- 4th August 2138, Morning, GCA Campus Disciplinary Office -
The disciplinary room was a cramped dark room more akin to an interrogation room than to an actual academic facility. A light floated just centimeters below the dealing, suspended with EX-Energy-based hover tech. It seemed the light was powered similarly, emitting a constant light of bright blue, keeping me alert and at the ready.
Across from me was a large mirror. I could see my reflection, but I could also see the reflections of the two people who were watching me from the other side. I didn't know who they were, but I could tell they were high-ranking officials.
It seemed the Academy took disciplinary matters very seriously. Thought this made sense for such a prestigious institution.
Currently, I was alone in the room, sitting on a chair waiting for the disciplinary member of staff. Since I'd let myself in 5 mins before the scheduled time.
After some time passed the member of staff finally arrived. I instantly recognized her by her authoritative aura alone. It was the woman from the assembly on the first day. I don't think she introduced herself.
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[Name: Cassandra Autorita]
[Age: 38]
[Mood]: Annoyed
[Attribution]: Phenom
-[Rank]: S
-[Affinity]: Kinesis
[E-Signature]: 190K
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Thinking about it a little, it made sense. From their perspective, it looked like I'd beaten up two students and left them to their own devices. When in reality they'd taunted and assaulted me first. Spark-based Conjury was a lot more noticeable on the frankly old-fashioned security cameras the academy used. The moment we'd started showing signs of aggression the cameras had lit up like a Christmas tree, zooming in to capture every word and movement.
I remembered hearing something about old-age technology being less sensitive to EX-Energy-based attacks. As rampant EX-Energy could potentially disrupt the power supply to a regular piece of tech, when unshielded. So I'd read in the InfoComm. I remembered that back on Earth, the people of the past used a lot of technology that had yet to be updated. Even the power grids were a little behind in some parts of the world.
My thinking continued on that line until she finally spoke.
"Explain yourself, boy." She spoke as if speaking to a rat.
This shouldn't be too bad. All I did was defend myself, after all.
"The two boys tried to beat me up. All I did was defend myself."
Upon hearing my defense, she looked at the table in what looked to be an utter disappointment.
"Not that, you rat." She continued, still talking down to me. "This!" she said pointing rather frantically to a monitor showing a portion of the camera's footage.
It was the scene of me fighting against Hayden, as Finnegan had already fallen in the brawl. Around halfway through my skirmish with Hayden, I suddenly started moving fast enough for it to register as a series of blurs on the recorded footage. As if I'd sped up by a factor of 3, relative to my surroundings... Dwelling on the memory I did have vague recollections of the world slowing down around me. Perhaps it was that? Though I was still rather confused.
"Are you sure this isn't doctored?" I suggested, hoping she'd ask me fewer questions.
"I'll be straight with you, kid," She said, moving closer to me. "I don't give a flying EX-Beast's ass what you think it was. Just say for the record, do you have an unregistered singularity we need to know about?"
Was this potentially the dormant '???' Singularity I had? Either way, it was probably best to try and lie to hide it. Sure of myself in my skill of weaving up pure bullshit, I tried something. Activating my Exalted Sight, with a dancing inferno of light forming at my eye.
"This is my Singularity, it increases my perceptive abilities. Perhaps a combination of that with the adrenaline I felt during the later stages of the fight." I lied, hoping it'd work.
After an anxiety-inducing moment of thought, with a furrowed brow. Cassandra cleared the silence.
"That works. I'll ignore your miraculous ability to cast countless at such a low potential rank. Just don't cause any more fuss, boy. I want to go home" Cassandra groaned, pointing to the door.
It seemed I was free from any punishment. A blanket of relief fell over me as I walked to the gym to meet up with Warmund.
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"You're late…" Warmund said as I approached. "Sorry, busy with Siska" I lied. I hoping he'd buy the excuse.
"Smells like a lie..." He said in a low tone. Intimidating me slightly, fear impacting me suddenly.
"I had to visit disciplinary because of that fight yesterday." I came clean.
Warmund gave me a stern look, then smiled. "Anyway, let's get started."
We spent the remainder of the weekend engaged in tough training. Leaving me exhausted and sweating bullets by the end of the training session. My muscles were on fire and I was panting for breath, but it was an amazing feeling. I pushed myself harder than I ever had before, and it paid off. I felt more powerful than ever before. This continued across the weekend, with Warmund healing me between sessions, to get maximum gains in minimum type. It was certainly a sight to behold, something even greater when experienced.
Siska and Minerva had also come to visit my training occasionally throughout the weekend but all they'd do was watch.
Whenever I glanced over at her during training, Siska beamed back at me with an encouraging smile and a very enthusiastic waveMinerva however, always looked like she was deep in thought. She had her arms crossed and one leg crossed over the other as she watched. Reading a book titled 'Cult Sensibilities and You, a Guide to Starting a Good Cult'. What a weird girl.
When I asked them if they'd join in they both gave me differing excuses.
Siska cited that she'd trained enough at home with the troupe. Apparently, she came from a long line of traditional old-age clowns, which explained her crazed attitude sometimes. An interesting environment to grow up in, to say the least.
While the other, more occult girl simply said she wanted to observe the training of the Yellow lord. yet more of her strange cultist stuff. I just hoped her attitude wouldn't get any worse. Having people obsess over me was a weird feeling to mull over. She did have some strange views on how the world worked.
In any case, as night fell I trudged back to my apartment to sleep. Readying myself both physically and mentally for whatever interesting things the day held tomorrow.
-------:-
Reminiscing back on my old classroom; it was a small, cramped space with peeling wallpaper and a musty smell. The windows were always covered in grime, and the desks were old and worn. The room always felt so dark and oppressive. My new classroom was a breath of fresh air in comparison, special InfoComms embedded in each desk. HoverBlackboards for teacher demonstration, a whole array of holographic tech and gadgets for showing how things worked on a level far beyond that of flat screens and other old-fashioned technologies.
The room was always kept at a comfortable temperature, and the EX-Energy-powered lighting was never too bright or too dim. The walls were lined with shelves full of books, and there were comfortable chairs and couches scattered around the room for students to relax in. The whole room was designed to be a space where students could feel comfortable and engaged in their learning. It was a learning space only found within the dreams of a downtrodden high schooler.
The timetabled class for this session was Extrinsic Dynamics, with Professor Lehrer as the tutor for the class. He was already here, wearing his smart lab coat with a plaid shirt underneath. His toned body caught the interest of a few students in the class. He was the typical "hot guy teacher" You'd see in those teen dramas aimed at women. Either way, he was an exemplary teacher, taking time with each student to go over things.
When it was your turn, he would give you his undivided attention, his eyes piercing into yours as if trying to read your soul. It was a bit disconcerting, but you knew that he just wanted to help. He was always quick to offer a helping hand or a comforting word.
The Verräter brothers were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they remained in hospital after our fight. The seating arrangements had been changed since then. For some GEI directive of 'diversify groups of friends. I'd been assigned a seat next to Eliora Fleming, who I remembered from the Hoverbus and some strange blue-haired boy that looked oddly like Siska.
This blue-haired boy was always asking questions in class but never seemed to be paying attention. He would fidget in his seat and constantly look around the room. He never seemed to have any friends and would always eat lunch alone.
Eliora was focused like a hawk on her studies, Out of pity. I decided to speak to Boy. Playing on the fact that he looked like Siska.
"Do you know Siska Gacy?" I asked, hoping he'd answer without making the whole thing look awkward.
He took a moment to realize I'd spoken to him and then answer, speaking at a very fast pace. He would not meet my eyes and his hands were clasped together tightly in front of him, like a praying cultist.
"She's my sister. Twins. Who is she to you?" He asked, rather defensively. An unexpected development in his attitude.
I'd never heard Siska mention him before. This was going to be an insightful conversation...