3A/N: The following chapter takes place a few months before the starting of Gakuen St Warriors.
Clan Nimr,
Main Grounds,
The Lesser Palace...
"Amir. You have been summoned."
It wasn't the words which had the Amir Nimr stilling. No, not the words - those he'd heard many times before.
It was the tone. Something about it just rubbed him...wrong.
Looking up, he took in Yusuf's worried face. Dressed almost identical to him in the Clan's white robes, the younger boy looked serious as he leaned against the door frame. Serious...and worried - the two emotions the jovial Clan prankster hardly ever displayed - and definitely not together.
Before Amir could speak, his friend shook his head.
"Not to the grounds - you've been summoned to the Main Residence."
Amir tensed. "Summoned there? Why?"
The other boy looked at him searchingly. "I thought you would know." He shook his head, wiping his sweat covered face. "I was just given the message from the practice grounds - His Excellency's personal scribe came- said that they want you there now."
A summons from the Head Princep's residence?
This was...troubling.
Putting down his brush carefully, he looked down at his newest calligraphy. An ode composed to the sacred ancestors, he had thought to put it to paper to celebrate. And he had much to celebrate.
After all, wouldn't that horrid Hasim finally be departing for school soon? A few months without seeing him was worth every ode he could compose. Thinking of that, he grinned, only to stop when his oldest friend groaned.
"Amir, now! Your parents are also there!"
"What?!"
"Tell me, did you do something? Get on someone's nerves again?"
Amir's mind whirled, noting the abnormal pallor on his friend's face. Yusuf, a distant cousin, and one of the few in the Clan who sought to make him feel welcome. Who accepted him. Dark eyed and swarthy, he resembled most members of Nimr, while Amir, with his pale olive skin and honey colored hair, did not.
"You didn't...use that power again, did you? Like last time?" Yusuf hissed, suddenly looking alarmed. "Tell me you didn't use the...the...light!"
"No! Of course not!"
Hearing Amir's sharp denial, Yusuf looked searchingly into his eyes, a little bit of the tension seeming to drain away. "For sure?"
"I didn't." Amir repeated, trying not to think of the things best left unremembered.
The other boy bit his lip. "Well, then even I don't know. If you really didn't almost-blind anyone again or did something to anger -"
"I didn't." Amir firmly interjected. As far as he knew, he hadn't done anything...or had he? Given that he got on most peoples' nerves no matter what, he wasn't completely sure anymore.
As for a select few, just his presence was enough of a reason to gang up on him. "I didn't."
The other boy shook his head, his eyes looking around the small room searchingly. "Well, we better get going - His Excellency is also there. I think we will have to run."
Muffling a curse, Amir jumped to his feet, while Yusuf tossed his outer robe to him. After hurriedly tying his hair and slipping into his shoes, they ran through the doors of the Lesser Palace; where sons of the Clan stayed to complete their studies. The sky was rapidly darkening, and the strong summer sun had almost vanished over the horizon. Nightfall was mere minutes away.
"It's almost dark! We better hurry, they said before sunset!"
Amir cursed. Instructions meant rules and rules meant...
...penalties.
"You could have mentioned that before!"
Yusuf shot him an incredulous look.
"Do you think I sauntered over to the Lesser Palace? I ran to get you, didn't I? And the sun was already sinking when I got the message."
Amir winced. The training grounds were nowhere near to the Lesser Palace - if anything, they were miles away. "Sorry."
"Well, if you mean it, then run. I'd rather not get punished after all that running."
Together, they raced outside, across the vast palace grounds towards the central estate.
As they ran, dark robed servants paused to gawk, some even calling out warning hisses - which they ignored. Amir smiled apologetically, waving even while knowing none would wave back.
"Lets just hope none of them are around." Yusuf grunted, his unbound hair streaming behind him. "Keep a watch out - those freaks only need an excuse to start on you again."
Amir's heart sped up. Them. Looking around he sighed in relief when he saw the deserted grounds.
"It's okay. That doesn't bother me." Amir lied glibly, even as his heart sped up. It's because of the running, he convinced himself. The running...
Next to him, the other boy snorted. "If you say so. Still, it's better if we don't get caught breaking the rules."
Amir nodded, feeling better as he watched the five minarets getting closer.
Almost there...
Rounding around the corner, the central residence came into sight. Ornate, beautiful and the dazzling white marble structure was surrounded by extensive gardens and pools of water, complete with swans and enchanted sculptures and fountains.
The main residence, where the Head Princeps and his immediate family stayed.
Hardly had they skidded to a stop, a jeering tone had them flinching.
"Well well! If it isn't the mongrel and his lapdog!"
Amir managed to control his groan of despair even when Yusuf didn't.
His luck, as usual was great. Greatly unfortunate, that is. Out of all the people who could have caught him breaking the rules, why did it have to be him?
Hasim.
Turning around, he faced the worst of his tormentors. Apart from being the same age and the same height; the two boys could hardly be more different. Where Amir's skin was a pale olive, Hasim's was a light mocha. Where Amir's honey colored hair fell in smooth straight waves, the other boy's ebony curls rippled around his face. Where Amir was slender, the other boy was already showing signs of musculature.
And where one exuded a calmness, the other generated the opposite. Even at this age, an aura of violence seemed to surround Hasim, something which hinted, to Amir, at something much darker.
"Hasim." Amir inclined his head keeping his voice as polite as he could. "I greet you."
The other boy's brows arched, his gaze derisive. "Do you now?" Amir tensed as he purred maliciously. "Tut tut...breaking the rules, and right outside the main residence? What's the punishment for that? Fifty lashes? Or the blood feeding?"
Beside him, Yusuf cursed. "It wasn't intentional, we had no choice but to hurry."
No one answered. Amir looked towards the entrance, where the ever present lines of servants stood motionlessly - just as they always had.
Hasim's voice sharpened. "What are you doing here, mongrel?"
When Amir didn't react, he sniffed. "Not going to answer? Fine. As it is, your presence pollutes this place. Leave, before the strikes become a hundred."
Yusuf gasped in outrage, though Amir did not so much as twitch. He'd heard worse after all, and if the past was any indication, this was barely scratching the surface.
Though he would normally just wait it out, today was just not any day.
Whatever the reason, he had been summoned here - along with his parents. And no one could ignore the presence. He could not tarry; even if he may have to pray the price for his insolence later.
Time to stoke the ego...
"We heard the good news. Congratulations on passing the entrance to Asurasha High."
Hasim's sneer turned into a gloat. "Bet you are jealous. After all, you weren't even able to clear the exam, weren't you? Must have been quite the shock, with all that preparation and all."
Amir gritted his teeth, his hands fisting. It was well known that among the school, Asurasha was easily among the best...and the fact that students were accepted based on a very difficult exam didn't make it any easier to accept. He had looked forwards to the exam, even prepared months for it.
He'd given it, and had known he'd done well. He was easily the best scholar for his age in the Clan, so he had been confident. Now that he thought about it, perhaps too confident.
He hadn't made it.
Whereas many others had cleared it, he, Amir's name had not been among those accepted.
It stung, worse than anything had so far.
Yusuf must have sensed his rising anger, as he shot him a warning look. Amir, you do not have the time to argue. Ignore him, and go.
Breathing deeply, he unclenched his hands.
"I have been summoned here." He stressed on the word 'summoned'. "By your father."
Amir was hoping the mention of the Head Princep would get rid of that nasty gloat Hasim's face, as it did every time. So, he was surprised at the other boy's reaction - for it was something he had never seen before.
Hasim suddenly paled, his eyes widening as he stared at Amir as if he had never seen him before. "You - you?! I heard someone had been chosen - " He broke of shaking his head, looking, Amir noted, almost horrified. "It can't be you - no way -" Shooting him one last glare, Hasim then proceeded to run past him, heading inside.
Amir turned to Yusuf, who looked just as mystified.
What is wrong with him?
Yusuf shrugged. I know not, but who cares? You should hurry. Even Hasim knows better than to risk His Excellency's wrath.
Amir stared at the door. I hope nothing is wrong. I really don't want any trouble.
The other boy shook his head. You should not just keep letting them walk all over you. As it is, you are the recognized son of his brother. Why you would keep on tolerating them is - Yusuf's face darkened as he started to speak.
"You are a recognized child of this Clan, Amir. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
Amir felt touched. Given his circumstances, anyone who helped him went against the Clan heirs - most of whom despised him on sight, made themselves targets alongside him. Yet, no matter what happened, Yusuf was always there for him. "I'll be fine, akhee."
"Best of luck." With another wave, the other boy started to run.
Turning around, Amir took a deep breath. Then, hoping that he was not in any sort of trouble, he started up the steps.
Waking past the inner rooms, he slowed as he neared the main wing; a place he had only been in thrice in his life. Usually quiet as death, it was not so today. Voices reverberated from the chamber, so loud that they carried through the doors and into the corridors.
He recognized his father's angry voice, followed by the cold hard tones of the Princeps Ahmed - his father's older brother and the First among the Princeps.
He paused outside the door, unwilling to enter. Whatever it was, it sounded serious.
Another voice broke into the heated conversation; light, amused and accented as they spoke.
A foreigner?
As the newest person spoke, all voices died down. Curiosity aroused, he looked around the hall way to ensure that he was alone. Amir was no eavesdropper, but for some reason he found himself plastered against the door, trying his best to make out what they were saying.
" - is already in effect. It is him, and I am only here for the....final confirmation. Our institution at times, does send a representative for A - level students, so this is nothing new."
"Why is that?" Amir heard his mother's sharp tone. "If you are going to just drag him away like -"
Drag? Who? What were they talking about?
"You must understand, its a precautionary measure." The smooth sounding person broke in. "After all, we must ensure the child is stable...or at least has control. Which we were not sure in this particular case."
Someone gasped. "What do you mean?"
"Its rare enough for elemental power to awaken before being of age...and then there is the matter of the first time it did - how it did."
There was a pause. Amir's heart was pounding faster than ever.
Elemental ability. Could they be talking about -
"The child's elemental ability manifested in rather peculiar circumstances." The person's voice suddenly sweeter. "And it happened...if we are right, when he was forced to endure fifty lashes of a sting whip?"
There was absolute silence.
"The child had broken rules." The Princep Ahmed's voice sounded after a while, stiffly cautious. "And rules, when broken, have consequences."
Amir almost gasped.
Him. He could scarcely believe it. They were taking about him.
But why?
Before he even had time to think, the same person was speaking again.
"Much like our case here. Given what came to pass, the Academy laws state that the child must be examined in person. An old, yet compulsory rule, I'm afraid." The person's voice lightened in amusement. "And if I'm not wrong, he is right outside listening to me as I speak."
Amir jumped away from the door as if burned, deciding whether or not to run, and simultaneously wondering if it would be better or worse if he did.
Not that he had the time to decide.
The next second the Head Princep's voice sounded, tense and annoyed. "Come in, boy."
The door swung open, and he froze as a dozen pairs of eyes stared at him. Gulping, he walked into the huge, well lit room, eyes fixed on the group of people standing on the right side of the room.
All the Clan Princeps...including his parents. No one looked happy, there was a strange strained feel to the air. And that wasn't the only odd thing.
The group didn't even look contemptuous as they usually did when they saw him. If anything, he saw something that looked a lot like wariness in their eyes as they watched him approach.
What in the world was going on?
Trying not to shake, he bowed in the direction of the tall, white robed man who stood in the center of the group. "Greeting to all. Greeting to His Excellency, to my lords the Princeps. To my parents."
He kept his head down, waiting for the confirmation which would allow him to look up again; the confirmation only his uncle, the highest ranked power in the room, could give.
So, when someone other than his uncle spoke, he almost fell over in shock.
"OH my! Aren't you such a cutie!"
Before he could help himself, Amir swung around - still half bowed, that is.
And his mouth dropped open.
A woman stood there. Tall, with hair the color of the brightest gold, she easily towered over everyone in the room. She wore a dress the color of blood; which was the same color on her fingernails. Amir had never seen anyone like her before, she was the palest person he had seen so far; even more than him.
"Greetings...?" He stuttered as he looked into those bright green eyes.
"Amir." He straightened at the voice of his Uncle Ahmed, who sounded more curt than usual. "Greet E sensei. She is a teacher from the prestigious St Warriors Academy."
He frowned, thinking as he bowed again.
St Warriors...he was sure he had heard that name before Something about it just didn't seem right. His breath caught.
Wasn't that the place Hasim and his bunch of cronies wanted to go to?
Some strange school...
...Now what had he heard about it?
Even as he wracked his brain, he came up short. It wasn't as if he was actually included in any 'family' conversations, so as to say. At best, he was a 'polite' pariah if not an outright one.
"E sensei is here to see you. As of the coming year, starting from February, you will be given into her care."
"What?!"
The word burst out before he could stop himself.
Given into her care? What did that mean?
His eyes shot to his mother, who looked stricken. "Wha - what is going on?"
Given into...did that mean -
A clacking noise sounded as the lady stopped in front of him.
"It mean that you have been chosen by St Warriors, my dear boy." The woman winked at him. "It means, that for you and some other yokai children like you; the next seven years will be a very grand time."
He felt sweat trickle down his temple. "Chosen?"
He managed to croaked.
Why did that sound ominous?
Should have paid more attention ...
"Yes, chosen. Worry not, it will all become clear once we have you to all to ourselves."
He blanched at her grin.
"It's going to be super fun - even the journey there. I think the coming year the island will be over the clouds... " She continued talking, even while a dull roaring filled his ears.
His legs buckled as he realized what she was talking about.
Island...
Oh.
Oh...no.
St Warriors. No wonder he didn't remember - as no one liked to talk about it. Everyone talked of the other schools...just not this one. For good reason.
Amir felt cold as he recalled what little he could dredge up.
He hadn't known all that much, till Mir Qasim, that is.
Mir Qasim; a distant Clan member. It had been a few years ago, but it had been big news for months. They'd not forgotten how much he'd changed just after a semester there. Not only his behavior - but rather, his missing finger and toe...
What had he said...students there were forced to do some insane things? The whole place was dangerous? Something about survival of the fittest?
"Wait."
At his voice, everyone looked at him. Probably as he sounded like his emotions.
Utterly horrified.
"You mean I have to go to this school? For the next seven years?"
Some challenge?
...cannibal islands? Please, this can't be true!
"Yes, kid. Are those ears on you for decoration?"
For the second time that day, Amir jumped. On the other side of the room, standing by the stained glass windows, was another person. He must have been partially hidden by the indoor fountain; Amir thought as he was sure he hadn't sensed him before.
"You don't look stupid, so that look on your face must mean something else..."
As the person walked towards him, Amir's eyes narrowed as he took him in.
Almost as tall as the lady, the person had dark red hair - cut short, and sported what was clearly a huge golden hoop on his left earlobe. He wore black; a uniform of some sort. He had a faint crescent scar on his cheek; which curved from beneath his left eye to his cheek. And the way he was smiling was making the hair on Amir's neck rise.
"This is Kain Mackenzie, a seventh year." The lady smiled. "Who also happens to be a Teaching Assistant at the Academy. Given his excellent academic record and all round performance, we can say that he is among the best and brightest in St Warriors."
"Err...greetings."
"As a part of his training, he has also been working as a student-representative for new students since last year. Students such as yourself."
The tall senior grinned down at him, his light blue eyes dancing. "Hey. Nice to meet you, kid." He grinned, then proceeded to stick his hand out. "Now, hold out your hand."
Huh?
Amir looked at the hand, then at him. "Uh..."
The other boy cocked his head, then sighed loudly. "Kid, all you have to do is just hold out your hand."
Amir hesitated. Something seems strange about this...
The other boy's grin started to fade. "Just hold it out!" He insisted.
When Amir still didn't move, his expression suddenly turned jeering. "Wait...don't tell you - you are scared?" He asked mockingly.
Someone laughed from behind.
Amir was no fool, but being accused of being faint hearted in front of his parents and Clan elders was did not sit well with him. Trying his best to ignore the strange gleam in the older boy's eyes, he stepped forward and extended his hand.
The moment he did so, the Kain Mackenzie grinned triumphantly. Something about it alarmed Amir.
Something was wrong...
Amir tried to step back, but it was too late. The other boy reached out - his movements lightning fast - and grabbed his hand.
The moment their hands touched, pain flared - sudden, shocking and scalding. Amir yelled in terror, trying to yank his hand away even as the older boy's grip tightened, his grip vice-like.
"Amir!" He heard his mother crying out, and his father's panicked tones, and even the startled voices of the other Clan members present.
"No one may interrupt." He heard the lady speaking. "It needs to be done..."
It felt like his hand was on fire - and the fire was spreading up his arm.
It hurt, so, so much...
Spreading...it was spreading all over...
Amir fell to his knees, hardly aware of anything but the pounding of his heart. Not the yelling, not the screaming, nothing but that vice like grip and the horrible, horrible pain which was coming from it. It felt he was burning. Outside, inside, everywhere, all over.
Thudd...
Thudd...
Thudd! Thudd!
Thudd! Thudd!
Thudd!
His vision swam, even as he gasped for air.
Inside him, something unfurled, something he recognized. Something which he tried hard to avoid...
...His inner beast...
Oh no...
Not now...
If he lost control...
That one thought seemed to act like cold water against the burning agony.
The pain was horrendous, but losing control was not an option. How he managed to reach inside and regain control amazed even him. All he was aware of was the receding of the other him, the uncontrollable part of him. It retreated, and as it did, so did that thrum of yoki which accompanied it.
As he lay on the floor, he finally felt the pain start to fade, little by little.
As he groaned, light blue eyes met his. The next second he was helped up, swaying as he did so. "You did well, kid." The older boy looked impressed. "Quite well."
Amir had no clue what had just happened - he was just happy that it was over. He felt like he had just been boiled alive, then salted. And then some more.
It still hurt.
"Well Kain, what is your opinion?" The lady - E sensei spoke again. "Is he stable?"
"Yes, and his control is better than I expected." He heard Kain Mackenzie say. "Almost as good as the Egir girl's, and I honestly thought no one was going to even come close to that." He whistled. "He didn't even try to reach for the elemental power."
Amir groaned. He was starting to feel naseous...
"Can I tend to my son now?" His mother snapped. "Or must I watch you torture him some more?"
Someone murmured something and a second later Amir himself being pulled into what was unmistakably his mother's embrace. "I'm so sorry for this, my Amir. I did not know." she whispered. "Truly, I had no idea they were going to hurt you so."
He nodded, feeling too weary to speak. Now that the pain had faded, he was left feeling completely drained - to the point of barely being able to keep his eyes open.
"What's wrong with him?" His father sounded worried.
"Nothing to worry about. Kain's ability extracted his yoki to a degree - as was needed to judge his latent power." E sensei sounded as cheerful as before, certainly not like she'd just been listening to his screams of agony. "A few days' rest and good food will have him back to his feet, as good as new."
His mother hissed. "Is this how you treat students in that barbaric school?"
Blearily, he watched the teacher and Kain exchange strange looks. They looked...amused?
"You think this is barbaric?" Ms E sounded like she was trying not to laugh. "My dear lady, this was but a mere safety test..and in the best interests of young Amir here."
"His best interests?!"
"Yes. You may already know the 'interest' pure-blood children garner in our world; especially those who manifest elemental skills before being of age. More often than not, this lays the grounds for problematic circumstances in his future, if not attended to."
Amir felt his mother tense. If he he didn't know better, he'd think that she looked...
...scared.
Meanwhile, the teacher was still talking on. "This test was to ensure your son isn't subjected to the usual Yokai methods which he might be subjected to if he is somehow 'found' to be unstable anytime in the future." Shooting him a quick smile she carried on. "And had he failed this test, we would have taken measures to ensure he mastered control as soon as possible, before anything even remotely unpleasant were to occur."
"That being; the trials organized by the Yakshasa Tribunal or Council of the Law Guardians or something worse." Kain, now by the lady's side, pointed out. "The ones students of other schools are often forced to endure later - simply because their schools refused to address the issue from the start."
"But he is not even of age yet!" His father blurted out. "Surely this is too early."
"The fact that your son was able to call upon his elemental power at the age of five is no small matter." The teacher's voice had sharpened. "At best, it is a sign of great potential, and at worst, it signals a complete lack of control in the future. And I think we all know where that path leads."
Silence accompanied her words. When the lady spoke next, her voice was more conciliatory.
"Please be at ease. He is not the only one; there are a few more like him - all of who underwent the same test as he just did."
"Really?" His mother still sounded suspicious. "And they are all fine?"
A chuckle sounded.
"Of course; every child is a legacy, after all. This is just how things are done. Amir's acceptance may have come as a surprise, but that is how things are. Even the most concerned of parents eventually understand that. And in time, so do the children."
Delirious as he was, Amir really doubted that. The initial pain may have gone, but he felt like he'd been scraped raw - even his insides.
Kain Mackenzie snorted. "Trust me, your kid is a champ. Not all kids actually try to control their power, you know. One darkblood kid damn well tried to burn me alive." He shuddered. "Now that was one rotten little brat."
Catching the look on Amir's face he smiled wryly. "Don't worry, it's nothing out of the ordinary. By Academy standards, that's downright mild."
Amir gaped, wondering what kind of students were chosen and just what 'Academy standards' meant. The more he thought about it, the more he decided he didn't want to know.
"St Warriors takes far more precautions as the safety of its students is paramount." E sensei leant forward, brushing his hair off his face. "As I shall be his Home room teacher, his well being falls into my hands." She looked up. "Putting it simply, from the mentioned date, this child will legally belong to St Warriors for the next seven years, which, in turn means that I will be the first among his guardians."
She tipped a painted nail under his chin, lifting it up. "He is strong, so do not fear. Kain's ability is one of the few that is recognized and sanctioned by the Law Guardians for this particular purpose; so the testing and it's results are official."
Amir was done. Everything felt like some strange dream, one in which he was being forced to participate in. And the feeling of nausea was growing stronger.
Trying his best to stand, he somehow managed to speak. "Mother, I don't feel so good."
She exhaled softly. "It's almost over. Look, here comes your father."
The next moment, he felt himself being lifted by familiar arms. He looked up to see his father's impassive face. "Am I in trouble, father?"
His expression flickered, worry shining through. "No, of course not. You did well, son. Just rest now."
Nodding, he laid his head back, feeling safe for the first time in a long time as he smelt the familiar scent.
Al around him, voices continued.
" - business is concluded?"
"The esteemed Councillors will be in touch..."
"Amir Nimr qualifies as a non threat. And we are absolutely delighted to have him..."
"And he didn't try to harm me, either..."
"Given he made it to Asurasha's and two other honor lists, very pleased indeed."
Amir's head swam.
What on Earth were they talking about...
And just as he he lost consciousness, he swore he head the teacher's voice in his mind. It was faint...but he heard it.
Sleep kiddo, and rest. Come next spring, a lot is going to change...
A/N: Hey guys :D
Just started to add in the flavor to a bit of the MC's pasts! And Amir, the eternal cutie was the first on my list!