The image of the familiar door they approached each morning, the gateway to Sensei's teleportation adventures, etched itself vividly in Tess's mind. Despite her attempts, Sensei always beat her to the elevator, pressing the floor button before she could catch a glimpse. Nevertheless, she had already memorized the floor that housed the teleporter room a week ago, marking that task as completed in her mental checklist.
Currently, Tess was engrossed in honing her ability to accelerate her vision, striving to push her limits. She had spent hours on the couch, determined to activate her power and increase her visual acuity. However, an unsettling sensation crept over her, a feeling of being watched, causing her to abruptly pause and close her eyes.
As Tess lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of tears and pain, she found Lanse leisurely leaning against the wall. His grip firmly held a steaming cup of coffee, and his icy crimson eyes remained fixed upon her, unyielding in their intense stare. If he desired an eye battle, she wasn't about to indulge him in such a futile game.
The cacophony of footsteps grew louder as the others traversed the archway towards the kitchen, a telltale sign that breakfast time was nearing. Tess chose to disregard Lanse's presence, and he refrained from questioning her actions.
Little did she know, he always woke after her, preparing himself and making his way downstairs. Once he filled a large cup with the coffee she had made, he would discover her seated on the couch, resembling a motionless statue frozen in time.
Lanse was convinced that she was either insane or engaged in some covert activities. He relished in using that stolen moment to unabashedly observe her, taking advantage of her obliviousness. The amusement it brought him was undeniable. However, for some inexplicable reason, that day she opened her eyes sooner than expected, catching him in the act.
Tess averted her gaze, deliberately choosing to occupy herself with her throbbing headache. Lanse disapproved of her sudden disinterest in their rivalry, especially after the day they both tumbled off the mountain.
To worsen matters, she simply walked past him as though he were invisible! He detested how one girl's actions could have such a profound effect on him. Primus was simultaneously making him weak and strong, a contradiction that unsettled him deeply.
Morning after morning, the repetitive routine played out as Tess opened her eyes, finding Lanse stationed there once again. Yet, undeterred by his presence, she persevered, determined to make progress.
Finally, after numerous attempts, she discovered the correct floor that led to the teleporters. Filled with excitement, she rose from the couch, nonchalantly passing by Lanse as if he were a mere specter.
With anticipation coursing through her veins, she entered the elevator to put her findings to the test. True to her intuition, the floor was indeed the right one, but her elation was short-lived as she encountered a locked door upon arrival.
The only way to access the room was with Sensei's handprint to scan and unlock it. Furthermore, the watchful gazes of the Primus soldiers who passed by gave her an eerie sense of scrutiny as she pounded on the door. Surprisingly, none of them intervened, nor did Sensei display any signs of being aware of her actions.
One obstacle led to another, as Tess soon realized she lacked the knowledge to operate the teleportation device. Consequently, each morning became a practice session, devoted to activating and honing her eye ability, striving to make it move faster.
In the ensuing days, when Sensei led them into the teleporter room, she swiftly switched to her alternate vision, meticulously observing Sensei's every movement and interaction with the machine. Memorization alone was insufficient; she yearned to comprehend the intricacies underlying its functionality. Finally, after a week of diligent effort, she believed she had grasped its workings.
In addition to her relentless memorizing, Tess delved into online research, seeking coordinates for a bustling location where she could vanish if pursued. The strategy seemed brilliant, a contingency plan to evade potential pursuers. However, the conundrum of the locked door persisted, demanding Sensei's handprint as the elusive key.
Resolute, Tess pushed herself off the couch, mustering the will to move forward. Ignoring Lanse's presence, she strode purposefully toward the kitchen, intent on replenishing her coffee supply.
She never contributed to the breakfast preparations. She was content with drinking the remnants of the freshly brewed coffee biding her time until the meal. Another arduous day of training loomed ahead, and already, the echoes of Sensei's stern voice admonishing her to quicken her pace reverberated in her ears.
"Tee, are you seriously doing this again today?" Szedra's growl reverberated across the table, cutting through the air with its edge of frustration.
Tess, unfazed by the confrontation, nonchalantly rested one elbow on the table, her hand sliding beneath her jaw as she closed her eyes, feigning ignorance to Szedra's words.
"You can't just make coffee and call it a day, you know. We all need to contribute," Szedra persisted, her tone laced with exasperation.
Silently, within the recesses of her mind, Tess unleashed a barrage of retorts, silently wishing the vexing witch named Szedra would just shut up. Startled, she snapped her eyes open as a glass plate forcefully collided with the table, jolting her senses.
There stood Szedra, looming over her, with her piercing black eyes locked in a fierce gaze. In that moment, as Tess peered up at Szedra through her weary eyes, she yearned for a semblance of harmony, envisioning a world where Szedra possessed the easygoing nature of Zino.
It was evident to Tess that Szedra had been harboring her anger, and it teetered on the precipice of boiling over. Uncertain whether she desired to bear the brunt of that fury, especially in the midst of her pounding headache, Tess hesitated.
"Yes, there are five forks left," Zack confirmed as he prepared the utensils for breakfast, shifting Szedra's attention from Tess.
Zack and Zino surveyed the stack of plates from both breakfast and dinner that had accumulated over several days, noticing the unpleasant odor that had begun to emanate from them. Szdera stood nearby before walking away to check the fridge.
Zino, trying to inject some humor into the situation, quipped, "I can't wrap my head around how the dishes and utensils aren't all clean after several days."
Szdera slammed the fridge door shut and replied, "That's because we don't have any helpers here."
Lanse entered the kitchen, placing his dirty mug on the counter. He added, "That doesn't seem right, considering we're the guardians of the planet."
Szedra chimed in, recalling Sensei's mini-lecture on their first day, "Sensei did mention that we are responsible adults now and should take care of our own chores. Tess and Lanse, you can handle the dishes."
Tess, who had been silently listening, couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "What? Did you even ask for my opinion?" She glared at Szedra.
"Tess, I think it's only fair," Zack interjected. "You should contribute more in the kitchen as well."
Zino added, "You two can wash the dishes together."
Before anyone could respond, Tess was taken aback by the sound of Lanse's fist slamming on the counter, with toothpicks sticking out from the center. "Pick one," he said sternly. "We'll take turns doing the dishes, but there's no way I'm washing them with you. The loser starts today."
Tess furrowed her brows, silently agreeing with Lanse's sentiment. However, she wasn't about to let the situation escalate further at his will. "Zack, come over here," she ordered.
Tess persuaded Zack to hold the toothpicks, much to Lanse's dismay. The rules were clear. The person holding the shorter stick would be assigned dishwashing duty for the day, and they would rotate thereafter.
Tess stared at the shorter stick she had pulled, struggling to believe what she was seeing. As she caught a glimpse of the pile of dirty dishes that had accumulated over several days, she couldn't help but curse both Primus and Lanse under her breath.