Shackles Of Reality

'If that's the case then I've got to tell owen, he has a love rival and he doesn't even know it, tsk tsk, can't afford to let my bro get his heart broken, yeah that's it I've got to tell him quick'.

"I'm sorry lady Ashley" he said bowing his head.

"Be glad we're in the same team, let's go" was all she replied with and moved forward leaving them behind. Jayden and Adam glared at each other for some moments before following after her.

But in his mind Jayden was thinking that he was embarrassed in front of this commoner and while he's at early gold rank, the trash was only in mid silver, yet he was humiliated in front of him. 'just you wait' he thought. 'I'll make your life miserable'.

Meanwhile, they continued moving slowly, they met some cadets and eliminated them, well Ashley and Jayden eliminated them, while Adam could only watch. 'One of the main reasons why I hated the idea of teaming up' he thought.

But as soon as as they met another cadet,

"Swish" Adam's wooden dagger had moved forward and embedded itself in the cadet's neck before any of the other two attacked. After Adam pulled that stunt, they shared a glance of understanding, it'll all come down to who is able to act faster.

"We're about four hundred and eighty miles away from the boundary, I guess we can rest now for sometime" said Ashley who proceeded to sit crosslegged by a tree and closed her eyes as if in meditation.

'Wow thanks for asking our opinions' adam said inwardly before also finding a place to rest but didn't dare to enter a deep sleep or even sleep at all.

About eight hours later, the boundary was approaching, "Let's get going" Ashley said standing from her position. And with that they continued on their way towards the golden beacon.

Again they felt someone in their range of senses coming towards them, and all three of them were surprised seeing the newcomer. It was a pretty handsome guy, though he could fade out in a crowd with his brown hair and eyes.

"Adam, where the fuck have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere, I've been through hell man" Owen complained.

"And what he'll have you been through loudmouth?" Ashley spoke before Adam.

"Gulp" Owen swallowed audibly and hid behind Adam away from her gaze.

"What's wrong with you?" Adam asked turning to him. 'why is he acting weird all of a sudden? Adam thought.

"It's Ashley" Owen whispered quietly to Adam.

"It's me what? Ashley asked upon hearing Owen mention her name.

"Wait" Owen said before activating his bloodline. "What did you just do?" asked Adam. "I created a soundproof barrier around us" Owen answered. They then both turned their backs to Ashley.

"Okay so what's happening? he asked again. "It's Ashley, she's not alright, I'm telling you, she's got more than a few screws loose" Owen answered

"So that waswhat made you suddenly scared when you saw her" Adam said with his hand to his jaw as if contemplating.

"What scared, I was merely wary" he scoffed. "You know she followed me around for a whole day calling me her love" Owen said. But stopped seeing the blank look Adam was giving him.

"What" he asked.

"Nothing, just that you're starting to look like the one with loose screws" Adam answered.

"I'm serious, she was following me and saying that" he grumbled.

"Bro, you've got to help me if she suddenly pounces on me" he said putting his arms around himself with a frightful expression.

"You know what it I've got something to tell you" Adam started. "You see that guy? Adam asked turning and gesturing towards Jayden. "Yeah Jayden, what's wrong?" Owen asked.

"What's wrong?, What's wrong is that he's gunning for your girlfriend" Adam said with a straight face.

"Bro this is not time for jokes" Owen grumbled.

"I'm serious" Adam replied.

"No I've known Jayden since childhood, every child in the noble circles knows that Jayden likes Aurora" Owen clarified.

"Ahem, I was wrong then" Adam faked a cough.

"Okay now would you remove the barrier" Adam said.

"Fine" Owen answered and put down the barrier only to turn and meet a glaring gaze from shley which made him shudder.

"Ahem let's go" Owen said shifting his gaze from Ashley. "Are you forgetting something?" Ashley asked walking closer to the duo. "W...w..what?" Owen stuttered.

"You're not in team twenty four" she replied pointing to the glaring number nine on his chest.

"I was starting to think when would someone address that" Jayden said.

"Shit" Owen said and instantly wasted into the sky not caring about attracting attention.

"Follow him" Ashley said flying after Owen. Adam and Jayden also flew after her with Adam thinking; 'sorry bro, this is a competition, no hard feelings'. Though he knew he couldn't catch up to the rest as they were bonafide gold ranks and he was merely a cheat in mid silver rank.

Meanwhile Owen flew towards the golden pillar, fully intent on attracting attention.

On his way he passed by many cadets who saw him due to being in the sky, Lily, Quinn, Damien and Victor also saw him and the same thing went through their head simultaneously; "Why am I not suprised".

But a moment later they saw Ashley and two others flying after Owen and then something clicked in their minds; to the center. All those who could fly flew and those who couldn't ran. Meanwhile, when Owen reached the golden pillar, there was already a certain girl there.

She stood looking at him, the depths of her amethyst eyes like an abyss and her flowing purple locks like a nebula. Owen looked at the left side of her chest and the number he saw, made his heart jumped in excitement.

"Aurora, help, they're coming after me" he shouted after he landed and ran closer to her. Just as he reached her, Ashley and Jayden also landed.

"Hahahahaha, do your worst, Owen laughed like a mad man". A few moments later, Adam also landed and his reaction seeing Aurora's number was; "I'll be damned".