Arcadia And The Legend Of The Elite Fore⚔

Chapter:6 Araya's Letter

Naomi Pov

"Did you hear that?",I said bolting upright in my seat.

The screaming of panicked students reached the study that Laydon and I were in. I quickly got to my feet and ran out into the hallway.

Kids were frantically running towards their dorms with mentors leading the way. They were heading to their dorms? Was this a drill?

Another scream sounded out from the hallway that had the spiral staircase at the end. That staircase led to the dorms. No. If it was a drill there would be no reason for them to scream.

Laydon stopped one of the kids moving down the hall. He had a badge on his coat that identified him as a mentor.

"Keith!", Laydon called out to the boy.

The mentor stopped dead in his tracks and turned to him. He didn't look scared but alert.

"General.", He turned with his hand across his heart.

"What is all this commotion about?", Laydon said standing infront of him now.

"We were in the dinning hall Sir, when creatures began to materialize out of black smoke.", He looked up at Laydon.

"Prince Kale told all the mentors to get their assigned kids out and to their dorms while he kept watch.", He didn't make eye contact with the General.

"Where is he now?", Laydon took a step forward.

"He instructed all the mentors to meet in your office once all the new students were safe. My guess is he's on his way over here now.", Keith finished.

"All the kids were in the dinning hall? Including the new students correct?", I asked him.

"Yes Prin... -"

Before Keith could finish I was already down the hallway. What did he say they were? Creatures materializing from black smoke? My eyebrows narrowed. A Shade no doubt. Arcadia knew how to kill one. I taught her myself but would she?

Laydon was not far behind me when I turned down a hall. The kids were flooding in blocking off my path. Using the table set against the left wall, I jumped up to the ceiling and stepped on the roof support. I didn't break my speed as I ran on the beams. I needed to get to her.

I caught a glimpse of two Shades at the end of the now empty hall. I pulled out my daggers and throw them into the wall on the right, aiming them one below the other moving down. Quickly I stepped on them like stairs leading me down from the roof support.

I could hear Laydon behind me. He hadn't drawn his swords yet. Pulling out mine I pludged it straight into the core of the Shade on the right. The creature sparked to a flame and instantly disintegrated.
I was about to do the same to the one on the left when a hand gripped my shoulder pulling me back. Throughing me of balance. I regained my footing and sent a dagger from my boot at the other Shade.

The metal sound of a sword hitting my dagger away caught my attention. I pulled out another dagger but I was kicked into a room before I could fling it.

Landing on my torso with a thud. The doors shut behind me and my swords were knocked out of my hands a good distance from me.

"Why did you do that?", Laydon barked at me.

"Give me back my swords Laydon.", I said standing up.

"Not before you tell me what the hell is going on Naomi.", He barked at me.

"They attacked the kids!", I looked at him through my hair that had come lose from when he kicked me into the room.

"Don't give me that bullshit! You know as well as I do that the Shades aren't a threat to us!", He was angry.

"You're wrong they are a threat!", I screamed at him.

He took a step toward me.

"Why did you do that?! Killing was always you're last resort never your first.", He looked at me as if he didn't recognize me.

I fell silent catching a glimpse of myself in the swords infront of me. I hardly recognized myself.

"Answer me damn it!", He said hitting the desk nexr to him.

I couldn't let them take someone else I cared about. I won't allow it. Even if it meant killing them.

"I won't let them take someone else from me! You heard me!?", I screamed.

Laydon looked at me. His face was blank. I heard him speak again as I picked up my swords.

"Another? What are you talking about-" he stopped and inhaled sharply before adding, "...this is about Araya isn't it?"

My hands froze on the swords. I haven't heard someone one say her name in a long time.

"Look Naomi, I told you I'm here to help you but I can't if you're not honest with me.", He knelt down next to me.

He was right. I'd been keeping everything to myself for so long. I forgot what it was like to have someone's help. As much as I wanted to keep him safe... No. Keep them all safe I needed to tell him the truth. At least some of it for now.

"They're here for Arcadia.", I said softly.

"How do you know that?", He questioned me.

"Because.", I paused.

Could I really trust him? Laydon was the only person who would believe me. He's the only one that agreed to keep Arcadia safe. Despite our difference I know him to be a man of his word.

"Because I have it on good authority that they are.", I said standing up.

"Naomi I swear you're on my last nerve. If you don't tell me who it is I'm-"

"Araya", I said cutting him short.

He looked at me with wide eyes.

"Naomi...she's...she's dead.", He said swallowing hard,"You and I know that. In her letter she wrote you she said-"

"It was in that letter that she warned me about them.", I said facing him.

He just started at me. Half in confusion and the other in disbelief. I didn't blame him.

"I agree that I haven't been completely honest with you Laydon. And for that I am sorry but I'd do it all again to assure the safety of Araya's child. I know you would too."

Laydon couldn't look at me. It was alot to take in. He was still taking all of this better then I did.

"Laydon please I-", I was cut short but the soundd ot the door opening.

I quickly turned around, ready to fight. It wasn't a shade.

"Fine", his had clenching the door noob.

"After we make sure she's safe...", Laydon said turning to face me,"You tell me everything."

I need his help. If what Araya wrote in those letter were true Arcadia was more important then anyone even myself. I couldn't allow the Shades to have her. If agreeing to Laydons terms made sure that didn't happen then so be it.

"Agreed.", I said nodding