Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

20: Where is my mind?

A small, yellow light flew through the streets. It flew over to Strickler, who was walking through the park. It flew into his ear and he kept walking. "Impure," he heard someone from behind him say.

He turned around and saw Bular.

"I-Ican't be..."

Bular laughed.

"Bular?" Strickler asked. "I thought you were dead."

"I live, only to find you've left my father to rot in the Darklands? You dare to conspire to steal my father's throne?"

"No! I would never betray..."

Strickler held up his hand, revealing the ring. "The Inferna Copula?" Bular asked. "You think Angor Rot will bring your reign?" he laughed. "Abandon the ring now, before I feast on your corpse and floss with your intestines."

"Bular, please!"

A girl walked by and saw Strickler on the ground, talking to nothing. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, boy."

"Oh, you shall beg," Bular said as the girl walked right through him. "Abandon the ring!"

"She just walked right..." he looked up a Bular. "Pixies."

He hit his head until the yellow light flew out of his ear. Bular disappeared and Strickler stood up. "Angor! You dare attempt to distort my mind with a pixie?"

Angor laughed from on top of a statue. "A nightmare would scare the ring from my hand?" Strickler asked, turning into his troll form. "You are a dog," he held up his fist. "And this is your leash."

He punched Angor in the face, sending him flying to the ground. Strickler walked over to him. "I am your master. Obey my command and kill the Trollhunter!"

"Then, you should avoid that school of yours tomorrow."

Strickler changed into his human form and walked away. Angor stood up.

"But the ring will be mine."

***

Mary and Darci ran over to Claire. "Jim Lake asked you to the dance and you didn't tell us?"

"Spill it, C-Bomb," Darci said. "Before Mare and I go ka-boom!"

"There's not much to really tell," she said. "Except...I sorta asked him."

Darci and Mary both gasped. "Good, girl!" Darci said.

"Excuse me, Darci," Mary said. "Do not celebrate. Educate. That's not the way you do things, Claire. There are rules for being on top of the social food chain. What sort of world do you think we live in?"

She walked off with Darci. "If only you knew," Claire said, following them.

***

Toby walked over to Jim and leaned his head against his locker. "I can't feel my arms."

"The first day of training can do that," Jim told him. "But you are the one that wanted the Warhammer."

"Hey, next time a magic troll assassin pinches your sword, you'll be happy Warhammer and shadowdancer have your back."

"Shadowdancer? Let me guess. You haven't run that by Claire. Well, Tobes, rest up. We can at least feel safe in school, knowing Angor rot won't attack us in broad daylight."

"I think I can feel a little baby muscle growing," Toby held up his arm, flexing the tiny muscle he had.

***