We gathered around the table for dinner. Nica is sitting next to me, on the other is Aaron and Commander who were so pleased for our arrival. On the Commander's side were Timothy, Ulysses, and Ton.
"It's been a while, Nica," Ulysses smiled.
"It is, isn't it?" She looked at our Commander.
Something tells me that she was never pleased to be sent to France. A soldier's loyalty will always be for their love of their country. Nica was forced to serve somewhere else.
The Commander cleared his throat, "for the mission." Only the two of them get it. "Are you a family of Artisans?"
"We're not. Just us three," I replied.
"I see," he nodded.
"What's the talent of your sister?" Ulysses asked.
"Mind control according to my brother," I answered.
"A mind control and emotion manipulator, eh." The Commander laughed, patting Timothy's head.
"Everyone's back," an angelic voice announced. Her scent still lingers around me even though she already passed. She went near Timothy and touched his forehead, "How's the fighter doing?" she asked.
"I'm good," he gladly took another piece of pork and ate it happily.
"Is he sick?" I asked.
"Not as much anymore. His malnutrition due to lack of nutrients makes his body prone to sickness. I'm just helping him regain strength." Stif removed her hand from his head which I just realized has the same light from before.
"Aaron, how's your head?" she walks closer to him.
"It feels better, thanks." He smiled.
"Alright, I was just checking. Nica, you're too healthy, I can't feel anything from you."
"Stay away from me, sister. I need none of your help," Nica, as usual, sounded cold again.
But wait, "Sister?" I looked at them. They look nothing alike.
Stif smiled at me and hugged Nica from behind, "Yes, sister," her eyes twinkle. Nica tried to break free from Stif but I guess, from what I see, they share the same strength. That's a surprise.
"Are you not going to eat more, Sapphire?" the Commander asked. "Nah, I think I'm good," I touched my little belly pooch from eating a lot tonight without rules about proper dining.
We all went back to our respective rooms except for Aaron who is currently lying beside me, "I thought you don't want to sleep beside me," I teased.
"Just tonight," he places his head over my shoulder, making me feel his warm breath on the side of my neck.
"Hmmm, and then you'll say that every night this coming night."
He raised his head, "are you Ton? How can you tell that?" he kissed my cheek.
I pinched his nose and laughed. He hugged me tighter and laid his head back.
Our training started early in the morning. Aaron is at the side mastering his telekinesis skill as he was surprised how strong the guy was the other day. Ulysses helps me discover other sides of my talent; we are trying to do the opposite, like making someone deaf for a while or something. Nica is also practicing on the side.
Timothy is with us, training as hard as he can to control his talent. The Commander said that we all have a lot to learn.
"Try imagining a pathway to the human brain by imaging a bridge or wire towards it then try to capture their hearing ability," Ulysses suggested.
"I'll try," I breathed deeply. I closed my eyes and tried entering his mind. He's talent is a shield by means he has a strong barrier in his mind. If I get to pass through him then it'll be easier with the rest. But whenever I try to enter his mind, it feels like I'm lost. His mind is a void where you could get lost forever if you don't know the way out. Maybe that's how he does things. He makes controllers of mind—or whoever enters his mind, be in a void to get lost and then give up because trying to get through a void space is exhausting. I went back and opened my eyes.
"It's too hard. My head is aching already," I sat cross-legged. There was a huge thump from the side as Aaron tried to bring down the truck to the ground. He rubbed his temples and tried once more.
"The guy from yesterday could carry a bunch of them. He's tough," I pouted. I feel scared. If we can't handle a guy like that, what about the rest of the Artisans coming from that community?
"It's because you keep thinking that you can't do it," Ulysses stood in front of me. "It is not," he added.
"I don't think so, Ulysses."
"Why don't you try to rethink the way you think then come back to me when you're ready," Ulysses walked towards Timothy who he is also helping.
"Giving up too soon, princess?" Nica made her way towards me.
"Not really. I'm just trying to 'rethink my ways'," I mocked Ulysses. I air-quoted the word.
She chuckled. "Ulysses is doing his wisdom-like words again, huh?
I nodded.
"Yeah…he could really get on my nerves sometimes."
"I understand that." I studied her posture. She looks fresh compared to me and Aaron. This training probably means nothing to her body. "Nica, do you think we could do it?"
"Do what?"
"Beat them? Before meeting them, I thought Aaron was strong then…Henry and that other guy with him…"
She sighed heavily, "It's normal to be anxious. We've all been there. Aaron could do it too for sure. It's just that he never had to face Artisans like that before so he didn't get to train as much. The best tip the Commander told me back then was 'mind over matter'." She almost laughed at what she said. "I know. It's a common saying and easier said than done but really...our talent comes in our head. We activate it on our own. We should also be able to control it."
I nodded, "right."
"Anyway, see you later. I have to go." She started to run around the training area.
"Yeah, thanks." I said but she probably didn't hear it anymore.
Aaron sat beside me and leaned on the wall behind us. He wiped off his face with his shirt and drank some water.
"How did that guy train himself to be like that? Should I work out too? I literally feel the weight of that truck in my body." He breathed deeply for air.
I placed my head on his shoulder and he did the same to my head.
"Aaron, what's the Commander's talent?"
"That's random."
"I'm just curious."
"He's an empath. He always knows what you need."
I nodded, "Why is he called Commander? Doesn't he have a name?"
"Richard Guedacelli. He didn't create the nickname. It was given by someone." He tapped his fingers on his knee. "He's a great friend of the Commander. He thought he's worth more than that since he's great and was able to build this community of Artisans. So he gave Richard a nickname and that is where the Commander came from. Richard didn't like it at first but it already stuck. Well, it makes sense now. After all, we now have our own military facility."
"This person? Who is he? Have I met him?"
"He left when I was eleven. He was a great friend but later on thought that he could do better than the Commander. He said that the Commander is too nice. He said that the government obviously hates us. They want us to keep our talents from the world. They said that we could do mass destruction. Basically, they are scared of us. Then later on they thought that they could use us for something. They took advantage of our talents. They used us as weapons." Aaron bit the side of his cheek. "They used us and still keep us from the rest of the world. Commander's old friend hated the idea. He was furious. He wants to fight the government but of course, the Commander did not allow it. So he left with the others who had the same belief as him."
"He...kind of makes sense…?"
Aaron smiled. "He does but his ways are not the right way to deal with this. He wants violence. Again, we are powerful. We could destroy the world in one snap. That's what he wants. He wants the world to know about us and then control the world with fear. Just like how the government actually thinks of us. Monsters that need controlling."
"Right. Not good. So who is this guy?"
"Nero," he mentioned the names so coldly.
I looked at him.
"Yes. The same guy we've talked about before. Henry's boss. He collects Artisans for world domination."
"Terrible."
He nodded. "Chaos. Might as well say end of the world."