"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."

― , The Importance of Being Earnest

The platoons were picked at random as a means to make it fair for all the students. Alaric sighed as he looked at the paper in his hands as he rubbed his head. He read the names off one by one as he took a deep breath.

"Alaric, Ajax, Lein, Sophia and.....Lisa"

He let the last one roll off of his tongue as he sighed. He sat down on his bed as he looked at the time, knowing he had only a couple minutes before he had to go meet them.

"How in the world did she even get in here, who exactly is she."

He closed his eyes as he remembered back to the time he almost died. The contract confused him, what powers did it give him, and what would he do with them?

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he got out of bed. He put on a jacket and began to make his way out towards the barracks, where they would be given their first assignment.

He soon arrived as he stopped at a door and closed his eyes remembering the room number. He opened them as he saw the numbers matched. He took a deep breath as he walked in and stopped.....seeing chaos.

Ajax and Lisa were messing with Lein who was currently running while having drawing all over his face. There was a girl sitting on a chair and reading while the chaos was unfolding.

"Ah Alaric, you're finally here!"

Ajax waved as he grabbed onto Lein's collar as Lisa approached with a marker.

"What are you guys doing to him?"

"Nothing, just a little makeover, he wanted one after all."

"Then why is he crying out for help?"

"He wants to be funny?"

"......."

Alaric took a deep breath as he calmed down, resisting the urge to knock him upside the head as he sat down.

"So what's our mission?"

As if on cue Sophia closed her book and turned towards them. Her brown hair and brown eyes stared towards the group with authority as she spoke.

"We're supposed to patrol around the old ruins and eliminate any mortems we see. Apparently, there have been recent sightings of them in the area, so it gives us an opportunity to raise our grades. I'll take charge to make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Hold on! Who says you can take charge?' Ajax said as he dropped let go of Lein.

"Do you have anyone who would be better?"

"Of course Alaric!...Ah, wait umm.....nevermind he would probably be bad. I take back what I said Sophia you can take charge."

Ajax gave her a thumbs up and a smile as he turned to Alaric and shrugged, who rolled his eyes in return.

Sophia scoffed as she shook her head and grabbed Lisa's hand as she headed to the armory.

"Meet us at the hangar so we can leave." She told them as she closed the door.

"You heard the feisty women! Men lets go!...and Lein, since you're not really a man."

Ajax chuckled as he opened the door and headed off to the armory, with Alaric and Lein following behind.

"I too am a man!"

"Are you now?"

"Yes!"

"What's something manly that you have done then?"

"...."

"See? Not a man, but in time and with my leadership you will become a man!"

Ajax patted Lein's head as if he was an old teacher. Lein smiled up at Ajax as he nodded.

"Thank you, Ajax!"

"No! You must call me Master Ajax!"

"I-I'm sorry Master Ajax! Please forgive me!"

"I-it's fine. Let's focus on the task at hand shall we?"

Ajax said as he tried his best not to laugh. Alaric, on the other hand, was laughing as Lein tilted his head at him confused, but didn't ask as he turned back to the front.

They arrived at the armory as they put on their gear and ran through what they had again. Alaric held the helmet and hesitated for a moment before he put it on.

"Well then, to the hangar. We probably should hurry, I don't feel like being yelled at by girls my age."

Ajax said as he tapped Alaric's and Lein's armor as he headed off with them following behind.

"Oh, you're finally here, only took you guys about 20 minutes."

"Hey, we ran into some issues girl, but at least we're here now right?"

Sophia shook her head as she stepped into the car and sat behind the wheel.

"Hey, why are you driving?"

"Do you have the qualifications to drive instead Ajax?"

"No, I don't! Doesn't mean I can't be the one to drive though!"

Alaric sighed as he dragged Ajax and kicked him into the back seat.

"Ow! Alaric, are you really going to let her treat me like that?"

"Yes, I am."

"How cruel? Aren't we friends?"

"Yes, and that's why I'm exactly doing that."

Alaric got into the car as he sat next to Ajax as Lein got in after them, leaving him in the middle. Lisa got in the front seat although she didn't wear any of the armor which confused Alaric along with the others, but decided to ignore it.

"I'll give further directions after we arrive there."

"Whatever you say Ms.bitchface"

"Did you say something?"

"Nope! Nothing at all Sophia"

Ajax mumbled as he sighed, sitting slumping down in his seat as they drove to the ruins outside of Vanbu.

The ruins were mostly quiet and deserted, except for the occasional animal and dead body around. Sophia stopped the car as everyone got out and held her sword as she turned to them.

"Alright, to make this fast and easy we're going to split up. Everyone will go off in a direction and report here in an hour, any questions?"

"Isn't that ineffective?"

"How so Ajax?"

"Because....you know what, nevermind, I retract my statement."

"Anyways, since there are no more questions, you guys are dismissed."

Alaric nodded as he strapped his sword to his waist as he set off in a direction, heading towards some of the destroyed buildings. He looked around the ruined building as his steps echoed as if he was showing his presence.

"So quiet, what was this even built for?"

He talked out loud, not minding if anything heard as he touched one of the walls covered in moss.

He then turned around a corner and as he did, he stepped back as a silver light barely missed him. He instantly reached for his sword and unsheathed it as he squinted, eyeing the enemy as it showed itself, a mortem. It held two knives as it rushed towards his, aiming for his neck. He brought up his sword as he barely deflected the blade, the knife leaving a small cut on his cheek.

He kicked the mortem away as he winced, feeling as if he just struck something hard.

"They really should explain why their bodies are so hard."

He spoke as the mortem seemed to yell at him as it charged again. He rolled to the side as the creature pressed on, slashing at him wildly. He stepped forward and elbowed it in the face, ignoring the pain as he rolled away.

His eyes widened as the mortem appeared in front of him as it charged him, sending through an old wall as he fell down coughing, now covered in debris.

He pulled his gun out as he shot the mortem, causing it to flinch as he pushed it away and managed to grab his sword. He then went on the attack.

He felt afraid do to the events that transpired last time, but this time was different. He had survived. He was given a new power, he was promoted, he had a team, and he had a reason to live, for his family.

Being filled with determination he yelled as he swung the sword, cutting off the mortems hand as it screamed in pain, knocking him back.

He slid across the floor, but didn't mind the pain as he felt ecstatic! He had a chance to win this. If he managed to kill it, or have it bleed out then he would survive.

His hopes were diminished as he saw the mortem stop the bleeding and hold its dagger firmly, flames covering the blade.

He gulped in fear, now trembling. It was happening again. He stepped back in fear, cursing inwardly at his luck.

The mortem seemed to smile as it dashed towards him, swinging thrusting its blade towards him. Alaric let out a shout as he held his sword up to block, but his eyes widened as he saw the blade pierce his shoulder, causing him to drop his sword. He head butted the mortem repeatedly as it let go and stumbled back.

Tears were forming in his eyes as he yanked the blade out, as he winced, the flames now gone. He threw it towards the mortem as it dodged, but it was enough as he managed to grab his sword again.

"Goddamnit! Why does this have to happen to me again! Lisa! Didn't you say you gave me a power! If so, then where is it?"

He yelled in frustration which confused the mortem. But it took this chance as it rushed him again, pinning him up against a wall as he coughed. Am I really going to die here? His thoughts were now increasing as he closed his eyes.

If you were given the power to save the world, would you do it? The thought rang in his mind as he began to fall limp, feeling the air leave his lungs.

I....I wouldn't save this damn forsaken world! But the people! Why am I thinking of this now? He laughed at the thought as he felt his eyes go dim.

"Correct answer, well then contractee, save the people."

He heard Lisa's voice in his mind as his eyes snapped open as he felt pain course through them.

"I...Will....Live!"

He voiced his declaration as he kicked the mortem's injured arm as it winced, its grip weakening on him as he kicked the mortem away. He gasped and wheezed as the air filled his lungs as he noticed something strange. Lines and X's covered certain areas of the building and even on the mortem.

"Are these.....weak points?"

He pieced it together as he saw a X on the mortems head and over its heart. He smiled as he stood up, filled with confidence as he faced the mortem, which began to run towards him.

He jumped out of the way before the mortem even began too. He was puzzled at this as he began to run, picking his gun up.

"Did I just.....see into the future? If so, then I can win this."

A smirk crossed his face as he heard the mortem chasing after him. He ran and turned at randoms at corners in the building to confuse it as he saw a perfect opportunity. He smiled as he stopped running, the mortem beginning to charge him.

He didn't move. No, he didn't have to. He aimed the gun towards the ceiling as he shot it, aiming for one of the many lines covering the ceiling. With that it began to shake as the ceiling collapsed, falling down onto the mortem as he smiled.

"Perfect...."

He put his hand down as his hand still held onto the gun as he walked over to the debris as he began to remove it. Seeing the mortem twitch he searched for its knife. Finding it, he twirled it in his hands before stabbing it into its other hands, causing it to let out a scream, which soon became a whimper.

"That doesn't feel good at all does it?"

He smiled sadistically as he stabbed the mortem again and again. Letting out all of his pent up frustration as he then stopped, the mortem became limp as it began to profusely bleed from its many holes.

He then held up the creature's head so he could see its face, but stopped as he stepped back.

"How? W-what, no...that's impossible....right?"

He gulped as he almost had the urge to puke. He winced as pain coursed through his eyes again as they began to bleed. He slumped to the ground, the urge to sleep overcoming him as his mind seemed to freeze, still thinking over what he just saw. The mortem he killed...was human.