"No time, no time, no time! No time to waste!!!" That's what Corinth kept shouting through the halls as he dodged students and ministrants alike. The fire torches mounted to the walls flickered against the shades covering them as Cory rushed by, taking South hall by storm. The silver dust in the stones twinkled with the light of the animal figures and historical structures that the shades on the torches projected.

"Corinth, slow down!" Anvard shouted, but he and Emmy weren't listening.

They ran pa.s.sed teachers sitting on the benches outside of their offices. They were headed for the Atrium of the twelfth floor. The Olympia building had longer halls than the student's dorm buildings, so it was taking awhile.

"Didn't you hear your friend, child? Slow down before you hurt someone," a slender lady sitting on and ivory bench quietly spoke up. She looked to be working on a lesson plan for an upcoming cla.s.s. She reminded Corinth so much of why he hated being in the Olympia building. His dorm was small, lonesome, and all the ministrants in the entire school surrounded him. He figured that all the teachers that lived around him on the twelfth floor must have forgotten what it was like to be a kid. Because they always stopped him from doing anything even remotely interesting when he pa.s.sed them in the halls.

"Of course, I'm sorry," he said while nodding. But he didn't bother to actually slow down. She shook her head, and then buried it back in the books on her lap.

Speeding down the South hall, they found themselves in the student and ministrant packed Atrium. "Elevator, elevator please!" He said elevator, but his facial expression looked to be saying; bathroom, bathroom please. He looked like he was going to wet himself. He pulled on his black t-shirt, while crossing his blue jean clad legs. He looked around eagerly, like he'd never been in the area before. Though he used it several times a day to get in and around the ma.s.sive-building that housed all the school's cla.s.srooms.

A few kids, being lectured by a ministrant, were sitting in the open common. They looked at him like he was a freak. He noticed them staring while their instructor droned on about math problems they failed to understand during actual cla.s.s time. From a red couch with gold entrusted designs, they were so bored that they continued to focus on Corinth's awkward demeanor. He'd usually be nervous to call attention to himself, but this was a special case. Corinth flashed his eyes, raising both eyebrows at once, while smirking mischievously at them. He could simply walk away, but they were stuck there with their fruity, overzealous math whiz of a ministrant gnawing away on their unripe minds.

He uncrossed his legs then began running around the huge circular room after he spotted what he wanted. Emmy was close behind as they ran for the very center. That's where the elevator was stationed. They needed to ride it down to the main floor. On the first floor, they would find the makeshift Deaves Chamber. A science ministrant's laboratory was commandeered to accommodate the need for a place to hold the tournaments. They made it. Corinth entered through the golden-door elevator, and pressed the black b.u.t.ton with the gold number that read F1.

"Hey, aren't you going to wait!" Anvard and the others called from the opening of the South hall into the Atrium.

All the directional hallways poured into the center of each floor in the Olympia building. Kids and ministrants alike always filled that s.p.a.ce to capacity on all floors. Coming from the East hall, Northwest hall, and all the other halls, trying to get wherever they needed to go as swiftly as possible. The entire building looked like twelve bike tires stacked on top of one another. A smart designed that worked seamlessly. Unless, of course, it was crowded.

Which it was tonight. Students questioning their ministrants. And ministrants ducking their students. The twelfth floor of Olympia was supposed to be their sanctuary from those brats. But there was no escape, on account of those bridge-like sky walkways that connected the student's dorm buildings to the twelfth floor of the Olympia building.

Anvard, Emma, and Claudia got trapped in-between the ma.s.ses of people. They walked too slowly for Emmy and Corinth's liking. Neither of them thought twice as the Atrium's elevator doors sealed. They were off to their first adventure into the world of Deaves. Unfortunately, without their cheer squad in tow.

When they arrived at the Deaves Chamber, they noticed some commotion. Neither had a watch, so they couldn't tell if it were already too late to enter, or what?

"My laboratory was confiscated for this mockery!"

"Yes, it was," came a silky voice from a rather sultry lady. She walked up behind the mad-scientist who was yelling at student spectators entering at the last minute.

He turned around to chastise whoever it was that would be bold enough to challenge his fury. "How dare you speak to-oh my!" He hadn't yet met this woman, but still nearly every male ministrant at school had their eye on her since she joined the staff.

Senor -Huntzmen's wife was believed to be a gold-digger. Though the mere fact that she was better educated than her husband, and now worked at the same establishment, put a damper on that argument. Most simply couldn't believe that a woman of her youth and beauty would be interested in a doofus like him. He was charming, but a bit of a fuddy-duddy. Senora Mira had every man watching her every move. She knew that very well. She tried not to take advantage of it. Unless, of course, she was in a hurry. Which she was, so...

"Please, don't be upset." She moved in close and gently placed her hand on his stiff shoulder. "We thought this room would be best because of its size and proximity to the main gate," every word she spoke was laced with a sweet harmony that made it sound as though she were singing. "After all, the children's convenience and enjoyment are us ministrants top priority, no?" She paused to allow him the chance to absorb this final moment he'd ever share with her. Corinth and Emmy looked on impatiently. Emmy even scowled at the thought of a teacher using her appeal to settle a dispute. The mad-scientist hadn't yet responded. He couldn't respond. "I think it is," was all she need say to sum up the debate. He was putty in her hands. In full compliance with anything she desired.

Never having answered, he drifted away with trembling lips. Sena. Mira knew how to work a crowd, and an individual.

"That was quite the display of lady like behavior," Emmy said as she moseyed over to her elder, whom she held no respect for. "You're a shining example to all the girls here at Aurora Boreal, you know that?" She folded her arms like some big shot. She had a knack for challenging authority figures. Just like her twin. But she usually had a more pious angle. Where Emma was more coming from the low-life thief kind of angle.

Sena. Mira looked down to the pretty twelve-year-old, from just outside the dark brown double doors of the new Deaves Chamber. She chuckled at the sight of them both looking at her like she had ruined the planet with her appealing diplomacy. She noticed something peeking out of Corinth's pocket that piqued her interest. "I see you've got some Deaves in your pocket, little guy." She bypa.s.sed Emmy, walked over to Corinth and knelt before him. Her high heels were unforgiving, but she always liked to make a good first impression. "Here's a little tip for when we're inside playing this marvelous and very fun game." She motioned to the doors with her dark hair-covered head. She held both his shoulders while she knelt down in front him, looking him in the eyes with kindness. "Remember that it's just a game, sweetie."

Emmy scoffed. "That's not very useful advice, you know? He'll probably lose with that strategy in mind," she laughed alone, because they both ignored her. This agitated her even more.

Corinth was transfixed by the bewitching beauty of Helena Mira-Huntzmen. Her fluttery white dress and the black leather jacket she wore over it, made her look like an angel v. daredevil enigma. Her black hair and grey eyes sent out very studios vibes. But the beauty aspect to her features couldn't be denied. She was so soft spoken and smooth looking. Yet the edges of her personality seemed rough and virtually untapped. She didn't just simply receive all the attention she got. She commanded it. With her dark, alluring skin, she reminded him of a younger and more likable version of Sena. Hendrix.

Speaking of the true incarnation of the devil, at least in the eyes of the students at Aurora Boreal, someone sashayed over with a deceivingly nonchalant att.i.tude. It couldn't be. Not from this witch. "Nice to see you, darling." Sena. Hendrix walked up from behind Corinth. The sound of her voice nearly made him jump out of his skin. She kissed Sena. Mira on the cheek, and Mira kissed her back on the opposite cheek. With them standing in front of each other, Corinth was certain he was right about their resemblance.

"Well, it is certainly a pleasure to know that you'll be watching the matches. I'm still elated that you chose me to preside over the tournament in the first place, Silvia. I do appreciate this." Hendrix smiled, seeming so at ease as Mira spoke kindly toward her.

Corinth and Emmy were surprised to see it. They were so accustom to seeing the Grand Ministrant in a tense and foreboding state. Now she just talked with an a.s.sumed friend. Ignoring them both in the process. Mira winked at Corinth as Hendrix looped their arms, walking into the chamber.

"Okay, that was weird," Emmy's head tilted to the side as she spoke. Watching them in absolute awe, as she and Corinth too entered the large room with black rectangular tables setup from wall to wall.

They noticed that each table had a lifeless black board-game placed at the center of them. The board dipped down in the center and rose on the sides. They looked like serving trays. And also resembled arenas. Little arenas. They weren't cylinder-shaped like the Pavilion, but they sort of looked like it. The top center of the rectangular edges had a little silver plaque on them. It read; Aurriculium. In the deep center of the board, it said; Adlucinatio.

"That is where the character on your Deaves card manifests itself," informed a scratchy voice at their necks. They turned suddenly to the mysterious figure speaking out to them, and saw a short, but lanky brown-eyed boy. He had long, very curly, black hair, draped over brown skin. His clothes, much less than stylish. He wore a loose knitted grandma-sweater, a tatty black shirt and creased black pants. With all the dark, but conscientiously tailored clothing, he looked like a gothic-geek. In addition to it all, he wore silver wire rim gla.s.ses that appeared to be on his face more for affect than actually need. "Hi, I'm Lindle and I'll need both of your names," he said in the same scratchy tone.

They exchanged awkward looks. "I'm Emmy, and this is Corinth." She motioned over to the slightly smaller boy beside her.

"Good, good. Both names here I see." He leaned in closer, half-covering his mouth for less people to hear his words. "Ya know, some people really think they can get in here without their names being on this here list." He laughed and pulled back. "I just tell them that there's only enough sitting room for expected guests. And more importantly, that the scheduled matches are for those who signed up for the club, buddy. Better luck next week," he giggled with every word-then drastically stopped laughing. He stood there for a long awkward moment with a stone cold, tight-faced stare."So ... I'm glad you guys aren't a couple of scammers then." With that finely p.r.o.nounced, he began walking away. The two of them were relieved, but then he suddenly turned around on his heels, facing back to them again in an instant. "And by the way!" he conjured up quickly,"your match up table is to your left." His crooked smile was gracious and honest. "Good luck to you both."

They waited for him to get out of the vicinity. "Is he a student or a teacher?" Cory said while turning to Emmy with a frown.

"I don't know, and don't want to find out," was all she said. They walked over to the table and quickly noticed what they hoped was a mistake.

"Ah, come on!" Corinth shrugged, and then threw his arms up, like it was the end of the world. "Do we really have to play each other first?"

"Well, we do if we don't act quickly." He was bewildered by her words, so he just watched as she moved her name-tag over to the table beside theirs. She replaced her tag with the one she just made the switch for. "Now we don't have to play each other first. If even at all tonight."

"But what if these guys are really hard opponents. Then we're screwed... or we might get caught?" Corinth said.

"Oh, don't be such a stooge. Lighten up a little. At least one of us can go on without having to take the other out in the first round."

"This from the one who just scolded that poor lady at the door for being ... well," he had no idea how to finish the sentence.

"That's different, Corinth. I know her!"

"You do?" he asked inquisitively.

"Yeah, sort of. She taught at my old school. But she was Anvard's grade level, not mine and Emma's. We saw her a lot because she tried to help Andy when he was put on academic probation."

"What's that?" he asked while pulling out the silver metal chair tucked underneath the black table.

"It was the school's excuse for kicking him out. He had A's and B's all that year. It was just a lot of hoopla over him liking another boy," she said while shrugging off the information. It was like she didn't want the thoughts coming too close to her brain.

"Oh, yeah," Corinth didn't know what else to say. He was actually upset to hear that Anvard had liked someone else before. Then he thought a little more about what she said, and came up with another question. "If she tried to help him, then why are you so p.i.s.sed at her?"

"Because!" she shouted abruptly. "She was the one who reported him in the first place! Then decided she had some kind of change of heart, or something dumb like that. But only after she saw how she ruined Andy's life." Emmy was in the mess of it now. She was getting worked up all over again. Just thinking about it made her livid. When it actually went down, she was the one that truly should've been expelled. Her revenge on those Levanta.r.s.e boys was quite malicious, to say the least. "I don't want to talk about this anymore!" She threw a hand up to show that she was ending the conversation. She took her seat at the table beside his and didn't say another word.

Corinth stared at her from the adjacent table. His feet just barely touched the ground while seated. As usual, he figured he'd let the breeze carry away the tension. He really didn't understand girls at all.

Bang! She slammed her fist down on the black metal table. "Well, aren't you going to say something!" she shouted at him. Drawing some attention from the other students now taking their seats. Everyone had stopped mingling with one another in the large room. Her opponent saw tears in her eyes as he sat down opposite her.

"You know, just cuz' you're a girl, and you're obviously about to cry, doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." The blond-haired boy with green eyes looked tough, but not tougher than Emmy.

Bang!She pounded her fist down again. Most everyone heard the loud clank. "I've got a pocket full of monster cards that say you're going down in flames. But let's let the Aurriculium board decide your fate. Chump!" she threw in the last word for affect, and affect it did. The La Envidian boy's top lip quivered, as Emmy folded her arms, back in control of her emotions.

Corinth dodged a bullet that the green-eyed boy took instead. She looked over to him and smiled as much as she could. She knew he was just as sensitive as she was, if not more. She didn't want him to think she'd be mad at him for not knowing what to say or when to say it.

"Well-" the mic gave a ma.s.sive wave of static interference...

Everyone covered their ears in horror. Sena. Mira tapped the mic with her hand and things straightened out a bit. She was about to introduce the games from atop a makeshift stage. She sat behind a long desk that housed many other ministrants, including top dog, Sena. Hendrix.

She cleared her throat. "Well, we can see clearly by that display," she gestured toward Emmy's table with her delicate hand, "that the compet.i.tion is strong tonight. Again, we apologize to you students for having to push back the tournament. I'll have you know it wasn't easy throwing this together last minute like this." She paused, allowing that information to settle. "Now, many of you don't know me, because I am new in Hyperborean. As you may have noticed, for those of -you who took a good look at me, I'm from Imperativo. My name is Senora Helena Mira-Huntzmen. And Yes, the same Huntzmen as your Watchers ministrant. Though I love my home World, I want you to know that there is no place I'd rather be than right here, right now with you guys and girls. I hope we all have a good time, and remember that games are supposed to be fun. So have a lot of it! And don't stress too much if you don't make it past your current opponent. There is always next week. And you can hone your skills during all your free time to guarantee that you're able to compete with higher ranked players," she took a deep breath after all that. She finished up with a cheerful, "let the games begin!"

Corinth didn't exactly know how they were going to go about this, but he quickly caught on. The students walking around holding electronic tablets, like Lindle, where going to be judging the matches.

"Okay, so you both need to setup your ELD," Lindle informed them.

Corinth already knew that, but his opponent seemed to be somewhat c.u.mbersome with the whole thing. "Haven't you ever played before?" Corinth whispered to the boy across the table.

"Yeah, sure," the dark-haired boy stated sullenly. "But not for real. I just practiced by myself. I didn't have anyone to play against."

Corinth nearly burst into tears. The kid looked down as he plucked cards from the top of his deck for his ELD. He drew five cards from his deck of fifty. Apparently, he didn't have an element card, because he only put down a light card and dark card. He matched them up with the corresponding letters of the ELD, and left it at that.

"Why didn't you have anyone to play against?" the boy instantly clammed up upon Corinth's questioning. He didn't know whether Corinth wanted him to profess that he felt like a loser, or what? Lindle noticed as he leaned against the table behind them. He got up immediately to settle this as quickly as possible. It was to the delight of the players at the table he leaned up against. He was too close for their comfort.

"Hey, I don't think we're here to talk about our personal lives. We're here to play this awesome game. Now let's focus." He handled it well. Corinth dropped his case and they started the game.

"You can go first," Corinth said. He had all the slots covered. An element, light, and dark card across the ELD. He also had an elemental unique card on the unique slot, to absorb any overlap in attack points for his element cards. He knew he had stronger element cards than the others.

The little blue-eyed, black-haired, pale skin boy couldn't believe Cory drew that many good cards in his first shift. He scratched his head, trying to cook up a plan. But he knew he didn't stand a chance. He tugged at his white shirt not knowing how to start.

Lindle looked over to him. "You do know how to play at least a little, don't you?"

"Yeah, I was just thinking," he said. "I'll use the Ravager card to attack." Ravager only has 100 attack points and the attack points are equal to the lifeline. All of Corinth's cards had higher attack points, so he'd simply annihilate him in return if he attacked.

"You do know that won't destroy his card, right?" Lindle was becoming concerned that this kid didn't know any of the rules.

"Oh yeah, that's right!" He scratched his head in confusion. "Um, then what do I do? That's my strongest card on the ELD?"

Lindle leaned in a little further. "What you do is, you employ some strategy. This guy's obviously got a better deck than you." He gestured to Corinth with his hand, and Corinth waved at them innocently. They both thought it was a bit weird. But as Cory's opponent looked at the turquoise-eyed boy, he realized that he wasn't the only awkward fellow at school. "So play the field. Try to use attributes that can make your card's attack points stronger. The Ravager has much better attributes than attacks," Lindle insisted.

"Okay, so Ravager is a dark card, so maybe I'll use one of its attributes to slow him down." The boy thought that was a great idea. At least his tone suggested it.

"That may be a good idea." Lindle didn't want to seem like he was outright coaching the kid through beating Corinth. Though Corinth was okay with anything that would get this game going.

"Okay, I'll use Ravager's repair attribute." The small boy paused and looked up to Lindle. Both Corinth and Lindle didn't understand what he thought that would do. He hadn't taken any damage yet, and the card had more perilous attributes than that.

"Then you've got to cast it," Lindle said with a slightly annoyed grin.

He had forgotten that part too. He pressed the attribute listed under the card while it was in the appropriate slot, then pressed the cast b.u.t.ton on the Aurriculium board. Instantly, the card sprung to life inside the board. He was amazed. He hadn't used an actual Aurriculium board to practice, so he hadn't seen an Adlucination illusion before. The Ravager card looked like a great big centipede. There lay a dirt road beneath its floating hundred legs. Just like in the picture on the card. But now in a 3D animation right in front of them. The Deave card used repair. This sent it back into the boy's deck. "Whoa!" the card shot up off the D marking on the ELD slot, right back into the kid's deck, shocking him into a frenzy. "Wasn't expecting that!" he said with an excited look on his face. Corinth and Lindle both genuinely laughed with him. He didn't know what to do or how to play, but he was charming in a certain kind of way.

"Yeah, that's why you've got to read what the attributes do, before you cast them. Your shift's not over yet. You can still attack if you want. You know you get one attack and one attribute per shift. You might as well attack with another card. He'll probably just crush you from then on anyway," it sounded harsh, but Lindle meant no harm. The kid could sense that much.

They each had 1,000 Lifeline points when they started. They were both beginners, on level one. Though Corinth was much better, so he still had the same amount of Lifeline points, but the other Draconian boy wasn't so fortunate. He hit zero quickly, but seemed more relieved to lose than upset.

"That was amazing!" Actually, make that excited. The boy wasn't relieved, he was excited to lose. It didn't take long. Corinth crushed him in four shifts, so they both started getting up from the table.

"No, you stay," Lindle said to Corinth. So he sat back down, as his former opponent came around the table.

"Thanks for being patient." He extended his hand and Corinth shook it firmly.

Corinth was excited to see someone else from Draconia. He was tired of people not knowing the same TV shows as him. There were a couple of big shows that ran everywhere, but his favorites were mostly Draconian productions. "It was no problem. You got a lot better toward the end," Cory was trying to be nice.

"I'm Jeremy," the boy said to Corinth.

"Me, I'm Corinth. I'm from Draconia too."

"Really, I was wondering. I couldn't tell. I thought maybe La Envidia, but it didn't seem that way either really."

"Nope, I grew up in Graysonville," he told him with a huge smile. "How about you?"

"Oh, um!" The boy scratched his head just like he did earlier. He was embarra.s.sed to say. "Um, I'm from Carter," he said in a low tone. "Uh, the upper areas," he tried to cla.s.s it up a bit,"but still Carter."

Corinth found himself in another awkward situation. He knew Carter was a bad, really bad town. Bad schools, bad people, and worse local police. n.o.body willingly traveled through there. Corinth had never actually been, but he heard things. Especially on the news. Graysonville was fairly close to Carter, but they were like different planets. Graysonville being high end. The best you can want without being the richest person on earth. Corinth had two workings parents, with great career jobs. Obviously, Jeremy didn't have the same.

"That's pretty cool," Corinth finally said. "My cousin lives in Carter. He's like my best friend. I don't know what I'd do without him." Corinth wasn't a great liar, but Jeremy wasn't very perceptive. He smiled widely, while Lindle looked at Corinth intently. He could tell it was a lie, but he knew why he said it. He made the boy feel so much more comfortable with where he came from, instead of embarra.s.sed. In reality, Corinth didn't have any cousins at all. His mom's sisters weren't old enough yet to really want children. And Evan didn't seem like the fatherly type to Corinth on most days.

"Cool, maybe we can hang out some back home. With your cousin in all," Jeremy said, sounding very eager.

"That's a good idea. Maybe we can hang out here too," Corinth suggested in kind.

Jeremy's face lit up brightly. "Really? Are you sure?" He was so ready to have a good time at this expensive school. After all, his scholarship wasn't just for learning. He hoped that was the case anyway.

"Yeah, we have to practice together. I have my own Aurriculium board. Come by my dorm anytime, I swear I'm always there. It's number 23# on Olympia twelve."

"Wow! Olympia!" Jeremy looked away thinking about how big and comfortable Corinth's dorm must be since it was on the teacher's floor. Their rooms were so much better than the students were.

Corinth noticed and decided to dispel that myth quickly. "It's not as cool as it sounds. They have me in a little shack compared to the ministrant's offices and dorms. But it's all just for me, so that's kind of cool. No sharing my s.p.a.ce with roommates." Corinth felt confident for the first time out on his own. He usually drew strength from others, but he was making a friend all by himself. It felt good.

"Thanks a lot, Corinth. I can't wait to practice," Jeremy said, with an identical glint in his blue eyes to that of Corinth's turquoise peculiars.

"All right, all right, this Draconian love fest is holding up his next opponent?" Lindle didn't want to break it up, but he'd eventually be stalling the entire room if they didn't move on to the next match up.

Corinth beat player after player with ease. The cards Evan gave him really charged up his deck. He was learning new strategies along the way as well. Some of his opponents knew how to play the game better than him, but his cards were just so powerful. He took a new lesson from each match, which made him more adroit as he went on dismantling eight more opponents. The room cleared out as sore losers cut their losses, leaving before the ultimate victor was crowned.

It was down to Corinth and ... Lindle! "Wait, how are you in the tournament. I thought you were a score keeper." Corinth hadn't even noticed him play. He had different score keepers nearly each match, and none of them seemed to sit down at a table and break out a deck of their own. So why is Lindle all the sudden the person sitting opposite him at the last active table.

"I'm the champion," Lindle said solemnly.

"The champion of what? They just started this game back up," Corinth spewed with a frowned.

"There's an international ranking system. It's not nearly as popular as it used to be, but that doesn't make me any less the champion of it. Just because Aurora Boreal school ditched out doesn't mean everywhere else did. Rank still counts. Here at school and abroad, in fact. I've -been playing for years back in Arco. Sena. Mira decided that my ranking put me in a cla.s.s above all of you. She said there was no reason for me to compete throughout the early stages. There's no chance any of you could seriously beat me, that's why. I'm level nine. I have 9,000 lifeline points to your 1,000. It would take some sort of divine intervention for you to win this."