Double-Sided Chapter Two: Anticipation

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Author’s Note: To all the constructive criticism that was given to me on my FIRST Chapter of “Double-Sided” Foundation, I’ve decided to take their words into mind and hope to build a longer and hopefully better story.
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~9 Years Later~

The world of Victoria, Orbis, and the remainder of the world was it it’s finest. With Barlog vanquished, the mighty Zakum fallen, Doom Flounder at defeat, the citizens can continue to be at peace. It was as if a ray of justice had swooped down and extinguished the flames of evil.

Many years has passed, where the boys were not boys any more, but grown and accomplished teens. Jay was not a weak child, but now an experienced rogue.. Ken was pursuing his dream of the way of the Spearmen.. and Simon was on the chase to become a Hunter. With all these goals in mind, and their hard and relentless flow of training, none of them had once thought about what Tae had said on that day 9 years ago in the cabin.

Jay, tired from his day of work, constantly throwing stars at the tree, then going back to pick them off, had thrown himself on the bed underneath Ken’s. Soon, this building would be a goner, because construction was planned on this spot a couple of weeks back, he had been dreading this day, for there would be no home for him now, he had grown quite fond of his roommates, and he didn’t want this place to be tore down. He gripped the pillow and as he dug his face into the feathery goodness, a voice spoke.

“Hey Jay, I was killing some Evil-Eyes with Simon today, and guess what I found?” Ken said.

Not feeling curious at all, and in the state of absolute melancholy, but deciding it would be best if Jay replied, he answered,

“What?”
“Well, I killed one particular one.. and it was weaker than usual – -“
“That’s because I weakened it!” Simon interrupted.
“- – and it dropped something weird, I thought it was it’s tail, ’cause they always do, but then it was different!.. And..”

Jay had no interest what Ken and Simon were ranting on about, and since it was pitch black in the room, all that could be heard was Ken’s speaking and his crude impression of an Evil Eye being slaughtered. He was imagining what it would be like… without this place.. without Ken and Simon and the residents of Sequel University. He knew the others were dreading tomorrow too, and with all their bags packed up, there seemed like no hope.

“..So I went up to it and picked it up, and when I looked at it closely, it was a SCROLL!”

Jay’s eye shot open. Suddenly feeling wide awake, his head automatically shot up to get out of bed, but a whack in the head reminded him it was a bunkbed. With his forehead red, he slid off the bed.

“You ok?” asked Simon.
“Yeah.. I’m fine..” Jay replied, feeling the slight bump on his forehead.
“Well.. anyways, it’s blue! and I think those are rare.. Don’t they work all the time and have no chance of failing?”
“Yeah! Listen, Ken, Do you have the scroll with you now?”
“Uh-huh.. Lemme get it out..”

Jay and Simon waited in the dark as Ken was rumaging through his backpack for the scroll. It seemed as if he took his time, but when Jay heard the zipper closing, and a rattle of paper, he jumped on the ladder, squinting his eyes trying to take a better look.

“I can’t see..”
“Yeah me too.. Hold on… Soul Arrow,” Simon whispered.

Above Simon illuminated a crest of an arrow that shined with a gold glow, which lit up the piece of parchment Ken was holding. Jay and Simon peered closely to take a look at the scroll Ken was holding in his grip.

It was blank, but aqua blue, with gold lacings around it. It was certainly pretty, that’s what Jay thought, but what he wanted to see was how it gets transfers to the item. After peering at it for some time, Jay finally looked back up from the scroll.

“Guys do you understand what this means?”

Ken tore his eyes away from the scroll.

“This means we can keep the building! Don’t you get it? We sell the scroll, we make mesos, then we fund it to the construction workers, then they won’t tear this place down! It’s a fool-proof plan!”

Simon’s glimmering crest faded away, and the room resumed being dark once more. Jay, Simon, and Ken were sitting on one bed, with their heads conked in a position that made them look like buzzards who came to one spot to eat.

“Son of a snail.. Jay’s right..!” Simon’s face suddenly glowed with glee, “Think of the money we could rack in..!”

Jay gave Simon a glare.

“I mean uh.. for the safety of the school of course..”

Simon’s face was extremely pleasant for a moment, but his face suddenly drooped down.

“Wait.. Which item is this for..?”

Jay suddenly realized, they have to sell the scroll to the appropriate buyer, it could be a bow scroll and for all they know, the buyer could be an assassin.

“Oh… The scrolls for staffs.” Ken said.

It took a moment for that to sink in, Jay was standing there dumbfounded, and Simon had his mouth open, both were starring at Ken, motionless. This was a bad thing.

“Ken..” began Jay, “Mages became extinct 6 years ago..”
“Yeah.. and since Grendel passed away.. No one wanted to be the new magician instructor..” said Simon.

Ken’s face gave a frown.

“But we gotta sell this to someone… Isn’t there someone else we can sell this to?”

Jay shook his head, and looked at the time. It was nearly midnight, they had been talking for nearly an hour. All the magicians were gone, and they had no one to sell it too.. Surely no one would buy it from them? There was no use for a scroll that didn’t fit their weapon..

Then it hit Jay. It was obvious all along. Who better than the kid 9 years ago that said he was going to become the best cleric known? He would’ve made the job advancement a year later.. And Grendel didn’t die until 3 years after their fiasco in the cabin…

He spun his head towards Simon. He looked like as if he was trying to make the bed blow up with his mind, but Jay knew he was thinking. But this was Simon, and Jay knew he could never come up with an answer…

“Tae.” Jay said simply.
Ken looked up. “Excuse me? I’m Ken. Have you lost it Jay?”
“No.. Tae..!” Jay said again.

Ken bit his lip for a moment, but then he broke into a toothy smile.

“RIGHT! Tae! We can sell this to him, and fund the money to the construction workers! Sequel University isn’t going to shut down!”

“Aww… Do we have to?” Simon whined.

Ken shot a nasty leer at him. Jay also gave a look of disapproval.

“Fine..” Simon muttered. Jay could’ve sworn he heard something about “sleepywood sauna” and “could’ve gone”

They all agreed together. They would search for Tae now, and as Jay packed some food and spare clothes, he was thinking he wouldn’t have to be homeless after all.. His brain gave a jolt of happiness, and despite being tired, Ken and Simon would be there with him to search for Tae. Nothing could go wrong… They could even make-up with Tae and possibly become friends again…