The Orphan Wars (Book One) (5 page)

Nemeth didn't really care for drinking Ambrule.  The few times he tried it, he never really experienced the
euphoria that most people did.  He instead was unlucky and re-experienced some of the darkest moments of his life.  There was a ban on Ambrule throughout the entire academy even if you were an adult.  If you were caught with Ambrule, you would face severe consequences from the academy's top ranking officials.  This made Nemeth wonder how such a large supply of Ambrule managed to get to the graduation party and into the hands of so many kids at once.  Something definitely wasn't right about this situation.

"Ferrin, you're ri
ght man!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "You know what?  You've always been one of my favorite guards!  I just never told you that before.  You're loved by most of the students.  Oh wait just a second, let me correct myself.  You are my FAVORITE guard of all time and you are loved by ALL the students.  I think that it's awesome you've gotten all of this Ambrule for the party!"

"
Yes, I'm so damn awesome aren't I?" questioned Ferrin.  "Oh, but I didn't supply the Ambrule.  Would you believe that it was supplied by Professor Phantas himself!  I never thought that old stiff would loosen up the rules but he went ahead and surprised everyone!"

"
That doesn't sound like something Professor Phantas would do," replied Nemeth.  "How do you know Professor Phantas supplied the Ambrule?"

"W
ell I have this note here," replied Ferrin.  "It says that the ban on Ambrule has been lifted for the third year student's graduation parties and that it was supplied personally by Professor Phantas himself.  After all, it has his signature on it too.  You can't fake a signature."

"
May I see the note please?" asked Nemeth politely.

"I can't let you see the note," replied Ferrin.  "It would be a violation of the rules and regulations."

"Didn't we both agree that we were sick of the rules and regulations?" asked Nemeth.  "Let's bend the rules.  No wait, I have an even better idea.  Let's BREAK the rules instead!  After all, you want to be revered right?"

"Revered?" asked Ferrin.

"Yes, revered is the word I said," replied Nemeth.  "You went to this school when you were younger right?  They should have taught you what revered means."

"I don't
even know what that word means," said Ferrin.  "Well, whatever it means, I don't care.  I'm sure it's a good thing.  I like the sound of that word.  Revered!  Revered! Revered!"

Ferrin then reached into his pants with his left hand and pulled out the note while
still gripping his spear with his right hand.  He shoved the note in Nemeth's face.  Nemeth took the note from Ferrin and started to examine it carefully.  It didn't take long for Nemeth to notice there was something suspicious about the note.

"This note is nothing but a cheap forgery!
" exclaimed Nemeth.  "I've seen Professor Phantas' signature many times and this doesn't even come close to the real thing!  Where did you get this note from?"

"
It was sent to me by eagle," replied Ferrin.  "I think you're out of your mind kid.  I'm the adult here and I know that this note is real!"

Nemeth jumped up
and down frantically.  Ferrin took a large gulp of Ambrule from his mug.

"But it's NO
T real!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "Do you have any clue as to who I am?  Don't you see the clothes that I'm wearing?  They don't just hand out these uniforms to just anyone.  Wearing this uniform means that I'm the top ranked student out of all these kids you see around here.  So are you going to believe me and help sort this out?"

"I still don't believe you," slurred Ferrin.  "As for help, the only thing I'll be helping you to is my boot up your ass!"

"So you won't help," replied Nemeth.  "You're just going to get intoxicated and give me blind threats about putting your boot up my ass.  Eh, whatever.  I'm just going to have to look into this situation on my own.  I don't need help from people who refuse to listen to reason."

"You're a complete freak!" laughed Ferrin.  "
Look around you kid.  Everyone else is having a good time while you're jumping up and down in my face bragging about how you're the best.  You only just graduated from your third year here.  Talk to me again if you graduate at the top of the class when you reach your final year.  Then maybe I'll be impressed.  For now, you're just a ZERO!  Now get out of my sight before I write up a formal complaint against you!"

Nemeth was so enraged from Ferrin's insults that he felt lik
e dragging him to the edge of the lake and then knocking him in with a roundhouse kick to the face.  However, that wasn't going to help him figure out the mysterious happenings at the party.  By now the sun had completely set.  A loud, unusual howling could be heard in the distance that gave Nemeth the chills.  Nemeth needed to find Bastilone and Aria so he could finish the discussion about escaping from the academy.  He hoped that neither of them had consumed any Ambrule.  If they did, there would be almost no chance in talking any sense into either of them about escaping.  Nemeth walked away from Ferrin in search of Bastilone and Aria.  Nemeth approached the first group of students he could see which consisted of two girls and one boy.  At first glance it looked like they were having a normal conversation.  Nemeth inspected them again and noticed that each one of them was talking to themselves instead of each other.  Nemeth placed his left hand on the shoulder of one of the girls and his right hand on the shoulder of one of the boys.

"
Hey, I have a question!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "Have any of you seen Bastilone or Aria?"

The two girls and the one boy
continued to talk to themselves.  Nemeth looked closely at their faces.  It appeared that their eyes were rolling up into their head.

"Why are you ignoring me?" asked Nemeth.  "What's wrong with you?"

Nemeth listened carefully to the words coming out of their mouths.  They were speaking gibberish.  The two girls and one boy appeared to have entered a state of euphoria.  Nemeth tried shaking each one of the students to snap them out of their trance but was unsuccessful.

"These three are completely useless," growled Nemeth.  "There has to be at least one person here who was sensible enough to
not drink any Ambrule."

Nemeth ditched the group
of three and walked around the Serend Lake area some more.  He noticed a boy lying on the ground in the fetal position.  If it weren't for his slow rocking back and forth motions on the grass, Nemeth could have sworn that the boy was dead.  Nemeth got down on one knee and put his left hand gently on the top of the boy's head.

"Dad, I'm so glad you've finally come home," said the boy.  "I was worried that you were never going to come back.  My prayers have been answered."

"I'm not your dad," replied Nemeth.  "You've drank too much Ambrule and its making you imagine things that aren't real.  This is probably a longshot but have you seen Bastilone or Aria anywhere nearby?"

"
Why are you being so mean dad?" asked the boy.  "Why would you say that you aren't my father?  I thought you loved me."

In his pe
ripheral vision, Nemeth noticed a girl was approaching them.  Nemeth turned towards the girl and looked up at her.

"
This kid is delirious," said Nemeth.  "He thinks I'm his father for some reason.  There's not much I can do for him.  Only time is going to flush the Ambrule out of his system.  It's good to see another sober person here.  I'm sure you already know my name but I don't recognize you.  What's your name?"

"Oh my dearest
husband," replied the girl.  "You do have a strange sense of humor.  You know that I'm your darling Elisabet.  I've been your faithful wife for over 5 years.  Has Vasil behaved since I went to the store?"

"Vasil?" asked Nemeth.  "What are you talking about?
  Who is Vasil?"

"
Oh, quit playing around!" laughed Elisabet. "Vasil is our 15 month old son.  I really wish you wouldn't let him roll around in the sand like that though.  But I really love how you two are building a sand castle together."

"Mom, is that you?" asked Vasil.

"Yes, of course it is my precious little baby," replied Elisabet.  "Who else would it be?"

"I'm not the one who is playing around here!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "The two of you…"

"How is this possible?" interrupted Elisabet.  "Our son wasn't able to speak more than a few words before I left for the store.  Now I come back and he's able to ask questions?  On top of that, my husband doesn't recognize me.  I see what's going on now!  Both of you are clearly possessed by an unholy force!"

"I don't have time for this!" exclaimed Nemeth.  "I'm just trying to find my friends.  The two of you need to rest."

"I can't bear to see my child and my husband like this!" cried Elisabet.  "The both of you are so impure.  I must put both of you out of your misery!  I pray that the gods understand my actions and will forgive me."

Elisabet reached her arms out in an attempt to cho
ke Nemeth.  Nemeth grabbed her by the wrists and pushed her away.  Nemeth got up to both feet and put his arms to his sides.

"The Ambrule has made you completely bonk
ers," said Nemeth.  "I suggest that you stay away from me, otherwise I'll have to unleash The Dominator on you."

Elisabet once again made her way towards Nemeth with her arms stretched out
looking like she wanted to strangle him.  Nemeth placed his hands underneath her armpits and lifted her up.  He then jumped as high as possible and shifted his weight backwards.  Nemeth curled both of his knees up towards his torso and let go of his grip on her armpits.  He landed flat on his back and Elisabet's forehead smashed into his knees.  This caused her to bounce backwards and enter a quick state of unconsciousness on the grass.  Nemeth sat upright and then got back to a standing position.

"Dad, what happened to mom?" asked Vasil.

"Well um," said Nemeth.  "My dear son, your mom is just taking a little nap for now.  She's had a very long day.  She promised me that when she wakes up she will help finish build that sand castle we were working on."

"What sand castle?" asked Vasil.  "Dad?"

Nemeth shook his head in disbelief.  He tiptoed backwards to avoid any additional conversation with Vasil.  He felt some regret having to knockout Elisabet even though he used one of his favorite maneuvers that he calls The Dominator to get the job done.  Nemeth hoped that Elisabet would wake up and be her normal self again.  That is of course, her normal self with some large red marks on her forehead and a major headache.  If the situation with Elisabet and Vasil were any indication of the kind of help Nemeth would get by talking to more people at the lake, then he was better off performing the search for his friends on his own.

Nemeth continued to walk around the Serend Lake area looking for Bastilone and Aria.  He made his best effort to avoid contact with anyone around him.  He then decided to make his way towards Serend Lake itself.  Perhaps B
astilone and Aria were swimming in the lake.

"Maybe I should start yelling their names out,"
said Nemeth quietly.  "I just don't want these crazies to realize I'm around.  They might all come after me and try to kill me like that Elisabet girl did."

Nemeth started to become very paranoid.  He thought that someone was following him.  He would constantly look over his shoulder only to discover that nobody was nearby.  He increased his pace towards the lake when suddenly he heard a strange voice
from behind him.

"I'm
really not impressed with your moves," said the strange voice.  "I'm just not impressed at all."

Nemeth turned around and saw a boy dancing oddly behind him.

"And just who are you exactly?" asked Nemeth.  "What do you mean when you say you're not impressed with my moves?"

"My name is Thanos," said the boy.  "I'm the great
est dancer at Lord Dragomir's Academy."

"I could really care less," replied Nemeth.
  "I'm busy at the moment so I'm going to have to ask you to leave me alone."

"How could you say that you don't care?" asked Thanos.  "You were aw
arded the trophy for best dancer earlier today.  I was completely outraged to hear that you won since you never faced me in a dance competition before though.  But I saw you and I've been following you for a while now.  I've been checking out your moves and I'm not impressed.  I'm not angry anymore though.  I just want to show you that I'm the better dancer with a friendly dance competition.  Then I'll be glad to take that trophy off of your hands.  It's going to look great being displayed in my room."

"You've been following me?" asked Nemeth.  "I don't like to be fo
llowed.  No wonder I've been feeling so paranoid.  Never mind that though.  I will accept your challenge but only on one condition.  Since I'm actually the best dancer, I think you need a bit of an advantage.  I'll teach you one of my best dance moves.  I'm sure you'll learn the move in no time.  Then we can gather some of the students around here and let them judge the dance competition.  If they decide in your favor, I'll let you have my dance trophy and declare you the greatest dancer at the academy."