"In five days' time, I want you to kill people for me." These were the Author's words to him when they parted from the rooftop on that fateful night.
He was indebted for life to him after all that happened. The power dormantly sleeping in his flesh and bones told him that he has now achieved a new perspective and level with regard to his Special Ability.
It was miraculous. He has been using it wrong the whole time!!
Even with this much power, Pedro was still left wanting more. When he learned he has to assassinate people, Pedro imagined that he could not do it.
He didn't tell to the 'Author' though for the greed in his heart was inciting him to just do it. The more Pedro thought about it, the more resolved he became.
'Author', that's what the mysterious existence declared himself as… Pedro doesn't know if he wanted a part of what the Author was up to. Still, as someone who was personally selected, Pedro has "no choice but to comply"— he said this to himself, comforting his mind that he has no choice.
And that's the truth. The Author won't hesitate to cut him apart and rightfully take back what was given. Zia Zaratul told him this, explaining to him in the dark corner about what she saw 2 seconds ahead of the future.
Zia... Pedro doesn't really trust her words, but there was unique decisiveness in what she told him... about Alfir, about how the Author, was a very unpredictable figure. That was how Pedro understood her, but if he took Zia more seriously, he'd learn 'unpredictability' was not the right word either.
It was more of Chaos.
Pedro doesn't know yet the exact structure, vision, and mission of what the Author was building. Through Zia's hints, he was able to gather that it would be a secret organization with no particular affiliation, be it for a hero or villain.
It was not like Pedro hasn't heard anything like that. Still, neutral organizations were quite rare in this world. To name a few, there's the Ruling Prison made for all kinds of characters regardless of whether they be heroes or villains. There was also the Extolled Police, which works on enforcing the judiciary system established by the late Praised Peasant.
Pedro could not imagine a neutral force going covert, as it was impossible. One way or another, their dependents would question the organization's neutrality. Even terrorists who claim neutrality weren't neutral at all.
The Ruling Prison for example despite their claimed neutrality showed favors to their different prisoners evident in the different lifestyles the prisoners enjoyed. Pedro has been there once for the crimes of high treason against his country. He has seen how the inside of the prison was an actual mirror of society.
No matter what 'nature' the Author's organization would be, Pedro doesn't care anymore. Good? Bad? As Pedro told himself over and over again, these paltry labels don't mean anything to him anymore. Removing his dignity and the basest decorations of his identity, he was just the Author's dog now. Putting it nicely, he was the Author's subordinate.
Rethinking the Author's intentions, Pedro found himself unable to sleep that night.
The next day, he arrived at the classroom as usual. Alfir, the so-called Author remained chummy with him as if what happened yesterday didn't involve him or anything.
When the classes finished, Pedro found himself on the training grounds out of habit. Students fill the training grounds everywhere. In there, he used to train his swordsmanship with his fellow first years against the automated dummies.
Pedro wanted to see his new and improved Special Ability and test it on the training grounds, but he recalled of the Author's instructions. "You can't show your powers to the others yet. Wait for the big exams, and then you can use them all you want. Oh, you can use it for your mission though."
In the end, Pedro chose to leave as he resisted the temptation of boasting his new powers. But he was stopped. In front of him is a well-built 6-foot classmate, it was Hitch, one of Rodney's lackeys. Pedro looked around to see if the other two were around.
"Who were you looking for, your new boyfriend? Too bad Alfie was sucking up another guy's dick. You should see him wagging his tail to Deron, hahaha…"
Pedro felt insulted. This was the Author Hitch was talking about.
"His name is Alfir." Pedro said to the big bully. Pedro's eyes stared daggers at Hitch causing the latter to flinch.
"Fuck, you want a fight with me?"
"…"
Pedro just walked away. Hitch followed.
"Hey, where are you going!?" Hitch irritably said.
Pedro's back was turned to Hitch, clearly ignoring his bully, Pedro continued to walk away.
Suddenly, Pedro was grabbed by his shoulder quite tightly and painfully. Hitch's hands to arms transformed into a beastly sight, thick and strong like a gorilla's.
Using Special Abilities on the academy grounds without a professor's overseer was a violation of school standards. The punishment ranged from a good scolding to straight-out expelling the student.
"You are dead now," Hitch viciously said. "It's your fault you have to just come into this secluded part of the academy." Hitch grabbed Pedro's shoulder more tightly as if he wanted to tear off Pedro's arm from the shoulder.
However, despite all the pain, Pedro just ignored the big bully. In fact... it wasn't as painful as Pedro thought it would be.
It was only now that Hitch noticed that Pedro wasn't hurting. There was no screaming, no crying, no begging... Pedro's back was still turned away from Hitch.
"You know, I was in the mood to let you live another day. But you just ruined it." Pedro grimly said as he sighed at Hitch's unfortunate luck.
Hitch could not see Pedro's face because Pedro was facing away from him. Hitch felt his hand feeling a tad warm. Hitch eventually noticed the warning signs, but it was already too late.
Pedro's flesh, blood, and bones turned into light, of pure energy. Pedro used his newly found mutation to turn his shoulder partially to energy form, thus negating Hitch's shoulder-breaking-grab. After that, Pedro immediately turned to light and phased through Hitch like a ghost.
Pedro phased through Hitch harmlessly, or so Hitch thought. The blinding light caused Hitch's eyes to tear and blank. His insides felt warm and fuzzy.
Pedro's blazing and changing form was the last thing Hitch saw.
The clothing Hitch was holding onto Pedro's shoulder was the last thing he felt.
It happened too fast.
This was Pedro's rediscovered Special Ability or as the Author likes to call it, a mutation.
"AaaaAAaaHH!!" Hitch screamed in pain as he rub his eyes. The unnerving heat that phased through him made his judgment slower. Abruptly, his eyes started burning in a neural sense as there were no flames actually burning his eyes.
Because of transforming into light particles, Pedro was now naked, but it didn't bother him. He snapped Hitch's neck with one move. No blood was spilled, and the screaming was quickly stopped.
Pedro wore his uniform back in a hurry. He immediately left the crime scene, leaving the unmoving corpse in the back alley near the training grounds.
Would he be caught? He doesn't know, but as the Author has commanded, he dutifully performed what was asked of him.
When he was about to return to his dorm, he chanced upon Cain. This Cain was a genius. With a seemingly useless ability, he managed to rise among his peers. He didn't stop just at that. With his genius, he broke common sense.
This Cain also shared Pedro's predicament. Useless abilities, type of ability, and as such being weak. That was before though. Because Cain was a powerful monster in his own right, Pedro felt no shame in comparing himself with Cain.
Pedro mustered his courage to ask for a bit of advice. He wanted to ask this great figure, but every time he tries, he finds himself troubled. Now, that his fear was gotten rid of by the Author, Pedro could now ask Cain.
"A-hem! Mr. Cain. Going back to the dorm?"
"Yes, how are you doing? Still, struggling on finding a use for your Special Ability? Don't give up!" Cain looked favorably at him with sympathy mixed in it. Pedro knows why as he and Cain almost share similar predicaments regarding their Special Abilities.
The only difference was Cain has it better… Wa~aay much better…
"Mr. Cain, how did you become so strong?"
"That's straightforward, but I like it… Hmmm… How did I become so strong? That's because I had motivation, I guess. For me, it was revenge…"
Pedro was shocked. 'Revenge, so he was like me…'
"Me too…" Pedro whispered, and this didn't escape Cain's ears. The two smiled at each other and parted ways.
When Pedro reached his dorm, he perused the file that Zia gave her. It was his kill list. In it was Hitch Hofferman. Pedro crossed out Hitch's name with a red marker. Below Hitch's name was another name… then another… and another… about a dozen.
Pedro doesn't know why the Author wants them dead. He doesn't need to know, Pedro believes that firmly for he was but an executioner only following his superior's orders.
Good? Bad? It doesn't matter anymore to Pedro as his fear of doing either has long ceased to exist. He doesn't need to do good deeds anymore as he doesn't need anyone's validation. He won't be scared by the bad anymore, for his fear of punishment has left him.
What's only left was Pedro's greed for power and desire for revenge.
He was an executioner.