Fan art Story (ZNathan Animations): The Eternal Conflict Prequel

Chapter 5: Teufel

     Tefuel took the man's hand and shook it. His hands were strong and firm. "...Um, my name is Tefuel. I think Sir Daemon said that someone was going to teach us how to use our powers...?" She shifted in her seat. 

     Derek smiled and shook his head and turned to Daemon. "Daemon, you didn't tell them anything?" 

     "Oh my, you should be seen how they reacted. I couldn't get a word out before they started blasting me with a million questions per second!" Daemon joked. "Don't worry, they'll catch up soon enough. Come on, guys, let's go out onto the field. We have it all for ourselves." 

     Tefuel gave her friends a concerned look. "What do you think they're gonna teach us?" She whispered to Nathan. 

     "Probably exercises. I mean, we're starters, what can they possibly teach us on our first day?" Nathan had a point. But none of them knew just how wrong they were.

                                                               ❀——❀

     Derek made them all do 50 laps around the school's running track. No stopping, or an extra 10 laps was added. The track was huge, and Tefuel and the others weren't even allowed to stop to catch their breath. Orion finished first, then Vlad, then Nathan. Tefuel finished last. All of them had been added 10 laps at least once during the entire ordeal. 

     "This—gasp—is not—gasp—called proper...training." Orion collapsed onto the pavement. He took in several deep breaths and spoke again. "How is running gonna help us?"

     Vlad and Nathan nodded, too tired to speak.

     Tefuel just shrugged. "Maybe it's to test our limits to see how long we can last like this." Derek nodded. 

     "That's right. Smart girl too. I bet you're the smartest out of all these guys." Derek grinned and handed them all water. Tefuel drank hers in just a few gulps. 

     Orion splashed the water onto his head. "Man, that feel so much better. Hey, is Daemon supposed to do that too?"

     Vlad scowled. "Yeah, where is blueberry-head? How come we have to do this? Like, I know he's the principal and all that, but he's still the same age and has the same arc like us." 

     Tefuel frowned. Vlad was right, as much as that guy was mean. It wasn't very fair. But guessing their chances, she guess Daemon didn't need to.

     "Actually...I'm pretty sure he went to do a few laps around the entire school ground? Maybe about, I dunno, twenty? Not sure, since the grounds are pretty big. He should be back in about a minute." Derek crossed his arms. 

     Everyone's jaw dropped. "Ten laps... around the entire school? Including the grounds?" Nathan squeaked. 

     Orion's eyes bulged. "That guy is gonna die from exhaustion then." Vlad nodded his head so fast that Tefuel thought his head was gonna fly to outer space.

     "...And here he is." Derek said as Daemon appeared out of the trees, looking more exhausted than the rest. Tefuel noticed that he'd changed into different clothes than his usual principal uniform. Now, Daemon was wearing a black shirt with black pants, finished with brown combat boots. Derek nodded, looking pleased. "I see you also changed your outfit while you did the laps." Daemon nodded, leaning over, trying to catch his breath.

     Daemon flopped down beside the others, who stared at him. "So, did Nathan and the rest finish?" He asked as he opened a water bottle. Derek grinned and answered him. "Seems like I managed to prove Vlad wrong." Daemon winked at Vlad, who growled in frustration. 

     "You sure did, my guy." Derek clapped Daemon on his back, which almost sent him barreling onto the ground. 

     "The ribs, Derek, the ribs." Daemon grunted as he struggled to get back up. "You have one heck of a punch." 

     Derek laughed. "Dude, you were not like this back then. I guess I can't blame you. Sorry." Daemon scowled. 

     "Wait... you guys were together at one point?" Vlad and Tefuel asked at the same time. Then both of them glared at each other. Tefuel swore that this guy had a power which let him read minds. She would make sure he would get flanged from the world and into space by her. At least I have my friends. We can beat him up together, she thought.

     Derek looked confused. "What do you mean by that?" Then his face turned red. "Wait—do you mean—"

     Daemon looked bored. "No, they meant if we worked together sometime in the past. Derek, your that brain of yours. You have it for a reason."

     Derek scowled. "Pftttt. Yeah, tell that to my face," he retorted. Daemon glared at him. And promptly splashed water onto Derek's face. "Hey—splutter—that's not—cough—fair!" Derek spluttered and growled. "Just for that, we're doing the same thing for a week."

     Everyone groaned, except for Daemon. Instead he grinned. "Challenge accepted, my friend." He shook hands with Derek. 

     As Daemon stepped back, he said to the others, "you should see his powers, they're really cool." Derek proved Daemon's point. He raised his sword up into the air, and with a blinding flash and thundering sound, a streak of lightning hit his sword. Until then, Tefuel realized that Derek had what seemed like lightning powers. Those were very rare. And just like that, Derek flashed away. 

     No one spoke for a minute or two. Then Vlad broke the silence. 

     "Lightning powers? Are you serious? Great, I guess I have a prediction for the next lesson after running tracks. Surviving lightning strikes. Yay." 

     Daemon frowned. "No, Vlad. He cannot do that. Not to mention, lightning can't always kill people. In the—" 

     "Yeah yeah, let's just go back. I need a break in my dorm. Come on, Nathan and Tefuel, let's go to our dorm. The science exam is tomorrow. We need to study." Orion dragged the others back into the school, leaving Daemon and Vlad outside, who frankly, both looked amused.

     Teufel sometimes wondered why Vlad was so quick to switch sides.