{Rune}
The real training had started on Monday and the whole week I had followed the same circle of physical training, shooting training and other stuff and I had always gone to the library after that without anyone noticing. Over all, there was very little information about the massacre of the Falcon group so I read anything I could find that might give a clue. But what I found was nothing more that a small mention of the Falcon clan being annihilated because they broke some kind of unspoken rule.
All the research wasn't useless though because I also learned a lot about other gifted families in other countries and how they were influencing society as well as detailed information about how the gifted powers worked. Knowing about possible opponents surely was beneficial in a lot of situations that I might had to face in the future.
But still, on Thursday evening after another exhausting day when Raven didn't leave any chance to make fun or tease me I was basically still left with almost nothing.
Hopelessly searching for any historical book that could help me understand some of the Falcons and Inoues relationship I was about to grab a new book from a higher shelf when another hand already reached for it...
I pulled back and noticed the person next to me. It was easy to recognize him as Raven's friend that I remembered to be called Vince. He was very tall, even taller than Raven and his curly brown locks fell into his eyes. Vince was wearing big glasses that complimented his sharp facial features and overall neat look very well but they hid his green eye color. His eyes switched from me to the book he had just grabbed and to me again before he cleared his throat.
"If it isn't the crazy guy from Germany...you're an applicant and Raven's responsibility now right?" He asked sounding polite but he didn't really smile. Vince's expression was simply calm.
"Yes, that's me. And you are his friend, right?" I answered and he nodded shortly, luckily not questioning how I knew this. Instead he held the book in front of me as if to hand it to me.
"Why would a guy in his training read a book like this though? Connections and relationships between ancient gifted families?" He wondered out loud and let his eyes trail along the ceiling.
I thought about what I'd say next very intensively for a few seconds. Coming up with a lie was easy even though Vince didn't look that easy to lie to. On the other hand he was part of the IT and security system group in the Inoue company so he had to know something, right? Asking him was risking getting suspicion on me but I wanted to give it a try at least.
"Well, uhm actually I don't know much about the gifted society because I only learned that my powers weren't human a year ago. I'm an orphan..." I started explaining carefully.
"So you wanted to join Inoue group and went as far as threating Raven with a knife... I remember that." He answered unimpressed and I gulped feeling a little nervous. The impression he must have of me couldn't be good.
"Yeah I guess." I awkwardly laughed as he took the book back to him after I didn't take it. Nobody would actually believe me, right?
"I wanted to know some more about all the gifted families and read about the Falcon group of London being one of the strongest so I first thought about trying to join them. But then I found out that all of them were killed about 17 years ago. There wasn't much information in this whole library about that but I'm still curious about it." I spoke halfway the truth and lied a little to make it less suspicious.
Vince eyed me closely and adjusted his glasses.
"You won't find anything about that in this book." He simply stated and turned around to leave but I was quick to catch up to him when he went down some stair case.
"Do you know anything about it? I already asked some other people but nobody wanted to talk to me." I pleaded and occasionally looked up to him feeling my neck beginning to hurt. How tall was that guy?
"You're quiet nosy about this..." he remarked but I didn't deny it. Yes, I was nosy about this.
"Yeah, so will you tell me something?" I kept wanting him to spill something until he sighed and stopped in his tracks when we reached the exit of the library.
"Well, there is no reason to keep quiet about this since many people already know it...The Falcon group had something in their possession that gave them the ability to destroy the whole gifted society. They wanted to use it on all the other powerful families to secure their position as rulers over everyone else. It all started when they attacked the leader of that time, Raven's grandfather, and killed him in front of many people." Vince's voice sounded serious and collected but I couldn't feel any hate coming from him which felt odd in a way.
"So Inoue and other groups..." I concluded slowly and he finished my sentence.
"They stormed their headquarters and destroyed whatever they used to build the said weapon along with all their members. After that they chased down every last of them in the whole world and made sure there was no threat anymore."
"Isn't that cruel...? Killing even children?" I couldn't stop my voice from trembling hearing that so directly from someone else. I felt hate rising up inside of me and I also hated myself for feeling that way.
"It is indeed very cruel. Everyone that had those purple eyes was massacred." Vince looked at me sadly and I felt his sympathy for once.
"But what weapon could be so powerful to destroy a whole part of humanity?" I wanted to know what caused this because it sounded unbelievable.
"Hmm, that it still unknown. And it is also unknown what 'destroy' actually means in that context...but you shouldn't be thinking too much about it because there is no way anyone can change the past. And both Raven's grandmother and her brother who led the fight have already passed away. Let me tell you... it is better to not hold a grudge against the Inoue family for this or bring it up to higher ups..." he added with caution and opened the door.
"Why?" I questioned with narrowed eyes.
"They are fearing that the Falcon group had supporters from other families and they won't back down from hunting those down too. You wouldn't want to experience that, right?" Vince explained but it sounded more like a warning. With a last glance he turned around and stepped inside the hallway.
"Vincent!" I yelled after him and for the last time he stopped to listen to me. I just had a feeling that something about him didn't fit together with this story. The way he told me about it gave the impression as if...
"Do you believe that the Falcon clan really wanted to rule over everyone else? Isn't that a little…simplified?"
For a few seconds there was silence in the hallway. I could only see his back before he turned his head just as much so I could see the side of his glasses reflecting the light.
"It is what the higher ups say... I am in no position to question them." And with that he finally left around the corner and I stood there alone.
Odd... this just felt very odd. I was certain there was more to it, especially because the story didn't provide important details. What was the weapon the Falcon clan apparently used to 'destroy' people with gifted powers and who exactly killed the former clan leader? My grandma never liked talking about the fight because she feared that I would get nosy about it but there was one thing she never denied... and that was that the attack came totally unexpected and that they never got information about the other clans forming an alliance. She portrayed our family as victims but I didn't know for sure if she knew about possible plans of the Falcon clan's leaders... my parents.
This was a big mystery and without any person that could provide information I wasn't able to accomplish much. Maybe there were more survivors or older members of any clan that had been involved?
For now, I had to go with the flow and focus on getting stronger because ending up dead was not in my favour.
...
That day I talked with Vera about what I found out but just as me she was rather clueless. All the memories she had of our parents were unclear and she had already stated that she'd rather forget about the past and move on focussing on her career. I accepted that but it also meant that I couldn't count on her intelligence to help me much.
{Raven}
Finally, Friday had arrived and the welcome party for newcomers was just around the corner. Me and the others did that every year after the first weak... a surprise party with lots of alcohol and fun. It seriously was the only enjoyable thing for now.
Just as usual Rune arrived early in the morning at the gym hall and we proceeded to run rounds and do some workouts. Not only his stamina but his strength was also really good. He easily did 100 pushups yesterday, making me wonder how such a feminine boy was so strong.
"Kate, 80 pushups, 300 squads. Ed does 100 pushups and 150 squads and Rune you'll have to do 200 pushups and and 200 squads." I ordered them and already heard the groans as Kate and Ed started doing so. Meanwhile Rune didn't move a muscle.
"Why do I have to do more than them. I'm pretty much equal in strength to Ed." He complained with his arms crossed and a glare as sharp as daggers. I sometimes laughed at the thought of how smiley and nice he had been in the beginning.
"Because arrogant brats get what they deserve." I remarked with a smirk and pointed on the floor in front of him.
"Get down and count out loud. If you ever stop you'll do it again." I demanded and liked the feeling of having controll over this training. Rune could've complained to Mr. Gray about it but he never did, making it easier to tease him.
{Rune}
Begrudgingly, I pushed myself up form the floor and started counting. Push ups weren't difficult for me but doing 200 without stopping was quiet the challenge and I honestly didn't know whether I could make it.
It didn't help that Raven was watching me the whole time.
After 150 my muscles began burning but I didn't stop counting. That was until I suddenly felt a weight on my back when I realized that Raven was pushing his hand down on my back so I barely managed to push myself up.
"What the hell? Stop it." I groaned but he did not move an inch.
"Don't stop counting, blondie... or I'll apply more weight." He literally scolded me enjoying the pain I was in.
I had to do this... one after another I did more pushups and was about to give up the whole time. This was impossible... literally.
I was at 181 when my arms gave up and I couldn't push myself up anymore.
"What? Already done?" Raven asked in amusement and finally took his hand away.
"If you stop now, you'll have to do it again." He reminded me of what I was already aware of but my muscles were numb.
"I can't..." I breathed out with my head on the floor but suddenly felt his hand sliding underneath my body until he reached my chest and helped me pushing up once more.
"We don't have time for this. Now do it." Raven stated emotionlessly and with his help I could finish the 200 pushup after another minute. To be honest I had wanted to give up before so he'd take his hands off me but doing it again was worse.
Finally, I let myself collapse on the floor after Raven pulled his hand away. Why did he need to do that? First make it more difficult and then help me? I did not get it.
"Your chest is more firm than I expected blondie. Have you been working out frequently before coming here?"
I choked on my spit and rolled on my back with a puzzled expression. Warm blood was rushing to my face at his comment but gladly my face had already been red from exhaustion.
"WhO cAres? And don't touch me again. This is sexual harassment." My voice cracked a little and I jokingly protected my front with my arms crossed.
Next thing I knew was Raven laughing at me... like I was used to.
"I was only trying to help as your instructor. It's not my fault that this felt sexual to you." he defended himself but secretly smirked and wiggled his eyebrows.
I stared at him dumbfounded.
"I didn't say that." I made clear what I meant before he could further change the meaning of my words.
"Then there is no problem, is there? Now do your squads." He changed the topic faster than I could reply before leaving to check on the others. What an asshole...
3 hours later we sat together at lunch, this time not only with Jane and her trainees but Vince joined us too.
I greated him happily when he sat down right next to me.
"Hey Rune." He greated back with a small hand gesture before digging into his food.
"It's a miracle Raven allows you to sit with him." he stated making his friend glare at him like he just betrayed their friendship.
"Excuse me? I'm taking very good care of Rune." he reached out his arm and patted my head, more like hitting it actually. I also noticed that this was probably the first time he actually called me by my name except for the first day here.
Quickly, I grabbed my fork and poked him hardly into the back of his hand.
"Yeah sure, I feel so respected and comfortable in your presence." I said back with clenched teeth and a forced smile making Jane crack up at the other end of the table and even Vince slightly chuckled.
"... if I wasn't your instructor I would have beaten you up by now. You're crazy." Raven held his hand, face distorted in slight pain causing me to raise my nose in satisfaction.
The rest of the lunch break we talked about training and other activities before a loud announcement interrupted us.
"To all newcomers in the group! Your afternoon classes for today are cancelled! We prepared a welcome party for everyone to join and learn to know the fun side of Inoue group. Take your time to dress up and reward yourself for your training with some drinks! See you at 7 pm in gym hall 4!"
The announcement ended and the whole cafeteria broke out in cheers and yells of excitement.
Parties... I never went to a party with friends but only alone to watch drunk people destroying things so I had something to laugh at. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea although I'd rather stay at home.
I couldn't let Kate and Ed down though, could I?