Soul Academy (Chapter 2)

"Holy fuck," James breathed as he watched the scene unfold. But weapons and Souls? He had neither. Not even Rin had anything.....then he heard the name. "Sariel? What the hell?" he didn't mean to, but it came out louder than he meant, and a few heads turns his way, wondering how the hell he knew her.

Sariel spared Jason a glance and a grin from her perch above the room. The Archangel also through a glance his way, but with none of the humour.
"I take it you're the one responsible for the computer virus we found traces of this morning?" He said, his gaze returning to Sariel.
"Naturally," She said, "It took a few friends who owe some of my friends favours, but you could say it was me."
"Does Azazel know about your plan?" Gabriel asked, his arms extended away from his body and his soul so that Sariel wouldn't have any reason to shoot.
"You know him," She said, "He won't let anyone do anything unless it's completely infalliable."
"So you're defying him?" The Archangel replied.
"No, he just doesn't know I'm here."

Sariel nodded to one of the men holding the general, who produced a long dagger, which he held against the General's throat. "If anybody does something they're not allowed, my friend here will open the General from ear to ear." She dropped from the ledge, her boots making a thud as she landed on the floor with incredible grace. "The team outside should be just about-" She paused for a second, as the door was kicked open and the guards stationed in the entrance were shoved in, some of them with missing uniforms, and being escorted by more armed people. Some were in the guard's uniforms, but they left as soon as all of the guards were safely inside. "-Done." Sariel finished, smiling. "So now that you know there's nobody coming to help, I'd like to hurry up and get this over with."

"What makes you think you can?" Asked Gabriel, "I'm not just going to let you walk in here and murder me or my students." One of the braver guards saw this as an opportunity to disarm his captor, jumping to his feet and attempting to headbutt the Fallen Angel on his way to his feet. The Angel was stunned briefly, and the guard made to grab the former's gun. Sariel raised the pistol, not even glancing over her shoulder, and fired, striking the guard in the temple. He slumped onto the floor, blood pooling around his head.
"So it's a sword fight, then." She said, throwing her pistol to one of her men as she approached the stage. She jumped onto the stage, landing as though she hadn't actually jumped, and drew her soul.

Jason paled as he realized that he was responsible. After all....he had plugged the jump drive into the Archangels computer. He looked for something to do, some way to atone.....but came up short. He wished he could use his soul abilities with his bare hands, feeling helpless without it. As helpless as he was in that alley.

Sariel stepped forwards swinging her soul before the Archangel had even drawn his. He didn't move, though his soul was now in his hand and deflecting Sariel's blow. Sariel swung again, aiming lower this time, but met another delfection. She was visibly scowling, even with the hood as she swung again, the Archangel expertly deflecting another blow. Sariel was greeted with an elbow to her nose, flinging her head back and knocking her hood down; her nose bleeding.
"You always were very arrogant, Izumi." The Archangel said, turning heel to face her again, his rapier held low.

Jason and Rin both made choking sounds at the name slip. "Izumi!" Jason yelled like some kind of cartoon character.

Ashari decided to say nothing and try and avoid doing anything that would get her noticed.

Sariel glanced over at Jason, a faint smile on her face.
"Guess we'll have to postpone that dance, huh?" She said jokingly as she recovered from the Archangel's attack. The Archangel himself, was silent and unmoving, his eyes glued to his opponent, who readied herself for another attack. She ran forwards, swing her sword upwards. The Archangel deflected it again, span on his heels, and thrust his soul through the left side Sariel's stomach. She let out a quiet gasp as the blade was pulled out, stepping away and placing a hand over the wound.

"You can still surrender, Izumi," The Archangel said, "Just drop your weapons, and we can end this peacefully."
"What? Survive until you can execute us? No thanks. I'd rather die fighti-" She paused as a large man with shaggy brown hair walked in, a claymore strapped to his back, one of his violet eyes marked with a large scar, running from his forehead to his jaw. He smiled, looking from Sariel to Gabriel, before he spoke in his deep voice.
"Sariel, did you really think I wouldn't notice that twelve of the men under your command, and yourself, disappeared?" He said to her, "It was easy to figure out what you'd done; you left your plans out." His smile was genuine, to the point where he was almost laughing. "And you, Gabriel, are you really going to kill an over-emotional teenager?"
"She's not just a normal teenager," Gabriel said, stepping back so that he could face both Sariel and the newcomer. "She's also a notorious killer."
"Yet you seem to have had no trouble beating her," He said, glancing at Sariel, "You really thought you could kill him in a fair fight?" He asked her, looking bemused, "I've told you countless times, the easiest way to win is to cheat."

Jason was silent as he watched the newcomer walk in, wondering how many more surprises were in store this night. His heart skipped a beat despite the moment, as Sariel was stabbed, and he nearly made a move for her....nearly.

Sariel lowered her head, still hunched over with her wound,
"I know." She said quietly, not meeting the man's gaze.
"So how about it, Gabriel?" He said, "Are you going to fight someone who actually stands a chance?" He drew his sword as he spoke, the long blade resting just above the ground as he held it.
"If I must," Replied Gabriel, "You always were talkative, Azazel."

Rei had been heading to Lily with her drink when hell broke loose. Cursing at the fact she had been ridiculously correct in her assesment, Rei tracked every hostile's Aura.
She frowned and headed along the outskirts. Everyone's weapon was there....no, her wakizashi would have had aura traces. Her distinct pink aura was missing.
She concentrated. She had to find her sword.

Azazel strode forward confidently, his smile never leaving his face. His first strike was unbelievably fast, catching even Gabriel by surprise, though he managed to evade it and tried to retalliate, but was met with the hilt of Azazel's sword striking him in the face. It was obvious that the both of them were leagues above anyone; be it Sariel or any of the Angels present. The fight lasted for only a few seconds, but the amount of attacks thrown in that time was astounding. They both moved as if they were floating, though Gabriel was obviously faster; Azazel's skill closed the difference between them and made the fight much more even than when Gabriel had dueled Sariel.

Sariel pulled her hand away from her stomach, coming away with it stained red. She looked up at Gabriel and Azazel, who had both paused from their combat and were now staring each other down. She stepped forward, Azazel's grin widening as she swung her soul, a shard of razor-sharp ice slicing through the Archangel's chest. He looked down at it, looking surprised, before his face changed into an expression of resignation. The room seemed to go deathly silent.
"So you did kill me, Izumi." He said, still facing Azazel.
"Like you almost killed me," Sariel replied, walking towards him, her soul flashing, "I warned you to stop the attacks."
"And I should've listened," Gabriel answered, "You're not known for making idle threats."
"No," Sariel said, walking to face Gabriel and raising her sword to his throat, "I'm not." She drew the sword across, slicing the Archangel's throat. His body fell dead on the stage. One of the captive Angel's shouted something, and there was a struggle. The Angel himself was killed, but several others managed to get to their weapons. The armed combatants were now standing in a tense face-off; the lives of everyone in the room at stake.

Jason and Rin stood transfixed as they watched he duel......and it's bloody conclusion. Jason gave a cry of despair as his mentor was cut down, and his mind raced with options, actions to take. Somehow.....he felt like this was truly a no win scenario, if there was someone like Azazel there. The only question was, would he die like a lamb getting its throat cut.....or fight back and show he'd not remain still, even if it was futile?

The choice was made as, with a shout he lunged towards Sariel, throwing caution to the wind......and hoping his training with Rin paid off.

Sariel had crouched the moment the Archangel's body had hit the ground, running her hand down his face and closing his eyes. She heard Jason's shout, and barely got her arm in the way to avoid a fist to the face. She threw it to the side as she rose to her feet and delivered a single punch to Jason's face with her other hand.
"I'll have the General killed and there'll be a bloodbath if anybody else tries anything." Her voice sounded almost hollow as she spoke, none of her previous sarcasm or wit.

Sariel paused, looking around the room. "All of you, student or not, are going to have to fight. You're going to watch friends die. You're going to watch your family die. That's what you don't get told when you arrive at Sanctum. That's what being an Angel is." There was no movement, everyone was focussed on their closest enemy, though everyone was listening to Sariel.

Azazel stepped forward, sheathing his weapon on his back.
"Everyone, lower your weapons." He said, and as the Fallen Angels did, so did the Angels, though they didn't sheath them. "Release the General," He said, and as he was released, the General started to fight. "Knock him out." Azazel said, rolling his eyes. The General's shouts were cut off by a thud as one of the two who had held him struck him in the back of the head with their soul. "Now," He said, "I think everyone should go home."

"You're not," Jason panted from where he stood, recoiling away from Sariel's punch and holding his cheek, "going to kill us?" That seemed to be the question on everyone's mind. Why were they being told to go home?

"What do we gain from killing students?" Sariel answered him, pulling her hood up. "Killing for the sake of killing? Is that what you think we are?" She crossed the stage to Azazel, pausing as though she was going to say something, but apparently decided against it, and walked out of the room, followed by most of the Fallen Angels. Azazel was last, and he paused before he left.

There was a stunned silence, as if nobody knew what to do. It was over in an instant, however, as everyone simultaneously reacted. There was an uproar as guards and Angels rushed around, some trying to get help, others backup so that they could chase after the Fallen. Some of the Angels did chase after them, but they didn't come back to report success. Others were asking what Sariel had meant by "Watching friends die."

Some, like Lily, were just in a stunned state of silence as others rushed around them. There were a couple at the Archangel's side, futilely trying to give him first aid.

Jason didn't believe they killed for the sake of it. No, had she stayed he would have said that if there was a war, she'd have been prudent to kill them and rob the opposition of manpower......especially since after this, she'll have galvanized every other angel to fight her and her allies. Rin came over, asking "Are you okay?" It had been a simple punch......but everything else from before left him feeling gutted. His teacher was dead......and what really got to him was that he had been played. By someone he was just starting to truly like. "Jason, are you okay?" she asked again, and he sighed before saying "Not really, no. I want to go back now."

He had an idea forming in his mind that he wanted to complete.

Ashari got up from the seat and started look for the other students she met briefly to see if they were ok or not.

Things seemed to calm down, but that term was used loosely. No one was screaming, there was no sensation of a gun held to anyone's head.....but there was a feeling of dread, sorrow, fear and loss as people crowded around the body of the fallen Archangel Gabriel. Blood had pooled around his body, and since Sariel uploaded his eyes, he may have been asleep. Though the slashed throat and chest wounds ruined the image immeasurably. Jason had moved to stand over the body of his fallen mentor, and was unsure what to do then.

It wasn't until several hours later, after the questions from the police and the train ride home, that their train pulled back into the station at Sanctum. Everyone sat in the car, Jason looking exactly as he felt: hollow. There was just no anger then for him, the cold truth of what his actions caused sinking in and robbing him of everything. No one had said anything, nor seemed to suspect. That made it no less painful, and as he walked back to the dormitory and his room, he felt strange during the walk. Despite feeling empty, each footstep felt heavy, like his legs were made of lead. It was more than the loss of his teacher......it was the helplessness he felt at that party, the feeling harkening him back to that damned alley, pinned to the wall with a knife held at him. By the time he reached his room and was inside, his back was against the door as he slid down to the floor, knees brought against his chest and hands gripping his head, breathing quick and ragged.

No more, he thought. I can't. I can't do this anymore. No more of this, no more being helpless, feeling weak and helpless. Cant freeze, can't stand and watch.

Rei had broken down. She was shaking, holding Lily. She silently refused to let go at all, and wouldn't even let go as they approached the dorms.
Lily would either need to suffer her sharing the bed or put her foot down. It would be up to her.

Lily shook Rei off at the stairs and went silently into her room, closing the door behind her. She collapsed on her bed, everything that had happened running through her head. The Archangel beating Sariel, then fighting Azazel, and finally, Sariel killing the Archangel from behind. That was something she was caught on; the Archangel hadn't even died fairly. It was a cheap shot from behind. What annoyed her the most though, was that she hadn't even tried to do anything when they'd been taken hostage. She hadn't even moved from her seat, just watched. Jason had at least tried. The Angels who had grabbed their weapons and the men that had been killed, all of them had tried to defend themselves. She had just sat there while her friends were in danger. Her throat felt tight as she stared at the dark ceiling, feeling tears welling up in her eyes.

Miku was shaking as she stared at the TV in the common room. All of the other third years had gone to bed, shocked from the events of the ball. The chain end of her soul was in her left hand, the sickle in the other, and she was swinging it in slow circles. One of the teacher's had walked in now and noticed her.
"Miku," She said, "Don't you want to go to bed?" She sounded drained. Of course she did, she'd just watched someone she'd have called a friend die.
"No." Miku answered bluntly, still swinging the chain around next to her.
"Are you okay?" The teacher continued.
"No," Miku answered, looking down at her hands, "I'm going to kill them." She said, her grip on her soul tightening. The teacher nodded sadly, and while she didn't totally agree with a student wanting to join a war, she didn't press the matter.
"At least get some sleep tonight, okay?" She said with a sypathetic smile.
"Okay." Miku said, standing up and catching the chain, before she headed to her room, offering the teacher a smile of her own.

As Jason lay there on the floor of his room, now clutching his soul.......thoughts began to form within his mind. Thoughts of revenge, of seeking out the ones responsible. He had no idea where Sariel or Azazel were......but then, that gang back in Lamorak. They were in contact with them. If not part of the group, then at least a tool that had to know something.

First chance I get......I'm going home. And then.....then I'm going to get some answers.

Rin, after getting back to her room, sat on the bed, head in her hands. She didn't weep, but she still felt depressed. It wasn't that the archangel had been killed, she barely knew him. But to be.....defeated like that, to be cowed into submission. It was something she hated, vowed to never let happen to her. And yet it happened all the same, and it pissed her off.

Well, that turned out much differently than predicted. Nick thought. At least he got answers from the history professor about how things really went down when the Fallen split from the Angels. You would think Nick would be devastated by the Archangels' death, but he wasn't. They were never close. It was almost liberating, in a sense. If he wanted, he could leave now, it's not like any of the third years could stop him in a fight, except maybe Miku. But not because of her fighting skills.

Sariel Izumi, Izumi Sariel. How interesting it is that Jason knew her, and that other girl. Azazel. The Fallen one. He mulled over the fight. From looking at Sariel move, he could beat her in a fair fight. A fair fight. Azazel on the other hand was still greater in skill than he. If he were to be beat it would have to be through non-combative means. That claymore though, if that could somehow be removed, fighting him might be easier. If a fight were to happen. And if the fight was fair. Fairness was the key here. Something that would surely not happen. but fighting fair was so instilled in him, from fighting other people. Could he really bring himself to cheat in a fight? Even if the other person is trying to kill him?

Rei followed.
"Lily. Lily please don't make me be alone." She said through the door. The death had reminded her of her mortality even more, and how helpless she felt. "Please lily."

Lily ignored Rei. She was far too tired to hold her hand all night, especially after what had happened that night. A combination of tiredness and stress eventually forces her into a surprisingly peaceful sleep.

The Next Morning

The students who managed to wake up that morning were greeted by a notice in their common rooms, informing them that lessons were cancelled, being replaced by an assembly at 12:00. The students were all quiet, some from tiredness and some from the shock of last night's events. There was none of the usual noise; even the teachers that were around, were all silent.

"So we have the morning free then." Nick thought, as he sat in his room. As opposed to getting into his uniform and spending the morning in quiet prayer, mourning the now former Archangels' death, he equipped his training gear and headed for the field in which the third years regularly trained.

After a hardly sound sleep, Jason left his room, soul strapped to his back. He didn't care who it unnerved, he simply felt more secure with it on his back and in reach. Walking around, he wondered if Sariel would somehow appear, sneaking back in to taunt him. Laugh at him or rub it in his face how she fooled him.

Miku had woken up early, something that was odd for her, and gotten ready straight away, resuming the small spins of her soul's chain until there were too many people. Some of the more confident third years were talking about leaving the school and joining the war that was rumored to be starting, one of them, had said Miku should go, because she used to be one of the best students. She hadn't answered, going for a walk to pass the time before the assembly.

Lily had woken up late, so by the time she was ready, she had to leave for the assembly. On her way towards the main building, she saw Jason with his soul, and walked over.
"You're taking it to assembly?" She asked him.

He blinked, clearly surprised and showing just how distant he was, when Lily walked up and talked to him. "What? Oh....yeah, if they let me. I feel safer with it on me than not." Quiet for a few seconds, he looked to his friend and asked "How are you holding up?"

Ashari had gone through the usual routine before she noticed the notice in the common room so she went back to her room and grabbed her soul tucking it away before heading outside thinking of the events of the previous night out loud."things seem to be going south fast"

Miku heard the first year's comment and replied, swinging her soul around again,
"Things were never north to begin with," She said, looking at the girl.

Lily looked away from Jason to face forwards as she answered his question,
"I'm fine," She said, "But what about you? You knew that Fallen Angel."

He didn't exactly growl, but he certainly sounded angry. "I knew a mask.....and got duped by a Fallen Angel," he said quietly. "I want to find her Lily.......find her and.......and I don't know. Get answers? Revenge? I don't know what I'll do when I find her. All I know is I want to find her."

"She could kill you," Lily pointed out, turning back to Jason, "Even if she didn't fight fairly, she still killed an Archangel."

"i know just didn't expect them to go this far so soon"she replied.

"I don't care if she kills me," Jason said quietly, almost in a whisper. "But before she does.....I'll ask for a reason. For why. Not why she killed the archangel, but why she took an interest in me. We met in Lamorak. Again at the Demon hunt. She came to this school and cornered me in a hallway. And then the dance......just why?"

Lily didn't reply, she didn't have an answer for him. She looked around at the students, and noticed that a lot of them were carrying their souls, even if they had no chance at fighting a Fallen Angel, it at least comforted them.

"Well with the constant attacks against each other," Miku said catching the weight on the end of her soul, "It was only a matter of time before something more serious happened."

"true enough i suppose,so what do you think is next then?"

"Lily I'm....." he was about to say, but thought for a moment. "When we went to hunt that demon, it was reckless, stupid and against every rule in the book here. You asked me to come along and despite the risks I did. So I'm asking you.....would you come with me, if I left the school? And went back to Lamorak?"

Miku looked over at Jason as he asked Lily his question, overhearing their conversation,
"Probably that," She said to Ashiri, before she spoke to Jason. "I'd go with you." She said, her face expressionless.

Lily was about to answer Jason, when Miku spoke. She paused, letting Miku finish before she smiled and answered.
"You went along with my stupid idea, I'll have to go along with yours."

Jason blinked when Miku arrived, and looked to her and said "No, you don't have to. Heck you shouldn't, you don't owe me anything." Then again.....having the extra help never hurt.

Rei had given up. She really couldn't sleep, and as such, was still asleep...or was. She had woken up mere moments ago. Dragging herself out of bed, she got her Soul and trudged into the bathroom. Cleaned up, she dragged herself (she really wanted to be in bed) to a tree. Climbing up, she hid within the branches and passed out again.

Miku looked away from Jason, yawning.
"I was going anyway." She said.

"Oh, I see," Jason said. "Well.....guess it wouldn't hurt then if we traveled together. I was planning on leaving later today after the assembly, if possible."

Miku walked into the main hall, taking a quick glance around. Third years were upstairs, second and first years on the ground floor.
"I'll speak to you later." She said as she walked to the stairs leading to the third years area.

Lily glanced around herself. Most of the students appeared to be here now. There was a man on the stage, dressed in armour like a Roman Centurion, complete with a shield and a gladius at his side. His face had a single scar across his nose, in such a way it looked like his nose had been completely cut off at one point. He was standing at the podium where the late Archangel had given the entrance speech and was scanning his audience, looking at each individual face. He radiated authority, even from this distance, Lily could feel it.

"Good morning," He said, his voice was serious and deep, "As you are all aware, yesterday, the Fallen Angel 'Sariel' and her master, Azazel, assassinated Archangel Gabriel." He didn't take his eyes off of the students, looking over them as he spoke. "I am Archangel Micheal, leader of the Seraphim," He paused, taking a deep breath, "As some of you may have mentioned, the Fallen Angel's actions against us are considered an act of war."

He stepped away from the podium and walked across the stage, "However, we aren't in a situation where we are ready for another war," He continued, "There simply aren't enough Angels. As such, I, and the other Archangels, have decided to open active duty to any student who can complete our combat test. This is optional, and there's no shame in failing or not wanting to fight."

Rei had sleepily entered the room later, and caught the latter half of the speech. She frowned to herself and continued to listen, unsure if she shoud try.
Lily might. Jason probably...

After mike had walked off and left Jason with Lily, he listened intently to Michaels speech. It was tempting, but he wanted to do this alone.....or at least, not become a front line soldier. As for Rin, she had been trying to find Jason but by the time the speech started, she failed to find him and decided to stand and listen. After seeing Sariel and Azazel, she doubted anyone short of Michael would fair better against them, so she wasn't planning on volunteering.

"I'm sure some of you are shocked to hear this, seeing as you're still students," Micheal said, "But these tests are based on the standards of some of the best fighters in the world. If you can pass them, you can definitely fight." Micheal frowned, looking over everyone's faces again. "Most of you will be placed with our strongest Angels, you'll be the safest in our army. I won't lie about it though. Some of you might die. Joining is something I want you all to seriously consider." He went silent for a minute, his words heavy in the silent room.

"If you are still ready to join, there is someone outside to take your names, and finally," He said, his voice tinged with either anger or annoyance, "I would like Jason Thorne to come to the Archangel's office immediately. Alone."

Both Jason and Rin, along with some other students who had been at the party, froze and went wide eyes at that particular announcement. For Jason, he was momentarily gripped with fear, wondering if the Archangel knew what he set out to do. Or worse, if he thought Jason had a hand in how Gabriel had been killed. Either way, there was no getting out of it, so he was left with silently removing himself from the crowd and making his way for the archangels office.

The Archangel was sitting in the same chair Gabriel had sat in when this had been his office, though with the more threatening Angel in the chair, the room seemed completely different.
"Jason," He said, "I already know that you've met Sariel before. Personally, I don't believe that you helped her kill Gabriel, at least not willingly. Sariel is a manipulative and sadistic killer. I need you to tell me exactly what has happened between the two of you, or the General is ready to try you for treason."

After walkng into the office and listening to Michael, Jason's eyes widened in shock. "Treason? Look all I know about her is that when I was in Lamorak, she bumped into me on the street as Izumi and talked to me about random stuff. Next she snuck into the school to surprise me over.....well, she just wanted to say hello. Finally the party where she wanted a dance. Beyond that, there's been no involvement between the two of us, just a lot of bad luck for me, clearly."

"I believe you," Micheal said, "Sadly, the General thinks you had something to do with the incident. We have absolutely nothing to go off of, apart from some connection between Sariel and you. Jason-" He stared into Jason's eyes as he continued, "-I need to know everything, no matter what it is. If you tell me, I can at least try to help you."