The world had been improving ever since the Third Great War was declared by The Ancestors in 2055. Technologies progressed to a level where Doctor Ulma was finally able to discover an intricate DNA mutation procedure coined 'Power DNA', a glorified breakthrough in science that could grant powers to a select pool of people. However, ultimately, this research was annulled due to a classified incident in which these chosen individuals revealed themselves to be a threat to humanity. As a result, a total of twenty-five test subjects were taken in for the 'Human Power Project' figure headed by Doctor Ulma. After the experiments, unprecedented side-effects began to materialize, causing suffering to these subjects both mentally and physically. Some became morally corrupt, weak, or were given a terminal diagnosis. Some struggled to integrate themselves back into society for survival. Due to these unforeseen results, an order was sent out for Doctor Ulma's capture and her assets were seized causing her bankruptcy. Upon investigation, this arrest was unable to be carried out. The famous Doctor was gone without a trace.
***
November 2171, Peace Academy
It was two weeks before the Christmas vacation arrived, and Kiara Wisse slept restlessly in her dorm room bed. It was her third year now at Peace Academy High, a school known for its high altitude in the now floating city of Tokyo, she had picked pure red pajamas in the spirit of Christmas and their vibrant color contrasted with the silver white of her hair and pale of her skin. She was dreaming about a figure in a secluded place, and she watched from the dream's side-line as a monstrous red lizard with a huge dragon-like tail landed on the top of a nearby building. Another figure in black appeared and it commanded the monster to slay them both. She shuddered awake. It wasn't the first time she has experienced that dream.
"Just a dream," she panted and raised her head off her pillow, her face filled with sweat. She gripped her sheets as the twinge of a headache prodded at her temples like it always did after that nightmare. Just a dream. A three-word sentence that she always used to soothe her mind and it was already having little effect. The sweat was stinging uncomfortably at her face, so she got up, feeling her way to the bathroom. The cool water washed over her temple and into the basin, jolting her awake.
Every dorm-room at Peace Academy was a small apartment, consisting of a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room. Few devices were accessible as the students had found little use for them.
Kiara used to have a roommate, but they had recently been excused for an authorized three-month trip to the city. Thus, she was alone - not that she minded. She walked back to her bed but seeing the tangled sheets only reminded her of the nightmares she now feared. They always felt so real.
By morning, she had walked to the Peace Academy lobby, fully refreshed, and wearing her school uniform. The school lobby was very spacious; large enough for numerous students to relax and wait for their friends on well situated chairs. It also opened up to a small garden in the center circle intended to boost wellbeing and food shops round the edges ensured students were always well-equipped for the day.
However, Kiara would not be as well-rested as the others today, so she found a nearby table to rest for a while. It was not long before she found sleep. A short melody emanated from the speakers, indicating that a notice would be announced.
"Good day!" The house speaker began to talk, a boy chosen for the job because of his calming voice. "For the first, second years and seniors, your schedule will not be changed. Hence you are banned from going to the third-year building just for this week. Notice! The time now is 07:43. Before we celebrate our holidays, we will be spending two full weeks carrying out Practice Exams to ensure that you are prepared for the trial exams by the end of the next academic year. The Practice Exams will begin shortly at 08:00. Please don't be late to your respective areas. Thank you."
The Practice Exams were just the first step to achieving their dreams. If they failed, who knew what would happen. Peace Academy was a strict school, so much so that the students were expected to pass no matter what.
A tall female student entered the lobby, her brunette ponytail swinging with each step, she saw Kiara sleeping on the table and walked up to her with a worried look on her face. She shook her shoulders, attempting to wake her but it was to no avail. With no other choice but to make a minimal shout, she positioned herself by her ear, looking around at all the people she would disturb. The girl shouted down Kiara's ear and she lifted her head rapidly, startled awake at the noise. The two girls bumped heads.
"Ow!" She groaned, "Oh, it's just you. Hey, Sakura."
"It seems like you weren't awake from the notice." She karate-chopped at Kiara's head, annoyed at having to experience pain because of her friend's mistake.
"Hey! Stop it!" Kiara got up lazily from the chair rubbing her head and looking drowsily around the room. Sakura grabbed her hand, and they began walking rapidly, shoulder to shoulder, to their third-year building. The building was quite tall, as it benefitted from having many recreational buildings that the first and second years hadn't yet earned. Silence broke out between the two girls, something that was unusual as they regularly were comfortable in each other's company. Sakura hesitated, struggling to initiate conversation and Kiara picked up on it.
"Something on your mind?"
Sakura gave in, "It's new seeing you actually reviewed for the Practice Exams without sleeping..."
"Yeah well, I didn't sleep well last night, I think I've lost motivation." Kiara looked down at the floor and as Sakura was about to reply, music played once again through the speakers.
"Good day, third-years! This week, you all are expected to have Written Exams. Physical Exams remain scheduled for next week. Please go to your respective classrooms in preparation for your Practice Examination. Thank you."
"Wow," Sakura said with evident disappointment," I really thought they would change the two-week schedule. The written exams will be such a pain."
Kiara laughed, "Why does it sound like you didn't review?"
"I reviewed, okay?"
Kiara saw that her friend was confident, and she smirked. "Fine, then I'll treat you to the High Restaurant when your scores are higher than mine."
"Really?" Sakura furrowed her brow, but her eyes shone with suppressed excitement.
"Of course, but if you don't get higher than my scores then you have to treat me instead."
"Deal!" Sakura smiled and the pair shook on it. They had finally reached the building and they heard two familiar voices at the side of the entrance. A girl and a boy. Sakura called out to them both, "Kevin! Mizuki!"
Kiara caught sight of her adopted cousin's familiar blonde hair. His body was athletic and structured, but he was far from a jock. Kevin was smart and could be relied on to do well in the finals. Mizuki on the other hand was Kiara's and Sakura's childhood friend. She was an energetic, even sometimes devilish young girl, stereotypical of her red locks.
Sakura called out to Kevin and Mizuki and Kevin was startled at the sudden sound. Mizuki greeted them warmly and then asked, "Did you both review?"
"Our very first Written Exams. I reviewed, obviously!" Sakura said.
Kevin glanced at Kiara who yawned and sighed. "What about you?" He asked.
Kiara shook her head and continued, "Something happened last night, and I lost the motivation in reviewing."
Mizuki smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, it doesn't matter if you didn't review, we just have to survive the two-week exams and then we can have a relaxing vacation!" She cheered.
"The workings of your mind get more complicated to me whenever you try and comfort us." Kevin rolled his eyes with disbelief.
"Whatever four-eyes!"
"Hey, stop it!" Sakura said with a small laugh, "We have to get to the classroom for the exams." Reminded of their impending assessment, Sakura, Kevin, and Mizuki walked to their classroom, Kiara following reluctantly behind, and they all sat in their respective chairs.
Their homeroom teacher burst into the classroom in a hurry to get order, she said in a loud-mannered voice, "Good morning! This will be your very first Written Practice Exam for this week. Any form of cheating will not be tolerated. Small talk is also prohibited when it occurs without my permission. These exams will be testing your knowledge on named subjects. Each subject will take you approximately two hours to finish. There are two subjects per day until the end of this week, this means you will all be dismissed and finished for the day by lunchtime. You must finish when the timer ends, no exceptions. Alright, the first examination is Human History and then later, Hoplology*." With that said, the homeroom teacher passed out the exam papers.
Kiara thought back to a time when she didn't have to study such subjects, she must have been very young. Peace Academy was not the only school which held classes in subjects such as Hoplology*, all the schools for the gifted in Tokyo were required to teach subjects which would prepare them for all situations. It was what the authorities believed.
Each student had different expressions on their faces as they scanned through the exam sheet. Kevin and Sakura had the same serious faces while Mizuki furrowed her brow, obviously struggling to understand. Kiara's reaction was not at all like the others, as she looked at the first question on her exam, she experienced a peculiar sensation of déjà vu. She had always had no struggle to recall information in previous tests, but she had always reviewed. Looking at it now with no prior preparation, she felt as though she could write all of the answers from memory. She felt the pounding of her chest against her school uniform and her palms began to sweat. She made her way through the pages, writing answer after answer in a multitude of knowledge. Before long she had finished answering all of the questions on the page. Her hand trembled and she dropped her pen on the desk, breathing rapidly. Once again, she felt the return of an ache in her skull, and she massaged her temples. She couldn't put her hand up to say she had finished for fear of attracting attention, so she waited and waited as the time ticked on.
When the two hours were up, all the students diligently passed their exam sheets to the homeroom teacher. Breaks were forbidden; hence the subsequent Hoplology* papers were immediately placed on each desk. It happened once more, and Kiara shook the feeling away in disgust when the timer ended.
"Thank you for your cooperation during today's Written Examinations. I hope that all of you will pass with ease on these Practice Exams." Few minutes had passed when the homeroom teacher left and a sudden soundscape of disappointment, satisfaction and nervousness arose from the students. Kiara grabbed her pen, silently standing up and walking over to Sakura, Kevin and Mizuki. They walked out together.
"Are you all going to get lunch?" Kevin asked.
Sakura shook her head as she glanced at Kiara, "I'm going back to the dorm with Kiara."
"Really?" Mizuki replied skeptically.
"Oh yeah, Kiara didn't sleep well last night," he smiled sympathetically, "Just Mizuki and I then. Text us if you both want something."
Sakura watched both of their figures walk away, and Kiara yawned loudly, "You should've gone with them. I'm not a child who needs a babysitter."
"It's fine, this wasn't the first time you didn't sleep well because of those night-," she stopped herself, "I mean dreams. I'm worried something might happen to you if you have them again."
Kiara sighed, "Just say nightmares. I don't even know why I have them. Why don't we grab some food first?"
"Sure, I'm starving."
They walked over to the minute Chinese food stall they bought lunch from on tough days and ordered two fried rice boxes. Sakura paid and they returned to Kiara's dorm.
"You take a shower first."
"Okay." Kiara agreed drowsily, too tired to protest.
***
Kiara slept peacefully on her bed and Sakura sat occupied on the couch; she was reviewing diligently for the next day of exams. Luckily, Kiara had given her permission to use her notes before dozing off. Yet unfortunately, her study session was short lived as three sharp knocks interrupted the quiet of the apartment.
"Sakura! It's me, Mizuki."
She stood up and tiptoed her way to the door, careful not to wake Kiara. "I thought you were with Kevin?"
"I was but he said no when I asked, where is Kiara?"
Sakura moved aside to let her friend in. "She's sleeping at the moment."
Mizuki sighed, "What about exams tomorrow?"
"She can still review when she wakes up, she told me not to disturb her unless she shouted out for me."
"It must be so hard for her," Mizuki replied, sporting a worried expression.
***
Then the nightmare closed in on her once more. Kiara peered closer at the location as if to make sense of its significance, but nothing came to her. She was arguing with someone, and the figure shouted back at her, though she could not make out the words. Then suddenly, the sound of maniacal laughter terrorized her ears and she could focus on nothing else. The monstrous red lizard with a huge dragon-like tail landed on top of the nearby building. Another figure in black appeared and it commanded the monster to slay them both. She shuddered awake.
"Just a dream," she panted and raised her head off her pillow, her face filled with sweat. Yet this time, the headache which usually merely inconvenienced her came in a wave of searing pain.
Why was it now that the pain became unbearable?