CHAPTER THREE WELCOME TO OUTCAST ACADEMY
1041 Words
Aren and Lyra rushed out of the garden and back into the hut. Lyra begins to pack up her things, she turned and noticed Aren staring out into the window.
"Get a hold of yourself Aren. We have to go." Lyra said, picking up the lantern on the floor.
"You can go alone. I am not leaving my people." Aren replied.
Lyra sighed and walked slowly over to Aren, placing her hands on his shoulder. "I understand how you are hurting."
"No you don't understand what it means to loose a father!" Aren snapped, moving his body away from Lyra's touch.
"I know you are hurting, but you need to listen to me." Lyra replied softly. "The words is spreading that the Aether Crown is alive. Your people finds out, they won't like you."
Aren shook his head trying not to listen.
"It is the curse that comes with the mark." She replied.
"You can go Lyra, but I am not coming with you." Aren replied.
Lyra realized that his mind was made and gave him a quick nod. She turned to the door and pulled it open.
One last look at Aren before closing the door behind.
Aren watched through the window as Lyra walked into the forest. He had been harsh on her with the way he spoke, but he was hurting.
He picked up a new shirt and wore it before heading out of the hut. He turned to stare at the small hut.
Aren had never seen such place before, but he was glad that he could have access to somewhere private.
He walked through the forest till he arrived at his village.
As he walked through the road, the remaining survivors were picking up the remains of their loved ones
Some turned to stare at him but looked away.
Aren noticed they had the look of disgust on their faces as he passed them.
"Your murderer!" A man bumped into him, and he fell down to his feet. "You caused this upon your village."
"I did not do anything." Aren replied, trying to get up to his feet.
"Look around you, no one else has the cursed Mark, except you." He said.
"How did you know?" Aren replied in shock.
"Because everywhere you walk, the dark energy follows you. We can sense it. They can all sense it." He said again, pointing to the survivors.
Aren tried remembering what happened after the great transformation his body had undergone, but it was impossible.
"I don't think you will make it past the night." The man said and approached Aren. "The only reason why I haven't killed you is because I don't want to bring curse to my people."
Aren gasped as the man finished speaking.
"I am not cursed." He argued.
"Trust me, there will be people willing to kill you and die afterwards."
Aren froze in fear as the man walked away. He turned around and the survivors took their loved ones up into the forest.
Everyone that moved past him, gave him a distance space.
"I am not welcomed here." He said to himself.
Soon enough, he began to remember the things that Lyra had said to him in the hut.
Maybe he could still catch up with her. Perhaps they could move away together.
Aren's thought was disrupted by an arrow coming for his head, but he ducked. He looked up to see one of the survivors aiming for him again.
Alarmed, Aren dashed forward, keeping an eye on the shooter who was ready to release his arrow.
Aren managed to enter the forest before the arrow could get close to him. His legs kept on moving till he arrived at the hut.
He opened the door and stopped on his tracks.
"I thought you left?" Aren asked, trying to catch his breath.
"I wanted you to see exactly what I am saying." Lyra replied and handed him a bag. "Now you know they don't want you here."
"Where are we going?" Aren asked as he hung the bag over his body.
"To a place where the whole world would not be able to find any of us. " She replied and walked past Aren, who trailed behind.
**
After hours of walking through the forest, Aren looked up to see houses ahead of them. A feeling for relief washed over his body.
"Welcome to the Outcast Academy." Lyra says as soon as she noticied a shift in his movement.
"Why bring me here?" Aren asked as they continued walking.
"Outcast Academy is where people come to train their powers." Lyra replied.
"But you said it. My Mark is cursed." Aren reminded.
"They don't have to know." Lyra said.
"But they will find out." Aren argued.
"Aren I can assure you one will know you have the Aether Crown." Lyra replied and turned around to see the gates no longer far off.
She walked to Aren's path, forcing him to stop walking and gaze into his eyes.
"You are not going to like this."
Aren felt a sharp pain on his chest and pulled his shirt to the side. He gasped as the Mark changed.
"How is this possible." Aren asked, returning his gaze back to Lyra.
"Your mark still exist, but I have the ability to make people think it's a different Mark." Lyra revealed with a smile on his face.
Lyra stepped away and starts to walk, while Aren was still staring at his chest. How is the Aether Crown concealed by Lyra's power?
Who could she actually be?
As they moved closer to the gates, Aren noticed a group of men riding a horse approaching them from the side.
"I will handle this." Lyra said, shoving Aren to the back.
"Identify yourself." One of the soldiers yelled.
"I am Lyra Nightshade, a member of the Outcast Academy" She said, pulling out her sword.
"And who is that behind you."
"He is my brother. I was given the authority to bring my brother with me to the academy." She replied.
"Very well then, welcome to Outcast Academy." The soldiers said and moved along.
Aren stared at Lyra who gazed at him.
As the gates opened, Aren wondered who Lyra genuinely could be?
- Writer
