Paladin's Path

Team 1: Leader: Zara Bennet: Corbin Monet, Aaliyah Smith, Juno Darby

Team 2: Leader: Bruno Hayes: Lugh O'Hara, Ava Wolfe, Damien Santoro

Team 3: Leader: Carmen Ford: Theon Abara, Bell Wyatt, Jon Sinclair

Team 4: Leader: Robyn Wilson: Robin Evans, Elena Howard, Chloe Parker

Team 5: Leader: Greg Knox: Art Graham, Cole Castle, Corey Anton

____________

Painfully average. That was the first thing that Theon thought when he seen the boy that had walked into class.

Short black hair that was untamed but not so messy due to its shortness, dull dark blue eyes with dark circles surrounding his eyes. He was nervous and his legs were shaking, it certainly wasn't cold in the room.

But Theon sympathized with him. He couldn't imagine standing in front of a class of a dozen or more students staring at you completely analysing you.

After Mr. Adams introduced the boy named Damian Santoro, the boy tried waving his hand anxiously. And then people could clearly see the next thing that was easy to notice him. His gloves.

Black in colour and plain, unless there was some design that was just hard to notice with how far back Theon was but still black none the less, the leather stuck to his skin with the tips thinner and with some other material probably allowing him to still use things like his phone without taking the gloves off.

A couple people were quick to notice that they were on probably for the reason that he can't control his power easily and it activates easiest from his hands.

"Now as stated earlier." Mr. Adams continued speaking filling the silence in the room. "Damian Santoro will be on team 2 alongside Lugh O'Hara and Ava Wolfe. Please treat each other kindly."

Robin got up and warmly welcomed him.

"Nice to meet you Damian. I hope you enjoy your time here with us."

And then more and more people gave out the same sentiment. Theon wondered how Robin felt since she knew why he was actually here as a replacement for Eli.

She wouldn't be guilty, maybe she was excited to see this guy as a way for her to move on from that. Whenever she would look onto the spots that Eli sat in or was part of his face would slowly be washed away from her mind and replaced by Damian.

Although it wouldn't be hard to mix them up, they were both short, both had dark hair and both seemed timid at first glance.

Mr Adams spoke up again. "Alright. You students can get in your trio now and make your way to your assigned rooms to see your team leaders."

The class shuffled and Theon made his way over toward Jon first and when he arrived, Bell was also there. Arms crossed on her chest and a stern look on her face. She didn't seem up for conversation but eventually they would all have to talk.

"Lets go then." Jon said as he got up with his bag on his back.

_________________

Carmen Ford was having a good day, even though the earlier meeting had dampened the mood slightly she was usually more upbeat anyway. She didn't know the student that had died but she still felt sympathetic at his loss.

But nonetheless, she was fine. She was about to meet three new students that she will leading out into the real world as full fledged paladins. This would be her second team she's ever had now, and the thought of it made her feel dark and gloomy.

She stopped thinking of that past, it wasn't long ago. But she had made a mistake, she wasn't prepared enough, but this time things will go right. She wouldn't fail them. They would be strong enough to handle any and everything all on their own.

Then she remembered who exactly she will be in charge of this year. Of the three kids she is stuck with, one is a quiet kid that takes care of things on his own also with a past hidden by the BPA, the second was one with a sharp mouth and his past seemed to be a blank canvas that was previously forged as something more. 'I'll have to figure out what he's hiding.'

And the last one was probably in the worst situation. A bad curse, a bad past and clear signs of trauma she hasn't tried to get over but instead piling on heaps of work to compensate.

It was a shame to not get the legacy child, she thought she could have worked really well with her. The child's psyche evaluation had been quite alright too, unlike Bell Wyatts, the two boys don't seem to have one, it wasn't easy to tell with the wiped or non existent pasts.

To be struggling this much so early on was almost natural for a paladin, and unfortunately the chances of it becoming worse is much higher than the opposite.

That line of thinking reminded her of her other team. She shook her head to wipe away the harsh memories... They will not be like her old team. They will not die before her.

She arrived outside of the room B14 and opened it and stepped in...

___________________

Theon was first to notice a figure standing by the door before it opened with a stutter.

Coming in was long flowing black hair that cascades down her back, contrasting with her bright emerald green eyes that once landed on the trio, pierced through any façade. She possesses an accentuated and walks with confidence that is almost regal. Her fierce presence was bound to leave an impression.

Carmen Ford slowly walked in with the door shutting and stood at the front of the classroom with the students facing her waiting for her words to fill the silence.

But instead the steely cold voice of his new silver haired teammate.

"You're Late!"

Was she? Theon didn't even notice there was a time she had to meet them by, but they had been waiting in the classroom now for about half an hour.

Jon was giving a look to the woman that told Theon he was vaguely disappointed. It was a look he gave to people he believed were particularly stupid, like Cole. And Theon just stayed quiet.

"Sorry for that I was busy, had a bad meal." she held her stomach and pretended to start keeling over as if throwing up in a toilet. Disgusting.

Jon smirked and didn't mind it quickly warming up to her humour at least.

"Well anyway, I really am sorry for being so late. But lets skip that and get onto introductions or something like that." She swayed her hands in a pushing motion towards the three, as if pushing the awkwardness to someone else to takeover.

"Pointless!" Bell was not letting up. "We already know each other from being in the same class for a month and we know you already so why don't we get on with whatever's necessary."

"Really..." The lady scratched her chin in thinking motion. "...Well then girlie, tell me something about the boy beside you." That was Theon.

Bell went quiet and didn't even look to the two boys at her side. There was nothing she knew just as there was nothing the other two knew about her.

After a solid minute of silence Theon was then pointed to. "Now you tell me at least one thing about the boy beside you."

"Well Jon has a massive sweet tooth."

Jon almost always had something sweet in his pocket that he was planning to snack on as soon as he leaves one class to the next.

"And you, for him."

"Theo likes drawing sometimes." Jon was probably the only person who knows about this about Theon and even some other stuff.

"And now. I want both of you to tell me something about Bell you know?" And then they were stumped. They hadn't spoken to Bell at all yet, nobody has. She's somehow made it without speaking up to anyone.

Theon stayed silent, choosing not to assume anything from the closed off girl.

"She has a brother." Jon didn't.

Bell snapped her head in his direction and Theon could see the flare in anger, surprise and apprehension in her eyes.

"How did you know that!" Bell could get quiet loud, not as loud as Corbin but since she was always so quiet people wouldn't assume as much.

Jon didn't seem flustered or agitated by her voice and silently swung in his chair while answering.

"I met him once. Real serious guy, stickler for the rules and such."

Bell scoffed with Carmen Ford looking between the two as they began talking.

"Of course he is." Bell spoke that in a more despondent tone which was picked up on by the other three in the room and as she realized it she went back to a more composed demeanour.

The growing tension in the room faded, Carmen Ford looked down at the three and then spoke smoothly and calmly to Bell.

"Bell. You need to talk about your little problem." Bell looked up and her face became slightly more subdued. "Your curse."

"No I don..."

"Yes you do." she was cut off from her stuttering response. "If not then you can pack your things and go off to continue hiding out on your own."

Even though Theon had only seen Bell's personality more now, he had already started to see her as a strong minded person who wasn't quick to change her stance on things easily. But after the mention of some curse, she went quiet and became a shaking mess.

It was like she had forgotten that she wasn't the only one in the room.

Theon was intrigued by the term curse and didn't know what it could have meant, he looked toward Jon but he shrug his shoulders not knowing the answer either.

"Calm down Bell. It is best that you get this over with now. It will be easy for them to figure it out on their own anyway."

Bell looked up gritting her teeth and clenching her eyes shut. She took a deep breath and then stared starkly.

"Alright then." She started. "I awakened my Od through the Curse of The Black Lamb."

Theon had never heard of such a thing before. Bell continued with her explanation, about how she is part of a small percentage of people who have survived it. Theon felt bad for her.

The entire process would have anyone on edge. A black tattoo randomly placed on you and then you have within the week to be transported to another dimension without your say so and then complete some trial in which the majority die.

What's worse is the fact that you don't have a power, just Od. And that is how she is so far advanced when it comes to Od manipulation.

It seemed to be a phenomenon that was known to people, even Jon knew of it. Theon wanted to know more, he wanted to ask her what she had to do in her trial but that would have just come off as tactless.

"And the curse I came out with..." Oh yeah. So after being placed in this trial you have to do everything to win as if you lose a chimera will come out into the real world using your body while you die.

"Chimera are attracted to me."

!

Jon looked toward her with the same speed her neck snapped toward him earlier.

"What do you mean by that, like interested in your hand in marriage or...?"

Bell gave him a sharp look that told him to shut up and Carmen Ford laughed lightly. "Oh if only."

It was obvious what it meant to those in the room. She was like a magnet for those monsters and so their team was a magnet for trouble.

"That's why I made a request to work on my own and if possible get a experienced paladin that is strong enough to where they wouldn't die easily."

The trio looked up to Carmen Ford to see her response.

"Yeah sorry about that but chimera appearing in the world only seems to be growing more. And even experienced paladin want to live as long as possible. The one's that are a lot more lenient are way too aggressive and can't be trusted much to nurture your growth."

And it doesn't matter what you do, there will always be the chance that you'll be overwhelmed by chimera. That sucks. Theon was starting to see it now.

Bell's closed off and rude demeanour wasn't just because she born that way or viewed herself as better. She was someone that will always attract trouble throughout her life, no friends and maybe even a bad relationship with her brother considering the reaction she had to him being mentioned earlier.

"Cool so we'll get to fight tons of chimera and progress faster than any other group."

Jon's attitude certainly wasn't winning her over though.

"Is she only safe here because of the barrier?" Theon asked trying to quickly change the conversation.

"Yes. Basic barriers can be taught and help to repel chimera, but the barriers in place at this school are only so strong because of Principal Juniper Fay." She went on. "Imbuing your own technique with barriers can give it unique effects but you have to have a greater understanding of it for it to work properly."

"How are barriers activated?" Jon asked this time.

"Through Runes. You'll learn that with me at a later stage though. We will start by focusing on other beginner level stuff."

They seemed appeased by that, especially Bell. Her reality was a sad one, one where she is forced to struggle for the rest of her life.

"Is there a way to break curses like the one's Bell has?" Theon asked.

"There isn't much research on them done. Some people die before any more can be done on it, and some aren't as bad as your teammates. The best thing she can do is to get stronger. All you you, get stronger so that they won't be a threat to you."

Jon was swinging in his chair with a quickened pace that signalled excitement.

"So when will we be out on our first mission?" Theon was also eager to know.

"When I think your all ready." The two boys raised their eyebrows. Not to be arrogant but out of all the boys in the class they viewed themselves as the strongest. They didn't even consider the ones that had still yet to show their own powers.

Carmen seen their faces and smiled.

"I mean do you guy's even know what Od purity is yet?"

'Damn.' Theon definitely didn't. He started to think that there was no point in all his time with the BPA official when he was first taken away from the Grid. He hadn't thought him much and was just stern for no reason.

Bell seemed to have something but didn't give an answer. Maybe it was just a thought and she just didn't want to be wrong.

"Theon show your Od."

Theon's frown deepened but he looked to Jon not having a clue as to what was going on. He began concentrating, and a moment later the air around him was filled with a shapeless, colourless glow. It was a substantial amount... "So..." Theon said after a moment. "...that was my Od. What was that for?"

As soon as the words left his mouth the answer hit him like a slow, creeping weight. It wasn't hard to figure out now... Od purity. His jaw tightened at the moment of idiocy. He didn't like how she used him as the guinea pig, holding his hand and then letting go.

He was supposed to fall but instead righted himself up after understanding the very simple concept.

"Od..." Carmen Ford then released her Od to show the trio her own Od. It was very different from what Theon had shown. "...is based within the body in circular motion and when we mould Od, in order to use our powers, we expel it through our nodes, of which we awakened have eight hundred and one." Carmen explained in a very simplified way. "But our nodes are not perfect. It shows when we form our Od like what Theon just did."

The trio started to look at her own Od to see a more defined shape which moved in swirling motions with sharp flickers adding to it. The colour was more of a pale green that felt very earthy and warm even somewhat playful.

"When we push our Od through our nodes, it becomes dirty, or impure. This weakens our Od and it weakens our techniques. Your pool of Od and control will determine how well you can perform your technique, but your purity determines how powerful your technique is. Think of it like sharpening a knife."

That was a good way of putting it to Theon, a dull blade won't cut until you spend time sharpening it.

"So how do we purify it then?" Bell asked.

"Before I give that away, I should tell you, most bronze rank have have a purity rank of twenty percent. Silver rank only goes up to thirty three percent and gold rank is at least fifty percent. Once you're at that point it is hard to go up any more even with tough and rigorous training."

The explanation was getting long but Theon could still easily understand it.

"It's not something that gets easier with time. It actually gets harder the more you improve."

"Like lifting the same weights then... the more you lift the heavier it feels." Jon said.

"Great maybe I'll have you teach a lesson." She seemed happy that we looked to be getting her point.

"When Theon moulded his Od." she continued. "You all got a look at what impure Od looks like. Its colourless and formless. But as you start to purify it, it will then begin to take on a hue and shape to it. Everyone's is unique, and you can tell how pure someone's Od is and therefore give a rough estimate to how powerful they may be."

"So what do we do?" Theon asked.

"It's simple. What's making the Od dirty is actually the impurities in the nodes themselves. So just blast your Od through the nodes, it will dislodge the impurities and clean your nodes."

That was it? Theon didn't think it would be that easy.

"That's it. The impurities are naturally occurring, they build up as time passes, so make sure you blast through them every morning for now and then every few days and make it a routine. Simple exercise but it takes time to see any noticeable changes."

The three of them didn't even need to be told to start. They got up standing since it was most comfortable. Then they let their Od burst within the room.

All a murky and messy grey colour, the cleanest was probably Jon's then Bell and lastly Theon.

In the next instant Theon's Od burst out of every other node instead of holding back, not on purpose but simple habit. There was a slight crack of something falling on the ground then breaking.

Theon's Od felt like a physical violent force ready to start tearing apart whatever it touched.

"Good start you three." Carmen Ford said with a smile while stroking the top of her head. "You'll have twenty minutes doing this. Then I'll personally test your capabilities myself."

"You want us to fight you?" Jon asked with slight suspicion. "Why?"

"Just got to see how capable you are. Every creation is only as strong as it's foundation."

____________

The massive gym stretched out in front of them, an empty canvas of grey. The high ceiling loomed overhead, the echo of every footstep reverberated across the cold concrete floor. Although, Carmen Ford did notice that Jon Sinclair's footsteps were incredibly silent she could only hear it due to her own power which she didn't plan on using against the three.

The walls were painted in a stark monochrome, it felt suffocating in their simplicity, offering no distractions. She noticed how Theon Abara fidgeted at the grey and boring room, she wondered what that was about. A few scattered lights cast harsh beams down, giving the room a dim glow.

Carmen stood at the center of it all, her posture relaxed, arms crossed and looking relaxed. Her emerald eyes, vibrant against the dreary backdrop, flicked between the trio standing before her. She looked to Theon, Jon and Bell. The three of them were standing apart, with Bell looking somewhat uncertain in her stance.

Theon had stance that showed he was ready, capable and used to fighting. Not overly exaggerated but good, Jon was lazily casual and unbothered, even having both his hands in his pockets like he didn't want to be here. But on closer inspection a professional could see that it screamed... 'I Dare You!' He seemed as ready and even the most experienced, excluding her of course.

Bell, while she was in a stance, she didn't seem as comfortable, Carmen could see it in her stiffness. She is used to training solely on her own. Even though she wanted to get stronger she would never reach out on her own to ask for help, she was scared of what may happen due to her curse.

'Poor child.'

Theon, his amber eyes steady and focused. It shook Carmen only slightly. It was like looking into a growing fire, pour some gasoline on it and it would eviscerate everything around it. Jon rocked on his heels, grinning, but the snarky attitude that he had shown earlier was not playing on his face the same way, it seemed almost hidden in the tension in the room.

Bell who stood furthest apart from the circle, her silver hair shimmered under the afternoon light, arms drawn in close to her chest.

Carmen's light voice broke up the tension. "Whenever you're ready."

Theon was the first to move. His body tensed, then exploded into action. His form was quick and refined, his movements had a certain polish to them that she wouldn't have expected from a boy that young as they usually had no experience.

As he rushed forward he clenched his fist and a flicker of energy rippled through his body. A feint aura bubbled up from his hand and she was surprised to see sharpened nails that almost looked like claws with his hands looking veiny and tense.

She remembered what she read about his power, [Dragons Forge.]

He was a summoner, many summoners were able to take on traits of the beings that they summon, so it wasn't surprising that he could do that but it made her wonder how long he had been an awakened.

He had swiped at Carmen, the air humming with the force behind the blow.

Carmen merely sidestepped, her expression almost bored as she dodged his strike with the grace of someone who had done this a thousand times. "That's a predictable move, Theo." she chided only to turn and see one of his dragons swirling around her nearly grabbing her right arm and she also noticed Jon sneaking up from her flank.

She done a flip backwards and quickly moved out of the way, but Jon was quick. Shimmering red material began to form, coalescing into a makeshift whip. Jon lashed it out, aiming to wrap it around Carmen's ankles. But his movements were too rushed, too reckless. The whip missed its mark, snapping uselessly against the floor.

"Too slow Jon." Carmen said as she stepped out of the way. Her voice remained calm and even amused.

Jon cursed under his breath, trying to regain his balance, but Carmen's attention was elsewhere.

Bell had finally decided to act. Her steps were hesitant but she moved on anyway not paying much mind to her teammates. She raised her hands in the air with her Od shimmering around her, the air grew heavy and a silver box materialized above her head.

It was a small cube that rushed forward almost hitting Theon who had to duck out of the way. It reached Carmen and then stopped, dragging itself to her side with three more splitting apart from the box and then surrounding her in a square formation.

'Oh, cool.'

Carmen's ability was unique but lacked the versatility that her brother's [Argent] ability but she can find interesting ways to make it useful.

The square around her stood in place and then translucent bars raised with the aim to trap her in. Carmen was too fast for that though. She looked toward the struggling Bell who was shaking probably cause of the strain of splitting apart her creation.

The control it took for that as well as telekinetically moving it around was very difficult.

The boxes shattered, the energy dispersed. Bell's face flushed, her shoulders tightening in frustration after realizing her attempt was futile.

"You're trying too hard Bell." Carmen's voice was even more soft than she had used for the boy's but it still remained just as sharp. "Don't force it."

Theon and Jon rushed in now. Theon's sharp strikes swung with a wild instinctual intuition that Carmen was able to dodge by a hairs breath and Jon matched the ferocity with a layer of blood attached to his forearms making his hits harder from their denseness from drying up to a solid formation.

Carmen wasn't concerned. She danced around the throws with ease that made it look like she was just playing one of those games at an arcade that wanted you to step on tiles to match a certain rhythm.

Bell held her hands up but hesitated trying to find the right time to fire off an attack, growing annoyed. She fired anyway, this time three silver boxes that came flying in their direction.

Theon swivelled out of the way of one and Jon stepped back with practised ease. These boxes weren't trying to catch Carmen this time but instead just smash into her.

'That's an easier way to use them.'

Carmen's sparkling green eyes, radiated interest. She let the first fly by her, sidestepped the next and then with a light tap of her foot she shattered the third one as it closed in on her. The shards dissolved into the air as if they had never existed.

"Bell." Carmen stared directly at her this time. "Stop trying to fight solely by yourself. There will always be a time for that, but you three getting the basics right as a team first is what matters now."

Bell showed a face of anger and hurt.

"I'm fine on my own, those two moron's were in the way that's all."

Theon got off the ground and dusted himself off. Jon gave her an incredulous look while getting ready to go off on her.

"You have people here who will help you Bell." Carmen spoke without the authority but instead kindly and in a way that reminded Theon of what a maternal figure would speak like. "From now on, you'll face no more challenges alone. If you do, you'll lose. And when you lose, you'll die."

Bell stayed quiet, the anger turning to disappointment and then she turned her head down not wanting to look toward the group anymore.

"Every creation is only as strong as its foundation."

"Why do you keep saying that? What does it mean?" Jon asked.

Theon cut in giving his own interpretation.

"I think it means that, we're only as strong as our weakest member, something like that anyway."

That made it seem like it was more so directed at Bell. She certainly wouldn't raise her head to that. "I'll get better." she muttered lowly.

Carmen giggled.

"It's more than that guys." she walked in closer. "Right now I'm still building a foundation with you guys, not just in strength but mentality and getting to know you and things like that. I promise, you three will become strong. So strong and progress through the ranks that the other teams won't know what hit 'em."

She seemed to be going off on a wild tangent, Bell finally stared up at her when hearing about how she believes the rookie trio will be strong.

"Let's go get a mission."

"Already?" Jon asked.

"You complaining?" Carmen asked with her head hung backwards staring at him.

"Nah, lets get one."

Bell stared starkly and didn't move. Theon wanted to walk up to her, reassure her, but what would he say. He was not someone who could comfort her in a way she was searching for so he just let it be. She would follow anyway as that was what they would do as a team.

Theon could only watch out for her as she could for him while on this team.

"Bell. Don't worry. I already promised, nothing bad will happen while we're out there. I will be with you."

But those words. Those words from someone strong meant something. Carmen ford was already a gold rank paladin, someone who has earned their high position in power and can't lose it.

That is someone who can provide real reassurance.

Theon felt a weird feeling in his chest...

'I think I want that.'