"No, the f*ck you mean…no!" Riven barked.
"If all you want is just vengeance, then you're better off doing that yourself." Kairo said sharply, turning to leave.
Riven didn't know much about the latter, but he knew that if he lost this guy there was no way of getting him back.
"Wait!"
Kairo halted, tuning his head back. "What?"
"Please, help me…I want to know…"
Kairo fully turned his body, knowing where this was going. "Know what exactly?"
"I want to know who…what I am!" he clenched is his fists. "I want to know why they attacked my family, who the people who did this are…I want to know all of it."
For a split second Riven could swear he saw a smirk on the guy's face as tossed him a handkerchief. "Fine then but might want to fix up that blood that's dripping down your nose…and you'll need to come to terms with something."
"What's that?" Riven paused as he wiped the blood of his face.
"Your world is about to be a lot more complicated."
__________________________
They stood in front of a cracked wall in the alley — the same one that Riven saw when he ran away.
"So where exactly is the door? I mean I don't see any." He asked the handkerchief from earlier poorly tied onto his head.
"You're looking at it."
"Huh?" Riven tilted his head as Kairo walked in front of the wall and raised the back of his hand to the wall.
At first nothing happened but then a symbol appeared on the wall and the same appeared on Kairo's hand as well. The wall gave a slow and steady rumble as it opened up revealing a double door.
"How'd you…do that?"
"The Mark is a key that grants us passage into the island." Kairo started as he opened the door and walked into the hallway.
"Island? What Island?" Riven asked as he followed.
"Mythic Island…A place where most of us Mythics live in."
"'Most of us'?"
"Others like to live amongst humans, socialize and learn about them."
"I see…"Riven said, pocketing his hands.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you…did you always like to dye your hair that way."
"Eh?" Riven's hand instinctively brushed his hair. "Oh? Well I was born this way."
Kairo looked at him, obviously caught off guard by the reply. "Seriously! Looks like a game of Shoji went on in there."
"Go ahead laugh all you want." Riven rolled his eyes.
"Well it's not my fault nature decided to give you a make-over."
"Okay I answered your question now you have to answer mine."
Kairo shrugged. "Sure ask whatever you want."
"So like you just told me your name was Kairo, you didn't exactly give me a last name." Riven said, scratching the back of his neck, realizing how awkward the question was.
"Don't exactly have one."
Riven eyes went wide for a bit. "You're joking, right?"
"I didn't know much about my parents…they hid in the forest from a Hunter raid when I was a baby — they never came back." Kairo voice softened just a bit.
"Sorry… didn't mean to pry."
"Don't be. If you dwell on the past, you won't go anywhere."
Riven studied Kairo as they both took a turn at the hallway.
How can you still be so calm talking about such a terrible past?
They stopped in front of a metal door as Kairo stepped in front of the keypad and typed in some digits.
[ACCESS GRANTED]
The door gave a metallic groan before opening with a hiss. Riven blinked his eyes as the light creaked in.
"Come on, you've got a lot to learn."
***
Riven gaped at the scene — It was a metropolis, the buildings stood tall, the sky was crystal clear, the sun as glorious as always.
"I thought you said we were on an Island?" said Riven, still trailing behind Kairo
"We are…but over the years we developed a lot and we've been able to reach this level."
"That's pretty impressive."
Though, the city wasn't the main thing that caught Riven's attention. The citizens he saw were particularly unusual — he saw Elves, Orcs, Fairies and a group of snake-like people which Kairo called 'Kobolds'.
Riven had just come to a sudden realization. "Soo, where exactly are we going anyways?"
Kairo looked at him, obviously waiting for him to ask. "Chrono's Keep."
"'Chrono's Keep'?" Riven said arching a brow.
"It's an academy for Mythic."
"Oh that's sounds kinda cool…" Riven smiled, but slowly and slowly it started to come to "Wait academy? YOU MEAN SCHOOL!"
"You're really slow-witted." Kairo smirked.
"YOU SLY, PIECE OF CRAP!"
______________
"This is your idea of a school?"
"Pristine" didn't even begin to describe the structure before Riven. It towered seven stories high, its walls bathed in golden yellow. Pillars gleamed a flawless white, and the central dome stole the show — sunlight danced across its glass surface, scattering brilliance in every direction.
"I said academy, not school, there's a difference." Kairo said pocketing his hands.
"Wait…Hold up what exactly do you teach in a sc—academy filled with magical students?" said Riven inquisitively as they walked across the massive courtyard.
"Well aside basic education, there's learning how to control your powers, hand-to-hand combat, Mythic culture and history and also — are you listening?"
Kairo turned at Riven, who has more interested in looking at the courtyard.
"What are you doing?"
Riven stopped to look at Kairo. "Well, I was just taking in this scenery, everything here seems so orderly and perfect!"
Kairo blinked at him, he could almost see the stars glinting in the other's eyes. "You know what forget it."
______________
After a while, Riven was seated in front of an office that read: 'Examination room'.
Kairo had told him to wait outside and not move anywhere — he had been more specific about the not moving part.
"Ugh, What's taking him so freakin' long…I'm about to die of boredom."
Then the universe decided to answer Riven's prayers and the door swung open and Kairo came out with a woman behind him.
"Riven, meet Luna." Kairo said gesturing slightly at the woman.
"Oh. You're the one who Kairo's talking about?" the woman peered at him. "You got a really cool hairstyle by the way!"
"Um. T–Thanks, I guess. I'm Riven…Nice to meet you."
The woman smiled sweetly. "Nice to meet you too."
Her figure was sleek, her voice was soft but had this energy behind it. She had short brown hair that swayed gently, her eyes were a beautiful yellowish–brown. The lab coat she wore had a small brown stain — coffee obviously.
"I'm guessing he's here for his reading?" she said facing Kairo
"Yeah. Can't control his powers…yet."
"Awn, you believe in him."
"Don't start."
"Oi, I'm still here!" Riven said narrowing his eyes at the two "What the hell are you on about?"
"You'll see…" Luna teased as she went in the room gesturing a hand for the two to follow her, with a cheeky grin.
Both sighed heavily.
They knew this was the kind of woman who could out-charm a fox, arguing would be futile.
The room was blindingly white—cold, sterile, and humming with quiet energy. In its center stood a massive, human-sized glass tube, its surface slick with condensation. Thick wires snaked from its base toward a desk cluttered with monitors, cables, and half-empty coffee mugs.
"Looks like a sci-fi movie in here."
Luna hummed, her fingers dances across the console as the monitors flared to life with green code.
The tube in the center opened with a smooth whrr as Riven cautiously stepped in.
"So I just stand right here?"
"Yep," Luna started "I just need to test your physical capabilities and your how stable your powers are." She said as she snapped a finger at him, winking.
Riven brain blue-screened for a moment.
This woman is really something else.
Kairo leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, with this 'tired-but-still fond of' look on his face
"Alright-y, Let's start your examination, Riven!"
The ground behind the tube, emitted a bright green, bathing Riven in a neon glow.
"Whoa — Whoa!" Riven stumbled back a bit expect wild static to shoot out, but the only threat was the tingle that ran up his spine. "This just feels weird."
"OKAY! Looks like your physique is top notch, that's super cool by the way." Luna beamed, practically bouncing on her feet as she swayed side to side. "Let's check that stability of yours…"
The light glowed brighter, as a surge of static crawled up Riven's body, making him involuntarily to shiver.
"Well, seems like that's clearer up as well but still need practice. Lots of it." She smirked at Riven — who was unsure if that was a tease or a threat. "Now let's wrap this up…and check your power…"
Again, the light glowed brighter, this time is making Riven green.
"And…"
{SYSTEM ERROR: TARGET NOT VALID}