The repetitive sound of metal hitting rock hurt my ears after a while. It was weird as nobody else seemed to be having a problem with it at all. Every few minutes, I would check to see if anyone was around to nurse my hurting ears. Nobody liked that I did that, they think I was slacking off.

Trying to use my breath technique to use my magic to soothe the pain didn't work out, in fact it made it worse with the way it had enhanced my hearing.

Today we had pickaxes with us. In some parts of the level, the rooms were rushed when created so there were rocks and other types of minirals that were sticking out of the room. Our job was to smooth out the rooms and get rid of the rocks.

The rest of the kids had left us, leaving our group of misfits together. We had a larger part to deal with because of that. Coupled with the fact that little red, who still hasn't told anyone her name, Simon, who had already passed out, and Rob, who couldn't work as hard as us, the job had gotten harder for Jellal and I.

"You know…" Jellal started as he swing down his pick. "...He's coming to get you again."

A sent a raised eyebrow his way inbetween swings "Oh, really? And tell me why would someone be out to get me?"

"A fight. You almost beat Jason and he rarely ever loses fights."

Jason was his name? Granted I probably don't give a shit about him or his name.

Maybe-

No, still don't.

"Right, So I'll just win. Last time, I was tired and my arms were in pain. I'll just make sure to pace myself today."

He put his finger on his chin "But if you do that, how are going to finish our portion? Everyone else has passed out."

"Hmmmm, " I paused in my swinging. "I'm not usre and I might lose this time but make sure he doesn't hurt me too much." I eventually growled out.

A sent another swing to large rock letting my anger out. I hated the fact I didn't have a chance here. I would either not finish here and risk punishment or I would lose there and risk punisment.

It's a lose/lose situation for me.

"That's not fair." Jellal muttered to himself, lowering his pick. He sent a heated glare to thr sleeping bodies of our cellmates. "They're supposed to help us but they are sleeping. If we had their help, then you could win."

"Do you not like Jason or something?" He tensed at my blunt statement. I said it more as a joke but was plesantly surprised when it was true.

"He's an asshole." Let's not tell Rob about that language. "He used to practice his fighting in our cell and I...I was his only partner."

Now it makes sense "That's why you left your cell?" He nodded "Why did you come to ours?"

"I thought you could beat him and I want to help."

He seems nice but he driven by the fact that he wants to beat this Jason boy. Though I still like him, he's a kid so I don't expect anything else from him.

I sent a weak punch to his shoulder "Don't worry about it. We'll do it one day but for now lets deal wih this first."

He sent a weak smile and nodded "Right."

Where My Demons Lie

"I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole. Diggy-Diggy-Hole. Diggy-Diggy-Hole." Both Jellal and I sung.

I stopped as heard the sound of multiple footsteps behind me. I getured for Jellal to stop and turned around.

Somehow I knew this was going to happen.

Jason was standing there with ahnds crossed. There were to lackies behind him, once nursing his arm and the other with a black eye.

"You're going to insult me now, aren't you?" I said to him.

I've seen this play out in so many different miideas it isn't even funny.

"You think you're so cool, don't you?" He didn't even seem to register what I did but his two flunkies did.

"Woah, Jason. He's reading your mind." Goon 1 said.

"Yeah, it's like he's some mind reading…person." Goon 2 finished, I guessing he was the slow one of the group.

They're so irelavent, the author isn't even describing them.

Also, mind reading person? Original much.

Actually, I take that back. I don't think anyone used that before.

"STOP, IGNORING ME." He screamed with is high pitched voice making me wince slightly. He smirked at my expression.

"Hmm, You say something?" He promptly lost that smirk.

Jellal had moved himself behind me in an effot to protect imself from this guy.

"Jellal, where did you go? I was worried about you. I thought that Asshole had taken you away from us." He smiled, it was clear that it was fake. "Come, lets go back."

"N-No, Nobody took me." He hesitated before coming to stand beside me. He's much braver than he looked right now. "I joined Akira's cell."

He glard at me, at this age it looked more cute than anything. "So that's your name?"

"Yep, I mean he just said, did he not?" He snarled again.

He suddenly gott this weird smile on his face "I got an idea, Since Jellal wants to join your cell. How about we fight, whoever wins gets Jellal?"

I smirked to myslef. I wasn't as tired as last time so I had a better chance of beating him.

"Akira's going to win so there's no way I'll go with you."

Jason sent a glare right to Jellal that made him freeze right up. He stomped over with furious expresion on hif face and reared his arm to punch.

Next thing he knew was the taste of the cold uncomftable floor and the flaring of pain on the side of his body as I kicked him away from Jellal.

"No wonder you act like you're tough shit." I said as he got up, holding his side. "You attack people that don't fight back."

If he was angry before, he was furious now. "And what about you? You almost beat me and think that you're cooler than me?"

"News flash, people who think they are cool are, in fact, not cool."

He snarled and lept up. I didn't have time to react and dropped my pick in surpirse. He lead with a punch that had aimed my cheek but leaned back far enough so that he just grazed it.

I grinned, it seemed like my dilemma was already solved for me.

However, that doesn't mean I'm going to play nice.

I step up to him, grabbing a rock as I get into his guard. Flicking the rock to his face makes him cover his eyes with his arms, leaving everthing else open.

I sent a punch to his stomach, I seem to be always hitting there, making him hunch over, and grab him by the hair before smashing his face on my knee.

"You-You're cheating." He stuttered a he touched his now broken nose.

I dodn't say anything and came up to him again. This time he was ready since as I tried to punch him, he had grabbed my arm and pushed it away making me over extend where he had full advantage.

He snaked an arm around my neck and held it there tight. "Looks like I win again."

He would have continued had it not been for the fact that I had headbutted him, hitting his nose again.

He fell backwards onto his back. I was already there, sending a kick to his chest before jumping back as he tried to grab my leg. He was just able to scrape it with his long nails, making a long gash down the side of my calf.

I waited on one knee as I checked out the gash. It looked fine as it was pretty shallow, it should heal soon enough. I just hope that it does before it gets infected.

Jason was up again, rushing towards me in blind rage. I got up with my hands behind my back.

When he got close enough, I threw out dust that I had collected of the ground. He cirde out in pain as he got hit and went to clean his eyes out.

I took advantage and tackled him to the floor. Again we were in this position where I was above him, I held up my arms in barely hidden satisfaction and rained down punch after punch.

...again.

...again.

...again.

...again.

...again.

...again.

...ag-

My right arm didn't impact the now bloodied and bruised Jason. I looked back to Jellal looking back at me with wide eyes. He took a step back as we stayed in eye contact but never let go of my arm.

"J-Just...stop, okay?" He said to me after a minute of silence.

I shrugged "If you say so. Man I feel so good for some reason." I stared at the large pile of rock we still had to mine through. "Don't worry about this Jellal, I got it."

I grabbed my pick from the floor and ran towards the rock, each swing much more powerful than the last. For some reason, I didn't care about the ringing this time.

Where my Demons Lie

"A-Akira?" I watched in horror as he didn't stop hitting Jason's body. He long ago stopped moving and reacting.

I think he's dead.

But Akira doesn't care.

"Again. Again. Again. Again." He was lost in his own world. I wanted to stop him, I really did, but If I had to choose either Jason or Akira.

I honestly don't know.

But it doesn't look like I'm gettig a choice.

Where My Demons Lie

"Jellal, get up already. One of those men told me I was goin to have another fight and I need to practice." Jason said to me but I could barely hear it.

I focused everything on moving but I couldn't. Yet again, my body is refusing to move. I hated this. To be so weak that I couldn't defend myself.

"Oi, shitstain. Get up."

I move slightly but I dodn't feel any more pain. It all just felt numb again.

I don't want this any more.

Help me. Please.

I wanna go home.

Where My Demons Lie

I grabbed Akira's arm and stopped his ext punch.

As much as I hate Jason, I'd rather not have this happen to him.

"J-Just...stop, okay?" I asked him.

Akira stopped his rampage and turned to me with a snarl. I dropped his arm in shock as I stared at his eyes.

Beautiful golden circles spining dagerously within an furious expression.

For a second, I rhought he was going to hit me like he did to...Jason but his eye's changed and he stood up with a smile.

A smile that looked insane and deranged.

Where My Demons Lie

"Red~" I called out to the little girl. "Little Red~"

I looked back at the leaving slaves as I shook the girl awake. Rob had pawned her off to me as she had only calmed down because fo my help before. He was so caught up in the act of healing me, he wasn't able to help little red.

That old bastard had to make me deal with her whilst he woke up Simon.

I can't be asked for this. I'm in a good mood and I don't want to ruin it.

I grabbed her body and carried her over my shoulders. She was quite light but I was still aching from the work beforehand.

I caught up to the other guys whilst carring litlle Red. I could tell by her her dirty hands and knees that she tried to work as hard as she could so I let her off for today.

I'm not merciful enough to let her get off of doing this every time.

Rob raised a long eyebrow at me but said nothing as we arived to our cell.

We were about to enter when a hand had placed itself on me. I looked up to see Asshole there with a large smile, showing off his yellow teeth.

"Come, Come. We've got a job, you and I." He stated a she walked of.

Simon was already by my side to take Red. I gave him my thanks and left, catching up to Asshole.

Damn these legs.

Where My Demons Lie

"Here we are. Home sweet home." Ashole stated as we opened the large metal door.

Now that...that was a smell.

I held my nose as we entered the room. I had no choice but to deal with what ever it was comming from.

"You're late" Yep, that smell was comming from Fatass.

"You should have seen the fight. Man, I don't think we'll be seeing a lot Jason anymore."

Hmmm?

What happened to Jason?

I didn't hurt him too badly, did I?

He'll probably just be recoverin for a while till he can continue doing whatever shit these people ask use to do.

Right time to go in that… capsule again.

Deep breaths.

I barely remember it so it shouldn't be that bad, right?

Right?

Under the bright blue crystals, there was a large wooden chair. Many straps were fastend to the chair. It looked very uncomfortable and I'm guessing that's what they are going for.

This is that place where my magic get taken from me, isn't it?

I've come back here so that would mean that they will not or can not take my magic away from me.

Actually, since they are taking it from me...yes, that could work.

I had to make an effort to hide the smile that was creeping up. Asshole must of thought something was wrong since he looked at me strangely but still strapped me into the chair.

One last look, he flipped a switch and everthing…

Where My Demons Lie

So tired.

Focus.

I need to focus.

You/I need to remember that feeling.

Keep awake.

Don't let them get to you/me.

You need to remember

Stay awake

So...tired

Where My Demons Lie

I snapped awake as I entered Pride's libriary. It was I had suddenly drank 13 cups of coffee and it had hit me all at once.

For a moment, I felt it. I felt the magic leaving my body. It felt...I don't know how to describe it.

Like the adreneline rush of free falling but with out the fear of falling.

However, whatever they did made me feel tired as hell. I could barely remeber what I said to my self but I was able to do it.

Inhale.

Exhale.

I could feel the magic rushing up my veins in much fast and agressuve way than before.

Not only was there more there but it was like...it was excited.

I guees that would make some sense. I am my magic and my magic is me so it could be affected by my emotions.

Rember that feeling.

Now focus and replicate it. Remeber how your body felt.

That's it.

Almost there, I can-

A soft blue transparent glow started to erupt from my hands. It had been slow at first bt gradually getting stronger as it progressed.

I did not let out a giggle at this.

I did not.

Jumping up, I didn't spend my time talking to Pride today as I went straight into my santuary. Now that I could use my magic, I had a plan in using magic but I needed my enhantement books first.

To be able use my magic, I would have needed to be able to push my mana out of my body. To learn how to do that, I would use the same method I did to notice my magic.

So my thought process was that If I could figure out my body would react to magic leaving it, I may be able to replicate it on my own.

Now you see why I was so glad to go with Asshole today.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we're doing our first Enchantment today.

No you may be asking 'Oh, great and wis Akira, How do you plan on using magic without any propper training?'

And to thag I say 'Bah, I'll firgure it out.'

It's fucking magic. Why would I wait anymore?

To create my first enchantment, I would need to create something to chanel my magic into, somehing that would work as a catalyst so that I wouldn't use as much mana when creating the enchantment.

What is recomwnded here is to use my blood to write out the enchantemts.

What kind fucker thinks that I'm cutting myself?

Nope, I'm not doing that.

However, I will prick my finger for some drops of blood. The pens are sharp enough. I placed a few drops of blood onto a piece of paper.

I'm not going to use so much of my blood to write with but that doesn't mean that I can't mix it with the ink.

The first part that this book talks about is of coping attributes. This is the easiest tasks in this book as there isn't much you will be changing, wehn compared to other things.

However, before I do this. I would need to know what I'm going to chane first.

I think I'll copy the rigidness (Is that a word?) of the pen and add it to another peice of paper.

First things first, I would need something called a matrix. These are wierd and exotic circles that make proceess happen. Without them, it would take more magic for me to use my ablities as these are another catalyst.

This is why many enhanters are support wizards.

In order to do rhis, I would need to write down what proccess this is going to do.

For this enhantment, I would first draw a matrix. This would be the main part of the enchantment itself.

I had to trace over the circle but I think I did it well.

Sencondly, I would write the word 'Rigid' into the matrix. That would be good enough as the matrix would work under what perpectice, as in whay I mean by 'rigid'.

Next, I would next place the pen on the left side of my circle and the paper on the right.

The matrix works from left to right. In this instance, I placed my pen in the left side so that the matrix would copy from the pen onto the paper.

The last thing would be to make a bigger matrix around the pen, paper and first matrix. This would keep the enchantment localised, meaning that nothing from outside this matrix would affect the enhantment.

I would then write in the word 'Copy' in the bigger circle but above the other items.

The cricles look...decent, the ink had...enough blood in it and I think the circles understand what I'm trying to do.

A small part of me is shouting- no, screaming out to me to not do this.

But as i said, it's a small part of me.

I place my hands onto the bigger matrix.

Inhale.

Exhale.

I watched with glee as the circle lit up in a soft blue glow. It was...amazing to see it work beofre me.

Though I feel strangely tried again.

Both the paper and the pen had started to glow themselves.

It's working. It's working. Muahahaaha-

Where My Demons Lie