LIN 101-B

Cain wandered away from the Tower of Babel, musing on the lesson. “words meaning “protect” huh? Hmm…” So wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn’t even notice the faint rustle of something landing behind him until whatever it was reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

Cain gave a loud screech of panic and whirled around to see his best friend bent over cackling and clutching his ribs. “Oh my god, Abel you PRICK!” he commented, unable to help but join in the laugh.

Abel stood up and smoothed out his usual black and white skull shirt, the piercings in his face shining in the dim light as he smiled. “I’m sorry, you looked so tense I couldn’t help it, I had to!”

“What are you even doing here, dude?” Cain asked,  wrapping his friend in a quick hug.

“It’s been so long I wanted to see my best friend, so I decided to fly on over here,” Abel answered, sticking his hands into the pockets of his brown pants. “Is that so wrong?”

“Nah, you’re right,” Cain shrugged. “hey, how bout I show you my dorm room? You could probably use a rest after that long flight!”

“I am a little beat,” Abel replied, stretching. “Lead on!”

Cain led the way to his dorm, with Abel trailing behind as he looked around. “Man, this campus is beautiful!”

“I know right?” Cain replied. “Wait till you see the Blood Dorms!” Cain opened the door into the rich, blood-red common area. Abel was suitably impressed and licked his lips hungrily. “Please don’t eat the decor.”

“But it looks so GOOD!” Abel whined semi-jokingly.

“Come on, this way…” Cain gently dragged Abel away toward his own room down the hall.

Abel whistled appreciatively at the room as he dropped his bag to the floor, admiring the books as he wandered around.

“Don’t stare at the books for too long,” Cain warned. “Some of em like to drag people inside.”

“Seriously?” Abel asked, turning around. “Sounds extremely cool, to live a story the way the author intended!”


“Mm-hmm. Only been back here a month or so, and I’ve already been dragged into what I think was the third book in Journey to the West.” Cain rubbed his head as he spoke. “Sun gave me several good whacks with that damn Compliant Rod of his…”

“You know what it’s called?”

“The Monkey King was very insistent.”

“Maybe I could…?”

“Later, perhaps. Right now, I need to do my homework…” Cain replied. “… and I think you could help with that!” he added, brightening.

“Just name it!” Abel smiled. “Whatcha working on?”

“A form of defense spell,” Cain explained. “I need to use any words that mean protect and use them to form a protective shield.”

“… and you need me to attack you to test this shield, right?”

“Yup.”

“Well, let’s get started.” Abel rubbed his hands in anticipation.”

“Alright alright, stand back a little first.” After Abel had stepped back, Cain took a deep breath to calm himself and began to speak. “Protect, safeguard, defend, shelter, guard, refuge, harbor.”

As each word was spoken, it materialized in bright red around Cain, slowly orbiting around him in a small shell.  “Okay, I’m ready, I think.”

Abel nodded. He knocked on the shield, was glowed red around the spot. Seemingly satisfied, he cracked his knuckles, and punched the shell of words as hard as he could, causing the shield to produce a solid thunk. “Do you have something else I could test this with?”

“There’s a dagger in my bag,” Cain suggested. “Try using that!”

Abel nodded, and rifled around for a moment before pulling out the blade before looking over at Cain. who was panting slightly from the strain of maintaining the shield. “I don’t wanna hurt you, bro.”

“You’re not gonna; there’s like a foot and a half of space between me and the shield! Now come on!”

“Alright, alright, doctor Bossy.” Abel rolled his eyes and slashed at the barrier, producing a few bright red lines that didn’t fade like Abel’s other strikes did. Curious, he reversed his grip and drove the dagger into the shield.

With a sound like breaking ice, the shield began to crack, spreading outward. Cain was panting loudly now, and finally cried out, “Begone!” With that, the barrier dissolved, allowing the dagger to fall to the floor with a clatter, followed by Cain shortly thereafter.

Abel rushed to his friend’s side, helping him into the chair. “Whoa, dude, you okay?”

“I… I’m good,” Cain answered. “Just… just a little exhausted, is all.”

“Maybe don’t do that again?”

“Well, it isn’t designed to be long-lasting, just enough to protect you if you’re in a life or death situation.”

“Fair enough,” Abel nodded. “Now, how about we pop by one of the cafe’s I saw on my way over?”