A/N: Hiya! Just a note, this is my first fanfic on and the first one I've done in a long time... (nervous laugh)

Anyway, enjoy! Rated M for excessive violence, language, semi-sexual content, and puni.

Disclaimer: I do not own Roxis, Pamela, or any other character or situation from Mana Khemia and/or the Atelier Iris series.

--

THWACK. THWACK. The sickening sound of bones shattering. Still, he showed no mercy, even as her blood spattered onto walls, the floor,

his face. Not that he really cared. In fact, it gave him a sense of ... longing, a lust for more. More victims. More slaughter. More blood.

She would be the first in a string of murders, or as the media would later call them, "freak accidents". The best part? No one would guess it was him; he was too handsome, too popular, and from too good a family to ever commit such crimes. It was almost enough to make him giggle like a schoolgirl.

A small squeak of pain escaped from the torn lips of the bloody mass of flesh that could barely be called a girl. He knelt down next to her, his caramel-colored eyes meeting hers.

"Still have some life left in you, eh?" he spoke to her in a faux-sweet manner, "That can be fixed."He stood and raised his weapon, "Goodbye."

CRUNCH.

--

"Roxis..."

He blinked rapidly; the morning was burning his eyes.

And his face was stuck to his textbook! AGAIN!

Shit. Did I fall asleep studying again? Roxis yanked the book off his cheek and assessed the damage; the pages were irreversibly stuck together and the words had become blobs of ink.

"Not again ... This is the third time this week," he sighed, "What time is it, anyway?"

10: 12 AM Class had started over ten minutes ago; cue panic mode!

Roxis wasted no time, only dressing and gathering necessary supplies. He was still struggling to pull his coat over his shoulder as he rushed out the door.

Dammit! Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!! I can't be late! I've never been late! Gah, Dior's going to kill me! he was so preoccupied, he almost ran headlong into Mr. Zeppel, who almost dropped a large stack of papers he was carrying.

"Good day to you, too," Zeppel gestured to the boy as he skidded around the corner.

--

"...And that's the difference between Elemia silver and sterling silver. Any questions?" Dior had just finished his lecture to his half-asleep class when Roxis burst through the door, breathing heavily.

"You're late, Mr. Rosenkrantz," he said matter-of-factly (or maybe it was a slightly annoyed tone; hard to tell when the man droned on for half an hour.)

"I...I'm sorry, Teacher! It...it won't happen a...again," the student panted.

"Well, stop lollygagging and take your seat! We'll talk after class," he turned back to the board as Roxis slid into his seat, "Honestly, kids these days..."

"Oooooooh, you're in trouble!"

"Sh-shut up, Flay!!"

--

Please, remember to review and submit suggestions. I'll take any input I can get. Oh, and if you like it, tell your friends about it!

Next Chapter: Meetings and a Mysterious Girl

-Kerushii

Edit: Fixed some structural and grammatical errors. Glad I caught those early...