Skating Free

Prologue

Forgot to mention when I published this, but this will make more sense if you read my "Set in Stone" book. Don't gotta finish it, but y'know.

"The darkness. It's here."

The shadows came in hordes, surrounding the school building in crowds. Beady red eyes peaked out from the creatures, deafening shrieks sounding from their deteriorating mouths. It was targeting her crystals. They needed to get Delta out of there. "Katrina," The aforementioned pinkette moved her gaze to her commander, summoning her weapon to rest in her hand. "Get Jason and Delta out of here!"

She summoned her book as she watched the three, albeit reluctantly, sprint towards the forest behind the school building. She whispered over the pages in her book. "Lux luceat super damnatis." Light rose from her book, slowly filling her pores. The piercing light shot from her skin, circling around her at unmeasurable speeds. Her eyes slowly turned gold before she raised her hand, letting the rings of light surround it. The light blinded her, as her world went dark.

***

To be fair, destroying Saiki's world was completely accidental. And technically it wasn't destroyed, though "consumed by darkness" didn't sound much better either. The darkness did a big number on the Alpha League: The blast radius of Rune's attack was enough to send everyone universes away.

Yeah, that would explain why Rune was sitting in a dumpster somewhere on a college campus. "What the hell?" Rune peeled a rotten banana peel off her head, shaking her hands as if she had pressed them in some mysterious liquid. Perhaps she did, she wasn't quite sure. "Ok...? Did I just get fucking Sora'd?" She slapped her hands down into the pills of garbage, before shaking her hands of the filth once again.

"Disgusting." She waved her hand quickly above her hand, slowly letting herself be emerged in a golden smoke. However, instead of where she planned to re-emerge, she found herself crashing onto the floor of someone's kitchen. "What—" She gasped as she quickly tore her hand from her hip. It was coated in blood. "Oh. That explains it..." She collapses to the floor, holding her lower torso. She hears footsteps. "Shit."

Hobbling her way over to the corner of the kitchen, She opened a cabinet closer to the ground, thankfully filled to the brim with medical supplies. However, all movement stopped when she heard a gasp. "Oh, fuck." The voice she heard was silky, yet shaking with shock. She looked up, and was met with a horrified gaze.

The boy's eyes were golden, matching perfectly with his hair, which had a cherry blossom like hue. His build was a little feminine, yet definitely muscular. Most of his form was hidden by the giant hoodie that he wore. Piercings lined his face, giving his intimidating air some extra fuel.

"Are you just gonna stand there," Rune asked, pulling the bandages, adhesive tape, and gauze from the first aid kit. "Or are you gonna help me?" The boy seemed to snap out of his stupor and rushed over to the girl. She began to unbutton the opening of her suit. There was a huge gash running up her side. It was lined by golden veins. "Shit. ok, nevermind what I just said about helping. I'm gonna need you to stand back. I'm not sure what this will do."

The boy was hesitant, but soon stood back, a nod of acknowledgment. She hovered her hand over the wound, and slowly, the wound began to close. By the time she finished, there was still a bit of blood escaping, and the wound was still open, however the purple had disappeared. She took the gauze and covered the wound, before wrapping her lower torso with bandages. "Can you take me to a couch, or chair, or... something?" The boy nodded once again, just as hesitantly as the last, and led her to the kitchen table.

"Now that your not bleeding all over my kitchen floor," The boy spoke up, "Who are you? And how did you get in my apartment?" It was a reasonable question. Rune knew that. And to be fair, it's wasn't the question that made her burst into laughter, no matter how rude it seemed. All she could hope is that the boy believed that the blood loss gave her a bit of delirium, and not that she was crazy.

"So this is an apartment. I thought I teleported into a college dorm with all the work on the counters," She giggled. However her attempt to lighten the mood revealed fruitless, as his confusion and concern only increased. "Teleported? What are you, some kind of magician? You must have a more.... realistic answer than that."

Rune pretended to think for a moment, before giving another answer. "No, you're right. I just broke into your apartment with a gigantic fucking hole in my side and didn't make a single sound. That makes complete sense." The man deadpanned at the obvious sarcasm. "Is teleportation really less believable than the magic healing hand?"

"Touché. Now who are you?" Rune looked like she had gotten an idea, a mischievous smirk sneaking its way onto her face. It made him nervous, the look on her face. "I am Rune, Author of Prosperity," her smirk grew with her worlds. "And now that you've seen me, I get to stay here."

***

The pair sat on the mystery man's couch, each with a cup of chamomile tea. "Now, let me see if I'm understanding this," the boy started. "You want me, Kaoru Sakurayashiki, to watch over you, who claims to be some kind of deity, until you can find away back to your friends, or if your lucky, your home." Rune nodded, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. "Yes, though this is the first time you've said your name."

Kaoru sighs, sipping on the tea in his hands. He placed it on the side table. "Do you know how you sound? You haven't even told me why your even here, yet you're asking me to be a human shield from- I don't even know what- until further notice?" He was right, Rune thought. It sounded insane, to protect someone he didn't even know from a threat he wasn't informed about until she saw fit. But still, she had no choice.

"I'm not here by choice. I really don't wish to be a bother to you, but I have only been in this world for a few hours. You're the only one that even knows I exist, let alone can be trusted not to let me rot in hell." The boy was stubborn, however he was not cruel. "Please." They held their silent staring contest for a bit longer, before Kaoru let out a sigh. Rune smiled. Jumping from her seat, she embraced the boy. "God, thank you Kaoru! I promise you won't regret this!"

Why does that make me think I will, He thought. What the hell did I get myself into?