The school grounds were silent in the night. Although the sun was down, the moon overhead normally lights the sky with the stars but tonight it was a new moon and it was the darkest it could be on Polaris.
Quiet footsteps as a figure slithers along the side of the school. It reaches the fire exit and opens the door stepping in as cameras begin to fritz and stutter in the figure's presence. It walks throughout the school, careful to watch the corners for any surprises before it reaches a room, 'equipment storage' on a plaque on the door.
The room was electronically locked but the figure used a keycard and scanned it in, opening the door. They entered the room and looked around to find what they were looking for.
- - -
Dahlia sat in class and she couldn't help but keep thinking about what was found out last night. Somehow the academy has her, her genetic data on record. But how and when? She couldn't help but look over at Suto, who was focusing with a stoic face as usual at the teacher's lesson. According to the access limits, the only people who have access to the medical records are Principal Daltis and Dr. Hana Saeki, Suto's mother.
Tsumi suggested that it's possible they got it from all kinds of things, disposed napkins or tissues, cups that were drunk from but from how accurate and precise it is, she would've had to give them a proper sample. Of course this led to other theories such as someone, maybe even the doctor herself having some kind of superpower that gathers genetic data but that was unconfirmed for now.
Right now though, the current lesson Dahlia was getting about this superpowered society was what was interesting to her. The idea of superpowers felt a bit strange to the girl who lived in a world of magic. The idea of being inherently born with power wasn't, but having it be without the need for any proper training, at least to use it, was a difference to her.
Dahlia couldn't use magic back home. According to the churches and professors who looked over her, she just didn't have the proficiency for it. Of course that's why Dahlia thought that whatever this power is had to be dark magic, at least at the time. Now though, there were so many questions about her power and if it even is magical.
The lesson mostly consisted of going over the origin of superpowers and how they were born during a time in the world where there was massive conflict, resulting in the weak suddenly gaining the power to fight back, creating heroes. It didn't go into the sciences of that though and Dahlia would be keen to look into it more but she already had plenty on her plate already.
When the bell rang and lunch had commenced, Dahlia made her way to the lunch hall while still feeling strange about the whole 'genetic data' revelation. She thought it might've ceased this feeling with a night of sleep but still it persisted.
She sat down and opened her box to find her lunch for today. A delicious dish of red curry, chicken and rice. It was still warm as Dahlia noticed a small orange flower in the meal which radiated heat and made the meal look pretty. Enjoying her meal the other three girls joined her, not with packed lunches but food taken from the canteen.
"So, hey." started Tenha, stabbing her fork into some rice, "We were all talking about going out somewhere before the Polaratus and wanted to see if you were up for it?"
Dahlia snapped out of her state and answered Tenha's question, "Oh, yes. At what date?"
Tenha talked about the details of where they were going, meanwhile Dahlia's eyes drifted over to Yume, who's cheek was still sporting the vague purpling of a bruise that would likely be gone by today. She thought about blood and whether any was spilt when the girl was hit.
No, it was just the bones and swelling, she didn't actually bleed.
Dahlia couldn't think about it anymore. It was useless. Nothing she had seen so far could help her. Even during the training she doesn't recall anytime she's seen anyone in this class bleed, at least yet. But given the opportunities that could come, maybe Dahlia would get lucky like she did with Letty.
"So, next week then?" Tenha said, snapping Dahlia out of her thoughts. The other two girls had responded with 'yeses' so Dahlia said the same too.
"Great! Actually Dahlia, I don't think I have your phone number." Tenha stated, "Can I have yours so we can talk about the details more?"
Dahlia made a small practiced gasp as she shook her head solemnly, "Actually my phone broke during the boat ride over. My father is looking for a replacement for me now."
It was technically true. Tsumi didn't prepare for Dahlia when he set up for the mission. He would've gotten Dahlia a phone too just like himself and Lemon but given how short notice the girl was, he didn't have the time. He did let her know that he was working on it.
"That's a bummer." Panoi frowned. "Can't imagine losing my phone for a day, let alone a week."
Tenha took out one of her books from her bag and ripped out a page, "Well here, we can write our numbers down and you can send us a message when you've got your new phone."
The three girls wrote their numbers down on the page and it was handed to Dahlia who accepted it. She wasn't entirely sure how to use this when she did get a phone but she can always ask Tsumi or Lemon to help her out.
The bell rang and it was training again once more. This time however was much different. Instead of the track, it was a hall they were going to. Apparently the two days before the weekend, training would be in this hall as opposed to outside.
For Dahlia, this is nice and better than the track. She didn't feel eyes reading her from the school nor did she have to feel the scalding heat of Polaris. The hall was cool and had different exercise equipment set out. It reminded her of the training hall on the Deadbolt but much larger and grander.
Instead of running track, everyone was doing stretches and warm ups before Suzuki said that for today, they were going to use some of the machines before doing an obstacle course to better improve everyone's quick thinking. When Dahlia was about to get onto a treadmill like she had done in the Deadbolt, Suzuki had stopped her.
"Dahlia, there is actually something different we've prepared for you for the first part of today's training." the man told her.
The girl was guided by the man a bit away, through some doors to a massive tank big enough to fit a human being comfortably. It was filled with water and had steps going up to it. Coach Letty was to the side, checking the tank before she turned to face the two approaching.
Suzuki turned to the girl and motioned towards the tank. "Dahlia, myself and Letty had a conversation yesterday about testing exactly how your power works in terms of its limits. You said before that you had problems limiting your tentacles. We theorised it might have to do with that black water that seeps when you use them."
He continued as he guided her around the tank. "We want to test to see if the reason you have a hard time limiting your power is because of that water disrupting your focus. So we'll be having you start with holding your breath underwater and increasing your familiarity with being submerged."
It was an interesting idea but Dahlia was fine to try it. The theory that the black water was making her feel suffocated was always a possibility she thought of that was holding her back. She didn't know where it came from or why this water, which was completely normal otherwise, was black.
She changed quickly into a swimsuit that belonged to the school. It was a one piece black and yellow bathing suit that at first made Dahlia feel awkward with how tight it was but calmed when she realised only two people were going to see. She could manage that bit of immodesty at least.
Climbing into the tank, the water felt heavenly with the tropical heat and dipping in fully was another new experience for the girl as the idea of swimming for recreation wasn't something common in Pilin. It was because of that though that Dahlia realised she didn't know how to swim. Thankfully the bottom of the tank was short enough for her feet to reach the bottom.
On Suzuki's call, the girl sank underwater and the sensation was definitely similar to using her power. The moisture in her ears, how it glazed over her eyes, even the way it went up her nose slightly during that initial drop was extremely familiar. For that first dive she stayed for ten seconds before dipping back up and breathing.
The sensation wasn't completely the same. She didn't feel her head getting heavier or the rush of something coming out of her nose but it was closer than anything else she could think of. She tried a few more times, holding her breath and just managing to get to a minute before Suzuki had asked her to head to get changed for the obstacle course.
She wasn't sure if it did help but then again that's why it was a test and not a training method. She rejoined the rest of class where some were looking ready and psyched for the training course.
The group headed into a large gymnasium where the obstacle course was set up. Most of it was elevated off the ground with crash mats at the bottom should you slip. Everyone gathered around the front of the course where Letty called out for who wanted to go first. Tenha was the one who raised her hand the fastest and got set up at the starting line.
"Get ready for my best being the only best today!" smirked Tenha as Letty pushed the stopwatch and she ran at full speed.
The course was split into four segments. First Tenha was faced with a climbing wall. With no harness but a mat at the bottom, Tenha rushed up the wall but made sure to never misstep. Reaching the top quite quickly and moving along a balancing beam to her next obstacle.
For the second section it was a series of hanging ropes she needed to move between to reach the other side. This slowed her but after about thirty seconds, she was on the other side. Doing well if everyone's attitude is to go by.
The third part of the course was a series of poles that were only three feet thick, making them just barely stable for someone to step on them. As Tenha tried to cross over, she was struck in the side as a swinging bag animated by Letty had struck her and sent her falling down and crashing on the mat below.
"Ow." she groaned as Suzuki came to see if she was fine.
"One minute thirty-two Ms. Xumi, before you fell that is." said Letty. Suzuki helped her up and she walked back to the group.
"Heh, didn't even reach the last obstacle." snickered Tansol.
"Oh yeah? Why don't you try it next then?" shouted Tenha.
"I will!" proclaimed Tansol as he got in position.
As Tansol made his try, he too failed at the third segment with the flying obstacles, slipping up at the same spot Tenha had. Dahlia could see there were about three of them floating around, almost like mischievous ghosts or fairies, dancing mockingly.
Soon almost everyone had a try. Panoi couldn't use her power to great effect as her voice was not strong enough to push back against the bags Letty was controlling. Burrus' shadows, while they could hold off the bags, his inability to move and control at the same time made him fall after the first hop. Finally Suto used his ice to bridge some gaps in the jumps but a wrong step and he slipped off.
Dahlia noticed after Suto's turn, the boy seemed to look up at the pillar he fell from and focus on it, checking his shoe for some reason and rubbing the sole. Dahlia couldn't tell what he was thinking but it was clear he found something odd about the course. He seemed to dismiss it though, at least for now.
Dahlia decided to go next, feeling she has seen enough and now wants to try it for herself. Once she readied herself Suzuki blew the whistle. As soon as she started scaling the wall, behind her she could hear the overly enthusiastic cheers of Rolo that were not there when everyone else had their turn. Immediately Dahlia felt pressure on her but also embarrassment as she continued up the wall, feeling annoyed.
That fool! Can't he keep his mouth shut!
It took her a full minute to reach the top, Rolo still cheering the loudest for her. She moved across the balancing beam and reached the other side to do the ropes. Earlier, Suto had used his ice to make a plank to cross with so Dahlia considered using her tentacles to pull her across but she isn't sure she can do it.
No! I need to do it! That's the point of this training!
Dahlia focused her mind as the tentacles slithered out and were ready to strike at anything she wished, but this time she had a different order in mind for them. Before it would be aimed at something with the intent to mangle, crush or capture it. She still focused on that but instead of aiming it at someone, she aimed it at the path across.
Quickly her full force of tentacles connected with the other side of the second section, cracking the wooden platform a bit but she was able to hold it back enough to not break it entirely.
She couldn't pull herself over with the tentacles she found but she quickly made a realisation as she held onto it. She hopped on them, climbing the mass of slimy black limbs and moving along them to get to the other side. Despite the physics of it looking off, it seemed that because the tentacles were strong enough to carry her weight, they did not slack when she used them like a bridge. Even though she was slow, she had still moved the fastest for anyone in that section so far.
She did feel heavy headed after and there was some black water from her nose but it didn't feel as heavy as before by holding her breath. Maybe there was some use to the lung training.
She was now at the part where many failed. Dahlia leapt between the poles and prepared herself for the flying objects. She got past one but she could see the two others going for her.
I can't knock both of them! I can only get the tentacles to strike one thing at a time!
Dahlia was panicked in her thoughts having no clue what she could do to parry both of the projectiles. She looks for a moment down to see everyone else. Everyone but Zannos who was resting to the side, uncaring about what was going on.
Her mind focused on him and thought about his slap against Yume the first day. It was a weird thought to be thinking right now but she couldn't help but think about how he moved when he delivered that hit. How he lashed out to deliver the blow with such accuracy, but Dahlia can't be accurate.
But maybe I don't need to be!
As the two bags came, Dahlia didn't move; instead she curled her body in and focused on making her back be the highest point on her body. She looked up to see if the bags were close enough and..
"Hurraaah!" Dahlia shouted as the tentacles lashed out at all angles indiscriminately above her, the bags shoved back by the force exerted by the long slimy limbs. Crashes were heard as the bags slammed into the roof, cracking and breaking completely as Dahlia recalls her tentacles to continue jumping.
I did it! I did it! Now I just.. need.. To..
Before Dahlia could make another jump, her head got dizzy and she felt nauseous, causing her to slip off the pole and go falling down into the crash mat. "Ummf." Dahlia mumbled as her face laid flat on the mat.
"Are you fine Dahlia?" called Suzuki as he looked down on her as she slowly pushed herself up to see that her face had been coated in the black water from splatting on it.
"I'm fine, professor, thank you for asking." Dahlia murmured as she clumsily pulled herself up and stepped off the mat With Suzuki's aid, she walked back to the seating where she needed rest.
That felt so bad. I feel like a bag of frosting that just got squashed.
Dahlia was in such a disorientated state that she had failed to notice Yume using a towel to wipe the black water off her face. She would feel her dignity was lost if she wasn't currently fighting going to sleep.
"Just hold still Dahlia, I'll get it off you in a moment.." she said as she continued to wipe dry the other girl's face.
After a few minutes, Dahlia had regained enough focus to tell what was happening where she could see Yume sitting next to her and everyone looking up at Rolo who had been struggling on the ropes a minute.
Tansol was shouting up at him, "Are you going to be up there all day? I want to have another turn before the Polaratus if you don't mind?"
"Shut up!" shouted Rolo, "I'm just having a bit of an issue with the ropes!"
"Same as the climbing wall?" he gibed back.
Rolo tried to reach for the next rope but couldn't get a grip on it before he fell and crashed down on the mat, him being the only one who couldn't get to the third challenge. "Ha!" shouted Tansol, "Not that sly without your teleport huh?"
Once Rolo was finished with his turn, Yume noticed that Dahlia had regained focus. "Are you alright Dahlia? I knew that your power was tiring but I never guessed it was this tiring, and this black liquid as well."
The brunette straightened her back, out of practice of being proper and reassured Yume. "Yes. If I use it for even half a minute or do something grand I feel exhausted."
Dahlia's head bobbed as she tried to keep from slipping back to being queasy again all the while the fuzzy haired girl next to her shifted to get a better look at her friend.
"I used to be like that. Not the black water, but nauseous and dizzy whenever I used my power because it was difficult to see everything around you all at once."
"I did better with it there but not much better than before. Professor Suzuki thinks I could lessen it if I tried using less tentacles." Dahlia explained, holding the towel to her nose for any remaining water.
"Have you ever tried visualising your power?" Yume asked.
She has technically. It's what she did everytime she used her power. Even there with the sandbags she visualised the vicious blow Zannos dealt and channeled that energy into her tentacles to cause them to lash out instead of strike but that was more letting go than really visualising what she wanted.
She explained all this, minus the part where her being slapped was the inspiration behind the lashing out and the girl seemed to close her eyes in contemplation. After a few moments of thought, the girl opened her eyes to give her response.
"Well I can't say it would help in your situation but when I train my power I stay still in meditation and focus on everything but my vision. I take in the sounds, the smells, the sway of the wind and the tastes in the air. When I hear an interesting sound, I use my power and try to find the source as fast as I can." she explained.
Using everything but what I see…
Yes she has been relying on sight for aiming her tentacles, perhaps working on having her tentacles react instead of commanding might work better. It did seem they respond better to instant thoughts instead of just giving orders, like a link where their emotions connect.
Dahlia thought back to the false troglodytes and how she restrained them. She remembered she wasn't even feeling anything then except pure rage. Not just that, she located its main parasite without even knowing what that was. She remembered worming around and feeling every horrible crevice of that monster like it was her own.
Maybe it was smarter to let her emotions get the better of her, especially in a fight but she knows how murky those waters can get. Still she'll try. She's always treated the tentacles like a spell so maybe treating them like an extra arm might make things different.
"Thank you Yume, I'll try that." Dahlia smiled.
"You're welcome Dahlia." Yume smiled back.
Just as the two were going to start talking about something else, it was cut short when the sounds of arguing were happening with the rest of the class.
"Why haven't you gone yet?" snarked Tenha as she looked up at the towering Zannos. "Would've thought you'd be rushing to set the highest record."
"I don't have to answer you." growled Zannos at the girl. He had not even turned his head to look down at her, only his eyes were.
Tenha chuckled before she said her next sentence. "Well I think it's because you don't want to show how you aren't all bite like you try to be."
The girl with blue pigtails leaned towards the towering green haired guy and smiled as she uttered, "You know that's how everyone sees you? Yeah you got super-strength but your daddy's your real superpower ain't he?"
"I don't have to humour that with a response." Zannos says as he walks to a wall and sits.
"Ha, no balls." Tenha says as she heads over to Dahlia and Yume.
"Tenha watch that language!" Coach Letty. "Who's going next? Zannos, Shinji or Yume?"
Yume begins to stand but Tenha gently pushes her down. "Don't go next."
"Why?" asks Yume.
"I want you and that pissy green giant to go back to back." Tenha swore quietly, still staring down the guy from across the room.
Tenha was quite angry and Yume seemed to find it hard to say anything before Shinji had already agreed and got into position to run. Zannos seemed to not seem to care at all about going. Either that or he wanted to go last to know what score he'd need to beat. But that didn't stop Dahlia from noticing how worked up Tenha was getting over this.
"Why are you so angry Tenha?" questioned Dahlia in her calmest voice.
"Cause that green haired punk thinks he's better than everyone else so he's waiting till the end, I'm sure of it. He even had a chance there and didn't take it." the blue haired girl pointed out.
So Tenha thought the same…
The moment Suzuki's whistle was blown Shinji rushed up the wall, making sure that he never missteps or has any setbacks so as to not waste a second. Almost all of the students were cheering with Tenha making it a point to be the loudest.
In just twenty five seconds, he was up the wall and on the move to the next section. Shinji had sprinted over the balancing board, keeping balance as he did. Dahlia could not help being awed by his athletics that she couldn't help but voice it.
"He truly is an exemplary athlete." she uttered.
"I know right." said Tenha. "He has always been that way, giving it his all since day one! Go on Shinji!"
The red haired boy practically swung across the rope section, almost getting there as fast as Dahlia, before reaching the third part where everyone else had fallen at.
He reached the floating bags fast and without hesitation he unleashed a wave of fire at them, setting them ablaze and even causing one of the jumping pillars to have a puff of steam puff from it under the intensity. Quickly he made his way across while Letty kept trying to throw more obstacles but each one got shot down by Shinji's flames.
Once he got over, he was the first to pass the third challenge.
"Woooo! Go Shinji!" shouted Panoi.
"That's the class rep for ya!" called out Tansol.
Encouraged by the cheers, Shinji headed onto the final challenge. It was similar to the balancing beam but it was circular and rotated when stepped on. As Shinji laid one foot on it, he could feel the beam shift under his weight. Even the slightest margin of error could cause the beam to spin and knock anyone on it off. He stood for a few moments and thought about what to do. He needs speed, not patience, he was being timed after all and no hero would move slowly to the aid of a civilian. He jumped on and began to run along the length of the beam.
Sprinting across he made sure to keep as much balance as possible until he reached the centre of the beam; he was planning on jumping the rest of the distance from there to the other side. But before he could get halfway, disaster struck.
*CHLINK*
The sound of tensing metal snapping as the beam snapped at the front end and fell down from its hinges. Shinji had no time to react as he felt his centre of gravity fall backwards and he split only to fall down twenty feet onto the mat.
But as Shinji relaxed, knowing the mat would break his fall, his head made a painful discovery.
*CRACK*