Assassin by D.A.Sanford - HTML preview

Academy learning and my persona

I observe and progress to the point that when I am ready to go to their equivalent of high school, the academy, I am more than ready to handle anything that comes my way.

The academy is for those whose skills are such that they were above average and can pass their test. I found the test was not hard on both the written and physical. It was also in my acceptance letter that I was the only adjudicator that they have had in a few years. They did say that my physical level was almost top of the class. I had deliberately held back.

On the first day, we were in the academies uniforms. They reminded me of my old worlds anime school uniforms. Pants and jacket a tan that is more to the slight yellow side. A deeper tan vest and white shirt. Unlike the anime, the girls wore the same.

I was standing by the locked door and there came two girls. One was an archer, the other was a burglar. This school accepted all and even the skills that seemed on the wrong side were taught but with the aim of helping.

That burglar would be steered towards the intelligence community for clandestine purposes.

She was tired of waiting so she picked the lock and opened the door. It seems that she had urgent business inside as did a lot of them. The bathrooms were now available,

I needed to get the lay of the land so I went into the boy’s bathroom and went to an open urinal. I leaned my arm against the wall and leaned in. I just listened to how they were asking others what their skills were. Trying to establish the pecking order.

This time, I deliberately did not tell any of them my skill. That will come out later but only after the unavoidable confrontations. They will come, believe me, they always come. I knew that I was going to make sure that it was me that they first come after.

After all, I do need to pay someone back for that sucker punch.

There is always someone in a class that is the muscle brain. Sometimes, they are gentle giants. That is the case here. The one in the class picked up on this and started the taunts. I notice that he was not responding to them, like I did in my past.

The one taunting him goes to sucker punch the giant when he turns away. With the skill of my training, I could see that he was going to deliver the same punch that killed me. I, before I realized it, jump kicked the attacker into the wall. I broke a few ribs on the kid. After an investigation, it was revealed that I was an adjudicator. What I told them was what I saw personally. The provocation and the sneak attack attempt caused my skill to activate and defend against that attack.

That boy’s parents were called and were informed that he was expelled from the academy. They were referring the matter to the proper authorities along with my formal report.

In the class, I now was seen in a different light. First and foremost, I now had my first and lifetime friend. That giant was grateful for what I did. He said his name was Rod and thanked me for saving him. I take his offered hand and said,

“Hi Rod. I’m Arthur. No need to thank me. Just using my skill. Most think that I would just rule on things and be aloof. I realized that I needed to defend myself so my father employed someone to teach me. You were going to be attacked so I defended.”

He tells me that because of his size and nature, he gets that all the time. “I once was attacked and hit back. The kid was never right again. I have not touched someone that way again. Usually they give up.”

“Rod, my friend, did that one that was hurt taunt you?”

He answers yes.

“Did that one continue over repeated warnings from you to stop?”

Rod again answers yes.

Did the authorities get involved? And did they punish you?”

He tells me that they called an adjudicator. “I was proven that I had given enough warning but the kid kept it up despite the warnings. I was told that I had given more than enough warning, I did nothing other than to defend myself in the manner of my skill.”

“Then I, Arthur, skill class adjudicator, who is now officially recognized by the acceptance of my report, by the authorities, do hereby tell you that you were justified in your actions. That does not mean you can laud it all over people.”

Now I make it lighter.

“Rod, next time that happens and there is always a next time, just grab that one by the collar and lift that one up off the ground. Let them dangle until they see the error of their ways.”

He starts laughing and so do others. I do want to be seen as the good guy. I am making my outward persona that will be what I am seen as for the rest of my life.

I had gotten a reputation for being fair but being not afraid to interject myself in arguments that looked like they were escalating beyond normal. Yes, young highschoolers will fight but here we have the arena where challenges can be made. Those were under the strict observation of the academy staff.

The interesting thing was that, another first, some of the girls in the academy were very interested in me. That is a whole other type of education. I did know that my real skill would not allow any permanent mate. That did not exclude more than casual relations.

I knew that it would happen someday. I knew that the boy that was expelled, would come after me. I now could sense that I was being observed. Not by a professional but someone that was stalking me like a hunter tracking a prey.

Rule in hunting, make sure of the direction of the wind. Anger makes this one ignore that rule. My training knows what to do. The only reason a hunter can get his kill is the fact that the hunted animal does not fight. They try to flee.

This game can fight.

He is angry and is only concentrating on me, not his surroundings. I am casually walking towards the beautiful vista. From here you are on a split rail fenced cliff that overlooks a wooded valley that seems to stretch forever. People come here to just look. Sometimes after dark couples come here, just to look.

I am at the fence looking at the view. I feel him creeping up on me. At the right moment I turn. In that split second, I confirm that we are alone and it is him. He started his charge with his hands up to push me over the edge. In that split second he was dead. A broken neck. I stepped out of the way as his still in motion body breaks a rail and falls over the cliff.

Back in my room, I hear a commotion. I come out and the talk is that the kid that was expelled was just discovered at the bottom of the cliff. I ask how did they find him. I was told that the fence was broken towards the cliff side. They found his body busted up on the rocky floor.

“His life was in ruins because of what happened. It is the findings that he ran off the cliff on purpose. A clear case of suicide is the ruling.” Rod told me.

“It is a sorry day” I say to all those that were here, “when someone cannot realize that your life is not over just because of one mistake or action. Right Rod?”

He smiles at me and just says right.

“Anyone who is having those thoughts, please talk to someone. Mistakes are just that mistakes. Suicide is not the answer. Need to talk, Rod here has been there and pulled himself back. Look at him now as opposed to how he was on the first day. This man is changed. Who here has not had him help at times, without you even asking?”

More than half raise their hands.

“To the rest of you, he will be watching for just that right moment. Right big guy.” I slap his arm. Rod just smiles.

He is the biggest change over all the time we spent at the academy. Kids have dropped out. That girl that was the burglar dropped out because she and the career direction they were pushing was polar opposite of what she wanted. A few of the others also went their way.

Rod however met his match. His skill was warrior. With his personality, you would never guess because he has met someone that now makes him her teddy bear. She is really in love with the big guy and he with her.

Shortly after we graduated, they declared that they were mates. He went to work for her father and soon showed his leadership and eventually took over the business so his father in law could retire. He never went to battle with the exception of the current construction job. He always worked harder than any of his employees. They also loved working for him.

As for me, I left those girls behind because I was told that now I had the experience to start my real skill.