The other epithet skill in my possession, [Gatekeeper] didn’t allow me to make doors and my [Earth Control] was reduced to such a level at which I could no longer use it to make doors. The only other skill in my arsenal which I could consider was [Ice Manipulation]. I’d never created a door of ice before, and doors weren’t traditionally made out of something which could melt.
“Saintarelli, Vistorel – you’re both late.”.
I hadn’t noticed when we arrived at our destination. There was, gathered before me, a large number of teenagers in uniform. Recruits. Neo’s memories told me they all belonged to the Lance Brigade. His, or now, my brigade. At the front of the group was a boy with dark hair and purple eyes. He was tall. Taller than Neo. Taller than even Vik. There was muscle, clear on his form, yet lean and streamlined. His arms were crossed as he stared us down. My instincts told me that this boy was somehow… different from the rest.
[Apprentice of the Champion Emeritus]
[The Sycophant’s Chosen]
[Child of Destiny]
Juma Al’ Amir
Lv. 61
What…?
Chapter 20: Destiny
The boy in front of me, Juma, was different from anyone and anything else I had encountered in my stay in the world. Attempting to get a glimpse of his aura with Neo’s [Mana Eye] brought me the overwhelming color of white. Brightness above and beyond anything I could put into words.
Seventh Sense – WARNING!
You have encountered a [Child of Destiny].
WARNING!
Meddling in the affairs of a [Child of Destiny] is highly not recommended.
WARNING!
Staying within the vicinity of a [Child of Destiny] may have severe consequences.
I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t want to stick around to find out. Juma’s gaze landed upon me and I felt something sting. For god’s sakes, he’s just a child –
He didn’t feel like a child. There was a sharp, cunning intelligence behind his purple eyes. The color swirled and gazing into them, I found myself being pulled forward, almost as if wanting to touch them.
“What are you doing?”
I realized, I had been going, on my own volition, to touch him.
“Saintarelli, what the fuck?” Vik cursed.
Well then, how do I play this?
“You have the most unusual eyes,” I said.
Numerous pairs of eyes were on me. Staring at me. I wondered if I’d said something unfamiliar. Purple eyes were unusual, as far as I was concerned.
“Thank you,” Juma responded.
The gathered recruits, began to snicker and laugh. “Saintarelli has a crush!”
Ah. Yes, it did seem that way, didn’t it? I hid my amusement, cleared my throat and backed away, putting my hands behind me. Vik stared at me as if I’d grown two heads. I didn’t look at him.
Something told me that I was supposed to meet Juma. I didn’t understand it myself. I didn’t know why. It felt as if meeting him was merely something that was supposed to have happened a long time ago, and yet, something that didn’t. It wasn’t déjà vu or jamais vu – but some odd, twisted version of it.
“Well,” came Juma’s voice. “With that display… I suppose I don’t have to guess anymore why you two are late.”
Vik’s face turned a furious shade of red as the gathered recruits laughed and pointed. I rose my brow at the display. Oh, they think Vik and I were having sex?
“Fuck you Juma!” Vik swore.
“That’s against AAA regulations. Also, I’m partial the prettier sex.”
The laughs rowed again, and Vik’s face burned even hotter.
“Prettier? Is that what you think Juma?”
The laughter died with the arrival of a feminine voice. Albeit I possessed the memories of her existence, it did not quite make up for the appearance of the girl before me. I wagered she was nineteen, perhaps twenty. Her hair was, to my surprise, silver. Not gray from age, but possessed the sheen of fine cutlery. Her features were soft and delicate, so well-proportioned and symmetrical that it was hard to find a single flaw or blemish. Her eyes were a rich electric blue, stern and focused.
[Alphaphilia’s Black Sheep]
[The Discarded Heir]
[AAA Rising Star]
Sophia Alphaphilia
Lv. 44
Well, well, well – what do we have here?
Juma let out a sound that was a cross between a grunt and a sigh. “There’s an exception for every rule.”
She crossed her arms. “And I take it you mean to imply that I’m the exception?”
“There is no correct answer to that question.”
He cleared his throat, crossed his arms and exhaled, before turning his attention back to Vik and I. “Well, what are you two waiting for? Get into formation.”
Vik grit his teeth, cursing and muttering underneath his breath. He tossed a heated glare to Juma, before tossing one to me as well. “Don’t fucking follow me.”
“Oh, a lover’s quarrel!”
“Fuck you!”
“That’s against regulation!”
Ignoring the laughs at his expense, I searched Neo’s memories for what formation I was supposed to get into. Standing in an ordered line was an odd experience, particularly because I had no military training to speak of, and had not experienced such a thing at the schools I attended. However, I had Neo, and I used his memories as a guideline.
Less than two minutes after everyone gathered, I noticed that we were arranged in an amazingly efficient order. Standing at attention, chests out, gaze forward, not tightly compacted together, yet, not spread far enough that we wouldn’t be able to see and hear what was going on at the front.
There were two individuals at the front. Juma and Sophia, the two highest level recruits gathered as I soon realized.
“TEN – SHUN!”
The call came with the sound of the stamping of feet against the earth. The recruits moved to immediate standing at attention.
“EASE!”
The stamping of feet a second time. Hands went behind our backs, clasped in a drill-general style.
“SHUN!”
Again, the stamping of feet.
“EASE!”
