Chapter 6: A for Alister, E for Evil

>> Research Institute <<

Dana's thought reached the opposite side of reality... The picture of the man imprisoned in the huge block of ice completely filled her head this early in the morning. Both of her hands clasped together with her chin on top of it, lightly supporting her head.

A sudden knock on her open door broke the silence in her sun lit office. She automatically gazed on the door, and saw Dr. Conrad peeking with a smile. "Oh! Dr. Conrad, I'm sorry, how long were you standing there?"

Dana stood up from her black swivel chair, gave him a welcoming smile, and let him in. She offered him a seat, but he nodded his head sideways with a charming smile!

Dr. Conrad is in his mid 30's, but is still looking great like he's only on his late 20's. He looked charmingly handsome with his eyeglass on, and paired with his white lab gown. "You seem bothered since Harrison visited. Did he tell you another scary monster stories and theories about them?" They both laughed as Condrad raised his hands and made his hands like a claw. "Eh, that old man really never get tired of dealing with monsters, huh."

"Passion doesn't know how to stop doctor," Dana chuckled as she slightly leaned on her desk with her arms crossed.

"Is it contagious as well? I still can't believe that you left the lab just to stay here in the office to research mysterious and scary creatures."

"Selcouths, It's called selcouths doctor."

"Eh, stop calling me doctor, just call me by my name, Conrad." He looked down to his left chest part pointing his name that was stitched on the upper part of his lab gown pocket. "It's not like we don't know each other." His eyes narrowed as he smiled charmingly at her.

She smiled back at him, "By the way, what brings you to my office? Your station is pretty far from here."

"Ah, yes! I just visited a friend from the special forces. Since I came all the way here, I brought the results for the ice magic sample from a small block of ice that you sent to the lab. What's this for anyway?"

"What ice magic sample? I didn't send anything," perplexed, Dana reached her hand to see the folder from his hands. As she opened it, a picture of the griffin was paper-clipped inside.

"Everything's normal?" She looked at Conrad confused with a mix of disappointment. "Are you sure the result is right? I-is.. Is... this... No! This isn't from the griffin isn't it? Tell me," Dana's eyes grew bigger, she gulped as she bit her lip waiting for Dr. Conrad to open his mouth.

"I'm not sure what's so important about this but, I'm sure about the results. I ran the tests myself. For the samples, the investigators from the special forces sent it in."

"Special forces?"

He nodded, "I heard, it's your order to run the tests. Is it not?"

"Huh? N-No, no... I mean yes! It just slipped through my mind. I just... I, uhm... I haven't slept much recently that I forgot about this." Dana sighed, and nervously laid her eyes to Dr. Conrad who had no idea about what was going on. Suddenly, Dana's telephone rang that almost made her jump to her place. She headed to the side of her table and grabbed the phone, "Hello?"

——

Every classroom was filled of students who are still intrigued by the sudden appearance of the griffin yesterday. The loud buzzes coming from each student's mouths are silenced by the sudden ringing of the school bell!

Every student turned their heads towards the speaker attached to their own classrooms, "Good morning, this is the principal speaking! All students must assemble on the school field now! All class presidents be in charge on each's attendance before the assembly, thank you!"

Every students got off on their chairs, walked out and gathered at the middle of the school's field, "Attention fairies, attention! Students of Eastside Magic Academy, you are well aware of the incidents yesterday. Two creatures appeared from the Heaven's gate, one of them is unfortunately, some students fought with. Due to this sudden incidents, the system are working with the schools with the help of Special Forces Unit from the Research Institute of Magic, they are here to prepare and teach you defense magic and other necessities regarding these matters. From this day onward, Mr. Harrison together with special agent Alister will administer your trainings!"

"All of a sudden?"

"Woah! Cool!"

"Training?!"

"I just got my nails done! Urgh!" (-_-

The school field became like a hive of bees that created a buzz that got louder and louder, until Mr. Harrison stepped up and spoke up! "Enough! Don't worry students, your performance based on your training are graded. Some subjects will be minimized from an hour to half, making room for the special training. Think of it as your advance classes that you'll learn later on... especially if you wish to work at the Institute,"

"Or much better, the Special Forces," Alister flashed his killer smile to his audience before leaving coolly on the stage. Mr. Harrison looked at him with a hint of disappointment and nodded his head lightly, 'Still vane,' he thought!

"Special Forces..." Thana furrowed her brows confused. 'Why do I get strange feelings about it?'

"That would be us," Thana was pulled back from her own thoughts, and turned her head to the tall muscular guy that just talked beside him, 'Alister? When did he get here? He's on stage a while ago...' "This is an advice just for you. Special Forces is... ehh, not that special, don't bother getting an entrance exam!"

"Huh? What? But you said-"

"Naahhh, it's a different case for you!" A hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes before letting out his signature killer smile, "Beautiful girls shouldn't fight monsters, let the men do the job!"

"Wh- hah! Did that dude just made a move on your sister?" Zader with Theo and Jade stared at Alister paving his way back to the stage, "I think I'm going to puke, too much cheese! Too much cheese!"

"Okay, Where do we begin?" Alister grabbed a wireless microphone and attached it on his suit. "Regardless of your class status, group yourselves according to your elemental magic." He nodded to another guy wearing a suit like his, the guy nodded back.

He snapped his fingers and the different colours of flags with different symbols in it flew upwards and floated into the air.

Theo walked with his hands on his pocket across the field to the red flag with a flame symbol. Zader and Jade left Thana's side too to go to their groups.

The students looked like ants from up above! Thana looked around to find her group but there's so much going on! A lot of the student went to the main elemental groups which are air, fire, water, and earth. One of the other groups are healers; who can manipulate nature and treat others, cloud-walkers: who can manipulate the weather and sky: the clouds, rain, lightning and, storms; and other more elemental groups.

Thana turned her head and looked around for the ice magic flag which contained a snowflake symbol.

"Looking for this?" A petite girl with a platinum blonde hair wearing the same uniform like her walked her way in front of Thana. Thana nodded her head and gave an uneasy expression on her face. "So you're the one they're gossing about, huh... the one who froze the selcouth." She smirked, "Seeing you in person, I can see you're not that special!"

"Selcouth?" 'What is she talking about?'

"Hey mean girl, knock it out!" A serious low tone voice made the tension from her eyes broke and transfer her glares at... Theo!

"Theo?" Thana seemed surprised since he already left a while ago.

"Y-you?!" The girls eyes turned from scowled to bugged out! She averted her eyes around and took a gulp! "You- you shouldn't be here, your station is over there. Get away!" Theo scoffed, and let out a smirk! His eyes stared seriously at the mean girl, and transferred to Thana's eyes. He didn't utter any more words and walked away!

"What is his problem! Tsk!" She faced Thana as she flicked her long hair to her back, "Anyway, I'm Alice. Seems like there's just the two of us," she did not offer her hand but folded her arms and looked away. "This grouping is stupid!"

"Uhm... I-I'm Thana," she mumbled with hesitation.

"So I heard," her eyes scanned Thana again. "You're not in an elite class. You handled the selcouth, so clearly you're not in a low class either. So why are you on a normal one?"

"I-I!" 'Why do I feel like shit being nice to her?'

"Now! Stop talking," Alister commanded seriously! His captivating smile faded, and only his strict sexy eyes was left from his charming expression checking every group that is formed across the field. He nod his head authoritatively! With a couple of seconds, a loud gash of wind passed by that surprisingly shocked everyone!

"What the heck is this?"

Lightning barriers started to shine surrounding the whole field! It then started to sparkle even more, ready to electrocute anyone who have the audacity to pass the line!

"Hey! This is still a school!" One of the students exclaimed!

Alister smirked, "Do you think you can complain when another monster appear in front of you just like," he snapped his fingers, "...that!"

Mr. Harrison fixed his glasses, and glared at Alister, 'He's right, they are still students.' Alister thought. He scoffed, and returned Mr. H's glare back!

'Since when this old man care, anyway? He's so annoying!' Alister's attention diverted back to the crowd, "This is my class, my rules! I'm not the kind of teacher that tells my student to leave when they are not interested!" He smiled, he evilly smiled! "Just because there's a monster, and you're not in the mood to fight, you all should run away right?"

"Can you stop saying monster?" Mr. Harrison intently looked at him! He tried to lower his voice as possible!

Alister can't help to twitch, and grit his teeth!

"As I was saying, you guys have no choice! Fight or get hurt!" Another signal from Alister made the students go crazy! There are lightning bolts that looked like wires separating every group! It may look like deadly but the volts are professionally controlled, they might get hurt but it will be just a sting; the thing is... only Alister and the one controlling it are the only ones who knew! "Lesson one, who's the strongest one?"

"Hey! You! Sto-"

"I already told you old man! This. Is. My CLASS! Just wait for your turn!" The ligtning barriers began to spark stronger causing them to look at it nervously, "And as for you guys, you have no choice but to fight, or else y'all going to feel, let's say a little 'shocking experience!"