Trials

“I can smell the stench of demon on you. Did I not order you to shower and change your uniform?”

Principal Rook, if he can even be called that after what I just witnessed, is sitting across from me with his hand folded. I don’t know why he was upset, this uniform wasn't even bloody...

“The showers were full and all my uniforms were dirty. Nobody will tell me where the washing room is.”

The past few weeks have irreversibly changed me. The shy little girl from before would have stuttered out an apology. But that wasn’t me anymore. It felt good pissing him off.

The office seems sparse and lifeless from what you’d expect from a teacher, which just confirms that he’s always been military or a fed. There is one interesting thing in his office; several pictures on the wall show a youth who joined the military at the first chance and worked his way into the elite early.

“I want to know the truth—about this place, and about me. I didn’t come here by chance, did I?”

”You think you deserve to know the truth? You? Fine, here’s a bit of truth—nothing in this world is by chance or happenstance. It was your fate to end up here since your birth.”

”I don’t believe in fate anymore.”

“Is that so? Tell me… what do you believe, Angel?

”I believe…” I paused, I pressed my hand to my breast and shouted from the bottom of my heart. “I believe that people have the right to decide their own destiny! People can change if they open their hearts to one another!”

A warm spot filled inside. I could feel I was not alone, my friend and comforter was with me.

“Wrong.” Rook’s voice tinged with power. I could feel his oppressive kanon field take authority over the entire room. “Opening yourself up leaves you vulnerable. That is a weakness in this reality. You are a naive little neophyte who happens to have a little natural talent. Make no mistake, the only difference between you and the rest of the sheep out there is you’ve seen the wolves lurking in the shadows.”

Rook stands up. The man was already enormous but he now looked impossibly tall. Or maybe, I was made to feel small in his overwhelming presence.

“Look at you—you have no claws or teeth. What you are is the spotless lamb kept safe before the appointed day of sacrifice. That’s your fate and there isn’t anything you or anyone else can do to change that. You are dismissed, fourth-year student!”

There was no way I was leaving here without finding the truth. I fought too hard to leave empty handed!

“No.” I said defiantly, “I’m not leaving until you tell me why I’m here.”

“You are a sheep being led to slaughter…”

”I want to know why you brought me here.”

“That’s no longer any of your concern. Leave my office immediately or I will deal out capital punishment for your disobedience to my authority.”

“I reject your authority. Sir.”

”….”

“….”

“So be it.”

Rook adjusted his tie. His face was always so emotionless, no one could tell what he was ever thinking. But at that moment, I could tell exactly what he was thinking.

I blinked once and he had disappeared—

“Angelica behind you!”

I barely had time to respond to Angie’s warning. When I twirled around he was already there—

“Angie switch…”

Too late Rook grabbed me by the throat with his thick gorilla hands. He effortlessly hoisted me off the ground. My larynx would have probably been instantly crushed if Angie hadn't been providing me with a protective shield across my body.

“An-ng-ie-e…”

“I can’t hold him much longer, you need to fight back!”

“I saw your little light show earlier.” Rook brings my face closer as he continues to choke the life out of me. I don’t know who taught you to activate Rhema, but it's useless if you can’t talk.”

I kick and flail but it’s useless. I can’t move and I can’t breathe…

Rook tightened his grip, I saw stars and fireworks flood my vision.

“The only thing left for you is to die.”

I can’t die, not here…

Got to think of something—got to do something against his power. But what?

I couldn’t beat the principal in a kanon battle or a strength battle, I needed something to tip the scales in a way only I could do…

My life is flashing before my eyes: of my grandparents, of my friends, of Ben, and of everyone I ever met including—Mr. Smith from church?

He knew me, was familiar with me, called me “Angie” which could only mean…

Earlier in the day, when I had achieved total sync with Angie during the demon battle, my body was performing moves and fighting in a way I had never done before, but it all seemed so familiar.

“It’s a long story” were her words to me.

Time has slowed. My life flashing before my eyes showed me something interesting. I saw a whole life Angie had been secretly living while I was asleep! She would surf the web, sneak out of the house, and go out messing around town at night.

This explains… so much.

What was actually going to save my life was she met a very interesting person who trained her—no—me in advanced close quarter combat. It was all right there so I grabbed it.

I smiled at the principal, he raised an eyebrow, probably wondering what I meant which allowed my surprise attack—

My arms shot out and dug into his eyeballs—which was the grossest thing I have ever done.

His head snapped back in pain and he was temporarily blinded which left me space for my next attack. Angie sensed what I was doing and full kanon strength was diverted to my arms and hands. With both hands I hooked my fingers around his thumb and yanked outward.

I felt the thumb break, which became the second grossest thing I have ever done.

His grip loosened and I twisted my body for the follow-up attack: a downward elbow strike on his forearm. The blow hyperextends his elbow and my throat is freed.

By now Rook recovers his eyesight but he doesn’t see my next attack because I’m already directly under him—executing a vertical flying knee straight into a groin!

Rook lurched forward and choked out a painful inhale.

I can do this.

We can do this.

I just needed the final two finishing moves—a waki gatame armbar to break his elbow followed by a palm heel to the jaw then I’ll…

His arm suddenly swung backwards with the force of a wrecking ball.

I put up my arms to block but the force sends me flying across the room.

I cratered into the concrete wall. I would have died instantly if Angie hadn't cushioned the blow.

The last thing I remembered before passing out was Angie shouting at me to get up...