The Dark Warlock's Gambit

er flickering lights, accompanied by Tra

es behind a white mask,

up, his injuries comparatively light. "Damn, why do th

eplied curtly. "You are lucky to be down here. Mea

esponded, defl

rdlessly. He had heard what happened to Fran

led their fear," Vardy explained, "and they were savagely beaten again and

rdy, Luthor, and Tracy, no other Altanas wanted to compete agains

y had saved them from fu

k will probably discharge them considering the severity of thei

thers nodded in

ltana powers, ones that healed t

ifested in such rarity that any Altana that could heal even little cuts on

Medical technology had advanced to the point where anything short of death could be healed, but

a Frame student hire a proper high-end

hor, and Tracy. "You three should consider leaving, too, before

retorted. "I get ric

so you do you," the nurse shrugged before she le

pause, Lutho

ose Altana idiots. Did you see how stupid that guy looked before you knoc

e," Vardy

he Frames?" Tracy interjected. "Why did

... I wanted to keep my skills hidden

idden, right? Make sure they unde

ed that Luthor could parse t

especially when you're powerless like us," Luthor explained. "I don't put it aga

me students like us, all we've got in this academy was each other. I

t. We need allies here, and no Altana is going to associate wit

all bloodbath? If I had known beforehand and had time to piece together a plan, I would have informed everyone and created a

ud like us where everyone in the world seems to be out to get you, it's just natural to

ow each other," Luthor suggested. "So, what are you all in here for? Why are you guys so desperate you'r

emained silent fo

"They were killed by the Aegaon. I wa

d. "I can see why you've got so much drive beh

" Tracy explained. "When they realized I was a Dud

ravaged by Vagrant activity where the truly desperate settled, forming r

uthor sympathized.

lied. "It was so long ago,

you. Parents had powers, I had none, so they threw me out. I survived in the Wastes working odd

urvive?" Lut

powers, but I did have a knack for coding. I helped out at his sho

enhanced capacity. That Tracy could help out a proper Techno meant the old

're smart," Lu

ed to praise. "I do what I can,"

nymore. I don't want him to die in the wastes all alone, working to the bone like that. I want to graduate from here, become a

ood heart," Lut

smile directed at his companions. "And what do you know! I've got two frien

Vardy said with a faint smile. Luthor's posit

s heart. "Especially powerless people like us. I got this feeling, but if

Tracy said

uldn't shake the feeling that things migh