A Wanderer's Lies

Chapter 44: Targeting Ava Longfield [1]

"It's true, he really is the son of Xavier Clover." 

Heather could be seen sitting at a large table with several seats in an extravagant looking restaurant.

Beside her was Ava, as the rest of the Golden Six sat at the table too.

With Colt trying his best to sweet talk Ava, Cain seeming to be in an enjoyable conversation with Amara, Daniel scrolling through his watch and Lucy reading a book, it didn't seem like the group as a whole were very close.

However, most of them knew that the individuals sitting on the table would be important figures in the future.

It wasn't a bad idea to make early connections.

As for Cain, he didn't have anyone he knew very well, and those sitting on the table had the most in common with him.

Especially Amara who seemed to be more chatty than usual.

"You've already started your Nen training too? I've also started with Ki. I didn't realise how much power and potential I was missing out on without it." Cain spoke with a wide smile.

"Yeah, but our Instructor is kind of…extreme. With just the first lesson, so much has happened." As she spoke, their conversation was put on a halt.

"Excuse me, didn't you hear me? Oliver Clover is the son of Xavier Clover." Heather repeated this time garnering the attention of everyone at the table.

"Yeah, we already knew. Who else has the name Clover in school." Amara replied with a straight face and a hint of condescension in her tone. 

Although, this went unnoticed by Heather.

"But why isn't this front page news? Anything regarding Chairman Clover is a hot topic. And why is the Clover boy living in the lower dormitories? He should easily be able to send himself to the luxurious dormitories you guys are in with his connections." 

It was clear Heather was the gossip type of student. She'd know about anything that happened on campus.

"I mean, he seemed a little reluctant to share his name in class. He might not want people to know." 

Ava added, turning away from Colt who cared little about the conversation.

"That might be the case. But he hangs out with those F rankers. That Wanderer boy in our class and the other boy with blonde hair who's kinda cute." 

Cain raised an eyebrow as if he'd realised something.

"I've been meaning to ask. What's a Wanderer?" Everyone turned to him with a dumbfounded expression as he asked.

"Are you kidding me?" 

"Well, I guess it makes sense since you're new to Spawn." Amara spoke, giving a quick explanation.

"Woah, no character? Is it even possible? How do they complete their Scenarios?" Cain widened his eyes upon learning of the Wanderers.

"Luck, I guess. Additionally, they're sent to new verses for each Scenario, slimming their survival chances even more." Amara continued, Cain seeming more and more entranced with every word.

"How rare is this?" 

"Surprisingly, not as rare as you think. Maybe 1 in 100,000. But since the survival chance of completing their first scenario is practically impossible, there hasn't been a single Wanderer who has passed their first stage in about 30 years or so."

"40 years."

Everyone at the table turned their heads at the sudden flat and cold tone that spoke.

"It's 40 years since the last Wanderer has completed their first Scenario." Lucy, without taking her eyes off her book, spoke.

"Ah, yes, that's right. 40 years." Amara replied in a bitter tone.

"Woah, 40 years? That's pretty cool." Cain spoke in a tone that resembled an impressed toddler.

"Yes, 'cool' would be the right word, only if he wasn't a sorry F ranker." Daniel gave his input as the attention turned to him.

"Potential, verse, character and completion rank. These are the most important factors considered when determining one's rank." 

"To be classed as an F rank is almost as rare as Cain over here getting C- Rank in just his first year. There's only a few in the first year, hell, in all of Spawn."

"In other words, F Rankers have no chance at succeeded in life. Their whole future is decided the moment that letter appears on their watch." 

Most of them on the table didn't always agree with Daniel, but they couldn't argue with facts.

"Well, that's a little unfair. I mean, from what Amara told us, all of her class has already learned Nen." Ava spoke in her usual cheerful tone.

"Please Ava, do you really believe that. I mean, do you even remember his name? Do any of you?"

Silence enveloped the table as no one uttered a word.

"Face it, it's the way of Spawn. The weak are forgotten." 

A triumphant grin appeared on Daniel's face as he continued to sip on the drink before him.

However, despite his expression, under that all, a twisting feeling of rage bubbled inside Daniel.

'Wanderer this, Wanderer that. What's wrong with these people? Are they so easily entertained by trash while they themselves sit at the top of the food chain? Pathetic!'

Daniel had long forgotten the name, looks and everything about the Wanderer before Heather brought it up.

And he was positive the others had too.

It should have been his name that travelled throughout Aurelius.

'Calm down.'

Daniel sighed and breathed a breath of fresh air.

'You're not a child. This is a means to attain power, I'm not building a fan club. Besides, people will soon forget.'

Daniel valued strength. In fact, it was his goal to soon pass both Lucy and Cain. He despised being third.

However, he'd learnt from his mother's success.

She was able to rise through the ranks of the S.A. purely backed by her power to make every eye in the room turn to her, soon earning herself a chair on the Board of Directors.

Of course, she was strong too, but Daniel knew that just strength wasn't enough.

With attention, fame and charisma, one could rule the world.

***

"You're telling me an F ranker was able to defeat three students, two of which are amongst the top 100 of the first years? Is this some sort of joke?"

Katlynn sat behind a desk in a fairly sized office as a large student with a buzz cut, sharp jawline and Hazel eyes stood before her.

What was noticeable was the student's uniform. Contrary to the navy blue uniform the first years wear, his was crimson red.

"Y-Yes, Ms Katlynn. That seems to be the case. However, upon learning the fact that he's quite the skilled Hand to Hand combatant, as well as the fact that he'd just learnt Nen, it's believed he caught the boy's by surprise…" 

-SLAM

Before the student could finish his words, he was interrupted as Katlynn slammed her palm onto the table, making him jump a little.

"He'd barely had his Aura Nodes opened an hour prior! How dare you speak in such a pathetic tone before me!" Katlynn yelled, soon throwing herself back into her chair, massaging her forehead as she did.

'Let's think of this logically. The damages on the students do indeed seem like they were caused by a human's hands, proving he fought with just that, his hands. And despite learning Nen an hour prior, Ten may have played a large role in his victory.'

'Additionally, it's no secret that the gap between early first years isn't very big. With all this considered, it seems, at this moment, the boy seems to be a capable first year fighter, one who shouldn't be looked down upon by his peers.'

Katlynn leaned back in her chair as she stayed silent for a few seconds, scoffing a minute later.

Despite all she was thinking, this didn't change how she saw Isaac.

'He's still an F rank. With his Nen, his potential will be capped at B rank, at most. And that's considering whether he passes his second scenario with just 10 months of training Nen.'

Clearing her thoughts, she turned back to the student before her.

"Pay our friendly neighbourhood Wanderer a visit, show him the difference between Novice first year Inheritors, and trained Elite second years."

With all look of worry and anxiety leaving his face, replaced with determination and pride, the large student nodded.

"I will not disappoint you, Ms Katlynn."

[Name: Arnold Gaffer]

[Character: Alex Louis Armstrong]

[Verse: Fullmetal Alchemist]

Arnold turned, walking to the door as a grin appeared on his face.

'How lucky of me. I get assigned an easy task and I'll be in Ms Katlynn's good graces.'

-BOOM

As he thought this, he pressed his hand on the door and before pulling it, a loud BOOM was heard as the door was blown off its hinges, smashing into Arnold who was sent tumbling back a few steps.

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't think you were near the door." An apathetic voice resounded within the room as Katlynn leapt off her seat, ignoring the groaning Arnold and staring at the door with a fierce gaze

At the door stood a tall man with drooping eyes, simple glasses and a black shirt tucked into black suit pants.

He'd look presentable if his body language didn't scream 'Lazy'.

With a hunched back and his hands in his pocket, Orion walked into the room, straight toward Arnold.

"My apologies, student. I didn't mean to hurt you." Helping Arnold up, the student tried his best to withhold the urge to attack the teacher.

Taking his hand, Arnold rubbed his nose. However, unexpectedly, the hand he'd grabbed suddenly yanked him with immense strength.

Leaping off the ground, stumbling as the window broke his momentum, he was prepared to turn back and yell in frustration.

But before he could, he once again felt a heavy force push him from his buttocks, and this time, he stood before the window.

-SMASH

"Oh no, how clumsy of me." Orion spoke in a lethargic tone, lowering his leg and watching Arnold crash through the window. 

"Hmm, how disappointing, I quite liked that window." 

Watching her student get kicked out of the window, Katlyn stared with a face of indifference.

"Who do you think you are?" Katlynn hissed, while Orion stayed silent, staring at her.

"You think you can do whatever you want because the Headmaster has taken a liking to you…"

"You ought to leave the boy alone." 

Orion cut her off, however, rather than his usual lethargic tone, this time, he spoke in a low voice while a dark aura seeped from him.

"What? The Wanderer? What's he to you?" 

Orion once again said nothing.

"Wait, don't tell me you're sympathising with the boy. Him? A lousy F Ranker? That's hilarious!" Said Katlynn with a condescending expression, staring at Orion as if she were looking down on him.

Katlynn giggled under her breath for a few seconds and soon, the room returned to his previous lull.

It wasn't until Orion spoke that the silence was broken.

"Jenna would be disgusted with you."

The grin on Katlynn's face instantly disappeared as her face became dark.

Despite the silence in the room returning, this time it was different.

This time, It felt like the calm before a storm.

"What did you say to me?!" 

Katlynn roared as a flood of Aura exploded from her, consuming everything in the area, shattering the windows as the air around them became suffocating.

However, despite this, Orion showed no reaction as he stayed rooted in the same position.

"I'll kill you!"

"Enough!"

In an instant, the Aura retracted as the sudden heavy and commanding voice drawd the attention of both teachers.

"Mr Harrison." Katlynn muttered, seeing the large and burly bald man with a scruffy ginger beard and a scar traced horizontally across his forehead.

"Orion, I think it best if you leave. I hear there's quite the delectable cafe that's just opened up in the city." Harrison stared at Orion with a neutral expression.

After a few seconds, Orion answered with a simple, "Alright." 

Walking past Harrison, Orion quietly left the room.

"You shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you, Katlynn." Harrison walked toward Katlynn as she gave a slight bow.

"Yes sir." 

Before Harrison could say anymore, he noticed something from the corner of his eye, making him raise an eyebrow.

On Katlynn's table, well what remained of what was once the table, was an opened file with a student's profile.

'The Wanderer?'

Meanwhile, the rage inside Katlynn was still burning as she gritted her teeth.

'Orion…how dare he mention her.'

Katlynn opened her eyes as a hint of resolve glimmered inside it.

'I'll kill him.'

***

In a dormitory, a boy with amber eyes sat opposite from his roommate with a combover and thick glasses.

With empty cans beside them, one would assume they'd been speaking for a while as the sound the shower running rang from inside the bathroom.

However, Isaac seemed to be in a trance as he stared blankly at the air, his face contorted in a confused manner.

"Isaac, what's wrong?"

However, he was given no answer.

'What the hell is this?'

Isaac thought, staring at the screen before him.

[A thread has been woven.]

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Next chapter title: Targeting Ava Longfield [2]

T-The POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSS...

I need them.

...

Perhaps you didn't hear me. I said POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!