Planning had been occupying Raze's mind for a while now. He was constantly thinking about the next step, so he was pretty prepared for Himmy to ask this question. If anything, if the question wasn't asked about how he ended up in the Demonic Faction, then he would have found it even stranger.
"There was an incident at the academy," Raze answered.
"No, shit, Sherlock," Himmy commented as he lifted his hand to his mouth and pulled out a small brown stick. There was nothing on the stick itself nor at either end, but Raze had seen him do this a few times. Now he just had a prop in his hand instead.
"Stop using phrases that no one understands," Charlotte complained, giving Himmy a small kick on his shin that must have still hurt, but Himmy acted as if it did nothing. "What he means is, we can see that you're not at the academy, so what exactly had occurred?"
"There was an assessment," Raze answered, one where they placed students underground to fight against each other. They gave us no food, no water, and made us kill each other, and some students were so hungry they resorted to eating each other."
"I was in a situation where it was life or death, so I used my magic to try and get out of there. In doing so, I ended up in the Demonic Faction, and I was stuck there. The item you gave me, belonging to Alter, I had used that and got in contact with the other Alter team belonging to Marcus, and that's how I ended up in the current situation."
The group decided to stop in the middle of the street. There was a shop that had a few seats on the outside. Himmy took a seat and gave a few coins, to which the owner brought out a few sticks of meat for them to eat.
A plate was passed over, and the three of them slowly started to eat what was given to them. While Charlotte was eating her stick, she lifted her hand to cover her mouth. It was quite clear that she didn't want Raze looking at her, so he turned his head away.
"Your situation is quite the sh*t one, pardon my French," Himmy commented. "It seems that the academy has gone to some drastic measures because of the upcoming martial arts tournament. Honestly, I had heard the Erupting Fist Clan was going around to all the clans asking for some type of permission, so now it makes some sense."
Somewhat, the start of Raze wishing to go against the academy was the assessment, which is why he had used this as a basis.
"I guess there is a real question though, what is the reason you called us? You could have stayed in the Demonic Faction, or maybe lived your life as a wanderer." Himmy asked.
"I was uncomfortable with the Demonic Faction," Raze answered. "It still hasn't been long since I have come to this world. The academy was my way of learning how the Pagna world worked, and now this has happened."
"Alter is a place with Otherworlders; in a way, it feels like it's the only place where I can feel safe. I don't really have anywhere to go, and I was made a squad member."
Himmy continued to look at Raze as he told his story. There was one thing that was bothering him, and it was the fact that Raze had answered almost immediately, as if he had an answer already ready, and as if he had expected the question to come.
"Your posting as a squad member, I invited you honestly because I thought it would be handy for us to have someone on the inside of the academy for information. Since the clan heads seem to go to the academy once in a while."
"Are you saying no then?" Raze asked.
"I didn't say that, just saying the reason why I originally asked you to join the squad," Himmy answered. "You are a squad member, and I guess you can join our team of investigators, so you can travel with us, and from time to time we will need to head in and report to the main base."
This was what Raze was hoping for; at the main base of Alter, there would be answers, including maybe how to go to the other side. If all hell broke loose, he still had the item that would allow him to summon a Divine one as well. It was his wild card because he didn't know what exactly would happen.
"We currently have a mission now, but in a way, you are somewhat related to this," Charlotte said nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "We were going to have you come on the team after you completed your time at the academy. You would be stronger then, helping us out. We were hoping the current mission we were on would be completed by then because you're kind of a suspect."
Hearing these words, Raze was pretty sure he knew what case they were on because there was only one thing he would be a suspect in.
"You are smart, so I'm sure you have figured it out," Himmy said. "We actually got changed to another mission. We completed that, and then they put us on the mission again. Do you want to know why?"
"Because the other team that got involved, they were all killed."
This just confirmed his suspicion. Himmy and Charlotte were investigating the mysterious deaths that had occurred in his town. The one that included his family and himself.
town. The one that included his family and himself.
"I have to ask, has anyone tried to come after your life, or your sister's?" Himmy asked.
"While at the academy, not really, but that might be because I was in the academy," Raze answered.
Himmy pulled out a little pad and a long black piece of tool. He started to write on sheets of paper, making small notes, and placed it back in his pocket.
The deaths, with what had happened, Raze thought the special demon that followed him might have something to do with it, but he was thinking that was less likely as well. And then there was a chance the original Raze was behind it, but he hadn't found out much about the original Raze, as it appeared his sister also didn't know much.
"I expected as much. Honestly, the reason why we're here at the moment is because the group that was killed running the investigation was killed right here in this city. So it looks like we are going to be here a while."
"As for your suspicion, you're pretty much cleared as a suspect, but remember that you are still a target, so anything could happen. But I would like to welcome you to the group and welcome you to the first mission. The rest of the members are waiting; I'm sure they will be interested in meeting you."
With what had happened with the last group, Raze was a little worried about meeting the rest of these members, and what might happen the longer he stayed in the Lethal Bite Clan, what would occur.
"I guess if we want to leave this city quickly and head to Alter, I better find out who is behind these deaths as quickly as possible."
