37 The Chat Group

Centra, Liza, Jasper, and Corson had joined the students entering the shelter below the smithy. They were anxiously waiting in the shelters entrance hall line for a prof to check them in.

Centra glanced at Jasper. He'd had cast some pricey spells. "How much aura do you have left?"

"E-enough f-for a-another s-spell or t-two." Jasper fidgeted with the wand at his hip. Masaki was checking in.

Centra nodded and watched Jasper with worry. "We'll see if we can get you something to help with aura regeneration." Jasper wouldn't be able to do much right now. If they couldn't get him some help, he'd have to stay behind.

Jasper nodded. He needed to be careful. An item for aura regeneration can also cause aura sickness if used too long or in the case of food too much was eaten.

Liza flipped open her holo-display. She opened her texts and typed a message to her grandpa.

*Are u okay?* It took a moment, but her message was sent.

Liza covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh too much. What's the point of communication plans when the net was still up?

Centra and Corson turned to Liza with concern. Was she okay? She was kinda laughing like a maniac.

Jasper took an uneasy step back. Sometimes Liza really freaked him out, she just laughs so much.

Centra cleared her throat and asked, "What happened?"

Liza eventually regained control enough to speak, "We can text them."

Corson glanced at Centra and Jasper in confusion. But they were soon laughing in relief with Liza. "Text who?"

Liza answered, "Kyrie, DJ, and James. We're supposed to get orders for them." Liza held up her writs with her watch. "Since the coms net is still up, we can text them the orders." It would be a significantly safer and faster method of communication too.

Centra fingered the arrows in her quiver as they waited. Nineteen left, it might be a good idea to get more. She glanced at her little bother. He'd need his daggers sharpened and one replaced. It wouldn't be cheap. Avalon had been the source of most of Laserath's metals, ores, and alloys. At least the school might pay for one to be made by a blacksmith student.

Jasper turned from Masaki and looked towards the door. "We s-should t-tell them w-where the c-core is." Jasper's cheeks warmed and his hand clenched around his wand, Kyrie could use his help.

"Got it." Liza hadn't received a response from her grandfather and was worried. But he was powerful and influential. He was probably busy. Hopefully, safe.

Liza switched to the team chat DJ had created and grabbed everyone's LegendSlayer account names. After that, she looked for Ren and James' accounts. Both accounts were set to private. "Does anyone have James or Ren added?"

Centra said, "Corson and I have James."

Jasper grimaced. "I've got J-James' a-and… C-Caleb's."

"What?" Liza stared at Jasper. Why the heck would he have Caleb friended?

Centra watched Jasper with worry. "Why? Did he force you too?"

Jasper sighed in irritation. "No. I-I just do!" He pulled up his holo-display and added everyone to a group chat. Why did everyone have to worry so? He could take care of himself. He'd been doing it for years. Caleb was just an idiot.

@greenRock (Jasper): *Hey. The networks still active so we decided to communicate this way. I'll change the settings in a sec so you can add your teammates. We found a core that'll destroy the tree things. If you break it around where a human's navel is. It took two of Centra's arrows to break it.* See, he could handle things.

@shield (James): *Thanks!*

System message: *@greenRock has changed the group settings. Members may add others to the group.*

System message: *@P---Off added @never, @Ribbons, @silk, and @AnaGaurd. And @shield added @healer, @tankThis, @Grrrr, and @MToll.*

@Ribbons (Ren): *Tree thing? How big?* Please be less than eleven feet, please. Anything bigger would be hell to fight. Fun, but hell.

@Tel (Centra): *Yeah. It's human-sized. Smaller than DJ.* Centra shifted nervously and glanced at the door. DJ wasn't answering but he was at the dorm. He should still be safe.

@shadowStalker (Liza): *It regenerates and can shoot its leaves.* Still nothing from Grandpa.

@Ribbons (Ren): *Ugh. How hard was it?* Regen shit. They'd need to be dealt with in one blow. One blow would be hard for Ana.

@Tel (Centra): *Harder than a sapling but not bad. Except for the core. That parts tough when exposed.*

@Ribbons (Ren): *Gotcha. Speed?* Might not be so bad then.

@Tel (Centra): *I'm not sure. It can dodge.*

@Ribbons (Ren): *Hmm.* That they'd need more info on.

The temporary team had finally arrived in front of Professor Pele. Pele glanced at the familiar group before him. "Your teammates with Kyrie, right?"

"Yeah," Centra said.

Pele glanced at the door. He hated jobs like this, sending kids out to fight. Especially the kids he cared about. When it came to Kyrie, it might be better that he fought. At least he wouldn't be struggling through a panic attack. "He's supposed to report to the guard captain at the southern interior gate."

"What about James' and Ren's teams?" Centra asked.

"James and his team can go there as well. Ren's presence has been requested, like Kyrie's." it was just more kids whose pain, blood, and nightmares would haunt him. He'd come here to avoid being part of a group that would do such things to children and now he was a part of one.

"W-wait y-you d-didn't mention R-Ren's team o-or o-ours?" Jasper stuttered with worry. Were they just supposed to stay here? When he finally had his chance.

"If you want to support Kyrie you can go with him. The same goes for Ren's team. But the two of them won't have a cushy job to do." Pele paused and looked each of them in the eye. "You will be in a lot of danger." But his gaze softened as he watched them. "If you really want to help you should try going with James." It'd be safer for them and they could still help.

Liza glanced at Centra. 'I'd rather not leave Kyrie alone.' He'd already gone on a mission alone when he had a team to help him. Liza clenched then opened her fist. They needed to show Kyrie they could help him – support him.

Jasper could feel the warmth of Kyrie's grasp on his hand. He wanted to feel that again. He wanted to learn more about Kyrie. Jasper fiddled with his wand. He'd get something for aura regen and protect the hero that had wandered into his life. He'd do what he should, what he must do.

Centra nodded at Pele and said, "We'll restock and help our teammate defend our home."

Pele sighed, checked something off and said, "There's a group of senior and junior students heading out soon. You can go with them and meet up with your friends at the guard post." Pele held out a small box. "Also, can you give this to Kyrie?"

Centra took the box and said, "Yeah." She, Liza, Jasper, and Corson turned to leave. They'd need to get re-equipped and head out soon.

But Pele called after them, "Wait! You, who are you?" Pele was pointing at Corson.

"Oh. I'm Corson."

"Corson?" Pele searched his check-in sheet for a Corson.

"Livence."

Pele found him and frowned. He glanced back at Corson, he was a zero-year LegendSlayer and he was marked for leave from combat. "I'm sorry but you can't go with your sister."

Corson clenched his good hand. "What?! Why not?!"

"You're still injured and have been pulled from combat training until your aura control improves." At least he could keep this one safe.

Corson grimaced. That stupid injury was keeping him from helping. That damned hero! "I can still fight. I did so on the way here!"

"Then you'll be fine with letting me test your aura quantity?"

Corson shifted awkwardly and glanced at the others. "I-I don't need aura to fight."

Pele frowned at that. Corson's aura had to be low.

Jasper glanced at Corson. He was like a little brother to him. "I can protect him."

Pele raised an eyebrow at that. He'd kept tabs on how Kyrie and his team were doing. Jasper's protection hadn't been enough last time it was needed. Perhaps he had improved enough. Perhaps he hadn't.

Centra spoke before Pele had the chance, "Jasper doesn't have enough aura to keep both of you safe. Just… stay here. Where you'll be safe."

"I'll be fine." Corson glowered at his sister. He loved her but she really didn't need to keep him wrapped in bubble wrap. He wasn't one of her fragile figurines.

Liza watched Corson skeptically. Most people didn't train to fight without aura. She activated her ability and moved closer. Once she was in front of him, she deactivated her ability and threw a solid punch to Corson's gut.

Corson gagged at the strike to his stomach and grimaced. "What the hell?"

Liza rolled her eyes. "You aren't ready to fight without aura."

Corson felt his heart plunge. She didn't think he was ready? Corson shook his head, no he'd show her. "Throw another. I'm good. I've got –"

Corson coughed and grabbed at his chest. Panic flitted through him. He couldn't breathe. His chest was tight. He couldn't pull air in. His hands trembled and tried to help, but they couldn't. There was nothing he could do, she'd killed him. Fuck, why couldn't he breathe!

"Give it a moment. You're fine." Liza said as she rested a hand on Corson's back. She hadn't hit him that hard. Just enough to make him understand.

Corson drew in a shaky breath. After a few more his cheeks betrayed him and reddened. She still had her hand on his back. Sadly, it didn't last long. Liza soon removed her hand and backed up.

"You should stay here." Liza calmly watched Corson. "If you really want to learn to fight without aura give me a call."

Liza turned to face Centra and Jasper. "We should get going." Before Corson could change his mind.

As Corson watched Liza with a hazy mind he thought, damn she's hot.

Centra glanced from Liza to her brother as she repressed a grin. 'I heard that. Want me to set you two up together?'

Corson's eyes widened and his oxygen-deprived mind cleared in his panic. 'NO!' He didn't want his sister involved in his love life at all!

Centra focused her attention on Liza as she said, "We should grab some regen supplies for the others." They might need it. One Trie was hard enough to take down with the four of them.

Liza and Jasper nodded.

The three of them left to get supplies and join the other students in the garage. Most of them would take on safer jobs.

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie and DJ were watching an approaching grove of Tries. There was at least twenty of them.

Kyrie moved to the window and unlocked it. "I'll buy us time. Go tell everyone to get ready for a fight."

DJ glanced at Kyrie out of the corner of his eye. "That's a lot of them. I think it'll be better to send someone else with a warning. Then I can support you." And Kyrie wouldn't have to fight alone.

Kyrie shook his head. "Fewer people means more room for me to maneuver." And a safety zone for his mess ups.

DJ nodded. He had a similar problem with his ability. "Still, that's a lot to take on. Either way, we can discuss it on the way down."

Kyrie smiled sadly at DJ. "Not really." He turned and threw open the window. "I'm jumping down."

DJ's eyes were wide, and he glanced down from the window. "Oh." It was a six-story drop to the ground.

DJ shook his head as he said, "I don't think I'll jump."

Kyrie smiled. He'd felt the same way the first time he'd done it. Even though he knew he could use his ability to prevent any injuries. There was just something about heights that makes a person think jumping is stupid. At least the first time. "You can bring help once you get the others moving."

DJ nodded and turned to go. Kyrie was maneuvering Taru out the window and had a foot on the seal.

"Wait!"

Kyrie lurched forward in surprise. He grabbed for the window.

His hand slipped. He tried again and his grip held. What was DJ thinking? Startling someone who was about to jump out a window.

Kyrie snapped, "What?"

"Let me check my messages first. I've got something from Jasper."

Kyrie rolled his eyes but waited. He'd nearly fallen because DJ wanted to check his messages. Oh well, the grove was still a ways away.

DJ quickly scrolled through the group messages. "The tree things have some kind of though core around their navel. If you break that they'll go down. They regen too."

Kyrie nodded with surprise, that message was a lot more helpful than he'd expected. "Can you tell him thanks for me?"

"Sure. We've got our orders too. But this is more urgent."

Kyrie nodded and leapt from the window.

DJ typed a message in the chat and left the room, with a last glance at the empty window. "Stay safe."

@beatBox (DJ): *We've got, like a grove of these things behind the dorm. @greenRock Jasper thanks for the info.*

@shield (James): *Shit. We'll prep for a fight.* Who should go where? Should he send a group to buy time? James glanced over the crowd of people outside the dorm. There were too many people out right now.

@beatBox (DJ): *Kyrie's heading them off to give us a chance to evacuate and prep.* Alone. That guy better come back. DJ's display shook. He didn't want Kyrie's death on his conscious.

@shield (James): *Got it. We'll look out for stragglers.* James was smiling. Kyrie'd do a lot to help. He should have enough time.

@P---Off (Caleb): *Should we go help?

*I could use sometime breaking shit.*

@shield (James): *Not yet. Kyrie'll be fine. I'll play it defensive.*

@never (Rick): *It'll be fine Cal. You'll break stuff later.*

DJ closed his display so he could focus on getting everyone cleared out of the building. It'll be slower without Kyrie. But a very real and very near threat would help counter that.

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie landed lightly on the ground with a grimace. Spending this much time out of combat and in a city wasn't doing much for keeping his aura levels lower. Hopeful, these things don't drink ambient aura energy. That would be painful.

Kyrie kicked off the ground and headed for Tries at an inhuman pace.