It took a week before the discovery of the SUP window went public with detailed explanations and guidelines provided by the R&D. Pamphlets are distributed to all awakeners and training regimens and schedules are created under the supervision of Commander Kyle Valdez.
I smirked after reading my name at the back of the pamphlets where the list of contributors to discovering and researching the system was.
Kyle glanced in my direction and I pretended like I was checking on my system profile so I stood there motionless. The man was strict and always right on time, which put the room in a tense atmosphere whenever he was present.
Because of the difference in skills, awakeners are divided into sections according to the nature of their powers.
The commander was in charge of giving basic training to all awakeners to improve their stats. These are physical training that was normally done in the army. While those awakeners whose abilities are more on physical strength are doing great, those who have mental-type abilities are falling out.
They haven't yet formulated a way to train the psychics. I spotted Alexis sitting on the bleachers while spinning his fingers that controlled the chair above him. He looked like some old man who had seen it all. I walked to him, seduced by the arrow in his head.
Alexis moved his pupils to look at me without turning his neck. I acted so amazed with his ability as I sat beside him, "Wow. How do you that?"
The kid ignored me. My eyebrow twitched. Anyway, all I need is to open the arrow, and then I'll just have to pretend like I'm very fond of him by ruffling his head.
I grabbed his head, which made Alexis' shoulders jump in surprise, and then I ruffled his hair, "Look at you! You're still a kid but you're already amazing. How did—wah!"
Argh! I think I developed a habit of rubbing people's head.
I floated in the air without warning. I gawked at the kid who was looking at me as if I was some garbage. Hah. Don't get mad, Atlas. That's a kid.
"Put me down!"
Alexis ignored my plea. My patience exploded. I looked around but everyone in the room was just staring at us, some were even laughing at my situation. It seemed that many were amazed by the kid's abilities as well.
I rolled around in the air. Alexis, with his blank face, was actually a childish and rude child. He would put me down and up as if he were playing with a yoyo. My head became dizzy. At the corner, Commander Kyle was watching with boredom.
I mean, why volunteer to train us if you won't interfere with the disrespect?! How old is Alexis by the way? Who the f*ck raised a child with a temper like that. I only ruffled his head!
I guess I had no choice but to help myself.
I opened my SUP window, clicked on the inventory, and without taking the sword out, I cut my finger on the blade slightly, enough to procure a small amount of blood. When I pulled out my hand from the inventory, the blood came with me. I flicked the blood on the kid's forehead.
[Skill in use – Blood Manipulation]
[Limit – 1 minute]
Huh? Does that skill have a limit? When Luis used it, it took more than a minute. Did it perhaps reset after acquiring a new owner?
Splat!
"Kyaah!"
I looked down and saw Kyle running to the kid. Then, before I could see why, gravity pulled me down without warning at all. Pecking duck, I'm falling!
THUD!
"Oof!"
Ryder grunted below me. He caught my fall with his body. I quickly stood and stretched my arm to him. My palm hurts from slamming the floor, but I bet his back hurts more. Ryder accepted my hand and I pulled him up.
Tapping him on the shoulder, I said, "Thanks, man. You saved me from broken bones."
Ryder looked proud, "No problem. You help me out too, remember?"
Ah, yes. I taught Ryder about the system as well. They learned it first before the rest of the awakeners, so their understanding of their SUP is way ahead of many.
I turned to the crowd, wondering what happened. Serin came to me and asked, "What did you do?"
"What did I do?"
Serin pointed at the kid in the middle, "The kid is bleeding."
I peeked and saw the kid staring blankly on the floor while surrounded by hens taking care of his 'bleeding'. Ah, I think I hit the nose instead of the forehead. I walked to Alexis. The crowd of awakeners looked at me as if I was going to do something strange.
Kyle spoke, "Is this your doing?"
If I tell them, it was a skill, then the sword will come to light. That ominous sword will surely make people think of me as a villain.
I shook my head and sighed, kneeling before Alexis. "Look at you, kid. You shouldn't just use your ability as you please. Too much usage can be harmful. You've got a nosebleed for now, but what if isn't just a nosebleed next time?"
Kyle's darkening face lightened. It seemed that he understood what I was implying. Plus, it was also true that using too much ability might be harmful though it wasn't yet proven.
Kyle turned to one awakener and ordered, "Take Alexis to the clinic."
"I'll take him," I volunteered. Kyle sized me up. I won't harm the kid, why is he so wary? When he nodded, I carried Alexis and went to the clinic. His small body dangled in my arms.
"Hey kid, how old are you?"
I grimaced after seeing his hand and his collar with blood. I fished a small towel in my pocket and wiped the remaining blood on his cheeks.
"Ten."
"You're just ten, how are you so rude?"
I wiped his hand next. Now, I feel guilty for smacking the kid with my blood.
Alexis pulled his hand away and glared at me, "I don't like being touched without permission."
"You're a brat."
"It's called boundaries! Put me down, I can walk by myself!"
I put him down. However, he went the opposite way to the clinic instead. I shouted, "Hey! That's not where the clinic was!"
Alexis looked back, looking at him sharply, he answered, "Don't bother. I know it wasn't my blood. Your ability is gross."
He ran away. I didn't expect that he'd realize. But there's no point in threatening the kid to keep it, seeing that he wasn't talkative and interested. I whirled around and headed to the research facility instead.