Alítheia's First Hero

Chapter 9........ Times Have Certainly Changed.....

Alítheia was known for the many curses cast upon it, at least that's what the lady said yesterday. The family name, "Honest" was one of them. Millennia ago a magic user fell in love with a protester, and that protester lied about loving the magic user so it could learn more about their ways. But once they had had five children the protester decided to tell the truth, heartbroken the magic user cast a harmless spell on the family name. (SHE DID KILL THE DUDE THOUGH..) Whenever a member of the family would tell a lie the person would make a public announcement to everyone, the truth. Laya was educated enough to ask Ntérek Honest, " Are you trying to flirt with me a nd Allison? " "NO-" He screamed. But immediately he froze up and said, "YES!!!". This curse he has is funny, I said giggling. I know, right? I jumped, I had almost forgotten Laya had access to my mind. Harold, I mean, Kyle was having a blast asking Nyérek embarrassing questions, which he would automatically correct because of his curse. All this laughing made our legs burn even more than the wall sits... We felt a little guilty when Ntérek was sent to Sir Kratos because he wasn't exercising, keyword, LITTLE.. Training was directly after gym, my stomach twisted into a large pretzel.

They took it easy though, we were just taught the combat basics, and we all practiced on punching bags, nothing too extreme. Then the final level came, " Reflexes, they are solitary need in guard knowledge. With no sharp reflexes you will surely not survive a magic user." Sir Kratos said, we were standing in the middle of the "Rookie Gym". Punching bags were spaced a yard a part, but there were to many for this to be battle practice. " These punching bags will be moving at top speeds, and you will have to avoid them by sliding through each crevice precisely. " Seems easy enough Laya said in myaló, " While balancing on single tree trunks on the floor.." I looked at Laya. DID YOU JUST JINX US LAYA?!?! I screamed in myaló, she put her hands up in exaggeration. Kyle smacked his forehead and looked like he was experiencing a migraine. The floor melted away revealing long palm tree trunks. Well, it can't get any worse! Laya said while giving a reassuring look, " In under 60 seconds ". Laya flinched, if I wasn't so tired and sweaty I would've screamed. Sir Kratos glanced at the clock, which was pointing at eight. When the minute hand moved he said, "And, GO! ". The last 50 of us sprinted forward, dodging each bag and jumping on each trunk. 6 kids were focusing on jumping for so long they were hit to the concrete floor below. I had made it past the first 2 rows when the punching bag hit me with a nasty blow. I had now choice to split, I just couldn't hit the ground below. My feet on a trunk each I tried to pull myself up, but I could feel the blood rushing to my head as I hung upside down. Then I heard a "SHING". A axe soared over my feet and crashed into 2 punching bags, "Did I forget to mention the swinging axes?" Sir Kratos laughed. Well I just stupidly avoided my own- DEEEEEEHH? Someone pulled me up, Laya pushed me forward. "GO-" Life seemed to go faster, the clock was ticking,and a warm bruise was forming on my right cheek. I swept through a few more obstacles, then finally collapsed on the floor of the survivor area. My legs hurt and my face was covered in bruises, my knees wobbled when I stood, and my elbow hurts and- Well, I think you get the point. 7 more kids had been dumped onto the concrete of the dead zone, including Laya. Sir Kratos yelled down the dead zone, " This is the first day, so I don't expect you to be perfect.. " he paused and gave a fake smile. " But based on your recorded performance I will disqualify 5 of you, max." What if Laya is disqualified? She'll be erased.... Just like Michelle, I thought, my legs still trembling. I'll be fine, Allison.. I jumped, I REALLY have to remember we can read each other's minds... I said in myaló. Laya's sad face cracked a smile.. The rest of the day zoomed by, we were finally able to see our families again. But there were certain things we couldn't do, we had chips installed in our legs so we wouldn't say anything about the guard ways. My mom was so glad to see me, she had called the government when I didn't come home, but she was so glad I was safe. I told her I couldn't say a thing, another rule was I couldn't speak about the chip. It was hard keeping things from my mom, it was just on of the many things I learned as a kid. We had gotten a letter at 8, I could only see her once a week, " To ensure Allison is focusing on her studies and work she will visit once a week.." I read. Who's going to make her food? She's to old to do things for herself... Guards burst through the door, "Times up, Rookie.." and they drove me away in the black cab .