Part Two

Klaus Flynt

“Hi, uh, good morning, Champions! You’re all doing well I hope?” Ms. Celeste let out a meek sigh and quickly scanned all of us, pacing herself faster until she had reached the outside of the ring.

“You as well, Ms. Celeste?” Detreeve murmured.

Many names came before our infirmary nurse on the list of people who could ever be involved in this mess. Still, her presence felt like a ray of light shedding a path in the dark. Oftentimes, I would cross paths with her during activities in F.A.R.

This must have been the reason for her absence in yesterday’s meeting. Daz said he’d seen her at the administration, holding documents for the infirmary. If it’s information we need, we can get it out of her.

“My apologies for keeping you this long, it could not be helped.” Her voice quivered, fiddling with a basket I hadn’t yet noticed laid beside her. “I thought you would not be awake for another two hours. I would’ve had time to prepare.”

Waving her hand over the barrier, she lifted the basket, and slowly walked toward us.

“Stay back.” Detreeve ordered, “Don’t take any step further.”

He stepped in front of us, using his arm as a shield. I saw his hand shake before he clenched it with gritted teeth. I’ve almost forgotten the conversation right before this.

“Polaz?” Ms. Celeste cupped the side of her face with one hand, “It’s just me.”

“What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“I came to give you all some food.” She opened the basket, revealing a few paper bags and bowls. “You must be hungry from the anointing ceremony, I know the responsibility is more than light, but we’d all prefer you fighting the Phantrits with a full stomach, wouldn’t we?”

“What are you talking about?” Mari asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Responsibility? Fighting?” Starkole muttered. “This is getting out of hand. Where is Hale?!”

Ms. Celeste flinched, “I… Weren’t you…”

Our expressions gave her the answer, “Oh dear.”

…

“So basically, you’re saying the school is haunted?” Ms. Merxado clarified.

“Infested,” Ms. Celeste said, “But yes.”

“And it has been like this for over six centuries?”

“As far as I am aware, yes.”

Minutes passed by quickly, all of us as taken out seats as Ms. Celeste served pastries, accompanied with beverages.

“But why must we be involved in this? Truth be told, this seems to be the responsibility of adults who are permitted and more knowledgeable of the situation.” I ended to take a sip of the tea.

In summary, champions are triannually chosen to protect the students from Phantrits, which use them as hosts to possess them. We have been chosen as champions for the next three years.

How do we manage to do that? No idea.

“I agree.” Ms. Merxado spoke, ignoring Detreeve, who sat beside her, devouring a piece of pie like he hadn’t eaten in years. “Wouldn’t it be better if staff, who have actually been here longer, with twice the strength of a student, handle the situation?”

“I think we’re all aware of who is ‘twice the strength’ of us all here,” She smiled at Ms. Merxado, “It’s not our choice to begin with. We have no power over choosing the champions, only the school has the power to do so. We would have done it ourselves a long time ago.”

“How did you know we were the champions the school chose?” Starkole added, “It could’ve been anyone.”

“Well, for one thing, the anointing worked on all of you.” Her hand grazed the back of her neck, “It only works on champions, one of the reasons why we could not do it ourselves.”

“The crystal and ink only scar the flesh of a champion. The last time a non-champion attempted to anoint themselves, the ink disappeared as soon as it landed on the skin.”

She continued, “Champions are always found near the scene, as if fate had brought them together. You five have just proved that it has not changed at all.”

We slowly exchanged looks with one another. Detreeve lowered his plate and wiped off the smears on the side of his mouth. Starkole kept quiet, preoccupying himself with a spot on the floor, distant. Mari quivered at the idea, we all were. Everything that happened at the cliff played itself on loop, the bursting and screaming a numb background noise.

“What was so important about the ink?” Mari said, breaking the silence.

“The ink is the blood of Morvian itself. It gives you the ability to see the Phantrits, or sense them in the room. Don’t ask me how we got a hold of it, I do not know, nor do I want to.” Ms. Celeste walked to a pool of light at the centre stand, taking out a bottle.

“That sounds disgusting.” Mari commented, scrunching her nose.

“But you must be careful.” Ms. Celeste warned. “While it has an advantage, it also has a consequence. Phantrits will know you’re a champion, and you will be their primary target.”

“But–” We turned our heads to Detreeve, who had spoken for the first time since we sat, “They’re spirits right? What can they do? Wouldn’t they pass right through us?”

“Right. Aren’t they similar to air?” Mari joined, letting out a nervous chuckle. “They couldn’t possibly harm us.”

“Not exactly. For any other student, they may do just that, but for you, they will feel like a regular human. That is, until midnight.” Ms. Celeste replied. “If I remember correctly, the previous champions did describe the Phantrits as such.”

“Well, that’s great.” Starkole scoffed, “From students to night patrollers.”

A new voice spoke from behind us, “Don’t fret, the school dormitories are hexed to protect whoever is inside. They can’t get in, unless they’ve found a host, which is why students are to follow curfew rules.”

Starkole muttered an inaudible frustration.

“You!” Ms. Celeste and Detreeve said in unison. He was ready to march up to Professor Hale, but I placed an arm in front of him.

“How could you? Leaving them in the dark like this, that’s low,” Ms. Celeste chided, “Even for you.”

“What?” Professor Hale defended, “I tried to stop them.”

“Big help you were, standing there and doing nothing.” Starkole huffed, crossing his arms.

Professor Hale sighed as he hung his head low, “It had to be done either way, the Headmistress was desperate. We all were. More lives would be in danger without champions.”

“Like the twins?” Detreeve asked, voice low.

I looked at him with sympathy. He was a knight, raised with the duty to protect the students, no matter what. I felt a twinge of guilt, recalling the time I had lost my cool in the woods, issues like these never crossed my mind before.

“We can’t let that happen again. It pains me to say this, but the twins were barely the beginning.” Professor Hale said, eyes shining with a plea. “Just your luck, we’re at the peak of the blood moon again, so things may not be as easy as you saw.”

Easy? Is that how he’s describing it?

With no replies, Professor Hale swallowed whatever hindered him from speaking again, apologising before he continued.

“What I’m trying to say is that Phantrits will be after you now.” He paused, scanning each of us for any reaction. “I will teach you everything you need to know, how to fight these spirits. They’re spiteful, and they will prey on your deepest desires to use against you. We have to be prepared for what will happen, at all costs.”

“There,” Ms. Merxado interrupted, “Is no ‘we’ here. Do you really expect us to sit here and listen to this? Run around campus exorcising students?”

“You can’t just bestow this burden on us out of nowhere. I don’t know about the rest of you,” She continued, looking at all of us. “But I’m not going to play hero. Some of us have our own things to deal with. You guys do what you want, but we’re leaving.”

With that, she grabbed her bag and Mari along with her as she made for the dark tunnels. I reached out to stop her, but her feet stomped hard on the ground, pulling me back to my seat. She walked away, after everything that happened, like it was nothing.

“Where are you going?” Ms. Celeste asked.

“Back to our dorms. I can’t deal with this right now. It’s almost dawn, and we have classes.”

“You’re thinking about class? At a time like this?” Professor Hale argued, but Ms. Merxado spared no time.

“I have my priorities.” She simply replied.

“Ms. Merxado.” I called out.

Not long after, I stood on my feet, and Starkole stood as well, ready to follow behind.

“That’s my cue.” He said, letting out a heavy beath.

“Please, Ms. Shanzina. Listen to us a little more, you won’t be able to defend yourself from the Phantrits.” Ms. Celeste reasoned, “All of Morvian, maybe even Ravamore, will be in danger. Your loved ones, in danger. Family, friends.”

To her relief, Mari pulled Ms. Merxado’s hand to stop. “What do you mean ‘even Ravamore’?”

Detreeve quickly stood and listened, and Ms. Merxado looked over her shoulders, eyebrows furrowed.

“If the champions cannot keep the Phantrits at bay, they will take power.” Ms. Celeste explained. “They are always looking for souls to consume and possess, and it is a champion’s duty to prevent that from happening.”

“And if we cannot?” I prompted.

“They will look for it somewhere else, and by then,” She answered, softening her voice, “We’d be too late.”

Ms. Merxado finally turned around, I felt the need to claw for breath upon seeing her, “Are you telling me that this school is nothing more than a vessel, for evil spirits?”

“Yes,” Professor Hale stepped forward, “And while they lurk here, it is your job to destroy them whenever the opportunity presents itself.”

“I’m not hearing more.” Starkole says, walking past me, “I will not be responsible for anything, more so a life.”

“There has to be another way.” Said Detreeve.

“You have the founder’s blessing, the ability to see and contact them.” Professor Hale said, grabbing Starkole’s arm. “All you have to do is defeat them before they find a host.”

Taking one’s life? Fighting spirits? This seemed like something you would encounter in a gruesome novel, but this is real. What happens if we go back? Will we be able to see them? And then what?

Starkole pulled back his arm from Professor Hale’s grip, not taking any more steps.

“You five are the only hope we have.” Ms. Celeste pleaded, taking my hands in hers, looking at us with melancholy eyes. “Your successors will not appear for another four years.”

She turned to Ms. Merxado, “You were chosen to be a champion for a reason.”

“Yeah, I can see why.”

Ms. Merxado narrowed her eyes at me, nodding toward the tunnel. Sighing, I looked back at Ms. Celeste, “Give us at least the week’s end. Then we’ll come to your office–”

“You’re taking this lightly.” Professor Hale argued, “Can’t you see what’s at stake here? We do not have time!”

Starkole opened his mouth to speak, but Detreeve beat him to it.

“Those spirits,” He started, “How will they know we’re the champions, if they’re after us?”

We turned to Professor Hale, who said, “We don’t know. They will sense you, as you will sense them.”

“Real assuring.” Starkole said, rolling his eyes.

“Professor Hale, I think Klaus’s offer is suitable. Let them have this.” Ms. Celeste concluded, “Let’s be grateful they’re reconsidering it.”

“It’s the least you could do.” Detreeve began to walk past us and toward Ms. Merxado and Mari.

“By the end of the week it is. We will continue this conversation then.” Ms. Celeste let go of my hand, smiling softly, “At the end of the tunnel, there’s a corridor to the right. Take that and make one turn to the left, you’ll see a stairway leading up to the back garden.”

“But the–” Professor Hale fell silent at Ms. Celeste’s glare.

Taking note of the instructions, I made my way to the entrance, Detreeve following behind. I met my cousin’s gaze, pupils shrinking, she must be scared of the spirits that will greet us as we leave. At the very least, I feel comfortable that I have someone to share the thought with.

Detreeve went in first, darkness swallowing him whole. Mari let go of Ms. Merxado, giving her space to rub her palms, splitting a ball of fire into three smaller figures, directing them past Detreeve.

“Power’s back.” Ms. Merxado smiled.

“What if we get lost?” Mari asked, wrapping her arm around Ms. Merxado again.

“Then I’ll blast us out of here.”

I was ready to follow when I noticed there were only four in the group, I looked at the entrance, the ring. Professor Hale and Starkole spoke in hushed tones.

I took a few steps back, standing by the entrance again, enough not to be seen. There was always something with those two, the way they regarded each other.

“I didn’t know you’d be involved in this.” Professor Hale sighed, facing Starkole.

“You’ve known about this all along? And you’ve never once told me about it?” Starkole questioned. “Was this why you were never home?”

“Would you have believed me? That I exorcise students for a side job?”

Starkole paused, then said, “Whatever, I’m just waiting for her shot. Like I said, I don’t want to be responsible for any more deaths.”

Another pause. Has he really…

“Hey,” Professor Hale spoke, “It wasn’t your fault, neither was it his.”

“Someone has to be blamed for it!” Starkole raised his voice, almost filling the cave.

“I agree, but if you take it out on someone innocent, it won’t make a difference.”

“Innocent?” Starkole snapped, “I doubt it. I do as I see fit.”

This didn’t seem like the anointing anymore. All I could take was a step backward, rid myself of the conversation, but this must be the answer to my question.

“Marius, you didn’t just lose your mother that day. I lost a sister.”