Paladin's Path

As twilight deepens, the world folds in,

Where ancient echoes linger, unseen.

In the midst of forgotten prayers,

A figure stands, her heart a mirror of uncertainty.

Amid the sacred whispers of olden days,

She seeks solace in the shadows,

Wandering through corridors of wisdom,

In the silent resonance of faith’s embrace.

In the evening’s stillness, find the place

Where histories and hidden thoughts converge,

Where the silence is a veil,

And the past breathes softly through the present.

Prepare as the shadows grow long,

As she once did in her moment of stillness,

And there, in the quiet recess,

The path you seek will quietly unfold.

... Jon had received the message, or rather the poem.

In the beginning he was surprised at the weird way Ava was acting he had never seen her be so strange. He remembered her as one of the kind and heart-warming people in the class that people felt safe around.

He also remembered the revelation of who her father was. A gold rank paladin who was incredibly powerful in his own right.

Jon wasn't stupid though. He had been trained from young in the art of deception and quickly realized that she was clearly lying, for a second he believed her to be his stalker but then removed that thought as eh was still certain it had to be a boy.

When she handed him the "Love Letter" it was then she quietly whispered in his ear that it was from Theon!

As she left Jon ripped it open only to see a poem.

'The hell.'

He wanted to rip it apart. He hated poetry, but he knew that it was a clue and he was desperate for one as he feels he's been running into a wall every time he tries to think outside of the box.

The poem was short and easy to remember so he would decipher it while on the move.

A buzz of a message in his pocket.

"[How adorable. You got a love letter from the hottest girl in the class.]" Jon ripped it up and threw the pieces into the bin outside the school as he started to go home.

He received many more texts but ignored them as it became quite routine for him now. Many of the text messages he received from his stalker were unimportant and just trying to get a rise out of Jon and he was trying to read in between the lines of the poem he had just read.

The first line of the poem writes "Twilight Deepens," and the first line on the last paragraph says "Prepare as the shadows grow long." told Jon that it was in the night-time that he would find his answers.

And almost everything else points Jon toward the library. "Where ancient echoes linger unseen," or "Sacred whispers of olden days." None of it was too hard to figure out other than one of the lines "A figure stands, her heart a mirror of uncertainty."

'Was that supposed to be about me?' Jon didn't think so, he didn't really show much emotion to say that he was uncertain about anything more like annoyed, flustered or just seriously angered.

So he thought that maybe there was more than one person, with his detention and "Orders" he's had to follow as well as the nights he's spent thinking on his conversation with Elena, Jon hadn't had much time to really think on his classmates as much anymore.

He didn't get any closer to figuring out who his stalker was and he obviously didn't want to go to a teacher about it. He's ashamed to admit it but he was kind of waiting for Theon to show up with some big solution.

Him receiving the letter know probably meant that Theon was playing it safe as well and made sure that Jon got it the day that his stalker would somewhat expose themselves.

So now all Jon had to do was clear his mind and prepare... be patient.

He chuckled. Being patient was something he was quite used to from his last profession.

________________

It had been a few hours since Ava had done that favour for Theon. She remembers it being weird acting so out of character.

It was almost like lying to someone which she really didn't like but she judged Theon to be a good person who wouldn't truly do any harm to someone, especially his own classmate so she played along and is just waiting for what's to come.

She knew he was hiding something though. She wouldn't call him out on it though, if it was a major secret that he is keeping then she would rather not know but if it is something he is keeping secret out of fear then she would do all she could to help her classmate.

It was what her dad had instilled in her. She has power to help people so she should, just like he had done with his career.

Ava walked over to the kitchen sink and started to clean-up after having her dinner, she would go straight to bed after. There was no school in the morning so she planned on going to the gym with some friends before going out to have some fun.

She had tried to be inclusive to everyone but some people still didn't seem to enjoy even simple interaction. Like Bell. She was probably the most isolated person in the class, self-isolated.

Whenever Ava had tried discussing with her she always seemed in a rush to get on with her work. Other people stopped trying as they found her to be arrogant and too blunt. Funny enough Juno was also a little blunt but she still knew how to get along with people.

Bell just seemed unwilling. Aaliyah was also like that but she would at least respond when she could. She wasn't as closed off.

Ava was fine with her group though. She liked being around Elena, Chloe and Juno. They were probably her first real friends in a long time since she didn't have many when younger.

She had never went to middle school and instead was privately tutored. As soon as she awakened her power becoming a paladin was her only option. She was fine with that though, to her it was a way to connect with her father that she couldn't do before.

She trained with him a lot when she was just getting started, he was gentle but still had his expectations like any normal parent would and then his workload would increase, he would come home random days of the week tired and seemingly saddened, shaken up from the duty he had sworn himself into.

And then he had started to ask Ava to maybe reconsider. Something she wasn't going to do. What else could she do, her whole life was set on a path to becoming a paladin since she was ten so she wasn't going to stop now, she didn't even know what else to do.

Since she was ten. It was normal for younger people to awaken more so than when you reach past your mid-twenties but that didn't mean it was a common occurrence and maybe it was because of that she was alone.

Ava had finished washing up before she dried her hands off with a rag. Her phone on the counter buzzed and a flashing light erupted from the home screen with a name tagged at the bottom. It was Theon.

He was asking to meet at the school's library.

'At this time.' It was ten in the evening. But then he said it was urgent so she went back to her room and put on a jumper and some joggers before heading out.

She thought that this may be connected to what was going on earlier and she wanted to know more, she was curious.

________________

'Why am I doing this?' It was a question she had asked herself multiple times now already but she already knew why.

It was to keep her life in order to keep old baggage locked away in the past where it belonged.

She couldn't believe it though, sending photos of herself to some sick perv so that he doesn't spill her past only to give him even more ammo to unleash if he got too mad at her or even just got bored of her.

Robin silently navigated through the silent school on her way to the library.

The school campus was always open until midnight and so was the library, you could even find a teacher walking the halls at times but this late, she never had been here this late so she didn't even know.

But why was she instructed to be there at the library tonight. Her heart was racing as she stepped closer and closer.

She had never been instructed to do anything than answer questions about her that were already known or send pictures of herself.

The library, she had spent much of her free time there and unconsciously considered it a safe space for her. She didn't have to worry about anything, she wasn't super into books or anything but she did like the peace that came with it.

It was something she had never really felt before as the peace she was used to was simply in place as she was alone most of the time.

But now with a step in the library she slowed her pace as the dim lights turned on as they sensed her move in.

As she stepped in she instinctively knew that someone else had entered, but they were not behind her instead a figure started appearing from a mass of shadows in front of her.

It was like a rumbling that transmitted to her stomach then an impression of playful lust washed over her making her feel sick as she stifled to her knees.

The figure that came forth was a figure only slightly taller than her by a few inches and shrouded in complete black, at first she believed it to be shadows but then seen outlines of clothing. All plain black clothing and a sleek black mask with no holes in it to indicate a mouth or eyes.

It was like staring into a dark black hole itself.

A creepy laugh is what came out next which made her shaking legs tremble even more.

'Should I run?' She believed that by coming here she could withstand whatever was to come her way. She thought that it would just be another classmate that she could maybe trick into exposing himself. She thought that she could handle this situation herself.

'Was my ugly past being known really the worst thing that could have happened?' She couldn't answer that anymore.

She had gotten her best friend killed, would her classmates look at her the same? She could see the faces of those like Chloe or Ava, their tender smiles and warm hugs wouldn't feel the same if they even happened at all.

'Theo.' Her mind wandered to the bright eyed boy and she briefly felt a sense of calm. She thought that maybe it was because she had been able to keep him away from whatever this threat is.

Robin barely reacted as the figure drew themselves closer to her form.

She felt tears trail down her face.

'I don't need anyone right? I didn't need to rope anyone into this?' Robin knew she was wrong. There was no way she could be right and still feel this fear for the moment that she's in, this hatred for not only her aggressor but also herself.

She had been making wrong decisions for as long as she could remember... 'Do I deserve this?'

Robin could already start to envision the second glances of apprehension or disappointed stares coming from her classmates if she decided to run out of here now and have it all exposed.

'Dropping out would be the best option then.' If she could get out on time.

But even with her own mind creating illusions of hateful stares from the people she had started to care about. The bright amber gaze that was as warm as a furnace didn't change its glance as it stared down at her.

It was only after thinking of the worried expression and saddened face of someone who actually wanted to help her and be there for her she could finally admit it to herself.

'I'm scared!'

'I need help.'

'Please help me.'

"You're here." Instead a thrilled and childish voice spoke out behind the mask. "You're finally here. Follow me."

She didn't even protest even though her mind wanted her to stay stuck in position she followed without contest, she wondered why.

She was brought to a spot away from the entrance, a spot she was rather familiar with actually since she had spent most of her days tucked away in the corner here.

{'Robin was an envious girl. She understood that when she met Lila, so maybe that was the reason for her power manifesting as shapeshifting. She remembered when it first activated as someone she had past on her walk home.'}

'Huh? I didn't say that aloud did I?' She couldn't describe the sensation but it felt as if she had just blacked out while some deep parts of herself had just been exposed. She couldn't understand it but when she had broken out of it she was listening to the person speak.

"But it doesn't matter if you change your shell a thousand different times Robin, You're still the same envious little girl inside."

'What.' She thought what he was saying at the exact time he was saying it. 'It must be his power.'

That feeling of fear rose back up in her. She could do nothing, she was vulnerable.

Finally the boy sighed and reached his hand over his mask and slowly started to peel it off downwards revealing messy black hair as he dropped the mask into his shadows.

'No!' He was the creepy and quiet boy that she remembered. Someone she never could have thought of with his numerous and continuous stutters and nervous shakes when having interaction with anyone in class.

Robin was more than surprised, she never even had it in her mind that the person in front of her would be her tormentor. Someone so plain and unrecognizable pulling this off. Someone like... "You! Eli Sazaki!"

He grinned a grin so wide that it stretched the greater half of his face but his eyes were kept almost fully closed with only black staring right back at her. He lacked any of the shyness she was so used to from him and now had a confidence she had only seen in people like Cole but mix that with the wickedness of a heinous criminal and that is what was standing in front of her now.

"Are you mad?" he asked, she didn't answer as her mind was racing not knowing what answer to give that he wanted to hear.

"Answer." It was an order and even though she wanted to like earlier, she couldn't refuse.

"Yes. I am mad." It was similar to the feeling of exposing her power.

Eli Sazaki has some sort of control like power. Whenever it activates it gives off some hazy and cloudy feeling that lowers the targets inhibition and forcefully makes them act in ways corresponding to the order given to them.

'Oh no.' And he asked her to meet him now, she could only imagine what was going to be demanded of her She felt sick looking at the maniacal smile on his face as he swayed his head back an forth in success like a gremlin.

"You know. I really thought I would find more people like me at this place." Eli started to intensely scratch the back of his head before sticking his tongue out.

"But there are dummies that don't even believe in what I know to be true, like that fool Cole. I for sure wanna kill him before I go."

"Then..." Robin was still in a state of shock and panic, not wanting to say the wrong thing. "then why have you been tormenting me?"

Eli blankly stared at her, he stared for ten seconds which to Robin felt like an eternity looking into his dark blank eyes and expression which slowly turned into a sharp smirk.

"Honestly, it could have been anyone. But lucky me, I managed to happen upon some information that made the challenge of taming you easier."

Information about her past with Lila, but Robin still couldn't figure out how he would have happened upon that.

"You immediately caught everyone's attention once school started so you were obviously the best chess piece."

Eli could ramble, "I think I might take you with me." Robin's shaking stopped momentarily at his words. "I mean you could be a hostage to keep paladin away as I'm on my journey, your power can come in handy and your natural charm would make it easier to get by since I'm sure you've seen how socially inept I can be... Right?"

Eli smiled a big toothy grin to Robin, her mind was spinning now, she didn't know what she was to expect anymore.

"But you might also just hold me back..." and in an instant his tone and body language changed again, he became more menacing as if he just flipped a switch to another personality. "I've never killed someone you know."

A chill ran up her spine. How was she supposed to know? None of her classmates bore the marks of murderers. The thought made her heart race.

Eli leaned in, eyes gleaming with a manic curiosity, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "So maybe I should just do that to you, you know, getting used to it and all." He stepped closer, and instinctually, she took a backwards step, her body betraying her terror.

He noticed- the flicker of fear ignited something in him. "It's supposed to be real easy for us awakened you know." His tone almost flipping to playful again.

"A psychologist names Dr. Lewis Murphy theorised that something in our brains seems to change once our paranormal powers awaken killing and other gruesome things like that become much easier."

The name struck a nerve, Robin was well aware of the biases embedded in such studies. Most doctors that made claims about awakened did so from a place of fear and self-loathing, distorting truth like a broken mirror, so their claims are about as factual as a three dollar bill.

"Stop moving backwards." the order was strictly followed. An unsettling compulsion overtaking her. She stood still, her heart pounding, like prey frozen in the presence of it's natural predator.

"Now take off your top." His voice dripped with a chilling calm, and Robin's hands went up to remove her top, fingers rose slowly, trembling as they grasped the hem of her red fabric. The fabric slipped away, pooling at her feet like the remnants of her innocence.

Eli's eyes drank in the sight before him, a predator examining its catch. He stepped closer, each movement deliberate, as if choreographed. "Anatomy," he mused, his tone suddenly scholarly, "Is a fascinating thing, you know. Every part of you tells a story." He pointed, his voice smooth as silk.

"The clavicle here, delicate yet vital. A clean slice would sever the nerves leaving you unable to move."

His fingers hovered just above her skin, tracing an invisible line along her ribs. "And these intercostal muscles? They expand and contract with every breath you take. But if I were to puncture them..." he paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the space between them. "You would start to find it difficult to breathe."

Robin's breath quickened, panic bubbling within her. Each word dripped with a poetic cruelty that twisted her insides. He continued, voice almost melodic, "And here, the abdominal cavity-home to your most vital organs. A simple cut could lead to a world of pain I'm sure you haven't felt before." His smile widened. "It's so intoxicating."

In his eyes, Robin saw the reflection of a mind unravelling, a dangerous blend of genius and madness. It was then that she understood, this was no game for Eli Sazaki.

It was a twisted art form. And she was merely his canvas.

Her throat was dry and nothing was coming out. She could only imagine what her voice would sound like, dry and dead, empty and distant with the lump forming in her throat.

'I've already accepted this... I've accepted my fate.'

He whistled as his shadows began to move. "Don't move!" A knife small knife came out with a wooden handle. His Od was already coating it.

'No!' Her mind froze. She couldn't do this. She felt fine with her secret being known and having to live on campus through it. Her mind was fighting the urge but couldn't as the cold voice that held a more challenging tone daring her to disobey smacked her out of her resistance.

A mixture of grief and anger along with the burning feeling sluggishly crawling down her cheek was forcefully ignored.

"Hey stop trembling like that. You're making me nervous too."

But she couldn't, maybe because it wasn't an order, she didn't know if it was or not, her mind like her body trembled in fear already knowing what was going to happen. It only got worse as he stepped closer.

"Are you deaf?"

"I can't help it!" she snapped back and instantly regretted it, but who is she kidding. How can this situation get any worse.

She instantly received a harsh slap across the face.

"And here I thought I had taught you not to speak to me like that."

She felt a harsh grasp on her wrist as she was then slapped again and again and again and thrown onto the soft carpeted floor of the section of the library they were in.

"Wipe your damn tears."

Eli stepped closer again foot in between her legs and Robin dragged herself back as fast as she could wanting so badly to just be a bug and fly out of there.

"Hey!" She stopped as Eli's phone shot out of his shadow. Not the phone issued by the school mind you, but a different phone coloured in grey. Robin already knew that this was probably the phone that he had kept everything on. All the photos and more she had sent him.

Panic flooded her system, and she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She covered her eyes with her arms, desperate to shield herself from the reality that was crashing down on her.

"I told you to stop crying!" Eli stepped closer, and the malice radiating from him enveloped her like a shroud. He revealed the screen of the phone, displaying a large attachment file poised to be sent to a multitude of contacts- her classmates. No...

"Stay still or I press send." Her ultimatum loomed over her head like a guillotine hanging by a thread. The weight of the threat bore down on her leaving her breathless and paralyzed.

Robin grit her teeth feeling the heat of shame and rage well up in her. 'I can't let him do this,' But what choice did she have? Her body betrayed her, trembling as she fought against the tears that stained her cheeks.

"I'm a believer of destiny, I think we can steer it in whatever way necessary, so me using you to cement my history here at this school is just that. There was nothing else here for me."

He then raised his knife to his face and thrusted it forward. BANG!

Robin flinched at the sound and the tears in her eyes caused everything to be a blur in the dim lighting but from what she could see Eli's phone was caught by a... Dragon and in front of her was long flowing red hair tied in a ponytail.

And after that there were multiple booming sounds in succession of a body being sent through multiple pillars of the once peaceful and sturdy library.

"You stay with her please Ava. I'll go finish it."

It was Theon. He was here, he came.

Robin didn't know what to feel but she was wide eyed and her tears had stopped and she had suddenly felt a warm sensation wrapping itself around her.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through this Robin. But there's nothing to worry about now. Just rely on us now."

Ava's words were enough to break the dam and the tears started flowing down as she embraced her.

They were here, her friends were here to save her.

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