⌶ Oathbreaker ⌶

Two | The Temporary Solution

"So what did you say?" Eric prodded at Charles' short story of magic and fantasy. It was lunch period, and the two young men were surrounded by conversation and laughter. The smell of food lingered behind every action and word. Eric could've have been mistaken for Charles' own brother, for he too had ringlets of dark hair, was brown-skinned, and was cursed with glasses. 

Charles hesitated on answering the question to build suspense. "I said I would think about it." 

"Dude, what the hell! you have an opportunity to learn magic and you turned it down? I wanna learn magic so badly, man." Eric stated. It was true, Eric had always been interested with today's magic, and magic would prove to be a powerful weapon against his foes, or a tool to help him during tests. 

"I didn't turn it down, and be quiet. Magic is cool, I agree, but it could cost me my life. You remember Karina Brooks? she was initiated into a house, and when she tried practicing magic, she died." Charles deflected Eric's excitement. "I just.. I don't want to get in trouble. Me and you both know that I'm a law follower." 

Eric grinned ear-to-ear after hearing the last statement. "Yeah, you're a little goody two-shoes. But I've seen you become very bad. You cursed at the teacher once, you've been caught playing around during class, and the sass. Don't get me started on the sass you have." Eric said with amusement. 

Charles scoffed at his best friend's words. He got in trouble a couple of times, but he wasn't even close to being bad. But he could understand what he was saying. Compared to Eric, Charles was the bad one. 

"Hey, maybe I should come with you. You know, when you stop being a bitch and actually make the decision. Maybe they'd let me join with you." 

Charles raised an eyebrow in response to his friend. "I guess so. The Housemaster isn't so strict, maybe he'd accept you. But that's if I decide to go back." 

The two boys spent the rest of their lunch joking and laughing before it was over. But in the back of their heads, they were both thinking different things. Eric was wondering what it would be like to join a house, and Charles wondered what the cost would be.

-

School was over, classes had been emptied, and the lights were off. The hallways were eerie and silent, but it was not entirely empty. A boy, bald and fair-skinned, sat against a few lockers. His expression was unreadable, since it hid behind a mask. Just as he was standing, someone else was coming to meet him. Another boy, curly-headed and sharp-jawed, approached. "I know you heard them today. FeatherGrave is recruiting nobodies." the boy stated. 

The masked boy turned his head to him. 

"Are you that dumb? the Thirteen aren't doing this for giggles. They're looking for direct descendants of the Sages of Old. With the descendants, they'll make Sages of New. They'll be powerful enough to overthrow the government." the masked boy informed the other boy. The young man was shocked that the masked boy knew so much information.

"I'm tired of hearing this Thirteen shit. I'm gonna make HeavenCall the best house there is." the young boy smirked and stated. HeavenCall was a relatively new house formed by a handful of magic users. The two boys both belonged to the house. 

"How the hell are you going to do that. There's thirteen Housemasters we need to defeat to be at the top. And Nicholas.." 

"Don't bring him up. He's my brother, so I'll kick his ass." 

"And what if you don't? you'll be laughed at, and HeavenCall will be another unheard of house."

The boy turned his back to the masked boy. "I know what the hell I'm doing. But know this, those boys, we'll be fighting them really soon. We'll wait, and strike those bitches out of the sky." 

The masked boy chuckled underneath his mask. 

"You know, one of those boys is a descendant. By the time we strike, he'll be too powerful." 

"Hm, we'll see about that. I'll see you at the house, Gabe."

And with that, the boy faded into dust.