Malik & Joan

"They are the hottest couple in Aydenhall."

"Yeah, from what I have heard, they are even stronger than most of the descendants."

"It's a shame they are from the branch family."

The more people he asked, the more curious Zail got. Just who are these two roommates of his?

Zail kept recalling the ease with which Malik and Joan stopped Aytar. One stopped his attack while the other captured him. Either Aytar was weak, or the infamous duo was just that strong. Zail had had enough of his curiosity and decided to take a direct approach.

"Tell me the truth now, who are you two?"

"What? Where did this come from?" asked Joan, confused by the sudden question.

"How were you two able to stop a descendant like he was a toddler?"

"Oh! You mean that."

"Well, you see, Zail…" Malik tried to find the right words.

"Hmm..." Malik looked at Joan, seeking a hint of what to do.

"All right, fine. I guess we can tell him."

"I am..." said Malik.

"You are?"

"I am..."

"Yes, yes, you are?"

"I am your father Zail."

"I hate you guys," Zail complained after a long pause of disbelief.

"What? It's true."

"Okay, now seriously, tell me how you two, who supposedly is from the branch families, are stronger than the descendants."

"Is that how you thank us for saving your life, by interrogating us? You're welcome, by the way," complained Joan, a little pissed.

Just when Zail was about to defend himself, an alarm went off, calling all the students to evacuate to the training grounds left to the school building.

"All descendants are requested to report to the Nichlon Gardens near the front gate," continued the voice in the alarm.

While all of this was being announced, Malik and Joan's under-arm skin lit up, and they started to move out.

"Where are you two...?"

"For now, just remember, whatever you know about us is only half the truth."

****************

"Zoaran archers, take positions on the towers! Larkens, raise the damn wall already, and Knoxians, standby to blind them as soon as they arrive. Move, move, move, people!"

Descendants, alongside dozens of capable students, carried out Professor Ira Lugh's orders. She was a bit peculiar for a Lughian, as she carried a hint of darkness with her. Almost everyone in Aydenhall, except for the freshers, was there to fight.

A very pretty woman, a young, beautiful brunette with curious green eyes. Confident and experienced were just a few things that could be used to praise Ira Lugh's capability.

****************

Zail stood in the empty room that was his dorm, staring out the window to a dark and eerie view. He saw the bustling of the students and faculty preparing for some major threat, but it did not surprise Zail because he knew what was coming. Hell, he was the one who brought this upon Aydenhall. He knew what was about to happen as he looked towards the crow hovering in front of him.

"Is she coming?" asked Zail in a calm and deep voice.

"Yes, my lord. Everything is as you wanted," replied the crow in a soft and shrill voice, as if it were a woman.

"Well done, Zayries. Now I will soon be able to keep my promise."

****************

"Miss Ira, what is going on?" inquired Malik.

The school campus had started to resemble more of a military camp, with the heavily guarded gate, manned towers with archers, and almost a hundred students powered up and ready to fight.

"The Lugh seekers sensed an extremely powerful force heading towards the school," replied Ira. "Faster, you nincompoops, faster! And someone, send a message to the king to keep the Royal Knights on standby."

"Have they identified the threat?" asked Joan, who was standing next to Malik.

"Not completely, but they say it's a demon."

"A demon! How is that possible? Wasn't the gate sealed?"

"That is the confusion."

"It couldn't be that demon, could it?" Malik asked Ira, concerned.

"Unfortunately, it's one of the more believable explanations. Come now, enough chitchat. I want you two to be on the frontline."

Malik and Joan were just a few steps from the gate when they felt a sudden chill. Along with everyone standing in the school turned into a battleground, they felt extremely uneasy and nauseated.

"Where is it? Where is it coming from?" Joan searched for the killer's intent she felt towards her and everyone else.

"Joan, look," pointed out Malik towards the sky.

A woman, no, a demon with skin as brown as darkened caramel, hovered above the trees in front of the gates. Her blazing red eyes inspired both awe and fear upon first sight, with features fairer than any woman there.

The name "Kreya" trembled out of the mouths of the descendants, professors, and the infamous duo, while others were riveted by her appearance.

"Oh my god! It's her."

"I heard she was buried in her sleep eight hundred years ago."

"How did she get here?"

"Humans!" exclaimed Kreya.

****************

The almost empty roof, nearly fifty feet from the ground, housed only Zail and his companion, Zayries. Zail sat on the tiled floor with a clear view of what was happening down below. He sat meditating, trying to communicate with his master.

"I am unable to understand why you wanted her back?"

"You will know in time," replied a dark, deep, and echoing voice.

Zail kneeled to the being on the throne in their telepathic conversation.

"May I release this human form? I have been in it for too long."

"No, Zail, not yet. You still have use for this form. Now go, you have work to do."

Their conversation was interrupted by a bolt of dark lightning, which Zail dodged by tilting his head to the side.

Zail walked over to the ledge for a better view. He saw the battle raging on, but it wasn't much of a battle; it was only the people of Aydenhall who were attacking. The only action Kreya, the demon, took was dodging and blocking, shielding herself using dark lightning.

As the attacks went on, Kreya appeared to be searching for something, slowly but steadily advancing towards Aydenhall. There were only a few who posed any threat to her, and Malik and Joan were among them.

He saw the tall, brown boy who had given him trouble that morning become one of the few casualties until now and couldn't help but grin.

****************

"Why is she not returning any attacks?"

"I don't know, but what I do know is that we have to bring her down," replied Malik to Joan's query.

The infamous duo launched a synchronized attack on the demon. Malik whipped a thick vine at her leg, trying to hold her still for Joan to land an attack with her gun, her Mahyahn, which shot flame bullets powered by herself.

Joan wore a beautiful flaming black and red battle suit. She had a headgear that left the centre of her head open and covered half of her cheeks. Malik was covered in the most elegantly formed suit, sparkling green with a hint of brown, like a dirty emerald, with his Mahyahn, a glowing sword held in his right hand as if it were a part of him.

"All right, JJ, let us bring the demon down," said Malik, hoping for the attack to succeed.

Their attack was perfectly coordinated. Malik successfully caught hold of Kreya, and Joan propelled herself using the flames to get in a headshot. However, the demon shocked Malik through his vines and struck Joan in the stomach, sending her falling and causing her to miss her shot, which only bruised Kreya's thigh.

"Joan!" screamed a concerned Malik, who had just recovered, running towards his falling partner. Kreya hadn't bled in a very long time. Even during the war, she didn't bruise much, and this fact made the scratch on her thigh even more infuriating. In sheer anger, Kreya released a massive amount of dark light in a controlled explosion, throwing anyone who came within its radius.

Heavily injured, Joan lay next to Malik, unconscious and vulnerable.

"Oh, my sweet pea, talk to me, please, please wake up," pleaded Malik, trying to help Joan up, to whom he sat next.

Malik was living his worst fear and what fate the couple held. Joan would be next to live hers.

What will be their fate? Why has Zail brought this upon everyone? Will Aydenhall survive this?

/****************\