Graduation 1

Dear Imena,

By the time I saw Andrew again, I was graduating from Academy. After the seventh year, there isn't much for hybrids to learn. They can continue to study magic and combat in the other realms but most don't, human hybrids usually just focus on their schooling on earth after Academy is over.

It was graduation day, it was a pretty special one too, since the last four members of the Council were graduating from Academy. The Council would now be made up of young adults. We were asked to bring our artifacts with us to graduation. I guess it was supposed to make us stand out, as if I didn't stand out enough as it is. I was graduating top of my class, with the title of "Greatest Swordswoman" after beating anyone who fought against me, even teachers.

The principal was giving his usual speech when a shadow passed over everyone, which wouldn't have been strange if the ceremony hadn't been inside and there was no natural light in the building. Everyone went quiet, hands went to weapons, children were kept close, and we waited. Then, something fell through the ceiling.

It was Andrew.

He looked around the room of weapons pointed at him, and laughed. He found me and locked eyes with me. I knew what he was after me, I knew he wanted a fight, but I wasn't going to fight him unless I had to. Lucky for me, I guess, Andrew charged straight at me with a sword. I blocked him with my trident, and continued to block his attacks. At one point, a used the force of one of his attacks to knock him back. His eyes were wild,

"I hope you know I'm not holding back. You will pay for your mistakes." he said.

"Andrew I didn't do anything, those humans did, and they're locked up. Put the sword down, there's no reason to fight." I told him. But he charged at me again. I tripped him and took his sword right out of his hand.

That's when his powers took over, out of anger, he disappeared. He was merely a presence in the room, and not a good one. Of course, this was part of his abilities since he was part demon, but since he was angry I didn't want to test him much. But he attacked other people, he went after my friends and my family. Sure, they could protect themselves but he was so much stronger, he left the ones he attacked badly hurt. It was overwhelming. It hurt me. That day, for the first time in my life, I actually called on my powers to take over.

I saw him appear in front of a child with his sword raised. I let out a scream, a banshee scream. Everyone fell to their knees, covering their ears, even Andrew. The ground beneath us shook, and people crawled out of it, well, ghosts of people. They grabbed Andrew and held him down while I walked over to him. Then the strangest thing happened.

"Spirit!"

I snapped out of the haze to find myself holding Andrew down, the ghosts weren't there. Helping me hold him in place were knives all around him, catching his clothing. Tears were running down my face.

"Go ahead, Spirit, kill me. Like the killer you are." Andrew said.

"I didn't kill your mom. Unlike you, I would be never want or dream of hurting another living soul. Clearly, you have no idea who I am." I said softly.

A group of soldiers walked up and I asked them to arrest Andrew and take him away. But as they handcuffed him and stood him up, he looked at me and said.

"That must be what makes us opposites."

Three days later, he disappeared from his cell without a trace. The Council members forbid me from going after him, the decided the best thing to do right now was warn the other realms (if possible) about him and do our best to protect out kingdom.

Adam, Lionel, and Yvette started advanced combat training schools in their divisions to train new and experienced guards and soldiers just to be safe. Rhea, Gaden, and James started advanced schools in survival in other realms and healing. Rhys, Clyde, and Cosmia started advanced schools in advanced magic from all the realms. Finally, Luna and Moira started teaching other hybrids how to manipulate the elements of the other realms. I started out with Luna and Moira, but because of my natural strength and everything I knew about everything everyone else was teaching, I became a final test to all of their students. I would take students to the other realms and put what they knew to the test. If they survived without my interference in the realms and they lasted more than five minutes in combat with me, they passed their test.

While the student hybrids got stronger and smarter, I did as well. I learned the techniques and strategies of the other Council members, making combat especially difficult for the students.

Even if I had wanted to go after Andrew myself, I didn't have the will to do it. After he attacked so many people and disappeared, I stopped going out. For months, the only time I was seen by anyone was to test the students. My heart just felt so heavy that it was too heavy to carry around, I was so drained everyday. All because of that one event. Andrew and I chose our paths on my graduation day. He chose evil, I chose good. The next part of the prophecy I dreaded coming true finally came true.

All I knew was, I knew what the prophecy said would happen in the end. Though I knew I would live, I didn't want to end a life, not even Andrews. But that part of the prophecy was still years away.

-𝒮. 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒