The day had been uneventful so far. I'd attended all my classes except for Power Development, which I was heading to now. Each class had followed the same pattern. introductions from both the students and the teachers, along with a brief overview of the topics we would cover over the semester. Standard first day of school stuff.
When it was my turn to introduce myself, I chose my words carefully, deliberately omitting the fact that I was powerless. It was a detail I preferred to keep to myself, at least until I had no other choice. I shared the usual information: my name, a few hobbies, and my favorite subjects.
Now, as I made my way to Power Development, I felt anxious. This class was designed for students to master and control their abilities.
I reached the class just as the bell rang. Power Development was held in a large, round building that resembled a stadium. Its high ceilings and open space gave it an expansive feel, making the room echo with even the smallest sound. Various rooms branched off from the main area, each presumably suited to help students control their unique abilities.
Standing just a few feet inside the entrance was our teacher, a tall, broad shouldered man who looked more like a professional wrestler than an educator. A bit behind him stood four more teachers: three women and one man.
"Welcome to Power Development," the broad shouldered man spoke, his voice carrying effortlessly across the large space. "I'm Mr. Grant, and I'll be one of the many instructors guiding you through the process of understanding and controlling your abilities this Year."
He continued, "Go take a seat anywhere on the bleachers," and pointed off into the distance towards the rounded bleachers that conformed to the perimeter of the gym.
The class began to walk over to the bleachers, and I found a seat near the edge, hoping to blend in. This was by far the class with the most students around forty or so. The sheer number of people made the vast space feel slightly smaller.
Mr. Grant spoke again, and everyone fell silent.
His presence commanded immediate attention as he stood at the center of the gym. His deep voice resonated, effortlessly cutting through the noise of the gathered students. "This class is designed to help you understand and manage your abilities effectively, refine your control, and prepare you for their application in everyday life. We'll focus on tailored exercises that match your unique powers, ensuring that you develop the skills needed to use your powers responsibly and effectively."
He gestured towards the four other teachers behind him. "These are your future instructors Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Martinez, Mr. Smith , and Ms. Blake. Each of them brings a special skill set and abilities that will be of help in bringing out your potential, Ill stop talking now and let them further introduce themselves."
Mr. Grant stepped back letting Ms. Blake take the forefront
Ms. Blake stepped forward with a confident smile, her presence immediately captivating the room. She had short, spiky hair that framed her high cheekbones and defined jawline, accentuated by her narrow, focused eyes and straight nose.
"As Mr. Grant mentioned, my name is Ms. Blake," she began, her voice clear and authoritative. "I'll be working with those of you who have support type abilities. Whether you can enhance others' strengths, heal injuries, or provide tactical advantages, my role is to help you gain complete control over your abilities, ensuring you can use them effectively in everyday life."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "Support abilities are often underestimated, but they are crucial and potentially dangerous if not used properly. Just because your power is designed to help others doesn't mean it can't become a threat. A misused barrier, an overcharged enhancement, or a mistimed healing attempt could cause harm instead of aid."
Ms. Blake's gaze swept across the room, emphasizing the gravity of her words. "Our first priority in this class is not to train you to be heroes, but to ensure you have full control over your abilities so you can navigate everyday situations without posing a risk to yourself or others. Mastery over your powers means understanding your limits and knowing how to manage them in any scenario."
Ms. Blake then added, "My ability is called 'Adaptive Healing .' It allows me to heal others quickly and also boost their physical capabilities temporarily within limits of course, I cant bring someone back from death or heal destroyed limbs."
Ms. Blake continued to speak
"I'll quickly explain the Power Ranking System for Support Abilities, which ranges from Rank 0, the strongest and most uncommon, to Rank 5, the weakest and almost as common as Rank 0. The average rank for users of all ability types tends to be 3. Here's how the ranks break down"
Rank 0: 'These abilities are extremely powerful but uncontrollable, capable of dramatically altering events but highly unstable. Individuals with Rank 0 powers must operate in specialized facilities due to the dangers posed by their lack of control.'
Rank 1: 'Very powerful and controlled abilities fall under Rank 1. They're crucial in combat support but still require a license because of their significant impact and the need for responsible use.'
Rank 2: 'These abilities are powerful, though not as strong as those in Rank 1. They can still pose a significant threat if misused, whether in public or private settings. Because of this potential risk, Rank 2 powers require a license and supervision to ensure they're used responsibly and safely.'
Rank 3: 'Rank 3 includes average support powers that are generally effective without major issues. These abilities can be used freely, but with my oversight.'
Rank 4: 'Rank 4 abilities are weak but specialized for specific tasks. They're easily controllable and pose minimal risk, so they can be used freely.'
Rank 5: 'Minimal utility abilities fall under Rank 5. They have negligible impact in combat and are highly controllable, so there's no restriction on their use.'
She paused for a moment before speaking again. "No one in this class is Rank 0 or 1 those levels require specialized handling. However, if you're Rank 2 or below, you'll be allowed to use your powers under my supervision."
Ms. Blake's eyes skimmed the room, ensuring her message was clear.
"Remember, understanding your rank and how to manage your abilities is imperative not just for your safety, but for those around you. Whether you have a Rank 5 ability or a Rank 2 one, proper control and responsible use are key. You'll find that with time and practice, you'll become more adept at handling your powers, and I'll be here to guide you through that process."
Ms. Blake then gestured toward a room with two green doors off in the distance. "In the room ahead, we'll be working on various exercises tailored to your individual abilities. You'll get the chance to practice and refine your control, and I'll be closely supervising to provide feedback and assistance."
She turned to the students with a warm smile. "Before I hand the stage over to Ms. Harper, I'd like to take a moment to introduce my assistant, Mr. Smith, who will also be helping you this year."
Mr. Smith, a tall man with a stern demeanor and a clipboard in hand, stepped forward. He gave a nod to the class.
"Hello everyone," Mr. Smith said, his voice Matter of fact . "I'll be assisting Ms. Blake throughout the year with your training. My job will include helping coordinate exercises, providing additional support, and addressing any specific needs you might have as you develop your abilities."
He paused. "If you have any questions or require assistance during your training sessions, you can approach me. I'm here to make sure you get the most from our teaching."
Ms. Blake then turned back to the class. "With that introduction, I'll hand things over to Ms. Harper, the combat abilities instructor."
She nodded to Ms. Harper, her appearance contrasting sharply with her disinterested demeanor. Despite her relaxed posture and weary expression, she was remarkably attractive. She had a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, and her dark hair, styled in a a bulb that sat atop her head. Her eyes, though narrowed in irritation, were a expressive and intense blue that showed a hidden sharpness.
Ms.Harper stepped forward with a aloof, irritated demeanor. Ms. Harper's presence was Imposing but clearly disinterested, her posture relaxed as she addressed the students.
"Alright, here's the deal," Ms. Harper said, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance. "I'm Ms. Harper. I'll be helping you learn how to control your combat related powers. This isn't just about teaching you to fight. it's mostly about making sure you can manage and control your abilities without causing chaos or putting yourself or others at risk."
as Ms. Harper spoke, the instructor behind her, Ms. Martinez, nudged her gently and whispered something into her ear. M s. Harper paused, giving a resigned sigh before continuing, "My power is called 'Elemental Conduit.' I can manipulate and harness various elements to enhance my combat skills."
Ms. Harper continued, her voice carrying a trace of impatience as she spoke about the Combat Power Ranking System. She went through the ranks, explaining that the system was effectively identical to the Support Power Ranking, with each level reflecting a similar scale of control and potential impact. The details were familiar. from Rank 0's extreme power and instability to Rank 5's minimal utility. She emphasized how important it was to understand these rankings to manage the more combat suited powers effectively, even if she clearly found the topic tedious.
After some time, Ms. Harper finally introduced Ms. Martinez, a timid woman standing slightly behind her. Ms. Martinez's presence was subtle; she wore a modest outfit and had a reserved demeanor, hardly making eye contact as she stood there.
Ms. Harper glanced briefly at Ms. Martinez but didn't give her a chance to speak. "This is Ms. Martinez," she said. "Shes my assistant she will help with specific aspects of your training. She's a bit quieter, but don't let that fool you she knows what shes doing."
With that, Ms. Harper dismissed Ms. Martinez's poor attempts to speak and turned her attention back to the class. "Now that I'm done, I'll let Eric err, I mean, I'll let Mr. Grant take the floor," she said, slipping by using his first name and giving Mr. Grant a fleeting, playful glance as she stepped aside.
Mr. Grant stepped forward, acknowledging Ms. Harper's slip with a slight nod before beginning to speak. "So those are your instructors for the semester. As for me, I'll be teaching those of you with unique abilities whether your powers don't fit neatly into the categories we've discussed or if you have abilities with specific prerequisites that you can't use yet. My power allows me to see the details of your abilities, so if any of you haven't had an official power reading or aren't sure exactly what your power does, please come see me before class ends."
"I'll make sure to find ways to teach all you something new to use in your everyday life,"
he continued.
"Before I dismiss you to go talk to the instructors you want to work with, I've hand selected a few students for my lessons as I've already reviewed some of your powers from your school information sheets."
He glanced at his notes, then read off the names listed. "Ryan Brooks, Leah Miller, Arthur Bennett, and Mara Knight."
Shocked, I looked around to make sure I'd heard Mr. Grant correctly. My name Arthur Bennett had just been called, despite the fact that I had no powers to speak of. The surprise was quickly overshadowed by a dim ray of hope. Being selected for these lessons made me feel included in a way I hadn't really expected.
But then it hit me Mara? I hadn't even noticed she was in the class. This realization added further to my surprise. What was Mr. Grant seeing that made him pick her out, and would it mean I could get closer to her in the future?
Mr. Grant began to speak, "Okay, guys, go ahead and" he looked up towards the ceiling for a moment.
Suddenly, a deafening crash reverberated through the gym. The noise was so abrupt and jarring that it cut through the murmur of conversations and the dull hum of the room.The gym's ceiling shuddered violently, and a massive hole ripped open, roughly the size of a car. Through the gaping breach, a wave of debris cascaded down. The students flinched collectively, their eyes wide with shock. A few let out screams, while others instinctively inched toward the exits. The atmosphere turned tense and uneasy, the room falling eerily silent as the weight of the moment pressed down on everyone.
Amidst the chaos, screams erupted and students began to scatter. Some remained frozen, unable to process what was happening. The center of the gym, where Mr. Grant had stood moments before, was now a scene of horror. A dark, puddle of gore lay where he had been, a sickening mixture of flesh and blood with a few of his mangled limbs grotesquely splayed and partially severed.
From the midst of the debris, the source of the destruction began to emerge. As the dust settled, a towering, grotesque figure entered into view. Its body was a unnatural blend of contorted limbs that seemed almost grafted to his body each limb had unnatural proportions, its skin a disturbing mix of deep purples and grays that seemed to writhe and shift with a life of its own. its monstrous form a grotesque parody of human anatomy.
The entity's presence loomed menacingly over the remnants of what was once Mr. Grant.