The Adventures of Decen and Merrow

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The Adventures of Decen and Merrow acts as a prologue in some sorts, and looks into Samuel Mason's old life, as Paladin Decen of Acadia.


The Paladins. A powerful breed of warriors, who served the mighty Acadians in the land of Acadia, a long time ago. Each Paladin stood for something innate to them, and as such, were feared and honoured by all those who are lucky enough to meet them... or unlucky enough to be targeted by them.

Strong, steadfast, and respected, each Paladin served the Acadians with an undying loyalty. But no Paladin was perfect. That was where their Guardians came in. Guardians assigned to serve as the companions of the Paladin, in an unbreakable bond. Guardians chosen to fulfill the Paladin in areas he or she lacks, and to become one unifying force to be reckoned with.

The most sought Guardians were the mighty beasts. The dragons, the wolves, the warriors, and the monsters. No man could stand against the mighty Paladin and their Guardian.


Chapter 1

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I shouted after Merrow, who decided to dip on me after the ceremony.

"Girls night." She responded, packing up her things, and forming a portal, hopping in.

"Don't you dare leave. What the hell is this?! You're just gonna leave on your first day as my Guardian?!" I shouted after her, but Merrow was already through the portal.

"Yup." She held up her hand, wiggled her fingers, and gave me a sarcastic smile as the portal closed.


"RAAAAHH!!!" My arm pulsated with red energy as I picked up the nearest piece of furniture and threw it at the portal which had already closed. The sofa crashed onto the other side of the cabin.


"Damn... I'm no Guardian. But I'm a girl. And she's one bitc-"

"Jonna!" I clamped my hand on her mouth. "Don't call her that, even if she is. Otherwise he's gonna-"

"What will he do?" A voice boomed behind me. Great. Icarus approached me from behind.

"Oh uh, hey buddy." I tried to sound nice, hiding the urge to smash another sofa.


Jonna rolled her eyes. "Let it go, Ic. She is, okay? Besides, why you always gotta be like that. You let me say damn, hell, crap, but no.... if I so much as call someone that, you get all riled up!" She started making flamboyant gestures.

Icarus shook his head. "It is not for the reason of the swear word. We are Paladins. We must uphold our sense of honour."

Polyth slithered across Icarus' flannel, hissing at us. "My masssssssssster is correct.... we musssssssst act accordingly."


I clenched my fist. Merrow dipped on me on the first day. It was bad enough I had her as a Guardian. Now I had to deal with this. "Dude. Just talk normally. We all know you don't talk like that."

Polyth chuckled. "Well... you can't blame me, Child of War. I am a SSSSSSSSNAKE!"


I began grumbling about Merrow. Polyth slithered closer to me. "Come now, young Paladin. Perhaps it just takes time. I'm sure she feels the same way. Relationships often take time to start."

My hand instinctively turned into a blade, slicing the ground. "We are NOT in a relationship."


Jonna and Icarus laughed. Icarus put his hand on my shoulder. "Well, it is a day off. Perhaps we can spend the rest of the night together. Even if you are.... Guardian-less."

Celestia fluttered on Jonna's shoulder. "Gurllll I'm gonna give you the best makeover you ever seen!" Jonna grinned. "Aw hell yeah."

I joined Icarus and Jonna to the Acadian gate to check out the outside world. All the while grumbling.


"See why he gotta let hell slide but not bit-" I muttered before Icarus shot me a deadly look. "UGH YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" I shouted, throwing my hands into the air.


Safe be said, this was not my day. And I've had some pretty shitty days. Welcome to my life, I guess. Yay me.



"Yeah, gimme five red bulls please." I told the lady operating the counter. She looked at me like I was a mad man. I looked over my shoulder as two girls stared at me with horror. I smirked. Yeah. I needed the energy. I hadn't slept for days because I was too busy getting in some extra work down to understanding and developing new moves. I was determined to get to the top 10 in my Paladin class.

"Here's your five cancer cans." The lady slid the cans to me. "Thanks granny."

The old lady glared at me. "Drinking that is going to kill you some day."

I grinned. "I don't know. I'm pretty hard to kill."


I joined Icarus and Jonna at the carnival. Jonna handed me some cotton candy. I noticed her face. "Dude, what is that?"

Jonna laughed. "It's makeup. Celestia hooked me up with some basics. What do you think?"

"I think it makes you look like a damn clown."

Celestia glared at me. But Jonna laughed even harder. "Then I guess it'll be perfect in a fight! Gonna scare my opponents away!"


We spent the night hanging out, going on rides, and eating out. Icarus and Polyth were in some philosophy debate, while Celestia was giving Jonna a tutorial on makeup. I leaned back on my bench. I felt like a total fifth wheel. But what was I supposed to do with my Guardian? Talk to her about shoes? Purses? We would end up just strangling each other.

I glanced at a hammer machine. It was one of those old machines used to gage someone's strength. You get a hammer and smack a platform and it gives you a score. I smirked. Maybe I could go shock some people for fun. Yeah.


I got up. "Guys, I'm gonna go chill out over there for a bit, I'll catch you guys later."

Icarus looked up. "Sure thing, just be back before 12am. We have curfew."

"We literally don't have that. You're the ONLY person in our class who reinforces it."

"Without curfew, we have no discipline."


Turned out I didn't need to worry about where my Guardian was, because the moment I was in line, I saw her. Merrow Rivenlight, with her "girlfriends" and a couple of guys. One guy was trying to make a move on her.

"Yo, Merr. If I hit the bell, I'll take you home with me. Even give you the bear."

Merrow laughed. "Okay there, hotshot. I don't date no wimps."

Aw yeah. This was gonna be rich. The guy went up, and smacked the platform, scoring level 7 out of 11, a new top score. The guys and girls clapped for him while he flexed his biceps to Merrow, who wasn't impressed.

"You didn't get the bell, hotshot. I guess I'm staying single."

"Babe, you KNOW I got top score. Getting the bell is impossible."

"Uh huh."


Uh huh was right. It was my turn. The announcer looked me up and down. "What's your name, son?"

"Decen."

The announcer turned to the crowd. "A new challenger! Looks like the last one, Decen!"

Merrow apparently noticed, because her expression went from laughter to horror to embarrassment. "You've gotta be kidding me." She muttered.

I took the hammer, and activated my red energy, swirling underneath my coat, hidden from everybody. I slammed the hammer down with just enough force as the slider shot upwards, smacking the bell.


The crowd went silent as I turned around, propping the hammer on my shoulder, giving the guys a cocky smirk. "Easy." I said, dropping the hammer on the ground.

I took the bear and stuffed it in Merrow's hands, who was still staring at me. "See you in mission briefing, fish girl." I glanced at her momentarily, before facing the guy. He looked pretty uncomfortable as he just witnessed his high score completely annihilated by mine. It was almost comedic, because he was at least a head taller than me, and definitely more muscular.

"Hitting on my Guardian without my consent, huh. Better head back to the gym after this L, bud."


I walked away, but not before the guy spitting at my direction. "Yeah, okay there, skinny bitch. At least Merrow WANTS to be with me, unlike you. She's only with you because of a job." My eyes flashed with a brighter magenta. I turned around, walking back to his direction.

"What's your name." I asked.

"Peter. Now get on out of here. No one wants your negative energy man."

I stepped closer to the guy, looking him in the eye, my magenta eyes glowing with a dangerous light. Peter suddenly started to sweat. I could sense his uneasiness from my hunting instinct.

"You got spunk, stud. To speak with that tone to a Paladin. Especially one..."

I grabbed Peter by the collar with one arm, lifting him off the ground. His buddies suddenly backed off. Merrow stepped forward but I didn't care. I hated people like Peter. The guys who were super chad. Super popular with the ladies. The popular guy, which everybody loved. The popular guy, who always gave people like me a bad time. Before I was a Paladin, I was always bullied by people like Peter. Now that I had powers... it was a completely different story.

I continued my little parade. "Especially one, that is a Paladin of War."

Peter's eyes widened. "I'm... I'm sorry dude. I'm so sorry. I respect you man. I respect the Paladins for all they do. They're real badass, you're real badass man."

I let go, as Peter cowered away, running.

I looked at his buddies, raising my eyebrow. They suddenly began to suck up to me. "Yeah dude, we don't know that guy. He was always a lurker in our group anyway."


Everybody began to leave me after witnessing my strength. My cover was probably blown, but it didn't matter. Paladin Trellis would probably just wipe their memories anyway. The only person who didn't leave was Merrow, who was glaring at me.

"The hell was that?!" She shouted at me.

"Payback." I replied. "Better start treating me with respect. I don't need to have some popular girl type ruining my vibe. But I need a Guardian for briefing tomorrow. Don't bail on me, or I'll find your next boyfriend and he's going to have a real hard time."

Merrow was fuming, as she walked off. "Let me have this night with my friends. I'll be there with you tomorrow. At least let me have some fun for the last time of my life."


I let her leave with her friends, a grin on my face. Sometimes, you just gotta let your subordinates know who is boss. Welcome to the world of Paladins, kids.


Chapter 2

"Quit texting on that stupid phone." I told Merrow as we were standing before the Paladin Elder, receiving our mission briefing. I was alongside the other Paladins, each of them accompanied by their powerful Guardians, beasts that looked so badass and cool. Why couldn't I had at least a dragon? I glanced over at Merrow again. This was such BS. Whatever. I could handle the mission myself. I always did anyway.

Merrow paid me no attention, as she smiled and giggled at the screen. I looked over and saw nothing but a bunch of love hearts. "What are you doing?" I asked her.

"It's called Tinder, but you've probably never heard of it."

"Excuse me?!"


"Paladin Decen, is there anything you wanted to say?" Elder Paladin Strixi looked at me from the podium. Shit.

"Erm, no, sir."

"Then you know what you and your Guardian must do."

"Slay the kingpin, and spare the low ranking workers."

Strixi nodded with approval. Hell yeah.


We walked back to the barracks, where I went to go get my stuff. Merrow scrunched up her nose.

"What is this place."

"It's the barracks. It's where me and my Paladin squad sleep. You would know if you didn't ditch me last night."

"It looks so gross."

"No it isn't. Maybe lower your expectations a bit. Paladin Icarus went out of his way to remodel and clean up the whole place. You should be honoured to be in the presence of a Paladin's living quarters. Not many are given the chance."

Merrow glanced at the sofa that was still sideways, halfway jammed into the window from when I threw it in a rage. "I'm sure he did."

My face went red in embarrassment. "That was from last night."

Merrow raised an eyebrow. "Got a little anger issue, don't you?"

I growled under my breath. "Hmm."

I took off my coat. The weather was a bit toasty, so having a coat on was pretty illogical. I kept my hoodie on and checked myself in the mirror. Merrow walked by my side and gave me a once over.

"Your clothes are so baggy."

I rolled up my sleeves. "What's your point, fish girl."

"Baggy clothes seems so out of style, these days."


I took a deep breath. "Let me just pack some stuff before we leave." I walked over to an old case, opening it to reveal my amulet. It was green, shaped like a circle, but having distinct patterns near the centre. Merrow gasped.

"It's... beautiful." She muttered.

"It was a gift." I put the necklace on. There were no magical items allowed during mission briefing or the ceremony, which was why I had it in the case to begin with.

Merrow sat on my bed, much to my disgust. "From who?"

"Someone I liked. She figured it could help me in my fights against healing suppressors."

"She?" Merrow's face looked amused.

"Yes, she."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"No. Shortly after, she tried to kill me, and steal my powers. Turned out she meant for the necklace to be fake, but it was the real thing, and her plan failed. I was forced to kill her."

Merrow's smile faded. "I'm... so sorry."


I turned to her. She looked genuinely concerned. Not like it mattered or anything. "Whatever. That's just how it is. At the end of the day, you just have to trust yourself and only yourself."

Merrow tilted her head. "Even your friends?"

"If it comes down to that, yes. I don't need companions."

"You seem to have a hard time trusting people. I get it. But you shouldn't just give up all hope just because of one girl."

I clenched my fist. "They're all the same. I don't need em. All that matters is strength. Come on."


I walked out of the barracks, and went to the Acadian transport gate, ready to deploy. Merrow walked alongside me. "I, uh... sorry about earlier. I know it's a touchy subject."

"Don't mention it."

"But for the record, I think your dress sense and your living quarters is disgusting."

"And I think your personality is toxic and intolerable."

"Excuse me?! You're the anti-social nerd here. You literally scared away my date!"

"He wouldn't have done anything for you either way. Couldn't even meet his promise to hit the bell."


We sat on the train heading to the central teleporter. According to briefing, we needed to find and extract the kingpin of some terrible drug operation or something. Those details didn't concern me. As a Paladin, we were expected to do what we were told. Kill who we needed to kill, and spare who we needed to spare. It really was all there was to it. I didn't care if they were some kind of cartel, or a smuggling facility. It was just another contract.

As you may have expected, like most trains, we were divided into seats, groups of four. However, since not a lot of Paladins were being deployed at this hour (because Merrow decided to spend an extra 30 minutes on doing her makeup) we ended up deploying late. The train was basically almost empty.

Merrow sat on the far end, while I sat on the other side of the car. As far as we were from each other. I couldn't imagine spending an hour sitting next to her. Would have been the worst hour in my life, and I've had my body cut up, tortured, beat up, pummelled, and tossed off the side of a cliff before.


I fingered my necklace, remembering how I got it. That girl took me in, after I had escaped a monster that was stronger than the ones I was contracted to kill. It was when I first received the Restoration Force connection so I didn't know how to use it that well. She was the first to actually care about my wellbeing, and in return, I protected her from the monsters that would always come and invade.

One day, we were faced against that same monster, who tried to kill us. The girl took out an old amulet, the one I'm wearing right now, and told me that it was an old ancestral item passed down to centuries, telling me that it was capable of negating regeneration dampening effects, which was how the monster nearly killed me in the first place.

I ended up killing the monster, but it was a really close match. I was pretty much shredded and torn up. Regenerating from the bottom up. The girl stared at me, horrified. When I asked her what was wrong, she took out a shotgun and began shooting me over and over again.

You weren't supposed to survive that guy. She told me.

I was supposed to be killed by that monster. She had fabricated the entire contract, planned that particular monster to kill me, and then steal my cells to get the Restoration Force. But what she didn't know, was that the amulet that she had lied about having negation effects, actually worked. The girl was capable of deception word magic, which basically made whatever she said a reality if she believed enough. It was a broken power that she didn't even know she had.

Of course, upon realizing the betrayal, I didn't give her a chance to use it again. Ever again.

I wished absorption would let me take in magical powers too, but I didn't get her deception word magic, which sucked.


I still wear this amulet to this day, not just because it is useful in fights against regeneration dampeners, but also serves as a reminder. Never put your life in someone else's hands, because you can damn be sure they will choose themselves over you.


Chapter 3

"We're here, Cheesen. Hey." Merrow was shaking me awake.

I got up and exited the train, which had already gone through the teleporter. We were in the middle of some kind of festival like place. Downtown, with signs everywhere. I had to find the Kingpin.

"Merrow, can you reach into my bag and take out my notebook?"

"Ew, no."

I turned around and gave her an annoyed look.

I took off my backpack and sifted through the stuff inside. Papers, water bottle, empty Red Bull cans. I guess I should probably throw them out. I took the cans and threw them on the ground.

"What are you doing?!" Merrow yelped.

"What is it now." I muttered.

"You're littering!"

I looked up at her. She looked like I had slapped her grandmother. "You can't be serious."

Merrow's eyes were filled with fury. "It's bad enough you're the weirdo in class nobody likes. You're also a earth dweller, a litterer. Do you know how much toxin gets thrown into the ocean every day? The least you can do is be mindful with the environment."

I took a deep breath. If I was gonna finish this quest and add merit to my Paladin profile, I needed to move. Arguing with Miss Student Council would only just delay the mission even more.

My hand extended into tendrils as I grabbed the cans and threw them into the recycling. "Happy?"

Merrow's face went from enraged to disgust. "That's... really gross."

"They're tendrils, Merrow. Relax. You probably swim by octopi all the time."


I opened my notebook and read off the notes. The Kingpin was apparently located in some giant building that advertised their product. Why was he located in the most obvious location ever? No idea. All I needed to do was eliminate him. But I could not kill anybody else. Meaning I needed to stick to good old fashioned clobbering.

"Alright Merrow, I'm just going to make the assumption that you listened to jack shit in our mission briefing. So I'm gonna lay it out to you strai-"

"Kill the Kingpin in that building over there without killing anybody else, right."

I stared at her. "How the hell did you-"

"Unlike you, I multitask just fine."


I stuffed the notebook in my bag. "Whatever. Let's just go into the building and get this contract done."

"Hold on, you're not seriously going to do that right?"

"Huh?" I was starting to get annoyed with this girl.


Merrow looked surprised for some reason. "You're just going to waltz in, demand to see their boss, and beat everybody up? What if the police show up?"

I walked off, heading to the building. "Then I beat them up too for interfering with my mission. This is a Paladin contract. Petty law enforcement officers mean nothing to me."

Merrow didn't look too pleased with my response. "Law enforcement officers go out of their way risking their lives to make the world a better place. You should treat them with more respect."

I was about to say something, but I decided not to. She was technically right. I've fought alongside many officers in previous contracts, and I've seen good men die. Not everybody was that bad. But I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of being right.

"Whatever."



We finally arrived. A huge building with a gated grid, probably electric. I peered at the doorway, which was guarded by a couple of very hunky dudes. Easy clap. I'd just walk in, then reach the top floor. If the guy tried to escape via. helicopter or some shit I'd just slice it up. Mission donezo.

Merrow knelt down next to me. "What's the plan, Decen?"

I looked at her. "Okay, here's the plan. I want you to sit here, watch the guards. Take careful note of everything happening as I breach the defences, beat up everybody and complete the mission. Capeesh?"

Merrow glared at me. "Are you serious? What if the Kingpin gets away? You're being too reckless. There's no way you're serious."


I got up, my hand transforming into a blade as I sliced the fence in half. I walked in as Merrow began calling me names.



"Fellas" I casually tipped my imaginary hat to the guards. They looked at each other in confusion and began shooting. I walked past them, two tendrils blasted through the sides of my back and knocking them unconscious.

I approached the bolted wall and kicked it open with a huge crash.

I walked to the elevator as several men began shooting at me. I didn't really feel the pain, with my body being a quasi-fixed entity, any bullet that did go through me meant nothing. I casually clicked the elevator, and went inside, and got to the top floor.

The doors opened with the Kingpin getting on a helicopter, the guys began shooting me.


I ran forward, pursuing the Kingpin, who was a very obese white male. Stereotypical drug dealer. It was almost painful to see how cliche it was. My hand transformed into a large, wide blade, and slashed at the ladder, cutting his way of escape.


"End of the line, big man."

The Kingpin motioned to his men, but I turned around, my blade transforming into a whip as I sent the two hurling into several windows.

I turned back to the Kingpin. "Got any more tricks, bud?"


The Kingpin began to plead. "Please, Paladin. I only wanna get back to my little girl. This job, she doesn't know. I just wanna have food on the table. Please. If I die, I won't see her ever again."

This made me mad. The Kingpin was responsible for his drug cartel, which was famed for killing people who had their own children back at home, struggling to get food on the table. This cartel put these men on the line, at risk. All the Kingpin did was send orders, swim in money.

But... seeing someone like him, someone who looked so deserving to die, plead for his life, it hit me in some way.


A breeze parted my black and magenta hair, my bangs dancing around eyes. "I am contracted to kill you, Kingpin. But... if what you say is true, I suppose I can make some arrangements..."


The Kingpin looked relieved. "Thank you, Paladin. I swear I'm telling the truth."

I grabbed a piece of metal and bent it into mini handcuffs. "Turn around."

I walked up to the Kingpin and began to handcuff him. This was against contract and protocol. I knew that. He was probably also lying. But... if he wasn't...


He turned and looked at me. "Thank you."

I continued bending the metal. "Don't mention it."

"Not that."

I looked up, his eyes were no longer brown, but pitch black, glowing red at the pupils. The sight made me jump as the Kingpin blasted me with a powerful beam of red energy. I yelled as I crashed through the ground, down the several stories. I could hear all the men who were still recovering in the building scream as chunks of rubble fell on them.

I spat out blood as I tried to move, but my body was too damaged. I needed at least a few seconds to fully regenerate without Absorption.


The Kingpin stood at the top of the rubble, laughing.


"For a Paladin, you're pretty shit at controlling your feelings. Here's a little lesson, kid. Maybe be a little less naive."

I glared at him. "You killed your own men, your own workers! The people who swore their allegiance to you! You have no honour!"

The Kingpin gave me a confused look. "Honour? I sell friggin DRUGS for a living, dumbass. What honour is there? These men are expendable. And so are you. This is the real world, kid."


The Kingpin's eyes glowed once more, blasting me through the rubble. I couldn't move a muscle as my body was flattened. I tried to get to my feet, summoning everything I had to fight through his concussive force.

"You... bastard..." I growled. I finally got to my feet, inching forward, menacingly, fighting through his beam as the Kingpin began to struggle.


I continued inching forward, until two pieces of metal fell from above, one of them impaling me through the back. I tried to move and remove the metal. I wasn't able to cut through it, my body still attempting to regenerate.


The Kingpin stopped his beam of energy. "Well, it's been fun, kid. But I gotta go." The helicopter descended from the sky, picking him up.


I held out my hand, unable to transform as my body was still regenerating. I looked at a nearby survivor of the building collapse, a man barely clinging to life. If I could absorb him, I could have the strength to transform my arm into something to stop him. But I would take a life.


"You... bastard... come back." I growled, attempting to get my feet to touch the ground for leverage to pull the beam out.


I looked at all the bodies of the people who were killed by this maniac's attack. This mission was a failure. The least I could do was eliminate the stupid VIP.


Suddenly, the Kingpin stopped moving. From behind his back, sprouted a spear. The Kingpin fell to the ground, dead. The helicopter operator freaked out, and bailed, as I watched Merrow walk up to me, unimpressed.

"Good work, Cheesen. I'd say mission success."

"Get me out of this thing."


Merrow grabbed the beam and ripped it out of the ground as I fell to the ground, my body closing up and regenerating. "Your welcome." Merrow said, as she turned around and took our her phone, walking away.

I sat on the ground, speechless.


Chapter 4

"You failed your contract, Paladin of War. What do you have to say in your defence?" Paladin Strixi was pretty disappointed in me. And he had every right to be. We as Paladins were considered one of the strongest of the strongest of Acadia. We were the elite task force, the best mercenaries all around. Failure was almost unheard of, and to hear that the objective was not met, even if the VIP was eliminated, was simply unacceptable.


"Nothing." I responded, unable to meet the Elder in the eye.

Strixi was silent for a few seconds. "Very well." He held up his hand, and a rune lit up, which lit up magenta with tons of pointed ends. For a Paladin, our profile was based on how many points appeared in our Runic Star. Every successfully completed contract meant one point to the star. We all started out with three.

I had twenty six, which wasn't bad. Most of the Paladins had an average of eighteen. But Icarus had forty seven, which was far ahead from me. Also the fact that some of the other higher ranking Paladins, like Azazel for instance, had fifty two. Even Jonna had thirty eight. I knew that my performance was below these guys. Meaning I had to put in the work.

I worked my ass off to complete each contract perfectly, with minimal mistakes. But over time, I began to gain confidence because I found myself completing missions with little to no regard.


Until today.

I watched as Strixi closed his fist. My heart sank as I watched half of my points disappear, leaving me with a thirteen pointed star. Below average. I clenched my fist.

Strixi looked disappointed, but kept an objective expression. "You are suspended from contracts for a month. Please take this time to reconsider your skills. I have already notified all clients of your declination of all contracts. You know your way out, Paladin."


I left the Principia, and headed to the Barracks where I took off my coat, throwing it into a wall with a yell.

Merrow watched as I took off my hoodie, revealing my malnourished frame as I sat on the chair with my head in my hands.

"It wasn't your fault, Decen."

I glared at her. Merrow's face didn't look threatening, or mean, like she was about to insult me or anything. She looked genuinely concerned. My expression softened. But I was still very very pissed. Not with Merrow, but myself.

"It was entirely my fault. If I hadn't been so damn soft on that guy... I would have completed the contract. Instead I let my feelings get in my way."


Merrow propped her spear on a wall. "Well, I don't care what kinda laws and policies you guys have here. Sparing a guy with the chance that he could see his little girl again is a good thing. If Strixi doesn't think that deserves an award, then screw em."

I stared at my own reflection. My hair was wild, my magenta eyes had shadows underneath them, making me look like some kind of feral rockstar when in reality I hadn't slept in days.

"Elder Strixi doesn't come up with these rules. It's a custom for us, as warriors and Paladins to become the best at what we do. Failure... doesn't just hurt an individual Paladin, but all of Acadia."

Merrow sat on my bed again, but I was way too depressed to care about that. "So a whole month, huh. I guess maybe that gives you some time off!"


"Some time off..." I muttered.

"You know, like some time off of contracts. You could focus on yourself. Like maybe a vacation, or hanging out with friends."

"Jonna and Icarus are off on contracts."

"Don't you have friends outside of this?"

"No."


Merrow looked away. "Yikes." She muttered.

I managed a smirk. "What makes you think someone like me would have non-Paladin friends?"

Merrow propped her sneakers on my bed frame. "Maybe find a hobby? I'm sure there's something that interests you. Like a video game? Emo music?"

"Emo music?"

Merrow held back a laugh. "Well I mean, let's be honest. You kind of look like the type to listen to that stuff."

"Excuse me?! You're the one that looks emo. Your hair is literally green!"

Merrow shot to her feet. "You take that back. I was born with this hair colour."

My eyes widened. "So was I!"


We sat in silence, awkwardly. A hobby...

"I got it." I propped myself up, causing Merrow to jump mid-text.

"Jeez. Don't scare me like that!"

I turned to her. "Hunting and vigilantism."

Merrow stared at me. "Uhhh what?"

I was excited. "I'll hunt and consume some powerful monsters, maybe if I can obtain their cells, I'll be able to add to my abilities. I'll become stronger and better until the suspension is over. Then I can get back on my grind to become the strongest and greatest Paladin!"

I cracked my finger. "Just you wait, Icarus. I may be at 13 points. But I'll catch up to you. Then I'll be known as Acadia's greatest Paladin."


Merrow sighed. "Okay, you know what, screw it. I'm taking you out."

I turned around. "What?"

Merrow got to her feet. "You're going outside, Decen. You're so obsessed with work that you don't even know what's fun anymore."

I also got to my feet. "What are you talking about? To hunt, and get stronger. The thrill, what can be more fun than that?"

Merrow sliced the air with her spear, forming an aquatic portal. "You'll see. By the way, I'm only doing this because I feel bad for you."

I walked to the portal, grumbling. "I don't need your sympathy, fish girl."

Merrow put her hands over her eyes, sarcastically pretending to cry. "Oh boo hoo. Come on, it'll be fun. Lighten up a bit you nerd."

I stepped through. "Thot."

"Incel."


Chapter 5

Merrow's idea of "fun" was to take me to a bunch of stores in a mall. Maybe that was fun to some people, but I quite frankly found it torture, considering none of the clothes were particularly my style.

"This looks good... for someone like you I guess." Merrow peered at a dress shirt.

"Are you trying to help me or insult me." I replied.

"Yes." Merrow replied, sarcastically.

I emerged from the dressing room. I felt like a complete idiot. Dress shirt, and tight "business" pants. Merrow held back a snicker.

"Looking good, Master Decen" Merrow spoke with an exaggerated deep voice.

"I look stupid." I grumbled.

Merrow walked up to me and rearranged my hair to be slicked back. "You kind of look like an inventor. Like you know? Someone who would build robots and weapons but have a business kind of vibe to it?"

"That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."


Merrow and I continued walking by a bunch of malls. She kept trying to recommend clothes for me, but a lot of them didn't resonate. We finally hit the breaking point when we reached a store with a poster of a man, he looked around middle aged, posing.

"He's hot." Merrow remarked.

I stared at the model. He had close cropped hair, slightly brown. He wore a grey tank top which exposed his musculature, as well as a black jacket. Upon further inspection, there was a hex wave pattern lining the sides. A nano-weaved jacket. The man had a pair of sunglasses on.

Merrow caught me inspecting. "You should try it, I mean it's not like you got much to lose."

"Absolutely not."

I looked down at the corner, where it listed the model's name. I managed to catch part of the name. Samuel Mas-

"Oh my, Decen, come here." Merrow called me over. I left the poster alone and followed her as she gestured me to some strange looking box. Along the sides were photos of couples smiling. Merrow was inside the booth, gesturing me to come inside.

"The hell is this? An interrogation machine?"


Merrow rolled her eyes. "It's a photo booth. Come on, let's just take a few pictures."

"Why?"

"You never took a photo before?"

I cautiously entered the photo booth. There wasn't a lot of room. Well, actually there was enough room. But when it came to Merrow, our idea of personal space happened to be five times the normal distance.

Merrow was working the interface. "You tend to take photos with people who are important with you, you know? To cherish the time together?"

I smirked. "So I'm important to you?"

"Yeah, because otherwise I'll be jobless and my sister will make fun of me."


We took a few pictures. Merrow didn't seem happy.

"Why aren't you smiling?"

"Why do I need to smile?"

"It'll make the picture less gloomy. Come on, Cheesen. Just think about something that makes you happy."

I thought about myself standing at the top of the Terois Prix. Where Jonna, Icarus, and I declared to become number one. I imagined myself standing there alone, with the other Paladins looking up at me from the ground, praising me. For I had become number one. The greatest and strongest Paladin.

A smile crept on my face as more photos began to be taken.


Merrow and I left the mall. We had a few photos, and a ton of clothes. None of them were mine.

"Explain to me why our trip that was intended to get me stuff end with you getting more clothes." I asked.

Merrow opened a portal and dropped the bags through. "Well, you just lack fashion sense. Do you feel refreshed? Good break?"

I leaned on the railing. "Felt like a waste of time." I glanced at the photos.

Merrow looked at the horizon, her frizzy green hair dancing with the wind. "Sorry. I was just trying to help."

My expression softened. She tried to help. Maybe I was a bit too harsh. I tried to make it up.

"You have a sister?"

"Yeah. Coraline Rivenlight. Cora for short. She's older than me."

I snickered. "Coraline? Like as in coral?"

Merrow smiled. "Yeah. Stupid name, I know."

"Do you guys keep in touch?"

"No. I hate her."


I looked down, in awkward silence. Merrow sighed.

"She always looked down on me. Even when we were younglings. She was always the better sister, working alongside the Neptunians. Being a Guardian in the household was considered a low class job. Forever a maid to her master."

I suddenly felt really guilty. "I uh..."

Merrow shook her head. "Look, all you need to know is my sister is annoying. And I hate her. You know what's worse than being a Guardian? Being jobless. So at least I have you around to say I'm not just sulking around in the house."

"Screw that fish head." I stood up, causing Merrow to stare at me in surprise.

I turned to Merrow. "If she thinks being a partner to Acadia's future greatest Paladin is a low class job, she can go scurry back to the depths. She's delusional. She should be honoured to even be insulted by the likes of me."

A smile appeared on Merrow's face. "When you're number one, don't forget to shout me out."

I grinned. "I'll prove everybody wrong. And you'll be by my side when that happens."


My smile melted upon hearing a scream erupt from behind the corner. An attack. My legs flowed with red Restoration Force energy as I bounded to the location, with Merrow in tow.

"What's going on?" Merrow shouted at me.

I concentrated, activating my hunter's instincts. My vision was replaced with senses. The beating of hearts. Cellular activity. I was no longer a person, I was a machine. A hunter. Tasked with the sole purpose of locating and hunting the target. Sense. Smell. Feel.

There. I leapt forward, closing my body into a bullet as I dived through a window, and tackling a hefty man to the ground. I landed and used his weight as leverage as I launched him to the side, smashing into a building leaving a trail of bricks and debris.

Merrow tended to the victim of the robbery.

I glared at the man, who had the woman's purse.

"You chose the wrong time to rob civilians." I spoke dangerously. My hand transformed into a claw, scratching the sides of the building.


The man held out a gun, and began firing. I stood and took the bullets as I zipped forward, slicing the gun into three equal pieces. The man stumbled back, but not before several hydro chains wrapped and subdued him. I turned around.

Merrow's eyes glowed green, as she approached the man.

"Who are you, and why are you robbing this woman?"


The man began to panic, but with the chains binding him down, he was not able to do anything.

"Hey, buddy." I said, my claw transforming into a blade, aiming underneath his chin. Right at the throat.

"My Guardian asked you a question."


The man glared at the two of us. "You two have no idea what you have done. That woman is the real threat."

"Very funny, man." I snarled, glaring at him. "Who sent you."


Before the man could respond, a hole appeared on his forehead. The man's eyes went slack.


"Decen!" Merrow shouted, rushing forward and intercepting another blast, catching her in the shoulder. Merrow hit the ground.

I looked at the woman, whose eyes were bright red. The lasers came from her. The woman immediately booked it. I ran to Merrow's side, completely disregarding the fact that some crazy laser eyed woman was now on the loose.

"Hey. Fish girl. Hang in there."

Merrow clenched her teeth. "Don't mind me. I'll be fine, go after her!"


Chapter 6

The woman ran off, thinking she had gotten away. If only.

I instantly closed the distance.

"Running off?" I asked, my arms crossed, two massive tendrils sprouting from my back, with a huge sharp blade on each end, pointed at the criminal. The lady clutched the purse in her hand, and her eyes glowed, firing lasers at me. The two blades instantly intercepted the beams, the shiny ends reflecting the laser back at the woman, burning her eyes.

The woman dropped the purse and fell to her knees, screaming in agony.

I approached her, the tendrils dissipating into red mist.

"I have a lot of questions for you. Who are you. Why this purse. What's inside... actually." I picked up the purse and opened it up, my other hand transforming into a claw to pin the woman down.

I peered inside, and nearly gagged. It was...


"My father. The Kingpin." The woman growled under my claw.

My eyes widened. "What..."

"He was killed. I was paid top dollar to return the head so I could inherit the company."

I zipped it back up and glared at the woman, summoning the Restoration force to heal the woman's eyes.

"You say this with no hesitation or remorse. Your father is dead, and you care about the company?"

The woman glared at me. "Family means nothing. He was a bad man, I am a bad woman. That's how it goes. I'm sure you know, considering you kill for a living."