The Ascendants

Chapter Two

By the end of school I had a killer headache and was ready to go home but how unfortunate for me that I had battle strategies.

There are a lot of extra curricular activities at this not so noble institution. In fact there are so much that the teachers won't allow us to go home after school. They claim that they are teaching us how to become better hunters.

Every student has to get their ass handed to them by those better than them in a particular area of battle strategies every once in a while.

I am a sword wielder, the best in my year but I could never use a crossbow if my life depended on it - not to say that I don't try.

An hour after school isn't that long. But an hour of working relentlessly after school every day of the week is a bit overboard, even for me who find my category quite easy.

"I'm partnering with Dylan." Jess all but yelled the second we were on the field.

I groaned as Jasper swung a hand over my shoulder, "So it's just you and me," he said with a smirk.

No one ever wanted to practice with Jasper, the main reason for that is he goes all the way. He practices as though he is in a real fight and his life depends on it.

Jasper isn't only my best friend he is an Aekins. The Aekins are hunters but not only that, they were like the leading family when it came to hunting. They train relentlessly to keep at the 'top of their game' as Jasper so generously kept on reminding us.

I personally think that if there were to be a crown Adley Aekins would be the one wearing it. He is the leader of their team and Jasper's grandfather. I swear that man does not have a retiring bone in his body. The only thing that showed his age was his salt and pepper hair.

"What would you say to being the target?" Jasper asked with an evil grin as he pulled out a dagger.

We had barely reached the middle of the school's field which was now being used as a training ground when Jasper had stopped.

"Well that's a mighty easy question," I told him, "How about hell no."

"Too late," he said throwing his dagger towards my head. I dodged the lethal blade by side stepping and brandished my sword.

"Bring it," I growled.

By the time the hour had past everyone was slouching and sweat was a new body oil.

The healers were all busy because of the amount of injuries issued out today. There weren't any fatal, the worst was probably a broken bone or two.

Jasper bumped me on the shoulder and grinned.

"I guess that since you no longer have a dagger in your hand that means we can go back to being friends again right."

"Something like that."

There was a soft punch on my shoulder and I turned around.

"Hurry up dweeb I'll be leaving in ten and I will leave without you," the brunette warned squinting up at me.

"Go on without me then Jen, I'm hanging with Jasper and the others today."

"Fine, suit yourself." Jennifer snapped before leaving.

Jasper and I watched her as she retreated.

"That girl's got some serious issues," he commented.

"You are telling me? I'm the one who has to live with her."

"My condolences."

"I really don't know why she hates me though it's like she does everything she can think of to get under my skin."

"Who knows, maybe that's what she wants," Jess said from behind the us.

"Y'all are stank." Dylan said a moment later, "Let's go hit the showers that our government so generously installed for us to wash of all the grime, sweat and dirt after they finish train us to become better murderers."

"Awfully put as usual D," I said.

"Thank you for noticing," Dylan said with a dramatic bow.

The rest of the day went by in a blur and before I knew it there was the usual morning nuisance at my door again.

"I'm up!" I yelled. "Just go away." Even though the door was between Jennifer and I, I could practically feel the smile playing on her face.

I went through my usual morning routine and ten minutes later I was taking up my bag off my bed.

I rushed through the door in a hurry because the truth be told - I wasn't in the mood for any of Jennifer's drama. But as soon as I left my room I crashed into Skylar.

She gave a small yelp before she fell. Only she didn't meet the ground because I caught her when she was seconds away from the impact.

"How did you..." she began to say questioning my speed.

"Are you all right?" I asked taking a step back.

"Yeah," she said before she diverted her gaze to something on the floor.

I followed her eyes and noticed that I had accidentally knocked her drawings out of her hands.

"I'm sorry, I'll pick them up."

"No it's okay," she began a bit too late because I was already examining one of the pictures.

It was a picture of me.

I looked up at her puzzled but she was looking everywhere else but at me.

As I began to look at the rest I realized that they were all pictures of me apart from a few here and there of her family.

There was a picture of me frowning, one of me smiling, one of me with a bow and arrow and my personal favorite so far - one of me wielding my sword.

I stood up and handed the stack of papers to her.

"They are really good," I commented. A blush rose high up on her cheeks as she began to study her feet.

"Thanks." she muttered.

I ran a hand through my hair not sure how to ask her about the images without offending her.

"Sooo... " I began searching for words. She look up at me but quickly looked away when she met my eyes, "The pictures..."

"We need to go before Jen gets upset," she interrupted rushing past me and down the stairs.

A frown made its way on my face as I looked at where she was previously standing.

"Weird," I muttered and began making my way downstairs as well.