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Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 55

Sophmore Ashley? Please continue on in. The secretary seemed to know the purpose of my meeting, as I came into the office.

Is it okay if I bring my friends in with me?

The secretary looks at the appointment book. It doesn't say you have to go alone, so I don't see why not.

Thank you, ma'am. I push my way into the principal's office. I could see that he had already put away most of his paperwork for the day, and had remained in his office solely for this meeting. You wish to speak with me, sir?

Marika.... I can sense anger hidden under his reserved demeanor. I've heard rumors that you've become a professional hunter. Is this true?

Sir, I-

A simple yes or no will do.

I decide lying won't get me anywhere. Yes.

I see. Why didn't you talk to me when you were weighing on this decision to join them?

It was an emergency. The principal slams a fist down on his desk, but he pauses to think before he responds.

It is no secret, that I hoped you would eventually become the next principal of Motavia University. I've seen you perform to your earnest best in every one of your classes, regardless of the antics of your fellow classmates. You were on track to be nominated straight into the ranks of the professors at the conclusion of your Senior year. Instead, you choose to be associated with a group of legalized blackguards, famed for only using their physical strength instead of their mind to overcome obstacles. The anger was becoming more apparent with every word.

Sir-

You even had the mind to work with the sole man still living, who holds the ignominious title of an enemy of our university. Do not try to deny it. I personally heard proof of your talking to Mr. Hernandez from the Kadary Hunter's Guild itself. I only ask of you, 'Why?' Why has the girl, who's the closest thing I've ever had to a daughter, chosen misfits and power mongers over me? The principal's voice is shaking with rage now.

You don't know the full story, sir.

Did Post-Grad Bay put you up to this?

No, it's nothing like that. The hunter who was hired to help back in Zema was hiding the fact that he owed more money than his life was worth. Etirn hired him afterward to escort me when I was moving relics to Tonoe, and for various other things. I heard about a death warrant coming out for him, so Etirn and I became hunters to raise some money in an attempt to save his life.

Why did you remain as a member after that?

It's for a full year, with no dues. I felt the prestige of a hunter might come in handy, where my prestige as a student would be useless.

The principal pulls out a hefty file, labelled Radio Transcript, and places it on his desk. I begin to leaf through it, noticing my surname circled in several places. I noticed that you never reported back to your professors here, yet you were only in Tonoe for about a day. What were you doing?

I met back up with Etirn, and we decided to research into my past, what my family was about. Etirn got in a fight in Krup, and returned to Piata to recover. I went to the ruins of Aiedo to see if I could find any more remnants of my family among the rubble. I found a strange book that had several pictures of a young couple, that was separated by the death of the husband. I take out the picture book, and place it on the desk.

Did you learn anything about yourself?

I open the book to the wedding picture and tap the page. I noticed that this woman has ears similar to mine, and my father's. I could feel emotions building in my throat.

I see.... The principal skims through the other pages.

I force the emotions away. I'm sorry I didn't report back immediately, I just get so frustrated at how there seems to be no answers to the mysteries of my past.

The principal gives the book back to me. Marika, is something as dead as the past truly that dear to you?

I just... I just have so many questions that no person or book I've ever met or read seems able to answer. Like, why am I the only one on this planet who looks like this? I grab at my long ears, running my fingers from the base to the blackened tips.

Silence is the only answer I get from the principal, just like everyone else I've ever asked. Instead, he turns to his next question. Why did you volunteer to be part of the flight crew for Project Rappy? It had never been tested before, and I'm sure Etirn, or at least his professor, had told you how dangerous it was.

I learned about something in Zema. I won't go into details, but I feel that the answer behind my family might be somewhere out there.

Demi interjects, That's how I've gotten involved.

The principal directs his attention to Demi. You're neither Motavian nor Parmanian, and according to our past conversation, you hold a vital position in the viability of Algo. Why did you join Marika in her quest, instead of remaining at your Zelan?

I was escorted by her group to the artificial satellite Kuran to find out what happened to my master, Wren. He had passed on while I was hibernating. His final request to me was to protect life in Algo in whatever way I could. There's something out-

I would like to remind you now, that I have no patience for doomsayers and preachers.

But also, I believe that I personally knew her ancestors, Chaz and Rika.

How?! I was just as shocked as the principal. Why didn't she ever tell me?!

I had fought alongside them a thousand years ago. They didn't know it at the time, but they were on a quest to destroy the Profound Darkness before it could break into this dimension and destroy Algo.

Is that what Firdaus meant when he called me a Descendant of Heroes?

I assume so. We'll know for certain when I can test your DNA against the machine code Etirn got from Seed.

The principal starts drumming his fingers on the desk. This conversation is beginning to exceed my level of comprehension, so I would like to return to a previous question. Marika, why were you executing a warrant as a hunter yesterday?

Jeetoh puts a hand on my shoulder before I could respond. I can explain, sir. For a reason that Marika would prefer I didn't disclose, she came to Dezolis looking for me. She and her team agreed to escort me back to Esper Manor. Unfortunately, mountains of ice form during the Dezolis winter, so we need a specialized vehicle to get me back there. I've yet to master Ryuka.

How does this tie into Termi?

I retake the conversation, Etirn asked around, and you said that a renegade professor stole an 'Ice Digger' from the university; the one Etirn had used several years ago. I took the warrant on Mr. Landiet so I had extra information to help recover it.

I seem to have answered the principal's chief concern. I see. What do you plan to do now?

The sole reason why I've chosen to live after I lost my parents is to learn about myself. After that, I wish to go to Dezolis to learn more about this evil that I've been hearing about. I will admit, that I can feel something in the distance as well.

The principal stood up and looked me in the eye. What if I refused to let you go?

That was a question I didn't want to confront. This is a difficult decision.... I ponder for a moment before I answer further. Why am I risking my career, if I don't even know if I will gain what I desire from this? No, I know what I have to do.... I know that you've done a lot for me, and I hope to thank you for it someday, but I feel that I need to do this, and if you refuse to allow me to, I will find no other option than to drop out. I haven't gotten this far by bowing to a single threat or obstacle.

The principal nods slowly. Is that a tear on his cheek? Very well. I will allow you to use whatever resources you need to complete your search for your past. Please be careful, Marika.

Thank you. Within an hour, Demi was loading the Ice Digger into the Landale, while the rest of us were discussing our next destination.

The faster I get to Esper Manor, the sooner we can learn what is happening out there.

I understand that, Jeetoh, but I don't want to wait any longer to find out who Rika is. I want to go to Zelan first.

We have to consider the consequences of stalling further.

I don't care. If I already knew what I wanted years ago, I'd have chosen death over this world. Jeetoh's quest isn't that important to me.

Your family can wait. You're looking for your ancestors, not your dying children. I was tempted to punch Jeetoh for that, but Dora restrains me.

I may be pretty new to the concept of this technology stuff, but I think it would only take a couple hours to humor Marika. Besides, I'm kinda curious as to the truth myself, given how much we've risked to get this far.

I feel Jeetoh rummage through my mind once more. He sneers at what he sees. I can see that I can't argue any further for the correct way. Let's go, then. Demi walks in, now that the Ice Digger is packed away. We've decided on Zelan, Demi. I can hardly wait to see who Rika is.

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