*
"Ahahahahahahahaha," I burst into a fit of laughter. "You named your innate ability, Daddy?"
"Hey its pretty accurate," Nicholas grumbled.
"But still... couldn't you think of another name? Like the Primordial Knight, Lethal Protector or Pervert King..something other than Daddy!"
(A/N: wink).
"I told him the same, but the man just wouldn't listen," Ana said as she munched on her food while gazing at Nicholas who was starting to get nervous.
The four us were seated in the canteen (Paul in tow).
The mission we had been on and the time we spent afterwards had helped us bond a little more. We had decided to meet up in the canteen and get to know each other, forming our little circle.
The discussion we were having had started after we introduced ourselves. I was the first, explaining about my past life, my family and how I got my Innate ability.
Ana still looked at me with concern, Nicholas laughed at me and Paul sympathised...again. This man was really hooked on the fact that I accidentally saved his life. He's become my vassal or something.
Next to share was Nicholas. His story was tragic especially about his daughter during the apocalypse. Sharing our losses did help lift a little bit of the burden.
When grieving, most people didn't need a solution as usually there wasn't any. What could cure death? They needed a place to vent out that frustration, either through talking, crying on someone's shoulder or simply hitting something.
I had laughed hard at Nicholas' Innate ability and its name. It was payback.
"Enough, it's Ana's turn," said Nicholas, embarrassed.
Ana chewed her food and swallowed.
"My story is rather simple. I grew up in a normal family. We had enough to pass each day well fed, entertained and happy. I was an only child. My parents were free spirited and flexible individuals. They were very supportive and open minded," she explained.
"Good parents do exists all over the world," I said with a smile. Ana smiled too and continued with her story.
"Perhaps it was because my parents were such good people and treated me well, I was so... disturbed by seeing how other people didn't have such understanding parents. In school I would see other kids with rotten personalities and generally bad temperaments and wonder why.
The answer stemmed from their homes. Others carried a heavy and sombre aura around them because back home, all they saw was their fighting parents or were treated as outlets for their parents' frustration."
That was sad because it was true. I definitely knew many other kids from my school who couldn't enjoy break time with the others or even class activities. It all started back home. Having your mother pack a lunchbox for you with a smile is an underrated gesture from child hood. Or simply falling asleep on your dad's shoulder.
"As I noticed that trend, I decided to study it. My aim was to find solutions. I believed that everyone deserved a chance at finding something they can smile about. Not necessarily children alone, but even grown ups. Thus I studied and became a therapist. Opened up my own small business. Guiding Your Smile," Ana said.
"That's pretty cool," Paul said with a look of admiration. Indeed it was.
"And yet you bash me daily for being a caring father," said Nicholas, his old ass almost pouting in a very unsightly way.
He wasn't old but, old enough to have had a daughter.
"I don't bash you for that dear," said Ana as she lay her hand on his shoulder and gave her signature concerned look. "I bash you for having a weird ass innate ability."
Nicholas frowned and grunted.
"Oooooooooh!" I yelled out and then realised what I had done before digging into my food nervously.
"And you Paul," asked Ana. "What's your story?"
We all focused on him. He coughed nervously and cleared his throat.
"Umm... its nothing much really. I wasn't as accomplished as anyone here, truth be told," he said nervously.
"Come on, man. Accomplished or not, it doesn't matter now. We're just sharing our past lives. If you do feel uncomfortable, though, its fine," said Nicholas.
Paul took a deep breath. I was quite curious about him too.
"I was an orphan. Lived for 15 years there before being a adopted by this couple who took good care of me. However, the joy didn't last long. My foster father died in an accident.
My mother was so heart broken that she forgot all about me. I knew she was in grief but so was I. She later sent me to her sister's house. There, I wasn't really accepted. Their children ostracised me and life went on.
I went to school like everyone else, but I just couldn't get my grades up. No one would really help me at home. I just lived in my own world I guess."
'Damn. That's a different kind of dark,' I thought.
From the looks of the others I could tell that they felt the same way, especially Ana.
"I didn't amount to much in life. Becoming a janitor was what I could do for a time. That was until I found something that I actually enjoyed and was good at. Dancing," said Paul.
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, dancing. I became a street dancer. It was embarrassing at first but with more practise, I got better. People paid to watch me dance and I eventually started to enjoy life with my passion. I had been invited by a certain famous dance group to join them but then the apocalypse happened..."
I was genuinely heart broken on his behalf. I felt for him because I understood where he was coming from. Having something you're passionate about ripped away from you when it actually paid off was a terrible experience.
I lay my hand on his shoulder.
"Well, I'm glad you had something you were passionate about in the end. We may just introduce Paul the brake dancer to the world after this blows over," I said.
"What's your innate ability?" asked Nicholas tactlessly. He must've been checking whether or not he should roast him for it.
"I actually don't know exactly. I was hoping I could get a clear picture during the next training phase," Paul said.
Nicholas clicked his tongue. This guy.
Ana raised her cup of juice.
"Well, different lives, different nationalities. But we're all stuck in this shit hole all the same. Let's fight for a tomorrow," she said.
"For a tomorrow," we all said as we knocked our cups together.
***
The next day.
We sat among the other new recruits as we gazed at Astrid who wore a dark sleeveless shirt and tight pants.
'Astrid please. I can't focus,' was the thought in my mind.
What was the name of ladies such as her who retained their bombastic figure despite being full fledged mothers?
That's right!
MILFs.
Today we were beginning the second phase of training. Innate ability training.
It seemed that there was more in depth detail about Innate abilities that we didn't know.
"Right. I'm sure you all know about the basics of innate abilities. However, there's more in depth detail about them that was not disclosed during our first meeting here," she said.
"First of all let me tell you that you're fortunate to be able to bear your innate ability. For some, the process of manifesting an innate ability was a failure because the passion being used was too vast for them to handle. That's why you'll find that some concepts actually don't have many Invigorated as those that can bear them are simple too few."
That sent a chill down my spine. In my head that essentially meant some people just exploded from the inability to handle their own innate ability.
Gulp.
"Now for innate abilities themselves. They have two further stages. One of them is the Extension abilities. Some of you may be able to use these already. However, you need to understand why."
Astrid said as she strolled around the room, her dark hair was as lustrous as ever.
"Innate abilities are parts of us that we must connect to. The more you understand your innate ability and its cause, the more of it you can unlock and use. If you're already able to use Extension abilities it means that you have a deep understanding of your passion and in extension your innate ability."
That was a bomb onto my head. For me it didn't make sense because no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure out what my Extension abilities would be.
Didn't I have a deep understanding of my passions already? I love my characters, my work.
Could it be that I don't understand my gamble?
"The next stage is the Ultimate ability. For many they have more than one Extension ability but Ultimates are always singular. These represent the peak of what your innate ability can do and are pretty hard to manifest. In this training phase we will be helping you discover all the stages to your innate ability. Be prepared," Astrid said. "This might be even more hellish than the last training."
Say what now?!
Her gaze landed on me again.
Please don't tell you're going to be laying it hard on me!