Agnos smiled. “I assume you’re referring to the show you put on up there.” He looked at Bryson thoughtfully. “It seems you have a sense of humility. I admire that.”
Bryson’s posture rose. “Thank you. I try to find a laugh in everything.”
“Now—” Agnos tilted his head toward Rhyparia, who was sitting on the steps with her chin on her knees in a deflated manner—“show me that you have a sense of character by undoing your first impressions with the lovely girl over there.”
Bryson’s shoulders fell as Agnos took the wind out of his sails just as quickly as he’d inflated them. It was a clever tactic. He built him up just to tear him down. Bryson realized he would have to be careful with this one. But he had to agree that he’d acted abominably.
Bryson took a seat next to Rhyparia and stared blankly across the room. Rhyparia, a bit shocked, turned to stare at him, almost as if she was trying to read his thoughts.
“Why the sudden change of heart?” she asked.
Bryson leaned back on the stairs. “I wouldn’t classify it as a change of heart. That reaction wasn’t a result of my feelings toward you.” He paused, choosing his next words carefully. “I was, simply put, surprised.”
Rhyparia’s mouth curled with disgust. “‘Surprised’? That sounds awfully shallow. You’re judging me because I’m poor. I get it. My family is scum. I understand. I suck. Nothing new.”
Bryson sat back up and looked at her seriously. “First of all, you wouldn’t be here if you sucked. Who your family is doesn’t matter. You are your own person. But I struggle with that myself. Secondly, yes, I was surprised, and maybe I shouldn’t have reacted like that. However, I wasn’t surprised in the way you’re thinking. I just couldn’t believe the school would choose two supposed good-for-nothings to be put into the Jestivan. I’m in the same boat you are. But this is my chance to prove them wrong, and you should look at it the same way.”
Rhyparia’s face softened a bit. “Thank you.”
A third section in the ceiling opened. They all looked up as the next duo of lita and zana finished its descent. But before the platform reached ground, a flailing body—accompanied by a panicked yell—plummeted off its edge. It was followed by a resounding crash as the person hit the balcony’s floor.
Lilu took off her heels and darted up the stairs. She knelt next to the boy and asked him if he was okay.
The boy, whose brown hair was perfectly parted on one side and combed across, opened his eyes. When he saw Lilu, he gave a suave smile and said, “Now I am.” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “My name is Toshik, resident of the Adren Kingdom, known for my speed and abilities with a sword.” He winked after the last part.
Lilu blushed a bit and stood up quickly. Looking down at him, she said shyly, “I’m Lilu, resident of the Intel Kingdom.”
Toshik sat up. “Thank you for rescuing me from the wicked witch.”
“I’m about to bury you in a wicked ditch,” interrupted a new voice.
The podium finally reached the floor to reveal a girl who was obviously annoyed. She had purple hair, like Olivia, and her bangs flowed into a strand of hair that spiraled down the right side of her face. She wore a yellow headband and a yellow and black singlet. From the way it squeezed every curve of her body, it resembled a wetsuit. The only place uncovered was her head. And of course, as expected from anyone from the Adren Kingdom, she had a sheathed sword on her hip. She strode over to the staircase and strutted down past Agnos.
“What happened?” Agnos asked.
“He doesn’t keep his hands to himself, so I pushed him off. And don’t talk to me like we’re friends, Agnos.”
She walked to the bottom of the stairs and then toward the opposite wall of the room—far away from everyone. The way her hips swung in her elastic singlet caused Bryson to compare it to a pendulum.
He turned to look back at Lilu and Toshik. Childish jealousy was eating at his soul. He had never been comfortable talking to girls. The only one he had in his life was Olivia, but her lack of emotions made it easier for him to talk with her. Plus, he’d known Olivia for eight years. The only person he was more comfortable with was Debo.
Toshik finally stood up, and Bryson was caught off guard by his height. He towered over Lilu, forcing her green hair to fall back as she looked up with shocked eyes. He was tall enough to be eye-level with Debo, and his lean build intensified it. He wore a black and grey striped cardigan with a white V-neck underneath. His khakis were loosely fitted and straight-legged. And despite his fall, his hair was combed to perfection, making it look like it was molded with wax. This spelled trouble for Bryson.
“Anyways, I’m sorry for the scare,” Toshik said, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeves. “I’m perfectly okay. No need to worry.” Toshik gave her a charming smile as Bryson scowled from his seat.
Rhyparia looked at him with a sly smile. “Since you got a stab at me with that rude expression you made when you saw me, I’ll take a stab at you.”
Bryson exaggeratingly poked out his lower lip and blew air into his bangs.
“Don’t give me that,” Rhyparia said. “It’s only fair.”
Bryson looked at her. “Fine,” he mumbled.
“I would never have a chance with a boy like him.” Rhyparia tilted her head in Toshik’s direction. “You said you’re looked down upon by everyone like I am, so why are you getting upset about a girl like Lilu, who you’d never have a chance with?”
Bryson glared at Rhyparia. “Thanks,” he said coldly.
“Now we’re even,” Rhyparia said as she leaned back against the steps and gave a satisfied giggle.
There was a lot of socializing going on when the next space in the ceiling opened up. Lilu had brought Toshik down to Agnos, and as it turned out, the two boys already knew each other from a while back. While those three exchanged pleasantries, Rhyparia and Bryson continued their small talk, and the swordswoman from the Adren Kingdom was still seated by herself across the room.
There was a blond girl laying on the podium in fetal position and a boy with pure white hair leaning over her. The boy was slapping her cheek and saying, “Come on, silly Jilly. You’re overreacting.”
Toshik sprinted up the steps toward the podium with a look of fierce resolution. He took a knee in front of the girl. “Jilly, what hap—”
“TOSHIK!” she screamed as she jumped up and hugged him around the neck.
Toshik didn’t respond very well to the enthusiastic greeting. He immediately stood up with an annoyed expression on his face as Jilly remained dangling from his neck.
“Get off me,” he demanded.
“Guess what, Toshy!” She stared up at him with bright green eyes. Her face radiated sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies. “Guess what, guess what, guess WHAT?!”
Toshik looked down at her in defeat and reluctantly asked, “What?”
“On the way down, the boy with the snow hair and I saw something awesome!” she said as she hopped down. “I think we sunk through a ginormous FISH TANK!” Jilly spread her arms wide like a child to signify just how big ginormous was.
“It was the Sea of Light.”
Jilly stared at him for a second or two before a look of understanding finally graced her face. “Oh … I knew it!” she exclaimed as she pounded her fist into the open palm of her other hand. “That explains the shark!”
Rhyparia giggled, and Bryson shook his head in awe.
Jilly stuck out her bottom lip, placed her hands on her hips, and said, “There is no way that shark would fit in my fish tank. It needs a diet before it can be my pet fishy.”
The things she was saying led Bryson to question her age, but she looked to be no younger than him. In fact, she was probably older.
“You can’t have a pet shark,” Toshik said simply.
Jilly gave Toshik a friendly look of disappointment. “Now, Toshy, if I really wanted a pet shark, I could get one.” She flexed her nonexistent muscles and exclaimed, “I’
ll just have to get stronger!”
Toshik spun around purposefully and headed back toward Lilu and Agnos. Jilly stared at him blankly for a bit and then skipped behind him like she was frolicking through a garden.
As she started to follow him down the stairs, she completely froze in the position she was skipping in. Left foot on the ground and her right knee sitting in the air, arms frozen at her sides, she turned to look around the room. She resembled a statue until an unrivaled smile graced her face.
“Hi, everyone!” she shouted to the rest of the Jestivan members.
Everyone responded with a scattered and mumbled, “Hey.”
Everything she did and said reminded Bryson of a child. Her playfulness, spirit, and zealous emotions were overwhelming. It was no surprise that she was from the Spirit Kingdom.
Jilly frowned. “Are we at a funeral or a celebration?” she asked. When nobody responded, she nonchalantly said, “Oh well.”
She looked across the room toward the purple-haired swordswoman who was still sitting in solitude. Her eyes widened as she shrieked across the empty room, “I know you! Yama!”
Jilly darted down the stairs and tripped over Bryson’s leg in the process. She stumbled a little bit, but recovered immediately, giggling at herself. “Whoops!”
Rhyparia was still laughing into her hand. “She’ll be a fun one,” Bryson said as he watched Jilly stretch out her hand to greet a baffled Yama.
Then came the jarring noise as the last section in the ceiling opened up, followed by a startled scream from Jilly as she jumped backward and fell into the arms of Yama, who, in turn, quickly pushed her back upright.
Bryson darted up the stairs, ready to greet his friend. This was the last platform carrying the ninth and tenth members, so he knew they were from the Passion Kingdom. This meant Olivia would be occupying this platform, and he desperately wanted to apologize.
As the final members reached the balcony, and Olivia’s empty, blue eyes became visible, Bryson hurled himself at her with a warming embrace. She took it like she always did—unfazed and expressionless. She did not hug back, but she never hugged back. This didn’t bother Bryson though. Meow Meow’s reaction, however, was a little bit different.
“Get your big, empty head away from my face,” the kitten hat whined as he struggled to push Bryson’s face away with his dangling paws.
“But I love you too, Meow Meow!” Bryson said as he gave a quick peck to his furry cheek.
Meow Meow immediately stopped struggling. He became completely still, stared Bryson down with an evil look and said, “You must have a death wish. Don’t you ever kiss me again.”
As Bryson released his hug, he caught a glimpse of the other member from the corner of his eye. It was the tall tan boy who tried getting Bryson and Olivia’s attention at Telejunction that morning.
“Well hello, Himitsu,” Bryson said warmly. “I’m sorry about earlier. I wasn’t in the right state of mind to interact with anybody at the time.”
Himitsu slid his hand over his sleek black hair. “No big deal, man. I figured something was up.” He put his hands on Bryson and Olivia’s shoulders and said gravely, “I’m just happy to see two familiar faces. At least with you two, I can be myself …” He paused for a couple seconds and then added with a sinister wink, “… for the most part.”
Meow Meow stared at Himitsu with a twisted face. “Do you have a creep switch on you that I can possibly turn off?”
“Still the same smart ass,” Himitsu replied. Meow Meow stuck out his tongue.
Himitsu returned his attention to Bryson and Olivia. “Anyways, happy birthday to both of you,” he said with a happier tone.
“Thank you,” Olivia responded. Bryson’s face soured a bit as he mumbled his thanks under his breath.
Himitsu looked around the room. “Well, time to go make my fake greetings with everyone.”
As Himitsu walked toward the trio of Agnos, Toshik, and Lilu sitting on the stairs, Bryson turned to face Olivia. “I’m so sorry, Olivia,” he said sincerely.
She blankly stared at him for an uncomfortable amount of time. During the lengthy silence, Bryson noticed Meow Meow had fallen into one of his many, random catnaps, but that was typical of the kitten hat.
After several seconds passed, Olivia finally said, “Okay.”
Bryson smiled. That was the best response he would get from her and he knew that.
Things were beginning to liven up a bit as the ten new Jestivan got to know each other better. Yama seemed to have control of her temper regained by the hands of Jilly. They were still alone across the room.
The biggest group occupied the left staircase. Lilu was seated next to Agnos, who was in the middle of morally questioning everyone in the group. Toshik and Himitsu were both standing a couple steps below, looking at Agnos in a confused way. They towered over the rest of the Jestivan—Toshik was somehow even taller, if by only the smallest of margins. And then there was the snowy-haired boy who was on the platform with Jilly. With all the insanity behind Jilly’s entrance, he had been sort of overlooked, and now he was standing awkwardly with the group.
The opposite staircase was occupied by the last three members—Bryson, Olivia, and Rhyparia. They were talking about Rhyparia’s Ancient Piece—her umbrella.
“What is its ability?” asked Bryson.
Rhyparia opened it and twirled it in her hand. “I’m not sure. I don’t have the ability to control my Archaic Energy yet.” She closed the umbrella again and said with a sigh, “So it’s basically just a prop for now.”
“Same story here,” Bryson said. “This is about all I’m capable of doing with my Intel Energy.” He opened both hands palm up and a few lifeless sparks emitted from his fingertips.
Rhyparia shrugged. “At least that’s something.”
They were interrupted by a sudden exaggerated yawn. “You’d think his brain would make up for his lack of talent.” Unfortunately for Bryson, Meow Meow was awake. “Sadly, that’s not the case.”
Bryson’s face twisted with irritation as he replied, “I like you better when you’re sleeping. I think I’ll put you in a coma.”
“Simon would be more threatening,” Meow Meow said with a sly smile.
Bryson went to jump at the kitten hat, but Olivia stopped him with a hand to his chest. The impact caused him to gasp for breath.
Cringing in pain, Bryson turned to look at Meow Meow. “What’s it like having a little girl be your bodyguard?”
“What’s it like being subdued by a little girl?” the kitten retorted.
“You suck.”
As Meow Meow smirked at his victory, Olivia continued to look blankly at Jilly across the room, who was enthusiastically trying to reach for Yama’s sword with no success. Rhyparia had been staring suspiciously at Meow Meow ever since he woke up.
A little while later, a pair of doors opened up under the balcony. A voice carried through from the other room: “Litas and zanas of the Jestivan …” There was a short pause. “… Come in.”
5
A Predecessor’s Grave
For the first time in what seemed like an hour, the newly titled Jestivan left the lobby they had been socializing in. Bryson entered the new room side by side with Olivia. Looking around, he saw high, elegant walls paneled with beautiful mahogany. A window looking into the depths of the Sea of Light wrapped around the room at the top of the wall.
“Please, may you all have a seat?” said a soft, gentle voice at the forefront of the room—Grand Director Poicus, who was flanked by the five Energy Directors. They stood next to a black drape that was obviously hiding something. Director Poicus gestured toward the square pillows scattered across the wooden floor. Each member chose a spot and knelt with both knees on the pillow, butts on their heels, and palms resting on their lower thighs. Yama and Toshik rested their swords in front of them while Rhyparia did the same with her umbrella.
Once everyone was situated, all six Directors knelt on their pillows, fa
cing the students. The Adrenaline Director placed his sword in front of himself.
Grand Director Poicus was first to speak. “How does it feel?” he asked with a smirk.
No one spoke, but their smiles spoke for themselves. Olivia remained expressionless, of course, and so did Yama.
Poicus appeared pleased. “That’s interesting. The smiles gracing everyone’s face are very complex ones. It isn’t a simple happy smile.”
“I’m super happy!” Jilly blurted out, then quickly snatched both of her hands over her mouth as she realized her disrespect.
The Grand Director didn’t seem to mind, and his smile spread wider. “Allow me to explain what I mean. Or, better yet, allow me to throw it to Passion Director Venustas. She’ll be able to explain better, for she knows how to read a smile.” He nodded to the head of the Emotion Wing.
“Your smiles show a lot about what each of you are feeling at this moment,” Venustas said, “but if I were to sum it up in one word, it would be anticipation. You’re unsure of what is to come and you are eager to find out, and that sense of wonder and exploration feeds you.”
She glanced at the black curtain that was hanging to the side. When she continued speaking, her voice was somber. “However, that’s because you look at this opportunity too narrowly. All you think of is the potential of success and fame, when, in reality, the potential of failure is far more likely.” Bryson’s stomach knotted up as the realization of what—or better yet, who—was behind the curtain hit him like a ton of bricks. “This is a unit, but there are possibilities of individuals inside of the unit not making it. After all, we don’t know what the future holds.”
Poicus took over where she left off. “In other words, if you’re in this purely for the glory, you will fail. Glory isn’t proper initiative. Can someone tell me what is?”
It went silent for a short moment before someone risked answering. “A greater good,” Agnos said.
“Yes. And what is a greater good?” Poicus asked.