The Voices

There was an intense tension in the air. Devin was sitting in the middle of a circular patio with eighteen columns. The columns held a marble roof that was gray in color, as was everything. Outside the patio was a large field of gray grass that spanned to the horizon.

"Where am I?" Devin asked.

His question was answered when a table and two chairs appeared in front of him.

A white figure sat on one chair and a dark figure sat on the other.

Devin opened his mouth but couldn't say anything when his chair was pulled back. It raised its legs and transformed into a throne-looking chair.

The chairs of the two ethereal figures moved too, now they were facing each other. A board appeared in the circular table.

Black and white squares carved itself on the board and small figurines were erected from the squares.

A game of chess? Devin thought.

He couldn't move. His body was frozen but it wasn't cold. Everything around him was neither hot nor cold.

The figures played, the white moving its pawn first. The black followed and not long after, Devin's chair disappeared and he fell through the marble floor.

Devin sat up and panted. His face and body were covered in sweat.

"It was a dream," Devin told himself. "It was only just a dream."

The twins were back in the Purgatory with their duties. They could only visit Devin once a week, which was after about half a day in the Purgatory.

Their classes had continued. The chairs of the victims of the attack had vases with white lilies on them. Almost a quarter had been killed and that fact was still hard to swallow for some.

But even then, life had to go on. They would face many more deaths in the future. And this wasn't even the biggest attack in history.

North American Branch, 1829, the school was attacked killing all the first years. The continent suffered a huge loss in numbers back then.

Stephanie was teaching the students how everything on the island works. From The Skull Sword of The One Exorcist to the foundation of the city of Roverton.

Morris was right about the Sword. Its real name was too long so they usually call it the Protection Sword.

It had been on the island since the dawn of the first Exorcists and many believed that the sword was owned by a very powerful Exorcist. One who could par a 666 on their own like Tina Godfrey.

"But the owner has since wasn't confirmed," said Stephanie. "Their name was lost in the pages of history."

The class continued until it was time to go home. Squad Lewis also swore to train themselves along with their teammates. Their plan was to develop an ark.

"So, Kagura and Rodney have the same type of Ark," Devin started. They asked the faculty if they could have a copy of their fights before the 666 infiltrated and the faculty agreed.

Morris told everyone that he will abandon his Ark and use another one. The Ark required both his hands to work but he only has one now, so it will be impossible.

Devin played Kagura's fight with Arrest. Kagura stood in front of them while they sat in Devin's living room.

"My Ark has 4 parts," Kagura said. "I use my Sanctity to produce a clone. The first part is Summer, I start to form the clone. The next part is Fall where the clone is fully formed and we attack rapidly. The next one is Winter where I retrieve my clone and gather energy and lastly, Spring. I won against Arrest, so I couldn't use it."

"What happens then?" Sofia asked.

"I produce 5 clones and attack from different sides," Kagura smirked and returned to her seat.

Rodney played his fight against Orlando. Compared to Kagura's Ark, his was way underdeveloped.

"If I finish developing my Ark, I could play a field with my Sanctity and attack from different sides through the different holograms of me," Rodney finished.

"Let us tell each other our fighting styles first," Devin said. "I fight short combat and with a sword, as you all know. My attacks focus more on agility rather than strength."

"Sofia and I both use our speed and stealth," Margaux said. For some reason, the two got closer. They even shop together and sometimes invite each other in their dorm rooms.

"Yes," Sofia sufficed. "I can use my Sanctity to hide my presence by lowering my enemy's will."

"Wait, Stained Souls do not have emotions though," Rodney asked.

Sofia shook her head, "Martin said that Echelon 1 shows some degree of thought and emotion. If I strengthen my Sanctity, I could influence that."

"Oh, getting close to the Von Schweitzers aren't we?" Rodney wiggled his eyebrows that made Sofia blush.

"What a wonderful thing love is," Yuri joined the teasing.

In the end, everyone was teasing Sofia and Morris. Morris also had a light tint on his cheek but he hid it as he looked away.

"L-Let us continue," Morris said and cleared his throat.

"I fight with strength like Morris," Yuri said when the teasing died down.

"My Ark was going to be big but I failed to use it," Yuri mumbled, referring to the time he lashed out at Jessica. "It consists of focused energy and a turn, hitting everything around me. But I have a problem. I easily get dizzy."

Adonis laughed, "You have to practice turning, bud."

Yuri elbowed his friend in the stomach. Even after Yuri's confession, they were still as close as ever. Adonis wasn't a bit affected by Yuri's secret and preference. They even go out and get drunk together.

"I'm still wondering how I'm able to develop an Ark," Adonis muttered. "Range-type of Reverences usually has lower opportunities in developing one."

"Silly you. You could practice and shoot to bend your shot," Yuri said that made everyone look at him in confusion. "You know, he can see most of his surroundings without turning his head. He should try to alter the direction of his bullet with minimum movement."

Adonis's face lit up and gave Yuri a high-five. "That's so smart."

The next one was Rain. His relationship with Margaux was better. The changed girl was warmer to him now.

"My Ark is still unknown," Rain said.

Margaux shook her head, "You almost have it."

"What do you mean?"

"Your presence felt like a surge of different droplets of water falling down my skin when you fought me," she answered. "Although all you did was throw me, you could develop your speed and stealth with us. You alter your presence and attack at point-blank."

Rain smiled and nodded. "That'd be great."

Their eyes landed on Devin. He was sipping his tea when he felt everyone stare at him.

"And you," Kagura narrowed her eyes. "Don't use that power again."

Devin shook his head, "No. I'm not planning on using it either. It's way too painful."

"How did you come up with it anyway?" Morris asked.

"Yes, Devin," Rodney narrowed his eyes. "That wasn't part of your secret training."

Devin's eyebrows met in confusion. "You know I was secretly training?"

Rodney shrugged, "Kagura does. She told me. She knows everyone's business and whereabouts. She's basically a stalker."

"What? No!" Kagura defended. "I'm only following everyone to make sure you're all okay."

"So you do follow us," Sofia said and laughed after seeing Kagura blush.

"No!"

The wave of teasing on Kagura ceased and they got back to Devin.

"What did actually happen?" Morris asked. "One moment you were lying on the floor and the next thing, you're gone."

"I also don't know," Devin said. "All I knew was that something pulled me and I felt like I was dreaming. I ran so fast in the forest towards an ominous presence and saw a figure about to kill a girl. My body instinctively blocked the large scythe and kicked the girl away. She was partly conscious so I apologized."

"Voices were talking behind me and I couldn't turn around. My body felt like it was owned by someone else, it was terrifying. No matter how many times I try to take back control, I couldn't. That was until the 666 attacked Morris," Devin said. "It was crazy."

"You weren't yourself then," Morris said. "Your presence, your voice, everything about you wasn't the same."

"What did he yell before he disappeared, again?" Kagura asked. When Devin was at the hospital, Morris told them about what happened.

"He shouted 'Divine Possession'," Morris replied.

"So, is it safe to say that he was somehow possessed?" Rain asked.

"And Devin," Kagura called out.

Devin hummed in response while the tension in the room continued.

"You always say you hear voices in your head, right?" Kagura inquired. "As in plural?"

Devin thought of it for a second before he nodded, "Yes. I think there are two. But wasn't it because of the Protection Sword and our Synchronization with our Reverence? Don't we all hear them?"

There was a look of both agreement and disagreement in everyone's eyes.

"That is true but..." Kagura trailed off and breathed. But before she could continue, Rodney cut her off.

"We could only hear one voice, Devin."