Book 2 - The Usurper from the Wilds: Chapter 20; Truth Brought to Light

The screen turns on as the chapter title plays "Chapter - 20; Truth Brought to Light".

It opens to Jack shouting "Hyeeeaaarrrgh!" as he gives his final punches and Deuce shouting "Grrraaaah!" as he gives his final punches as well.

After that Jack is seen panting as he complements "Man, you just… You just don't give an inch…" Deuce has his left eye squeezed shut as he's out of breath and compliments back "Phew… You neither. You sure can fight."

Grim states "It's like every one of your punches rattled me to the core…" Ace is absolutely out of breath as he complains "Yeesh… Maybe we got a little carried away. Uuugh. At this point, I don't even care about makin' the stupid team."

Yuu, slightly out of breath, sarcastically asks them "Do we all hug it out now?" But is ignored with a couple of glares sent her way.

Jack then states "All right. The path ahead is clear. I'll tell you what I know." Ace asks "'The path'? The path to what?"

Jack answers as he explains a little as well "The path my heart's telling me to walk. Remember, I'm betraying my own dorm here." He then gets fired up again as he shouts "But I can't be quiet any longer! I don't care how strong the foe– I wanna face them with my own two fists!" He then calms down a little as he tells them "I've been training hard for this tournament. I was excited to see how far I could go. But these cowardly schemes are making me sick! A triumph won through treachery means nothing! I wanted to claim victory on the back of my own strength and skill, and fight to defend it!"

Ace is confounded by his statement as he says "I think I preferred talking to his fists." Yuu raises an eyebrow as she asks "So…this is all about you, then?"

But Deuce shouts in excitement "I get it! I know exactly what he means!" Grim is exasperated as he says "That's not a good sign."

Jack tells them "Ruggie's signature spell/unique magic – It makes the target copy Ruggie's movements. Since he's making the same movements as the person he's controlling, he's able to make it look like an accident on their part."

Ace thoughtfully comments "Huh. So that's how he was able to get Grim to trade without getting caught. He just put out his hand, and Grim put out his."

Grim, reminded of the incident, gets angry as he shouts "That lousy, rotten…! Aaargh! Now I'm angry again! Food grudges never die!"

Deuce then says "Wait, hold on a minute." As all eyes turn on him he questions "If he was mirroring the movements of someone about to fall down the stairs, surely someone would have noticed that?"

But Jack explains to them "Ruggie didn't cause these accidents by himself. Most of Savanaclaw was probably in on it too." Grim shouts "Myah?!" in surprise. Jack continues "Like you said, someone would have noticed if he was near the targets and also mimicking their actions. I believe he escaped notice by surrounding himself with a wall of his dormmates."

Deuce is a bit confused as he asks "The whole dorm was in on it? But why?" But Ace answers for Jack "Well, duh. How well they do at the Spelldrive tournament could make or break their careers. If that's their motive, well, it isn't hard to understand where they're comin' from."

Jack growls at Ace, for answering the question for him.

This both surprises and scares Ace as he shouts "Dude! Don't bare your fangs at me! I'm just connectin' the dots!"

Although Jack stops he's irritated as he says "Hmph. If they're not willing to show what they're capable of now, what does the future even matter?" But Jack's irritation and anger switch to someone else as he continues "I'm most disappointed with our housewarden, Leona Kingscholar. He has incredible talent, but refuses to even use it!"

Grim agrees saying "Yeah, for as lazy as that guy is… He seemed insanely strong." But this just strengthens Jack's fire as he shouts "Right?! Why would you possess such power and not even hone it? I despise guys like him!"

Jack then starts to think back as he says "The way he played when I saw him three years ago… It blew my mind. That was the reason I came to this school. I thought if I joined Savanaclaw, he and I would be tearing up the Spelldrive field together."

Ace leans closer to Yuu as he whispers "Yo, Yuu. He's pretty harsh when he talks about his own housewarden, but I'm starting to think…" But Yuu whispers back, finishing "But he actually really respects him."

But Jack takes their attention back as he tells them "All these "accidents" are just incidental part of the plan. They're hunting bigger prey here."

Deuce asks "Bigger prey?" Jack explains "Malleus Draconia, the Diasomnia housewarden. He possesses monstrous power. He led Diasomnia to victory two years running. He's the reason we were knocked out of both tournaments without scoring a single point. The older dorm members won't forgive that.

Deuce says "Without a single point…? For a dorm that usually wins the tournament, that had to hurt." Jack says back "You know it. Our greatest moment of shame– broadcast to the whole world in real time. The upperclassmen want to redeem themselves, but the way they're doing it is despicable."

Ace asks in confirmation "So this all comes together on the day of the tournament?" Which Jack answers "Yep. And that's why I need to stop them!"

Just then Riddle and Cater appear as Riddle states "I believe I've heard enough."

Deuce greets them "Hello, Housewarden Rosehearts. Cater."

Riddle ignores him and states "I cannot allow such an important tradition to be tarnished by personal grudges."

Cater asks "So what's the sitch, Riddle? We got a plan?" Riddle says "As we have no proof of Leona's machinations, nor of Ruggie's assaults, we cannot take this to Crowley. Without solid evidence, that sort of accusation would never stick to someone as sly as Leona."

Ace asks "So you're saying we need to catch him in the act?" Riddle answers "Yes. And I have a suggestion to that end. First–"

But Jack interrupts telling them "Stop. I've told you what I know, but that doesn't mean I'm plannin' to join your merry band." Cater defends "What? C'mon, Jack, even after all we've been through together? The smiles and the tears?"

Jack explains "Savanaclaw is my dorm, and I'm gonna be the one to settle this." As he leaves with a "Seeya."

But Yuu shoots him the question "Do you really think you can accomplish anything by yourself?"

Jack turns around as he shouts "What'd you just say?!"

Grim says in surprise "Ouch. Been a while since you've let someone have it like that, Yuu." Which she simply rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

Deuce backs her up though asking Jack "It's true, though. You versus your entire dorm? Can't say I see the odds favoring you." Yuu then decides to play on his species as she reminds him "The most successful wolves hunt in packs."

Jack is silent as he thinks about what they've said before telling them "All right, fine. I'll hear you out." As he walks back he also tells them "But I'm not committing to anything. If I don't like the sound of your scheme, I'm out."

Ace then says exasperated "Man, this guy is impossible." Cater then teases "Funny, I was just thinking how much he reminds me of you and Deuce."

But Riddle brings the attention back to him as he asks "Then, if I may continue explaining my plan?" Which gets some nods so he explains "The first step is…"

But before the explanation of the plan is heard the screen fades to black as "To be continued" plays before it fully turns off.