This story is a work of fiction, none of the characters are based on real people, any similarities with people or places are coincidence, this story contains sexual activities with consenting adult males, if the content of this story is illegal in the area you are in to read this content read at your own discretion it is illegal to copy this story all right are reserved to the author For comments and feedback contact me at markalarner@live.com.au
Hi all, sorry about the short delay work can be a bit hectic. I would like to apologise for a small but major error in the last chapter. Derik is with Bren not Jim and Jim is with Si, if I ever go back and revise this story I will fix that. Anyway enjoy chapter seven. And thank you all for the emails.
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Pete sat with the others in what appeared to be a waiting room. He had spoken with Nichole late into the night. She had explained who the high circle were and what they meant to the other guild circles. In Nichole's words the high circle were the strongest known circle in the world. They were also led by a cranky old women according to Nichole. Nichole had explained that the reason they had been summoned was the attack.
Pete had spent a lot of the time since the attack going over everything that had happened. He had known he wasn't the only male fifth. However he had not known that the others ones might not have been part of the guild. It hadn't surprised him to see that two of the other fifths elementals had been male. It was relatively common for female elementals to be bi sexual, so the same could be assumed about males. What had shocked him was how indifferent the other fifth had been at the loss of his elementals. And to add to that the way the elementals felt glad to be released from their circle.
Pete looked around at his own circle. They were naturally sat in their pairs. Derik and Bren sat very close with knees touching both looking worried. Si and Jim sat holding hands. Pete felt a brief pang of jealousy. He pushed it to the back of his mind knowing know wasn't the time to be thinking about Greg. Pete was glad they had done what they had done. However he knew that in saving Greg they had broken a number of guild laws. He was also worried about what the ramifications of their actions were going to be. None of them knew for sure how it might change Greg.
Pete looked around again in frustration. The others could all feel and see his frustration. Derik and Bren came over to him. Derik wrapped with strong arms around him and Bren rubbed his back. It wasn't just frustration they could feel coming from Pete. They could all feel the pain and loss Pete was felling over Greg. "It will be ok little one, just try to focus on the fact he is alive", Bren murmured. Si and Jim had come over to comfort Pete. The contact and closeness of his elementals was too much for Pete. He buried his face in Derik's chest and sobbed. First the graduation and then the formal followed by the attack. Then thinking he had lost Greg and then saving Greg and now the high circle.
There was the clearing of someone throat. It was enough to get the boys attention. "The High Circle will see you now". Bren turned and glared at the man who had clearly intruded on what was a very privet moment. "We will be with the High Circle shortly", Bren said curtly clearly unimpressed with the man. The man's eyes narrowed in anger. "Leave the boys be Jonathon", Nichole said as she and her circle arrived. "Fifth Nichole", he nodded to her with respect. Jack and Dan had already gone to check on Pete. Nichole stood with Alice and Rob at either shoulder. With her long fiery red hair she was intimidating to say the least. Pete often forgot that Nichole was an extremely strong fifth herself.
"It's alright Nichole we will see them now". Pete said from the huddled group of males around him. Nichole looked over at Pete and nodded once. Dan and Jack returned to her. Leaving Pete with his own circle. Looking at the two circles it was easy to see which was the stronger. Nichole nodding her head to Pete had further reinforced the fact that Pete and his circle were the stronger. "Yes well, Fifth Nichole if you and your circle would wait here the high circle only wish to see Fifth Peter and his circle at the moment." Nichole nodded her understanding. She and her circle took up the seats that the others had been using prior.
Jonathon showed them the door. It was clear that they would be facing the high circle alone. Pete looked at Si who grinned at him. Si pushed the door open with a small amount of air. Instead of going for a show of strength he went for skill. It was easy to use a blast of air and make the doors fly open possible breaking them apart in the process. The real talent was to use enough to gently open the doors as Si did. Jim rolled his eyes at the smug look on his boyfriends face.
Derik gently pushed the doors closed behind them. He had his own smug facial expression the doors were extremely heavy. "Well this is a pleasant surprise our door is still in one piece". The voice that spoke was soft but filled with strength. Pete looked at the women she appeared to be in her mid twenties. However he knew that appearance meant nothing when it came to an older circles age. Pete also knew that the stronger the circle the younger they looked. Pete looked the women in the eye and knew he was stronger. He also grinned and ran to her. "Great Grandmother, you never told me your circle was the high circle. Not even Rob told me". The women smiled at her great grandson as she hugged him. "That's because I told him and Nichole not to".
The other four hung back a little confused. Pete had mentioned from time to time that although his parents and grandparents were all dead. He did have a great grandmother who was still very much alive. The other looked at the other elementals in the room. There were two men and two women. "Your aunts and uncles would also like to great you little one". Pete turned to the other four and hugged them all. Once they were done he introduced them to his circle. "Well now that the formalities are done. I would just like to reassure you five that we didn't bring you here as a punishment. It as you know has become apparent that you are being targeted." The four nodded and went on to explain what had happened.
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The others had all left. Pete his great grandmother and Nichole were sat in a nice little sitting room. "Call me Rachael when we are in privet Pete and High Fifth when we are in public". Pete nodded at his great grandmother. "I can't believe you called my great grandmother a cranky bitch", Pete grinned at Nichole. Nichole looked over at Rachael daring the older women to dispute her. "It's the truth. Trust me I've been working under her for years now". Nichole said without taking her eyes away from the other women's. Rachael laughed, "So true I can be a hardnosed bitch. However it has all been for the best". Pete watched the two women interact. Pete could tell that Nichole was stronger.
"Can I ask you both something, it's a bit personal and I've been told not to ask". Rachael and Nichole felt they knew what Pete wanted to ask. "It's about how old you look isn't it", Pete nodded. Rachael looked at her Great Grandson sadly. "Pete we have been watching you and to some extent the other's since you were born. We don't think you're going to get any older in appearance". Pete's shoulders slumped. He had expected the answer, still he had hoped to at least look old enough to enter a bar and have a drink. "Don't look so down, as a Fifth you will have the ability to look a little older if you chose too. Most Fifths don't use the skill to look older normally it's to appear younger." Pete nodded. He knew he was going to have to explain that to the others. They all expected to still grow into adults.
"Now to more important matters. Which of those hunky boys are you with"? Nichole gently put her arm around Pete. Rachael looked at the pair surprised by the obvious pain in Pete's eyes. "You will recall the normal Pete was with when he was attacked", Rachael nodded. "Pete was with him, they um broke it off that night". Rachael understood she placed her hand on his shoulder comforting him. Rachael knew all too well how hard it was to love a normal. "I take it the other four a paired up", Pete nodded. "And they would not welcome your intruding on their relationships". Pete laughed at that. "Those four boys would do anything for Pete. They would break up with each other just to be with him that way", Nichole answered for Pete. Rachael saw there was more to it though, and waited for Pete to answer. "Nichole is right they really would do that for me. However our circle bonds are stronger this way. And I'm not going to change that. Maybe at some point in the future I will join them for physical reasons. However I want them to stay as they are". Rachael smiled and hugged Pete letting him know she understood.
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Pete looked at the map of the guild. It looked very much like a university. Unsurprisingly it had five departments with their own building. It also had the central building that was used for basic administrative purposes for the guild circles. There were also training grounds marked out on the map. The map indicated that the guild was housed on a small island. The island was not natural. It was recorded that when the guild was looking for a base the Head Circle of the time had created the island. This resulted in the island being perfect for the guilds needs. As well as the five department building and central admin building there was a massive library and the dormitories.
The accommodation wasn't really much. Which wasn't unexpected as most circles or the fifths came from wealthy families. This in turn meant that the fifth's often had large house all over the globe. Si had once asked Pete what his family's official house was like. Pete had looked Si in the eye and without blinking told him it was a large manor house in England. He had also told Si that he had only been there five times in his entire life and that it was his great grandmother's home.
The typical accommodation consisted of three large bedrooms a bathroom and a spacious sitting room. It was not unusual for a circle not to use all three bedrooms as bedrooms. However in this case they were. Pete picked the smallest room as he would be alone in it. The others all tried to get him to use one of the larger rooms he refused. The guild had all modern comforts, flat screen smart TV fast wireless internet. The sitting room even had a small fridge for drinks and snacks.
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The boys had the weekend to adjust to life on the island. An easy enough task. The hardest part about the weekend had been when Pete had told them about the age thing. They had taken it a bit better than Pete as they knew they would look old enough to be classed as young adults. Pete however would most likely never change which was fine on the island.
Monday arrived and the five of them were basically back at school. The high circle had decided as there were still three weeks left of the term they would sit in with the first years. The guild trained their circles for three years before they put them on active duty. The boys were not that thrilled to be put in with the first years. The high circle had pretty much told them that if they past the exams they would go straight to second year. This was the only thing that made the boys want to give it a go, who could resist missing a whole year of training.
The first class the five had was together. The class was just called circle bond. Si had read the basic outline to them all the night before. In a nut shell the class was focused on creating stronger bonds in the circle. It explained the sexual attraction and how that often helped form stronger bonds. The five felt confident that they would get through the class with ease. Not wanting to cause too much disruption they had arrived early and taken seats in the back of the room. As each circle arrived all of them looked at them with shock. The shock was due to the fact they were all male.
They had hoped to remain relatively unnoticed after the first shock. However the circle that took the class clearly wanted to test them straight away. So it was that they found that they were called to the front straight away. "As you can all see we have a new circle with us today", the fifth said with a condescending tone. She clearly wasn't happy to see an all male circle. "Now as we all know to pass this class you need to be able to communicate clear emotions with each other. Without seeing or touching each other". There were nods all around the room. "So as a demonstration I would like Fifth Peter and his circle to do so". There was a murmur from the room clearly this was not how classes usually went. "If that is what you want, was it just one of my elementals or all of them you wanted to communicate a clear emotion to me". The fifth sneered at Pete, she really didn't like him. "All of them", Pete smiled sweetly at her he looked at the others and nodded once. "As you wish on one condition", the other fifth raised an eyebrow. "As you have so boldly asked us to perform the final examination for this class, you will mark it as such".
Pete was surprised when she agreed. The exam was set up in short order. Another circle was called in to help. Pete was pissed off. He had always known that there would be those that would underestimate him based on his gender and sexual orientation. The other four were taken from the room by their respective elements. Pete glared at the Fifth that took the class realising he didn't even know her name. The exam had been explained simply. The other four would be isolated from Pete. They were each told an emotion to project to Pete. Pete was to correctly identify each emotion.
Derik stood with the two that had taken him from the room. He was told to project the emotion on the card to Pete. Pete looked at the Fifth. "Happiness from Derik my Earth Elemental, he also wants to hit something really hard". The fifth that took the class looked pissed. The other one grinned she had expected things to go this way. She had been one of the few who had seen them train on Sunday. "Next is Bren my Fire elemental, he's angry, an easy one for him as he is really angry at the moment". After a minute, "Si my air elemental, tranquillity or calm, again he's actually angry so anything but calm". The fifth who took the class was looking increasingly annoyed, Pete grinned at her. "Last we have Jim obviously my water elemental, you have him projecting sadness. He's really like the others though".
Pete's eyes narrowed at the fifth that had tried to make him feel inferior. "Tell me what is the final exam for next year", it wasn't the fifth who took the class that answered. The other one smiled at him, "communication and control, to communicate instructions to your elementals and to control the outward emotions of another elementals". Pete nodded once and focused.
None of them had ever tried to communicate directly with each other. Pete focused on the circle bond and reached out. It wasn't really talking it was more a serious of pictures and emotions. However he got an affirmative from each of his elementals. The others turned to the two elementals with them and encased them in raw elemental power. The attack was sudden and unexpected. However the results would have been the same if there had been warning. Pete didn't bat an eyelid as he manipulated the emotional signal from the other elementals to their fifths to indicate boredom.
It was all of five minutes later that the others indicated to Pete they had the others restrained. Pete looked at the two women, "So tell me what you can feel from your elementals". Both told him they were board with the task they had been given. "I don't think so". At that moment the other four escorted their captives into the room. There was a stunned silence. "I will admit this would have been harder if they had been ready for us". With that they released the Elementals. "I guess we will start this class again in our third year, you all have a good day". Pete said with a sweet smile and a nod to the fifth that had come into help with the testing. She had a huge smile the other one looked furious.
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For the next two days they pushed to have the first year examination. In all areas the boys did exceptionally well. At first there was concern from those who cared that the boys were making enemies. Pete just smiled at those who questioned their actions and told them that they were never going to be popular. They were an all male gay circle. Being a male fifth made Pete unpopular to begin with. Add to that, they were clearly the most powerful circle in the guild. And that was while they were untrained. The scary thought was that they had only just begun as a circle.
After they had breezed through the first year exams Pete was admittedly exhausted. He had fallen asleep in the late afternoon. It would have been after midnight when he woke with a start. It had not been a nightmare that woke him this time. Although he still had a lot of them recently featuring Greg. No what had woken him was a summoning in his head. It was weird, never had he felt such a strong and ancient mind. Pete stood up still wearing the clothes from the day before. Without bothering with shoes he followed the summoning.
It led to the roof of the central admin building. This was unsurprisingly the highest point in the guilds base. Surprisingly the summoning led Pete to a beautiful woman wearing a golden gown. Pete looked at her and frowned, "You don't fit the form properly". With a surprisingly deep chuckle the woman shimmered. She transformed into a massive golden dragon. Pete had heard of dragons he knew they were real. He also knew that they hid in human form. "You wanted to see if I could tell what you were". The dragon nodded her large golden head. "Well at least I knew you were not human. I still had no idea you were a dragon. If it's easier you should change back". The dragon gave out a deep purring growl, which Pete assumed was a laugh.
"You are correct little one. It is far easier to communicate in this form. And far less intimidating no". She had a surprisingly light voice with and odd accent. "You summoned me why?" The dragon looked at the boy and smiled. "I wished to see who would challenge the guild so. You do not disappoint. But we wonder what do you hope to gain from your actions". Pete frowned before answering. Others had asked them the same thing. "We do not want to gain anything. We just do what we feel needs to be done. And frankly this training is a waste of time". Again the dragon chuckled. "I am pleased to hear this. Now listen carefully there is a darkness that threatens the balance. This darkness strives to collect the ancient artefacts. The artefacts will give him what he wants, which is the power to control the world. The only thing preventing him is the missing key. The key has emerged recently. With this key the artefacts can be retrieved from their resting places. Do you understand this evil cannot have the artefacts of the first high circle?" Pete nodded, "Furthermore be warned not all circles can be trusted. You will face those that fear the power you now have".
Pete understood part of what he was being told if not all. He hoped his great grandmother Rachael could help. "You can trust blood and the circles of blood. I can say no more without letting the other side tell this evil more". The dragon looked up suddenly, "I must go my absence has already been noted. Peter Jorcher you must not fail in this task, you must find the key and retrieve the artefacts". With that the dragon shimmered back into her true form and flew off into the night.
The roof was where the others found him. Pete was too stunned to move. Never had he thought to meet one of the ancient dragons. "Why are you up here", Jim asked as the four approached. Pete looked at the others and tried to form the words he needed to explain. He gave up and resorted to just giving his circle the mental image of what had just happened.
The five stood on that roof unsure of what to do next. Unsurprisingly it was Si who started a plan of action. "Research, we need to find out who the darkness is, and what the artefacts are". Pete smiled at his air elemental and nodded his agreement. "And the key we need to find it as well", Jim added. "And I think the first place to look for information is High Fifth Rachael", Pete said. The others all noticed that Pete hadn't called the high fifth his grandmother. They all nodded in agreement. "That however can wait until later. I don't think she would like to be disturbed now", the others all agreed.
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Pete woke with a start he had only been asleep for two hours. He pushed his sweaty hair back of his face. He waited for his own breathing to calm and his body to stop trembling. The nightmare had been a new one. Shaking himself he got up knowing there was no point to trying to sleep anymore. In the past when he had, had a bad dream he had gone to his brother and then Jack and then Greg. The thought of those three made Pete smile. He had to admit to himself he always seemed to seek out the biggest and strongest guy he could when he felt bad. So it was no real surprise to him to find himself looking at Derik's and Bren's door. His Earth and Fire Elementals being the biggest and physically the strongest. Pete shook his head and quietly slipped from their rooms.
Pete wasn't surprised when he arrived at the High Fifths office to see a light in the early morning. Without hesitation Pete entered. Rachael looked at her great grandson. "Visits from dragons often cause sleepless nights". Pete smiled weakly. He had expected that his great grandmother would know about the visit. "I don't need visits from dragons to have sleepless nights", Pete said a little more sharply than he had intended. Rachael looked at Pete surprised at the way he had spoken. Pete was normal a calm friendly person. "I'm sorry Pete I was unaware that you had difficulties sleeping". Pete waved it off and offered an apology of his own.
The pair sat for a time in silence. Rachael was waiting for Pete to ask what he had come to ask. "It was his faction that killed them wasn't it". Rachael looked over at Pete and nodded, she didn't need him to tell her who he was talking about. "Who is he"? Rachael had expected this line of questioning since Pete and his normal had been attacked. "His name is Richard, a male Fifth like you with one key difference". Pete just sat silently letting Rachael explain. "The difference being as far as anyone has been able to determine he is heterosexual. Well he was when we were here together". Pete was a little surprised that Rachael had come to the guild with the male Fifth that had tried twice to kill him.
"Anyway it didn't take long for people to start to see that there was darkness about him. He like you had formed a close circle all his Elementals were attractive and powerful females." Rachael watched the surprise cross Pete's face. When Pete had fought Richard he had been with male Elementals. "As you know there is always a sexual attraction between Elementals and Fifths", Pete nodded. "Richard is no different, and he uses it to form multiple circles". Pete was shocked, never had he ever heard of a Fifth with more than one circle. Rachael nodded at Pete's shock. "It is that practice that eventually led the guild to kicking him out. At the time we just kicked him out not thinking anything of it. You can see yourself how that's worked". Pete nodded. He knew all too well how the guild ignoring this problem had turned out.
"What are the artefacts of the First High Circle"? If Rachael was surprised by Pete's question she didn't let it show. "They are powerful objects located in the sealed Temples of the First Circle. I can only assume your dragon friend has told you to seek them out". Pete nodded, "It is of no use to seek them out the Temples are sealed, then need a key and no such key exists the Guild has made its creation imposable". Pete went pale. Rachael didn't miss the blood draining from Pete's face. "Peter what have you done"? Pete looked at the High Fifth refusing to back down from the intimidating glare she gave him. "It is perhaps nothing. What is the Key"? Rachael could tell that Pete had alerted his circle it was clear to her he had done something.
"The key is something that only a strong connected circle can create. Each member of the circle gives a piece of themselves a sacrifice if you will for the creation of the key." Rachael looked at the pale small figure in the chair across from her. "Peter I'm waiting and you needn't worry anything that happened before you came here won't be punished by the guild. You and your circle were not part of the guild at the time". Rachael tried to reassure Pete.
Pete took a deep breath and sat straighter in his chair. Disappointment in him and low expectations of him were things that Pete had come to expect from others. "As you say we were not part of the Guild at the time. However we always tried to work within the laws of the guild. Except once". Pete looked at the High Fifth. "On one occasion we broke Guild law to save a normal that would have died if we had not intervened". Rachael didn't need to hear anymore she now knew what had happened. "You created a key. Greg the normal you loved is the key". Pete nodded Rachael's shoulders slumped she had feared when Pete was born that key may be created. Male Fifths were always so powerful.
To be continued
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