him? And once again, I care. Whether you like it or not, I care, so stop saying I don’t, or I shouldn’t, and you can do this, after you get actual rest. Not now.” Connor says as he attempts to reach for your shoulder, but stops and winces in pain. 

¨You sound a lot like my older brother did. John, he was always looking out for me. Until he and everyone else left.¨ I painfully stood up and grabbed a medkit from my saddle bag and gently treated his wounds bandaging them up. ¨Well at least you´ll be better off this way.¨ I say, stepping back and giving him a sad smile. 

“Better off like what? Let’s go. Right now.” 

¨

¨Fine.¨ I say swinging up and into the saddle ignoring my bleeding wounds. A couple of hours later we reach a new camp. It's bigger with more trees for cover and a small lake a couple feet away. I lower myself onto the ground, my wounds still bleeding. ¨Ugh this sucks, I´m in pain all over.¨  

“You’d be better at the medkit stuff than me.” Connor says as he gently sits near a log and slowly pulls out some spare parts for his mechanical grappling hook.  I treat myself and then go to sit next to him looking at his shoulder. ¨Hm, I think you might have sprained it bud. Or dislocated it.¨ I gently touched his shoulder. ¨Did that hurt?¨ 

Connor subconsciously flinches away from you for a moment. I step back quickly with a look of hurt on my face and turn away. ¨Sorry.¨ I mutter. 

“Don’t apologize. It’s just I’m not used to people touching me unless they want to hurt me.” 

¨I wouldn't do that to you ever. Even if you did hurt me.¨ I say. ¨Is it okay if I touch your shoulder? I have to figure out the best way to treat it. Do you trust me?¨

Connor looks at me for a long moment, then sighs and nods his head. “Just try to be quick.” 

¨Of course. So I'm taking it that hurt?¨ Connor nods his head in response.

¨Okay then one to ten how bad?¨

He just looks at you confused. “What do you mean? All I know is that it hurts.”

I slap my face and just sigh. ¨ I mean on a scale from one to ten how bad does it hurt one being nothing ten being the worst.¨ 

“Not sure.” Connor says as he attempts to reach for his backpack for a moment. “I was never taught that pain had levels.” 

¨Oh ok. Well, if you stretch your shoulder does it feel like it's on fire?¨ I say grabbing his backpack for him and handing it to him. 

“Everything feels like it’s on fire.” Connor says as he takes the bag from you with his good arm before pulling more metal pieces from it. 

¨Okay then you dislocated your shoulder. I’ll try to make this quick but it's gonna hurt like heck for a minute here okay?¨ I say gently placing my hands on his shoulder. Before he can respond I push his shoulder back into place and then back away real fast. 

Connor grunts in pain for a moment, then moves his arm around. He then looks at you with a slight smile and he gives you a thumbs up. 

I smile back but wince in pain. “You probably should keep that in a sling just for today okay?”

“We’ll see. Now, you should probably look at your injuries next.” Connor says as he puts the parts back into his backpack, and looks at his grapple with satisfaction before putting it back on his arm.

¨ I already patched them up. And no we´ll see you're gonna have to work with me on this. It should be fine if you rest it. 

“I’ll be fine, and besides, I still need to check most of my gear.”  

¨Dude, your health matters more than your gear. But if you want to be in pain for next twenty four hours be my guest.¨

Connor shrugs, and continues to work on his gear. “I’ve been in pain longer, it’ll be fine.” 

I sigh and turn away and mutter under my breath. ¨You idiot you're gonna dislocate it again.¨

“I’m not an idiot!” Connor calls out. 

I laugh and flick a pebble at him. ¨I know you´re just silly.¨ 

Connor catches the pebble and tosses it aside. “I can’t tell if you’re making fun of me or not.” 

I laugh again, my eyes sparkling with mischief. ¨Lighten up a bit.¨ 

Connor just shrugs, and begins to start sharpening his daggers. 

¨You're no fun.”

“Can’t help it. I never really had fun before.” 

¨….oh I´m sorry.¨