Annabelle’s Bastion

Despite how little it showed and how well she contained her doubts, there were times when Aria questioned her own judgment. 

Was it really wise to sneak into the expedition? The question that frequently cycled through her head.

It was, of course, something that would have been granted to her had it not been for outside interference. But that didn’t matter; she wasn’t one to dwell on things outside her control.

If something was taken from her, she’d get it back. 

And the Sigil was important, more than she let on to Annabelle.

If she hadn’t lost, she’d have accepted it. She may have still snuck in, depending on how dangerous it was to Annabelle. But she would have been fine without joining.

But losing made her realize that her talent and martial skills wouldn’t carry her any longer. Her opponents were getting stronger: better control, more tactics, less close-range. The path of a martial artist in a world of mages was far more arduous than she initially realized.

Her losses would only continue. 

By joining the expedition, she had a chance to get the Sigil herself.

Even if the Sigil was a bad one, she had to get it. At the very least, she could trade it to Alisha for a different one that fit her. Even a basic, usable Sigil would change everything.

And now she could have Annabelle store it to make that happen, barring any complications.

But, no—her doubt came from the punishment awaiting her on her return.

The punishment would come, and it would be harsh, unreasonably so. The problem was her lack of understanding of how serious an offense her involvement was. She knew it would get her in some trouble, but Jaxon looked like he wanted to skin her before she showed Alisha’s letter.

“I’m not fucking sure why Alisha thought it was a good idea to let you in here,” Jaxon said. He was the one who made Aria rethink her decision. His head shook gravely, then continued, “Expedition laws are... strict. Hell, if you didn’t have this damn letter, I’d have personally punished you for this. Obtaining Sigils—participating in these excursions—is extremely fucking competitive. If we allowed people like you to run wild?” He once again shook his head.

“How bad will it be?”

Jaxon quirked a brow, clearly in disbelief that Aria wasn’t aware of the gravity behind her actions. “You really weren’t told?”

“No.” 

“What could she be planning?” he muttered. 

“She told me that she feared something may happen to Annabelle once the right to pick the expedition members was stripped from you.”

She couldn’t come, as she was expected elsewhere. And the success of the expedition was paramount—a success that would be stained by her presence. They needed to prove they could do it themselves, even if it was a rush.

Annabelle’s safety was a significant reason Aria quickly accepted without much thought. Alisha didn’t explain anything resembling a plan, and the gate was rapidly deteriorating. They took an extreme amount of mana to power, and the temporary ones could only handle one or two uses.

Aria could follow by taking advantage of the residual mana in the gate immediately after the expedition left. That, and Alisha’s aid.

But in her haste, she entered a situation that could result in punishments beyond what Alisha could handle, even with her authority.

However, for Alisha, Annabelle’s safety meant she was willing to pay that price.

“Right,” Jaxon said as he nodded. “But this isn’t a real expedition. Obviously, the leader wouldn’t be able to select their participants.”

Aria lightly shook her head. “Alisha wanted you to have that power so that you could hold a competition to decide the participants.”

“Oh?” He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what I would have fucking done, too. Prevented any useless fucks from joining something that has to succeed. A nice and quick slug-fest to earn the right to be the first.”

“And I would have won.”

Jaxon scoffed. “Modest, aren’t you?”

“I’m not wrong.”

“Be careful who you show your arrogance to, girl.” He waved his hand before Aria could speak. “What else led Alisha to send you? That damn letter only said she allowed it.”

“Somebody on the council taking a sudden interest in her academy.”

That was all Aria knew.

But from it, she could piece the situation together—her or Annabelle. Yet the result was only a confusing web of suspicion and missing links. A council member, the highest body in Bastion below only two people, caring about Aria and Annabelle. It didn’t make sense. If someone with that kind of authority wanted her gone, they could have done it long ago. And Annabelle was just a naïve student with purity only known to those who awakened her. Alisha and her closest subordinates.

“I’d love to fucking see anything go behind me.” Jaxon emitted an aura of violence and bloodlust, an untamed beast that even Aria felt threatened by. “While here, they are mine. My senses are across every one of my fucking students. I would know if they fart.”

Aria nodded. 

If they were planning something, it had to mean it was through the students. 

However, his senses evidently weren’t absolute.

“How did you not sense me?” Aria asked. 

“Don’t try to doubt my capability, girl. You don’t have a Sigil, nor are you a beast—simple as that.” Jaxon scoffed. “That won’t happen again.”

“Okay.”

And he was capable of stretching it to more than 60 people. Impressive.

Despite being her combat teacher, he never offered much information about his capability. To track someone off of mana seemed absolute, an unstoppable tracker.

But the interference came from a council member. She couldn’t help but worry despite how confident Jaxon seemed to be—they had to have expected his strength.

“We got sidetracked,” Jaxon said, shaking his head. “As for your punishment... If this were in Bastion, you’d be barred from participating in expeditions permanently, demoted, and locked away for a few years. Of course, depending on the severity—could be worse, could be less.”

Aria lightly shook her head. “But we aren’t in Bastion, and I have none of their protections.”

“Wrong. If you had none of our protections, you’d be fucking dead, girl.”

“Okay.” 

That was only because of Alisha, nothing more. But Aria didn’t want to argue, lest Jaxon take longer to get to the point.

Jaxon sighed. “At the very least, you won’t be participating in expeditions anymore. Some will likely attempt to get you expelled. But I expect them to ultimately throw you in the hole once Alisha works the punishment down.” He looked gravely at Aria. “Not just expeditions; I expect you’ll be banned from all extracurricular activities. This was a heavy gamble, and I highly doubt the rewards will be worth it.”

The Abyssal Hole. Supposedly, it was a psychologically punishing location meant for only the worst rulebreakers. Other than that, she knew nothing.

But it didn’t frighten her.

The only real damage could come from Aria not being able to participate in further activities. It was a gamble. She had to make the expedition worth it—she needed the Apex Sigil from the core. At the very least, a Sigil, which would make her punishments a mere delay rather than a total halt.

“No use speculating; they’re coming back, and Frost looks like you killed her damn puppy.” He dryly chuckled at the sight.

Unfortunately, Aria didn’t want Annabelle to worry too much about what would happen to her. So, she had her stay out of the conversation. But not without looking as pitiable as possible, likely on purpose and in half jest. 

Annebelle’s lower lip was slightly out in a childish pout, her emerald eyes looked on the verge of tears, and her lightly furrowed brows. But when Aria looked at her, all that vanished, replaced with a graceful smile. That girl, adorable as she was, was not to be underestimated. 

“Look at that, the little damn fox.” Jaxon turned his attention back to Aria. “Be wary of the two-faced.”

“Annabelle isn’t like that.”

“No need to look so offended, fuck.” Jaxon chuckled. “But I’ve only seen you that close to Alisha.”

Aria nodded, then said, “She reminds me of my mother.”

Despite the vast age difference, Annabelle did display some of those same characteristics. Perhaps that was where the attachment started. An attachment Aria had no desire to be rid of, especially since Annabelle’s interests were so in line with her own. She couldn’t ask for a better partner.

“That’s... odd?” He said unsurely but then nodded. “Yeah, that’s odd.”

Aria didn’t care to defend it.

While half of her purpose was to vie for a Sigil, the other half was to protect Annabelle.

Which reminded Aria that Annabelle was annoyed at being underestimated. Something she was guilty of. But she couldn’t help it, and it was different than the likes of Ashton and Jared. 

Annabelle was shorter than her by a foot, behaved immaturely at times, and seemed to not let the allure of power change her. Then there was the trait few had; the ability to tell what Aria felt. Those powerful emerald eyes seemed to see even the minute changes in her expression. She also saw through her exterior quite easily.

Exactly like her mother.

Her resolve was steeled—nothing would happen to Annabelle Frost.

“Thank you,” Aria said. 

“Oh?” Jaxon exclaimed as his eyes widened. “I stand corrected; being around her is clearly a good influence. Teaches you some manners.”

Aria didn’t respond and walked away to the sound of his chuckles.

“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what that was about?” Anna asked once Aria arrived near her, her head slightly tilted.

“I want to get a Sigil from this expedition.” Aria lied, partly. “But the only chance I see is from the core.”

“Hmm~” Annabelle appeared doubtful but shrugged it off. “Well, let’s go with that. I imagine the Apex Sigil, should it drop—” She wryly chuckled and shook her head, interrupting herself. “I can’t believe I’m using that word in real life. Drop. Is that really how it works?”

“Yes?” 

Annabelle’s eyes widened for a moment, likely in surprise, before she nodded a few times. “Right! Sometimes, I forget you aren’t from Earth. Crazy... And I assume you haven’t seen or heard much of it outside the academy?”

“I wasn’t allowed to leave.” 

“Of course.” Annabelle clicked her tongue. “I’ll definitely take you out sometime when we return—mark your calendar!.”

If only it were that simple. For some reason, the resistance Alisha received when she tried to allow Aria freedom on just Earth alone was fierce. Even those who were otherwise neutral with her vetoed it. Earth appeared to be Bastion’s sacred jewel.

“I… am interested in seeing it.”

She had only known the island for a good portion of her life.

“Good!” Annabelle smiled up at her. “Then it’s a date!” Aria froze at the mischievous glint in Annabelle’s eyes. “Anyway, the whole system of magic and how we get these Sigils is... videogamey. Ah—I’ll show you those, too.” She raised a finger up at Aria’s face. “But don’t get addicted to them! Last thing I need is another friend who spends her life in front of a monitor who also forgets to take care of herself!”

“Okay?” Confusing, but Annabelle seemed serious about it despite how unserious it sounded. “I won’t.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Annabelle chuckled. She turned her gaze back to the forest, where the other members were beginning to return. “As I was saying, I imagine the Apex Sigil drop is being left for us to decide since Jaxon hasn’t said anything about it.”

“It will be... difficult.”

Jaxon wouldn’t allow her to fight for it, even if he was secretly on her side. There had to be some kind of process, but they were students.

“It will either be based on which of us deals the final blow or some kind of luck system.” Annabelle sighed. “These things are most likely predetermined before the expedition even heads out. Unlucky, I guess.”

Because it was rushed—or intentional. They didn’t want a hand in it as much as possible.

But that was a good thing for her since it was the only possible way for her to get the Sigil.

“It’s better this way.”

“I know,” Anna said, despite shaking her head. “But that isn’t the issue. I don’t see how we’re gonna get the Sigil, especially since it’s looking like there will only be one.”

“We can...” Aria stopped herself. 

She was about to suggest stealing it, but that was also something Jaxon wouldn’t allow. 

“No, we can’t do that—don’t give them a real reason to hate you, Aria.” 

When Annabelle looked at her like that, rather than simply scolding, it felt like the girl actually cared. A rarity. And not for the action she suggested but for how it would look for her to do it. A type of care Aria rarely felt.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Anna said as she raised a finger. “I’d say go for it if the circumstances were different. Your survival is far more important to me than them gaining a little more power.”

“I won’t steal it.”

“Well…” Annabelle’s face broke into one of contemplation as she hummed. “I have something of a plan.”

“Whatever we do, they will know its purpose.”

That was the issue. Even if the plan was to get Annabelle the Sigil, the others, specifically those contracted against her, would assume it was for her. 

She didn’t say it aloud, but the best method was to kill Ashton and his minions. But Annabelle knew that. As naive as she seemed, she knew when some actions were necessary. 

For Annabelle, it seemed that her principles depended on her opponents. She would never harm them unless they made the first move. That was her ideal. Different than Aria, who wanted them dead as soon as possible.

“You’re right, of course.” However, Annabelle’s smirk said differently. “But my motivations don’t matter if I’m objectively right. And I think I am. Worst, worst-casescenario, we just kill Ashton since he’ll be the hardest opponent to us.” 

To those words, spoken with no change to Annabelle’s smile and no hesitation in her eyes, Aria found herself stunned. 

It wasn’t the words themselves; Annabelle mentioned her willingness before. But Aria didn’t think she would say the words so casually.

“You’d be fine with that? If I kill him.” She had to be sure.

Annabelle looked into her eyes and said, “Yes. This expedition has shown me that he is beyond reproach. He had the opportunity to leave it at Jared’s defeat, but he chose not to. I didn’t want to do anything and would have just forgotten him. But he is keen on hurting you or me. Regardless of this expedition outcome, he has to die.” Her eyes were cold—like she wasn’t talking about someone’s death at all. 

Was that what it meant when someone ruined the so-called sanctity? That gaze looked like Ashton didn’t even qualify as human. 

“It will be a last resort.” Aria wasn’t sure what else to say. But she didn’t want Annabelle to be the one to do it. 

Given the girl’s reaction to hurting Jared the first time, it was clear she had never taken a life. If she did... Aria didn’t want to imagine what would change about the princess.

“Well, he had plenty of chances, more than he deserved.” Annabelle sighed and shook her head regretfully. “If only he had accepted the olive branch.”

Aria had an epiphany, a moment of understanding about the flawed girl beside her. 

Annabelle seemed to attach more value to the concept of life than the individual person. And when that concept is soiled, something that did seem difficult to do, they lose all value in her eyes. 

Was that worse than her, who just didn’t care at all? She couldn’t decide.

Aria wasn’t one for those types of morality questions.

“Let’s do the meeting and go from there.”