Noel’s running pace didn’t lessen even slightly. Not as he ran pass the security guard lady. Not as he entered an unfamiliar territory and observed the surroundings. And not as he went further inside of that territory, losing track of all other students that were lazing about around the sparkling lakes and grassy hills with notebooks and pencils in hand.

Beautiful afternoon skies gave the scenic campus a strange charm he wasn’t used to. The mild chill was largely ignore-able thanks to the resplendent rays that poured down across the land. Basking in the sun felt so amazing. He couldn’t help but laze about for a few minutes by after spotting a nice hill with a large pond hidden behind it. Nobody was present at the moment, with the previous schoolmates in varying uniforms having either been spotted sunbathing near by the stadium, or hanging around the varying lakes, rivers and ponds to perform unique tests pertaining to their group or individual projects.

He lay on the hill for a few minutes, just to bask in the direct sunlight like the others, except with his own carefully chosen privacy. He didn’t know if anybody else already lay claim on this hill and lake combination, however Noel was feeling content with the simple pleasure of having his face and arms warmed by the sun, while simultaneously allowing the early September chill to graze his figure: hair, clothes and all.

Yet, today, it became very apparent that Noel was definitely NOT allowed a lengthy period of relaxation. The distant sound of faint electric discharge and crackling energy fluttered through the air. His heightened sense of hearing naturally picked this up, causing his head to cautiously swerve to the originating direction of the sound…

before immediately changing trajectory and peering up at the cloudless sky above. There was no evident change.

It was bright, sunny, clear - yet – windy. Nobody was performing electrokinesis around the area… right?

Yet, there was also a faint sizzling accompaniment of fire along with it. It was strange. Strange temperature changes back to back, from hot to cool, humid to frosty. And those weren’t the only changes either. Slight ripples could be seen high above a pair of large trees that blocked potential nosey – bodies.

Yes. That’s right, ripple in the air.

Noel didn’t know why, but his intuition was practically screaming ‘danger from that area, yet, for some strange reason, he felt… compelled to head on over.

And so he did just that.

{What the hell. At worst, I’ll only be reprimanded for intruding. I can just say that I decided to go for a walk to recuperate my physical health after my injury – smelled the burnt smell in the air and rushed over to try and help. I can even throw that Security Ericson lady as a scapego---ah.

…

I forgot to ask for her name!

.

.

.

Oh well. I’ll investigate what the fun is about first, then think of an excuse later.}

…

*Snnnnnrapp!*

*Crrraaackle!*

*BOOM!*

?: “…”

?: “Mmrrr… Enough!

.

Haah. Look here. no matter how hard you struggle, your ‘fate’ is already sealed. It has been, from the very moment my subordinate found you. If you wish to live along with your host for even a minute longer, then hurry up and submit yourselves to me! Pledge loyalty to my force and deny this current existence’s designated ‘FATE’ or else she…

heheh, well, surely you can guess what will happen to a fledgling Scion of fate that doesn’t even know her destiny, mm? Especially one that lacks the ability to even think on her own, let along muster up enough courage to defend herself from me.”

A Man wearing a short bow-tie, large pointed ears and a well – groomed 20th century gentleman’s garb stood to the fore. It was hard to make out his face, as it had been purposely concealed by strong magic and currently looks similar to a blurred effect from photo editing software. His left hand wore a rusted brown gauntlet, while the right gripped seemingly nothing but air. Except, as that supposed weaponless hand swung forward, the air in front was directly cleaved in two. His deep, burning gaze peered through the trees and shrubbery that directly blocked his view… and without even a microsecond’s worth of effort, quickly spotted a dark brown hair and brilliant, purple eyes.

?: “...Master – there’s somebody quite troublesome heading over here.”

?: “...Is it strong?”

?: “No. Not even… I suppose the correct way to word it is… that a child is coming this way. A mortal child.”

?: “What about this … intruder, is a problem? The school won’t miss a single missing child. Take care of it.”

?: “...Yes, but… sir. His brother is… quite troublesome. And the family behind them is-”

?: “Only mortals… right?”

?: “...I- ...I don’t actually know. I believe so, but I only met two of them: Aeron Malierano and the man who registered this boy, ‘Boman’. I din’t know if he is particularly powerful himself, but given the low quality ‘standards’ this school has, we can assume him as an easy clean-up mission. Again, my worries all focus on the force backing him from behind the-”

?: “Hermer Walsh. Don’t make me repeat myself. If it’s only a mortal, then pay it no worry and swiftly deal with it. We can’t be disturbed at this point. Such a critical juncture as this one where the ‘book owner’ wavers, doesn’t happen too often. I’ll only get one chance at this today, so hurry and do what I taught you to!”

Hermer Walsh: “...Yes sir, I’ll dispatch of him immediately. Wait for my glorious return!”

?: “Mm. Good. Go on, then.”

*WHOOSH!*

…

?: “Hermer, that shapeshifter. He worries far too much, as always. What mortal could possibly threaten me, at this step? Even if he fails… Even if he’s captured… Supposing somebody makes it here, surrounds me and prepares to attack…

...Hehehe, with a snap of my fingers… all ‘FATES’ in this pitiful universe will be changed – at my whim… and to my own liking.”

…

Noel, who’d been anxious to see fireworks failing or some weather expert doing their thing in secret, whether it be via machines or mystical prowess, such as through magic or psychical means; suddenly felt an intense pressure sweep over his body. The murderous intent was pristine, sharpened and clear. It was like a dagger which threatened to slit his throat and and tear his physique into pieces, should he react in any way, against the plotting individual's intent.

Noel was forced to stop.

{What the h...hmmm? Pointy… are those ears? And a really unclear face.

Did he come to kidnap me or am I intruding on some secret of the school that nobody’s allowed to know about? Or – or – or…

...Well I should probably do something about that guy first.}

The man’s fingers cracked and bent against one another, threateningly.

First, the hand wearing a rusted gauntlet moved. It raised ever so slowly, and before Noel could try and respond, four swirling gates appeared in between every single one of the cardinal directions; forcing Noel’s limbs to be pulled and stretched out like an ‘X’.

Noel’s small hand quietly ‘brushes’ against the gravitational energy being employed to stretch his limbs until they eventually tear off naturally; and dark purpleish – black sparks came out in consequence.

Noel: “Chain of destruction…”

Within a matter of seconds, Noel’s ‘snake’ of dark purple and black energy, completely devoured the energy and each of the four gates themselves until those things destabilized and dissipated on their own. The pointy – eared man gawked on with an incredulous expression on his blurry face… it was just sad that his facial features were too difficult for outsiders to make out on their own.

His tactics needed updating. That snake – like energy was extremely dangerous. Although the boy himself wasn’t much of a threat if such a parlor trick level magic can catch him unaware and off guard. His gauntlet was raised once more and in it’s wake, countless gates appeared before Noel. within each one seemed to be a powerful pair of massive, red and fierce – looking eyes – at the very least, more than a dozen were present. Out of the rumbling swirls of energy shot ten meter tall pythons which seemed to be made of a stone or sedimentary – like substance. Their mouths each filled with 4 meter long fangs capable of severing even the sturdiest of humans in two! If not, then puncturing them and injecting its cloudy venom wouldn’t be much of a problem, even against heroes with an overall grade under A.

But, as they neared their target, with complicated, yet powerfully swift motions -

.

.

.

the first stone python bit nothing but air.

Noel’s hand already gently glided over another which stopped centimeters away from crashing head – first into it’s brethren, yet his gentle ct of ‘petting’ simultaneously acted as his death sentence. The thing’s eyes dimmed and its body began to disintegrate at a rate faster than the naked eye. Finally, only trace vestiges of purple and black energy remained to devour the remaining handful of pebbles that occasionally fell off its huge form before the disintegration process completed.

The other snakes paid it no mind, as if their life and death was indisputable and not up to their individual wills. In fact, that was because they were no more than soulless golems, bodies prepared for housing souls, but not having reached that final step.

And this understanding helped Noel hasten his decision without further hesitation.

Noel: “…Once more… Another Chain Destruction!”

---