Location - Pioneer Building
A man, most likely in his early forties waltzed into the classroom with an air of grace and authority, his glasses framing his harsh and strict eyes. He had short cut hair that was beginning to turn grey, due to old age, some wrinkles that tell the story of how he had grown with time and maturity that seemed almost natural.
As he entered the classroom, all the recruits in the class paid utmost attention to what he had to say. He took his stand next to the elevated platform, setting his books on the podium provided, and he began to communicate with the now silent classroom.
"To introduce myself, I am Avral Leignt, your classroom teacher. I will be responsible for checking each of you during your stay in the arena, supervising and reporting to the higher ups about your skills and if you are qualified for missions." He said as he took a short pause that made his authority on each recruits possible future resounding in the silence that enveloped the classroom.
"This is Group A, where the best have been placed as you share teaching, resources and ideologies with the top 5. The Pioneer has acknowledged your skills, potential or things of such nature, things I don't really care about and has deemed that you are qualified to be in this room, so do not be pressured by the fact that the top 5 are here." Avral Leignt said as he eased the tension in the classroom
"You have to find something unique and original to you and use that to secure your standing. Well, after that introduction, I should reveal my reason for gathering you, it is the Detel test. I am sure many have heard of the term either from history books or other field Pioneers but today, we shall reveal to you one of the ways which had enabled Sanctuary to be able to hold their own and sometimes push back against Xion attacks." Avral, the classroom teacher, spoke as he adjusted his glasses out of habit with his thumb pressing back into position, a quirk of his.
"This is the core of humanity's fighting power and the foundation humans rely on to combat against those monsters known as Xions that threaten our survival. You all will soon be called to enter the administration hall for your test and infusion."
With a deep but short break, the old man with a face that tells the tales of times that were once the present albeit a long time ago, he pushed his glasses back on his face and with setting the tension of the room, he picked up from where he left.
"I am your teacher and I have been placed to be responsible for you all, so I will do this to the utmost of my ability. I know that my days are long behind me but I wish for you guys to be filled with joy and happiness even with the bleakness of this world. So, I will be truthful to you, I'll say the gory facts that would be hidden from you all"
"Being a Pioneer and fighting for humanity, well it sounds grand but in the end, you are all children, youths who haven't been able to enjoy this world but are being thrown straight into a war that they know little about and a battlefield that was not yours to begin with but bounded by the fire of duty, of expectations and of hope and dreams placed by those who have passed away…and some may not survive this adversity at all"
As Mr Avral talked, you could see the crack on the expressions of the recruits, the buried fear. The recruits that were filled with pride and joy seemed to be crushed by Mr Avral's words. Their clenched fists and their heads were laid below devoid of the same joy they had when they realised they were accepted into Class A.
"No matter who or what you become in the end, I'll always be your teacher, Avral Leignt, my dear students. If it becomes too hard to hold on, if you need support or help or if you need care and to be hugged, you can always come to me as I will always be waiting for you too, my students, he said with sincerity dripping through his voice.
"I shall listen to your rants, your pains, your stories, your joys and I shall encourage you and support you through them all. So please! Do not yield, do not fear, do not surrender and do not falter for you all are Pioneers, the hands that shall guide and lit a future that the rest of humanity shall follow." Mr Avral spoke, his voice now commanding and intense, with the vigor of a soldier that had gone through wars and had grown with it.
'He has stories' Kael thought in a daze as he stared at the man who proclaimed himself our protector and support.
Walking off the raised platform, Mr Avral Leignt took the Pioneer's salute, his legs joined together, head raised and his five fingers placed on his chest symbolizing the creed of the Pioneers 'For dreams, For hope, For our future, For duty and For Humanity'. And his other hand raised up to the sky with two of his fingers pointing to the sky, a symbolism for the acceptance of the past and looking forward to the future.
"As someone living in Sanctuary, as someone who is part of humanity, as someone who wishes you best of luck and safety, I salute you all for your help to humanity. We shall forever engrave your name in our hearts, brave heroes."
Mr Avral said as he walked out of the room,a class filled with sobs, cries of joy for recognition and solemn silence.
With a synchronized salute, all the recruits of Class 1 spoke in unison like a rehearsed performance "Peace with you, Sir!" in a loud enough voice that could be heard echoing in the hallways.
A genuine smile broadened Avral's face as he listened to the echoes of his students.
Location - Detel Infusion Facility (DIF)
As the group of class 1 walked into the facility, the unusual and strange coldness that seemed to envelop this whole space rushed towards them like a tide.
It felt unusual and that there was something wrong and not of this world. From Kael to Lark and the rest of the top five, they seemed to have become ensnared in some kind of strange state. As the cold brushed against Kael's body and rushed into his nostrils, he could smell it, he could feel it.
Cold. Sterile. Lifeless. Abstract. Alien.
The Detel facility was like walking into another world unprepared and unequipped for the possible dangers. The weight of the unknown seemed to crush Kael's heart with no hesitation nor mercy shown.
As he began to wobble and his vision became hazy and unorganized until the strange atmosphere that was blanketing the whole space disappeared like it never did happen.
A man with a scar that ran through his facial features, a posture and position of someone with battle experience to the front of the students as he spoke to them.
"The Detel - V9 test will begin shortly. I have also been tasked to explain to you recruits about what is going to happen. This test impacts on your psyche as it turns you from human to something much more, something better, something the Sanctuary has coined as Superhuman. That is what you shall be if you manage to conclude this ordeal,"
He cut his speech, letting the lingering silence do its job of building up the tension as he continued the next part of his speech to the recruits in a deep voice.
"But as they say, power requires you to struggle and endure to gain it and it comes with sacrifices too. This applies to here especially. Once the Detel - V9 comes in contact with your heart, the suffering begins."
"It would forcefully change and upgrade most of what makes you well, you. From breaking and reforming bones to higher bone density, higher blood flow, it is surely the most antagonizing pain in the world, pain that you would feel like it was much better to be dead than to endure this, but you must. You must give humanity a fighting chance.
"But although this is painful, it is the least you should be concerned about in the Detel infusion because the Detel will also test if you are worthy enough to be something more than human," he whispered as he concluded his address although his last statement put all the students in a state of anxiety and panic.
"Now if you will, when you are ready, follow the dedicated staff provided for you to get Detail - V9 administered to you,"
The man who seemed to be the leader of this facility concluded his words as he began to observe those who would be the first to tackle it with the looming threat and promised pain and anguish.
It was a test for those with the strongest of mind, the bravest of will, the best of conviction, those with the ability to be able to rule and command, those who shall be there when needed. Meisha was the first, as she bravely walked out from the safety of the group. With her head held on high, she walked towards the room.
Kael POV
She was courageous. She deserves to be number 1 of this batch. That was what many believed right now, but I saw it.
Maybe it was because I did it too, the act of putting up a brave front while being scared and afraid inside. Her clenched fist, the beads of sweat that formed on her face and her trembling legs which she forced to walk towards assured agony.
I don't still understand what or why, but when I came to my senses, I found myself standing next to her. It was like my body called itself to action without my brain able to process it.
"What are you doing?! Why are you here?!" Meisha asked, her face pale with fear and worry.
'I have no clue. I don't understand how I got here', that is what I should've said and then walked back to my seat, after all I am no hero, just a broken person filled with revenge.
At least if I did that, things wouldn't have ended up like they did. One small encounter, one little nudge on fate's interwoven strings led to me here.
"Why are you here? I know you are afraid, so don't try to play the fool with me" I questioned as I looked into her eyes, as despite her fear, her eyes never did waver.
"This is my duty. I am the first rank of the recruits so if I can't step up and lead, how can I still bear on such a title. My fear is nothing compared to this," she spoke with such self belief and motivation to duty. It was charismatic to say the least.
"I see. If this is what you have decided, then my reason for doing this is because in the end, you're still a human. The pain, I'll be there to share it with you so you don't feel lonely and as so, the anguish would be somewhat lessened, right First Rank Miesha?" I addressed her with seriousness and a will to help her.
Yes I decided to help her despite it not being required of me. I guess this is the growth that Master mentioned. The ability to prosper and thrive despite the bleak world one finds themselves embedded in, the ability to grow.
"Thank you, Kael. I am really grateful for this." Meisha said as her tensed body slightly began to be a little more at ease.
"These two have volunteered to take the Detel test. May you all wish them luck and good strength." the leader of the Detel facility encouraged the rest of Class 1.
"What are you doing, Kael?!" Monnae from within the crowd of students questioned Kael's decision. As he heard her voice now tinted with worry, he turned to look at her.
She worried more about me than I did about myself. Ironic
"It's fine Mon. This would make me stronger and allow me to do what I always wanted to do, despite the pain. See you later, Mon!"
Kael said as he followed the lead of the staff into the inside of the facility, giving her no chance for a counterpoint.
The serene coldness sweeping through their being as they approached the promised torture, a place that promises to break and remake you.
The bane of our existence, something that was not meant to destroy but to remake, to ascend and to shed what we are for something more, something greater. As we arrived at the lower side of the facility, we were led to the assignment of the doctor that would be spearheading the infusion of Detel - V9.
"Welcome recruits, to the core of Pioneer's strength and humanity's hope. I'll cut straight to the point. When you are injected with Detel - V9, it will travel quickly to your heart which then supplies it to all your body system from your brain to lungs. As it travels to your brain, you shall then fall to the trial that it shall present to you." the researcher commented
"Although this process comes with the risk of what we call "corruption" which manifests with seizures, blood pouring out and such other signs, which says that is your limit of what Detel you can absorb and could also signal your end or death," the researcher said, which made Meisha and Kael tense up as they understood the stakes that came with this infusion. It was a very risky procedure, one that failure is not accepted because once you fail, the cost to pay is your life.
"Since this is a first dosage the maximum of the serum you have to be taken has been decided by comparing data from others before you so once this limit is reached, no other Detel - V9 would be administered. And we shall also stop the procedure when we notice any sign of corruption or possible failure but please note that there is still a risk because you may already be gone before we can even reach you."
"Now please lie in the pods. They shall put you in a comatose state and we shall begin the procedures." he explained clearly and straight to the point and while adding some things that only a doctor involved for this project could give an insight to.
"Sure, Doctor" Meisha answered as she changed her recruit uniform into the given clothes. Kael did the same and after getting ready, they were set into the pod filled with a crystalline green fluid, restless within its glass prison with each ripple trying to escape its prison, albeit to no avail.
"What's your name? I never did catch it" Meisha asked before she was submerged into the liquid. "Kael. Kael Levane and you are Miesha, Meisha Niel."
Kael responded as he looked at the smile on Miesha's face that seemed to slightly reduce the tension of what possible horrors they were about to face. "I see. Kael. It is a beautiful name. I'll be looking forward to seeing you after we survive this, alright?"
Meisha commented to which Kael was able to give a nod to before he and Meisha were both submerged into the green liquid, left to face the oncoming pains and anguish.