slight bridge

The next day, I woke up like usual while the sky was still pitch black.

According to the location of the moon, it was about 3:00 am.

I stared out the window at the glistening celestial object and sighed.

As I scanned the area and Aurora was gone.

"She has a messed up sleep schedule like me," I yawned.

I left the room after putting on a new change of clothes.

This time I put on my cloak and a fresh white shirt to go along with my usual brown pants.

"Oh brother, I hope you get along with me today.

Also, I know you are here." I whispered.

I stretched my arms and walked out the door.

As I trudged up the hill to my favorite spot overlooking the city, I saw a shadow.

There was a person curled up in the place where I usually sit— and contemplate.

Aurora.

I stepped next to her and she didn't even pay attention to me.

"Hey, this is where I am supposed to sit," I said calmly.

She lifted her head slightly and buried her face back into her arms again.

As I sat down, I shook my head and frowned.

"I feel you.

Nights are the time of day to contemplate."

"I guess," She said.

"Have you always been this down?

Or am I just tripping?"

"Well…"

"Someone died, right?"

"How?…"

"Who is it?"

"Well, my brother from the 2nd was executed after an attempted interrogation by ghouls." She slowly lowered her voice.

Little beads of water landed on the ground and permeated the soil.

"Don't remind me… please…"

She sniffled and gasped.

"Well shit, you're out of shape." I blinked.

I stood up slowly.

"Still… I understand but you cannot be in my spot like that."

I inhaled.

CRACK!

I kicked her in the back of the head and caused her to fall forward.

"Ugahh!"

I flipped a birdie and sat down in the same place.

"Well that makes the two of us.

Looks like you did not learn shit from having a great family member."

"Whyyyy?

Did this have anything to do with this!" Ki shouted.

"People still teach you stuff when they're dead.

Morals, and stuff.

For all I know, your tears are dry without meaning and your eyes lose color every time I see you.

I am sorry, but it is three fucking in the morning, I cannot be dealing with nuts like you until the sun is up."

She sighed and rolled onto her side.

"What is this world?"

"I know the answer to the question very well.

Survival of the fittest.

You can only have the pity of the people for a short while.

I am not the person to make your face look like you got an allergy."

"That is reassuring."

"It sure is."

"Was your brother also a great person?"

"Yeah… Well he is also in 2nd and he is your brother's friend."

"If he is dead, why must you say that he 'is' in 2nd?"

"That is because he is still in 2nd.

I will truly be sad for you if your brother did not leave a legacy at all.

And that isn't true.

Was it Conrey Motoki?

I mean, he was named with a northern style, I suppose it is hard to forget."

"Yeahhh…"

Tears were still rolling down her cheek, but her attitude changed entirely.

"I have sat for long enough now."

I stood up

"Sorry for being violent," I said, "Violence is a State Of Mind That works not as a solution but a response.

If you want to take action into your own hands, just make them want to be 6 feet under.

Like cracking on someone until their cranium is in their supreme cerebral artery would do."

"That is crazy." She mumbled.

"You are a goofy ahh "Bitch" and that ain't crazy to me."

"Okay…" *:\*

"Currently the exams are going on and as you know we get nothing but shelter."

"It is getting more difficult this year because of recent artifact crossings."

"Hey, it's Tuck!"

I noticed the presence of him rather quickly as his distinct act of exhaling loudly while in my presence gave him away.

As per usual, he nudged me and then immediately shoved me.

I was surprised once again by my stallion pal.

I laughed, "You seriously just picked the lock didn't you."

Aurora, with her mouth still wide open, looked at Tuck and blinked.

"You probably cannot see him because it is pitch black out here." I said.

"It's okay, I'll just use my soul extension to try and feel for him."

"Tuck, why did you pick the lock *again* 'again' ~and again~?"

He looked at me and turned his head.

Ehh, I have no clue about how he did it, but he sure does do this stuff a lot.

"Why do you have an arrow in your keister?" Aurora pointed out.

"Da hell you say?"

I couldn't see well, but Tuck in fact did have an arrow in his keister.

"Nah man that ain't good." I said.

I carefully grabbed the shaft of the arrow and pulled it out.

Tuck was strong and unflinching while I unwrapped the cloth from my hand and put it on his wound.

"It takes blood and irony to be able to reach the top.

For real, Tuck, you have been through everything." I smiled.

He turned towards me and started to chew on my loose strands of hair.

"And for real, I have a shitload of knowledge."

"I for one do not know how you got that arrow." Aurora said.

"It must be because Tuck took the far road across the forest."

It seems he ran into ghouls.

"It seems he ran into ghouls."

"Wow, you read my mind."

"Yeah since yesterday when the 14 man intelligence team went out to research,

Counterintelligence locked down the area."

"Did anything happen yet?"

Aurora fell silent.

"Counterintelligence completely and utterly lost the intelligence team.

Along with Olivia Wessic." She finally opened.

I nodded and then shut my eyes.

"Ned won't like this… but…she just might still be alive."

"Compared to the ghouls, intelligence was dogwater!"

"But there is a chance Olivia is still alive."

"She told me about you far before we met.

And she is one of my greatest mentors."

"Damn, 2 shots to the heart in a short period of time…"

I put my hand to my chest.

Reed, I am sorry but I am sorry for your loss.

I wonder if Reed is lonely or not after he moved on without me.

"I-I kind of need to head to the restroom." Aurora shuddered.

Her face was an even darker shadow in the night.

As she walked away she started crying and sniffling.

"You need some stability."

She stopped walking and stood there for a second.

She gave me a thumbs up.

"I am okay," she croaked.

"Shut up.

Fuck off to the mental clinic."

She sat down and sighed.

"That would be great."

←→

"According to history, there were civilizations that came up with genius warfare terms such as 'EZ', 'GG', 'BRB', 'AFK', 'ETC.'" I told Ned.

"For real, they had digital wars in many different styles.

Those people invented our fighting style: Block, Parry, Dodge."

"Anyways, it is almost 8 AM.

We should probably head to part 1 of the test." I interjected.

"Yeah."

"Life really is carefree until you see the worst of it, right?"

"Yeah… what?"

"Nevermind, it is just a bad feeling that is all."

"What is it?"

"The fact that I am with a person that has a tendency to get shitted and kidnapped."

"Crack-ass Bitch."

"No you little large dog.

You can't learn to stop chewing on shit."

"Hear me, ya fuckin newt: Your riz level is to the shit."

"Hear me out, but I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen soon.

I will leave the door unlocked after I talk Aurora into it.

If you have to, come over to blockade from the inside.

There is a ghoul incident and I know Chris is on the edge of calling code Orange."

He looked at me and shrugged.

I shook my head.

"Just a gut feeling." I said.

"Oh."

"Good response."

"I think I want to kit myself with weapons after the tournament.

The standard issue spear is not going to cut it.

Some kind of heavy spear is nice."

"Alright Ned, go do yourself."

I left everything to my self consciousness.

Every time I change into a new shirt, I feel like something worse is going to happen.

Every time I taste blood, I feel like the world is collapsing on me.

Nothing is making sense.

Just block out all feelings and emotions from the outside world.

Just block out all feelings and emotions from inside the mind.