Amanda and Sandy sat for a long time, chit-chatting about their experiences. Mostly, Sandy was wondering what the Front was like these days. She hadn't been back there since Ermis was born, as it was too dangerous.
Amanda sipped her espresso and told her most recent story, "We were at the Mid-Western Front, just south of what was Pittsburgh, it was a hell of a fight. There were multiple S-class Commander monsters running the show. Flying-Scorpids were everywhere, which caused a significant reduction in my Support staff. We needed Barrier Capes, but they were sent to Lexington, Kentucky for the Flying Slimes." She shuttered, "Those things get EVERYWHERE."
After another sip, she continued, "You know, I thought fighting monsters was going to be easy. But it isn't. Those bastards are smarter than they have any reason to be. It is like a sentient cancer was unleashed on the world." She closed her eyes, "My entire Party got ambushed on Birmingham Bridge. Our intel said they had retreated to recuperate and molt, then we got the orders to push."
Her nerves showed their frayed edges as she shook, "I worked with them daily for over eight years, and when I close my eyes, I can't get the images of them being eaten alive out of my head."
Sandy said nothing in response. The loss was impossible, but it was a certainty in their line of work.
Amanda wiped a tear from her eye, "I am the youngest of the Titans, I thought I could be different, but I get it now. I get why all of those old fuckers are so detached. Caring is suffering."
Sandy softly placed her hands on Amanda's thigh and spoke with resolution, "Caring is what makes us surpass our limits. It is what makes us better than the monsters. And, it is what makes us Human." She smiled and added, "My husband always says, "Caring is humanity's greatest burden, yet, their most potent weapon.", don't you dare give up your most potent weapon."
Amanda smiled and said, "I suppose I 'll have to take the "God of Wisdom's" word for it."
They sat that way for a while longer, Amanda eventually explaining that the monsters used Psionic projection fields to trick the Human General. He made the mistake of trusting his Capes' Powers too much, and his reward was getting people 6 feet under.
The Front had a terrible attrition rate, around 55% per 4 years. The death rate was under 5%, but most enlisted only made it their single tour. It was too much on the human psyche.
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Ermis woke up refreshed. He pulled out his phone and tried to check the time, but it was dead. Thinking through his morning fog, he decided to check the News.
The television channel changed, then a generic newscaster spoke, "It was a long day for Seniors today as the last of the late-bloomers awoke." It was a generic celebratory cast for their age bracket.
Ermis noticed the time in the bottom corner and exclaimed, "Just how long did I freaking sleep!?" With it being 11:31 pm, he had spent the majority of his Awakening Day unconscious.
Then he remembered, 'Today was my Awakening Day, hehehe.'
With sudden confidence, he shouted, "Orange!" And his Cape appeared around his shoulders, perfectly fitted.
He looked in the mirror, seeing his Power for the first time, 'Amazing. It is so ethereal, it exists, but I can choose to see through it if I will it.'
Most Powers didn't fabricate an item, but it wasn't exactly rare. There were Capes & Cowls known for a signature weapon or suit that manifested as their Power. It was usually a blessing, but it made using their full strength a challenge, as summoning the item gave them away.
Ermis smiled and thought, 'It looks like my dream to be the greatest Villain ever is dead in the water.'
This time, he gave no verbal command, letting the Power decide what it wanted. The Cape swirled, mixing all the colors available to him, and deciding on Indigo.
That moment, his mother barged into the room, "SWEETIE! Wait, what?" Amanda walked in moments after her and commented, "You are experimenting already? Good."
Ermis gazed at the mirror, focusing on the figures behind him. Clearly, a mistake as the weaponized thoughts smashed into his psyche, leaving the words, "Reading other people's minds is not your place, Trainee."
He nodded, then it stopped. Amanda stepped forward and explained, "It can easily be turned against you by someone with mental training. I reviewed that fight with Bobby. You got lucky he is a pure Brute because most physical Capess have trained their minds against weaker intrusion."
Ermis pulled his mind back and tried not to focus on them, but it felt like his mind naturally wanted to branch out and touch everything in the room.
Amanda could see his Psionic tendrils floating through the room. They were well-developed for someone that was freshly awakened.
Amanda commented, "Your Psionic abilities are too strong for you to control effectively." Then she commanded, "Switch to Green, I want to test it again."
He did as he was told, swapping in an instant, only to watch her slice her arm to the bone with a strange-looking knife.
Amanda grinned at the innocent look on her Trainee's face, "What? Don't like the sight of blood? Or maybe it is the bone that is making you squirm..." She showed Ermis her slice and motioned for him to begin.
Ermis got past the gore and focused on unleashing his Power. The green envelope didn't appear, but the light did. It bathed the wound channel and instantly began pulling it back together with ethereal stitches.
Amanda commented to Sandy, "His Power is evolving already. We need to direct it."
She got serious and looked Ermis dead in the eye, "It is time for you to decide what you want to be, Kid." Then she pulled away the freshly healed wound, looking at the red mark it left.