“ you hear me boy”

  Where am I now? Where is she goo?

  “That was close, but I caught you in time its fine now. Fine, indeed.”

  A cracked voice, deep and always grasping for air talked to me tenderly. I hate that voice.

  I could finally see if just a little. But what am′ I seeing. The faan covered pletely in white bandages only his brokeh clearly at dispy and glimpses of burned skin.

  “?Why? ?Why did you e baow? His mouth smiled, very weakly.

  “Because that′s what a hero does.”

  “Nonsense, pure nonsense.” Irvin spoke without intending.

  “Hey pal, ya talking to yourself now.” Dino found his friend talking at the lookout of their tree house, just as the sun was rising.

  “Yes I tend to do that. Makes my ideas stick.” He answered back ceasing his rest and sitting straight in an instant

  “Whatever. Let′s have some cereal, man.”

  “Sure, breakfast is always essential. It is a stific fact….” - Irving re adjusted his tie as he stared at the uping dawn, holding his tie with a lot of force.

  “?What′s the big pn?” Dino said as he jumped around the woods, with the guitar over his shoulders. “For now let′s go to css a our fellow deviants.” Irvin said as he struggled to climb a broken tree. “Ya′meaher students. If ya call them that they′ll do more than to just meet you.” Irvin fixed his sun gsses as he finally made it over the fallen tree.

  “I’m not that clueless. You will soon be seeing my charisma in a….” Irvin slipped falling down into the mud. Dino couldn′t help, but ughed with his poieeth. “I’m ed, people aren′t your forte man.” Dino said scratg his nose.

  “?Must we always take this road? It′s detestable” “Yup, this is the fastest way to school, besides you then those weakly legs.” “That is simply evil” “That′s our school for you.” Irvin′s white coat was filled with mud, as did the briefcase he never seemed to let go off.

  “Hahaha, ya know this brings me back, it′s just like my home.” “I see it, is quite primal.” “You found it hard to visit me there, but you still came anyway.” Irvin smiled lightly “Our families got along, so it was iable.” “I miss those days.”

  “Pointless. There was nothing of worth for my back then. Where are here to make our future, so don′t get distracted.”

  “Well, I still love those days. It has been too lonely sihen. It′s just no fun.” Irvin ed himself as best as he could. And the walking as if nothing had happened.

  “It won′t matter, those s won′t have a p our pn. Do remember that.” Dino didn′t answer bad left him walk on ahead. “Seriously, man. ?What happen to you?” Dino mumbled quietly so Irvin could never hear him.

  Both men reached their destination. With one of them drinking a whole both of water. The other one smile from tooth to tooth as he preseheir new school grounds.

  “?So how about? ?Isn′t it something?”

  The school grounds of Salvatore′s School of viliny resembled a coliseum. That was Irvins first thought as he saw its entranbsp;

  A long staircase dispying statues of horse riders of Spanish dest lead to an immense circur area standing far above without any ledges to stop one from falling. It was surrounded by a pitch bck hole, whi one could never see. They both walked up stars till the ter of the arena where all sorts of students were l around.

  From there one could take tree bridges across the depth surrounding fall. Onwards to three white buildings. Eae featuring a different statue in front of it. “ You see the oh the statue of a Salvatore raising his bde.” Dino poio the northern building. “Kind of…” Irvin answered. “That′s the teacher’s castle, you go there without a date and you done for.” It was indeed a castle, with frand towers. “I′ll remember it.”

  “The oh the bull statue it’s the elite school grounds. Best students get assign there, as do the student cil and white hound’s squads.” The building resembled a very elegant old fashioned institute with a Spanish baroque design. “?Guessing we aren’t invited?” “The little miss Salvatore is the w in that pce, so take it as you will.” “So then, the building with the…?What even is that statue?” Irvin asked.

  They passed the bridge to be meet whit a circur statue. “It’s a snake′s .” Irvin took a closer look, and what seemed like limbs. Where hundreds of snakes rushing to a pilr on the ter. Biting each other as they struggled. “Not very subtle…” Irvin walked past it paying it no mind. “Still the school building itself is not what I had expected.” Irvin said.

  The school building was just a simple three floor white building. Like any other nothing grandiose to it.

  “Disappointedly on.”

  “Well it sure drives home the point its only there to study.” Dined. The path to css was uing to Irvin and he found that rather strange. “It seems fights weren′t as on in the school grounds as I expected unlike everywhere else on the isnd.” Irvin looked back at him from under his hood. “Teachers get pissed to, and no one wants to fight em′.” Still Irvin could see that the students around them stared at them with clear disdain. “It’s better this way, less distras.” Irvin said as they ighem a walking. “Still be careful, man, no one here is our friend.” They both arrived to css while keeping that thought well in mind.

  “Wele to css, so sit quietly now.” The teacher said.

  Irvin was already siting. As he looked around his new css, the only face could reize was Dinos sitting with both of his legs over the desk without any care, and oher. A young blond kid wearing a bck cowboy outfit. It’s the unfortunate one from the opening. Irvin could see that the kid’s bandaged arm was in clear bad shape.

  That arm is useless now. Irvin was taken from his thought by a loud screeg.

  “Silehis css is in session.” The teacher had passed his long nails thought the chalkboard to call our attention.

  “I′m General Sheng Lí. I′m supposing that I have no need for any further introdus.” He spelled it with the chalk. “And these are the characters of my name in ese. Don′t dare tet them either.” Irvin covered his mouth.

  This man is… one of the tree great generals. I knew nothing of this.

  The man in front of us was fit, but light in built with very emotionless expression behind his thick rimmed gsses, his head bolding. He wore a light green denim jacket with a formal shirt and a long bck tie along with green suit pants and bck business shoes. This man was famous as one of the worst vilins in the world, even if he only looked like a simple middle-aged man; still there was one sign of his true self, the tattoo of a dragon’s cw at the back of his right hand which he used to hold a book and speak to us while reading it. Not seeing even one of us to the eyes.

  “We have some udents, but no real reason to care for them yet. So let us begin our csses. We shall first start by cheg out your knowledge of the basic subjects, Let′s see some math then.”

  “How evil. And I pay for this. There is like no point to it then. I could get bored bae with this nonsense.” Behind us a girl taunted him while fixing her nails. She wore aravagant bck gothic dress, with white ribbons all over the pce. Her long blond hair adorned with bck tiara with a skull on its ter. She seemed etric even for this school and its utter disregard for a dressing code. The professor started writing in the chalkboard very roughly.

  “If ynorant, the path of a vilin may not be for you. The path of a dispensable ckey or a mere thug will be more to your speed.” He kept writing without averting his eyes from his book.

  “You don′t need any of that. If you have strength people will fear you far too much to care about your homework. Some of us like this things close and personal. It’s sweeter that way. - She sound quite sultry, but her words showcased such a great desdend her blue eyes only boredom.

  ?Such boldness would this be worth your neck, miss? Irvin like most of the css looked at her in silence.

  “If you have enough power you and the terms, that′s the way of the world.” She smiled.

  The sudden sound of a book closing turned Irvin′s attention back to the chalkboard. But it was far more ferocious now. His hand had transformed into a green scaled cw. It′s tatto red.

  “If you io be a brute, so be it. This is my css and you all will do as told. ?Period!” He quickly threw his chalk straight at her head. It was so sudde she deflected it casually with her nail polish.

  “Whatever. Carry on Mr. Lí…I′ll listen like a good girl for now.” She smiled back at him. He didn′t saw it thought as he never had turned back to see her at all.

  “The arrogance of the young. Strength is made meaningless with ease. Survival of the fitness, another archaitasy. Is fihought. To cull that arrogand é is my role as you tutor and it will be dohat is a promise.” His hand exhumed smoke and it began to return to normal. Shang Lí once more opened his book a back to writing with a new chalk. No oerrupted him now.

  Hehe you could almost pretend we are all good student isn′t this only the result of your strength. ?General Shang Lí?

  Css was finally over and everyone rushed out without a single goodbye. Dino and Irvin walked together to eat their lunches as far away as anyone else as possible.

  “?The blond girl, who is she?” Irvin asked as he calmly eats his sad.

  “Beats me. She is totally new, so no one cares yet. Doesn′t seem tht thought.” Dino said while stuffing his face with nachos.

  “I disagree; I took a look at her performan css. She didn′t struggle at all.” Irvin pressed his fork to his temple in thought. “What was she whining about then?” “It erformance she wao look tough for her first day.” “?With the teacher? See that isn’t very bright.” “Still the general is a kinder man than I had imagined.” “?How so?” “Cause she isn′t dead yet, that was a kindness.” “hehehe if you say so.” Irvin finished his meal and remaiaring at his empty lunch. “Dino, let us fet of her for now, and focus on the mission.” His friend didn′t stop from tinuiing huge meal of nachos and fat greasy tacos. “Yeah, sure.” Irvin looked at him wanting to say something, but let the thought to perish. “I o know who the stro students in this school are.”

  Dino licked his lips while tasting his fingers. “I know their names, but nothing more.” “Any data would help.” Dino groaned and rushed to swallow his food.

  “Oh, but I know just the person that help you out. I′ll cost ya′ thought.” “Not an issue let us go.” He answered finally; Irvin ed his mouth with a handkerchief. Dino licked all the cheese remaining as fast as he could and jumped back to his feet.

  “You better have your wallet full.” Dino licked his teeth s as best he could.

  “ I don′t, but I have enough for o big spend.” “?Where did you did evehat money?” “I stole it.” Irvin spoke in a matter of fact. “Really? ?Who was the poor zap?”

  “Someohat no longer matters and will be fottehe money is spent.”

  “You an. ?Well let buy us some data!” Dino stretched both arms to the air.

  “Let′s indeed.” Irvin took his briefcase and followed him in silence.

  ***

  “ Help me a little here, Dino. ?What are we even looking for in this…pce.” The two of the found reach a dead-beat alley with nothing but trashs baiting flies and a very poorly drawn graffiti depig an eye on the ter of a square. “An information broker, if she ′t help you. No one .” Irvi a napkin to his o keep the unsanitary odor at bay. “?And how are we finding her here?” “?Hey whisperer we want to talk to ya!” Dino screamed suddenly. “?Do you io just scream till she finally es around?” “?Yep!” Irvin remained quiet as he kept looking around him away from Dino, mostly to find a non-unpleasant er to stare at. “This isn′t good for me. I ′t work like this.” Dino lighted. “How delicate… ?Ey, I got ye′ a t here, Whispers!” Things remaihe same for a while, but Dino didn′t seem to get bored from stantly screaming. I bet he′ll take any ce to be loud. Still this is dragging on”

  “?What sort of person is this whisperer?” Irvin asked looked inside one of the trashs from a ck of aer ideas.

  “She knows all the gossip at school. As to who she is, beats me. I don′t even think she′s a student. But she has been around for a while now almost like a part of the very isnd, hell evens the student cil having a bounty for her head.” Someo even Salvatore’s princess catch. That′s an impossible thought, but a very iing one.

  “It seems she like her secrecy, Uandable. But I ot believe someone hasn′t attempted to take her knowledge by force.”

  “Dude, everyone already gave up on her. She disappears just as suddenly as she appears. “I suppose she takes on ts in a simir and just as sudden matter.

  “Hello, friend.” A voice reached Irvin′s ear as he closed the trash again.

  Irvin turned back like a scared cat and the first thing he saw er bag with eye draws on its surface with a messy red. “You′re the new guy. Nice, I like making acquaintances fast.” It was a strange girl wearing a scraggy and old pink dress with bck gloves and bck rain boots. She also wore that paper bag on the head, hiding her face from anyone sight. That sure is a rather ghoulish look

  “There you are. You sure took your time paper head.” Dino looked at the two of them an arrogant smirk on his lips.

  “I was just getting ready, I like looking good for every new t. Also don’t call me paper head you meanie.” She rushed off to grab Dino by the ned shake him pyfully. “Ahem.” Irvin steeped in showing his hand for a handshake. “Good to meet you miss Whispers.” She shoved Dino off and grabbed his hand with both arms to shake it strongly. “Hello. Mr. Irvin Maximillian. I love the tie by the way, just like your mama. How cute.” Irvin backed away. “Never mind that.” He said fixing tie nervously, but returo his usual aloof self just as fast. “So you know of me already.”

  “Yep, I like knowing stuff. ?And soon enough I’ll know all about youuu!.. Sir.” Irvin fixed his sungsses. “Good I wouldn’t be here if you couldn’t figure that much.” The whisperer put both of her hands at her bad leaned closer. “I tell much, but you have to tell me something oo.”

  “Dino, what is this?” Dino s crossed his arms behind his back. “You′ll have to give her some info.” The whisperer raised her arms excitedly “It′s what keeps the business going. And I like to know a bit of the people I sell stuff to” I see, and I don′t get that luxury iurn. She is not eveending she won′t sell this info to whoever she pleases.

  “Fine, but I have no iion of revealing anything about my arrival here to you.”

  “That′s ok, those are easy to guess. ?What I o know is if your father is alive.” “My father?” “Yes that will make so happy. I may even give you a dist.” Irvin covered his mouth with his gloved hand and then turned around showing her his babsp; She wouldn’t have asked if she didn′t suspect already. This shouldn′t matter much… I will risk it.

  “Alexander Maximilliam is alive.” Irvin said quietly. “Now that a sweet little fact. Makes all the puzzles bee sweeter.” The girl pocked Irvin’s chest with her finger.

  “So tell me little Irvin. ?What whispers you need?” Irvin seemed happy for the ge of subject. “I want to know what groups hold the most power in the school districts that held no ties to Salvatore.” “?Just that? B” Irvin pullet his wallet out“ Let′s make that the start. Then I′ll tell you where to dig even deeper.”

  “Yes sir, if you pay the fee that is.” She gave a military salute. And sit down on top a trash. “Gather around little kids. It’s time for a little bit of gossip.” The two of them came closer, the two of them feeling rather awkward about it as she waved her finger like a grandma telling her children a fairytale.

  “You must know already of the student cil president, and the white hounds that dictated the “order” of our school. Believe me or not I get mufo out of those two, but they are hardly the rulers of this school′s die of the isnd. There are other forces that have refused to be bended down or ed by those two nasty overwhelming groups.” Irvin remained quiet listening to her as she spun in pce.

  “There are tree little groups of friends that have spread their influence far and wide, ast the school grounds.” Dino yawned, as Irvin stared at her in plete silence his fareadable.

  “If I wish to mention one of them first I′ll be one of my most recurrent ts on Is Franca; someone who believes to know the value of everything, someohat put a price to anything or anyone.”

  “That someone is the Beretta Family.”