The capital city of Veritas, Veracity, is the home of the DeVere Monarchy. Veritas is the most prosperous nation on Verum, a country primarily containing humans, but also housed a multitude of other species, tentatively called Beastkin.

The DeVere Monarchy is a long-lived household that has thrived for several generations, bringing forth Kings that lead to the nation to prosperity. King after King guided the people of Veritas through times of great peace, ensuring the order of the country with little difficulty, save for the occasional battle with monsters assaulting the nation's borders.

When we had called Emelina back inside the room, she gave us a brief rundown of information that we could chew on while we made our way to the royal family's castle. Initially, the summoning that she had led was only meant to summon a single person, but since she called all of us, she had ordered her knights to gather an extra two carriages. While they had done that, she had managed to convince Mr. Lethe to at least allow her Healer to check us over, considering the summoning had thrown all of us for a loop.

While waiting, there was a brief chat between the princess and Kacee about available literature, a conversation that I didn't pay attention to as the Healer had reached me. A faintly glowing hand hovered over my chest, coupled with a subtle chill, was all the warning I had before noticing her furrowed brow.

Disbelief and motherly concern appeared on her weathered features as she studied me. "Sir Blaine, are you aware that your body has a major affliction of the lungs?"

I nodded to her once, not sure what to feel about the mix of sympathy and pity in her gaze. "Yeah. It's something that some people have at birth. For some, it goes away as they grow older. For others?" I shrugged unconcernedly. "You just learn to live with it."

She didn't seem to know how to respond to that, merely inclining her head once before continuing onto Luke, who was standing at my side. As she finished, though, she looked back to me once more, before nodding once and returning to the princess. She murmured with her, and their gazes flickered over to me, much to my slight frustration, before Emelina gave a resolute nod to the healer.

With that, we were led out of the building and onto a relatively empty street. Each of us was given a bland, brown cloak to conceal our clothing, which stood out rather brightly, considering the colors and difference in physical cultures. Outside, they escorted us to a set of three carriages. Each of them appeared to be large enough to carry at least four of us with ease, maybe more, comfortably. Large wooden wheels and meticulously decorated to be as royally pretentious as possible. Purple, white and blue with white curtains on the held open doors, each lead by a pair of horses.

As we approached the carriages, I looked around to see a group of knights having already set up a perimeter to keep away the naturally curious peasantry. People peeked unobtrusively around the steel-clad warriors, holding back their equally interested children and significant others. The occasional person pointed rudely at us, smiles and excitement in their expressions. My eyes trailed along the perimeter, looking at the various people who wanted to know who we were.

A flicker of sudden motion in my periphery suddenly caught my attention, and I jerked to my head to look further on my right. A wooden cottage, formed from wood and stone, was front and center in my sight. I frowned as I studied the area around it, trying to find what I noticed.

"Hey, Joey!" I looked back over as I heard Luke call out to me. He waved me over to the class as Mr. Lethe had gathered us all together. I walked over to them as he smirked at me. "Admiring the adoring public, huh?" I didn't answer him verbally, rolling my eyes at his playfulness.

Mr. Lethe studied me carefully. "Did you see something?"

"I think so…but it was probably just a few leaves," I answered with an audible murmur, my eyes moving back in that direction. I didn't fully believe that. My instincts told me otherwise.

"Well, I suppose we should think about that later." My teacher said carefully. Then he nodded to us. "Alright, class. We're heading the Royal castle. Each carriage is too small to hold all of us, so we'll have to split into groups." He looked to each of us in turn. "Three groups of four. I'll ride with one group. The princess will ride with another. The third will be close. I'll trust you all to divvy yourselves up properly."

As a pretty small class, already, we were all close in one manner or another. It didn't take long for us to split up into even groups.

The first group was Kacee, Rudy, Mitsuki, and me.

The second was Luke, Deandria, Guang, and Colette.

The third was Amber, Tadashi, Baasima, and Nailah.

We each entered a carriage, with Luke's group getting into the first with the princess, Amber's group joined the second with Mr. Lethe, while my group climbed into the third. When I stepped inside, I couldn't help but grimace at the purple cushions and the velvet veil that fell and rested along the right wall. "These people are royalty, after all. All this purple still seems like a waste to me." I murmured as I sat down next to the far wall. Rudy snorted at my words, sitting across from me as he pushed the veil aside to peek out the window.

"With how the people look, the kingdom must be wealthy," Kacee said softly so that only the four of us could hear her. She sat down next to me, brushing her skirt down to straighten it.

"We've only seen those close to the capital," Mitsuki said as she sat next to Rudy, hunching her shoulders minutely as she looked out the open door, her eyes on the people held back by the perimeter. "Those on the outer edge of the kingdom…what are their lives like if they're as frivolous as this suggests?"

"It bears thought," I answered her as I watched one of the knights approaching the entrance to our carriage. "We'll have to do more research on our own when we get the chance."

Before anyone could answer, the knight stood at our entrance. "You and our Lady's escort shall reach the castle grounds shortly." His voice reverberated from the helm, inclining his head to us, deferentially. "Please, enjoy the calm ride." He shut the door.

"Let us go!" An unfamiliar voice called out from outside, and the carriage began to move. It wasn't a smooth start, with the occasional jerk and light jump from the clip-clopping of the horses

As we moved forward, Kacee spoke up. "Did it look like Veritas was at war?" I met her gaze, prompting her to explain. "I mean, you had to have seen more of it than me, but there were no tells that Veritas is at war. The people were happy, and not in the ‘more help is here' way; the only armed people were the knights, and everything looked clean, for the period." She frowned and crossed her arms, listening to Mitsuki and Rudy, who was also studying her words intently. "Why were we called, specifically? There doesn't seem to be any major, noticeable conflict, but perhaps…" She scowled. "There's a prophecy or something? That's the only potential reason I can think of why they took us from our world."

I felt myself frown at her words. I did not like the idea of being forced into something like that.

Mitsuki pinched the bridge of her nose. "I hope that we weren't called here as a just in case scenario…"

Rudy smiled at her remark, shaking his head. "With everything that's already happened? I'm pretty sure that's how things will end up." He pushed the veil aside with a hand, peering out the window. "Not that far from the castle, either…"

I reached up and pushed the curtain aside so I could look out the window. The carriage was moving at a comfortable, quick pace, the trees passing by us. The crunch of grass and the muted clopping of the horses greeted me when I tried to listen. Looking forward through the window, I could see the slowly approaching trio of towers from the distant castle.

"What do you think's going to happen when we reach the castle?" Mitsuki asked as she looked out the window on the door.

"We'll get answers, hopefully." Kacee murmured, leaning back in her seat.

"They'll do what they can to arm and prepare us, preferably," I said, crossing my arms. "We're their ‘Heroes,' after all." At their looks, I shrugged. "We were called here to fight for them, and we come from a world where the average person lives a relatively peaceful life." I allowed a playful grin to appear on my face. "I won't lie. I've always wanted to know what it's like to use magic."

"Such a child." Kacee demurred in amusement, her lips curling into a small smile.

Even Mitsuki smiled at my joke, shaking her head as her shoulders shook in silent laughter.

Rudy rolled his eyes, a playful snort escaping him.

As I said that, though, there was a faint pinch in my chest and a persistent warming sensation that expanded out from it.

We reached the castle little under half an hour, by my estimation. Glancing out the window, I scanned the outer castle wall and tried to find the end of it, but it stretched off into the distance. We passed over the lowered draw-bridge and through the opened portcullis; our carriages continued down a stone-traced worn pathway until we reached a large open area. The transport moved for a little while longer, before coming to a gradual stop.

A woman with dark blonde hair tied off to a long braid and clad in armor made from some form of dark brown leather, bracers on her forearms and legs, with a single curved sword hanging from her left hip and shoulder cape hanging over her right arm. Her bright hazel eyes were bright and kind as she opened the door. "I hoped that your ride here was a gentle one." Her voice was soft, yet firm as she clasped her right hand over her lightly armored chest and bowed at the waist, but not too deeply. Stepping aside, she motioned for us to step out. "I am called Kara, a member of Her Highness's Elite guard. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"It is an honor to meet you, as well." Kacee returned evenly, inclining her head to the woman as she stepped out of the carriage.

Mitsuki offered her a silent nod as she exited it as well, looking over to the side.

Rudy was behind her. "Where are we heading to next?" He asked her as she stepped to the side so I could get out next.

"Her Highness will be leading us to the dining hall," Kara stated, turning her head to me as I stepped onto the smoothed, dirt road. I looked around to the path flanked on both sides by a pair of beautiful oversized gardens, damn near parks on their right, each framed by intricately carved marble and stone. The ‘gardens' were filled with perfectly trimmed hedges and flowers but were hemmed off to allow for foot traffic. People clad in bright white clothing and wide-brimmed hats maintained the garden. In the far distance, I could see the inner walls of the keep surrounding the castle grounds.

As I stood there, though, I couldn't help but feel a tingle race through my body.

Kara continued as I studied my surroundings. "Her Highness thought you and your party would be famished from the summoning, so she has had our finest chefs prepare a feast fit for the royal family." She nodded firmly, motioning for us to follow with an incline of her head.

We followed her towards the rest of our class.

As we walked through, Rudy offered a faint frown. "A feast? I had already had breakfast before heading to school…" His frown deepened as his eyes narrowed. "Why…?"

"Magically induced travel taxes the body of even the strongest participants," Kara stated sternly. Her eyes traveled between the four of us, her gaze ending on me, unreadable in its examination of me. "More often than not, it will bring about an increase in appetite for the body to replace the energy that has expended itself."

Before anyone else could speak, we reached the rest of the class just in time to hear Emelina let out a small laugh. In front of her, Colette was offering an amused smirk at a chagrined Luke. "…and that, my wayward classmate, is why you don't try to argue the merits of clothing trends with me."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." He looked away from her, and his gaze met mine. "Oi, Joey, get over here and distract Colette. She's making me look bad."

I snorted as I approached him. "You don't need Colette to do that, Luke." I gave him a playful grin. "You do that well enough on your own."

Luke grimaced at my words and Colette's laughter, before giving me a half-hearted glare. "Traitor…"

With that, my group finally rejoined the rest of our class. Kara continued until she stood to the right and two steps behind Emelina. Next to her was another woman in similar armor, but with what looked like a folded staff on her back, and hair the color of the setting sun, cut short enough to fall to her chin, with a stern gaze to her pale green eyes and lightly-tanned complexion. That woman lacked a shoulder cape, but her left arm was significantly more armored than the right.

Emelina looked to each of us, her laughter dying down until it was just a small smile. "Now that we've arrived at my home, we can finally retreat to the mess hall. Before calling you, I had the cooks prepare a feast for your arrival." She clapped her hands together. "I hope you're all hungry because we have plenty." With that, she turned and led us down a side path. Looking past her and her pair of shadows, I caught sight of a one-story, stone building with a couple of open windows and a closed wooden door. Unlit lanterns on either side of the doorway along with the paved pathway towards let me know that this was our destination. I couldn't help but notice figures in the windows, moving back and forth.

As we walked, though, Luke jabbed me in the side with an elbow. "Hey, are you famished, or is it just me?"

I rolled a shoulder in a shrug. "I woke up late, remember? All I had was an apple, so my hunger is something I expected. Why?"

Luke rolled his eyes with a small smile. "Dude, I cooked my breakfast before school. Eggs, bacon, toast, the whole shebang." He looked forward, his expression falling until it was severe. "I had a big breakfast, so there's no way in hell I should be this hungry."

I frowned at his words. "It was most likely the summoning itself, then," I said with a nod. "That's the only logical thing that comes to mind."

"It was the summoning." Amber cut in as she fell into step next to me. "Princess's other knight, the one who helped my group, Valeri, explained to us when I told her I was hungry enough to eat a cow…" Her expression turned dry. "Then she said that the cooks would have one ready for me if I wanted one…"

I let out a small laugh at my friend's words, getting a glare from her. "Sorry, Amber, but you're trying to use lingo from our world here. It's not going to work out as well as you think."

She rolled her eyes. "Well, I know that now." Amber paused and grimaced faintly, pressing a hand to the base of her throat. "Hey…" She paused as she looked front first before she turned her gaze to me. "Do you feel…faint?"

As she said that, it was if the feeling in my chest spread to my shoulders. Giving her a concerned look, I said, "Yeah…I just thought it was my asthma acting up, though. Are you sure you're okay?"

Luke grabbed my shoulder, glaring at me in worried anger. "Hey. I thought you promised Maggie not to hide that anymore."

I shrugged his hand off my shoulder, rolling it as I matched his gaze with my own. "As long as I've had this, I'm sure I can figure out what I can't handle."

"It's not a matter of ‘handle,' Joey." He whispered harshly, glaring down at me.

Amber slipped in between us, pressing her hands against our shoulders to keep us apart. "C'mon guys, calm it down. I was asking a simple question."

Luke grunted at her words, but before he could reply, a voice interrupted him. "Luke, Joseph, Amber. Is everything alright?" Mr. Lethe called out to us, causing the group to stop not a few feet from the entrance to the dining hall.

"No. They're not," Luke stated evenly, meeting my glare with his own. "Joey's too stubborn to admit that his asthma is acting up." As he said that, though, it was like my lungs began to tighten in response. "Did you even to bring your inhaler? It's like we can go back and get it, you know."

"Luke," I growled out, my knuckles cracking as I clenched my hand. "Shut up."

"Joseph." Mr. Lethe called my attention to him. "Use your inhaler. Catch your breath." He spoke calmly, his gaze gentle.

"I don't need it right now." My voice came out in a wheeze, the pinch in my chest escalating to a steady burn. Behind Mr. Lethe, I couldn't help but notice Emelina's eyes widening in surprise. I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Look, can we get something to eat. All I had to eat was an apple, and I'm starving." My heart pounded deep in my chest as I felt my lungs beginning to strain.

It wasn't an attack, because I knew them by heart at this point. No, this was something else.

My teacher didn't reply for a few moments before he nodded once. "I'll trust you, Joseph." His gaze flickered to Luke. "Keep an eye on him." His words sent a surge of frustration through me. I didn’t need a damn minder!

"Don't even need to ask." He narrowed his eyes at me, causing our teacher to nod.

Mr. Lethe then frowned and looked over to the Princess. "Is there something in the air?"

Emelina paused, her eyes flickering over to me. "We should sit down first. We shall talk while you eat." That caused him to nod once, but his eyes narrowed. Then she looked over to Amber and me. "Sir Joseph, Madam Amber, for the moment, I would like to ask if you're both willing to have Valeri personally escort the two of you to the dining hall."

I looked over to Amber, and we debated nonverbally before we agreed. Amber looked forward and shrugged. "I don't care." She grimaced as her voice came out as a soft wheeze. As Valeri nodded and walked back over to us, Mr. Lethe narrowed his eyes at us.

With that, we resumed the short trek towards the dining hall, though I had Luke on my right and Valeri walking behind me. I pushed down the rising frustration as I walked with the group, tired of the people hovering around me as if I were a damn invalid. As we reached the entryway, though, I noticed a shadow pass over me, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye. Furrowing my brow, I was about to look up, but a piercing headache forced me to gag inaudibly.

…Break free from your chains…

An unfamiliar voice echoed in my mind as I blinked away the pain from an immediate headache. An instant later, I stepped through the entryway into the dining hall, as if nothing had just happened. Shaking my head, I waved off the concerned look from Valeri and Luke and looked around the dining hall proper. Wooden tables and chairs parallel with one another line the stone floor, already filled with covered plates and pans, steam wafting from the slight openings. The far walls were clean but bare, and the air was pleasantly chilled, despite the warm atmosphere that permeated the outside. People dressed in bright white clothing stood in front of the tables, seemingly welcoming us.

The one in the center was an older looking man, with weathered features and a short, trimmed dark grey beard, wearing a white cap that covered the top of his head. On his either side stood four others, three women and a man, each wearing a white and blue uniform, with white caps that covered their hair.

The man stepped forward, hands clasped together, and bowed. "Your Highness, her Guard, and Heroes. I welcome you to the Royal Hall, bequeathed as such by His Majesty, the King." He motioned behind him, towards the table filled with food. "At the request of Her Highness, my retinue and I have created a feast worthy of those who were called to aid us in our time of need."

"Thank you for your hard work, Bertrand," Emelina said with a gentle smile, causing the man and his group to straighten in response to her praise.

"No, thank you for such an opportunity, Lady Emelina." He said with a proud smile. He then motioned for us all to take a seat. "Please, everyone, enjoy what we've made. It's all for you." With that, the group broke apart to escort us to our seats. Our class, plus our three escorts in the princess and her guards, took up sixteen seats altogether. When I sat down, Luke had taken the spot on my left, while Amber and Valeri took the two places on my right, respectively. The tops were removed, revealing a multitude of foodstuffs.

An assortment of different types of meat, all different kinds if my observations were correct. When asked by Mr. Lethe, Bertrand had stated that there was a cow, sheep, horse, and boar. That statement had him to smirk playfully at a bashful Amber. There were potatoes, in various forms. A hodge-podge of vegetables and fruits that acted as both decoration as well as foods we were meant to eat. The smells assaulted my senses, causing my stomach to rumble audibly. Grabbing a diverse number of foods, I began to eat.

As we ate, Mr. Lethe started the conversation with the Princess. "Lady Emelina, you were going to speak of something earlier?"

She dotted the corner of her mouth after taking a sip of her drink from an elaborate, decorative, white mug. "Yes. It is because of this that I'm sure Sir Joseph and Madam Amber are reacting in such an obvious way." That caused us to stiffen almost simultaneously, eyes homing in on her. She pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side as she considered her words. "On Verum, there is a universal understanding that everyone is born with magic." That caused me to narrow my eyes ever so lightly. "However, the ability to use it is as diverse as there are some people."

"How so?" I couldn't help but speak up, catching her attention, as well as her guards.

Emelina allowed herself a small smile at the intensity of my question. "Affinities." She said softly, looking to each of us. "Each person is born is an Affinity that dictates how they can utilize the magic they inhale from the air and permeate within their bodies." She lifted a hand and opened it. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then…a silver flame ignited in her palm. A chill settled within the room, drawing the eye of everyone in the room. Shock and awe from my class and me; pride and joy from those who followed her family. "It is through that, that we are capable of shaping and using creation to follow our whims and desires."

"But we were not born here." Rudy stated, his gaze leaving the flame and meeting Emelina's. "We, the thirteen of us, were not born here. Thus, we shouldn't have ‘Affinities.' So, how does that affect us?"

"Verum does not care for the logic of mankind," Valeri started gently, her eyes gaining an azure glow. "She will bend man's will to her whims, regardless of his desires and predilection." The corners of her mouth curved ever so lightly into a faint smile.

Emelina inclined her head to her knight. "Thank you, Valeri." She looked over us again, clenching her hand to quench the sterling ember. "Perhaps, I misspoke earlier. It is not birth on Verum that awakens a person's Affinity, but the very air they breathe." She motioned to Amber and me. "That is why the two of you are feeling the way you do. The atmosphere of Verum seeping into your very bones, latching onto the source of what makes you an individual and is slowly bringing it to the surface."

As if on cue, a wheeze escaped me as I grimaced at a pinch deep in my chest. Luke frowned severely. "How long does it take?" He asked of her.

She frowned and shook her head. "There is a reason that people do not learn of their Affinity until they reached the age of maturity. It is a gradual process that both strengthens and fortifies the individual."

"What is the age of maturity on Verum?" Mr. Lethe asked her, his concerned gaze falling onto Amber and me.

"Sixteen."

That caused Amber to stiffen, her eyes widening. But before she could say anything, I said, "I've lived with breathing problems for my whole life. It isn't a change at all." My tone was sarcastic as I crossed my arms.

Before anyone in my class could reply, Emelina gave me a strong yet proud smile. "Powerful conviction, Sir Joseph. But what would say if I could offer you a way to accelerate the awakening of your Affinity?"

That caused everyone here to regard her seriously. "How?" I asked her.

She looked to Kara, who nodded and lifted a hand. One moment, it was empty, and the next, a small vial the size of a small pill bottle. "Normally, alchemical concoctions, or potions, like this, are prohibitively expensive for the common man. However, for those connected to the DeVere monarchy, it is allowed for one to awaken their Affinity at no extra cost." She paused, glancing over to Emelina, who offered her a nod. Kara looked over to me. "Sir Joseph, in light of your current condition, we would like to offer you the first vial."

My ‘current condition'? I was tempted to deny it, out of spite. Ever since we had arrived on Verum, people have looked to me out pity for my asthma, even as I've lived with it for my entire life. Back home, I had gotten used to it, or at least I thought I did, since everyone I generally associated with already knew. But now, after meeting these new people? They treated me as if I was made of glass, and it was starting to grate. Granted, I could be exaggerating, considering things have been stressful for us all, but one couldn't help what they felt.

Still, before I could answer, Mr. Lethe spoke. "Enough. I don't know what's really in that vial, so I can't just let you offer it to one of my wards." He narrowed his eyes at Kara. "The age of maturity here may be sixteen, but where we're from, it's generally considered to be eighteen. None of my students are at that age yet." He turned his heated gaze onto Emelina, causing Kara and Valeri to stiffen. "I will not allow you to give untested ‘potions' to my students without my permission."

Emelina did not frown; she did not react negatively in any way. All she did was a smile. As she was about to respond, though, I cut in. "I'll take it." That caused everyone to look at my shock.

"Joseph, you can't just-"

"On Earth, eighteen may be the age of emancipation, but we're not on Earth anymore." I interrupted my teacher, allowing my frustration to fuel my defiance. "We're on Verum, and the age of maturity is sixteen. I'm seventeen, and concerning this world's culture, I'm going to exercise my rights as an ‘adult.'" I looked over to Kara and extended my arm, but Luke grabbed my arm, pulling it back. "Luke…"

"Stop." He demanded of me, his eyes hot with frustration. "You're acting childish."

"Childish?" I asked him, as an eerie silence settled within the dining hall. "I've lived with my asthma for my entire life. From the moment I could walk, I've dealt with the difficulties of knowing that any moment I could have an attack. I've had to deal with people coddling me in fear that it'd act up and cripple me." I glared heatedly at him, matching his frustration with a weary fury. "I'm tired of it. I have a chance to do something about it, and you're holding me back."

Luke was obstinate as his grip on my arm tightened even as I flexed to pull away. He gritted his teeth for a moment before exhaling a gusty breath. "Fine. But the results are your head." His hand fell freely from my arm, and I could extend it for the potion.

Emelina offered us a complex expression, her eyes flicking from me to Luke, then to a frustrated looking Mr. Lethe. "I…apologize for causing difficulty amongst you."

Before either of them could respond, I said, "Don't apologize, it was coming forward regardless. This situation just sped things up." Even as that was said, Kara's hand closed, and the vial vanished. I furrowed my brow in confusion but stiffened as a weight appeared in the palm of my hand. Pulling my arm back, I took in the warm presence that permeated the cylindrical vial. A flat, faintly purple liquid sat still, not at all jostled as I pulled my hand back. "So…this will…give me magic?" I asked, not looking away from my hand.

"It will awaken the Affinity that you have." Emelina corrected me gently. "What magic you can, and can't, use will be dependent on your Affinity."

"What is your Affinity?" I asked her as I looked away from the vial, gently closing my hand around it.

"Purification." She stated without pomp, an enigmatic smile on her face.

"Fluctuation." Kara purred, her eyes focused on the vial.

"Intuition." Valeri hummed, though there was amusement in her stoic features.

I looked back to the vial.

"Joseph." Mr. Lethe caught my attention once more. "I know you're frustrated, but please be careful with that.

"Joey…" Luke muttered as he studied me with concern. The rest of my class also regarded me with worry.

Seeing each of them regard me carefully caused a well of frustration to rise from within my chest. A faint popping sound cropped up as I clenched my free hand. Looking around, I held my breath and glanced back to the vial in my hand.

Amid my rising frustration, I turned my eyes to my teacher. "I appreciate your concern, Mr. Lethe, I do. With all due respect, though, at this point? Not even my parents have the right to dictate my life now." I uncorked the vial with my thumb, sending it into the air. Emelina and her guard stiffened, eyes widening. "I'll be caged no longer." Pulling the vial close, I leaned my head back and downed the whole thing.

Panic dominating her, Emelina stood and held a hand out to me, her mouth moving as she cried out. Sounds dulled even as Kara and Valeri followed suit, the latter getting up and walking behind me. The feel of the temperature in my vial was misleading because it burned going down. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't mild either. My entire world swam as my lung tightened almost painfully, but air continued to flow freely despite that. I could hear the pounding of my heart in my ears, as the world around me pulsed in tandem.

I stumbled backward as I shot to my feet. Like a shot of adrenaline, energy exploded within me. I wanted to move, to sprint like the devil was at my heels. Not out of fear, but a nigh-uncontrollable craving to act. Strength coursed through my tightening muscles as I planted my feet, breaths flowing freely. The world spun and twisted, and the floor suddenly came really, really close-

I suppose I was due for losing consciousness, considering I didn't earlier today… Still sucks though…

My entire world went black.