Stained Manor

"Losing You"

"Nothing lasts forever" is a funny phrase. As a child, I guess I never gave it much thought. Especially when part of your memories are just not there. As to why.. I can not say. Three years of my life, POOF gone....

The small bits I do remember and of what my mother tells me I have a twin sister. She's not much taller than me and has gentle violet eyes along with the brightest soft colored pink hair I've ever seen. Personally, I don't see much of our looks matching for other than our fair skin. I myself have golden eyes and soft mint hair for starters. Not exactly what folks would normally picture for twins. However, there seem to be more to it than that.

Mom speaks very fondly of her though, but every time I try to ask further questions the conversation trails off to her studying abroad. For that I feel like I'm perhaps the lesser twin as I'm not exactly what you'd call a genius.

Then again, speaking of which I slowly make my way back to the sights and sounds of my teachers voice as I had nodded off. Rubbing my eyes I leaned forward half awake pondering why thoughts of my twin sister even crossed my mind...? It doesn't matter, three years have past since the accident so I guess there isn't much I can expect from vague thoughts.

Just as I took a breathe,

Whhhhaccccck!

Mrs. Hanbrooke took it upon herself to wake the last of my senses.

Jolting upward I yelped "The answer is 24 Mr. Hashlehoff!"

I could feel the laughs and giggles of the students behind me. Not just for referring to my teacher as the most masculine man in our hall, but also because she may have looked it.

From what I overheard, Mrs. Hanbrooke had been a star weightlifting champion in her town. However simce then I believe that she may have just let herself go a lil bit. Crossing her beefy arms at me I could definitely tell she had a glare that could pierce a room.

"I don't recall this being nap time Ms. Penrose." she scoffed.

I smiled acknowledging her words.
"Opps, my bad.. Hehehe"

"Next time, I suggest you manage your time wisely. This area of study will be on your final exam", Hanbrook uttered.

"Yee.. yes Mrs. Hanbrook" I managed to say as I gulped down the bit saliva I felt building up.

Just barely managing to gain back my composure the teacher continued.

"Now getting back to the task at hand, can anyone tell me how SPE helps our society and affects us all?" Hanbrooke looked around before picking the most snobbish gal I could think of.

"Yes, Victoria?"

Now Victorica was a well rounded, all time star pupil any parent would be most proud of. She comes from a wealthy family who donates to local poor families who have been terrorized by the Grulloc. Her features on the other hand seem to just be perks only wealthy people seem to be able to afford. Her short curly wavy blonde hair was perfect, she held a delicate jawline, and soft green eyes most of the nous melted into. Or at least wished she'd give them a glance.

Slowly Victoria rose from her chair and began to speak.

"Spiritual Power Energy or SPE for short was discovered 50 years ago by scientists. This energy allowed for new possibilities to be opened up alongside electricity. It made it possible for human energy to be used in many ways using Spiritual Rose Shards or SRS for short. SRS act like transformers to release the SPE each citizen holds inside. This in turn created a cleaner and new powerful energy system we all use today. "

As soon as she finished, Mrs. Hanbrooke quickly congratulated her knowledge.

" That is correct! Thank you Victoria. As each of you were made aware at the beginning of the year, you were given an assignment tasked with harnessing your own Rose Shard in order to release it's energy. I'm sure most of you are aware of by now that each one holds a special ability and can materialize into a weapon as well. "

Clearing her throat she continued..

" As an example my rose shard allows me to change the form and color of my whole body. "

Hanbrooke holds up a golden locket which begins to glow brightly as her words resonate. The class goes into awe as this is the first time that we have seen her show off her abilities. We mostly get lectured not to use them unless it is for training or dire circumstances. As to why, I can only say it's because supposedly it drains your SPE.

"Oh, and one other thing! The higher the ability the more SPE it takes to maintain stasis! So, it is not to be taken lightly students!!"

There it is... I guess the other detail as to why we must go over this is because of the not so pleasant surprise that did become of discovering SPE. It seems like right around the same time creatures known as the Grulloc came to inhabit our world.

As to what they are or came from still is a mystery to us. We have at least identified three main types based on the level of danger they are to humans.

Starting with the ugliest fellow, the knucklesnare is the mkst intimidating to look at but by far the slowest. If I had to describe it I'd say it resembles a malnourished deer who's been dead for a while. But here's the fun part it can stand up and has little to no jaw bone. Creepy looking thing if I recall.

Next we have the Dolls. Yes, they do look like actual dolls from any creepy antique shop you've ever seen. However, they are no joke. These small Chuckies have 3 subtypes. Each more menacing than the last. The way I learned of it, is the first stage has no eyes, the next one has eyes but no pupils and the last has eyes but looks like a happy killing machine. Not something anyone would like to encounter on a picnic.

After that, we have the most dangerous of all. It doesn't have a shape of any kind other than its identifying black collar. The shape shifter has only been seen a couple times but has it can imitate someone dear to us to lure our gaurd down. Not many people have survived an attack from them and lived but the rare few were the ones who described it for us.

As the lecture went on we went over how SPE powers the city shields, there are 3 gatekeepers between each of our lands and how each land has elite warriors trained to use their Shards in order to kill the creatures that hunt us humans for sport.

Echoing back Mrs. Hanbrooke's glare went back to me.

"Now that thoes un pleasantries are out of the way, don't forget you must write about how your Rose shard can contribute to the one of the lands here in Verona. Starting with the lands in the sky Ceille Solaris, the lands of the ground Embervain Nacata, and lastly the subterranean lands of Ailmoor Vita.

That includes you Ms. Penrose.. "

Feeling the unease I began to respond but before long..

Ding ding dingding!!!

The sound of the bell had gone off granting me a sweet escape.

Still the thought of earlier resonated in my mind for some reason... Oh well.