Alex's payback

Much more than they had been, a moment ago.

A quenching silence took place.

Alex had both arms crossed around the two beside him, who acted unconcerned, with a strange wide grin on his face. But looking closely, it was that of mock. Mock at the group who had simply dismissed him upon his return, thinking he was still stuck up on his arrogant ego and decided not to associate with him.

Though he hadn't uttered a single word, their faces quickly turned green from embarrassment and shame, especially those on dirty gold colored blazers.

Among them were five girls, two from Imperials and the others from Riverside. Upon realizing the sudden change in status quo, they instantly wore loving smiles, pretending to be shy as they tried to hide their face.

Though their cute attempts were seen through, the rest of the male youths didn't dare to ponder as in their embarrassed state, they sneakily observed the unadorned old Katana in his hand.

'So mundane.' They thought, having previously dismissed it off as a piece of junk probably picked up from the shattered remains of a mummy. But then, their pupils dilated a moment later upon remembering Ryker's words just now.

'Something better.' They thought in synchronization.

Being ignored amidst the still silence, the girls who had started to play their shameless card realized the trance the male youths were in….

Without giving them a moment to pounder… "An Artifact?" The golden haired youth who had his jaw shattered once by Flynn blurted out in shock, momentarily forgetting to support his healing chin as a muffled his escaped his lips.

"Artifact?" another girl caught by surprise, questioned rhetorically before choking with realization as her mouth hung open for a while.

Though he didn't know why Ryker was giving Alex an audience, Flynn continued silently watching as his mind roamed many theories, facts and evidence.

Earlier he had noticed Jack, the white haired traumatized youth glare hatefully at him for a moment while sitting beside Alex. Then the next instant, much like a flash of emotions, he saw those eyes assumed a cold and unconcerned look. Just like a puppet.

Alex was strange. Surely Amelia must have noticed the dissimilarities between her previous companions to the one before them after having escaped live and death situations together for more days than him.

But she seemed uncertain.

Though he really wanted them to discuss right now which was rare, his lack of Will, being unable to communicate through minds, made him envious a little.

'What should I do?' He thought, before deciding to study the dull silver Spear.

Sensing a slight familiarity holding the long mid range weapon as soon as he focused on his, his brows crunched for a moment. Before a poundering glint flashed past his eyes.

If anything, Flynn knew he had never held any weapon other than a knife before. In fact it was strongly admonished for students who were planning to face Tribulations, to train with any sort or form of weapon. No matter how rigorous and arduous their classes had been to prepare them for the worst possible scenario as Bearers. Weapon or combat training had never been a part of it. Extreme exercise, History and a few subjects other than Mathematics was what they were taught.

Tribulations despite an occurring event of the past was an experience. That said even if their memories about what exactly happened was erased, these experiences remain vague in the heart. Just like one wouldn't forget how to speak certain languages despite suffering from amnesia, these certain experiences couldn't be erased completely. With that said, their experience had to be committed to the heart to remain in the heart. A man lives a hundred years, but only remembers about fifty days worth of events and memories.

Leading to a speechless answer to the question. 'What did you do on this day ten years ago.'

In the case of Tribulation this was exactly the case.

Such a thought was easier said than done.

With that said, this was why weapon training was banned for aspiring Bearers. To further highlight the sense of familiarity from a Weapon they had mastered during their Tribulation. This way their future to being a Prodigal Bearer was assured.

Like the story of King of Swords, a King Level Bearer who mastered how to use a sword in a single night to an extremely high level right after sleeping with a sword in hand a day after he transcended his Tribulation to become a Baron Level Bearer.

Staring up at the spear, he silently tried to focus on that sense of familiarity. But a few moments later a frown lit up on his face.

'Hmm? It shouldn't be that hard right?' Sighing internally, he quickly dismissed the thought of it to refocus his attention on the now fawning group surrounding Alex. The topic about their praise and fawning was the Katana Artifacts which they couldn't keep on jealousy glancing at.

'Should we be worried?' suddenly after a long while since he heard her voice, in his head. Amelia said in an uncertain tone. Beneath her face wrap, her eyes were also observing the group.

"Hmmm." Releasing an almost inaudible hmm, with a half nod of his head. Ryker, who had finished adjusting himself, walked up to Alex.

"Wanna come along? You would be of really great help." He said with an amiable extension of his arm

Quickly the crowd got quiet, having gathered around Alex like his lackeys. They were quick to cast disapproving glances at him, blatantly expressing the change in Leadership. One of them already started to give Alex a massage from the side and couldn't hold back his scorn and said. "Audacious." He spoke loudly as if wanting to be recognized but Alex made a shush gesture, halting him as his face flushed in embarrassment.

To this Flynn couldn't help nod his head sideways.

'What a bunch of pretentious fools.' Amelia added with calm resolve.

They had all been blinded by the Artifact and failed to analyze the situation. One, Alex wouldn't exchange blows with Ryker because of them, accounting to having witnessed the latter in action alongside his two other colleagues. Two, an Artifact wasn't so casually wielded especially for a Baron Level Bearer, as that could risk becoming a Hollow from overexertion of one's reserve.

With that Alex coolly spoke up.

"It's alright."

Pushing those around them who had squeezed to Alex, both the white haired Jack and Angella stood up, doing a 180 degree glance at those around, they said nothing but moved to stand beside Ryker who revealed a thankful smile afterwards.

Their speechlessness was beyond words.

QN

Author here. Felt I lacked the phrasing of most words, little reference too. 

Buh I hope y'all understood what I wrote there, learning something to heart to the extent it becomes like a language. [damn, just did].