The Alphabet Superset: Week 3: Card Carrying Villian

 

Reference Link: https://www.realmenrealstyle.com/nine-suit-colors/

    Across the courtyard from the front of the library, Alexander sat on a bench waiting for his friends. He watched the people around him, partly looking out for his friends and partly just absorbing the sights around him. Inside a magical bubble nearby, he watched two boys with wooden swords spar with each other. Occasionally, the man overseeing the match would bark some order or critique. The knock of the wood as the swords slammed into each other cut through the surrounding conversations of passing students. 

    "Yo, Alex!" Alexander turned to the voice and saw his friends approaching. Blake and Kasen were not only fellow classmates but also had similar abilities to his own. The school had classified all three of them as evoker class users. Blake had favored magical swords and physical combat, reflected by his snug athletic clothing and short hair. Kasen geared his magic more toward showmanship, learning magic that could help him put on a better show. Blake and Alexander had frequently asked if maybe he was a bard and the school was just mistaken. Kasen clothing choices only added to the joke, as he frequently dressed like someone out of a rock band. He had a black beanie he wore all the time with a pin in it. The pin changed daily but it always had a logo for some band or performer that Kasen liked. Today's was AC/DC.

    "Hey, guys." Alex rose from the bench as they neared. "So what's up? I thought we were going to the cafeteria for lunch."

    "We were, but we heard of an event happening soon and decided that we should come to the courtyard so we can use our powers," Kasen replied excitedly, sitting on the back of the bench.

    "What's the event?" Alexander looked between the two as they exchanged excited glances.

    "The Drama Club is putting on a talent show of sorts. Small groups can sign up and put on any kind of performance they want. Whoever puts on the best show gets to pick out and help with the Drama Club's first school performance." If Kasen was any more excited, he would be bouncing the bench across the campus. His energy was infectious and Alex was already interested in the idea.

    "Kasen wants to put on a music show with us as the entertainment," Blake explained. His smile told Alex that he was just as interested in the idea as he was, if for no other reason than because Kasen was so excited about it.

    "Come on guys, think about it. We could do an entire mock fight scene between the three of us." Kasen's moved his hands to look like he was holding a small stage in his hands. "I will do the music and lighting while you two fight on stage."

    "Small problem, Kasen. While I can summon the sword," Alexander summoned a greened flame sword to his hand as an example, "I don't know how to actually fight with it like Blake." Alexander waved his hand, causing the sword to disappear.

    "Oh, that's fine. Blake can teach you enough to fill out the song and then spectacularly kick your butt." Kasen teased, getting a laugh out of all three of the boys. 

    "DAVID!!!"

    Alexander turns to look at the shout, his smile falling at the fear behind the yell. One of the boys from the sparring match is racing full bore toward the trio. But his sword is no longer wood. It now seems to be made of fire. The boy, David, now has a dangerous look in his eye. Alexander can barely think as fear takes over. He's frozen in place as the sword flies at him.

    

    The next second, his arm stings. Alexander blinks and realizes that he is now on the ground. He looks up to see Blake standing where he was a second ago. Blake still has one hand out toward him. In his other hand, he holds a flaming sword of his own, only his is a green color. It has blocked David's sword from actually hitting him. The attacker has a look of surprise and confusion on his face. He looks from the flaming swords to Blake.

    "Yeah, I have one too." Blake shoves David back a few inches. Both boys take a second to get into better stances. The air grows tense as muscles tighten and nerves jitter. People around the courtyard have noticed. Some watch and some pull-out phones. A couple of people run to get help.

    "David." The sparring partner runs across the courtyard, calling David's name. Kasen steps clear of the fight in front of him.

    "Oh no you don't." Kasen steadies his legs and shoves his hand forward, pushing the air itself.

    Only Alex realizes that the second guy has not drawn his sword or anything. "No, Kasen, wait."

    But it's too late. The spell has already been released. The air shudders and ripples outward from Kasen's hand into a cone in front of him. The sparring partner barely has time to put his arms in front of him before he is launched backward. He slams into the wall above the entrance of the library with a sickening thud that everyone in the courtyard can hear.

    

    Kasen's face fills with realization then terror as he realizes what he's just done. Alexander and Blake look on in disbelief. David, who had turned to see where Kasen's spell was going drops his sword and stares for a second. Then the sword disappears as horror crosses his face. "Joshuah, no."

    Blake turns to Kasen, anger obvious in his voice. "What did you do?"

    Kasen motions towards Joshuah. "He... he was running towards us, I thought,... I was just..."

    If the people around them had been quiet before, they weren't now. Alexander could hear people panicking. He could hear someone calling the police. Others talked in fearful voices. A couple of people all but sprinted to get away from the scene. But what drew his attention the most was what was happening where Joshuah fell.

    A boy had raced to Joshuah almost as soon as he fell. Now he had his hands on Joshuah's chest. A black circle formed around the pair as the boy seemed to concentrate. His skin and hair grew paler as if the life was draining from his body. A moment later, Joshuah coughed weakly. David ran to him as both campus police and school staff appeared on the scene. Alexander got off the ground as two officers approached him and his friends. Kasen seemed to have mentally checked out, failing to respond to questions. Blake's sword dissipated as he held his hands up.

    As the campus police took over, the boys were separated. Alexander was taken to a corner of the courtyard and asked questions. While he gave his side of the story, he watched Joshuah get taken away in an ambulance. He watched as the boy who saved him was guided inside the library by a blonde-haired woman. He grew nervous when he noticed David frantically motioning in his direction to his instructor and the cop interviewing him. When his questioning was over, he made his way back to his friends, who were currently talking with one of the cops.

    "What do you mean he was acting on instinct?" Blake asked angrily, glaring in David's direction.

    "Students of the Paladin Orders are granted many gifts. One of these gifts is the ability to, as they put it, sense evil. Now, to be more exact, their abilities are limited to sensing the origins of powers. For example, Warlocks are people who make deals with entities from other realms to be gifted powers. To most people, it's hard to tell the difference. But paladins can sense them. According to him, he sensed the presence of a demon coming from your direction and acted impulsively." 

    Alexander's mind flashed back to just before the school year began. The Dealer. He grew nervous as he thought about it. A smile, a card, and then finally, a handshake. Fear and anger began to boil inside him. But beyond both of those, guilt began to creep in. Guilt at the idea that someone almost died because of him.

    As soon as the cops had their statements and the scrape on his arm was addressed, Alexander wasted no time in excusing himself from his friends and the school. He pulled the card from his wallet and headed for the address on the card. The Dealer at Fast and Easy Deals. How could he have been so stupid? Alexander was surprised to see the Dealer himself waiting for him at the front door. He had his usual friendly smile as he waved him into the front doors. They passed a show floor full of shiny cars and ogling customers. They made their way to the back offices of the store.

    When they reached the Dealer's office, he motioned to the chair in front of his desk while closing the office door. He then sat in his own chair behind the desk.

    "So what brings the great Alexander back to my office?" Alex found it very hard to believe that he didn't know given the greeting he got. But he played along anyway, hoping beyond hope his guess was wrong.

    "I was attacked at school today by Paladins."

    "Oh dear, that sounds like an interesting experience. Are you okay? Those paladins can be violent folk." The Dealer's smile didn't even falter. If anything, Alex could've sworn it got even wider.

    "They seem to think that my powers came from some evil entity from another realm."

    "And you would like reassurance that this is all some big misunderstanding."

    "Yes. This has to be some kind of mistake, but I am the only one of the three of us who made a deal and then got powers."

    "Indeed, you are. Surely you don't need me to figure this out, even if you don't like the answer." A pit formed in Alexander's stomach. The Dealer wasn't denying anything. In fact, he was making it sound like this was the most obvious thing in the world. There was no way that this was happening.

    "Oh, I'm sorry, Alexander. Did you expect me to be that dumb caricature from cartoons and movies? Some obviously evil moron who dresses in reds and blacks and makes deals for someone's soul?" The Dealer laughed heartily at the idea. In any other circumstance, Alex might've laughed along with him. But confusion and fear were beginning to set in.

    "What are you going to do to me?" Alexander wanted to run from the office as fast as he could, but if this guy was a literal demon, then there was nowhere for him to run. Even if the guy was just insane, the fact still remained that he gave Alexander his abilities and seemed no worse for the wear.

    "Nothing I haven't done already. We have our deal. In exchange for giving you the power to enroll at a magical academy, I was allowed to pick which academy you would attend. I picked Myers High School and you attend there. In return, I continue to lend you my powers. As far as I am concerned, our agreement still stands." The Dealer leans back in his chair, holding his hands together in front of him.

    "You picked Myer High School and I trusted you. I didn't realize you would be putting my life at risk by sending me to a school with people who can sense that my powers were given to me by a demon. Why? Why would you send me there?" Alexander was standing at this point. He was practically shouting. The man motioned toward the door, reminding him they were still in a public place. He exhaled as the Dealer began speaking again.

    "I am not sure why you are getting emotional. I picked one of the best schools in the country. You have powers, your parent's approval, friends, and good grades. So what if a couple of paladins attacked you. They have been doing that kind of thing for hundreds of years and for much pettier reasons. Don't forget everything I have given you in return for this simple favor."

    "You tricked me. I thought you were human."

    "Ah yes, because humans are well known for their ability to deal out their magical powers to other humans. That's why you never knew it was possible before we met." Alex glared at the Dealer. The Dealer simply continued to smile sincerely. Never before had such a smile pissed Alex off so much.

    "No, dear boy, you ignored that gut reaction that told you I was bad news. You wanted the benefits that came with my powers. You wanted to avoid disappointing your parents. You wanted to avoid the mockery of your fellow students. You wanted to succeed in life by any means necessary, knowing that you were cheating to get into a school that so many of your classmates earned their way into. So you chose to ignore the card, the obvious setup, and the glowing handshake. I never said I was human, you just didn't want to believe otherwise."

    Alexander hated everything that came out of the Dealer's mouth. It was all right, but the man had no idea what his life was like before he had power. The weakness. The constant humiliation. The disapproval from his parents. The shame at his own helplessness. He tried his hardest to suppress the emotions, but tears stung his eyes. He was angry.

    "And what if I were to break our deal," Alexander asked threateningly. He summoned fire into a ball in his hand, fueling it with the hurt of his betrayal. The rage at his own gullibility. The frustration at that never faltering smile.

    As suddenly as the fire came, it disappeared. What? Alexander thought to himself. A cold feeling shot through his body. He could feel the power disappearing. He felt vulnerable, exposed, and very small compared to the man in front of him.

    "Nothing." The man said calmly. "I would simply take back my end of the bargain. Then you are free to return to Myers High and explain to the staff where all that power went. You would have to tell them how you cheated to get into a school while all your fellow classmates earned their place in it. That opens all kinds of possibilities. They may be lenient or they may punish you. But you would surely be kicked out since only magical people can go to magical schools." Images flashed in Alexander's head of sitting in the principal's office, humiliated by having to explain his laziness. He could imagine the staff glaring at him and yelling at him.

    "You would also have to tell your friends, who earned their place at Myers High School, why you suddenly have to leave and have no magic. I am sure they would understand." Alex looked at the floor of the office, his heart racing. No, he couldn't lose them. He couldn't go back to being the only one without powers.

    "Oh, and of course your parents. I am sure that they would love to hear that their son who made them so proud is actually just a fake and a failure who had to make a deal with a literal demon to get power. Oh, I am sure they would still love their little lying boy." Alexander's body shook as emotions boiled up inside him. He couldn't bear to see that disappointed look on their faces again. Not when he had come so far.

    The man rose and crossed the room slowly. His smile never faded. He patted Alexander's head in mock comfort. "You humans never really get it. I won't lie or make contracts you can't break. And I didn't even trick you. I won't drag you to hell because you broke our contract. I will simply take back my part of the deal and leave. You are free to have your life back at any time."

    The Dealer knelt down in front of Alexander, keeping the hand on his head. "But ask yourself, do you really want it to end? Or would you like to keep my gifts in exchange for the small favor I ask of you? All I want is for you to keep attending Myers High. Is that really so bad?"

    Alex gritted his teeth. His muscles were tense. The hand on his head, which once was comforting, now felt like a heater. Every fiber of his being told him to run. To take the opportunity and leave. He could end this now and ruin the Dealer's unspoken plans. But He couldn't handle the pain, the rejection, and the hurt that would come with it.

    "No, sir. I won't break our deal." He could feel the warmth of the power returning to him, but it didn't give him comfort this time. This time it made his skin crawl and his stomach twist.

    "Good boy."