Young Writers Society

"Don't you dare scare me like that ever again!"

Crystial's voice was filled with a mix of anger and fear. Her arms were wrapped around me in a tight hug, and I didn't think even my Mom would be able to top that amount of desperate strenght. DG really went too far...

"Well you are definitely scaring me with the strenght you're putting in this hug", I answered. "Please let me breath!"

Reluctantly, she released me from her embrace. She still looked very panicked.

"I thought I was going to die! It was not funny at all you know!"

After I barely regained control of my body, I realized that Cyfer had already struck the ground. However DG wasn't entirely focused when it happened, and thankfully the mace missed Crystial's head.

By a tiny bit.

Crystial was almost crying in place back then, but I reassured everyone saying that it was another stupid joke of mine – plausible explanation apparently, since everyone laughed. Only Crystial remained in shock, probably because she felt something different. She felt that I wasn't myself when attacking. But that didn't stop me for claiming my Golden Oryktia Crafting Certificate, which would finally open the gates to the Main Academy, where I could continue my studies and learn more about the Mineral of Hope.

Thrilling perspectives ahead!

I deciced to go on the hill with Crystial by my side – she needed some fresh air after what happened. As for my Dopplegänger, he hadn't manifested himself for a while now. Couldn't blame him: I would be angry too if a scheme I've been planning for years had completly failed.

"Well, that was the point", I finally said to Crystial. "Wouldn't have been so funny without you thinking you were actually going to die."

A triumphant smile appeared on my face as I added:

"On your first defeat."

She sighed.

"It didn't felt like a joke at all. This mace was going to destroy my head like a mere rock."

"Your pretty face would have never forgiven me with such a hit."

"Thank you."

My smile grew larger. She still had one explanation to give me, and I was not going to let her get away that easily.

"Besides", I suddenly continued, "you should consider this joke as a nice revenge for what you did to me the past months."

She froze.

"What... What do you...?"

"Oh you perfectly know what I mean", I interrupted. "You've been spyining on me, haven't you? Every single time. I love trainning in that small forest near Rockenbor, and usually nobody goes there. But a few weeks ago I saw you sneaking around, suspiciously close to my usual trainning spot."

"No! I... I was just..."

"Furthermore," I continued without letting her the time to speak, "I perfectly noticed how easily you could anticipate some of my Summoned Skills, as if you already knew what to do in order to counter them. I know you Crystial. I know you too well, and some of your reflexes were unatural against Skills that you weren't suppose to experience yet. I don't know if I would still win without your little advantage, but I guess we'll never figure out."

This time, she remained silent. She was trembling.

"Much better. Now explain yourself. Why did you spy on me? Do you cherish victory that much? Please don't bother denying any longer: just give me your reasons."

She was trying to avoid my gaze, still silent. During a couple of minutes I thought she would not answer me, but finally she looked at me and a tiny smile appeared on her face.

"It's not about victory", she started. "I...I just like to see you trainning. Because when you do, you are yourself. When you're trainning, you don't do it to please others or entertain them. You are focused on your task. You smile when you succeed and sigh when you don't. You try to surpass your limitations and master the new weapons you create. That is the Dyrow I like to see."

Was this some kind of silly confession? I really didn't like where this was going. I was never interested in pathetic love stories, those represented the part that annoyed me the most about drama.

"But I... I didn't expect to perfectly remember what you were trainning on", she continued, almost whispering. "I just wanted to watch the real you in action. Not a shell of yourself that you create to cover your true persona."

"That shell, Crystial, is a part of myself." I replied. "I created it, that's true, but that doesn't excuse you at all."

"I know! I know it doesn't! But... You're the only person I know who goes over my social status. You don't look at me for what I possess, you look at me for what I am."

She let out a deep sigh and looked away.

"Even my parents treat me as if I was some kind of pleaseant doll that they can manipulate."

So that was the problem. My gaze was honest towards her, and it wasn't the case for the others. As a result, she felt lonely, different, just like me a few years ago. But she didn't have a mind shard to absorb her pain. I was the only one she could count on that could repel it.

"A pleasant doll, huh?" I repeated, thoughtfully. "You should at least be glad they don't want to buy a new one. It shows that you can't easily be replaced."

She chuckled.

"That's another side of you I like to see, Dyrow. You seem to ignore pain as if it was inexistant. You can make a joke out of everything. It makes me feel better sometimes"".

Her smile was tender now. But I really wasn't in the mood for any kind of sentimental matter.

"Do you have any idea what those defeats meant to me?" I calmly answered. "With your egoistic wish, you prevented me five times to earn my Golden Crafting Certificate. We both know that things would've been different without the advantage you had."

"I know and I'm sorry. I... couldn't help it."

She sighed again.

"To be honest, I think you should have beaten me since the first time we fought. And to this day, I've been keeping something with me that I believe you deserve."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

She closed her eyes. With a flash of light, an Oryktia Stone appeared in her open hand.

It was at least twice bigger than my fist, and I wasn't able to determine the number of facets it had, nor its defined colour. Each facet seemed to reflect the light of the sunset in a different way, and the overall colour of the gemstone changed everytime I bliked or looked at it in a different angle. A leather strap was attached to it.

I had never seen such a magnificent Oryktia Stone in my entire life.

"This is for you Dyrow." she whispered. "Please accept this gift as a token of my gratitude. I hope you will be able to pardon me."

This time, it was my turn to smile.

"As you said, I have the ability to ignore pain. I never felt any kind of hatred towards you, you know. I just wanted to understand why you did what you did. It's behind us now, let's move on."

I once again gazed at the incredible gem.

"What is this Oryktia Stone anyway? This is the first time I lay my eyes on such a masterpiece. You didn't craft it did you? I know you're skilled, but this is way beyond our combined abilities."

"Well... I'm not supposed to tell you, so please keep it a secret. No, I didn't craft it. My dad got it in an Oryktia Auction. You know what this is about right?"

I nodded. Of course I knew!

Our ways of life were almost entirely relying on the Oryktia technology, therefore many events were organized and based on discoveries about the Mineral of Hope. Oryktia Auctions were part of them. Explorers, scientists, tourists, everyone could participate in an Auction, as long as the entry fee was paid, usually very expensive. My Dad hosted many auctions himself, and could get money out of it, if the participants were interested enough in his discoveries and inventions. I remember assisting to one once, and it was thrilling to see how important wealth could be in those cases. It always appeared like some kind of huge gamble to me.

"According to my dad," continued Crystial, "this stone is very special but really difficult to master. I've tried once and failed: it has an incredible amount of energy. I'm just not used to that."

"And you're giving it to me?" I said in a mocking tone. "A dark-skinned monster who'll probably use this gem to take over the pure and innocent world and fill it with its evil? Such a waste. I'm sure your dad will be extremely proud of you!"

"You idiot!" she replied, laughing. "I can't believe you're still stuck on that matter. Come on, let me put this around your neck."

Turning talk into action, she used the leather strap to put the wonderful gem around my neck.

And suddenly kissed me in the process.

That move of her was quite unexpected, and I was now froze in place, dazzed by it. It felt... warm. Nothing else. I often read that when those kind of things happened – especially by a girl that the... 'victim' liked, and I liked Crystial a lot –, the heart would begin to beat faster, and the subject would begin to blush – another thing that I never experienced.

But oddly, neither of those things were happening to me. It felt vaguely warm, I was surprised, but that was it.

Crystial broke the kiss, smiling.

"I'm sorry", she whispered. "But you are the most incredible person I've ever met. Thank you."

She literally ran anway and left me alone with my thoughts and no possibility to answer back or do anything else.

"Well well, looks like her interest was only sentimental after all. And I thought she was some kind of nuisance..."

I laughed out loud.

"About time you showed up, grumpy demon! You appreciated the play?"

"That Act was particulary boring. You should've dodged that kiss."

"Oh come on! I was way to focused on the gem to do that."

"Hm... I have no idea why you're still talking to me as if nothing happened."

"That's because you have no idea how empty those minutes were without you around. Oh and also because I would've done pretty much the same thing in your position. Really can't blame you for being such a jerk. Welcome back to the party!"

"I still think you're a happy-go-lucky simpleton though, especially for letting this girl kiss you so easily."

"And I think you're a cold-hearted and stupid murderer, especially for trying to kill an innocent human being such as her. Well, not entirely innocent, I'll give you that. On a side note you finally improved your grammar."

"Just start walking already. We have to check how powerful that new gem of yours really is. That's my main priority right now."

"Right on! Let's get moving."

I raised my fist in the air.

"Tricky mind 'til the end!" I shouted.

"...As it should be."

With a maniac laughter, I marched back to my house, perfectly aware that any other person passing by would have thought that I was really insane. Which would probably be a correct assessment of my character. But I was eager to see if I would be able to succeed where Crystial failed: master a highly powerful Oryktia Stone that nobody managed to use before. I could even use it to upgrate my weapons even more, and that would definitly be a good advantage for me if I wanted to shine in the Main Academy.

Thrilling perspectives ahead!