ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 109 Farewell Supper

Chapter 109

Farewell Supper

Thursday

It hadn’t started as anything major, just a casual invite from Alexa to a few friends. In fact, for most the message would have been seen as an errant chat sent on blast, when it was really meant to be shared with but a small friend. The message had been simple and almost innocuous, if people didn’t know what to look for.

Alexa: Going Away barbeque tonight, please come.

Attachment Image of: [campus, followed by the trail to the off-campus camp site.]

Six words, most might write off as meaningless, it was a school night. Also, this was the middle of nowhere, who would expect to have a barbeque, let alone one in the middle of late fall. Even though it was technically fall on the calendars, the temperatures were still nearing frigid ratings. Even in the evening when the sun was still up, wind chill and dropping temperatures could make even the heartiest of partiers want to call it a night early. Fortunately, everyone saw the message for what it was, a message from a friend. Well more than a friend for most everyone who received the message.

“Can I go?” Sarah Marie Stevens, the Prime Minister’s daughter, and the girl who owed her life multiple times over to Alexa also received the message, and was now asking her bodyguard.

Seeing the message, the bodyguard paused for a moment, but then finally relinquished.

“Yeah, I suppose.” The muscular guard said, as he began preparing to call in more assistants that were around the area for just such an event.

***

Sara Marie Stevens, of course was not the only one to begin making plans immediately to go. Shortly after the message a flurry of questions came in, only to be met by mute silence from Alexa.

‘Lecia: When?

When Alecia’s first question was not answered, no one took it as a bad sign. Instead, they took it as an invitation to come when they wanted.

Kylie: Do we need to bring anything?

Lily: I’ll bring firewood

Callie: I’ll bring sodas

Erin: Jane and I will bring the smores

Then like that, people invited themselves and took ownership of the meeting, not caring if Alexa sent it by mistake or not. In the end, they assumed she either meant to send the request to everyone, or would not be put-upon to live up to her commitment, either way that meant they had a chance to see her off. Everyone knew what she was doing, and where she was going. Seeing that Sarah Marie Stevens was coming all but confirmed that this was a real going away meeting.

In a matter of two hours, what had gone from a relatively quiet Thursday night, had suddenly changed to a joy filled party. In a matter of minutes, members of the sophomore class hit up every student with a vehicle on campus, so they could weasel their way into getting different supplies for the gathering. Those students who offered rides to their lower classmen soon became intrigued and also found ways to invite themselves along as well. Some brought folding lawn chairs, others brought plates and cups. Others brought trash bags that could be used to throw everything away in.

In almost no time at all, what had been a simple message to two dozen people that Alexa knew personally, soon ballooned out to most of the students on campus. Frank came because Luke was his roommate and invited him just to be polite. Frank then invited Ty, who invited the remainder of his Junior Class, due to wanting to be cool.

In no time person after person came over to find themselves at the center of one of the largest parties ever held by a school student. Normally when one class, or dorm started to throw a party, other competing classes would purposefully throw their own, just to spite their peers. Yet, when everyone heard whose party this was, and more importantly why it was, they all came out in droves.

By now, anyone who was anyone knew of Aru’ka the Super in training. By now everyone also knew that their very own sophomore class president was said hero. The students who had parents that were already supers had all been pushed to at least introduce themselves to her, her healing prowess alone was phenomenal. Then when recent exploits from her slaying a dragon two weeks ago made international headlines getting her attention became even more important. Then added to that was the fact that England’s Prime Minister made a special plea for her to come and help join the elven saviors to rid their country of the indomitable monsters, that is when no one could deny the appeal of Alexa Thyme. Of course, she had been reclusive, always disappearing to train at odd hours of the night. Even her girlfriend didn’t seem to know where she was most of the time. When people approached her brother, they could only get but so far before Julie, and a few other random sophomore pack members would appear out of nowhere and cut him off from harassment.

The girl was utterly unapproachable, so many didn’t even try. Which was why the party was so important, here it was the chance to see a legend in the making. Here they could see the girl that literally spawned sculptures of dead dragons, and orcs on their campus the day after Halloween. At first everyone denied such a feat, saying that it was staged or a hoax, but when Mr. Mackie and the TSI agents spent the better part of a week quarantining the area, and removing piece after piece for study, only then did people truly understand what had happened. Yet, she never bragged.

Even when the Alpha werewolf went nuts on campus, while everyone else cowered in fear at the sight of true Supers going at it with a real life villain, she never flinched, never hesitated. In a way, this was just as much a party for what she had done, as it was for what she was about to do.

Since there had been no set time, people began setting up first thing. A Pyrokinetic named George was the one who started the fire right at 4:52 PM. Why that early, well he was there, he was cold, and swore he could keep it going all night if needed.

With the giant flame in the woods acting like a beacon drawing in wandering students, the party began shortly thereafter.

Alexa herself made her way out with trays of seasoned chicken.

“Here.” Is all Alexa said, when she saw the close to a hundred students who had already gathered by the time she Created her first batch of Grandma’s Chicken.

With that hungry male students came over to grab the trays of chicken.

“Once you are done, bring the trays back.” Alexa said, her voice carrying over the crowd and through them. While she did not yell, it was clear by the sudden stop of every conversation that everyone heard her. Those that didn’t hear her asked their friends who then passed on the same message.

Over and over the message was repeated, to even the new students that arrived.

When members of her pack arrived, they took it upon themselves to be the official tray gatherer.

Everyone watched in awe, as Alexa created tray after tray of chicken. Chicken that was then placed over the fire, only to be removed a few minutes later and served.

“What power is that?” Sarah found herself asking first her bodyguard.

Her bodyguard who had seen nearly every form of magic, or power, could only shake his head. “I don’t know. It is clearly magic of some kind, but which I don’t know.”

“How can you tell it is magic?”

The bodyguard just looked at Sarah for a moment, but then said, “the way it looks, and the way it seems to bend the laws of reality around it. That is what magic is, the ability to warp the world to your very will.”

“How is that different from Psychic powers?”

The Bodyguard just shook his head. “They are different scales and different degrees. Psychic powers can be just as impactful, but are often more limited, more focused. She can change the very particles of air around her to become another particle of matter. That is magic, as it is changing the world. If it was more focused, or more directed in scope, then it would be a psychic power.” He said, trying to come up with the words that would describe the difference between the two forms of power.

“So Psychic powers are limited?”

“In scope yes, you will always see that there is a finite point that they go to. Also, there is almost always a direct trail back to the caster, especially with psychic powers that go outside the body. Magic powers on the other hand are wider in nature and more easily able to see and predict the expected outcome of.”

At that Sarah just nodded. “I think I understand.”

“The more you see the two in action, the more you will begin to understand how they are different.”

At that Sarah just nodded, “I think I am going to go say hi to my friend.”

The bodyguard raised his finger to correct her, to say that someone in her position couldn’t afford to have friends, but she was gone before he could even utter his protests.

As Sarah got closer, she saw the way the sophomores all worked as a well-oiled machine. No one really needing to be told what to do. People that were just standing around, got busy by putting away trash. Others served out chicken on plates, so that the trays could be quickly washed by water Alexa created out of thin air, then she would proceed to create more chicken. Seeing the pieces, Sarah couldn’t help but wonder what they of odd American cuisine this was. For something that had been summoned out of thin air, she assumed it wouldn’t taste great, but given the way everyone seemed to be groaning with pleasure when they took a bite, only caused her own stomach to rumble in protest.

Gurgle.

“Would you like a piece?” Lily, a cute girl who everyone knew not to mess with after Frank got shot down on Halloween night trying to go at her. Speaking of Frank, he was supposed to be coming back to campus shortly, if he wasn’t already here. With that, Sarah looked around, curious if she could see this mean Frank. There was also nice Frank, who was the boy from her class. He was all right, in that overly talkative kind of way, but Sarah had to admit that he did have a way of making her feel at ease.

“Hey, you made it.” Nice Frank said.

“Yeah, I got the message, so I decided to come and say thanks.” Sarah said, a bit nervously.

“There was a message?” Frank asked.

“Yeah,” Sarah said, holding up her phone and showing the message from Alexa. At least she tried to, as there was a wall of messages from everyone in the chat that Alexa set up. “Well, it was there, somewhere.”

“Oh, that’s pretty cool. I would have had it, but my phone got wiped recently, I lost every number I had.”

“Oh, that is too bad.” Sarah said.

“Could I have yours?” He asked.

“What, of course…”

“Stop, he is using one of the oldest pickup lines in the book, and you are falling for it.” The bodyguard said.

“What? He is?” Sarah asked, turning from her guard to Frank who was now turning beat red.

“Yeah, I really like you, so I figured I’d try…”

***

“Come on man, you should come.” Joe Dugan said, talking to his friend on the phone.

“No, I don’t want to see that wench.” An angry Frank Wright said.

“I could make you.” Joe teased.

“I said, no. Also, you better hope I don’t find you doing anything to my mind. If you do, I will end you.”

“All right, all right, chill man. Still, this is her going away, you should come. They have this chicken that is to die for.”

“I’m fine,” the boy currently referred to on campus as Mean Frank, said.

“All right, your loss man.” Joe said, while hanging up.

Frank for his part just watched the phone for a few moments, then after a brief hesitation, he pulled up his phone and dialed a new number.

Click.

The phone on the other end picked up within two clicks. “Our mutual acquaintance is hosting a party right now. Rumor is, this is a going away party on account of her going to England tomorrow.”

Muffled speaking.

“I don’t know where. I assume the same place she did last time.”

Muffled.

“Again, I don’t know. If it was the TSI labs, then sure, the TSI labs again.”

Muffled.

“The Prime Minster’s daughter is there to thank her. Yes, she is going to England.”

Muffled.

Click.

The phone call ended abruptly as Frank couldn’t help but smile at what lay in wait for Alexa when she went to the TSI labs to teleport out.

***

“Speech.”

“Speech.”

A chanting chorus of voice all spoke out, demanding Alexa give a farewell speech. Alexa for her part did not look flustered or put out as most would, when engaging in such a display, even with people she knew. Instead, she just reluctantly nodded to herself before moving forward.

Holding up one hand she got the audience to come to a complete hush in a matter of seconds, as everyone waited with baited breath to hear what she had to say.

“Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the fact that you all came out on this cold night to partake in this moment. Tomorrow I will help take down, Feladrana, one of the two dragons infesting the English countryside. Know that this will likely be the first of many such encounters we will have to prepare for. As you might have heard on the news, there is an integration that will occur shortly after New Year’s Day. When that integration happens, all the dungeons of Earth will be fully open to the different planets of the universe. It will be both a humbling and wonderous moment all at once. At that time Dragons, Elves, and Orcs will come upon us trying to carve out swaths of lands for them to take. It will be our job to make sure we slaughter the ruthless, kick out the terrible, and make alliances with those who are acceptable. We can only do that by getting stronger. That is why I want you all to witness here and now the moment when twenty-one new magic wielders are unlocked before your very eyes.”

With that Alexa had every member of her pack, along with Luke and Gina come before her and have their four main schools of magic opened. Even those that already had undergone this process did so now, to show that they were part of the first group chosen by Alexa, that these were the people who she had personally chosen and accepted.

Once they were all awakened, each went and began casting minor Tier I affects. Most were simple displays that were little more than balls of light, but still glowed brightly in the dark of night that had surrounded them.

With those twenty-one all awakened, with the four schools of magic that Alexa had mastered to this point she began calling out more names.

“Angelica Gloria Docker, Sarah Marie Stevens, Franklin Delano Young, Ty Montgomery Burners, step forward and be recognized.”

With that, the four additional students all paused and looked on with shock for a moment, before stepping forward. Sarah gave one quick glance to her bodyguard, but quickly left his side before he could protest.

With that, Alexa then went through the process of awakening the first tier of magic in each of them as well.

Alexa now looked slightly paler than when she began her speech. Anyone who had been paying close attention could see the strain such acts were having on her, but she forced herself through, as if realizing this might be her last time to do such an event. Little did everyone know, that that was exactly why Alexa had chosen tonight to do this. The fact that so many possible candidates all appeared, only caused her to go ahead with her next stage of recruits as well. Her mindset was that if she didn’t return, she would at least have left a good starting point for a resistance. Each of these four had been vetted by multiple members of her pack, and their teacher who was also an awakened member of the pack.

***

The party was still going strong. Even from the center of campus people could see the giant pillar of flames rising high overhead. No one seemed to notice two students walking silently across the campus lawn, towards the campus’ Tier II dungeon. No one, except the two security guards who were on duty tonight.

“Ms. Thyme, you are back again tonight?” Karl the security guard asked.

“Yes, Karl, thank you.” She said, holding out four crystals.

“Is he actually going to go in this time?” Karl asked, pointing towards Luke.

“No, he is just going to walk me back again.” Alexa said.

“Then you don’t need to pay for him to walk you back.” Karl said, as he picked up two of the four offered crystals.

Seeing that, Alexa let out a smile, “thanks Karl.”

It was of course a forced smile, but one that had been practiced so much that no one except for Luke and Gina would have noticed the fact that the shine in her eyes wasn’t quite there. Still, that was not something Alexa could help, but it was something that Luke paid full attention to.

With the entry fee paid, the two made their way back to the entrance of the dungeon.

Only once they were there, and Alexa had given a signal indicating that she had lifted the listening runes from around them did Luke begin to speak.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

“But I could just send you to the ninth stage. Hell, even the tenth stage at this point might be a better solution. I know you made your promise and all, but seriously…”

Alexa looked at her brother then after a second spoke, “what good would running do?”

“You could live another day.”

Alexa shook her head. “I would survive another day. Just as I have survived these last few days that I have been out of the dungeon. That isn’t living. Also, by my going back I prove to those elves that we are not frightened of them.”

“You should be. You even told me that you were. At the very least you had your doubts about whether you were capable of going toe to toe with such a monster.”

“I know, that is why this will be fun.”

“Fun? You call going against a monster likely over 200 levels higher than you and a Princess to boot fun?”

“Yeah, it took me a while, but I think I also have a way of beating her.”

“You plan on fighting her?”

“Not just her, all of them.”

“Forget it, I’m not doing it, I’m not helping.”

“I’m going to go in there. I will go to the eight stage regardless of what you say, the only question is where will I end up, once I am out.” Alexa said.

Luke looked like he was about to protest, but Alexa stepped forward into the dungeon and disappeared before Luke could even react quickly enough to change his sister’s destination. Frantically, Luke lunged forward and tried desperately to redirect his sister to stage nine at the very least, but to no avail. When he pulled up her status, it showed she was already there, in Stage VIII of her Trials of Ascension.

“Dang it!” Luke hissed, as he thought about leaving her there for a moment. But then let out a long sigh, and ultimately did as his sister wanted. He changed her exit destination to be the dungeon she noted that was outside of London England. Once the process was done, he closed his connection to the dungeon and cursed under his breath, “there, I hope you are happy…”

With that he stomped off angrily. Only making it three steps before turning back to look at the dungeon entrance, before adding “and safe.”

Then he left.