Chapter 34

It was later that day as we see the gang on their security duties. They all were nearby each other's area as Garry was in the cat mascot suit, basking in the heat.

"Aw, man, this feels like heaven." Said Garry.

"Good for you." Said Iris.

"But hey! While I have the chance. I want to say thanks about the other day." Said Garry.

"No need." Said Iris.

"No, I have to! Your words really helped. A lot. And I'm glad you said it. So I want to treat you! How about our next break, we can get some of that frozen yogurt you like." Said Garry.

"T-The one over there?" Iris asked as she pointed, holding back her excitement.

"Uh-huh." Garry nodded.

"Uh, excuse me. Could you tell me where we can find a nearby rest room?" Connor asked, Marcus's little brother as he was with his sister.

"Sure thing, kid! Hmm, the nearest one is in that building over there. Just go in, head straight and there should be a sign." Said Garry.

"Oh, okay. Thanks. I like your suit!" Said Connor as Haley stared at Iris, while she stared back.

"You seem familiar." Said Haley.

"Now, that you mention. I feel like I've seen you too." Said Garry lean close to her.

"Who are you? And what are you?" Haley asked.

"I'm Sal the Salem Cat! Meow~." Said Garry as he did a scratching gesture.

"That's pretty cool." Said Connor as he did a scratching gesture.

"Marcus…" Said Iris.

"Huh?" Garry responded.

"Their hair. Like Marcus." Said Iris.

"Oh, yeah. You two have the same color." Said Garry as he look of mascot head.

"How do you know our brother?" Connor asked.

"We're Marcus's teammates. I'm Garry. And she's Iris." Said Garry.

"Oh. Whatever." Said Haley as she walked away.

"Haley, where are you going?" Connor asked.

"To take a wiz. Wait here if you're going to talk to them." Said Haley as she kept on walking.

"Uh, sorry about her. She…complicated." Said Connor.

"Ah, probably a phase. Gotcha, buddy." Said Garry.

"So you're his friends. I'm glad that Marcus has friends now. He's always been a loner. Or a lone wolf to be specific." Said Connor.

"I like this kid. You seem a lot nicer and adorable to be Marcus's little bro. But your sister is kind of like him. All moody." Said Garry.

"Actually, Marcus is technically my cousin. I don't know what happened. But they left him with my parents, who are his aunt and uncle. But we grew up together like siblings. So I consider him my brother." Said Connor.

We then see Haley walk out of the bathroom as she looked relieved and sighed.

"I probably shouldn't have eaten that burrito." Said Haley with awkward face.

But a young man with hood over their head bumped into Haley as she hit the wall.

"Watch where you're going." Said the man.

"Hey, asshole!" Haley yelled.

The man stopped as he looked at Haley with strange fiery irises as they didn't look normal. Haley felt disturbed, until Marcus stepped in front of him.

"Just walk away. But if this happens again, I'm gonna have to kick your ass." Said Marcus.

The man scoffed as he kept on walking as Marcus watched him leave. Until he sees Haley walk away from him, absolutely ignoring him.

"Haley!" Marcus yelled.

But she only stopped and glanced him as she waited for him to say something.

"I want to talk." Said Marcus.

"Don't care. Bye." Said Haley.

"Hold on a second." Said Marcus as he touched her shoulder.

"Help! This man is trying to sell me drugs!" Haley shouted.

"No, I'm not! I have a freaking security uniform!" Said Marcus.

"That doesn't mean crap! The system can be corrupt too, man!" Said Haley.

"Haley, why won't you let me talk to you!?" Marcus shouted.

"Because I don't want see you! You piss me off every time I see you stupid ass! Mom, dad and Connor may have gotten over how you left. But not me! So leave me the hell alone!" Haley yelled as she shrugged her shoulder way from Marcus.

She left as Marcus leaned against a nearby wall, looking frustrated and regretful. Haley walked with an angry looked, until she made it outside of the building. She stood still for a couple of seconds as she flashed back to her past. She and Connor were walking back home, until some kids started bullying her and Connor. But she protected Connor as she took most of the pain, until they came back home. Martha, their mother, was treating Haley's wounds as her eyes were teary from the pain.

"Don't worry, sweetie. Your father and I will make sure those kids will be punished for what they did." Said Martha.

"This is Marcus's fault." Said Haley.

"Haley…" Said Martha, a bit in shock.

"This is all his stupid fault! And hate him!" Haley shouted as she ran out of the room.

"Haley…!" Martha called out to her.

Haley snapped out of her memory as her head was lower and looked upset. Until we see Violet leaning close to her, seeing what was wrong with her.

"You okay?" Violet asked.

"Wah! Jeez, you almost gave me a freaking heart attack! Are city folk always this freaking nosy?" Said Haley.

"Whoops, my bad. You seemed troubled. Are you okay?" Violet asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Mind your own business." Said Haley.

"You sure? I know a trouble face when I see one. Don't let your past harden your heart. Trust me. And you should smile more. A cute girl like would probably attract a lot of attention from the boys." Said Violet with a smile.

Haley looked at Violet as she didn't know how to responded, but she glanced to her side.

"I don't know what you're talking." Said Haley.

"Ah, that's what they all say. Until they realized, Aw, god! Why didn't I do this earlier? Thank you, Violet! You're so kind and pretty and perfect in every way." Violet acted.

"Why are there so many weird people? And…don't tell me your part of Marcus's team?" Haley asked as she looked annoyed.

"Yeah, how did you know? (Gasps) You're his sister, right?" Violet asked.

"Ugh, leave me alone!" Haley shouted as she ran off.

Violet giggled, while Haley grabbed Connor's hand and dragged him away. Garry and Iris waved goodbye as time passed and we see Isaac with Abe at the lair. They were in the middle of training as Isaac swung his fist at him. He ended up punching Abe as he stubbled back, while Isaac waited for him.

"You alright?" Isaac asked.

"Y-Yeah. C-Come on! I can keep going!" Said Abe.

It was later as we see the both of them sitting on the ground with water bottles. Abe looked down and beaten as he had a lot of red marks on his face.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. You're doing better." Said Isaac.

"Technically, you did all the beating. But are you sure? I feel like I'm not doing better at all." Said Abe, while rubbing his face.

"That's how it feels in the beginning. But trust me, you got this." Said Isaac.

"Okay. Isaac, how did you get to be so…you? What pushes you?" Abe asked.

"(chuckles) Like me? I don't know really. I guess I was born with a lot of heart. I don't really fear my opponents. Only what they can do to those who are close to me. That's what drives me. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I intend to never break." Said Isaac.

"And what was that promise?" Abe asked.

"To uphold what my parents believe in. Compassion and Duty. My father believe in compassion. To help others. And my mother, who said this once. Duty, because someone has to fucking do it. (Chuckles) She believe we are obligated to do something, while others are too lazy or selfish to do anything." Said Isaac.

"They sound like interesting people. Especially your mom." Said Abe.

"Yeah, she was a riot when she was young. That's what I've been told. I can't really say since I was really young when she passed away." Said Isaac.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I guess I need something that drives me. But I really don't have anything." Said Abe.

"You will. If search for it, you'll eventually find something. I did. Now, back to where we stopped." Said Isaac.

"I don't think my body can take it." Said Abe.

"Took bad." Said Isaac as he stood ready.

Part 2- It was later that day as we see Patricia and Faye, of North Winchester, walking together. Faye was reading a magic book, while Patricia was walking an adorable, chubby, dog size drake that was on a leash. It had its tail up, shaking as it looked happy.

"I can't believe you brought that creature." Said Faye.

"What? Chubs is my precious little destroyer, aren't you!?" Patricia asked as Chubs barked.

"How can you love that thing? He doesn't do anything except eat, sleep and crap out rocks." Said Faye.

"Ah, ah, ah. Flammable excrement that can be used like charcoal. Next time you need something to burn, don't come crawling to us." Said Patricia.

"Oh, no. What will I do with just a wand. Oh, wait…magic!" Said Faye as she made a small flame on her wand.

"Don't listen to her, Chubs. You can fuel fireplaces and trains for days!" Said Patricia as she hugged and kissed Chubs.

But Chubs started pooping rocks as Faye looked away and Patricia was reaching in her pocket for a bag.

"Speaking of which." Said Faye.

"Uh, excuse me. But could you please pick after your pet? Our schools like to keep the place clean." Said Scarlet.

"Of course. Hey, do you use a fireplace by any chance?" Patricia asked.

"Please don't try giving those away! That's gross!" Said Faye.

Scarlet looked at Chubs as it was panting adorably as Scarlet blushed and became wide eyed at his cuteness.

"He's so cute! What is he?" Scarlet asked as she was crouching close to Chubs with giddy.

"Finally! A person who understands!" Said Patricia.

"You think it's cute?" Faye asked.

"Well, yeah. He looks cute and chubby. Is that good for his health?" Scarlet asked.

"Yes, it's fine. That's how they look like. But thank you for your concern. He's a Mountain Plump Pygmy Drake. I dubbed him, Chubs." Said Patricia.

"Aw, I like that name. Hey, Chubby-wubby~!" Said Scarlet as she petted him.

"I don't mean to cut this short. But we have to get going. Our team leader wants use to train for the next challenge." Said Faye.

"Oh, right! Sorry, but she's right. Oh, you're part of security, right? Could you lead us to your schools training grounds?" Patricia asked.

"Oh, sure. Just follow me. I'm Scarlet, by the way. And I know you two. You're both in North Winchester's team. Patricia Irons And Faye Morgan, am I right?" Said Scarlet.

"Yeas, hello. I'm flatter you know us." Said Faye as she elegantly bowed.

"Scarlet, a pleasure." Said Patricia as she bowed as well.

"Oh, mind my bowing. I don't do too often." Said Scarlet as she bowed back.

They walked together to the training grounds as Chubs was waddling with them.

"It's in the family really. My mother and her father and his father were all dragon tamers. I'm a seventh-generation tamer. And I plan passing this knowledge to my son or daughter one day. You know when I find someone." Said Patricia.

"Which may be centuries with how daft you are." Said Faye.

"And you, Faye? What's your story? If you don't mind me asking." Scarlet asked.

"I'm from the island of Avalon. Everyone there knows how to use magic. It's literally second nature to us. I don't have much to go on, besides I was known to be one of the best and they pushed me to study at North Winchester. Since I was recommended and so I went. I plan on becoming a master of the magic arts and start my own school at my home." Said Faye.

"Wow, that sounds like an amazing goal." Said Scarlet.

"Thank you. And from what I can tell, you're a magic user as well. Of Nordic descent if I'm correct?" Said Faye.

"Yes. How could you tell?" Scarlet asked.

"There's a reason I'm the best." Said Faye as she winked.

They soon arrived at the school's training grounds as they both were going in and Scarlet waved.

"Thank you for leading the way! It was nice meeting you." Said Patricia.

"I hope we can talk again soon. I'd loved to speak more about magic with you!" Said Faye.

"Same! Bye and good luck!" Scarlet shouted as she waved.