Chapter 1 — Encounter at The Alley

"Have you heard? Lancelot Academy will begin their admission next week!"

"Ooh! How I wish I had my meridans opened. I heard only through that can you wield beta force and become a Magi"

Aiden groaned as he covered his ears, trying his best to not let the topic of his classmates discussions get to him.

"Hey, Aiden" a palm smacked his desk.

The sound was so loud that it alerted the students in the class.

"I heard in the past that you swore to attend Lancelot Academy? it's the number one school for Magis in the state you know?" a mocking voice rang.

"What are you saying Rio?. Lancelot Academy is for Magis. You know I'm not" Aiden laughed self mockingly.

Rio. He was a prodigy in the class due to the fact that he had awakened his meridans. That meant he had a high chance of becoming a Magi.

As such, he was pretty popular in the class, with many girls swooning over him.

"Tch. I heard your parents were powerful Magis before their deaths" Rio grinned.

"Shouldn't you have inherited their talent? say aren't you too much of a trash?"

"Well, what can I say? things didn't go as expected. Unlike you.. I wasn't fated to be a Magi in this life" Aiden replied with a small smile.

"Tch. Wipe off that smile dammit! are you mocking me or something?!"

Pah!

Rio landed a crisp slap on Aiden's face.

"Yeah. Yeah. Sorry" Aiden held up his cheeks as he apologized.

"Weakling. I expected you'd put up a fight" saying this, Rio sauntered off, while being surrounded by his loyal supporters.

"Put up a fight huh?"

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Riing!

The electric bell for closing time rang, causing many students from Jymy Oles middle school to cheer happily as they grabbed their things preparing to go to their various homes.

"Man, I heard the rates of murders happening this past week has risen by a notch"

"Hm. I wonder what those from the Sentry Association are doing about this. They haven't found the killer after this long time has passed?"

"Yeah. The serial killer has been going on about this for weeks. Are the Sentries so unreliable?"

"Well, at least the LEA has placed a lockdown right? I heard that the serial killer mostly acts at night"

Two men discussed amongst themselves as they walked down the street, walking past Aiden who just happened to hear their discussion.

"Serial Killer huh?" Aiden mumbled.

After the introduction of magis and beta force, it was only natural for many to begin cultivating malicious thoughts.

There existed some magis who believed that their destinies were to become the superior race. As such, they would often bully those who were not magis, committing nefarious crimes and going scot free. They were often regarded as Mercenaries by the public.

But like both sides of a coin, there existed a group who believed in the notion: with great power, comes great responsibility.

These like minded individuals banded together to form the Sentry Association.

These individuals (sentries) made it their task to protect innocent citizens from the evil paws of the Mercenaries. They were also in charge of dealing with Fiends and threats to society.

Over time, it became a much coveted occupation.

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Creek.. Creek.. Creek..

Crickets made their unique sounds as frogs croaked, all under the brilliant illumination of the mum, surrounded by glittering stars.

"Tomorrow is the exams. Although my grades are the best in the class, Mr. Shrimp is pretty unpredictable. It won't hurt to revise a bit" Aiden yawned as he held an old oil lamp in one hand, and a large textbook on the other.

Placing the textbook on the wooden floor, he attempted to lighten up the lamp.

"Aish!" he groaned in frustration when he noticed that the oil in the lamp had run out.

"I forgot to buy some oil on my way back from school"

He took a glance at the reflection of the moon on his window.

"It's pretty late now. I wonder if the convienence store is still open?"

But just at that moment, the discussion he overheard from the two men on his way back from school rang in his head.

"They mentioned a seriak killer who acts at night. What if he shows up?" he shivered when he thought of such a possibility.

Shit.. He was scared of leaving the house, but the oil was very important. Without it, he wouldn't be able to light his lamp and read.

Taking a deep breath, he weighed both choices inwardly before making a choice.

He was going to risk everything and go buy the oil. Perhaps, the serial killer won't even reach the area he was in.

Dead set, he went back to his cozy room. Using the almost obscure rays of the moon reflected through his window, he removed a wad of banknotes from underneath his pillow.

Tucking them safely in his pocket, he left the house.

After carefully padlocking the door, he started jogging towards the closest convenience store.

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"Damn that Sentry! I never thought that my movement would be tracked somehow!"

A figure looking haggard with various bruises and torn clothing staggered into an alleyway, leaning against a trash can, panting heavily.

Judging from the body shape, it was a female. However, her hair which was stained with blood was drapped over her shoulder, concealing her face.

"Aish! I need juice before that damn Sentry comes here, or else my life will be forfeit!" Aisha shrieked in agony and frustration.

"Eh?" just then, her pointy ears twitched. Moments later, a jogging individual emerged; it was Aiden!

"Juiice!!" Aisha shrieked as she pounced forward.

Aiden who was jogging through the alley suddenly felt something pounced on him.

It felt ice cold, however he felt a bouncy elastic like mound pressing against his chest.

Unfortunately, he didn't have time to savor this sensation because he suddenly felt two sharp objects sink into his collar bone.

"Ughh!!" he groaned as he tried to wriggle his Body free. Unfortunately, Aisha's strong grip kept him in place.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" like a mad beast, Aisha held onto Aiden like her life depended on it.

She could already feel some of her lost stamina being restored.

"Blood sucker! leave the kid!!" an angry voice yelled, followed by a thick vine that slammed against Aisha, sending her flying.

"Ugh! time to go!" Aisha groaned as she stood up wobbly, fleeing into the darkness.

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"Hm?" Aiden groaned as he opened his eyes, instantly inhaling an unpleasant sulphuric smell.

"Hospital?" he mumbled weakly, unconsciously touching the right side of his collarbone, which just happened to be bandaged.

Memories of what happened at the dark alley flooded into his brain. He shivered.

What was wrong with that strange individual and why did she bite his neck?

No matter how hard Aiden thought about it, things just didn't make any sense.

At that moment, the door opened and a doctor walked in.

"You are awake young man? what a relief" the doctor smiled charismatically.

"D-Doctor.. how long was I unconscious?" Aiden asked.

"A whole week"