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| Spectrum: You put that **** on everything. |
Chapter 14: Smile
Maria yawned and sat up out of her bed, now on the lower bunk instead of the top because she constantly fell out of it. Snowy climbed off of her lap and ran over to drink some water as Maria rubbed her eyes. She felt extremely sore, but she was pretty used to waking up feeling like she was about to split in half from just how much they've been forcing her to work out along with training and sparring with the fighting club. She didn't bother to make her bed and just pulled open her drawer to find her uniform for the day.
She glanced up at a mirror, realizing that she hasn't cut her hair in five months as it was getting down to her neck and shoulders in length, but was still somewhat unkempt since all she did was comb it. “Morning!” Lily spoke from a desk with a small chair to Maria's left. She looked up at her while rubbing a free eye. She was sitting at the table, writing in a small book with a cup of coffee in a white mug sitting beside it. She took a sip as Maria walked over to glance over her shoulder. “What are you doing?” She said, groggily.
“I kind of forgot I was supposed to do a journal.. I guess all the working out got me distracted.” She replied and sat the mug back down while writing in the journal. Maria felt kind of cold since unless you shut the blinds, the cold early winter air would start to seep through the big window in their dorm room, so she started to put on her shirt and jacket along with her dress pants to have less skin hitting the air than her normal sleeping gear of pajama pants and a tanktop. “Journals are for children, Lily. Aren't you old enough to not write one?” She said, leaving her jacket unbuttoned as she sifted around for her scarf.
“Well.. I chose to write one because I could. You're never truly too old for anything.” She argued with a friendly tone, shaking her pen since the ink is slowly beginning to run dry. It was the same one she was using for her history classes. “Well I'm just condemning you by saying it's pointless.” Maria snarked back, slinging her long red scarf around her neck. She wasn't usually the type for style, she doesn't wear make up or do much to make herself look any different from day to day, but she wore that scarf nearly every day since it was repaired.
“...Where did Jonah go?” Maria asked, noticing that he was oddly absent, he usually wakes up at about the same time she does. Lily finished her coffee and turned her chair to face Maria. “He left early to go see Ashley.” She answered, Maria walking to the door and pulling it open as Lily quickly got out of her chair and stared up at her. “H-hey! I'm not ready yet!” She stammered, but Maria lightly shrugged her shoulders as she turned to face her. “I'd rather just get this over with.” Maria answered before shutting the door behind her.
Lily huffed and finished the rest of her journal quickly, running out of the door to catch up with Maria, who was just walking down the red carpeted staircase. “...What do you want for your birthday, Maria?” Lily asked Maria, as Maria's birthday was actually only a couple of days away. “My birthday...?” Maria drifted off a bit when she spoke, she actually forgot her own birthday was coming up so soon. “Yeah Maria... Your birthday, it's on Memoria, remember?” Lily reminded her, Maria looking away as they head out the front door. The blast of cold air hit both of them and made them shiver. It was cold, but not snowing. It's the kind of sharp cold you could only get when there was clear skies.
“I can't believe I forgot...” Maria commented, was it not that important anymore? She was born on a national holiday so it usually overtook her birthday in importance, but she's not sure she celebrated a birthday since the year her parents passed away. It was quite miserable in that hospital she stayed in.
“It's fine Maria. People usually pick
the national holidays over some random person's birthday.” She
consoled Maria, who shrugged her shoulders as they walked down to the
parking lot, the area they were supposed to meet. Jonah was sitting
on a chair as 5 more people were speaking to each other and began to
walk away from him.
It was consisting entirely of familiar faces, Sienna, the instructor. And her students, Erika, Florence, Robin and Morgan. They stopped just beside Maria and Lily to speak to one another since it didn't appear that Ashley had arrived. “Hello you two.” Robin said with a smile, Lily smiled and nodded her head. “Hey Robin!” She greeted her with a smile, but then turned to face Morgan. “Hey, Morgan.” She also spoke, she was still trying to get Morgan to slowly try and make up with her by just being friendly, Morgan lightly nodded her head to acknowledge her. “Hey.” She replied flatly, there was no disgust or disdain like there used to be, but it was still nowhere near a friendly atmosphere.
“Sienna taught us so many cool things, Lily! I didn't know pulse did so many things.” Florence said with the excitement of a school girl, bouncing on his toes and clenching his fists in joy. Lily gently nodded and gave a friendly smile. “I'm excited, too.. I can't wait to actually learn how to fight monsters like a real Slayer.” She replied, gently brushing some of her blonde hair out of her eyes as the winter winds blasted the cold morning air. “Good luck, you two.” Morgan said, reaching up to punch Maria casually on the shoulder as they left.
Well, most of them left, Maria usually just chuckled at Morgans light roughhousing since it was a friendly gesture, but she couldn't break her stare from Sienna. As she was just glaring down at her younger sister with her icy blue eyes. Maria glared back at her, slightly narrowing her eyelids as they quietly leered at one another with no silence. While this was only for a brief couple of seconds, it felt like almost an hour for both of them, including Lily. The air got uncomfortably cold for Lily, the hairs standing on the back of her neck as she knew the situation between the both of them was never patched up. It was just a glare of disrespect for each other.
“...Later.” Sienna spoke tersely, breaking eye contact and walking away without saying a single word more. Maria watched her leave as Sienna lightly slung her long white coat over a shoulder, turning a corner to get back to her own group. “W-what was that for?” Lily quietly asked Maria, who just turned back and walked toward the bench with Jonah sitting in it. “It doesn't matter right now.” Maria shrugged off the question as Jonah smiled, standing up to wave at both of the girls. “You finally made it!” He said with a mixture of joy and impatience, his longer hair pulled back into a somewhat loose ponytail to keep his long bangs from getting in his eyes.
“Yeah, sorry we're late Jonah. Maria slept in again...” Lily commented as Maria quickly glared at her with a grumpy sneer. “Hey, screw you...” She complained, but Lily just gave a teasing chuckle as Maria folded her arms and looked away. “Eh, it's fine really. She isn't here yet anyway.” Jonah commented, standing up and stretching as Lily walked over to sit on the same bench. “What were the others here for?” She asked him, her arms resting together on their lap as Maria started to practice her shadow boxing with the air while Lily and Jonah spoke to each other.
“They just got done with the instructor teaching everyone about how to use pulse, Sienna didn't want me to interrupt them so I just kind of sat here until they were done.” He explained, Lily stretching just a bit as she watched Maria try and smack around the air like it owed her some money. Lily glanced up and saw Ashley walking up with a large bag slung over her back, walking around Maria and placing it at their feet. “We're gonna need your weapons for this.” Ashley stated as she unzipped the bag, revealing she got all of their weapons beforehand.
Maria stopped striking at the air and knelt down to pick up her twin short swords, they were on a belt that wrapped around her waist, the sheathes crossing to make an X near her back to quickly pull out and slash in one motion. She quietly strapped them on as Lily grabbed the scabbard to her straight sword, holding it in one hand while Jonah grabbed his sword and buckler as Ashley began to address the three of them.
“Now, I didn't tell you three this since we were so busy with physical training.” She started, everyone now with their weapons properly sheathed and standing so their feet pressed together, backs straight on the cracked pavement of the parking lot. “And that is, I think you need to all understand the reality of this situation before we continue.” She added, lightly looking over the three of them. It's only been a week since Gabriel was forced to leave and Lily and Jonah were put down by it, though she couldn't really read Maria about it. “Gabriel is just an example of how things can never really go your way, so I feel you all need to know this final warning before we even begin to progress.” She warned, everyone looking at her and not yet asking a question. The air once again grew heavy as her expression grew dour.
“I want you to keep one thing in mind, do not be a hero. Heroes are reserves for comic books and children stories on the television. Heroes are the thing people tell you when they want you to feel like you have the potential to be special just by eating your vitamins and saying your prayers. You are NOT special, you will NEVER BE special. Just because the world is from your own perspective doesn't mean you're exempt of it's rules. You burn, you bleed, and you die.” She stated, slowly pacing between the three as they didn't break their gaze from her.
“Don't focus on being a hero, focus on your own self preservation; Because at the end of the day, your body is all that you get and there are no refunds. Every single time you get hurt is a bigger risk of you dying, and since dying is something you probably don't want.. keep this in mind. If you think that risking death is worth it if you become a hero, then you don't deserve to be here and you can leave if you wish. I implore you, please don't risk your life for a cause you don't believe in. I'd hate to see any of you get killed because of it.” She finished, stopping to look at the three of them. They gingerly nodded at her in agreement, though it seemed like no one was second guessing her speech.
“I want to hear from each of you the true reason why you're here, be honest about it and don't give me any bullshit about duty or honor... Everyone in life has a goal and being here isn't the place to hold your regrets.” She asked of the rest of them, Lily raising her hand so Ashley would recognize she wished to go first. “Go ahead, Sterling.” She observed, Lily taking a deep breath as she looked back at Maria. “...My father changed when my mother divorced him. He drowned himself in his own work that I don't think he could ever escape, he completely pushed me out of his life and.. every single day I realized that all I was to him was pretty much an extension to the lifespan of his company. I was just another Sterling, the fact that I'm Lily didn't matter.” She started to confess, Ashley placing her hands onto her shoulders as she listened, Maria lifting a knee onto the bench to rest her chin on it since she didn't feel like standing in the salute position for an hour.
“I... wanted out.” She stammered, gulping quietly as since it was the first time she admitted this to someone else, and it was proving to be a bit difficult. “But... No matter where I went, all I would be known as is the heir to someone who's holding a death grip on an entire market so he's the only competitor.. I would be a laughing stock if I tried to work somewhere modest like a library or a restaurant, they would see it as some kind of publicity stunt.” She continued, the cold making her shoulders shiver softly as the cold wind swept through the flat parking lot, making the leafless trees begin to creak behind her.
It was consisting entirely of familiar faces, Sienna, the instructor. And her students, Erika, Florence, Robin and Morgan. They stopped just beside Maria and Lily to speak to one another since it didn't appear that Ashley had arrived. “Hello you two.” Robin said with a smile, Lily smiled and nodded her head. “Hey Robin!” She greeted her with a smile, but then turned to face Morgan. “Hey, Morgan.” She also spoke, she was still trying to get Morgan to slowly try and make up with her by just being friendly, Morgan lightly nodded her head to acknowledge her. “Hey.” She replied flatly, there was no disgust or disdain like there used to be, but it was still nowhere near a friendly atmosphere.
“Sienna taught us so many cool things, Lily! I didn't know pulse did so many things.” Florence said with the excitement of a school girl, bouncing on his toes and clenching his fists in joy. Lily gently nodded and gave a friendly smile. “I'm excited, too.. I can't wait to actually learn how to fight monsters like a real Slayer.” She replied, gently brushing some of her blonde hair out of her eyes as the winter winds blasted the cold morning air. “Good luck, you two.” Morgan said, reaching up to punch Maria casually on the shoulder as they left.
Well, most of them left, Maria usually just chuckled at Morgans light roughhousing since it was a friendly gesture, but she couldn't break her stare from Sienna. As she was just glaring down at her younger sister with her icy blue eyes. Maria glared back at her, slightly narrowing her eyelids as they quietly leered at one another with no silence. While this was only for a brief couple of seconds, it felt like almost an hour for both of them, including Lily. The air got uncomfortably cold for Lily, the hairs standing on the back of her neck as she knew the situation between the both of them was never patched up. It was just a glare of disrespect for each other.
“...Later.” Sienna spoke tersely, breaking eye contact and walking away without saying a single word more. Maria watched her leave as Sienna lightly slung her long white coat over a shoulder, turning a corner to get back to her own group. “W-what was that for?” Lily quietly asked Maria, who just turned back and walked toward the bench with Jonah sitting in it. “It doesn't matter right now.” Maria shrugged off the question as Jonah smiled, standing up to wave at both of the girls. “You finally made it!” He said with a mixture of joy and impatience, his longer hair pulled back into a somewhat loose ponytail to keep his long bangs from getting in his eyes.
“Yeah, sorry we're late Jonah. Maria slept in again...” Lily commented as Maria quickly glared at her with a grumpy sneer. “Hey, screw you...” She complained, but Lily just gave a teasing chuckle as Maria folded her arms and looked away. “Eh, it's fine really. She isn't here yet anyway.” Jonah commented, standing up and stretching as Lily walked over to sit on the same bench. “What were the others here for?” She asked him, her arms resting together on their lap as Maria started to practice her shadow boxing with the air while Lily and Jonah spoke to each other.
“They just got done with the instructor teaching everyone about how to use pulse, Sienna didn't want me to interrupt them so I just kind of sat here until they were done.” He explained, Lily stretching just a bit as she watched Maria try and smack around the air like it owed her some money. Lily glanced up and saw Ashley walking up with a large bag slung over her back, walking around Maria and placing it at their feet. “We're gonna need your weapons for this.” Ashley stated as she unzipped the bag, revealing she got all of their weapons beforehand.
Maria stopped striking at the air and knelt down to pick up her twin short swords, they were on a belt that wrapped around her waist, the sheathes crossing to make an X near her back to quickly pull out and slash in one motion. She quietly strapped them on as Lily grabbed the scabbard to her straight sword, holding it in one hand while Jonah grabbed his sword and buckler as Ashley began to address the three of them.
“Now, I didn't tell you three this since we were so busy with physical training.” She started, everyone now with their weapons properly sheathed and standing so their feet pressed together, backs straight on the cracked pavement of the parking lot. “And that is, I think you need to all understand the reality of this situation before we continue.” She added, lightly looking over the three of them. It's only been a week since Gabriel was forced to leave and Lily and Jonah were put down by it, though she couldn't really read Maria about it. “Gabriel is just an example of how things can never really go your way, so I feel you all need to know this final warning before we even begin to progress.” She warned, everyone looking at her and not yet asking a question. The air once again grew heavy as her expression grew dour.
“I want you to keep one thing in mind, do not be a hero. Heroes are reserves for comic books and children stories on the television. Heroes are the thing people tell you when they want you to feel like you have the potential to be special just by eating your vitamins and saying your prayers. You are NOT special, you will NEVER BE special. Just because the world is from your own perspective doesn't mean you're exempt of it's rules. You burn, you bleed, and you die.” She stated, slowly pacing between the three as they didn't break their gaze from her.
“Don't focus on being a hero, focus on your own self preservation; Because at the end of the day, your body is all that you get and there are no refunds. Every single time you get hurt is a bigger risk of you dying, and since dying is something you probably don't want.. keep this in mind. If you think that risking death is worth it if you become a hero, then you don't deserve to be here and you can leave if you wish. I implore you, please don't risk your life for a cause you don't believe in. I'd hate to see any of you get killed because of it.” She finished, stopping to look at the three of them. They gingerly nodded at her in agreement, though it seemed like no one was second guessing her speech.
“I want to hear from each of you the true reason why you're here, be honest about it and don't give me any bullshit about duty or honor... Everyone in life has a goal and being here isn't the place to hold your regrets.” She asked of the rest of them, Lily raising her hand so Ashley would recognize she wished to go first. “Go ahead, Sterling.” She observed, Lily taking a deep breath as she looked back at Maria. “...My father changed when my mother divorced him. He drowned himself in his own work that I don't think he could ever escape, he completely pushed me out of his life and.. every single day I realized that all I was to him was pretty much an extension to the lifespan of his company. I was just another Sterling, the fact that I'm Lily didn't matter.” She started to confess, Ashley placing her hands onto her shoulders as she listened, Maria lifting a knee onto the bench to rest her chin on it since she didn't feel like standing in the salute position for an hour.
“I... wanted out.” She stammered, gulping quietly as since it was the first time she admitted this to someone else, and it was proving to be a bit difficult. “But... No matter where I went, all I would be known as is the heir to someone who's holding a death grip on an entire market so he's the only competitor.. I would be a laughing stock if I tried to work somewhere modest like a library or a restaurant, they would see it as some kind of publicity stunt.” She continued, the cold making her shoulders shiver softly as the cold wind swept through the flat parking lot, making the leafless trees begin to creak behind her.
“I felt like Spectum was the only
place where I wouldn't live under his shadow anymore, everyone knows
I'm taking this seriously when I help rescue them from a burning
wreckage, or a monster infested home...” She looked straight as
Ashley as her eyes shone with a mixture of somber determination. “I'm
here to earn everyone's respect, I'm here because I want to feel like
this is a difference I've made in peoples lives without having to
sling money at every problem and hope it goes away like the rest of
the world tries to do.” She finished, walking back to the bench and
take a seat. “That's plenty good enough, Lily.” She said with a
smile, looking at the other two as Jonah stood up for his
turn.
“Uhh... Well...” He stammered, trying to come up with the right words to say, before lifting a fist to his mouth to cough into it awkwardly as everyone stared at him patiently. “Uhh... Okay, here goes.” He recollected himself, smacking his cheeks with his face once or twice to get himself to focus. “My family history consisted mostly of people who entered the medical field. When your parents are super into something, you kind of pick up some knowledge from them before you even attempt to get training.” He spoke calmly, putting a hand on his heart to make it seem more important to him.
“Though... Eventually it got to the point where entering the medical field was pretty much family tradition, But, I was born with an immune deficiency and I grew up sick for most of my childhood. I was bullied and every lunch I had to pop down 10 pills along with the lunch my mom packed with me, I ended up being stuck with 'Pillboy' as my nickname.” He said with a forced chuckle at his own expense, though he didn't hear anyone laugh with him which made him quickly stifle it.
“It got bad enough that I had to drop out at 14, then I was pretty much stuck being home schooled while my mom and dad groomed me into being a doctor. I didn't like to have a constant expectation floating over my head that I'm forced to meet. It felt like I didn't get to choose what I wanted my life to turn into.” He explained, lightly lifting his arm to lightly rub his other shoulder in a fit of awkwardness. “I wanted to break away from the predestined thing and gamble how well I do, I'm tired of just being the school wimp...” He bowed his head, walking back as Maria stood up to take the spot he was in, though the look on her face just looked incredulous.
“...Do I really?” She asked, with some semblance of disrespect, she thought the entire thing was just cheesy and stupid, and to be honest she shouldn't really bother. “Yes, you do.” Ashley replied, leaning her weight onto one leg and shaking her head as she waited for her. “Why?” Maria asked in annoyance, Ashley chuckling and patting her once or twice on her head. “Having a goal is the most important thing you could have to actually make you work your best, You might as well give yourself one.” She chastised, Maria groaning and rolling her eyes before attempting to come up with a reason to be here.
“I'm here because I want the Riftfallen dead. They took something important away from me, they took something away something important from so many people that they deserve WHATEVER is coming to them. And I'm planning on giving them hell personally...” Maria began to rant, glaring back at the three people surrounding her as she spoke. “Yet, People always try to deter me from getting what I want. The teachers at the boarding school advised me to wait a couple of years before I joined because apparently this wasn't the wisest decision... They can go fuck themselves. My sister tried to take hold of my life and force me out of doing this in hopes to protect me... Fuck her too. Even the head council at Spectrum have chastised me for both my age and how I've been acting;” She continued to raise her voice, pacing the ground back and fourth as she used expressive gestures with her arms to facilitate her emotions. Her slightly rough but young voice becoming a bit more coarse as she yelled.
“Uhh... Well...” He stammered, trying to come up with the right words to say, before lifting a fist to his mouth to cough into it awkwardly as everyone stared at him patiently. “Uhh... Okay, here goes.” He recollected himself, smacking his cheeks with his face once or twice to get himself to focus. “My family history consisted mostly of people who entered the medical field. When your parents are super into something, you kind of pick up some knowledge from them before you even attempt to get training.” He spoke calmly, putting a hand on his heart to make it seem more important to him.
“Though... Eventually it got to the point where entering the medical field was pretty much family tradition, But, I was born with an immune deficiency and I grew up sick for most of my childhood. I was bullied and every lunch I had to pop down 10 pills along with the lunch my mom packed with me, I ended up being stuck with 'Pillboy' as my nickname.” He said with a forced chuckle at his own expense, though he didn't hear anyone laugh with him which made him quickly stifle it.
“It got bad enough that I had to drop out at 14, then I was pretty much stuck being home schooled while my mom and dad groomed me into being a doctor. I didn't like to have a constant expectation floating over my head that I'm forced to meet. It felt like I didn't get to choose what I wanted my life to turn into.” He explained, lightly lifting his arm to lightly rub his other shoulder in a fit of awkwardness. “I wanted to break away from the predestined thing and gamble how well I do, I'm tired of just being the school wimp...” He bowed his head, walking back as Maria stood up to take the spot he was in, though the look on her face just looked incredulous.
“...Do I really?” She asked, with some semblance of disrespect, she thought the entire thing was just cheesy and stupid, and to be honest she shouldn't really bother. “Yes, you do.” Ashley replied, leaning her weight onto one leg and shaking her head as she waited for her. “Why?” Maria asked in annoyance, Ashley chuckling and patting her once or twice on her head. “Having a goal is the most important thing you could have to actually make you work your best, You might as well give yourself one.” She chastised, Maria groaning and rolling her eyes before attempting to come up with a reason to be here.
“I'm here because I want the Riftfallen dead. They took something important away from me, they took something away something important from so many people that they deserve WHATEVER is coming to them. And I'm planning on giving them hell personally...” Maria began to rant, glaring back at the three people surrounding her as she spoke. “Yet, People always try to deter me from getting what I want. The teachers at the boarding school advised me to wait a couple of years before I joined because apparently this wasn't the wisest decision... They can go fuck themselves. My sister tried to take hold of my life and force me out of doing this in hopes to protect me... Fuck her too. Even the head council at Spectrum have chastised me for both my age and how I've been acting;” She continued to raise her voice, pacing the ground back and fourth as she used expressive gestures with her arms to facilitate her emotions. Her slightly rough but young voice becoming a bit more coarse as she yelled.
“And they can go fuck themselves too!
I'm fucking sick of people telling me WHAT I WANT! I know what I
want! I want them dead! Every single fucking one is on my list and I
swear to the maker that I'll BURN THEIR EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE
EVER LOVED! I WILL BURN THEIR FAMILY, AND THEIR WORLD, EVEN THEIR OWN
GOD WITH MY OWN TWO FUCKING HANDS!” She began to scream at Ashley
in a furor, Lily beginning to shivering from Maria pretty effectively
losing her shit in front of her. “Is that enough motivation for
you, you motivational book reading fuckwit!? DON'T YOU EVER DOUBT ME
AGAI-” She choked before the last word as a pain began to erupt up
her entire back, causing it to constrict along with her shoulders as
a pain formed on her face.
She dropped to her knees and fell forward, face planting into the rocky asphalt underneath her as she began to growl in pain, hands lifting up to her face to keep it up. She began to cough viciously, an uncomfortable amount of blood spraying onto the ground below as she effectively hacked up a lung. “Maria!” Lily shouted, getting off the bench and kneeling down to place a hand on her shoulder, hoping to maybe help her out. “What's happening!?” She squeaked in a panic as Maria kept coughing up blood, before it finally subsided, though she was in enough pain to roll into one side and curl up into a ball.
“I forgot Maria suffered from Ash Syndrome.” Ashley stated, reaching down and rolling her onto her back so she looked up at the sky. “A symptom is severe pain along with some internal bleeding, which can either because at random times or caused by periods of extreme emotions...” She explained, Maria coughing some more before settling back down. “Knowing Maria's instability... It's kind of a lethal cocktail.” She stood back up and walked over to look at a nearby tree. Sticking her fingers into her mouth and blowing for a sharp whistling sound.
“What do we do!?” Lily asked still afraid of what was happening, holding Maria in her arms as she tried to push her off, she didn't like having people so close when she was pissed off. “It will subside, leave her be for now.” Ashley stated, Lily nodding her head and letting go of Maria as she shivered in a ball on the ground. From behind the tree, a man walked out. He was tall with a broad physique, his hair was a short but slicked back dark brunette, he had a scruffy face full of stubble, but not yet a fully grown beard. His eyes were brown and he was wearing the standard Spectrum student uniform. In one hand he was holding a large heater shield, in his other and he held an Axe, about big enough to swing with either one or two hands.
She dropped to her knees and fell forward, face planting into the rocky asphalt underneath her as she began to growl in pain, hands lifting up to her face to keep it up. She began to cough viciously, an uncomfortable amount of blood spraying onto the ground below as she effectively hacked up a lung. “Maria!” Lily shouted, getting off the bench and kneeling down to place a hand on her shoulder, hoping to maybe help her out. “What's happening!?” She squeaked in a panic as Maria kept coughing up blood, before it finally subsided, though she was in enough pain to roll into one side and curl up into a ball.
“I forgot Maria suffered from Ash Syndrome.” Ashley stated, reaching down and rolling her onto her back so she looked up at the sky. “A symptom is severe pain along with some internal bleeding, which can either because at random times or caused by periods of extreme emotions...” She explained, Maria coughing some more before settling back down. “Knowing Maria's instability... It's kind of a lethal cocktail.” She stood back up and walked over to look at a nearby tree. Sticking her fingers into her mouth and blowing for a sharp whistling sound.
“What do we do!?” Lily asked still afraid of what was happening, holding Maria in her arms as she tried to push her off, she didn't like having people so close when she was pissed off. “It will subside, leave her be for now.” Ashley stated, Lily nodding her head and letting go of Maria as she shivered in a ball on the ground. From behind the tree, a man walked out. He was tall with a broad physique, his hair was a short but slicked back dark brunette, he had a scruffy face full of stubble, but not yet a fully grown beard. His eyes were brown and he was wearing the standard Spectrum student uniform. In one hand he was holding a large heater shield, in his other and he held an Axe, about big enough to swing with either one or two hands.
“Wow, I could hear one of you yelling
from all the way over there.” He joked, placing his hands on his
hips as he looked at Maria currently trying to recollect herself on
the ground. Jonah looked up at him and squinted just a bit as he
actually looked kind of familiar. He didn't exactly know why just yet
but it was still a feeling he was getting. “Uhh... You okay miss?”
The man asked, standing much taller than anyone else in the group. He
even had 5 or 6 inches over Jonah in height, as he was the tallest
one of the four by a couple of inches.
“Shit...” Maria muttered under her breath, finally feeling the pain subside as she stumbled back onto her feet, Lily offered to help, but Maria just lifted a hand to push her away. “And who the hell at you?” She asked as her eyes caught him in a glance, her arms rubbing her chest from it being still pretty sore. He grinned at her, pointing a thumb at himself as he announced himself like everyone knew who he was already. “Caleb Callahan, a pleasure to meet all of you.” He claimed, Jonah's face suddenly just sunk into a huge frown from the realization. “Oh god... Not you.” He exclaimed quietly as the tall brown haired man walked up to look down at him. “Hey there, Pill boy!” He said jokingly, Jonah just glaring down and away as he looked at him. “Oh come on, Jonah... No love for an old friend?” He wondered, Jonah looking up at him with a glare. “You were more of bully than a friend, Caleb.”
“Shit...” Maria muttered under her breath, finally feeling the pain subside as she stumbled back onto her feet, Lily offered to help, but Maria just lifted a hand to push her away. “And who the hell at you?” She asked as her eyes caught him in a glance, her arms rubbing her chest from it being still pretty sore. He grinned at her, pointing a thumb at himself as he announced himself like everyone knew who he was already. “Caleb Callahan, a pleasure to meet all of you.” He claimed, Jonah's face suddenly just sunk into a huge frown from the realization. “Oh god... Not you.” He exclaimed quietly as the tall brown haired man walked up to look down at him. “Hey there, Pill boy!” He said jokingly, Jonah just glaring down and away as he looked at him. “Oh come on, Jonah... No love for an old friend?” He wondered, Jonah looking up at him with a glare. “You were more of bully than a friend, Caleb.”
Caleb raised his brow at that, tilting
his head to one side and lightly stroking his beard. “Oh come on,
Jo. You're just exaggerating, aren't you?” He tried to brush it
off, but Jonah got frustrated and pointed at him in accusation. “You
beat me up and took my money whenever I had any, you called me names
constantly and on top of all of that, you STUFFED ME INTO A LOCKER 17
times!” Jonah ranted, Glaring up at him as he raised his arms up
and lightly waved them both to try and get him to back off. “Okay,
okay, fine. I was pretty bad when I was a teen, okay? I had time to
cool off..” He said, he was only 18 but it's been nearly 3 or 4
years now, at least they could admit that they've both matured.
“I dropped out and became home schooled because of your crap!” Jonah yelled at him, his hands trembling just a bit as he felt like his spine started to come back him. He felt like Caleb was going to punch him in the face, but it never came. “Wait, THAT'S why you left?” He wondered, being somewhat surprised that he could have had such a profound effect. “Yeah, I left because of you... You dipshit. Why are you even here?” He asked with some venom in his voice, some of Maria's derisiveness rubbing off of him after being around her for months at a time.
“I was actually here for about 2 years now, I heard you've joined from your parents only a month ago and I wanted to join your team when you had a spot opened.” He explained, Jonah frowning and looking away. “Gabriel left because his sister died and his parents wanted to be with him...” Jonah spoke with agitation, wondering how long he waited to take an opportunity. “I'm sorry about that, but you were down to 3 people, you can't be a team unless you have 4 or more people. This is so you guys don't get strapped with a stranger.” He tried to justify his actions, but Jonah just turned to walk away from him and walk over to the brick walled outskirts of the academy at the side of the parking lot. “I'd rather have a stranger.” He commented.
Caleb sighed to himself as Ashley shook her head from annoyance, looking at her students and speaking in a loud, commanding tone. “In line!” She shouted, they have had that command burned into their minds by the 5 months of military style training they've been undertaking, and all drop what they were doing to stand shoulder to should while Ashley began to pace between the four of them. “Caleb already knows this, but I'm gonna introduce the rest of you to the concept of Pulse.” She began to explain, looking up at everyone as Maria seemed to have calmed down and was listening as well.
“Pulse was invented by a man who realized that he had powers when wielding it, and eventually this was turned into one of the biggest advantages we have over the Riftfallen in the 40 years the rift has been opened.” She explained, vaguely mentioning Lily's father, Alexander Sterling. “The way pulse works is that having Red Ash near you allows you to propagate your own natural energy into two different forms. The first is the Pulse itself, the next is what can be referred to as 'magic.' The actual scientific term is long and boring and pretty much no one uses it unless you want bonus points for being formal on an essay or some crap.” That last comment got a chuckle out of Jonah, since he was used to practicing formal writing whenever his mother made him write anything.
“The most basic one is Pulse, which will be the one we learn first.” She said, stopping and drawing her blade to let it dangle in front of her while it rested in her left hand. “Pulse is comprised of the natural energy your body and soul uses to allow you to do basic functions. This is the same energy you use for your stamina, which means it's technically based on your metabolism. Making sure you have a decent sleep schedule and diet is crucial as it allows you to use your pulse and stamina more effectively.” She spoke to all three of them. To Maria, this all sounded a bit absurd to her, she's never seen how it works at all and it seemed so abstract and stupid that she couldn't wrap her head around how it could even work. “Keep in mind that using Pulse drains your stamina, so you each need to find a balance between magic, pulse and physical combat that suits your fighting style. Unless that is... you want to pass out.”
“Channeling your Pulse allows you to repel objects away from you, like an invisible armor. Though crafty Spectrum members have found out they can use Pulse to repel THEIR ENTIRE BODY away from the ground. This allows them to dash and leap at insane speeds, along with dampening their own descent speed to survive long falls with little to no damage, it's kind of like being your own spring loaded catapult.” She said, walking up to the tall Caleb and patting him on the shoulder. “Leap over that wall.” She ordered, He nodded and stepped forward.
“Caleb is going to show you guys an example, that wall is about 10 feet high and nearly impossible for someone to leap over. But with Pulse...” She trailed off, as Caleb broke into a run, planting his legs on the ground and bending his knees as what felt like a gust of wind blasted beneath his feet, before launching himself nearly 12 feet into the air, clearing the tall fence of bricks like it was just a speedbump. Maria just looked confused as much as Jonah was, but Lily's eyes lit up like diamonds. “Woooooooow!!! THAT WAS AWESOME!” She shouted like an excited 12 year old, hands to her face and bouncing on her feet to try and contain her joy. As Caleb leaped back over, landing in a 3 point stance before dusting his coat off from any excess dirt. “It's not a problem.” He said, finishing the sentence for Ashley.
“So... How the hell do we do it?” Maria asked, Pulling her twin swords from the scabbards strapped to her waist, spinning in both of her hands and using her typical reverse grip style, since they seemed more comfortable to her that way. Ashley smiled and gave a short laugh. “I enjoy the enthusiasm to try already... Focus your mind and imagine a fire near your heart. Push it away from you and towards wherever you need it.” She explained, lightly patting Maria on the shoulder as she was glad to see her fully recovering back to her normal, if grumpy, self.
“It's pretty abstract at first, but eventually it becomes something you don't even think about doing. It's kind of like breathing that way.. it becomes a thing on it's own.” She continued as Maria tried to concentrate, before breaking out into a run. She bent her knees and got ready to jump, but as she leaped, she realized that she DIDN'T USE PULSE AT ALL. Smashing face first into the wall hard enough that Lily thought she might need to be peeled off. She fell back onto the ground and stared up to the sky as her vision blurred from being suddenly dizzy.
“Well.. We have a lot of progress to make.” Ashley said, reaching down as Maria's vision realigned, leaning down to stick out her hand and help Maria back up. Maria stood back up and shook her head to try and recover a little faster.
“Well that was bullshit..” She commented sardonically, before Ashley went to begin the true training.
“I dropped out and became home schooled because of your crap!” Jonah yelled at him, his hands trembling just a bit as he felt like his spine started to come back him. He felt like Caleb was going to punch him in the face, but it never came. “Wait, THAT'S why you left?” He wondered, being somewhat surprised that he could have had such a profound effect. “Yeah, I left because of you... You dipshit. Why are you even here?” He asked with some venom in his voice, some of Maria's derisiveness rubbing off of him after being around her for months at a time.
“I was actually here for about 2 years now, I heard you've joined from your parents only a month ago and I wanted to join your team when you had a spot opened.” He explained, Jonah frowning and looking away. “Gabriel left because his sister died and his parents wanted to be with him...” Jonah spoke with agitation, wondering how long he waited to take an opportunity. “I'm sorry about that, but you were down to 3 people, you can't be a team unless you have 4 or more people. This is so you guys don't get strapped with a stranger.” He tried to justify his actions, but Jonah just turned to walk away from him and walk over to the brick walled outskirts of the academy at the side of the parking lot. “I'd rather have a stranger.” He commented.
Caleb sighed to himself as Ashley shook her head from annoyance, looking at her students and speaking in a loud, commanding tone. “In line!” She shouted, they have had that command burned into their minds by the 5 months of military style training they've been undertaking, and all drop what they were doing to stand shoulder to should while Ashley began to pace between the four of them. “Caleb already knows this, but I'm gonna introduce the rest of you to the concept of Pulse.” She began to explain, looking up at everyone as Maria seemed to have calmed down and was listening as well.
“Pulse was invented by a man who realized that he had powers when wielding it, and eventually this was turned into one of the biggest advantages we have over the Riftfallen in the 40 years the rift has been opened.” She explained, vaguely mentioning Lily's father, Alexander Sterling. “The way pulse works is that having Red Ash near you allows you to propagate your own natural energy into two different forms. The first is the Pulse itself, the next is what can be referred to as 'magic.' The actual scientific term is long and boring and pretty much no one uses it unless you want bonus points for being formal on an essay or some crap.” That last comment got a chuckle out of Jonah, since he was used to practicing formal writing whenever his mother made him write anything.
“The most basic one is Pulse, which will be the one we learn first.” She said, stopping and drawing her blade to let it dangle in front of her while it rested in her left hand. “Pulse is comprised of the natural energy your body and soul uses to allow you to do basic functions. This is the same energy you use for your stamina, which means it's technically based on your metabolism. Making sure you have a decent sleep schedule and diet is crucial as it allows you to use your pulse and stamina more effectively.” She spoke to all three of them. To Maria, this all sounded a bit absurd to her, she's never seen how it works at all and it seemed so abstract and stupid that she couldn't wrap her head around how it could even work. “Keep in mind that using Pulse drains your stamina, so you each need to find a balance between magic, pulse and physical combat that suits your fighting style. Unless that is... you want to pass out.”
“Channeling your Pulse allows you to repel objects away from you, like an invisible armor. Though crafty Spectrum members have found out they can use Pulse to repel THEIR ENTIRE BODY away from the ground. This allows them to dash and leap at insane speeds, along with dampening their own descent speed to survive long falls with little to no damage, it's kind of like being your own spring loaded catapult.” She said, walking up to the tall Caleb and patting him on the shoulder. “Leap over that wall.” She ordered, He nodded and stepped forward.
“Caleb is going to show you guys an example, that wall is about 10 feet high and nearly impossible for someone to leap over. But with Pulse...” She trailed off, as Caleb broke into a run, planting his legs on the ground and bending his knees as what felt like a gust of wind blasted beneath his feet, before launching himself nearly 12 feet into the air, clearing the tall fence of bricks like it was just a speedbump. Maria just looked confused as much as Jonah was, but Lily's eyes lit up like diamonds. “Woooooooow!!! THAT WAS AWESOME!” She shouted like an excited 12 year old, hands to her face and bouncing on her feet to try and contain her joy. As Caleb leaped back over, landing in a 3 point stance before dusting his coat off from any excess dirt. “It's not a problem.” He said, finishing the sentence for Ashley.
“So... How the hell do we do it?” Maria asked, Pulling her twin swords from the scabbards strapped to her waist, spinning in both of her hands and using her typical reverse grip style, since they seemed more comfortable to her that way. Ashley smiled and gave a short laugh. “I enjoy the enthusiasm to try already... Focus your mind and imagine a fire near your heart. Push it away from you and towards wherever you need it.” She explained, lightly patting Maria on the shoulder as she was glad to see her fully recovering back to her normal, if grumpy, self.
“It's pretty abstract at first, but eventually it becomes something you don't even think about doing. It's kind of like breathing that way.. it becomes a thing on it's own.” She continued as Maria tried to concentrate, before breaking out into a run. She bent her knees and got ready to jump, but as she leaped, she realized that she DIDN'T USE PULSE AT ALL. Smashing face first into the wall hard enough that Lily thought she might need to be peeled off. She fell back onto the ground and stared up to the sky as her vision blurred from being suddenly dizzy.
“Well.. We have a lot of progress to make.” Ashley said, reaching down as Maria's vision realigned, leaning down to stick out her hand and help Maria back up. Maria stood back up and shook her head to try and recover a little faster.
“Well that was bullshit..” She commented sardonically, before Ashley went to begin the true training.
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