The Pact

The morning came in a flash. A gentle breeze from the calm blue shore trickled the walls of Devin's tent.

"Wake up, Little Curls," Andrew whispered.

Devin sat up and saw that the two weren't in their uniforms.

"You didn't go on patrol?" he asked and yawned.

The twins shook their heads. "Your tent mates, Rodney and Rain had already eaten breakfast. Let's go."

As Devin walked down the sandy shores of the beach, he couldn't help but shiver. There was something around the area that seemed to call for him. Something strong.

"What is this feeling?" Devin asked.

"Oh, that's the forcefield replenishing itself," Andrew replied.

"The 666 broke a part of the forcefield, that's why they can get through," Andrei sufficed as they sat on the cottage to eat.

After breakfast, Devin was washing the dishes along with Margaux. They did a random pick and Devin and Margaux were chosen. The twins offered for help but Devin said he'll take care of Margaux on his own.

As a team leader, he must be the one who should talk to Margaux. She was needed by the group for them to function. If even one member of a squad thinks differently, the entire squad falls.

Devin must not let that happen.

"Are you okay?" Devin initiated the conversation. It didn't look like Margaux wanted to talk.

"I'm okay," Margaux replied simply.

There was silence for a few seconds. Devin was thinking of another question when Margaux got to him first.

"How are your wounds?"

Devin smiled and nodded, "Mostly healed, so don't worry."

"Who said I was worried?" she retorted.

"No one."

"That's what I thought."

Their task was finished not long after. Rain was in charge of putting the dishes away along with Sofia so their work was done.

As the noon came, the irk behind Devin's mind got stronger. Now, it wasn't just an irk. It was a full-on whisper-like.

He could hear voices and chants but it was so muffled and silent. It was getting annoying.

"Are you okay?" Morris asked. Devin was sitting on the sand by the shore. The others played volley with yesterday's teams. Andrei and Andrew joined them.

"This replenishment of the forcefield is annoying me," Devin mumbled in annoyance.

"It affects all of us," Morris said. "The Skull Sword of The One Exorcist. That's what they call the artifact that provides us protection. It's a sword on the far North side of the island and it steals slight energy from your Reverence to replenish. Your synchronization with your Reverence is wavering, that's why you feel so bothered."

"I didn't know that," Devin said. "Why wasn't that on Lecture?"

Morris chuckled and sighed, "It was supposed to be taught next week."

Devin looked at Morris's missing arm and couldn't help but feel bad. He still hasn't forgiven himself about what happened to Morris. Blaming himself every day, his mind was slowly falling.

"You're too slow," Morris said that broke Devin from his thoughts. "If you hadn't stopped fighting the 666, the remaining number of students would've been slaughtered."

Devin could only look at Morris at the realization. He knew he wasn't the smartest person in the world but he didn't know he could be slower.

"My arm is a sacrifice for those others who survived with us," Morris grinned. "And besides, I always wanted to wield Afterlife with a single hand but somehow fails to. Now, I don't have any more excuses not to wield my Reverence."

"What about your Ark?" Devin asked.

Morris shook his head, "That doesn't matter. I could develop a new one. My previous Ark took a lot of stamina and didn't really have a strong kick to it."

Devin chuckled. An arm was wrapped on his neck and Rodney appeared beside him. He sat on the sand and enjoyed the breeze.

"Rodney, ew, you're so sweaty!"

"Ha!" Rodney hugged Devin and the latter shivered in disgust as he felt his friend's oily skin damp onto his.

"No!" Devin kicked Rodney in the guts and ran, only to be hugged by Adonis. Adonis was almost as twice as taller as Devin. He was towering over the wriggling boy. "Adonis, stop!"

"Hold him Apicharit!" Yuri laughed and rubbed his sweaty arm on Devin.

Adonis scowled, "Stop calling me by my Thai name!"

Devin wriggled to free himself but it was useless. "Stop! You're all so sweaty Aarghh! No!"

–

The night came. Devin and his squad sneaked out of their tents to explore the bay area. Kagura had to smack Rodney because he was dragging his scabbard, eyes drooping because he was sleepy.

Margaux and Morris also came along which made Devin happy. They needed to form some kind of bond. And it was hard getting through them, so he needed to improvise.

Their plan was to tell a secret. Margaux and Morris would be last. This secret will become their pact. This will get them closer.

At least, that's what Devin hoped for.

According to Rodney's intel, which was his sister, Stephanie, The Skull Sword of The One Exorcist was located on a small island surrounded by 8 tall birch trees.

As they walked, a light glimmered from afar. It was indeed a small island. Just as big as a classroom.

The twins knew their plan but didn't stop them. Instead, they warned the group, "No one can get near that island. Not the weak, not the strong, not the pure, not the tainted. No one. So if you plan on going there, I suggest you don't. It will shock you enough for you to faint and drown."

The peers understood the warning. Even though they were very much tempted to swim to it, they stopped in their tracks in front of a large rock.

"This rock should be enough," Devin said and breathed out. "Squad Lewis, tonight we will initiate a pact. Here in front of The Skull Sword of The One Exorcist, we shall tell each other our deepest secrets and will keep them here. In this rock."

"We pledge ourselves, to ourselves, that we will work with our team and win this war. Together, we will thrive and wave humanity's flag in victory. When that happens, we'll meet here once again."

While the others understand, Margaux and Morris quirked their eyebrows.

"To seal this pact, we shall tell each other our secrets. And as the Squad Leader, I shall start," Devin said. "I, Devin Angelo Lewis, can see Stained Souls before the sirens of the night."

Devin unsheathed his sword and thrust it into the rock. His sword made a hole in the shape of his blade. He returned his sword in his scabbard and let Kagura take over.

"I, Kagura Tachibana, doesn't know how to speak Chinese," Kagura followed Devin and pierced her sword on the rock.

"Compared to Devin's secret, ours will look petty," Rodney joked as he stood in front of the rock.

Margaux couldn't stop looking at Devin. For all she knows, no one could see Stained Souls in the light. They would die if they bask in the sun. So why can Devin?

Meanwhile, Morris already knew. Devin had told him about the secret once before.

"I, Rodney Velasco, will succeed as the Head of the Velasco line after my sister's retirement," he started. The others were about to react when he continued, "Next year. Stephanie Velasco will retire next year."

The others were silent as Rodney punctured the rock. Being the Head of a major House meant a lot of things. This includes that he could no longer be as free as he is now.

Rain followed Rodney, "I, Rain Chan, is afraid of frogs more than Stained Souls."

Devin chuckled while the others laughed. Rain's face blushed and his hole wasn't as deep as the other three. "Stop," he whined.

"I, Sofia, am betrothed to a man I do not love." She sighed before piercing the rock.

Sofia's engagement was, by far, the biggest surprise amongst the ones before her. She didn't say anything about it before.

"It happens all the time," Margaux sighed and rolled her eyes. "Freaking bloodline freaks."

Adonis followed Sofia. He was as tall as the rock and the others laughed at it. His seven-foot stature made him look like a tree beside it.

"I, Adonis Apichart Saeli, had never had, even once, had a girlfriend," he said and roared before piercing his sword on the rock.

"I'll be your girlfriend," Yuri remarked that earned him a soft punch on the shoulder by Adonis. "I'm just kidding."

"Shut up, Yuri."

"Or am I?" Yuri grinned before stepping in front of the rock. "I, Yuri Ivanov, does not like women."

When others thought he was only kidding, "And my family doesn't want that. So they betrothed me to a woman I have never even seen. Ever." Yuri pierced his sword in the rock. It was full of anger and frustration.

There was a slight pause. Yuri gripped the handle of his sword and stopped. The others gave him space but then he said, "My sword's stuck."

Yuri's words earned a laugh from his team. Adonis stepped in and removed it for him.

"Don't worry bud," Adonis shuffled the hair of the smaller boy. "We don't think you're less of a jerk than you once were."

It was Margaux's turn to talk. She strutted in front and clicked her tongue.

"So, I, Margaux Chan," she paused and rolled her eyes. "Is starting to like you guys. Or I already do. Whatever. Argh!"

The squad was silent for a moment before they grinned and gave her a thumbs up. Margaux made her mark and returned to where she stood.

"We like you too, Margaux," Devin whispered and Margaux only rolled her eyes.

Morris stood in front of the rock. He was silent for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"I, Morris von Schweitzer, kept my burnt arm in a box under my bed," Morris said and he too pierced his sword on the rock.

His confession didn't earn a reaction from the others. It was until Rodney couldn't hold his laugh that the others followed.

Rodney's face reddened in shame. "Yeah, I think it's hilarious," he said and joined his teammates.

Devin unsheathed his sword and raised it in front of him, "This pact shall live till the last one of us takes their dying breath. Squad Lewis?"

The others connected the tip of their sword to Devin's, "Squad Lewis!"