ã€ŠThe Helena Chroniclesã€‹


 B1 â€” 1. Mystery In A Box

    Helena felt a jolt shake her body before a spike struck her brain, making her gasp. Teeth clenched, she opened her eyes to blackness. Where¡­ Her passive electroreception started to take shape in her mind; the bioelectric signals of seven bodies came into focus around her. There were electronic wiring of some kind eight feet away that fed into some form of devices, disappearing beyond her five-meter radius.

    There were echoed sounds of dripping water, she heard the steady rush of shallow breathing, and the air was frigid and stagnant. Am I trapped underground! Regaining control of her mind, she took a slow and meaningful breath, wincing as another pulse struck her psyche. I have a migraine ¡­ am I low on Focus? The sharp ache began to ease as her mind cleared.

    It sounds like I¡¯m in an enclosed area and what¡¯s with these people around me? Judging by the size of their bioelectric activity, they were children like her. She took a moment to assess her body. Pushing down the small amount of saliva that lingered in her mouth, she could taste some metallic residue underneath her tongue and her muscles felt sore and stiff. Nothing immediately threatening, but she felt cold.

    The combination of cold and stagnant air sent a shiver down her spine. It smells like the deep caves around the Estate ¡­ did I fall into one? Why can¡¯t I remember? Pushing herself off the smooth cool flood, she rubbed between her eyes. I was on the way back to the mansion¡­ Nothing, she couldn¡¯t remember where she¡¯d come from or what happened along the way.

    Licking her lips and swallowing again, she frowned. This taste ¡­ Drake gave me something like this before ¡­ a sleeping drug? Who¡¯s Drake ¡­ my brother. Why am I having such a hard time remembering? Frustration started building in her chest. Drake, yes, he¡¯s my brother and that drug he¡¯d given me was to help my mind calm down to sleep. For it to have this kind of effect¡­

    Thoughts shifting to perform the proper formula, she began the calculations to use her active electroreception while extending her natural electrostatic field to its max five-meter radius. Her migraine struck again, forcing her to refocus as the three-dimensional visual image of her surroundings birthed in her mind; a sharp gray view of her environment while everything producing electricity showed as golden scratches, indicating their electrical activity.

    She reached up to brush her hands against her ears as she felt and saw something attached to them. Her static-field keeping them in place. Are these cartilage earrings?

    Attention returning to the electric and bioelectric activity around her, she studied the level of output each produced. The level of activity in each of their brains indicated three held cognitive awareness, while the other four were unconscious but alive as their heartbeats implied. Studying the electric activity near the edges of her awareness, she frowned. With the level of resistance, they were likely copper wiring and spaced in the semblance of a wall. The wiring fed energy to some kind of square devices.

    Her attention shifted to the other children. Are the three conscious people investigating the situation like I am? She centered on one of the alert children as they began to stir. She strained her ears to catch the sound of rustling clothes.

    Warning signals shot off in her brain as another spike struck her mind; her internal vision became faint, giving a weaker view of the area. What¡¯s going on? Why is my energy being drained so fast? My Focus should last a lot longer than this. Attempting to strengthen her field, she studied the child again as they looked around. In her mind¡¯s eye, she found another body rising.

    The first person that rose asked, ¡°Where am I?¡± His heart started to quicken. A boy and his tone suggested he was scared, but there was a hint of suspicion undertoning it.

    The second said, ¡°No idea.¡± A girl, she sounds more confused than scared.

    Helena scooted backward, slowly inching toward the wall with the electrical feeds and felt her body start the shiver as the chilled air slid across her bristly skin.

    ¡°Still there?¡± asked the boy. Surprisingly, the fear was gone and his heart¡¯s rhythm started evening out.

    ¡°Yeah, give me a second.¡± The girl¡¯s hands lifted and joined as if to cup water.

    Helena closed her eyes, her hands shooting up to protect against the sudden onslaught to her retinae as a flare of blinding light chased away the darkness. The shock had disrupted her calculations, blacking out her internal vision. She rubbed her eyes and wiped away the tears that started to gather. Tentatively opening them, she slowly started to survey the now illuminated space.

    The girl with the light looked to be around ten years old. She had bronze skin, long tangled brown hair that fell to her shoulder blades, green eyes, thin crescent eyebrows, bow-shaped lips, and a high forehead. Her nose was shaped between aquiline and straight. She wore some kind of rough cloth top and shorts with hand-woven flat soft-leather cross-strap sandals.

    The girl was looking around in surprise as she peered at their containment space. Brown hair is rare in Elestveeve. What kind of heritage does she have ¡­ what kind of heritage do I have? I know I lived in an Estate, am I some kind of Noble?

    The source of the flickering radiance was orange and yellow flames that danced in the palms of her cupped hands. Helena¡¯s sharp eyes caught a yellow glint of something at her neck. The girl quickly broke her cupped hands, bringing her left hand up to tuck it back into her shirt. The flames flickered in her right hand and she connected her left hand again to stabilize the flames.

    Helena quickly dismissed her self-reflection for the scene unfolding in front of her. She¡¯s a Pyrokinetic. No wonder she¡¯s not shivering, her natural field keeps her warm. What are the chances that two espers wake up in the same confined space? I must not be near the Estate grounds; I¡¯ve never seen her before. Where am I and who are these people?This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    She knew she was an Electro Master type esper and generated a natural electrostatic field that she couldn¡¯t completely suppress, like all espers and their natural fields. She could generate, manipulate, and sense magnetic and electromagnetic fields within her perception radius.

    Through the earth¡¯s natural magnetic field, she determined she was somewhere in the northern hemisphere. However, anomalies kept her from determining a position and her mind still felt hazy. Could I be in the far north of Elestveeve or maybe on some northern state of the Eastern countries? Possibly even further East, Verlish, and the monster territories.

    It was an unpleasant thought and would require her to be transported a long distance. With her stiff muscles, it wasn¡¯t too far of a stretch and she had been drugged. By whom though? Drake?

    Her eyes flickered to the boy that had first risen. He seemed near thirteen and he had fair skin, thin rumpled blond hair, light blue eyes, blond eyebrows, high rounded cheeks, thin lips, and a straight nose.

    He was wearing a light blue collared shirt, dark brown pants, and hard soled western formal shoes. He¡¯s dressed too well to be lower than middle class. He probably lives in Augnecia. Augnecia? It took a moment for the name to click. The Deity Faith¡¯s Capital. It¡¯s only two hundred kilometers away from the Estate.

    He¡¯d begun examining the room with a curious expression. She sensed the third awake child stir due to the light stimulation, but he tried to conceal the fact he was conscious by lying inert. He appeared to be slightly older than the blond boy, perhaps fourteen. He had an oval shaped face, fair skin, thin curly black hair, thick black eyebrows, high cheekbones, full lips, and a turned up nose. He was taller and more muscular than the blond boy.

    He was covered in brown thick clothing and had dark brown boots. The hairstyle and clothes were customary among the farmers of the Deity Faith. Her eyes flicked to the Pyrokinetic; her clothing suggested that she was from a fishing village.

    Helena¡¯s hands came up to brush against her ears and found something attached to her ears. Her eyes catching a red glint against her wrist. Studying it, she found a red diamond, platinum held bracelet gleaming against the bright flames in the girl¡¯s hands. She removed the object in her ear, it was a cartilage earring piece which was made of the same material as the bracelet. Her brow furrowed as she examined the large diamond burning in the fire¡¯s light.

    Replacing the earring, she brooded over the pieces. All of us had to get here somehow and if I were taken by someone, why would they leave these precious pieces of jewelry with me? Drake gave it to me ¡­ as a birthday present for my fourth birthday, when I was sick. It must mean I¡¯m higher born, but that still poses the question, why am I here?

    The four other bodies¡¯ bioelectrical signals began to hasten as their minds stirred from the light shining across their faces. Three more males and a female; the room holds a three to five ratio in gender.

    She scanned the room in the firelight. No doors are visible and freeze-dried packages are in the left corner opposite me. It only seems enough for two or three days with rationing. A small depression in the floor on the right side of the room could be drinking water.

    The last unconscious girl had awoken and was lifting herself off the ground. Blinking blurrily as she examined the light source in confusion.

    She had medium toned skin, raven-black hair, gray-blue eyes, thin eyebrows, high cheekbones, down-turned lips, and a slightly upturned nose. Wearing a white plain v-shirt, pants, and soft sole shoes covered her feet. Helena didn¡¯t recognize the style. She could be ten to twelve, but Helena wasn¡¯t sure.

    Two boys were stretching on the ground as they rubbed their eyes. They seemed to be twins and around the age of twelve. They both had fair skin, red hair, hazel eyes, thin eyebrows that matched their hair color, thin lips, and snub noses. They had black tops and pants with the same soft sole shoes as the black haired girl. The only difference in their appearance was their hairstyle.

    One had short and well-maintained hair, while the other had long shoulder length hair. Their hair was dyed; roots showing their blond original color. Where else, but Augnecia can you buy dye? Are they citizens of the Deity Faith?

    The final boy had fair skin, smooth black hair, cornflower blue eyes, short curved eyebrows, a heavy lower lip, and flat nose. He seemed to be the same age as herself, eight.

    Appraising the seven other occupants for another second, she closed her eyes and massaged her temples, working around her tongue. It seems that the drug is wearing off, assuming that the others had been drugged...

    Her eyes snapped open as the flames in the girl¡¯s palms began to weaken, making the long silhouettes across the room deepen, giving a sinister cast to the occupants.

    Refocusing her active electroreception, the image began to fuzz slightly as the gray textures scratched black. Am I using too much Focus to map the room? I should be able to last another hour at this output, what¡¯s happening?

    With the Pyrokinetic in the room, she decided she shouldn¡¯t waste her Focus. Retracting her static-field, she only used her passive reception to map the children¡¯s bioelectrical activity. The gray contrast faded away, only leaving faint pulses of bioenergy and the wiring in the wall.

    Quickly, Helena began scanning her inner images, trying to refine her image of their bioactivity. The Pyrokinetic won¡¯t last much longer; it must take a decent amount of Focus and concentration to keep that fire lit.

    She watched small droplets of water fall from the ceiling to land within the pool, creating a slight disturbance and making the reflected firelight dance. Are we really supposed to drink that water? It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m thirsty, but I¡¯ll survive. More importantly, the devices in the wall aren¡¯t visible, just smooth stone walls, they¡¯re hidden. This cave or room has been modified.

    The blond haired boy shifted toward the Pyrokinetic in panic as the light dimmed again. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on with the light, why is it dimming? Don¡¯t let it go out!¡±

    The girl¡¯s face contorted with concentration. She closed her mouth, biting down on her lower lip, while her head shook in concentration. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She muttered.

    Helena brought her left hand down to the wall where a trace ended. She lightly rapped her knuckles against the area. It¡¯s not solid. That heightens my theory of concealed mechanics.

    She mused over the thought, but quickly shifted her attention as she picked up a tingling sensation that reverberated up her spine. Someone has their eyes trained on me, the boy my age. Her vision flickered toward the boy to study his appearance. He was frowning as his eyes moved from her to the space she had tapped. He saw. What will he do?

    The Pyrokinetic¡¯s voice was strained. ¡°I¡¯m trying¡ªit keeps¡ªgetting harder!¡±

    Distracted, Helena turned her mind away from the all-too-observant boy and thought about the matter at hand, eyes moving to the girl holding fire in her open palm. It seems like our abilities are weakening unnaturally. Why?

 B1 â€” 2. Memories Return

    The Pyrokinetic was out of breath, sweat dripping from her temples with the mental strain of keeping the blaze alive.

    Helena was puzzled with her action. Esper minds were on a much higher standard than that of normal human¡¯s mental capacities, yet this Pyrokinetic was acting irrationally. We¡¯re in a potentially dangerous situation and she¡¯s using all her Focus and mental capacity on such a useless activity. She doesn¡¯t need to light the area now that she has an understanding of her surroundings. Hasn¡¯t she noticed our Focus is dwindling at an unnatural rate? Every esper should know with the reduction of Focus the mental strain increases upon their psyche.

    She silently let loose a soft sigh. Fantastic. I¡¯m stuck in a room with seven children and at least one of them is an Esper, like me. Should I suggest she conserve her strength? She¡¯s wasting an immense amount of Focus by forcing the flame. Since espers mostly use subconscious calculations to utilize their ability, she¡¯s likely experiencing a killer migraine. The more Focus she wastes, the more the flame will drain on her cognitive ability; any more and she¡¯ll collapse from Esper Fatigue.

    Every eye in the room snapped to the blond haired boy as he squeezed the Pyrokinetic¡¯s shoulder, just beside the neck. ¡°That¡¯s enough. It won¡¯t do us any good if you faint.¡± His voice had calmed.

    Helena kept a straight face. That didn¡¯t seem right. First, he¡¯s panicking like a normal kid and now he¡¯s completely calm. A normal kid would want her to keep it lit as long as possible, no matter her strain, but he¡¯s taken a swift turn in attitude. What¡¯s made him change so drastically?

    Her head tilted with confusion as the Pyrokinetic followed the boy¡¯s suggestion, taking a deep breath and letting it out; the fire dwindled away. Helena frowned as darkness overtook the group again. Did she realize he¡¯s right? And how does he know the signs of Esper Fatigue? Based on her bodily reactions?

    Helena¡¯s eyes moved to each member in the room as she traced their positions through the darkness, reading their bioelectrical activity. Why is everyone so silent? Not one of them wants to ask why we¡¯re here, even after realizing it¡¯s a sealed room?

    The blond haired boy spoke up again, his voice calm. ¡°Why don¡¯t we tell each other our names?¡± He paused for a moment in the following silence before continuing. ¡°I¡¯m Tom, anyone else?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Rean.¡± Said the Pyrokinetic. She was audibly panting and Helena sensed her massaging her forehead. She made a costly mistake.

    The twin with long hair said. ¡°I¡¯m Liam. My brother¡¯s Tacker.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed as she recognized the twitches in Liam¡¯s heartbeat at each name said. He¡¯s lying about both their names. That¡¯s not something a normal kid would do. The likelihood of more espers being in the room is rising.

    ¡°I¡¯m Tamie.¡± The black haired girl said with a whimper. Helena recognized her wiping away tears. Her voice also held a quiver that spoke of terror. Even her heart rate was elevated to show her panic. This seems like a normal reaction. Maybe there are average children mixed in with us.

    Distractedly, the eight-year-old boy said, ¡°Peter.¡± He let the statement hang and Helena recognized his heart pumping frantically.

    She licked her lips. I need to stop straining my mind on bioelectrical calculations and use a little more Focus, my head¡¯s starting to hurt. Conserving my mental strength seems like the best course of action. Using more Focus, she felt her migraine ease. That should help me last longer, but I can¡¯t read the in-depth differences in their nervous system. I can already barely recognize the shifts in their hearts. It¡¯ll have to do for now.

    Her attention diverted when Tom¡¯s leg struck the boy still feigning to be unconscious. That¡¯s a violent action to take against a stranger and despite his earlier pleas.

    The black haired boy grunted and growled. ¡°Watch it, Kid!¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you are awake,¡± Tom stated dryly.

    Helena shifted. At least he¡¯d gotten the boy to quit playing dead, it was overplayed in any case.

    ¡°I am now!¡± The boy said begrudgingly.

    ¡°So ¡­ what¡¯s your name, sack of potatoes?¡± Tom chuckled at his own joke. Tom seems to have a nasty personality. Scared of the unknown and demeaning to others. His earlier action toward Rean could have been a welcome into his inner circle.

    ¡°I¡¯m West and watch yourself, pretty boy!¡± West snarled.

    Tom took a step back as his heart elevated but calmed when West didn¡¯t take action. He took a blind look around the room. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there another girl? A young girl with some kind of jewelry.¡±

    Helena¡¯s mind raced for an answer. I¡¯m one of the youngest and most vulnerable in the eyes of the group. Plus he noticed my jewelry. Why¡¯d he choose that way to describe me? In any case, if I want to be taken lightly, I¡¯ll need to play the helpless child, yet that could cause its own problems. The black haired boy might also think I¡¯m smarter than my age entails and conclude I¡¯m an esper. If he comes over to inspect the place I tapped, he¡¯ll become even more suspicious.

    Since heightened intelligence is a sign of an esper and espers are widely known around Elestveeve, he¡¯ll suspect me. If he brings it up to the group it¡¯ll raise questions, also the point that I have such precious jewelry and how I received it. Rean will probably drive the questioning forward if it¡¯s even mentioned, but she shockingly she doesn¡¯t seem that intelligent for an esper.

    If they find out I¡¯m an Electro Master, they¡¯ll be frightened of me. She was told that her ability was extremely rare. Having the aptitude to manipulate electricity, electromagnetism, and magnetism frightened most people. If they found out, I¡¯d be alienated or draw too much attention. I need to play the innocent scared child, for now, gather more information, and lie about my name; if I¡¯m high born then someone could recognize it and it could give me a clue as to what the others already know about me.

    Putting a shaky tone in her voice she replied. ¡°I¡¯m Janice.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Janice. We¡¯ll get out of this place.¡± Tom said with a confident tone.

    ¡°Wherever this place is,¡± Liam muttered under his breath.

    ¡°Alright, now that we have each other¡¯s names we should decide on rationing the food and water,¡± Tom said brightly while clapping his hands together. The echo hung in the air for a few seconds.

    Helena didn¡¯t trust Tom. He¡¯s taking on a nice cheery leader-type role and separating competition. It¡¯s not natural for a normal kid to take charge and act so quickly. He¡¯s even decided on rationing the food. It¡¯s too rational for the brief scared little boy he played at the start and his age.

    Helena warily glanced behind her at the wall. There¡¯s also the possibility of a mole. You can¡¯t get all your data from camera angles and this looks very much like the survival pits I¡¯ve read about in the Deep South, despite my ability placing me somewhere in the north.

    Scarce food and water. Locked in a sealed room with strangers and to make matters worse, our Focus seems to be diminishing abnormally fast. I vaguely recall Drake training me for unexpected situations, though not exactly like this. In theory, I recall reading something similar somewhere ¡­ is this a part of his plan ¡­ I see I¡¯m slowly gaining my memory back.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    She knew human behavior was critical; people would do anything to just live another second. Putting your life in someone¡¯s hands meant the inability to accomplish something on your own and that could be dangerous. Enter every situation with caution. Be aware of all the facts, keep alert, and your life close, because it can be snatched away at a moment¡¯s notice. She repeated Drake¡¯s warning he¡¯d given during one of his lectures. How will everyone react to Tom¡¯s take-charge attitude?

    ¡°Who died and made you the leader?¡± West defiantly challenged, speaking the very thoughts Helena had been thinking.

    Tom let out a dreary sigh and sardonically said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t consider what I¡¯m doing leadership, but merely pointing out the obvious.¡±

    West whispered something derisively, yet inaudible under his breath before returning back into silence. Pointing out the obvious? The obvious factor is that we¡¯re all in a strange sealed off place with limited food, water, and air. It makes more sense to try and combine our knowledge ¡­ calm down, I need to take the hand I¡¯ve been dealt and chosen, observe.

    ¡°I think Tom¡¯s right.¡± Rean softly imposed.

    Helena¡¯s brows knitted together as she glared in Rean¡¯s direction.

    Acknowledgment? Why isn¡¯t she tallying in some kind of snide addition to Tom¡¯s suggestion? Is she taking his side to confirm acceptance into his group or more interested in progressing the conversation?

    ¡°Thank you, Rean,¡± Tom said warmly, finding her shoulder and patting it with praise.

    Rean giggled nervously before saying. ¡°I¡¯ll try and make some light again.¡±

    What¡¯s with that giggle? Studying them, she bunched her lips to the side. Tom has picked his meal ticket. Rean, being the only person so far that can light the room makes her an excellent choice. She also seems fairly compliant, unless she¡¯s planning to play him from the shadows. This entire situation isn¡¯t rationally evident, so why is everyone acting so calm while in such a dire-looking circumstance? Tom certainly raised the red flag in her mind, but nearly everyone had an oddity that caught her interest.

    ¡°Can we get someone to determine how much water there is, while I sort through the food?¡±

    ¡°I can.¡± Tamie offered quickly, her chest had slowed dramatically and her voice was calm and collected, but her heart oddly fluttered at Tom¡¯s voice. What¡¯s made her attitude change so dramatically? What¡¯s happened to the two girls? Both Tamie and Rean seem compliant to Tom.

    Tom followed her voice and finding Tamie in the dark, rubbed her neck comfortingly. Tamie¡¯s muscles trembled slightly at his touch and her heart skipped several beats. ¡°Thank you, Tamie,¡± Tom said in gratitude.

    Helena cocked her head in confusion.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Tamie stuttered. A strange shake was in her voice that Helena hadn¡¯t heard before. It sounded nervous, but at the same time excited.

    Helena¡¯s stomach twisted edgily. What kind of exchange was that? I can¡¯t place my finger on it, but it gives me strange jitters. Going over the past few minutes in her head, she choreographed Tom¡¯s movements. That¡¯s the third physical gesture to the two girls I¡¯ve sensed since he¡¯s awoken. He¡¯s by far the touchiest of the group. No other person has tried for any interactions yet. Four if you count his kick to West. Is he sincere or is there a deeper motive?

    West huffed and scooted toward the wall left of Helena, away from Tom and the two girls and outside her perceptive radius. The twins followed his movements soundlessly, almost mechanically. Tom had moved the packets of food from the corner and was waiting for Rean¡¯s light against the opposite wall to Helena.

    What is happening in this room? The twins hadn¡¯t said a word since Liam lied about their names and Peter was still silently sitting against the middle of the right wall. Why haven¡¯t they put any input in? Maybe they¡¯re still monitoring the situation like me? The twins might be taking West¡¯s side since they¡¯ve moved with him or they could just be tired? This is not playing out anything as I¡¯d expect.

    Why are the girls being so submissive to Tom? The circumstances are flowing too smoothly. Yes, everyone is confused, but that should imply more resistance than a closer bond. The girls were near Tom when I woke up and he¡¯s touched them both. Does Tom have some kind of manipulation ability and if so, why am I not being affected? It could have to do with physical contact and that¡¯s if he has an ability at all.

    Helena pursed her lips. This is a difficult situation to fathom. I can¡¯t understand the girls¡¯ actions. Why can¡¯t I figure out what¡¯s passed between Tom and Tamie? It bugs me. Her head jerked up as Peter crawled toward her. ¡°Mind if I sit next to you?¡± Peter whispered politely.

    He¡¯s making a move. Now maybe I can determine something about him. He¡¯ll probably figure out about the fake wall panel in just a second. I should be able to get something out of this exchange. Keeping the nervous pitch in her voice, Helena said, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Peter took a seat against the wall and lightly rapped his knuckles against the fake wall panel. A dim light filled the room as Rean¡¯s flames once again lit in her hands. Blinking, Helena put a worried expression on her face and glanced sideward at Peter. He was grinning broadly with two gaps where he was missing teeth.

    He trained his green eyes on her, his voice saturated with excitement as he whispered, ¡°I see. You¡¯re quite the little vixen, good instincts.¡± Peter said with admiration. His eyes darted back to the others but found them more interested in their personal tasks. West was studying the girls with a frown as he rubbed his hairless chin.

    Vixens are female foxes. They¡¯re fierce, clever, sneaky, wary, and crafty; often outsmarting their many dangerous predatory neighbors. So, he knows I¡¯m smarter than I look, but he also seems vastly more intelligent than a normal eight-year-old. However, I still need to play my role. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Helena asked innocently, going with the safest route.

    His eyes bore into hers. ¡°Has anyone told you¡ªyour eyes are gorgeous? Lime green, fierce, penetrating, calculating, they go well with your jewelry.¡± He broke away, moving toward Tamie with the declaration. ¡°Can I help you, Tamie?¡±

    Tamie directed a warm smile to Peter. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes followed Peter as he helped Tamie check the waters depth and quality. I have to assume everyone in the room is an esper at this point and especially given how Peter reacted now. It makes it all the more likely; he doesn¡¯t have a child¡¯s behavior or use a child¡¯s vocabulary and he wanted to make that clear. Will he expose me to Tamie?

    Her eyes moved to the twins. They seemed to be passively watching Rean¡¯s flames, not a muscle twitching in their bodies. Could Peter have done something to them? They¡¯re the only three that haven¡¯t participated in the commotion with West and Tom. Both twins have had no contact and they¡¯re passively staring into Rean¡¯s flames as if dead.

    Momentarily increasing her receptive range and strength, she eased it back. Their brain isn¡¯t sending impulses to their muscles ¡­ how can that be? Only their vital organs seem to be functioning and at an accelerated pace. Blood is coursing through their bodies at a rapid pace, gushing to their brains. This kind of reaction is similar to an adrenaline rush, but their bodies aren¡¯t shaking at all and their brain is a flurry of activity. The only possibility I can think of ¡­ is a Telepathic penetration; converting all their bodily functions to neural activity.

    Peter might be a Telepath, which explains his early inactivity and interest in me, besides the wall. Being an Electro Master gives me a resistance against Telepaths. They can¡¯t infiltrate my mind, while my natural electrostatic barrier is active.

    Sudden images flooded Helena¡¯s mind; the events that had transpired before she¡¯d been knocked unconscious. She played through the event with increasing confusion:

    ¡°It¡¯s alright Lin,¡± Drake had said reassuringly. Helena disliked the nickname.

    A short overweight man exited the foliage and approached them. He had a round face, light skin, receding black hair, green eyes, a toothbrush mustache that sat above his pudgy lips and crushed nose.

    A large white button-up shirt stretched over his body, the buttons bulging slightly to show a black tank top underneath. His lower body was covered by white thigh-high shorts and soft-sole white shoes. He was more than a little fidgety as he awkwardly approached Drake and her. His eyes darted between them. ¡°Drake, I got your message and I¡¯m a little stumped about the requests. I assume you¡¯ve received the confirmation?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that, Ventre.¡± Drake said cheerfully. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll take fantastic care of her.¡±

    The man seemed to get even more anxious. ¡°So¡ªhow are we going to¡ªproceed?¡±

    Helena found issue with what was transpiring. Turning to her brother, she asked. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Drake?¡±

    Drake turned to face her and placed both hands on her shoulders saying. ¡°I love you, Lin.¡± She felt his right hand lift and then swiftly strike her jugular vein. Confusion was the last of her thoughts before she swayed and blacked out.

    Helena¡¯s mind raced. Drake knocked me out and apparently gave me to that man, Ventre. Obviously, it was deliberate. Is Ventre a part of a prominent House? No, I¡¯ve never heard of him or seen his strange apparel. Has Drake given me to an enemy? If so, then there must be a reason? Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed. I can¡¯t determine anything with my current information. I¡¯ll need to gather more evidence before I can make a conclusion.

 B1 â€” 3. Exposed

    Helena was drawn out of her internal revere when Rean¡¯s fire dimmed and went out again. She was breathing heavily. ¡°Just rest a bit.¡± Tom soothingly massaged Rean¡¯s shoulders. Again, Tom takes physical action.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Rean reluctantly agreed between breaths.

    ¡°Janice, can you help me with something?¡± Tom asked pleasantly.

    Helena¡¯s body tensed in alarm. What task could he possibly need help with? He already has Rean and Tamie, why not use one of them? Am I his next target to join his group? He seems to be making a hard effort to get the females on his side. I need to check his cognitive activity before going near him.  If he was an Esper, his brain would be highly active in the parietal lobe and his frontal lobe would be excited if he was using mental calculations to enhance his ability.

    Concentrating, she fed her passive reception Focus and examined Tom¡¯s brain. It was difficult with her headache worsening, but she managed to bring the calculations to flourish. His frontal and parietal lobes were well beyond excited. He has to be using some kind of ability against Rean. I can¡¯t approach him without knowing what it is and I most definitely cannot let him touch me!

    West cleared his throat, taking pressure off Helena¡¯s response. ¡°If Rean keeps using her ability, she¡¯ll eat enough food for two.¡± West also knows the specifics of Esper Fatigue?

    ¡°We needed to see. What would you suggest, fumbling around in the dark?¡± Tom asked in exasperation. ¡°Now, Janice, can you help me, please?¡± Tom pressed.

    West countered heatedly. ¡°I¡¯m just saying. We need to limit our abilities, especially with this Focus drain.¡±

    Helena caught the implication instantly. Tom began to argue back but quickly caught himself. ¡°Look we had¡ªwait, what do you mean our abilities?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t play with me!¡± West yelled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have some kind of ability that¡¯s helping you manipulate Tamie and Rean. They¡¯ve been following everything you¡¯ve said without question or input.¡±

    It¡¯s true and it seems there are other espers in this room. West, at least, admitted to being one. It all made Helena very nervous. Placing a bunch of espers together in a contained room with these parameters can only spell disaster. Is that what the watchers want, a bloodbath?

    ¡°What are you implying?¡± Tom asked in a dark, threatening tone.

    West chuckled mirthlessly. ¡°Let me make this easier for you to understand. What is your ability, Tom?¡±

    ¡°Why are you so suspicious of Tom!¡± Tamie exclaimed angrily.

    Helena warily examined Tamie in the darkness. Her heart was pumping furiously, she seemed truly outraged. She could tell the other members in the room were shocked by their body¡¯s responses.

    ¡°If Tom says he doesn¡¯t have any abilities then he doesn¡¯t!¡± Tamie stated intensely.

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed at her comment.

    ¡°He never said that,¡± West said with suspicion.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t he?¡± Tamie asked, bewilderment creeping into her voice.

    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t have an ability¡ªI¡¯m not an esper,¡± Tom assured, spreading his palms out to either side as if to show his own innocence in the pitch black room. The impulses in his heart spoke volumes. He¡¯s lying through his teeth.

    Peter started to laugh. ¡°How do you feel about Tom, Tamie?¡± He asked playacting an emphatic tone.

    ¡°I care about him,¡± Tamie replied earnestly.

    Helena stood up with a pit growing in her stomach. Honestly pumped in each rhythm of Tamie¡¯s heart as she spoke every syllable. There¡¯s no way I can let Tom touch me. If I do, it¡¯s over. I have to confirm it.

    ¡°So you knew him before we were stuck in this room?¡± Peter asked in a matter of fact tone.

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen him before, but I have this warm feeling that he¡¯s important to me,¡± Tamie said with factual conviction.

    Confirmation. ¡°Hormones,¡± Helena whispered in dread. Tom can use a variation of Biokinesis, Pathokinesis. He can most likely transfer hormones produced in his body through skin contact. He can make his victims completely enslaved, infatuated with him. Hormones have a dominating effect on the mind that overrules reason. By taking leadership, having everyone¡¯s focus on him, he¡¯s been able to use physical contact. This must be having a devastating impact on Rean and Tamie¡¯s psyche.

    ¡°Bingo!¡± Peter exclaimed with delight. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be quick on the uptake.¡±

    ¡°You doped these girls up on hormones!¡± West snarled, his voice full of derision.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do that!¡± Rean yelled.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the bad guy,¡± Tamie shouted.

    Their responses sent West backing up with uncertainty.

    Helena was frozen, her breath held in disbelief. Her eyes were locked on Peter with horror. Peter¡¯s much smarter than I thought. I knew something with Tom was wrong, but I hadn¡¯t deduced it quite that far. He realized I was smarter than I first let on and also poured fuel on the fire between the two spotlighted groups. However ¡­ the largest issue is that he managed to manipulate me into divulging the information, drawing me out of the shadows.

    He¡¯s been playing all sides. He must have done something to the Twins, but West could just as easily be the culprit too. Could Peter have manipulated them to sit beside West to throw me off? He seems too knowledgeable about Tamie and Rean¡¯s condition while only seeing one physical touch and being basically blind. He has to have some kind of ability that¡¯s helping him gather information. Telepathy was high on her list.

    Extending her perception to examine Peter¡¯s brain, she found it a storm of signals, his brain was on fire. West had confirmed the effects draining him, so how can Peter be so mentally active under these dampening conditions?

    Focusing in on the twin¡¯s brains, she found them also at heavy work, but they still weren¡¯t even twitching a muscle. Peter must be doing something to them.

    Helena winced as a spike hit her psyche, causing another dampening effect on her mind''s vision. She couldn¡¯t see their mental activity any longer, a point behind her forehead begun to throb. She sensed the twins start to move as their bioelectricity picked up.

    Helena broke her contemplations as the scene in front of her started to escalate. Tamie and Rean seemed to be nearing violence as Rean¡¯s fingers sparked with flames. Tom¡¯s lost control of them. They¡¯re being overshadowed by their enhanced emotional responses. He must have overdosed them.

    Peter had retreated to his corner and Helena was surprised to find his heart racing as his lungs convulsed. He isn¡¯t handling it well. He¡¯s overexerted his ability. An over calculation?

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Liam asked, sounding dazed as his words came out slightly slurred.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been listening?¡± West yelled. ¡°Tom¡¯s been controlling Rean and Tamie with hormones!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Tacker asked in confusion.

    They don¡¯t remember anything. Her eyes shifted back to Peter as he slumped against the wall, massaging his forehead.

    ¡°We¡¯re not being controlled!¡± Rean screeched. Her face clearly flushed as her hand lit with fire, illuminating her furious expression.

    ¡°Do you think we can¡¯t like a person just because they¡¯re kind? What have you done, besides accuse Tom!¡± Tamie snapped, tears of frustration appearing in the corners of her eyes. She appears to be approaching hysteria.

    ¡°It looks like things are getting way out of hand,¡± Liam whispered with irritation.

    Helena discerned Tacker twist his right hand upwards, concealing it from the rest of the group. Rean¡¯s fire died instantly, throwing them into darkness. Both Rean and Tamie gasped, holding their hands against their throats.

    Helena straightened her composure against the wall as she studied the scene. Tacker¡¯s a Telekinetic, but Liam was the one that spoke. Are they trying to cover up their actions? It isn¡¯t a terrible idea.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± West asked, confused and frustrated.

    Tacker gasp then massage his forehead as if he were experiencing pain. The girls struggled a few more seconds before going limp, dropping to the ground. Helena still felt the faint bioelectrical pulsing of their hearts. Tacker didn¡¯t kill them but knocked them out.

    Her vision moved to Tacker. I know something transpired in that exchange, Tacker felt mental pain. Was it the room¡¯s effect, Peter, West, Tamie, maybe a combination or even the drugs?

    ¡°Alright, now that I knocked them out, we can discuss this hormones business,¡± Liam said huffily. He knocked them out. Helena mused as she continued to observe the scene.

    Tacker was still rubbing his temple, wobbling unsteadily. Something definitely attacked his mind and fairly hard, but it can¡¯t be Peter. He¡¯s still in the corner repeating the exact same motion as Tacker. Maybe Tamie¡¯s a Telepath, striking his mind before she was knocked unconscious? Two Telepaths in the same room seems unlikely, but I have to keep the possibility open.

    ¡°So, they¡¯re alright?¡± West asked as he fumbled around for the two girls and checked their pulse, a sigh of relief close to his lips. ¡°Thanks, Liam.¡±

    ¡°No problem, now what¡¯s this about hormones?¡± Liam asked. They didn¡¯t even have a grasp of the situation before acting. Liam decided to knock them out because they were loud?

    ¡°Tom was controlling the two girls¡¯ with hormones.¡± West accused.

    Tom had backed against the wall opposite Helena. He was shivering, blindly staring around the room. He¡¯s panicking. Perhaps he really has some fear of the dark? Then again, the situation is closing around his neck.

    ¡°We can figure this out quickly,¡± Liam stated. ¡°If the boys aren¡¯t being affected then we can assume it only works on females.¡± He at least came up with that reasoning, but he completely left out the possible transfer method.

    ¡°Yeah, he wanted Janice to help him with something,¡± West added while glaring in Tom¡¯s general direction. ¡°He was probably going to infect her next.¡±

    ¡°Janice?¡± Tacker asked in confusion. He doesn¡¯t remember my name? Peter may have already infiltrated his mind by that time. ¡°You mean Helena?¡± Tacker continued.

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened, vision darting to Tacker. There are three possibilities. Peter could be the mole and implanted my name into their heads. Tacker really is a mole and that put his twin high on the list or Peter found out my name through infiltrating another person¡¯s mind, then implanted it in Tacker¡¯s to throw me off completely.

    However, that would require a lot of subtle manipulations and with the room¡¯s draining attribute, I doubt he¡¯d be able to accomplish that much. Every jump to a person¡¯s mind probably has a very harsh, draining effect on his mental state and Focus depletion.

    There may also be one more possibility, but it¡¯s not that likely. He could have gained my name by entering my mind, but with my natural resistance ¡­ then again, he does seem extremely drained. Possibilities are racking up with every passing second and I only seem to be asking more questions. I need to start narrowing down the many probabilities and get out of here.

 B1 â€” 4. Murder Breeds Tension

    ¡°West! Hold Tom down and Tacker will find out what¡¯s really going on.¡± Liam snapped.

    ¡°What? No!¡± Tom screamed, panic leaking from his voice. Helena watched his muscular activity hastened as he frantically crawled toward her.

    Helena felt the adrenaline rushing into her veins as Tom closed the distance. I can¡¯t let him touch me! If I let a simple graze slide past open skin ... I¡¯ll become his slave and I don¡¯t know the transfer speed. Can West reach Tom before he reaches this spot or could Tacker telekinetically grab him?

    Doing the calculations, she gauged the distance, speed, and possible trajectories. No, West is hesitating and Tacker has the possibility to grab him, but could just as easily miss in the dark. I have to assume that he¡¯ll reach me. I need to keep my clothing bundled up to prevent skin contact and use my ability to incapacitate him if he does come into range. The others will fear me if I kill Tom. I¡¯ll need to paralyze him and find a way to suggest restraints, perhaps clothing.

    She decided to move to the right and prepare for the worst. As quietly as she could manage, she shuffled to the right nook, rolling her feet across the hard stone floor. Tom¡¯s blind, he doesn¡¯t know where I am. If I keep distance, eventually West will find him, if he gets close I¡¯ll strike. Hopefully, it won¡¯t come to that. They¡¯ll want to know how I knocked him unconscious.

    She felt the cold stone wall slide up against her back as she entered the corner.

    Crawling over the two girl¡¯s unconscious bodies, Tom reached her earlier position and branched left, scrambling around the area in search for her. Good, I won¡¯t have to use my ability. West should have enough time to grab him.

    West followed Tom¡¯s panting and fumbled movement. Snarling as he neared Tom; West leaped onto his back. ¡°No, please, I won¡¯t do¡ªanything.¡± Tom gasped as he rolled around the ground with West.

    They struggled for several seconds. Tom seemed unaccustomed to grappling and West quickly took the upper hand, placing him in a hold. Maintaining a headlock around Tom¡¯s neck with his right hand, West held Tom¡¯s arms together with his left.

    In a choked tone, face pressed against the stone floor, Tom pleaded. ¡°Please, I won¡¯t touch any of the girls. I swear¡ªI won¡¯t.¡±

    West grunted as he pressed his weight down on Tom¡¯s squirming body. ¡°Got him.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Liam said with anticipation. Why¡¯s he excited? This is a stressful situation, I could be made into a slave...

    Helena winced as needles slowly began piercing her brain and she suddenly felt a lag in her physical condition. What¡¯s this ¡­ why is my strength being sapped? Her mental diagram faded once again as her Focus diminished and her concentration weakened with her brain¡¯s continual pain.

    ¡°Hold him still,¡± Liam instructed. ¡°Tacker will tell us if he¡¯s lying, just give him a second.¡±

    After Liam finished his words, he tapped his brother and they both felt their way over to West. Fumbling around in the dark, Liam found Tom¡¯s face. Tom was shaking violently as he struggled in West¡¯s grip.

    ¡°Hold still!¡± West growled, tightening his hands around Tom¡¯s arms, pinned at his back.

    Liam leaned close to Tom¡¯s left ear and started whispering. Helena couldn¡¯t hear Liam¡¯s words, but she noticed Tom¡¯s sharp jerk as his body completely tensed before going limp. What did Liam do to Tom? His entire nerve-system went into shock before completely loosening up?

    ¡°Are you going to question him, Tacker?¡± Liam barked with irritation. ¡°The sooner we get this over with, the quicker we can figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just give me a second.¡± Liam retorted, using his brother¡¯s voice.

    Helena leaned closer with sudden interest. Now that¡¯s impressive, he¡¯s managed to match Tacker¡¯s voice and tone perfectly. Maybe he has some kind of vocalization capability, perhaps Acoustokinesis. It¡¯s a powerful ability, being able to manipulate sound. Tacker¡¯s just twiddling his thumbs, while his brother takes the conversation. Helena mused at the aspect. Tacker obviously doesn¡¯t consider what he says, but his brother compensates for his lack of thought. They both seem completely used to the act.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Tom¡¯s response came in a dead monochromatic fashion. His fear, desperation, and the angst were gone. ¡°Tom Howard.¡±

    Helena frowned. What¡¯s with his change? His voice has altered completely, its monotone and even ¡­ it¡¯s almost like a trance. Also, the last name Howard is a Lesser House, under the guidance of the Great House Golitin. Tom must be a Lesser Noble.

    Helena took a deep breath to calm her adrenaline pumped heart. Why are two kidnapped nobles in the same room? Moreover, most of the room¡¯s occupants have been found to be espers. The situation escalates, yet again. It also seems that whatever Liam¡¯s ability is, anyone might be able to question him.

    ¡°What¡¯s your ability and its parameters?¡± It seems like he¡¯s fairly weak in his auditory ability. Only being able to accomplish his hypnotism close to the ear and from his stumbled movements, it indicated that he can¡¯t use echolocation ¡­ of course, it could always be an act.

    Tom hypnotically depicted his ability. ¡°I don¡¯t know what my ability is called, but I can manipulate females to do whatever I want. It can take one to five minutes to reach the brain, depending on where I make skin contact. It loses its controlling factor over a few minutes if I don¡¯t regulate the administration and filter it because the body will start producing its own if I do not tell it to stop.¡±

    Quite dangerous, the girls would have continued to become more hysterical the less skin contact they had with Tom. A very powerful, but troublesome ability. He has promise. If he ever makes it back to his House, he¡¯ll be a strong ally for the Golitins. Are some of the others also of Noble Houses?

    ¡°Did you put us here?¡± West asked as he shifted his weight to a more comfortable position, now that Tom had stopped struggling.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you should...¡± Tacker began to say, but his brother placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping it tightly. Interesting, Liam is clearly the dominant of the two. Why does Tacker want to stop West from questioning Tom?

    ¡°No,¡± Tom replied without emotion.

    ¡°Do you know who put us here?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°What do you know!¡± West exclaimed in disgust.

    ¡°I can¡¯t infect males, but I believe I¡¯m close. My sister didn¡¯t die of natural causes. My parents are religious fanatics.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Liam shouted in Tacker¡¯s voice.

    Lowering his tone, he continued in his brother¡¯s voice. ¡°We¡¯ll only get babble out of him now. Let me deal with him so we don¡¯t have to continually watch our backs.¡±

    Tacker felt his way to Tom and West, patting up Tom¡¯s body, he found his head. Leam spoke in his brother¡¯s voice. ¡°We can¡¯t have him endangering the group any further.¡± Her attention was riveted on Tacker¡¯s movements. Those words didn¡¯t bode well for Tom.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Twisting his hands, Tacker shattered Tom¡¯s spine.

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed as she watched the bioelectrical current running through Tom¡¯s body cut, the sound coming a moment later. The golden scratches running along Tom¡¯s now broken pathways slowly began fading into black as the signal ceased. His now lifeless corpse fell completely limp in West¡¯s grip. The twins are dangerous. They methodically killed Tom.

    Her eyes darted toward Peter, who was still rubbing his temples. I doubt he¡¯s fit enough to control their actions. The twins just got a grasp on the situation and already there¡¯s a dead body.

    ¡°You killed him...¡± West¡¯s hands started to shake as he dropped Tom¡¯s unresponsive body.

    ¡°Of course, he betrayed the group¡¯s trust and forcibly controlled both Tamie and Rean,¡± Liam said.

    ¡°He would have infected Helena next.¡± Tacker¡¯s voice held an edge as he said her name. My name again ¡­ where did he get it?

    Her internal focus snapped to Liam as he followed his brother¡¯s voice and finding Tacker¡¯s head, flicked his ear. A signal to stop, but it¡¯s already too late. I know they have some form of information on me.

    West backed up to the left wall and leaned against it. He had his head down, hands intertwined and under his chin as he thought. His arms were shaking. West¡¯s taking the situation surprisingly well, he¡¯s not completely freaking out. The twins had retreated a little ways away and were whispering in each other¡¯s ears.

    ¡°We could have tied him up, you know?¡± West had a numb tone in his deep voice. ¡°It¡¯s not like he killed the two girls.¡± West¡¯s pitch isn¡¯t shaking from fear, but anger ¡­ interesting.

    The twins stopped their low conversation. Liam ran his right hand down the side of his face in annoyance. ¡°If we left him tied up in the corner, how long do you think it would be till he enslaved another one of the girls?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll never know,¡± West said tiredly, his shakes subsiding.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good thing in my book.¡± Tacker callously chuckled.

    Liam flicked Tacker¡¯s ear again and West¡¯s head lifted to study the darkness.

    ¡°That¡¯s the kind of attitude Lanpna Village had about espers¡ªyou know the Deities hate espers. In the end¡ªthe entire town was torn apart.¡± West recounted in a soft mutter. ¡°Brother against sister, mother against father ¡­ it¡¯s a slippery slope. You kill one man and then what¡¯s another?¡± West laughed humorlessly. ¡°Did you feel anything when you snapped Tom¡¯s neck?¡±

    Liam¡¯s voice was coated with overtly fake sympathy as he replied. ¡°Of course, I pitied him, I just...¡±

    ¡°Not him ¡­ he had a name and it was Tom.¡± West¡¯s voice was cold and filled with disgust. ¡°When you mention him at least have the morality to call Tom by name, you should at least give the dead that honor. Not being forgotten as another nameless corpse.¡±

    Slight amusement spread across Helena¡¯s thoughts. Where are all his acting skills and subtle voice manipulation gone? West¡¯s not wrong, but people fight, kill, and die for causes every moment. There can be no peace in a world filled with freedom of thought and action. The opposition at man¡¯s core will always bubble up. It isn¡¯t a bad idea to act civil, but eventually, everyone reverts back to primal instinctual desires.

    West needs something to keep the twins in check if he wants to lecture them. Fear is the most prevalent restraint or some cause, yet all he¡¯s offering are empty warnings. The twins don¡¯t seem to have a connection to this village, why would they care.

    ¡°What¡¯s done is done.¡± Peter intervened, sitting by the water and splashing his face.

    Helena turned her attention to him. He¡¯s keeping the strain from his voice, but he¡¯s obviously in pain. Not bad, he has the sense not to let his weakness show now that he¡¯s entered the conversation.

    ¡°What do you suggest we tell the girls?¡± West gloomily asked, his head slumped back against the wall. It seems that he¡¯s seen murder before and has a real detest for it. What will the clever Peter come up with?

    ¡°We¡¯ll say he developed EPR.¡± Peter hid the fatigue well, but he let a slight hitch catch in his tone.

    Helena was astonished that he¡¯d come up with an answer so quickly. Will they know what this EPR is ... because I don¡¯t?

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± West¡¯s anger completely subsided as he straightened his composure against the wall.

    ¡°Esper. Psyche. Relapse.¡± Liam sounded impressed.

    Peter began to explain. ¡°It¡¯s a brain contiguity defect that produces a lapse in the brain¡¯s infrastructure. Fundamentally, it causes irreparable brain death. It¡¯s said to be an extremely painful disease, causing its victims to experience every recorded memory in horrific scenery. Quite unpleasant; I hear the screams are atrocious.

    ¡°Even if Rean lights a fire and takes a look at his condition. We can say that we couldn¡¯t handle his pleas for mercy. An act of kindness, if you will, it¡¯ll be prettier for their ears and minds to process.¡±

    ¡°Nice suggestion.¡± Tacker complimented. Yes, a very interesting suggestion. Did Peter take it from the Twin¡¯s minds? It¡¯s best to side with the dangerous people if you know how to play with them.

    ¡°That explanation could fit¡ªbut there¡¯s another girl in the room that has yet to speak up.¡± West¡¯s eyes shifted, trying to peer through the darkness. ¡°What are your thoughts on the matter ¡­ Janice was it ¡­ or Helena?¡± West caught the name slip. I won¡¯t even have to ask, he¡¯ll do the dirty work.

    Shakily she said. ¡°Whatever you want, I don¡¯t want to think about it. It¡¯s a grown-up thing.¡± Helena sensed Peter¡¯s body quiver with silent laughter at her answer and tone.

    ¡°That¡¯s it then.¡± West huffed. ¡°However, you called Janice, Helena. What did you mean by that, Tacker?¡±

    Liam shook his head and flicked Tacker on the ear again. His voice and tone came out as his brother¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m just a little light-headed, I don¡¯t know. I thought she was someone I knew once, back at my Village in the Temaka Shorelines. It must be the residue from whatever drug is in my system.¡±

    West grunted and let his answer slide. I doubt he knows anyone by the name of Helena. It¡¯s a very uncommon name and comes from old Great House tales. Something a commoner wouldn¡¯t have knowledge of.

    Peter shifted positions and began crawling across the room toward the food. ¡°It also leaves more food for us and I¡¯m ravished. How about you guys?¡± That¡¯s a rather callous statement. Is he trying to appeal to the twins?

    West¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Don¡¯t have an appetite.¡±

    ¡°Toss me a bar.¡± Both the twins said in unison. ¡°I can¡¯t remember the last time I ate.¡± Liam groaned. Helena felt an involuntary growl escape her stomach, in the following silence Helena guessed they¡¯d heard and her thirst grew.

    Peter laughed. ¡°You¡¯re a growing girl, of course, you need food.¡± He tossed a few bars her way. They slid across the floor, striking the wall beside her. Nice aim for it being pitch black.

    Picking up the wrapped food, she winced as a screw drilled into her brain. This migraine is ridiculous! I haven¡¯t even used my abilities for thirty minutes and I¡¯m already experiencing fatigue. Rean dropped even sooner. What¡¯s happening? It¡¯s not a restriction. The Head of the Great Hatter House, Evangeline, has the ability to completely nullify all espers within a set distance, but this isn¡¯t nullification. It¡¯s as if something is sucking my Focus right out of me, but what can do that, an esper¡¯s ability?

    Peeling back the wrapper, Helena began to eat the dried food. It tasted horrible but was nourishment. It doesn¡¯t make sense to poison the food. Why go through all this trouble to transport, confine, and stage this just to poison us?

    ¡°Got to keep our strength up, right Tacker? Never know when someone might strike unknowingly.¡± Peter commented with hearty laugher through bites.

    ¡°No doubt, you never know,¡± Tacker replied, following Peter¡¯s flow. Liam elbowed Tacker softly, telling him to stop. Tacker shifted irritably. Intriguing, Tacker seems to be the more reckless of the two and the most gullible.

    Peter started scooting Helena¡¯s way, fumbling around in the dark, yet seeming to find the right direction. He must have some kind of directional knowledge, but how? If he¡¯s a Telepath then he could figure out my general direction, I suppose.

    The twins made their way to the dip in the floor to drink some water and West began trying to find the girls on the ground.

    ¡°So ¡­ Helena is your real name, Lady¡ªHelena¡ªVandred.¡± Peter whispered.

    Helena didn¡¯t acknowledge his statement, staying silent since he obviously already knew she was an esper. Peter¡¯s chuckle quickly turned into a groan. Another screw drilled into her skull and her physical fatigue deepened, her bioelectric image faltering momentarily. It seems to happen in spikes and affect all of us at the same time.

    ¡°I want to be perfectly clear with you Helena. I have information you need. You probably think I¡¯m a Telepath, smart, dangerous, untrustworthy, and the works, right? This is not some Noble kidnapping; this runs deep, very deep.¡±

    Her passive reception darkened with her drop in Focus, the yellow scratches dimming, yet again. ¡°What do you want then?¡± Helena whispered, massaging her temples. I can¡¯t compute all the information my fields are feeding me anymore and this migraine is only going to get worse. What do I do?

    ¡°Let¡¯s touch foreheads.¡± Peter urgently whispered.

    ¡°For what?¡± Helena questioned suspiciously as she shifted her weight.

    ¡°So we can talk without them knowing what¡¯s said,¡± Peter explained, almost frantically. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡± I don¡¯t trust him near my head. With the distance and my field weakened, he might be able to bypass my repellant shell and enter my mind.

    Gritting his teeth, Peter pushed toward her.

 B1 â€” 5. Desperate Action

    Peter¡¯s hands shot out and grabbed her head, pulling it toward his. Helena prepared the calculations to send an electrical surge through contct but hesitated as Peter¡¯s voice entered her mind.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t shock me. I¡¯m begging you. I just want to talk. I can¡¯t go any deeper into your mind anyway. I¡¯ve used most my Focus on the twins.¡±

    Helena kept the calculations ready, but she was curious why he would risk so much, knowing she was an electric based esper. My electricity will discharge if you try to burrow deeper and you know what will happen if I strengthen my electrostatic field. What do you want Peter?

    Peter winced but sighed in relief. ¡°Look, the twins are moles. We¡¯ve been captured by WITCH.¡±

    What¡¯s WITCH? Helena felt Peter¡¯s head shift as he gulped, clearly in pain.

    ¡°WITCH is an organization ¡­ no, more like a government. They officially only have control over New Genesis, the proclaimed esper capital. However, they rule over thirty percent of Elestveeve.¡±

    Helena felt a flash of irritation enter her veins and reprimanded herself deep in the pits of her mind. No ¡­ the Great Houses rule over the majority of Elestveeve with the Deities as advisors. My House rules a vast amount of land.

    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt the reputation and power of the Vandreds, but how else do you explain a member of the Main House being kidnapped?¡±

    Helena¡¯s brow furrowed, keeping her speculations hidden. What is WITCH? I¡¯ve never even heard of this government and what do they want?

    Peter sighed. ¡°As far as I can tell¡ªthey want us. The twins are at the lowest part of their organization, recruits from Genesis. They¡¯re trying to get higher in rank, so they posed as moles to stimulate the situation. As for WITCH, I haven¡¯t the vaguest idea to what they want specifically. They¡¯re a whispered night terror where I come from; a remote shoreline village that I doubt you¡¯ve even heard of.¡±

    Helena held back a sigh, Peter could be playing her. What are the twin¡¯s exact orders?

    Peter shifted uncomfortably. ¡°They were told to keep you alive at all costs and to shove the situation along...¡±

    What do they have planned for me if I¡¯m meant to be kept alive? She tried to shield her thoughts by actively calculating her surroundings. Is this Drake¡¯s plot after all, why else keep me alive? That man, Ventre, came for me and Drake willingly gave me up, even knocking me out himself. It¡¯s impossible to lie to Telepaths that grain full brain access unless they¡¯ve been implanted with memories they believe to be true.

    Shifting her focus for an instant, she scanned the room, expanding her receptive radius, migraine slowly intensifying. The twins were still talking to each other by the pool, West was dragging the girls to the corner and propping them against the wall.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Peter yelled into her mind as he broke away, cradling his head. Rubbing his forehead and shaking slightly, he took several seconds to regain his composure before leaning back in.

    ¡°Please, please¡ªplease stop calculating! And ¡­ and stop thinking in general! Your thought process is so much faster than mine, its throwing information backlash at me. It¡¯s becoming painful just deciphering your thoughts and your shield isn¡¯t helping! Do you¡ªalways¡ªactively use calculations to help mitigate the work in your subconscious ¡­ no, never mind.¡±

    Rubbing the back of his neck, he continued. ¡°Short answer, WITCH has Great House supporters. I don¡¯t know who, but it¡¯s the best explanation I can come up with, obviously not the Vandreds, but some other Great House.¡±

    Consciously keeping her higher mental levels clean, she deliberated on the information, using her feelings more than thought. No ¡­ Drake obviously knows WITCH and was willing to give me to them for some reason. For all I know we could be WITCH¡¯s link to the Great Houses ¡­ if WITCH is real at all. Maybe this is a House power play, but Drake is the undisputed heir, why get rid of me? The first and last memories of my parents were when I was three years old.

    ¡°The twins are preparing to push you into action. When you push them back, they¡¯ll end the experiment by knocking everyone out. They¡¯re debating on the topic now. They¡¯ve been told to initiate events, but not to end it. They¡¯ve been going against instruction. Their names are actually aliases; Liam¡¯s real name is Hew, Tacker¡¯s is Mike.¡±

    Helena pulled away from Peter¡¯s forehead so she could truly think for a moment. Peter could be telling me all this as a trap, but he really seems near the edge. If he were the mole and wished to harm me, he could have used one of the twins as a proxy. He used a ton of strength on the twins, for all I know he programmed them to kill Tom to throw me off completely, but why not use Tom to control me then? He¡¯s either brilliant or my expectations of him were too high.

    Peter¡¯s muscular activity was dragging. His heart beating in tempo to the thick, wheezing breaths that brushed hot moist air across her cheeks. I need more information before I move. Acting will place a further drain on my Focus and physical strength. I also need to find out West and Tamie¡¯s abilities so they can¡¯t retaliate if Tamie and Rean wake up. She renewed contact with Peter, electric calculations at the ready. What¡¯s sapping our Focus and physical strength?

    Peter took a deep breath before answering. ¡°The Focus drain is coming from Focus draining stones around the cameras or something of that nature. I know that must seem strange, but I know of these stones. If there is a large amount of them in a room, they¡¯ll drain an esper¡¯s Focus and force more strain on the mind to hamper ability tasks. I¡¯ve never felt these stone¡¯s effects, but it¡¯s the best answer I have for both physical and mental exertion.¡±

    Helena¡¯s brow furrowed. You say you can vouch for the mental portion of the stones, but not the physical. You can¡¯t correlate the two events, because you have no other explanation.

    Peter shivered and they both winced as a pick dug at their brains. She broke away from Peter and managed to keep her reception active, searching for the other esper¡¯s reactions. Helena felt a twitch from West, but not the twins. They aren¡¯t as drained as everyone else ¡­ why? Because they haven¡¯t been using their Focus as much? She leaned back in to communicate with Peter.

    ¡°It has to be the stones.¡± Peter¡¯s internal voice sounded pained.

    Why? I haven¡¯t even used much Focus, unlike you that tunneled around the twin¡¯s brains and who knows how many others.

    ¡°All I can say is that the stones have a harsher effect on espers who continually use their abilities.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Helena pulled away again. I need to compile all the information I have before striking. I¡¯d like to continue gathering facts, but there are times for action and times for speculation. I¡¯m nearing the end of my physical limits and then I¡¯ll be defenseless. The orchestrators behind the scenes might have considered this. It¡¯s about time I act. West is the person most would assume to take leadership. He¡¯s clearly the eldest and seems to have the best interests for the group.

    Tom¡¯s ability clearly marked his dependence upon women, since he could get whatever he wants from them. The first thing he¡¯d do in an unknown situation is taking on a slave and the best way to accomplish that would be to take on the center of attention, allowing his need for physical contact.

    Both Tamie and Rean were the closest to Tom when he awoke. West needed to be awake to witness Tom¡¯s reliance on the females of the group. Rean needed to be conscious to show the group the parameters of the room and to wake everyone. I can see no other purpose for her addition than to be used as a variance to the group and puppet for Tom. Tom likely hated other males because of his ability. Having so much female attention attracts spiteful eyes ¡­ at least I heard Drake say that once ¡­ though in sarcasm...

    The initial kick to West set off the leadership battle. After that, West was completely focused on Tom and his slaves. At the start, I was the furthest away from Tom. It was no coincidence. Everything seems perfectly orchestrated, down to the letter ¡­ but maybe not Tom¡¯s death...

    Helena shoved down a groan as her migraine escalated. Peter was supposed to meld with what everyone was doing, but would constantly be scanning thoughts to find what¡¯s going on. He¡¯d instantly be drawn to me because he couldn¡¯t read my mind. The twins are sleepers. They would surface later and did, killing Tom, which Peter says they weren¡¯t supposed to do. Tom was a part of a Lesser House, it seems plausible they¡¯d want him alive, considering his ability and probably would have joined WITCH if he felt he had to by his personality.

    It¡¯s all starting to fit into place, but a few issues still remain. Once Peter found out who the moles are, he¡¯d concentrate on gathering more information out of them. The question is ¡­ why the twins would allow it? Unless, they don¡¯t know Peter¡¯s a Telepath. That means they probably don¡¯t know my ability or anyone else¡¯s.

    Why would WITCH do that to upcoming initiates? They haven¡¯t been given the full amount of information to act accordingly. Were they meant to figure it out on their own as a test or meant as sacrifices?

    Helena¡¯s mind seemed to pulsate as a strike worse than any previous hit her psyche, making her entire receptive view go black. Intaking a sharp breath, she wiped a tear away that fell down her cheek. I¡¯m nearing my limit.

    She brought Peter¡¯s head back for a final time. Peter¡¯s breathing was ragged. ¡°Please¡ªdo something.¡± He pleaded.

    I need West and Tamie¡¯s abilities. Helena pushed. Mentally she could still take it, but she knew her physical limit and they were drawing to a close; she still had a bit of time, but only a little.

    Almost in a scream, Peter said.  ¡°West¡ªsenses¡ªTamie¡ªcan¡¯t read.¡± He broke away and started rocking back and forth, clutching his head.

    West shouldn¡¯t be able to sense abilities or exact positions, because he couldn¡¯t find Tom in the dark or what his ability was. It must deal with something more specific to a particular element. He seems to be the least violent in the room in any case. I¡¯ll save him for last. In all indications and if Peter is right, once I knock out everyone in the room, it¡¯ll be over. I¡¯ll have to incapacitate Peter to be safe.

    If I¡¯m right, WITCH doesn¡¯t even consider the twins worthy of their ranks. There has to be a greater design and only specific people being tested. The twins won¡¯t advance past this stage, but it seems something¡¯s in store for me. If this isn¡¯t a ploy by Peter or any other puppeteers ¡­ Peter himself might be the orchestrator. The portion that continues to confuse me is this physical exertion. Why would a stone have that effect, it doesn¡¯t make sense. That¡¯s it. It¡¯s time to act.

    Peter glanced up at her intently. ¡°What are...¡±

    Her left hand darted out and grasped the back of Peter¡¯s neck. She sent an electrical surge up his spine. He tensed then fell limp. Helena slowly guided his body to the floor, feeling cold sweat starting to gather around her skin. She wiped Peter¡¯s sweat from her brow and dried her hands on her pants.

    Slowing her breathe, she quit reading the information sent back to her and sent her perception into quick bursts, like still images. The twins were still standing near the pool of water, intent upon their conspiring conversation. West had just finished dragging Tom¡¯s body to rest next to the wall, where Helena had awoken. As if he sensed the shock, she had sent through Peter, his head snapped up and he looked about him, his muscles tense and wary.

    Helena slid off her shoes and tucked her pants into the top of her socks before standing as softly and quietly as possible. Doing the same with her shirt, inserting it into her pants, she stilled her breathing before running through the plan one more time.

    This should be enough to cancel the sounds of my clothing, hopefully. Sound travel at approximately three hundred and forty meters per second in ideal temperatures. I don¡¯t know how swiftly in this cold, stagnant room. I¡¯ll have to adjust my footsteps as carefully as I can with the twins.

    Helena extended her field into a two-meter radius and checked her Focus drain. This will have to be enough. I should have enough energy left to subdue the twins and West ¡­ barely.

    Helena began to move covertly across the ground as Drake had taught her; she placed her heel down first, rolling her foot slowly forward toward her toes, and moving with the muscles in her hips. She walked in a crisscross pattern, putting her left foot over her right, balancing on her left before bringing her right foot down in a mirror of her first.

    As she moved closer toward the twins, she slowed with their fumbled footsteps. Coming into sensory radius, she made a slight change in position to circle behind them. Did they finish their conversation? It doesn¡¯t matter. They are trained ¡­ supposedly at some level, so I¡¯ll need to assume they¡¯ll catch the air pressure change in this stagnate atmosphere. I¡¯ll need to be quick and precise, calculating their trajectories.

    They were still speaking in hushed tones. ¡°No, Mike¡ªwe can¡¯t, you know that Ventre told us.¡± Hew angrily stated.

    ¡°But...¡± Mike furiously started to whisper. Helena¡¯s hands darted toward the base of their necks. Both twins reacted as they sensed her movement, and they tried to evade in opposite directions, exactly as Helena had predicted and both slid right into her hands. Hew managed to let out half a curse before a sharp burst of electricity incapacitated them. They dropped to their knees and then to the floor with a heavy thud.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± West¡¯s pitch was nervous. ¡°I sensed someone using their abilities, just now¡ªsomeone new¡ªis that you Janice?¡± I see ¡­ he can sense when an esper uses their abilities, but it seems it has to be a certain output or else he would have sensed my static field manipulations. Why didn¡¯t he speak up when I knocked out Peter or with Peter himself?

    Helena didn¡¯t answer him as she moved around the room, toward the girls and West. As she neared, her breath caught in shock. With her perception now consolidated, she realized that Tamie was not unconscious, she was in fact quite awake.

    With my receptive ability diminishing, I didn¡¯t see Tamie regain consciousness! I don¡¯t think I have enough energy for both West and her. I¡¯m barely standing as it is. For Tamie, it must feel like she¡¯s awoken from a dream. She¡¯s scouting the situation.

    A sharp burst of pain erupted from her mind and she felt blood start dripping from her nose. She clamped her jaw shut to not cry out in pain and the room fuzzed statically as her black vision somehow blurred with even darker spots.

    She heard Tamie rise and West cried out from the corner. I have to take out Tamie first! She¡¯s the most unknown and I don¡¯t know her personality as well as West¡¯s. Dashing forward using what fragmented receptive visions she had left, Helena placed her hand against Tamie¡¯s forehead.

    Tamie cried out in astonishment but had enough time to place a grip under Helena¡¯s chin and squeeze her throat. Applying the formula, she sent an electrical surge through Tamie¡¯s skull. Tamie¡¯s grip tensed then slackened as she dropped to the floor. Helena''s throat burned and she saw her vision haze, consciousness wavering. Stumbling toward West, she forgot silence. It would be a scientific miracle if she even made it to him.

    Tripping, she fell. Her hands flung out wildly, trying to catch herself. She barely managed to slow her decent and realized her hand had landed on something soft. Tracing it, she realized it was a hand. Moving her fingers up the arm, she reached its face. Why¡¯s West on the ground? Helena¡¯s thoughts fluttered. Did Rean do something to him ¡­ no, I didn¡¯t see any flames ¡­ Tamie? The last thing she remembered was a brilliant light shining around her as she blacked out.

 B1 â€” 6. Trap or Opportunity?

    Helena''s body felt warm as her consciousness stirred. She could hear beeping at irregular intervals and voices speaking softly in the background, they were hard to make out. She recognized pressure on her left arm and a strange taste in her mouth. She could sense the presence of her bracelet and earrings as they pressed against the pillow and some form of fabric over her body. They still haven¡¯t taken my jewelry. Why? For what purpose would they overlook them?

    Focusing on the sounds, she tried to determine the language¡¯s guttural tone. It was North Irean, a language spoken by the Rubin Tribes in the northernmost sections of Elestveeve. The Deities quelled their rebellion fifteen years previous and had indoctrinated them into their faith.

    She only knew a little of the most common dialect, but she was still able to make out a few words and put them together. Are, girl, power, was all she could translate before going silent. After several seconds their speech switched to Florisin, the most common language of modern Elestveeve, her native tongue.

    "Are you sure she''s awake?" A familiar male voice asked.

    "Yes, she should be awake by now. With how the equipment started acting up, I would say she''s regaining stability. She was extremely fatigued when brought in twenty hours ago, physically and mentally.I¡¯ve already taken care of any bodily functions she would have required, so she can rest peacefully. I recommend at least another day of recovery." A female voice responded with an edge of aggression. A doctor?

    "Good. You can leave now." The man¡¯s hurried speech and sharp tone spoke his excitement.

    Her reception began to feed her fuzzed data with her mind clearing. Blurred bioelectrical impulses depicted an image, but it would be a few minutes before she could recognize specific signatures. I must be recovering in some kind of wellness center and it seems I¡¯ve been unconscious for at least twenty hours. The tenant said I¡¯m awake, so it¡¯ll do little good to play possum.

    Opening her eyes, she blinked, wiping away the sleep to survey her surroundings. She was in a hospital like room. The screens of the equipment around her were on the fritz, showing randomized information and blinking off and on. Retracting her electrostatic field, the equipment started to stabilize.

    The man was smiling as he studied her reaction from across the room, sitting in a foldable metal chair. Her mind worked through its fogged memories. It¡¯s the man that was with Drake in the woods. What was his name ¡­ Ventre.

    The woman had fair skin, black hair that was pulled back into a tight pony-tail, green eyes, slender eyebrows, thin cheeks, downward-turned lips, and a small upturned nose.

    She glanced in Helena''s direction before returning to a chart firmly secured in her delicate hands. Her eyes moved back to her with scrutiny, turning back to the chart, she ticked off a few things with a pen. Nodding, she turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Helena''s eyes narrowed as she studied the door¡¯s electronic pin-pad. It flashed from green to red. I should be able to reroute the circuitry and unlock it if I get the chance.

    Her eyes shifted to Ventre. His composure was different. He was calmer and she could sense his confidence, but it was also overplayed. His green eyes were still appraising her as if she was some kind of pet that had just undergone medical treatment. She did not like this man and she definitely did not trust him.

    Helena looked past him, again toward the door. It¡¯ll be a problem if there are guards outside. Focus darting back to Ventre, she watched a wide smile split his lips.

    ¡°I must say, you''re looking much better than when I last saw you."

    Helena¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as she worked through his statement. When did he last see me? Was it in the forest, in the black room, or when I was brought out of the room? Vision shifting to the electronic equipment, she noticed there weren¡¯t any cameras. Do they not know about my receptive abilities? If they did, why house me in a room that¡¯s unshielded? Since they haven¡¯t protected the room, they might not know the specifics of my ability, yet the situation is starting with too many unknown factors. I need to get Ventre to divulge helpful information.

    She found many powerful electromagnetic signals floating around her. Wi-Fi, I can use them instead of wasting Focus on expanding my personal static field. Ventre shouldn¡¯t know if I¡¯m using my ability, the equipment around me isn¡¯t designed for brain activity.

    Starting to actively examine her surroundings, the gray and yellow scratches started to appear in her mind¡¯s eye, creating a real-time three-dimensional layout. It wasn¡¯t as sharp as when she used her static field, but adequate for her needs.

    More than two or three people moved beyond the room, passing the door, but there were no bioelectric or electrical signals standing outside. They don¡¯t have anyone guarding the room, at least outside the door.

    Still smiling, Ventre continued. "I know you are trying to work out the situation in your head, so let me make it easier on you."

    Helena''s brow furrowed as her head tilted slightly, eyes moving back to Ventre. Easing her mental calculations, she pursed her lips and waited for him to continue. Why make it easier on me, what¡¯s his angle?

    Straightening himself, Ventre took on an air of business. "If you tell me what you''ve deduced, I''ll give you a full explanation of our intentions and expectations of you."

    Throwing the blanket off herself, Helena swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat at its side. Examining herself, she found gauze wrapped around her left arm and from what she could tell her bracelet hadn¡¯t changed. They must have given me something or drawn my blood, maybe both. I¡¯m not feeling any different, just a little groggy from oversleeping.

    She also noticed she was wearing different clothing. Doing a quick note of her attire, she frowned at its flashy appearance. A tight pink sleeveless v-top that held a white cloth sewn into the front and tight faded pink pants that were made of course fabric with portions cut out. It¡¯s almost like the cuts are designed for ease of movement. Do they expect me to do some kind of physical activity soon?

    Her feet were covered with pink socks and surprisingly, yellow soft sole shoes. To finish the outfit, she had a white leather belt around her waist. Far too flashy for my tastes, at least in enemy territory; it¡¯s also completely out of contrast, but I¡¯ll have to deal with it.

    Getting her mind back to the matter at hand, she tried to come up with his reasoning. If he¡¯s going to tell me everything, he thinks I¡¯ll willingly accept or have no choice, but to assent. He also wants all the knowledge I¡¯ve accumulated from the event. He¡¯s testing my deductive reasoning or maybe how much information Peter gave me, feasibly both. This could work out in my favor.

    Helena''s brow eased as she put on a light smile. "What do you want to know first?" Ventre didn¡¯t answer as he looked above her, an assessing gleam evident in his eyes. What¡¯s he looking at? She was unsettled with how his eyes reviewed her composure.

    Hopping off the bed, she felt her legs almost buckle. Steadying herself, she walked toward the side desk and climbed onto the chair. Thoroughly inspecting herself in the mirror. Reflected, she found her medium smooth skin with a light pink scar across the left side of her neck, obtained through Drake¡¯s training. Long thick golden hair that normally fell to her lower back, but now sat in a tightly knitted sock bun, held by a pink elastic strap. Green eyes, light brown eyebrows, pouty lips, and a small, straight, slightly rounded nose.

    The only change to her normal appearance was the sock bun. Why¡¯s my hair causing him such interest? She honestly didn¡¯t mind the hairstyle. It would prevent her hair from waving everywhere if she had to run.

    Ventre chuckled. "Me, no, the nurse has that kind of fetish." Helena didn¡¯t understand his comment but kept silent. Clearing his throat he continued. "Getting down to business, I first want to know what you thought about the room incident."

    She inspected the security of the sock bun with care. It¡¯s well made, it won¡¯t break easily. Helena thought about the entire situation fastidiously before answering. Glancing at Ventre from the mirror, she studied her surroundings. The room was very clean and clear, leaving no furniture. With the exception of the chair, she was sitting on, Ventre¡¯s chair, the patent table, cabinets with a high counter, and a mirror screwed into the wall.

    Taking a deep breath, she began to break down her thought process. "I think the main purpose behind the event was to test a number of individuals in the room. I know Peter and I were being examined, but I''m not so sure of either Tom or West.

    ¡°I believe Rean was meant as a sacrifice and was only being used for her utility, but had a slight possibility to become a candidate. However, she was completely taken out of the equation once infected by Tom, which was planned in the first place, but she could have surprised you. She also may have been an emotional break for West, for whatever reason. ¡°The same goes for Tamie," Helena hesitated for a moment, "but I think her main purpose runs deeper than that."

    Thinking back, Helena remembered Tamie''s actions before she had lost consciousness. She went straight for my throat, an effective choice on her part. With that reaction, she had to be trained. She also recognized my presence in the pitch-black-room and must have been the one to take out West. It couldn¡¯t have been Rean; she didn¡¯t light a fire and lacks the physical strength to knock him out. It didn¡¯t make sense at the time, but maybe¡­If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Helena thought over the small number of actions Tamie had taken and a scene started to unfold in her clearing mind. Tamie stated that Tom said he had no ability. When in truth, he¡¯d said absolutely nothing about abilities.

    Making sure her passive electroreception was functioning; she fed it Focus for a deeper analysis of Ventre¡¯s muscular reactions. Studying Ventre closely, she continued. "I believe the twins are the moles, which were meant to be found, but I believe Tamie was also planted. She, like the twins, was given false information, but only regarding Tom."

    Helena felt a slight twitch in the impulses in his heart. She smiled to illustrate her confidence to Ventre, right on the head. This is a psychological game, how uncomfortable can I make him feel.

    Ventre quickly regained what little composure he had lost and waited. Helena continued, slowly building her composure with more confidence. "On second thought, I think the people being tested in that room were Peter, Tom, and me. Tom had little promise but was put into the situation to provide a more versatile experiment, with little hope for success. However, even with such expectations, he was still being tested. I''m assuming the higher-ups weren¡¯t happy with his¡ªend, as his ability is quite useful."

    Ventre''s eyes didn''t give him away, but he couldn''t lie to her perception. Right again. "Peter had high potential and a very strong start. I¡¯ll admit he had me concerned¡ªat the start. Still, he broke near the end, which I doubt you calculated. He told me about your organization and that is why you want me to explain what I know."

    Helena''s grin widened as traces of sweat began to gather at Ventre''s brow, but he kept his composure. He wants to know exactly what I learned, well, now¡¯s the time to instill subliminal thoughts into his mind, which might also give me an opening to act. I could be reading him wrong, but I think he has an inferiority complex.

    She examined her smooth cut fingernails. "There is something that I''m concerned about¡ªand that¡¯s how quickly your time release sedative took effect.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Ventre leaned backward and folded his arms, an expression of confusion across his face.

    ¡°The initial sedative wore off, but my physical exhaustion continued to worsen. Peter thought it was the stone¡¯s effect, but I think we both know the true cause.¡± Will he take the information as harshly as I imagine? It might also give me an answer about the stones.

    ¡°I mean ¡­ Focus draining stones that also have a physical exhaustion affix ¡­ please. The stones may drain Focus¡ªbut we both know they don¡¯t exhaust physical strength.¡± Her response came from his body¡¯s two spikes, but his composure wavered with a forced smile. He likely didn¡¯t expect me to say this much, now¡¯s the time to drive an answer that will fester in his mind.

    "I assume the physician that performed the drug administration had orders from higher up and you were given no information regarding the change in plans. You were overruled." She stopped examining her fingernails and smiled at the mirror, staring into Ventre¡¯s eyes.

    Ventre''s eyebrows rose as he slowly rose to his feet with a heavy huff. "I first took you for a wolf, but I''m beginning to agree with Peter, you are quite the fox."

    Helena giggled softly. He just heightened my suspicions and even told me there was someone of higher authority watching the incident. He¡¯s playing right into my hands. It only makes sense there would be someone higher in authority overlooking this trial, I am a member of the main Vandred House.

    Ventre started to turn away and rub the back of his neck. "I think you deduced a few things correctly, but...¡±

    Helena silently, but quickly moved from her chair toward him. This is my chance. His back is turned; there are no cameras in the room and no guards outside the door. He could be an esper and this could be a trap, but it¡¯s too good of an opportunity to pass up.

    Helena placed a foot on Ventre¡¯s chair and leaped toward him as he turned. Her small hand closed around his forehead and she sent an electrical charge through his brain. He crumpled backward with a heavy thump. She folded her legs as she landed to break the inertia, almost colliding with the wall. She had only produced enough electricity to knock him out. She needed to conserve her energy in case she needed it later.

    Closing her eyes, Helena began to sort through the electromagnetic signals flying around her and zeroed in on the earth¡¯s natural magnetic field. She could tell her current position to the door was north. Further analyzing field anomalies, she located her general location with shock. She confirmed she was near the high northeastern section of Elestveeve, near the tip. A little south should be New Genesis. She wasn¡¯t able to pinpoint her exact geographical positioning through the shifts in the magnetic fields but was able to determine at least that much.

    It must be freezing outside. It¡¯ll be difficult to plan an effective escape on what little information I have, but at least I¡¯m making progress. She couldn¡¯t see a computer in the room, only standalone medical equipment. Probing the room¡¯s electrical signals further, she found some kind of device on Ventre¡¯s wrist.

    Unfastening it, she examined its design. It was made of some kind of black metallic material that she wasn¡¯t familiar with and it only had one button. I¡¯ve never seen this kind of technology at the Vandred Estate, what is it? Closing her eyes, she explored the circuitry with her ability. It had more advanced hardware than what she was accustomed to but functioned fundamentally the same as a regular computer.

    She took a moment to identify its processes. The operating system was slightly different from the Ocean X OS she was accustomed to, but it had consistencies. It might have even been a platform for its design. It took her a moment to map out root functions.

    Bringing its sixty core processors out of idle, she told it to display its Graphical Unit Interface. Helena dropped the device as threading lights started to rotate around the bracelet and a projection of light emanated from its metallic surface to display a holographic interface. I knew holographic imaging was in development in Tech City but didn¡¯t know they¡¯d progressed this far. Slowly, she picked it up from the ground and studied the single image. Photons combined to show the username Ventre and a box that said, Password above it.

    Helena tried to press the box to make it active. However, as her hand neared, the hologram became fuzzy and vanished. Moving her finger away, it reassembled itself. Helena huffed. Even if I¡¯m retracting my static field to its minimum output, it¡¯s still strong enough to scramble the photons. The technology¡¯s probably touchy anyways. I¡¯ll have to input commands manually through electric manipulation within the central processing units.

    Helena began to experiment with the input, taking her twenty seconds to find the typing and selection commands. If she were to use the GUI it would have taken her minutes to bypass the User Lock, but the OS had hidden root holes and using her ability, she broke past the User Lock within seconds.

    The GUI displayed a broader holographic image with icons placed across it. She first noticed the time. It¡¯s exactly six o¡¯clock in the evening in this time zone. It¡¯ll soon be nighttime and the outside environment¡¯s probably well below freezing.

    It took her several seconds to find a map application and open it. The map displayed the Northern Qilvern Tundra with a bleep on the map showing her location. Helena let out a sigh. My previous calculation seems correct, nearly four thousand kilometers from the Estate. That isn¡¯t even the main issue. I can¡¯t go back to where I was raised until I figured out Drake¡¯s intentions.

    She hadn¡¯t stepped a millimeter outside the Estate boundaries before and knew little about the surrounding area. I don¡¯t have a plan in any case and I need to gather more information to make one.

    She started the OS''s search application and looked for the base and its floor designs. She found what she was scanning for, but her suspicions began to rise. She could zoom in on sectors, but she couldn''t find specific floor designs and many rooms in the facility were labeled as under construction or unsafe to enter.

    She noticed something even more bizarre about the hardware in the device. Why doesn¡¯t it have Wi-Fi hardware? Why have Wi-Fi transmissions and not given your computers the capability to read them?

    Another concerning detail was how it could pinpoint her direct location on a geographical scale, without access to mapping equipment through WITCH¡¯s network. Unless¡ªthis device was planted for me to find and make decisions off of, but that would require Ventre to know I¡¯d take it and try to escape ¡­ but how? And why would he willingly accept me attacking, potentially killing him? Is this another test, to see how far I can escape before capture? Did he really plan out my actions this early on or is this something set up from someone above Ventre?

    Frowning, she set the device down and moved toward the counter. Finding zip ties in a drawer, she pulled out a handful. She didn¡¯t know how far they plotted her actions, but it would do little good worrying about every step she took on only speculations. Drake once told her that if doubt occurs then formulate a test to deliberate a directional cause.

    Helena pulled Vintre''s hands behind his back and tied two zip ties around each wrist then tied one in-between the two restraints, pulling them as tight as she could manage. She did the same with his legs and then constrained his feet to his hands.

    She found cotton in a bottle on the counter. Removing a few handfuls, she filled his mouth with them and wrapped his head with elastic straps she found in another drawer to hold the cotton in place.

    He would be dehydrated when he awoke with all the cotton absorbing his saliva. It should make him more irritable and likely to make mistakes. At the very least it should buy her some time. She wasn''t strong enough to move his body elsewhere, so this would have to do. She glanced around for any sharp objects he might be able to cut the zip ties with and was surprised to find very few items he could use.

    Moving toward the door, she touched the electronic pin-pad and quickly mapped out the bypass. Backing away from the metal door, she pulled the computer back up and examined all the floor designs. It took her a minute to memorize and plan backup routes; her first stop should be a network room. However, the map didn¡¯t display a single space designated for network functions. How stupid does Ventre think I am? He could have at least posted one and had men stationed to ambush me. All the same, I need to find a device that¡¯s connected to WITCH¡¯s network.

    The only thing of interest was a supply bay that was under construction starting tomorrow. Helena shook her head in exasperation. I¡¯ll go toward the cafeteria and say Ventre wants me to meet someone there if anyone stops me. If they want a more rounded explanation, I¡¯ll start describing a general appearance of some staff¡¯s attire. I could take a few side corridors to get there, but that would make me seem more suspicious, going through uncommon areas ¡­ at least the device indicated they were. Why would a map even say that?

    The plan was sketchy and with many unknown variables, but it was the best she had. Making up her mind to stay in the main halls leading to the cafeteria, she looked around the room for some kind of carrying bag.

    Opening the cabinet, she found a brown leather strap bag filled with papers written in Irean. Helena took a few of the papers and cotton balls off the counter. Placing them into the bag, she gathered more materials she thought she would need. Getting into the drawers with the zip-ties, she grabbed a handful and placed them into the container with a few of the wraps. She finally set the computer wrist device between the elastic straps and the cloth of the bag.

    Moving toward the door, she extended the appropriate calculations and monitored the hallway, until no one was within her sensing radius. Bypassing the Pin code she opened the door and stepped into the bright steel paneled hallway, quickly shutting the door behind her. I just have to find something connected to a network.

 B1 â€” 7. Betrayal

    Helena forked right as she exited the room and headed toward the main hallway, keeping her reception active. Moving into the main hallway, she found it busy with people. She assumed they worked for WITCH. People were bustling around; moving crates, talking with each otfher and some moving alone, but with purpose. Most wore white clothing. Of course, bright colors to make me easily distinguished.

    Helena emulated their natural demeanor as she moved through the halls. I need to go three more hallways and then left. It would be four more hallways after that before I need to turn left and the Cafeteria should be there.

    A shiver ran down Helena¡¯s spine as she noticed something peculiar. Due to my clothing, I expected a little notice. However, I didn¡¯t expect every person to keep tabs on me and try to keep their interest discrete. They should be going about their daily work ethic. Aren¡¯t entrees of WITCH supposed to be young? I would expect they¡¯d be more absorbed in their own business. They should be concerned with deadlines, superior¡¯s directions, and shipment priorities, but instead, they slow their pace while hiding their gaze.

    Making a quick decision, she turned toward the nearest person and asked. ¡°Do you know where the cafeteria is? Ventre asked me to meet a woman with a big white coat there.¡±

    The woman nervously glanced at her coworkers, but no one interjected as they moved around them. Helena discerned a visible intake of breath as the woman tried to calm her body. She obviously hesitated and doesn¡¯t want to stop to talk to me. Her heart is racing, fear?

    Bending to Helena¡¯s level, the woman¡®s face lit with a masked smile. ¡°You can take that hall ahead.¡± She pointed at the next junction. ¡°Keep following it and you should reach your destination.¡± She¡¯s frightened of something, likely not me. Does she have orders not to talk to me or kids in pink clothing? Maybe my age signifies that I¡¯m an esper and they¡¯re scared of that?

    Helena grinned innocently. ¡°Thank you, Miss.¡± Maybe it would ease the woman¡¯s nerves. If she was truly frightened of me then her heartbeat should change, but if it was someone else¡¯s orders, she should stay fairly anxious to break away.

    The woman¡¯s face seemed to soften, but her heart continued its flutter. ¡°No problem, the soup today is fantastic. You should try some.¡±

    Waving, Helena broke away from the conversation and took the directed hallway. According to Ventre¡¯s device, I should take another two hallways down to the cafeteria. Instead, she pointed me toward this path, which was labeled as an uncommon area. Meaning, either the woman was lying or the device is rigged and that sets in motion a list of problems.

    If the device¡¯s wrong then Ventre predicted I¡¯d try to escape. That means he has countermeasures against my movements. All the employees following my actions could be an order that affects their jobs, which would account for the woman¡¯s fear.

    Rounding a small corner, Helena caught sight of the Cafeteria sign hanging above a door. Her mouth turned into a grimace. The device was wrong. I don¡¯t sense anyone from the main hallway following me. Maybe they don¡¯t want to draw attention to themselves.

    She hesitated as her senses found a peculiar person walking toward her from around the next junction. Did someone inform security to cut me off? I¡¯ve never sensed this kind of signal before. Slowing her pace, Helena took a more casual stride.

    A man rounded the corner. He had tangled thick brown hair that hung down his face, ears, and covered his neck. He didn¡¯t have a cowlick, but he parted his hair in a way that mostly covered his left eye. Impeccable golden skin, thin wide lips, sharp nose, and down turned light brown eyes. I¡¯ve only seen brown eyes once, from a Biokinetic noblewoman, and what¡¯s with this strange vibe my perception is feeding me? His body is releasing energy on an impossible frequency for humans and his bioelectrical activity is like nothing I¡¯ve ever seen.

    A sleek black cap covered the top portion of his hair and an outlandishly shaped goatee was evident on his chin. His chin hair was perfectly cut down the center and left two sections of brown hair. It was cut a centimeter down its top area and covered the length of three centimeters on both sides under his mouth. It finally had a crescent cut on the top portion. The rest of his skin was cleanly shaven.

    He was dressed differently than the other employees. This man wore a collared button-up long-sleeve dark gray shirt with the arms pulled back just below the elbows. The shirt¡¯s collar was clasped together by two buttons that held down a neat black tie. The tie had large white dots evenly spaced down the center of its length.

    A black three buttoned vest held his tie in place as he moved. His left wrist held a similar device to Ventre¡¯s. His right had a strange looking wrist strap that Helena hadn¡¯t seen before and above that held a string of purple rocks that had a golden string running through their centers.

    His right hand had a red tattoo that was clearly visible against his skin. The design of the mark seemed to hold a systematic meaning, but Helena couldn¡¯t clearly understand the pattern. His lower body was covered by thick black material that she¡¯d never seen before. A thick brown belt was snaked around his waist and his black pointed hard soled shoes were worn but well-polished.

    Her sharp eyes studied every inch of in the moment she caught sight. He¡¯s at least in his mid-thirties, maybe forties, no¡ªI can¡¯t place it. Most of his clothing seems suitable for dress wear, maybe an eastern style. It seems to be made more durable than what I¡¯m used to. His belt also seems to be made of some kind of animal hide and the buckle doesn¡¯t portray anything notable. Nothing of his appearance reminds me of a Noble, but he has a certain posture that speaks authority.

    As he saw her, the man¡¯s strong bearing shifted, he almost tripped. He looked truly shocked as he leaped backward, his expression raised in surprise. Was my profile flawed?

    Helena frowned, tilting her head. ¡°Yes?¡±

    The man breathed a heavy sigh, brushing back his hair, showing his other brown eye for a moment as he appraised her. "Oh¡ªI¡¯m just startled to find such a young girl in this facility. By the way, why are you here?" He¡¯s surprised to find such a young girl? Maybe I¡¯m in the wrong section of the base for young espers? However, if that¡¯s true, why didn¡¯t the other personnel give me the same reaction or even stop to ask? Perhaps the fear in the woman earlier wasn¡¯t due to a third party.

    Smiling, Helena held out her hand. "It''s a pleasure to meet you. I''m Pepper and I''m a new recruit to WITCH." Now that I¡¯ve stated my position, I can feign ignorance about directions and ask for guidance.

    The man smiled sheepishly and took her hand lightly. "Oh, such a mannered girl. It¡¯s nice to meet you, Pepper. I''m Jake."

    Helena loosened her weak grip and dug around the bag at her side. "I¡¯m a bit lost. Could you tell me where to find a new one, like yours? I don¡¯t think mine works." Helena produced Ventre¡¯s device.

    Jake frowned as he took the equipment, bringing it out of sleep, he studied the interface. "That''s odd, it seems to be an older model and it doesn¡¯t have Wi-Fi hardware. I believe that''s standard issue."

    Jake looked back down the hall. "Behind that door, there should be a technician that can assist you." Furrowing his brow, Jake rephrased his statement. "Did I say technician? I mean, a nice lady can help you behind that door and just knock, she should answer. I just got myself a new one."

    Laughing lightly, he waved as he left mumbling. ¡°It seems WITCH keeps recruiting younger and younger. What¡¯s Tenzen thinking?¡±

    Helena grinned and walked toward the door. Perfect, if this is a technician¡¯s station, there should be networked devices.

    As she neared the junction, she realized there was a camera within this hallway. She extended her static field to disrupt its electronic feed. Walking toward the door, she sent in a receptive probe and found there was someone in the room beyond. There was also a lot of electrical activity emanating from inside. If I¡¯m lucky, it¡¯ll be a server room.

    Quickly analyzing the Wi-Fi feeds inside the room, she determined there was a camera pointing at the door¡¯s interior. Extending her electrostatic field with a broader frequency range, she disrupted the signals on all sides. If they don¡¯t know I¡¯ve escaped then it¡¯ll only look like interference. They may not know exactly what I can do with my abilities either. It will disrupt the computers inside, but this could also work in my favor.

    Touching the electronic pin-pad, she quickly bypassed the key. The light on the pane flashed from red to green and a light click sounded. She quietly opened the door and slipped inside. A confused female voice was murmuring to herself. "What the¡ªthe computers are frozen? Did the hardware team install faulty components again ¡­ this hub is giving me so many problems. It could still be software..."

    Large shelves were on both sides of the door and there was a short hallway leading inward. Helena creped forward and found a woman leaning over a computer, examining the screen. Silently, she moved to the woman and placed her left hand on the small of her back. The woman tensed lightly before Helena sent an electrical current rippling through her body. She let out a slight gasp and fell to the ground unconscious. Helena had to sidestep to not be crushed under her weight.

    Double checking the camera¡¯s angles, she found they were pointed at the door and hallway. Retracting her static field, she looked at the equipment around her. This must be a server room, but not likely the main server.

    Helena dragged a chair over to the desk with a computer resting on it. Jumping onto the seat, she studied the screen and determined it was frozen as the woman said. Examining the buttons on the keyboard, she found the reset switch. Holding it, she waited for the server to finish its boot process. The username and password screen popped on screen. Hopefully, the root holes are still unplugged in networked computers.

    Pressing a combination of keys a command window popped up and she began to bypass the security protocols. It took her a minute to bypass and access the computer¡¯s OS. It really does take longer to input commands manually, how annoying. A strange charge appeared in her hair. Frowning, she extracted the static field and turned back to the screen.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    She first noticed an email app. Opening it, she reduced the size of the window then searched the rest of the computer for functionality. Finding supply record sheets, she placed them in parallel to the email window. This must be the supply department¡¯s server hub.

    Studying a nearby screen, she found four security feeds showing. I¡¯m lucky. This area seems to be fairly deserted. Perhaps food isn¡¯t being served in the cafeteria right now.

    Turning back to the main monitor, she looked at the email program. It required a username and password to log into an account. What should I use to get around it? I¡¯m short on time, so I could use a more forceful method, but I don¡¯t want to be caught either. Exploring more of the network, she frowned as something caught her interest. This infrastructure and firmware ¡­ it¡¯s similar to House protocol, it might have been a platform base. If that¡¯s the case ¡­ do they have any of the zero-day exploits? The encryption is the same!

    I can combine the blended threat trojan with the zero-day exploit and that should do the trick since I already understand most of their encryption. I just need to rebuild the mailing app with the trojan, concealing it with varying code ¡­ there we go.

    It took her a few minutes, but she found the coding acceptable. Activating her trojan, a new window opened. It showed her the database listing of every user within that databank with how many times they¡¯d accessed this particular IP Address.

    It could be only a matter of time before the administrators catch onto the attack if they¡¯re actively scanning their network, it could be a massive network too, hopefully, they won¡¯t catch on so fast. I¡¯ll have to be quick. She accessed the most common user''s account with this computer¡¯s IP, the user''s name Yaxlin and password +H1b3rn@te*2@245%^. The security personnel at the mansion always said I was a programming genius.

    Since she was able to read, she¡¯d loved books on computer programming, machine language, and global networking in general. It made her mind work and flexed her ability. With what free time she had, she immersed herself in software and network functions. Drake had given her a new computer with her diamond earrings for her fourth birthday, not that she was able to use it much with her illness at the time.

    She played with the computer as much as possible at the estate after regaining a semblance of health. Programming everything she could learn, but she mostly loved the challenge of finding different ways past the estate¡¯s security systems.

    The screen opened to reveal a string of emails. The first thing she noticed was the language. It was North Irean. It must be a common language here. Searching for a translation program on the local device, she applied it to Florisin. The program translated the emails instantly. The first thing that caught Helena¡¯s eye was an email sent by Ventre, with the subject title, On Base Testing. Clicking the link, Helena read the information it contained.

    This is a reminder sent to all personnel regarding an eight-year-old girl named Helena Vandred. She has blonde hair, green eyes, and will be wearing bright attire for easy recognition. She will be taking part in an evaluation test; during this time, I remind you what protocol demands:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Watch and memorize her reactions and behavior when in contact. </li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Do not reveal any information in regards to the base and anything about WITCH to her.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Make sure she does not know your intentions and keep it discreet.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Do not actively interact with her and keep contact to a minimum.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Keep her away from the network and any other information hubs.</li>

    </ul>

    This test will be a part of today''s activities and will be in practice for the entire day; this will affect your pay and position.

    Helena hummed. Ventre knew I¡¯d try to escape, but didn¡¯t know when I¡¯d act. Jake violated four of the five protocols that are described. He did say he just got a device. However, I expect this activity would be a break in the standard schedule, shouldn¡¯t it be a prime topic?

    Huffing, Helena glanced toward the camera feeds. She¡¯d seen movement. Two men were walking down the hall, talking to each other loudly.

    ¡°Did you see that match last night?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it was intense when he threw that pillar and she cut it with water. Can you believe that! Water!¡± They must be talking about a fight between espers. Is that common in WITCH? She watched them pass the door and turned back to the emails. Going back to Yaxlin''s email index, she scanned the subjects. Nothing of immediate importance caught her interest.

    Pulling up the tab with the email database, she initiated a search for Vantre¡¯s name. His name popped up with his password. Logging out of Yaxlin''s account, Helena accessed Vantre¡¯s account. His password is Un1T3d P0l@r Un!0n-o9E4 ¡­ interesting. The complexities of WITCH¡¯s passwords are amusing. Why have such compound passwords when their network is so close to Noble security protocols? Do they not have the ability to create their own? Logging into Ventre¡¯s account does have the possibility of flagging the security center, but I need to know what Ventre¡¯s been up to and planning.

    Helena¡¯s eyes popped slightly as she heard a grown behind her. Swiveling the chair around, she studied the woman as she stirred. I must not have put enough energy in her shock. Although that was near the exact amount I sent Ventre, his shock was directly to the head and had less resistance. In any case, he¡¯ll probably be waking soon.

    Hopping off the chair, Helena bent down to the woman''s level. She was twitching as she tried to move her shocked nerve-system. Placing her index finger to the nape of her neck, she sent another electrical charge to her brain. The woman tensed for a moment as the electricity shot through her spine and her eyes rolled back.

    Climbing back into the chair, Helena scanned Ventre''s emails. Her eyes locked onto a return link that had the subject; New Recruit (5). The email was two weeks old and was returned by someone named, Tenzen. Jake mentioned Tenzen in a fashion of recruitment, is he high up in WITCH¡¯s chain of command, higher than Ventre? Opening the email, she read:

    Subject: New Recruit.

    Mr. Tenzen, I¡¯ve just found a contact within the Vandred family. The Vandreds have very strong genetics and my contact says they can get me someone from the Main House. Do I have clearance to proceed?

    Subject: RE: New Recruit

    Mr. Ventre, in response to your clearance on the Vandred recruit, I give full authorization. Make it clean. I don''t need the head of house on our tail, it could get messy.

    Subject: RE: New Recruit

    Mr. Tenzen, thank you for the quick response, I know as the President you are very busy. I just received the name of the target. The girl¡¯s name is Helena Vandred. She is the second child of the Head Family. I have been told she''s been somewhat trained already.

    I''ve also received surprising information about her ability. She¡¯s an Electro Master over the age of six and my contact says she can sense all three aspects, in great detail. We might have our hands on another Kara.

    Subject: RE: New Recruit

    Mr. Tenzen, there is a small complication. My contact is the next Head of House, Drake Vandred. He will give us his younger sister, but we must meet certain conditions. These conditions are as followed:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">She will be allowed to keep all of her possessions she is taken with.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">She will be tested of her ability early on and she must be pressured.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Her abilities will then be tested scientifically and she must be made aware of the results.</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">She is to be educated in the SSOP program, instructed by Kara.</li>

    </ul>

    Please give me a response to these demands and he wants a direct call from you, confirming his demands. The number he gave you to call is 3512-55, the personal House lines.

    I think this is quite dangerous and recommend cancelation of the extraction. He knows too much about the organization¡¯s inner workings, even for a Noble, knowing of Kara and even the SSOP program.

    Subject: RE: New Recruit

    Mr. Ventre, I do not see a problem. In fact, I¡¯m excited, proceed.

    I will allow her to keep her possessions, once they have been analyzed of course. Testing her abilities and pushing her is certain; making her aware of these results I think would be acceptable.

    As for the SSOP program and Kara, I will make a personal decision after the test results. I will not waste such a large amount of resources on a failing candidate.

    I have called and made him aware of my own conditions. He has accepted the offer, so continue with the extraction. I¡¯ll attach the extraction point and time in this email.

    PS: Her full name is Helena Victoria Vandred. Make sure it¡¯s listed in the database correctly.

    Helena''s eyes widened. That last sentence had changed her entire outlook on the situation. Why would Drake give away my middle name, why? There¡¯s no doubt about his betrayal now. She sat back in the chair, brooding. A Vandred¡¯s middle name is sacred, an identity. I can¡¯t go back now. Obviously, Drake knew that. He doesn¡¯t want me to go back, but for what purpose, there has to be a purpose? I don¡¯t have any contacts I can use. I don¡¯t even know a single person outside the Estate and haven¡¯t seen, let alone talked to my parents in years. What¡¯s so important about this moment, why send me off now?

    Helena glanced down at her bracelet. Why would Drake be so concerned about my jewelry? Since I still have them, it means WITCH has already processed them. Do they hold some kind of explanation for his actions?

    She removed her earrings and examined them closely. She couldn''t find anything illuminating about the gleaming red gems or shining platinum. No notable algorithmic formula that I can detect or any kind of message.

    Replacing the earrings, she stared at her bracelet¡¯s reflected iridescent light. Removing it, she felt an odd shiver run across her body and a strange lifted sensation. I¡¯m so used to it that my body feels unusual without the weight or could it be something more?

    She studied the gems and metal, again she found nothing changed. Replacing it, she felt the strange lifted feeling faded. Her thoughts turned to his other demands. He wants my abilities tested and pushed, but for what reason would he make such a demand? It seems that he wants me to keep progressing, but with WITCH. They¡¯ve tested my ability with that room and now apparently they were conducting another. Would they make me aware of the results if I¡¯m captured? What¡¯s the SSOP program and why does Drake want me a part of it?

    He wants a person by the name of Kara to train me and Ventre had mentioned her in relation to my ability. What connection could Kara have with an Electro Master, could she be one? The President didn¡¯t take the request lightly. Is Kara really that important? Helena sighed. Now I¡¯m even more lost.

    Putting those questions to the back of her mind, she thought about her current situation. I need to come up with a plan. I need to get out of WITCH, from what I understand it¡¯s a dangerous group and I have no intentions of aiding someone else¡¯s cause. I¡¯ll escape and keep away from WITCH, go back to the manor and confront Drake about this myself.

 B1 â€” 8. Plots and Masking

    Helena absently pulled up the supply records, weather report, terrain map, and supply transactions sheet. Her eyes scanned the pages as her mind worked on a solution. Stopping, her mouth turned into a smirk as a plan started to formulate. First, I need to solve my financial issues. I¡¯ve never had to worry about finances at the Estate, but that¡¯ll be a real concern now. Even if I escape from WITCH, I need a way to support myself.

    Ironic, WITCH, Tech City, and the Houses use the same currency of Credits for their transactions. I¡¯d expect the Houses and Tech to have a different system, but it seems like they do business behind the scenes. Tech and the Houses with the Deities, they are the only surviving nations on Elestveeve and they contend with one another, yet still do business, curious.

    Helena had to think hard on a practical item and how much it cost. She¡¯d never had to buy anything before. I believe hearing one of the maids saying a good loaf of bread costs five credits.

    She did a quick test to determine the main administrative server¡¯s security, frowning at the results. The encryption is way more complex than the Mail Server, but I¡¯ve seen something similar to this back at the Estate. It would take me hours of testing and preparing to gain access ¡­ I don¡¯t have that kind of time. Why were some of the Email Server¡¯s zero-day exploits unplugged, but from what I can see, the Main Server is fairly tight? Was it planted that way by Ventre?

    She searched the network for clues, feeling a little disconcerted with the thought. I see ¡­ this is an old base that¡¯s currently under renovations and expansion. There¡¯s some kind of event that¡¯s going to be taking place soon and they¡¯re channeling a lot of funds and manpower into updating this facility. The Email Server hasn¡¯t been updated yet ¡­ quite a vulnerability. The Admins are probably very busy trying to get everything up to date, which is probably why I haven¡¯t been noticed yet.

    It looks like they¡¯re trying to simulate some of Tech¡¯s network, but vary it with House security protocols to not become too vulnerable to Tech themselves. They really must be incompetent or untrained at their jobs, their network, it''s a mess. How has Tech not noticed how vulnerable their primary network is through this facility?

    She studied the sealed server cases around her. I can¡¯t manipulate the server circuitry like this since I can¡¯t get to the traces. Whatever kind of metal that¡¯s sealing the case isn¡¯t magnetic. I could try and manipulate the keyboard¡¯s circuitry to input information faster, but it¡¯s so much slower than interacting with the CPU directly. I need to find one of the holographic wrist devices with network access.

    Helena searched the woman but didn¡¯t find anything. She continued to look around the computer and found what she assumed was the woman''s bag. Digging around it, she found the device in a side pocket. Taking it, she placed it on the desk. I should keep Ventre¡¯s device. He most likely intended to use its information to manipulate me. It would narrow down my choices, giving me false information, and lead me to a compromising area of the base. It wasn¡¯t a horrible plan if I were five. Anyone would be suspicious of a device being able to locate exact positioning without network access or proper equipment.

    Helena hoisted herself back on the chair and probed the device¡¯s many processing units. It had all the components of the last device, but with extra features. It also had quite a bit more processing speed and memory. This device must be pirated from Tech, the technology is far superior to the programming. It¡¯s much faster than my computer at the Estate.

    Bringing the OS online, Helena saw a logo pop-up. It read, HCID. The device must be called HCID, what does it stand for? Pushing the question to the back of her mind, she refocused, quickly breaking past the User Lock and into the OS main interface. I need to make a green networking probe so I can find all the servers and their addresses without much risk of detection. If the Admins don¡¯t question the pings, I¡¯ll have a list of every node attached to their network. It should also tell me how their local network is connected to the continental network.

    It took her a minute to perfect the coding to even catch ping disabled nodes by tricking the feedback system before activating it. A string of data started to appear on the holographic screen. Helena smiled. She could connect to not only Genesis¡¯s network spectrum, but also Tech¡¯s. I could contact Drake, but outgoing network traffic of that degree would most definitely be traced. A message sent to a Great House¡¯s network would be instantly flagged and I want to confront him in person.

    She created a network, processing, and visual mask. She¡¯d use the mask on the Administrative Server, but first, she needed authorization. Finding the main server¡¯s address in the information dump, Helena requested a remote connection with the Tech Support¡¯s IP listed. The network monitors asked for a username and password as verification. Imputed the woman''s HCID information, she sent him the data.

    Helena hummed as the server opened to her. Running her program with administrator access, it slipped right by the server security protocols, creating her personal backdoor. I now have constant, masked, remote access to the Main Server¡¯s administrative user account. If they ever figure out there¡¯s a backdoor, they¡¯ll probably do a scan of their system. However, if they think I only gained access once through this woman¡¯s identification, they might not do a thorough scan. Still, I need the redundancy.

    She hid multiple copies of the virus into the archive and backup drives then masked and locked them to a new administrative account. This will provide temporary security. I don¡¯t want to associate the virus with the back door, just in case.

    Next, she copied all the files they had on her to the HCID¡¯s static memory. I¡¯ll look at the information when I get a chance. Reading the current time through the device¡¯s instruments, she frowned. Six twenty-eight. I¡¯ve spent too much time in this room. If the woman woke up this quickly, Ventre should be conscious. Jake might have realized his error by now and reported my position. If I¡¯m lucky, he¡¯ll be too scared of the consequences to talk. Yet, I still haven¡¯t finished setting up this ridiculous plan, I need to act quicker.

    Helena quickly tracked all WITCH¡¯s financial records. Shockingly, they were spaced across accounts in Tech City, New Genesis, and even Augnecia. WITCH certainly is cautious with their finances, to even have funds stationed in Tech.

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened as she combined the lump sum of WITCH¡¯s holdings. They have credits in the septillions. How much are their liquid assets worth, if they have this much in raw credit? It¡¯s even more than the Vandred raw credit amount. Taking it all will instantly point a finger at me. If I¡¯m caught, my life would be over, no matter Drake¡¯s negotiations and it wouldn¡¯t be painless.

    She took a second to think. I have to confirm my plan will work. Helena started a search on the global net, inquiring about the different banking record policies. It seems even the most secure banking records in Tech will only keep an account of fifty thousand transitions before wiping previous data.

    Helena quickly constructed a program to create online banking accounts on all of WITCH''s banks and transfer money in lump sums over the course of however long the accounts were active. She wrote the program to transfer all of the money into three separate key accounts in case they searched for the lump sums they had lost and also separated it into tens of thousands of dummy accounts, flipping money around constantly. She was able to accomplish this within a minute using her ability to speed the programming along.

    I should situate the primary banks in Tech. They wouldn¡¯t cave into WITCH¡¯s demands and it would increase productivity in Tech overall. Tech should thank me, even if they do hate espers. I don¡¯t know how long it will take WITCH to discover my masking virus, but I should give it a bit more security.

    Even if they discovered it in a few hours, she¡¯d have enough to get back to the Estate. Creating a second Administrative account, she placed this one in charge of masking her transfer program. To finalize the initiation, she wrote a self-termination protocol if unmasked. This way, they can¡¯t find the algorithmic formula for the account creation or the three main transfer accounts. Not only will the protocol activate a termination setting, but also zero out the drives in hidden threads, now for my escape plan.

    Helena pulled up the terrain graphs and supply listings. She found what she was looking for in seconds. An automated GPS guided Snow Treader. I can program pre-determined paths for them to travel. It will give me some distance and a distraction.

    Helena started to download the remote death switch, GPS tracking, and recall protocols on the networked HCID, she¡¯d go over them when waiting. Disabling the HCID guidance satellite¡¯s termination commands and feed cutoff switches, she placed them under the lock of a new administrative account. Studying her work, she found it acceptable. Now they can¡¯t lock out the information that guides the vehicles.

    She noticed WITCH had an air assault crafts called, Hoverfly. However, they couldn''t handle the thermal conditions and there was a large scale blizzard cataloged to hit at seven fifteen. Helena checked the time and found it six forty-one. I¡¯ll have to take a Treader instead of a Hoverfly. All the supplies I¡¯ll need should be in the Supply and Treader Bay; the closest Bays are almost right next to each other.

    She sat in the chair for a moment, going over her plans. It seems like the best course of action. I¡¯ll improvise along the way. Pulling out the non-networked HCID, she searched around for some way to connect the devices in a wired environment. She only found a spindle with a tether wrapped around it with two square ends on each side.

    The tether snapped to the black metallic surfaces of both HCID¡¯s. As they did, she noticed the time shown across the three-dimensional display. Six forty-six, I¡¯ve really spent too much time in this room.

    Searching through its drives, she found its attachment center. These are interesting devices. They popped up on each other''s network dictionaries. She moved the supply listings, her personal data, the Snow Treader protocols, more detailed terrain map, and base designs onto the non-networked HCID¡¯s static memory.

    A large red message box suddenly popped up on the networked HCID¡¯s display. It showed a code number and under it said, ¡°Target Lost.¡± That¡¯s my cue to leave. Ventre must be on the move now.

    Disconnecting the two devices, Helena started the process of zeroing out the portion of memory she¡¯d used and the logs in the backup on the Desktop, HCID, and administrative logs. Putting it back into sleep, she put it back into the woman¡¯s bag. Her eyes snapped to the security monitor as she watched several employees running down the halls. They¡¯re going in the direction of the clinic room. Ventre must be just getting out; the restraints lasted longer than I thought. So they¡¯ve only just realized something¡¯s wrong.

    She brought up the base¡¯s floor designs and filtered to the ventilation system. There¡¯s a shaft that leads directly to the Supply Bay, but its six meters above me. I know my static field isn¡¯t strong enough to pull me up, I probably could barely hold onto the side of an iron pole using magnetism.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Further examination of the map gave her an alternative, a vent hidden behind a portable desk in the corner. She frowned as she apprised the unmoving woman. I need this to look like an accident. I could use her as a distraction for Ventre and his team, but first I need to open my escape route.

    Despite it being a portable desk, Helena had difficulty moving it enough to squeeze behind with her limited strength. Once there, she began to alternate the screws with her magnetic field. After finishing, she crawled out from behind the desk. Spacing the woman¡¯s limbs out accordingly, she inspected her work. It¡¯ll have to do.

    Packing the tether into the brown bag, she moved behind the computer equipment and sent an electrical surge through the components. The screen sent a spray of multicolored sparks and glass flying outward. Hopefully, they¡¯ll think the woman was knocked out by the equipment. The observation room should have noticed the surge and send people. They¡¯ll also soon find out that it wasn¡¯t from their generators once they investigate. However, a team would come to pick up the woman and clean what little evidence I left. It would also keep Ventre guessing where I am and make me seem more like a ghost.

    Crawling behind the desk, she first pushed the bag in and squeezed into the tight space, pulling the desk back into place. Repositioning the vent behind her, she carefully began to magnetically, re-screw its supports. Helena heard the door open and people rush in. Voices called out in North Irean, but she continued to soundlessly screw in the vent supports, not paying them any mind.

    As she finished, she sensed the people moving the woman out of the room, her reception starting to break. Looking around the small space, she found the maintenance support ladder enclaves meant for climbing support. Helena began to climb up the vent as quietly as she could, taking special care to keep her bracelet from scratching across the metallic surface.

    Reaching an opening, she crawled through and braced her back against the vent wall. Removing her bracelet, she felt the same tingling sensation as the weight left her wrist; she examined the paler skin the dim light. I¡¯ve really never taken these pieces off for long periods of time.

    Pulling back her left pants leg, she strapped the bracelet around her ankle and the sensation left. She then covered it up with her pants, it was a tight fit, but she managed. Sorting through the bag, she found the HCID. Removed it and bringing it out of sleep; she watched the vent light up with the holographic images as she sorted through the building''s schematics. This ventilation shaft won¡¯t lead straight to the supply bay, but it does exit into a room across the hall from it. In the room I¡¯ll exit, there will be another shaft that¡¯ll connect with the Supply Bay. It¡¯s a slight detour, but it might throw Ventre off even more.

    She swallowed as she felt a warm breeze slowly pick up through the vents. How hot will it actually get? I didn¡¯t take that into consideration. Sighing, she shook her head slightly, feeling the weight of the bun shift. It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s my only path and it¡¯ll take a while with all the detours with the fans in the way.

    Memorizing the routes, she replaced the HCID in her bag and followed her chosen path, retracting her reception completely. She quietly shuffled through the vents, hearing talk from the small air slits. Most of the speech was hard to understand, but she knew more than one language was being spoken. What kind of facility is comprised of so many nationalities and how far does WITCH¡¯s influence reach? Until recently, I¡¯ve never even heard of the organization, but they seem very widespread.

    As she neared the end of the first path, she listened intently. No sound came from the room, but she couldn¡¯t properly extend her senses to make sure. The venation¡¯s tight metal surfaces made her reception scattered. She couldn¡¯t hear anyone moving around and decided to risk it. Quickly unscrewing the vents facets, she exited and replaced the cover.

    She sighed as she left the small space, stretching. She pinched the front of her shirt and fanned it back and forth. The warm air picked up a few degrees along the way, enough to start making her sweat. The room wasn¡¯t lit, but now that she was outside the vent, she could navigate using her reception.

    Reaching the door, she found it had a pin-pad lock, just like the last two rooms. Extending her senses outside the room, she found the area deserted. This area should be a major gathering point. It¡¯s a Supply Bay. Are they looking for me in a different section of the base? It was gigantic, she hadn¡¯t zoomed out to see its full size yet, but she could tell from the sections she¡¯d observed. Perhaps they are looking for me at that fake Supply Bay. Someone sent out that response, hopefully, they¡¯ll be busy elsewhere.

    Finding the next vent, she unscrewed it then backtracked to screw in the first vent cover. Entering her next ventilation shaft, she screwed its supports back and continued on her way. She heard noise below her, male. ¡°This is Beta Team; we¡¯re in section bravo, gamma, six. No sign of the girl. Roger, extending search further into Bay areas.¡±

    Helena cursed under her breath. Pseudomathematics! They¡¯ve caught on quicker than I expected. Extending the search further into the base means I¡¯ve at least escaped their current grid. If I don¡¯t cause any more incidents, they should waste most of their resources on search parties across the base.

    Entering the Supply Bay, she found herself more than six meters off the ground. She couldn¡¯t extend her senses until she was out of the vent to examine the room thoroughly. She moved cautiously as she heard a man humming below. There was an opening she could use near her, but there were no shelves close enough to climb down.

    Moving further into the room¡¯s ventilation system, she found the access ladder for this shaft. Helena took great care in descending it. Reaching base level she extended her field through the vent cover and tried to make out the person¡¯s position.

    Fragmented data fed back to her, but she managed to catch glimpses of him. The man was still going around the different sections of the Bay, pausing at regular intervals. There were small shelves that would obstruct her from view in front of the vent. Alternating the screws to open it, she pushed the cover outward, using her magnetic field to keep it from falling.

    Crawling out with her bag, she set it to one side and took a crouched position behind the shelves, not touching anything, in case the structure wasn¡¯t sturdy and cause a noise. Following the person with her senses, she found an opportunity to sneak a glance. A small dark haired man with a tablet pc, he was walking around the different shelves, playing with the tablet. He¡¯s probably checking inventory.

    Frowning, Helena began to run through scenarios in which she could either elude or incapacitate the man. Suddenly the door across the room opened and five heavily geared people rushed in. Helena acted instantly. Putting the bag back into the vent, she closed it behind her as they started to spread out. Didn¡¯t they already sweep this area? Have they started a second run through? I don¡¯t have enough time to grab the screws from the ground!

    The men made rushed hand signals, designating where to search. Do they know I¡¯m here? Have they already deduced my most plausible access point with the ventilation system and this as a likely location? They have to know I¡¯m behind the incident in the Server Room, but I could have taken a string of different ventilation junctions to different sections of the base. I¡¯m still acting too slowly and underestimating WITCH¡¯s recovery time. This¡¯s a good lesson if anything. I¡¯ve never made so many potentially endangering decisions in my life.

    The man with the tablet called out. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    She felt one of the squad members put a finger to his lips and jerk his thumb toward the door. The man yelped and scurried out of the room. They combed the bay for another minute, while Helena breathed calmly and deliberately to slow her respiration. They¡¯re too quiet and scanning for sounds. If I try to climb up the shaft, they¡¯ll hear me.

    One of the men came near the vent and then suddenly performed quick hand signals. Helena¡¯s stomach dropped. He noticed the screws. The team gathered at her vent. ¡°She¡¯s already gone through here.¡± One of the men whispered.

    ¡°How long ago?¡± Asked another.

    ¡°Not sure.¡± She felt the person bring his hand up to his ear. ¡°This is Echo. Identified a vent unscrewed in section Bravo 14.¡±

    Helena was listening intently as the response came. ¡°This is Operations¡ªManager, Ventre. I¡¯ll be leading the investigation as of now.¡± Audible hostility was in his dry, but hiccupping voice as he cut off halfway through his statement. ¡°What is your sensory member¡ªpicking up?¡±

    Helena¡¯s held breath seized in her chest. Do they have sensory espers in their teams and what¡¯s with Ventre¡¯s voice? He has the hiccups and he shouldn¡¯t be able to speak this well with the cotton I placed earlier?

    ¡°This is Tera, Echo¡¯s sensor type. I can¡¯t sense anything recent on the screws or the vent, which is perplexing.¡± Helena relaxed slightly but kept her breath held. She must not be that skillful.

    ¡°I can see the release of the vent and the screws being removed. However, I don¡¯t sense any human interaction, so I can¡¯t tell how long since she¡¯s been here.¡± It was the right move to remove the cover with my field. I have to do it from now on if I make it out of this situation. I¡¯m lucky they haven¡¯t opened the vent yet. I don¡¯t know what kind of ability this sensory member has, but I¡¯m shocked she can¡¯t sense my heat distribution. Perhaps it has something else to do with interaction, like human static distribution or skin residue.

    ¡°I want Echo¡ªto investigate further into the facility,¡± Ventre ordered. Helena¡¯s stomach fluttered. Ventre¡¯s actually ordering them away? I may make it out of this yet.

    ¡°But sir, she may still be close?¡± One of the other members commented, audibly perplexed.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t a¡ªguarantee and we can¡¯t risk her getting further into the¡ªbuilding. I¡¯ll send¡ªvents¡± Ventre coughed, rasping and then hiccupped, the last part cutting out. The cotton really took its toll, but where did the hiccups come from?

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The first man who spoke acknowledged, likely the leader. Orders are orders after all.

    The radio cut off and she heard the team moving out. Helena sighed with relief. I was far too luck with that encounter. They were ordered to search further into the base, which should give me time to stock up on supplies.

    Quickly exiting the shaft, she studied the room suspiciously, keeping her senses active. Why does the Supply Bay not have cameras? Is it because of its old design and more pressing upgrades take priority? Putting it in the back of her mind, she moved to the door and touching the pin-pad, changing the code to the room.

    She moved from shelf to shelf until she found a box that held waterproof backpacks. Grabbing a bag, she quickly found the items she would need for short-term survival; knives, water canteens, freeze-dried food, a bundle of steel wiring, and a lightweight thermal blanket.

    Finding a facet in the corner, she filled three of the canteens and guzzled down a few mouthfuls of water with a sigh of relief.

    Returning back to her pack, she set them inside and noticed the inventory man had left the tablet behind, resting on a shelf. He¡¯s probably too scared to return so soon and he¡¯ll have to get someone to unlock the door for him. She quickly took control over the tablets processes and marked the items she¡¯d taken as used. Ventre will think I left empty handed.

    She placed most the contents from the brown bag into the backpack. It¡¯s kind of heavy, but I can dump supplies I don¡¯t need along the way. Dragging the backpack back to the vent, she shoved it through with the shoulder bag. I can¡¯t leave the brown bag in the Supply Bay after they¡¯ve already searched it. I¡¯ll be lucky enough if the man doesn¡¯t notice the missing items.

    Closing the vent behind her, she left the screws undone, but added a weak static charge to the vent to keep it from falling. The backpack was cumbersome in the ventilation shaft and took a fair bit of her muscular strength to hoist it up the ladder. Huffing, she reached the top of the ladder and began to shimmy toward the Snow Treader bay. She could still move with little noise if she slowly dragged the pack behind her.

    More people ran down the halls in a panic as she progressed along the vents. It sounds like they have most the base looking for me. It might be more difficult to get out of the Treader Bay than I initially thought. Although, if I manage it; I should gain a healthy amount of time to accomplish my next step.

    Reaching the Bay, she looked through a slit in the vent. A few people bustled around, but only a single person was armed. Moving slower to make less noise, she made her way to the nearest ladder. Leaving the pack at the top of the shaft, she carefully climbed down.

    As she reached the foot of the shaft, she noticed the smell of pine trees. The exit¡¯s close, which makes sense, this is a Treader Bay. Extending her field, she found there were boxes a meter in front of the opening. Their positioning should give me adequate cover from their vision.

    She was about to unscrew the vent when she noticed the Wi-Fi feeds around the room. The room¡¯s observed by cameras. I could interfere with their signal, but they¡¯re looking for me now, doing so would send every OPs member in the facility to this location. She frowned before her lips lit with a smile, an intermediary plan formulating in her mind.

 B1 â€” 9. Kara

    Silently climbing back up the ladder, she rummaged through her bag for the HCID. Bringing it online, she went through the detailed maps. Putting the device back into the bag, she carefully scooted it to a nearby junction so she could slide past. Leaving the pack behind, Helena moved back toward the Storage Bay. If this works, I may do more than just gain time. This could ruin Ventre¡¯s composure and give me more breathing room.

    She frowned as small taping sounds resounded in the branching shaft ahead of her. Extended her field, she managed to recognize flashes of something coming her way. They sent something into the ventilation system to scan for me. Is that what Ventre meant when he instructed Echo team to continue their search? He already had the ventilation system covered...

    Preparing herself at the intersection, Helena waited for it to round the corner. What¡¯s with this strange pattern? I may only be able to sense fragmented data, but it¡¯s as if it¡¯s jumping around.

    Her hand darted out and smacked against its back plating as it flew past her position. She sent a strong electrical shock surging through its circuits. There was a hissing noise as a small puff of smoke flowed up from the blown circuitry and it crashed into a heap, skidding across the smooth vent floor. Some kind of metallic robot?

    It had four metal appendages that propelled it through the air in light leaps. Why send something that makes so much noise after me? Not only would I be alerted, but other personnel might report noises and cause confusion in their ranks. In any case, this is bad. It didn¡¯t see me, but what are the chances of their expensive robot toy malfunctioning while in search of an Electro Master...

    Grabbing one of the robot¡¯s arms, she scurried along the vents, the metal luggage behind her causing a horrible screech. She found a retractable opening in the ventilation shaft with a five meter drop on the other side. Pushing it open with her static field, she shoved the device into the room, luckily it was empty. Replacing the vent, she rushed back to the Supply Bay. They¡¯ll be searching the vents in my area soon. If they find my pack my plan¡¯s ruined!

    Climbing down the ladder, she crouched near the brown bag she¡¯d left and extended her senses into the room. The man was back, going from shelf to shelf. Hope filled Helena¡¯s thumping heart. This is even better.

    Quietly lowering the vent with magnetism, she left it undone, she needed to hastily get back up the ladder once she was finished. Silently moving through the opening, she knelt by the shelves. She waited for the man to study more items before moving in. She neared him as he muttered. ¡°I know there were more knives here.¡±

    Helena placed her palm on the lower end of his back and sent a surge of electricity up his spine. He first jumped, then convulsed before falling unconscious to the ground. Helena grabbed the tablet before it hit the stone floor and swiftly brought its cores under her control. I already have a backdoor. I just need to use it to jam cameras along a different path.

    Beginning to block camera feeds along a different route, she led them away from the Treader Bay. Now they¡¯ll be searching for me in a different section of the base, it should give me plenty of time.

    Fluctuating power to different sections of the building, she finished with a complete cut of power in two key functions of base integrity. She then found the cameras in the Treader Bay and told them to show on screen. All the people were moving out of the room as a loud speaker cut off. When the last person exited, she put the cameras into a loop.

    I missed the words, but the result is clear. It should now be empty. Resetting the tablet¡¯s logs, she put it into sleep by the man¡¯s open left palm. Returning to the vent, she put it back into place and made her way to the Treader Bay. Hopefully, they haven¡¯t checked the shaft where my pack is. I¡¯ll have to come up with a completely new plan if that HCID¡¯s gone.

    Along the way she heard sounds of people running in the opposite direction. Good, they took my bait. Entering the shaft with her pack, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was still there. She didn¡¯t see anyone below through the ventilation slits or hear any robots scurrying around the vents beside her.

    Helena took out the HCID from her bag with the wired tether she¡¯d taken from the Supply Server room. Climbing down the ladder, she quickly unscrewed the cover to the vent and slipped through. Double checking her surroundings with the Wi-Fi signals, she found it empty. Moving from behind the box, she headed toward the fitting room. Finding the smallest thermal suit made of bright white material, she moved back to the vehicles.

    Running to the nearest machine, she dropped the outfit on the ground and tethered the HCID to the small outlet on a Treader¡¯s onboard display panel. She began to program set quadrants before deactivating remote protocols. It had timed delay features, so it would start immediately after she imputed the final destination and finished its countdown. Helena took a moment to get used to the reprogramming before setting the vehicle to leave in forty-five seconds.

    Removing the tether, she moved to a second and did the same. Matching its departure with the previous vehicle and sent it in a forked direction. Removing the tether from the second vehicle, she grabbed the suit off the ground and headed back to the ventilation shaft. As she reached it, the Treaders initiated their course by heading to the bay doors. The doors opened to let in a gust of freezing air. A flurry of snow rushed into the open space as Helena entered the vent and closed it. Obviously, the storm¡¯s started.

    She felt warm air expel from above as the automatic temperature regulation system kicked in. With how many vents were spaced in the room it heated fairly quickly. However, her body temperature was rapidly warming with the air and she felt sweat dripping from her pores as she screwed the cover supports in.

    The outside doors shut and the heat started to gradually lessen. Helena felt a bizarre shiver pass through her. It was like she was being observed and the magnetic fields around her shifted in an odd way. After she finished the last screw, she climbed the ladder to her bag. The hallway doors opened with a flurry of voices. Reaching her bag, she moved past it toward the slits further up the shaft. Peering through, she saw fifteen people gathering in the center of the room. The group comprised of eight OP¡¯s members, a female and male teenager, Vendre, three people she didn¡¯t recognize, and to her surprise, Jake.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°This is a complete¡ªdisaster!¡± Ventre threw his arms into the air, hiccups escaping his throat.

    ¡°Very interesting, the girl¡¯s much smarter than I gave her credit for.¡± The male teen said.

    Jake had a thoughtful expression. ¡°She used the signal disturbances on the other side of the facility to lure her pursuers away. Looped the security cameras, and even sent two Treaders to deter certain follow, while still keeping you guessing.¡± Jake¡¯s tone held mild admiration.

    Ventre¡¯s face grew purple. ¡°Send a team after her¡ªimmediately!¡±

    ¡°Sir.¡± The two OP¡¯s teams got on vehicles to pursue her decoys.

    Ventre turned to one of the men she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Nathan, can you remote kill or return the Treaders?¡±

    Nathan had an HCID active in his hands. ¡°No, she disabled the protocols.¡±

    Ventre shook with rage. ¡°She can¡¯t be this¡ªsmart! If I have to call in a Tracker....¡± He cut off with a loud growl and hiccup.

    Helena furrowed her brow as she felt magnetic field anomalies shifting around her in the strangest manner she¡¯d ever perceived. I shouldn¡¯t be able to feel this many field anomalies inside the shaft; my sensory radius is only five meters? She projected her static field to try and interact with the field anomaly. If I concentrate, I might be able to distort it and get a better sense of what it is.

    Bewildered, she felt her field start to forcibly warp as it encountered the interference. Why is my field changing around the irregularity? In shock, she was shoved backward as her field was repelled. Her back struck the ventilation wall behind her and a dull thump resounded.

    Calming her breath, Helena slowly approached the slits again and peered down as a shiver ran down her spine. She could almost taste the overpowering force being discharged below, but the other occupants in the room seemed completely oblivious as the teenage girl threw back her thick medium length mocha brown hair and laughed.

    Ventre sounded slightly irritated. ¡°What¡¯s so¡ªfunny, Kara?¡±

    Helena fixated her vision on the teenage girl, trying to glimpse her face. She seemed to be in her mid to late teens and moderately tall for a girl. She had small proportions and seemed slightly muscular with long legs. She had medium toned skin, down-turned secretive lips, and a small straight nose. Her thick straight hair was hanging loosely down her front and back, ending slightly below her shoulder blades. Bangs covered her forehead that seemed to slightly overshadow her vision.

    She had a tightly fitting white thermal suit on, promoting the idea that she was going into the tundra or had just arrived. Helena couldn¡¯t see her eyes, but she had a rather kind looking face. Is this the girl Drake wants me trained under?

    She recognized Kara¡¯s domineering attitude, despite her kind features, it was in her posture. She was receiving a strange vibe from her that rubbed Helena¡¯s static field the wrong way. I¡¯ve never felt this way before. My hair seems on end and my skin¡¯s prickling. My stomach feels tight and my breath is caught in my chest. Also, that push¡­ A strange chilling was sweeping her body and she felt her fingers shaking. Is this fear?

    Kara¡¯s laughter cut into a humorous tinkling chuckle. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, she¡¯s surpassed ninety percent of all tested subjects in this facility. What¡¯s her name again?¡±

    ¡°Helena.¡± Ventre savagely replied.

    Kara hummed with an interested tone as a smile lit her lips. ¡°Helena¡ªI like her style.¡± Moving her index finger to her lips, she moved her head to stare at the exact spot Helena sat. Helena¡¯s muscles constricted. Without a doubt, Kara knows I¡¯m still here. What will she do? Is this where my test ends, in failure? ¡°I think I¡¯ll talk to the President about a request I have. Give me the full specs when she¡¯s recovered.¡± She spoke with a sense of authority that sent shivers down Helena¡¯s spine.

    To her surprise, Ventre¡¯s rage quelled. ¡°Of course.¡± He replied with respect.

    The boy next to Kara projected a curiosity hum in his throat. ¡°It isn¡¯t every day that you give attention to a new recruit, Kara.¡±

    Kara¡¯s mouth twisted into a light smirk as she glanced his way. ¡°It¡¯s not every day I meet another Electro Master.¡± Another Electro Master, Kara does have my ability. A depression sunk into her stomach. Kara¡¯s lips parted to reveal white teeth as she smiled. ¡°She reminds me so much of myself at her age. I can sense the hidden potential.¡± Again, she glanced at Helena¡¯s hiding place.

    Helena felt the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Why hasn¡¯t she outright told Ventre I¡¯m still in the base? She only hinted at the possibility.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t your first escape under four minutes, Klen? I believe she¡¯s trampled that record by a large margin.¡±

    Klen¡¯s smile vanished, replaced by a frown. ¡°We both know how far I¡¯ve excelled since then, don¡¯t we? You should talk to Booker and see exactly how far I¡¯ve progressed.¡±

    Kara chuckled and moved toward the door. As she reached it she stopped, turned and said. ¡°I¡¯m anticipating further results.¡±

    With sarcastic tinkling laughter, she glanced up at Helena with a glint of her deep almond brown eyes as she winked. ¡°I wish you the best of luck in your game of cat and mouse, Ventre.¡± Brown hair and eyes ¡­ like Jake, but her eyes are even darker. With that statement, she walked out of the room, a cheerful hop to her step.

    Helena relaxed slightly as Kara left and Klen followed shortly after. Her mind quickly turned to what had transpired and the strange magnetic anomalies slowly faded. Kara told Ventre to give her the report on my capture. She¡¯s taken that much interest in me. That comment was directed at me, Kara¡¯s telling me that she¡¯s expecting more. She exudes a sense of dominance, even over Ventre an Operations Manager. What position does she hold? She seems high enough to receive an instant meeting with Tenzen.

    Helena gulped down the saliva that had gathered in her mouth. Kara¡¯s an Electro Master, the distortions at least showed that. Cold sweat started to gather across her body as the thought struck her. I need more information before I can truly believe it, but what other explanation is there? The only thing I can definitely determine is the danger when I looked at her, a feeling that I¡¯ve never experienced at this level.

    Ventre screamed harsh words and kicked a nearby crate. ¡°We¡¯ll see if the assault¡ªteam can handle the recovery. If that fails¡ªI¡¯ll call in a Tracker. This has been a complete catastrophe!¡± Walking through the door, he said. ¡°I¡¯ll be in¡ªthe observation room to direct the assault.¡±

    The three other people exited, leaving Jake behind. Jake sighed, with a musing twist to his lips. ¡°Espers.¡± He said with an interested tone then quickly followed after the group.

 B1 â€” 10. Escape

    Helena breathed a heavy sigh and sat back against the vent. I need to wait a while before taking a Treader out. Crawling back to her bag, she slumped against the vent wall and examined the HCID passively, twisting it around her fingers for a minute. Hissing, she pressed her palms against her forehead, she felt the cool metallic device against her skin.

    Sighing, she brought up WITCH¡¯s data on her, she scanned over the results. They had a lot of categories to fill, but her eyes caught on specific information. I¡¯m in the Northern Training Facility, which implies there are more and Kara did say I¡¯m surpassing a majority of previous candidates.

    A tingle ran up her legs as Kara¡¯s name popped into her mind. Brushing it away, she continued down the information. How did they get information on Drake and my relationship? It stated they had a very healthy relationship and were close. Our relationship¡¯s less healthy than one might imagine. I don¡¯t hate Drake, but I don¡¯t exactly love him. He said it himself. He¡¯s just a tool to be used to further along my progression and everyone else should be viewed the same.

    It described her grandparents, which was the first time she¡¯d even heard about them. They apparently helped guide the family¡¯s future from Augnecia. Of course, I haven¡¯t even met my parents since I was four ... so, that isn¡¯t surprising.

    They described her as being more detached and unemotional, which she didn¡¯t like. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m emotionless. I just keep a handle on it. Drake spent most their time together reminding her to keep a level head while doing random things to try and draw out her emotion.

    There was a small section that depicted her speech patterns and how remarkable it was at her age. Where had they received enough information to determine that? Certainly not from the room incident, I barely spoke a word.

    She rubbed her eyes as she started to read their assessment on her ability and her capability within her ability, starting to feel a little like her normal self again. Helena¡¯s an Electro Master and has the remarkable ability to sense all three aspects of that attribute; electricity, electromagnetic force, and magnetic force. Helena shook her head. There¡¯s a big difference between sensing three aspects and manipulating them. I can generate, control, and sense the three aspects, not just sense. It was rare for an electric type esper to naturally sense all three aspects and those with the ability were labeled Masters because of it.

    Helena was shocked to find fatality statistics on Electro Masters extremely high. In fact, living past the age of six was a great feat. Since I¡¯m eight, apparently, it greatly heightens my chances of survival. Is my ability really that dangerous? I was very sick when I was four. Maybe that was the problem.

    They rated her ability based on a set of formulas called, CAF¨¦ or Capacity in Ability Focused on Espers. The ratings started at one based lowest and a hundred and one the highest. The rankings were specifically designed around four categories; Force, Capacity, Regeneration, and Control.

    They rank eighty percent of average Espers being below eight and place me at an eight? I¡¯ve never heard of these four categories, but WITCH has come up with a leveling chart, so they need some way to determine ability level. Although, they go on to say they don¡¯t have a full assessment of my ability and it will be revised upon further analysis.

    Skipping through minor details about height, age, and weight; she moved to the section where it explained the abilities she had and the possibility of possessing with interest. It listed the only ability they knew she could produce was an electrical shock, but it was undetermined if she could kill with it. Under that it had a category of speculated abilities; the only ability listed was electro-location.

    She smirked as she read the explanation. My perception ability is much more complex than this. I¡¯d classify my sense as electroreception, not electro-location. I can pick up disturbances in the three aspects of my ability and make a mental map of the surroundings, based on refractions in that data, similar to Echolocation, but far more complex.

    Being able to map a three-dimensional image of her surroundings being active electroreception, while she more frequently used passive electroreception. Passive electroreception was electric founded phenomena within her environment, such as electrical equipment and muscle movement. She needed to concentrate on specifics such as brain activity and heart rhythms, but it was much easier on her Focus in contrast to active electroreception.

    The largest difference between the two was their Focus drain. Passive was continually draining and slowly made her tired but took at least a day to mentally exhaust her, while active could only be in process for an hour at most.

    Her attention shifted when she read the last two subjects. The researcher had written that he¡¯d talked with Kara about a theory and that she had been very cryptic regarding his inference. He stated that with her position; she was easily able to brush him off. She licked her dry lips, reading further down the page, her eyes locked on the title, Known Electro Masters. Kara Corsey was at the top of the list, she was ranked as a level one hundred and one.

    Helena gulped, feeling the saliva slowly flow down her throat. Kara does have my ability and is listed as the most powerful Electro Master in recorded Esper history. No wonder Kara knew where I was hiding and those strange sensations I received. I must have come into contact with her personal static field.

    For the first time in Helena¡¯s short life, she could discern the true meaning of fear in her mind. I have no proof that Kara wants to harm me, but my body won¡¯t stop shaking. At her level, she can likely sense me with passive electroreception through the vents disruptive affix. In fact, she pushed against my static field through the vent. My active and passive reception only stretches five meters with Focus, how far is Kara¡¯s?

    Kara already saw a portion of my intellect with the fake Treader decoys. Is she expecting something more from my ability, something I don¡¯t know how to do? She must know hundreds of more manipulations than me. Klen said she isn¡¯t easily interested in new recruits and she didn¡¯t deny it. Likely, I¡¯m the topic of her meeting with the President. What does she have planned?

    Scrolling down to the final sections of the report, she found more notes. They considered her intellectual level. It shows my intellectual level as a seven out of ten, but still up for speculation. I wonder if it¡¯ll change after this incident or are there many espers with my intellectual forte?

    She shook her head, feeling the weight against her skull as her bound hair bobbed back and forth. She regained her filter to emotion. It stated she was more logical than emotional and a few statements about possibly not being religious in the Deity Faith, which was true. I¡¯m not involved with that supercilious, superstitious, and misguided religion. I couldn¡¯t believe and put my trust in fabricated beings, there are powers the Deities possess, but no evidence of the Deities themselves.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Her eyes caught on something in the medical history that drew her thoughts away. Her mother had, in the past, been diagnosed with positive schizophrenia. She knew the general description of a schizophrenic but had never heard of different categories in it. She also knew that it had never been proven, but was theorized to be genetic.

    How did WITCH obtain this information? It would require a medical record and that was kept by the Branch Family doctors. Did WITCH have contacts in the branch families? Drake might have given them the information, but for what purpose, to let me know? Helena frowned thoughtfully. This might be a problem in the future. She put her mother and brother to the back of her mind. It¡¯s only been a few minutes since Ventre left.

    Closing the tab, she brought the terrain map up and studied it to pass the time. She noticed the battery was running at about seventy percent. Activating the icon, she moved the information to the left of the terrain. It would last another few days. Ventre should have given me less battery life. If he didn¡¯t even think I would last long enough to get out of the base, why give me a charged device? The time showed seven fifteen. I¡¯ve been out of their sights for over an hour.

    Switching her concentration back to the map, she studied the surrounding areas. If all goes well, I¡¯ll head to the relief settlement for the old Reaper Religion. It should be abandoned, but I could rest in the buildings, at least long enough to sleep. After that, there¡¯s a village a hundred and forty-two kilometers south.

    She had heard a few interesting things about the Reaper religion and how peaceful they were, despite what their name implied. Four hundred years earlier, the Deities began to form into a religion and through a proclaimed holy crusade almost completely annihilated the Reaper Faith with the Great Houses¡¯ support. The ones that escaped had formed small hidden camps in the frozen northern tundra.

    What was left of the religion was scattered around the world, where before they were centralized in Elestveeve. She would have to either befriend whoever was left or forcibly take supplies. When she reached an active settlement, she could decide how to get into Tech¡¯s banks for the extra credits.

    She followed the path the decoys would take with her eyes. She¡¯d activated a stealth protocol on the machines beforehand. She didn¡¯t know what they did to keep undetected, but it could buy her time.

    Helena brought up the floor plans again and found that there was a terminal just outside of the bay. With everyone focused on the Treaders outside, there shouldn¡¯t be many people in the hallways. Helena waited a few more minutes before taking the backpack down to ground level and replacing the clothes WITCH had given her with the thermal suit. It was made of some kind of elastic material, so the smallest size stretched to fit snuggly.

    It should take them a few more minutes before cracking my encryption lock on the cameras. She put her removed clothing in the backpack; she may need it later down the road. Taking the vent cover off, she moved stealthily toward the hallway door. Reaching it, she sent a receptive pulse into the hallway; no one was within sensing distance. Opening the door, she peered out. Empty and the terminal was right in front of her.

    Helena moved to the terminal and accessed the administrative system through the back door. Finding the computers that were tracking her decoys, she studied their data. They were about thirty minutes away from catching the first Treader and forty-five minutes from the second. It looks like disabling the tracers did little good. They may have internal independent tracers.

    Helena began to feed the computer false information. This should buy my decoys some more time. The errors should be found when I leave, but the damage would already be done and it would confuse Ventre, making him more distressed. It might force him to use the Trackers he mentioned. It couldn¡¯t be an internal tracer. I¡¯d sense any foreign transmission in my body. The Trackers are probably high-level sensory type espers, maybe something like West. I¡¯ll have to concentrate on that problem when it arises.

    Helena heard footsteps coming down the side hall. Darting back into the bay, she hid behind some nearby creates. Three men came jogging into the room. They didn¡¯t look like soldiers with their lab coats.

    ¡°Which cameras are looped?¡± one asked his hand to his ear.

    ¡°All of them, that¡¯s ludicrous! Can you override the loop?¡± Another asked also with his hand to his ear.

    ¡°How can they be encrypted by an outside protocol? Wouldn¡¯t that take administrative control of a different account?¡± the final man asked in confusion. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s nothing we can do down here, let''s head to the Main Server room and try to sort this out.¡±

    Helena watched them leave the bay in a flurry of argument. They don¡¯t know I infiltrated their system. Soon they¡¯ll catch on and then they¡¯ll find the errors in their tracking equipment. They¡¯ll probably waste time going over their entire server logs, which I¡¯ve already zeroed out.

    Helena moved toward the door, while actively scanning the hallway. Finding the technicians gone, she slipped out. I need to put the finishing touches on the reroute and erase my tracks. Finishing the false information feed and setting off power disturbances around the base she finalized her work by erasing the time this terminal had been active in the logs. It would look like the terminal hadn¡¯t been active at all.

    Quickly moving back into the room, she took the pack out of the air vent and moved toward the nearest Treader. Now that I¡¯ve sent most Ventre¡¯s teams after the first two fakes, I can completely bypass his trail of thought by sending out all the rest, thirteen more headaches for him. It should make it nearly impossible to track me down, for a few hours at least. By that time I¡¯ll be ready for my next step.

    Helena strapped the backpack to the Treader she intended to use. The pack was heavy, but she could lighten it along the way as needed. She then moved back to the equipment room and found they had boots, gloves, masks, and goggles in her size. I¡¯m glad I don¡¯t have to use my previous clothing as protection. Putting on the gear, she went back into the Bay and took the HCID out of her bag with the tether. She began to move from Treader to Treader, giving them coordinates. I¡¯ll program two of the dead switch protocols to reactivate in several minutes but remove the return commands. It may confuse Ventre a bit more.

    After finishing the last vehicle¡¯s pathing, she hopped on her intended Treader and strapped herself down, waiting the thirty seconds she¡¯d set. After the allotted time, all of the Treaders lurched forward and began their set course. They moved toward the door and it opened to a blast of snow that flurried around her as she entered the blizzard. The observation room will soon figure out more Treaders have left. Now, Ventre will have to make a decision, to keep following my old decoys or follow the new ones.

    Helena felt the pressure of the frigid air pulling around her small body as the Treader flew through the ice storm toward its set location. She couldn¡¯t see a meter in front of her, yet the vehicle knew where it was going. The heated glass windshield melted the snow quickly and supplied some relief from the hailing force, but she could feel the pressing demand the vehicle placed against her tiny frame. She was uncomfortable, but it was bearable for now.

    It should take me three to four hours to reach the settlement. I hope my body can take this force; I couldn¡¯t have gone out into this with my previous clothing. I¡¯d freeze in minutes. The blizzard might be over by then. Hopefully, it will last longer than anticipated. Operational Meteorology isn¡¯t an exact science as new variables constantly bring new factors ¡­ at least that¡¯s what I¡¯ve read.

    Her body suddenly felt even heavier and her eyes drooped. What¡¯s happening? I¡¯m losing consciousness, but why? Is this a time-release drug, Ventre¡¯s failsafe? I only remember a shot from the medical room, why¡¯d it take this long to activate? She slumped against the vehicle as it made its way to her predetermined location.

 B1 â€” 11. Unexpected Events

    Ventre grunted as he snapped awake; heart racing, breathing rapidly, and muscles on fire. Slight tremors run down his body at irregular spurts as he struggled to figure out what was happening to him. What ¡­ girl ¡­ Helena. I turned ... a second and... Ventre cursed mind clearing. Only a split second and she took full advantage of it. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be so bold, she¡¯s only a child!

    Jerking his arms he felt a sharp spur of pain in his ankles and wrists. His eyes bulged as realization struck and thirst ebbed its way into his throbbing throat. Reflexively he tried coughing, but couldn¡¯t get anything out of his mouth. She tied me up ¡­ hogtied me! The little brat actually hogtied ¡­ what¡¯s in my throat?! Moving around his tongue, he found some kind of fabric stuck under it and at the roof of his mouth. No saliva entered his orifice and he tasted blood, but the liquid only burned. What did she put in my mouth?

    Struggling a few minutes in a panic, he glanced up at the digital clock. It was blinking off and on at twelve forty-seven. I don¡¯t know when her ability messed with the clocks, but she¡¯s knocked me out for at least thirty minutes. She might already be out of the base by now!

    He cursed again. She¡¯s already surpassed the record of every test subject in the past two years. The President won¡¯t overlook this, he¡¯ll be ecstatic about her progress and punish me! He really wants to see how far she can get with the same ability as Kara. His odd fascination with Electro Masters put me in this predicate ¡­ Helena¡¯s dangerous. At her age, if she can calculate this much what will she be like once done with SOP training? Worse, SSOP training if Kara instructed her¡­

    A stitch in his side broke his concentration as he struggled, trying to ease the pain in his as blood continued to swirl around his mouth, he continued to curse. The pain was growing, but he couldn¡¯t stop wriggling. His attempts at shouting were useless, his mouth completely sealed off. Who is this girl? The nurse should have come back by now, where is she!

    Ventre had to wait three more minutes before the door¡¯s lock clicked and someone entered. However, it wasn¡¯t the person he¡¯d been expecting. A brown haired man entered, he couldn¡¯t guess his age. Once seeing Ventre hogtied on the floor, he lifted an eyebrow. Ventre hadn¡¯t seen this man around the base.

    ¡°Interesting fetish you have there.¡± The man said cautiously, but a small tilt lifted at the corner of his mouth.

    Ventre struggled on the ground, his eyes bulging with fury and pain.

    A light chuckle left the man¡¯s lips. ¡°Okay, give me a second.¡± Finding a razor in the top corner of the medical cabinet, the man quickly cut Ventre loose.

    Rushing over to the sink, Ventre spat out the fabric in his mouth and guzzled down water. He sputtered, blood expelling into the sink, pain erupting from sores in his mouth. His gums and throat ached and stung, but he forced himself to expel the substance. He couldn¡¯t get the cotton feeling out of his throat. Working it around for a minute, he coughed a few times before finally stared at the man. ¡°Who are you?¡± Ventre rasped.

    ¡°Me?¡± The man asked with a thoughtful expression. ¡°I¡¯m Jake. I came to see the President. I got wind that he¡¯d be in this facility for a short time and ¡­ got lost. This is a gigantic facility you have here.¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Ventre said with a chafed voice while massaging his throat, ¡°give me your HCID, quickly.¡± Jake frowned but complied. Unclasping the device from his wrist and handing it to Ventre. He logged out of Jake¡¯s account but realized that this man had maximum level clearance. He¡¯s even higher than me and I¡¯m an Operations Manager in this district.

    Logging into his own account, he sent a base-wide emergency message, Target Lost. Shoving the device back into Jake¡¯s hands, Ventre sniffed, experiencing how dry his nose was. He exited the room at a quick pace. As he entered the main hallway, he found a gorgeous woman with a nurse¡¯s coat on. She was talking to a man that he knew didn¡¯t have a hand, but now was examining a perfectly shaped hand in astonishment. A Biokinetic?

    Moving to the woman, Ventre demanded. ¡°Fix my throat.¡± Only half of his words were recognizable.

    She furrowed her brow and placed her hand against his neck. Frowning, she asked. ¡°Did you suck on cotton?¡± This incompetent woman!

    Ventre gurgled a response, but she cut him off. ¡°Okay, give me a second.¡±

    He felt the pain in his throat and mouth ease, but his limbs still ached. A lump shot up his gullet and he spat out blood across the woman¡¯s front. Her hand shot back and she looked down with an appalled expression as a repulsed tone escaped her smooth rounded lips.

    Ventre wiped the blood from his lips, wiping the liquid on her lab coat, he worked around his throat. ¡°You¡¯re a nurse; I don¡¯t need your commentary! If I, an Operations Manager, needs healing, then you do it¡ªimmediately!¡±

    The woman¡¯s expression darkened and her hand darted out to grip his neck tightly. Ventre¡¯s eyes bulged and he tried to force her grip off, but it was no use. He felt a strange tickle in his throat and he began to hiccup. The woman huffed haughtily, removing her grip. Choking, he asked. ¡°What did you¡ªdo to me!¡±

    ¡°I irritated portions of your vagus and phrenic nerves, causing a symptom known as protracted hiccups. Good luck getting rid of it and you better not search for relief ¡­ maybe you can try to scare it out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an¡ªOperations...¡± Ventre tried to yell.

    The woman interrupted him; her lime green piercing eyes reminded him of Helena¡¯s. ¡°And I¡¯m Belesis, a Purist General. I just changed shirts too...¡± With her statement, she turned back to the man with his new hand, a brilliant smile lighting her face. ¡°I hope you have a wonderful day, Conner. Even if there¡¯s a large scale blizzard on the way.¡±

    Ventre felt his heart skip at her statement. I disrespected a General! I¡¯m lucky to be let off so easily, but what¡¯s she doing in my base? Last I checked, there were only three Purist Generals and none at this base or Biokinetics. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he stomped down the hall without a glance back, hiccups escaping his mouth every so often. I need to get to the observation room and figure out what¡¯s going on with Helena.

    Ventre froze as he turned a corner and heard his name called by a sweet voice that sent chills down his spine. ¡°Ventre, what¡¯s with all the panic? Does it have something to do with that mass transmission?¡±

    Turning around, Ventre found Kara Corsey standing nonchalantly against the wall. Beside her was Klen, her lapdog trainee. They both had white thermal suits on; they¡¯d just arrived at his base.

    ¡°Kara.¡± Ventre acknowledged slowly, but with respect. His voice came out unevenly pitched as hiccups continued to escape his throat. Why in the world is Kara here! First I meet a Purist General and now the Purist Faction Leader ¡­ a Prime and there¡¯s the rumor that she¡¯s an SSOP Director ¡­ the President interest in Helena and now Kara shows up ¡­ I doubt she¡¯ll give me an explanation. ¡°What brings you¡ªto this remote northern base? I¡ªimagine you¡¯d be busy¡ªwith setting up missions and managing¡ªyour faction.¡±

    Kara¡¯s left eyebrow lifted at his voice. ¡°My schedule isn¡¯t to be discussed with people of your ranking.¡± A light smile touched her smooth delicate lips. ¡°From your message, I assume you¡¯ve lost sight of your test subject. And,¡± Kara¡¯s deep brown eyes flickered to Ventre¡¯s wrist, ¡°it seems they¡¯ve gotten the better of you.¡±

    Ventre flushed and sniffed. ¡°It¡¯s a¡ªminor setback; nothing to be concerned about.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kara¡¯s skeptical expression shifted to glance down the hall. She has such an exotic look. Brown eyebrows or hair is one thing and brown eyes are extremely rare, but having all three is unheard of. Only actual Witches have that kind of look. She¡¯s one of the most mysterious Primes and one of the youngest in history, is she really an Esper? Some rumors stated otherwise.

    ¡°Manager!¡± Several voices yelled. Ventre looked down the hallway to find his subordinates running his way, pale-faced. To his surprise, Jake was standing right behind him. Did he follow me out of the lab? I thought he was here to talk to the President, why tag along with me? As they approached, Ventre cleared his throat and asked. ¡°What is¡ªit?¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°We¡¯ve scanned the entire building¡¯s cameras and sent messages to most onsite staff, but we can¡¯t find the girl.¡± One of the men said while panting.

    Ventre gritted his teeth. Their incompetence is infuriating. I need to find a better team.

    ¡°Oh ¡­ a girl,¡± Kara said with a smirk as she narrowed her right eye.

    Ventre didn¡¯t dare cut her off and waited before saying. ¡°Has there been¡ªany unexplained accident...¡±

    He was interrupted as Jake interjected, speaking to one of his subordinates. ¡°Are you referring to a tiny little girl with bright clothing and golden blonde hair, around the age of seven?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Ventre replied hesitantly, ¡°did¡ªyou see her?¡±

    Jake turned to him with a nod. ¡°About thirty-five minutes ago. She was such a polite girl. She wanted to know where to fix her HCID, so I directed her to a Technical Station.¡±

    Ventre¡¯s eyes popped. ¡°You did¡ªwhat? Did you not get the¡ªmemo?¡±

    Jake snorted with raised eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t work here. I¡¯m just here to meet the President and talk about some plans.¡±

    Ventre felt his teeth grinding. He must be an acquaintance of the President, which means I can¡¯t do anything to him. Turning to one of his subordinates, Ventre barked. ¡°I want every¡ªOPs unit on and off duty to¡ªscan the base for her.¡± When they hesitated, he yelled. ¡°Thirty-minutes ago!¡±

    Kara¡¯s tinkling laughter rang behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t they say the subordinate¡¯s inadequacies are linked to their supervisor¡¯s shortcomings?¡±

    Ventre bit down hard to prevent a comment. Not responding, he swallowed the retort and swept past them toward the observation room. Frustration building, he found not only Jake but Kara and Klen on his tail. All three seemed highly entertained. One of his subordinates gave him a headset to direct the search parties. The clear sounds of different teams came into his ear.

    ¡°This is Alpha, no sign in sector C.¡±

    ¡°This is Beta, no sign in sector F.¡±

    ¡°This is Charlie, tech woman found unconscious in sector G. Equipment at Supply Server destroyed, possibly a power backlash, requesting medical attention.¡±

    ¡°This is Geothermal Command. No power surge is recorded in the geothermal transistors.¡±

    Ventre yelled into the intercom. ¡°I want teams¡ªscanning the Bay areas and get¡ªa Leaper Drone into the vents.¡±

    A multitude of different voices responded. ¡°Roger.¡±

    Entering the Observation Room, he found it buzzing with activity as teams reported on their findings and speculations were being thrown around.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Ventre asked his Assistant Manager, Nathan.

    ¡°Charlie¡¯s sensory member has found evidence of the girl¡¯s presence at the Supply Server, but other than that, nothing,¡± Nathan said with a frown as he watched him hiccup.

    ¡°This is Echo. Identified a vent unscrewed in section B14.¡±

    Ventre almost swore but kept his mouth in check with a side glance at Kara, it was rumored that she didn¡¯t tolerate foul language. The girl¡¯s in the vents. How¡¯s she been so successful thus far, is it all due to luck or intelligence? Most of this can be pointed directly to Jake directing her to the server room, the fool. Now she probably knows that the device I gave her is a fake.

    ¡°This is Operations¡ªManager, Ventre.¡± He spoke through the microphone. ¡°I¡¯ll be leading the investigation as of now. What is your sensory member¡ªpicking up?¡± He waited for a response with anticipation. Hopefully, it would still be fresh.

    ¡°This is Tera, Echo¡¯s sensor type. I can¡¯t sense anything recent on the screws or the vent, which is perplexing. I can see the release of the vent and the screws being removed. However, I don¡¯t sense any human interaction, so I can¡¯t tell how long since she¡¯s been here.¡±

    That isn¡¯t surprising. She could have used her ability to remove it, but if this Tera was more competent in her ability, maybe she¡¯d be able to see more. I guess that¡¯s why she¡¯s OP¡¯s and not SOP. Why am I surrounded by useless subordinates! ¡°I want Echo¡ªto investigate further into the facility,¡± Ventre ordered. That Supply Bay is close to the Treader Bay. If she¡¯s figured that out, she may have already left the compound.

    ¡°But Sir, she may still be close?¡± An OP¡¯s member asked in confusion. Fool! Questioning a direct order!

    ¡°That isn¡¯t a¡ªguarantee and we can¡¯t risk her getting further into the¡ªbuilding. I¡¯ll send in¡ªdrones to check out the vents.¡± Ventre coughed. That bothersome General; in fact, she¡¯s Kara¡¯s General. She¡¯s probably being stationed in this area as of now, which means I¡¯ll see her around the base often. Why wasn¡¯t I informed?

    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± The team¡¯s captain replied. At least someone doesn¡¯t question my judgment.

    Speaking to his observation team, he asked. ¡°Has¡ªthere been any unexplained exits to the facility doors?¡±

    ¡°No Sir, only the SOP members that have recently arrived.¡± Ventre felt sweat gathering at his temples. No wonder Kara and Belesis are here, but why are special operation teams here and even Kara, a Faction Leader. Could it be with our base renovations, the Vice-President was cryptic about the reason.

    ¡°Why so much trouble over that little girl?¡± Jake asked incredulously.

    Kara¡¯s harmonic voice concurred with Jake. ¡°I know. Nathan, what¡¯s her ability?¡±

    Nathan sputtered several unintelligible words. She asks my subordinate instead of me, the Operations Manager! Ventre cut Nathan off. ¡°She¡¯s a¡ªElectro Master.¡± Kara didn¡¯t say anything, but Ventre could see a twinkle in her brown eyes. She¡¯s interested.

    Klen¡¯s bored expression showed his annoyance. ¡°Kara, how much time are we going to waste here? We need to meet up with the Vice-President, Booker, and Belesis. They¡¯ve been waiting several hours for us already.¡± SOP members have been in my base without my knowledge for several hours?

    A spark of hope-filled Ventre¡¯s mind. Please leave to your meeting. I don¡¯t need your condescending presence berating every action I take.

    Kara smiled as she glanced at Ventre. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those details, Klen. The Vice-President has been waiting several hours already and when have I ever cared how long that impertinent Belesis waits. She and the others can wait several more minutes. Instead, try to learn something from this girl¡¯s example. She seems to be intelligent and I¡¯m curious, how advanced are her abilities. Is it power that¡¯s propelled her this far or wisdom, perhaps pure adaptation?¡±

    Ventre saw Klen¡¯s jaw clench at her words. It seems Kara¡¯s direct methods aren¡¯t exaggerated, she doesn¡¯t coddle her members.

    ¡°Ventre, we¡¯ve lost signal with one of the Leaper Drones. The last few moments of functionality report an electrical surge destroying key circuitry.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s that¡ªpossible?¡± Ventre whispered. The Leaper Drones are designed to distribute electrical discharges through grounding methods. The only possible way she¡¯d be able to destroy it is with an electrical charge while in the air. How did she know its one weakness against her ability?

    Kara was smirking. ¡°Don¡¯t look so surprised, Ventre. Those scraps of metal are jokes and waste in funds. Any Electro Master with half a brain could destroy one.¡±

    Ventre worked around his jaw at her comment. Not all of us are espers and of your power standards!

    ¡°Its last location was in the vents leading into sector D¡¯s Treader Bay. However, its independent tracer seems to be moving toward the Supply Bay, Echo found the vent unscrewed.¡±

    ¡°Send¡ªa team to...¡± Ventre was cut off by another member of his staff.

    ¡°The device stopped in section D17, a relief room. Should I direct a team that way?¡±

    Ventre hesitated. She¡¯s been leading me by the nose this entire time. Maybe this is a ploy for something else? ¡°No, send a¡ªteam to the Treader Bay. She¡¯s probably leading us¡ªto the Supply Bay to escape and give herself a little more¡ªtime.¡± Kara hummed thoughtfully behind him.

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The man responded and directed Echo and Bravo to the Treader Bay.

    ¡°Sir, no sign of her,¡± Echo responded. ¡°We¡¯ll unscrew the vents.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± An observation team member yelled. ¡°I¡¯m receiving reports of multiple power disturbances throughout sections I24, U75, G13, and O8, completely power failures in sections F1 and G3.¡±

    Ventre swore vehemently. ¡°Send follow up teams to all those¡ªlocations.¡± His eyes suddenly caught Kara¡¯s change in character. Her entertained smile had turned ugly and her deep brown eyes were livid as she glared at him. Ventre gulped. The rumor was true.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let it pass this once, Ventre.¡± Animosity coating every word she spoke. ¡°Watch your tongue around me! Next time, I¡¯ll cut it off.¡±

    His stomach churned at her words. That¡¯s extreme! To cut off my tongue for a simple swear word. Ventre nodded and hoarsely replied. ¡°My¡ªapologies.¡±

    Her atmosphere seemed to switch instantly back to amusement. ¡°By the way, how long have you had those hiccups? The break in speech is somewhat annoying.¡±

    Working around his tongue, he cleared his throat. ¡°Thank your General¡ªBelesis, gave them to me.¡±

    A mirthful laugh escaped Kara¡¯s throat as she doubled over, clutching her stomach. ¡°My¡ªBelesis, gave you hiccups! What did you do?¡±

    Uncomfortably, Ventre cleared his throat again. ¡°Spat blood over her clothing and wiped more along her coat.¡± He left out the portion of disrespecting her.

    Kara¡¯s tinkling tone almost disappeared as she doubled over again, clutching at her side as if in pain. ¡°Spat¡ªblood, all over her! I love it! I¡¯ll have to bring it up today!¡± Klen¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t lifted in the least.

    Breathing a heavy sigh, internally he cursed repeatedly. Helena has outmaneuvered me again, what is her plan?

    ¡°Sir, the doors in Section D¡¯s Treader Bay just opened and two Treaders have left the area.¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Ventre exclaimed with realization as he stormed out of the room toward the Bay. It¡¯s only a few hallways down ¡­ she couldn¡¯t have left that easily ¡­ she couldn¡¯t have been that close! Why didn¡¯t my security team picked her up on the cameras?

 B1 â€” 12. Desperation

    Kara, Klen, Jake, Nathan, and a few of his team followed him to the bay. Eight OP¡¯s members followed from the next hallway. Entering with heavy breathers, Ventre found the cold chill of the outside weather and smell of pine still prominent.

    ¡°This is a complete¡ªdisaster!¡± Ventre exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air.

    Klen sounded slightly impressed. ¡°Very interesting, the girl¡¯s much smarter than I gave her credit for.¡±

    Jake expressed his thoughts with a low chuckle. ¡°She used the signal disturbances on the other side of the facility to lure her pursuers away. Looped the security cameras, and even sent two Treaders to deter certain follow, while still keeping you guessing.¡±

    Through clenched teeth, Ventre growled. ¡°Send a team after her¡ªimmediately!¡± The OP¡¯s members acknowledged his command and jumped on Treaders, exiting after Helena.

    Turning to Nathan, he asked. ¡°Nathan, can you remote kill or return the Treaders?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°No, she disabled the protocols.¡±

    Ventre yelled out his frustration. ¡°She can¡¯t be this¡ªsmart! If I have to call in a Tracker...¡± He seethed, hiccup close to his throat.

    Kara suddenly threw back her hair and laughed. Annoyance flooding his thoughts, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s so¡ªfunny, Kara?¡± Why do I have to deal with her company, why won¡¯t she just leave to her stupid meeting?

    Progressing into a ringing chuckle, Kara said. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, she¡¯s surpassed ninety percent of all tested subjects in this facility. What¡¯s her name?¡±

    Viciously, Ventre replied. ¡°Helena.¡±

    Kara hummed melodically, tasting the name on her tongue. ¡°Helena¡ªI like her style.¡± She¡¯s clearly entertained by Helena¡¯s actions. Will she supersede my authority? She moved her index finger to her lips as she shifted her head to stare around the room. ¡°I think I¡¯ll talk to the President about a request I have. Give me the full specs when she¡¯s recovered.¡±

    Ventre could feel the expectation in her voice that sent shivers down his spine. I hate these Faction Leaders that think they can treat me like trash, taking orders from children. But I can¡¯t afford to disrespect her ¡­ she¡¯ll kill me. Respectfully, he said. ¡°Of course.¡±

    Klen made a light tone of curiosity. ¡°It isn¡¯t every day that you give attention to a new recruit, Kara.¡±

    Kara¡¯s mouth twisted amusedly as she glanced his way. ¡°It¡¯s not every day I meet another Electro Master.¡± Meet another Electro Master? Did she see Helena already, maybe when she was going through the halls? Her lip parted to reveal white teeth as she smiled. ¡°She reminds me so much of myself at her age. I can sense the hidden potential.¡±

    Again she glanced around the room. Whatever, she¡¯s probably playing with me. That¡¯s something I¡¯d do if I were in her position. ¡°Wasn¡¯t your first escape under four minutes, Klen? I believe she¡¯s trampled that record by a large margin.¡±

    Klen¡¯s smile vanished. ¡°We both know how far I¡¯ve excelled since then, don¡¯t we? You should talk to Booker and see exactly how far I¡¯ve progressed.¡±

    Kara laughed and moved toward the doors. Realization hit Ventre. Wait ¡­ maybe the SOP members in training are coming here for the next stage in the President¡¯s tournament. Is the contest being held at my base and that¡¯s why the renovations are being done, possibly why he¡¯s at the base? Both the Vice-President and President didn¡¯t inform me, why?

    As Kara reached the exit she stopped, turned and said. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to further results.¡± With sarcastic laughter, she continued. ¡°I wish you the best of luck in your game of cat and mouse, Ventre.¡± With that statement, she walked out, a cheerful hop to her step. Klen shortly followed after her, leaving Ventre in the room with Jake and his men.

    Who was she talking to? It kind of seemed directed at me, but why would she expect more? Fear glazed across his mind. Maybe she¡¯s looking into my test and actually testing me? What if this is a test not only for the girl but my capabilities. If so, I¡¯m failing miserably...

    Ventre swore and kicked a nearby crate. He turned to Nathan. ¡°We¡¯ll see if the assault¡ªteam can handle the recovery. If that fails¡ªI¡¯ll call in a Tracker. This has been a complete catastrophe!¡± Fuming, he exited the bay. ¡°I¡¯ll be in¡ªthe observation room to direct the assault.¡± As expected, his three underlings followed.

    Reaching his destination, he entered with a flurry of barking orders to his team and the OP¡¯s members in search of Helena, rubbing his burning wrists absently. I should have had that General heal them, but she was already pissed. She¡¯d probably destroy a nerve or something out of spite. I made one slip ¡­ one! A small act of letting my guard down and that girl leaped on it as quick as a viper! Wait ¡­ could her last comment been used to draw out that opening? No, she can¡¯t have played me that well, but she is smart, very smart ¡­ dangerously smart for a child. I¡¯ve never seen a girl at her age with this kind of aptitude or expected it.

    It¡¯s plain that Kara wants to study and learn more about Helena for whatever purpose. If I give her to Kara in a broken state ¡­ she¡¯ll kill me, without a second thought. No one would stop her, she only answers to the President and Alpha. I need a scapegoat, someone who can take on a personal note with the girl. If I play my cards right, I can be completely done with Helena.

    Ventre turned as the door opened and Jake walked into the room, a surprised expression on his outlandish face. ¡°Ah, this must be the observation room, took me a while to find it.¡± He noted cheerily.

    I don¡¯t like this man ¡­ he¡¯s so ignorant about base operations and discourteous at that. He suddenly arrives in my base without warning and is even given max level clearance by the President. Who is he and what is he to the President? He has to be of some importance to be given access that I¡¯ve worked years trying to achieve. His appearance was abnormal and had a style that seemed eastern, but Ventre hadn¡¯t seen anyone like him.

    Jake walked over to him with a wide smile. ¡°How¡¯s the search going, Ventre?¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m close to catching up with the¡ªtwo Treaders. The teams will then use an extended shortening rod to¡ªblow the Treaders components.¡± Ventre explained with a distasteful tone, continuing to hiccup. Why do I have to explain my actions to someone who just walks in and takes an air of complete disrespect? He didn¡¯t announce himself or request a conversation.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that little orange bing on the screen there?¡± Jake asked curiously pointing at a side console display.

    Ventre waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It just means a Bay door has been opened.¡± It suddenly hit him. There shouldn¡¯t be any exits from that Bay, the same one Helena left through ¡­ she did leave?

    ¡°Bring up the second Treader Bay cameras!¡± Ventre barked with rising horror.

    ¡°Sir, the Bay cameras are still in loop. The Tech Team has to go through some administrative protocols to restore them.¡± An operator said tentatively.

    ¡°Administrative protocols?¡± Ventre repeated. She¡¯s somehow gained access to the administrative system? If she got into the Main Server and having Administrative control ¡­ she could do anything. All the information she¡¯d need to escape would be readily available within her grasp.

    ¡°Sir, the Tech Department has reset the cameras in the Treader Bay and I am bringing it up on the fourth screen now.¡± An operator said.

    Ventre studied the fourth screen as it popped up. With dismay, he found all the Snow Treaders were gone. The Bay was completely empty. She sent the first ones as decoys or are these timed decoys from the Main Server¡¯s dish connection? Wait ¡­ Kara¡¯s attitude and looking off into the Bay. Did she know? Of course, she would, she¡¯s a Prime! Then again ¡­ it could have all been a prank and she¡¯s just laughing at me.

    ¡°Check all the logs; find out what she got into.¡± This is beyond the worst case scenario, Helena¡¯s planned everything and Kara has me second guessing my actions. A terrifying thought struck him. ¡°Check for errors or anomalies in the tracking calculations.¡± He waited for their re-analysis of the system with dread sinking in.

    ¡°Sir, you were right. The Treaders aren¡¯t actually where the screens are displaying. I¡¯m clearing out the misinformation.¡±

    The blips on the screen suddenly altered. There were now sixteen red blips and eight blue. Fifteen decoys. There¡¯s still the possibility that she¡¯s on one of the first two, but the thirteen new vehicles have a slightly better chance ¡­ she may even still be in the base! I¡¯ll have to call back most of the first two teams and have them chase the other thirteen. I can¡¯t go after them all. I don¡¯t have enough OPs teams at this time. Is this a part of her plan? Could she expected me to stop the chase on the first two and move to the later thirteen, maybe return them to search the base? I have no choice. I need to recruit more people in the search. He cursed loudly. This is too much, way too much for a little eight-year-old girl. She had help, she had to.

    Jake whistled. ¡°She¡¯s certainly brilliant, isn¡¯t she, and she¡¯s only seven-years-old?¡±

    ¡°Eight,¡± Ventre whispered distractedly. His eyes snapped open with shock. Could Jake have given her this plan, helped? He did direct her to the Supply Server. Then again, he can¡¯t have anything to do with it. He¡¯s a guest of the President and even if he did, I can¡¯t do anything about it. Just his position as the President¡¯s guest gives him as much authority as Kara. Is this a plan to destroy my reputation, a conspiracy?

    Wait, Helena said she¡¯d been dosed on something besides the initial sedative. I had no information regarding any change in the test. Who else had information about that assessment and more authority than me? Only the President or Vice-President had that knowledge; Tenzen himself. Why would the President change a key component of the test and not inform me, why?

    Is it because Helena¡¯s a Vandred, one of the most influential of the Great Houses? Ventre took a deep breath, hiccups escaping his throat in a torrent, causing him to cough. No, no. I can¡¯t think like this. I need to calm down and think through this logically. Thinking for a moment, Ventre issued new orders. ¡°Call in all the backup¡ªOP¡¯s teams in the base and send them¡ªafter the other thirteen Treaders.¡±

    ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve been going over some of the new vehicles on the map and it seems I can kill two of them, but I cannot return them. Their protocol has just been reactivated ¡­ somehow.¡±

    Ventre gulped. It¡¯s getting more complicated by the second. ¡°How fast¡ªcan the OPs teams get to them?¡±

    ¡°Possibly ten minutes to get their gear together, on a Treader and to the site.¡± The operator said, pressing a few buttons of the console.

    This could be another decoy or it could be her plan to waste my time going after the ones further ahead, while she slips past the grid. In fact, she may still be in the base, I can¡¯t rule that out. This could be an important decision. I have to think about it carefully. I have more resources now, but I still don¡¯t know exactly how many pawns I can use.

    Jake cleared his throat. ¡°Well, I don''t want to be a bother ¡­ but, could you send someone to guide me to the President?¡±

    Ventre ran his palm down his face with irritation, groaning. ¡°The President¡¯s office is on the other side of the base. You¡¯ll have to take a shuttle to get there.¡±

    ¡°Then can you send someone to direct me?¡± Jake pressed a stupid grin still evident on his face. Does his mouth ever falter? ¡°Someone¡ªhelp him to the President.¡± At least Jake¡¯s out of my hair.

    ¡°How many OP¡¯s¡ªmembers are ready to move out?¡± Ventre asked as a woman guided Jake out of the room.

    ¡°There are seven teams still inside the base.¡± Replied an operator.

    I don¡¯t have enough Treaders at the base to go after all the decoys and the storm outside prevents a Hoverfly from reaching her. She couldn¡¯t have chosen a better time to attempt an escape ¡­ wait the SOP members would have brought Treaders with them, but I can¡¯t just take them.

    His composure started to slip. She¡¯s been given a time release sedative that should knock her out for a few hours. It¡¯s my final failsafe and should be kicking in soon. However, now she¡¯s on an Automated Snow Treader, she¡¯s even escaped my final measure of control. ¡°Nathan. How¡ªlong till the sedative kicks in, five¡ªminutes?¡±

    Nathan looked up from the console he¡¯d been studying and thought for a moment. ¡°Yeah, it should be around five minutes, maybe less and last at least an hour, but we can¡¯t be sure.¡± Ventre scratched the back of his scalp, a vexed growl escaping his throat.

    ¡°Sir.¡± An operation staff member said, drawing Ventre¡¯s attention. ¡°I may¡ªhave figured out a way to track which vehicle the girl¡¯s on.¡±

    Excitement stirred in his chest. ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°She puts off an electrostatic field, right? That would cause calculation errors in the Snow Treader¡¯s activity logs. It shouldn¡¯t hamper its travel time, but would constantly require calculation reworking within the programming data. We can¡¯t shut down the Treaders navigation, but we can observe the logs. Thereby determining which one she¡¯s on.¡±

    ¡°Great work!¡± A smile twitched at the corners of Ventre¡¯s mouth. ¡°Get¡ªon that, immediately.¡± At least one person isn¡¯t completely brain dead.

    Pondering his next move, he decided it was time to quit playing. ¡°Call¡ªback the OP¡¯s teams and get them working on every move that¡ªgirl¡¯s made since waking up. Assign subjects five seventy¡ªtwo and five seventy-three on Helena¡¯s trail.¡± He paused for a moment. Also, add the Southern¡ªBase¡¯s trainer. The Green Faction¡¯s SOP Major that¡¯s passing by, add him to the team with a Tracker¡ªto guide them. Have them wait till the storm¡ªis over, then take the Hoverfly.¡±

    ¡°Sir, he¡¯s a Major and a trainer¡ªhe¡¯s somewhat¡ªextreme¡ªand we can¡¯t order him around.¡±

    ¡°I ordered¡ªhis addition to the team!¡± Ventre snapped, making his decision clear.

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± he talked over a microphone for a moment before going pale, ¡°Ventre ... he¡¯s rejecting your request...¡± I¡¯ll have to convince him since he¡¯s an SOP, a trainer, and a Major, but if he joins its checkmate. ¡°Let me negotiate with him, just get the other members ready.¡± This will push Helena well beyond her limits. The trainer may be extreme, but he¡¯s a Major, he¡¯ll never lose to someone like Helena.

    He pulled up what little information he had on the Major. He¡¯s a Guerrilla Tactics Expert and truthfully just below the level of a Colonel. Hopefully, he¡¯ll finish her for good. If he does kill her, the Major¡¯s Prime will take all of Kara¡¯s heat and Primes fighting each other is normally forbidden. It¡¯s perfect.

 B1 â€” 13. Blizzard

    Helena shivered as she opened her eyes. She quickly squeezed them shut as a blast of frigid air grazed past her face. Senses returning, she tried tensing the muscles in her thighs. So cold. She tried to lift her hands to her face, they felt stiff and took effort just to raise a little. Coughing, she inhaled a chilled breath of air, lungs convulsing as she rubbed her frost-covered goggles. The glass clearing, she tried to determine her surroundings.

    Her body jerked sharply and she gasped, causing an expelling of air that left her wheezing. She was being forcefully pulled back as she found a veil of white cascading around her. I was drugged ¡­ a time release?

    Trying to stretch her burning upper body, she choked. Her sluggish mind began to quicken as she stared at the monitor in front of her, only finding blurred lights in strange shapes. She constricted her throat, trying to wet her dry sponge of a tongue. She couldn¡¯t get enough saliva to work down the lump.

    Almost blindly, she tried to stop the Treader¡¯s course, fumbling with the console. She felt the burden against her small body lessen as the machine slowed to a halted. She fumbled with the straps, dropping beside the Treader in a tangled heap. Snow was billowing around her as she sank into the powder.

    Her torso was on fire, every time she moved a sharp pain struck her mind. Yet, at the same time, her lower body was completely numb, she couldn¡¯t feel or move her legs. Her breath came out in short steamed puffs of carbon dioxide. How long have I been unconscious? I feel ¡­ I need to find a warm place to rest.

    Fighting past the pain of her stiff back, Helena lifted her upper body and began massaging her legs. The snow creased across the elastic fabric as her hands moved. I need to get the blood pumping again. She tried to work around her tongue to start the saliva flowing without effect. All she tasted was her own rancid breath.

    It took a few minutes to start feeling her legs, but it would be some time before she could walk efficiently. A sudden thought entered her mind. It might work ¡­ but it will drain my body even more. Though, it may allow me to limp.

    Evening out her breaths she focused her mind and sent electrical stimulants down her leg. Her molars clamped together as the coursing pain flowed through her lower body. She¡¯d never experienced electrical pain before and this was even with her legs numbed.

    Breathing heavily with the flow of adrenaline and stimulation, she shakily tried to get to her feet. It took her a full minute to hoist herself back onto the Treader. Fumbling with the pack, she produced one of the zip-ties and pulled down her mask a little to suck on the rectangular end. Hopefully, it will help my salivary gland start functioning again.

    Working around her muscles, she checked the Treader¡¯s onboard display. I¡¯ve been traveling for two hours and twelve minutes, much less than I thought. I can¡¯t make it to the settlement like this. I need to regain my strength somewhere.

    Extending her static field, she examined the surrounding area. From what little she could visibly see, the trees had become sparse. Snow flurried around her in sheets of reflecting light produced by the vehicle¡¯s front glowing bulbs. Heavy winds threw billowing ice crystals about the foreign objects in its path.

    Her environment shifted as she activated her reception and blotted out as her mind opened with her mental image, giving a clear three-dimensional grasp of her surroundings within a five-meter radius. The gray textures were flawless in her inner eye, showing her a full spectrum of her area in the limited field range. She couldn¡¯t find a single yellow scratch in the space, the only electrical activity being her and the Snow Treader.

    Some kind of enclave under a nearby tree showed shelter, most likely some animal¡¯s den. Releasing her active reception, Helena grimaced as she peered through the blinding snow at her heavy pack. I can¡¯t leave it on the Treader, I need it. I need to send the Treader along its way too ¡­ it¡¯s been stopped too long, they¡¯ll think something¡¯s up.

    Sniffing, she felt frost shoot up her nostrils and coughed again, puffs of warm gas exiting her lips. Shivering and inhaling slowly, she got ahold of herself. She unstrapped the pack, letting it slide to the ground. The powder that had begun gathering slid off as it fell and the bag sank into the snow. Propping herself against the Treader, she began to program it to leave in forty-five seconds. After setting the countdown, she limped two meters away, dragging the pack inch by inch through the thick snow.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Stumbling, she fell into the chilling powder. It formed around her body as she struggled to turn herself, snow pelting her face. Shivering and breathing heavily, she watched the vehicle¡¯s treads pick up and take off.

    Mist birthed in front of her with every lung convulsion. Trying to stand again, she collapsed, coughing. Her heart beat in rapid fits against her chest as she tried to catch her breath. The stimulation had helped heat her lower body, but she still needed to rest in a warm place to regain her body temperature.

    Tilting her head, she stared at the hole through the strafing blizzard that flowed around her in frigid gusts. She brought her eyes to focus on the pack. I can¡¯t drag it any further without electro-stimulation, my muscles are screaming. I have to use it through my whole body and keep the current below twenty milliamps.

    Gulping, she found her mouth starting to produce saliva again. The ball of liquid seemed to halt at her throat as it slowly moved down and her stomach groaned, showing it had already started feasting upon itself. She continued to suck on the zip-tie as she went over the different calculations in her mind to produce a more efficient stimulus. Finally coming up with an appropriate formula, she sent the surge of electricity through her body.

    Helena winced as the surging twinge shot through her nerve-system. She felt cold sweat running along the insides of her suit. Fear running along her body, she could almost taste the terror. Will this storm kill me?

    Lifting herself off the ground, she struggled through the powder to her pack and grasped a handle. She dragged it the two and a half meters to the hole, her legs feeling like they¡¯d give out with every concussive blow against the compact ice. She left a wide trail as she tried to get the pack to the burrow.

    Digging away at the snow that encased the hole, she felt her consciousness slip and she was lying at its entrance, her vision blurred. The zip-tie had dropped from her mouth and lay in front of her, buried in frost. A millimeter of snow clung to the suit and her vision glazed again. How long was I out?

    Her body was numb and her lungs quivered as she sent another stimulant through her exhausted body. She shakily crawled into the small enclave, barely managing to drag the pack after her. As she entered the dugout, she found it only slightly warmer than outside, but relief filled her thoughts. At least I made it into some kind of shelter.

    She barely got the pack into the hole before her muscles gave out and she collapsed against the floor in a daze, partially hearing the bristle of dead leaves. Unsteadily she fumbled at the pack, hand slipping several times in trying to unzip it. Pulling out the blanket, she slid it over herself, she quaked against the fabric, jaw throbbing. It took her only moments to fall back into oblivion.

    * * *

    Helena jerked awake. It¡¯s warm, am I still alive? I have to be, there shouldn¡¯t be any feeling if I¡¯m dead. Shifting her weight, she realized there was bioelectric activity near her. It¡¯s right next to me; I didn¡¯t even sense it approach!

    Her body was extremely sore and her muscles cried out with just the twitch she sent them. Consolidating her senses she found a single body of electrical impulses. The shape wasn¡¯t human and she realized just how warm the hole had become. She wasn¡¯t shivering at all, in fact, it was too warm. The creature was lying next to her, curled up into a ball against her blanket.

    She didn¡¯t know how long she¡¯d been out, but she needed to get some more rest. Her tiny body wouldn¡¯t allow travel in this blizzard. Creating a visual view of the interior, she forced her muscles to move. The creature stirred next to her, it was in the shape of some kind of dog. Reaching for her pack, she extracted a water canteen. Fumbling with the lid, she brought it up to her lips and found it blocked. Realizing she hadn¡¯t taken off her mask, she giggled, wincing as her tender muscles constricted.

    I¡¯m in such a sorry state. I didn¡¯t expect such a short ride to have this much effect on my body, but with my size, I should have expected it. Unclasping her mask, she let it drop to her side and finished her earlier action. The water trickled down her dry throat, burning as it coursed over her soars and chapped lips. Sliding a bit of liquid around her mouth, she swallowed it and screwed the lid back on. She dropped it at her side with the mask and goggles. Since this creature hasn¡¯t eaten me ¡­ yet, I can assume it enjoys my warmth ¡­ at least for the moment.

    Taking a more comfortable position next to the animal, she grasped at her backpack again. Pulling out a few pieces of dried food, she tried to unwrap it but found it difficult with her gloves on. Removing them, she stretched her numb fingers out for a moment. With great effort, she bit down on the rapper and peeled it back with her fingers. Taking a bite, she savored the horrible taste as it passed into her stomach, which growled with the sudden thought of food. It only took her a minute to eat two bars before letting her eyes close and letting her consciousness faded again.

 B1 â€” 14. Tracker

    Helena woke to a rough texture rubbing against her lips. Her eyes snapped open to blackness, but she sensed the bioelectrical activity of a creature right in front of her. Quickly scooting backward into a dirt wall, she broadened her active reception and examined the creature. It was staring at her and now that she was more lucent, she found it resembled a fox. It¡¯s been licking my mouth. Imagining what kind of bacteria could be on its course tongue, she sighed. It¡¯s most likely removing leftover food particles.

    Searching through her pack, she found the HCID lying across the ground with several pieces of food. Lifting the HCID, she activated the holographic display, lighting the area with its bright images. She shielded her eyes and slowly opened them, waiting for her vision to adjust. Her eyes finally adapted and she surveyed the hovel through squinted eyes. Her wrappers had been licked clean and several more had been dug out of her pack from the Fox, their metallic appearance reflecting the HCID¡¯s image.

    The time on the device showed twelve-five. Helena yawned. The storm should be over by now. She noticed that her body felt a little better. At least her muscles weren¡¯t screaming, although, in all reality, she knew she was still tired.

    Feeling at her ears and ankle, she found her jewelry still in place. She sighed with relief, experiencing the shape and pressure under her suit leg and the texture at her ears. She didn¡¯t know why she wanted to keep them, but Drake thought they were important enough to mention as a negotiation term. She couldn¡¯t get rid of them until she found their purpose.

    She sat down and relaxed against the wall, staring at the white fur fox and it started back. Helena broke contact as she stretched her muscles, feeling the sharp burn they left. Relaxing her muscles, she rotated her neck; it cracked several times with the motion. Her back tingled with the motions and her bundled hair pressing against the back of the suit.

    Finished, she moved past the creature and opened up the backpack. Extracting two more bars of freeze-dried food, she opened them and started eating one, tossing the other to the fox. The creature caught it in its sharp fangs and collapsed to its belly, nibbling at the food. I need to keep it satisfied with something.

    Grabbing the canteen, she took another gulp of water and replaced the lid. I should get moving soon, but I don¡¯t think I can get far before having to bunker down again, even with electro-stimulation.

    Grabbing the HCID from the hard dried leaf covered ground; she brought up the terrain map and followed the path she¡¯d taken. I¡¯m probably halfway to the Reaper Settlement. She frowned. It¡¯ll take me days on foot. I have to find a new route. WITCH will be looking for me now with their Trackers and probably from the air.

    Zooming in on her area, she was shocked to find something nearby. It wasn¡¯t pinned on the map as a human settlement, but the satellite imaging clearly showed ruins of some kind. It wasn¡¯t small but was covered by a mix of foliage and snow, which was why she didn¡¯t catch it before. It could provide temporary shelter from WITCH.

    Stretching again, she leaned back and stared at her pack. Most of it is filled with food, clothing, and the blanket takes up a large portion of it. Helena lifted her hand and examined it. She concentrated and sharp sparks of electricity traced around the outer edges of her palm. The fox¡¯s head darted up. Its ears pointed high with alarm, its blue eyes examining her warily.

    At least my Focus is topped off. If I keep a small electrical current running through my body, I can push my muscles harder and it should even keep me warm. It¡¯ll take approximately thirty minutes to reach the ruins on foot. I can manage that.

    Glancing down at her pack, she noted the extra weight. I only need one knife and canteen. The wiring has a purpose and I did over pack on food. I¡¯ll keep the blanket, but dump the other items. While awake I can keep myself warm with electricity, but I¡¯ll need the blanket when I settle down.

    Stuffing the blanket in the bag and stabbed the extra knives into the hovel. She then began to take out half her food supply. The fox watched her with curious eyes. Opening half the food, she tossed them on the floor. The fox shifted its position to lie next to the food to eat the dried bars.

    Lining the canteens in the corner, she put away the HCID and replaced her gear. She crawled to the opening, hoisting the backpack over her shoulders and forced her way through the snow-covered entrance. The night was dark and only slightly lit by spotted stars as clouds covered the moon, but she knew exactly where to go from the earth¡¯s magnetic field. She needed to go to the bathroom, but she held it as she began her journey.

    It took her twenty minutes to arrive at the structure¡¯s base. Surprisingly, constant electro-stimulation to her muscles had eased the journey and kept her completely warm. However, as she released the feed, she felt the weight of the pack intensify tenfold. Gasping, Helena resumed the flow of electricity. The pack gradually lessened its strain on her back and legs. Control, I need to control the flow!

    Sighing, she observed what little of the structure she could. It was dark and looming. A part of the building was collapsed and frost covered trees sprouted out of random openings. This will do. I should be able to rest here with relative safety. She tentatively entered the structure, keeping her reception active. I¡¯m surprised most the inner structure is still intact.

    Large stone pillars were standing firm, holding the ruin¡¯s massive weight. Walking to one, she examined its surface with her ability. It¡¯s rough, but there¡¯s something etched across the stone, some kind of design. It¡¯s too decayed to identify, but it must have held some kind of meaning to this constructs purpose. With its location, it was likely a Reaper Sanctum, but for what?

    Helena¡¯s eyes snapped open with alarm as a light hum caught her attention. It¡¯s impossible. How did they track me to this location? I wasn¡¯t even sure about this structure until recently. There could be multiple search parties looking for me in every habitable place. Does Ventre have that many people at his disposal? Maybe he¡¯s called in some kind of reserve? They could have also mapped out my best directional cause from the stop.

    Quickly removing her boots, she moved along the walls swiftly, keeping her heel up to cause fewer disturbances in the dust. Exploring the interior, she found the building was surprisingly huge in contrast to what the map showed and extended underground. They shouldn¡¯t be able to track my exact movements ¡­ unless they brought a sensory type esper, which of course they would.

    Grinding her teeth, she berated herself. Who am I fooling? They could have followed my footprints from the foxhole. I¡¯m not away from WITCH¡¯s eye yet. I have to find a good place to hide and hope to listen in on their grid layout. If they brought a sensory type, I¡¯ll be found eventually anyway, so it¡¯s better to try and see who¡¯s looking for me.

    Scanning each room she came into, her scans found a broken down section of wall that had uncovered a small hole in the floor at the far left of the space. There was also a half broken, but still spacious stone bench in the middle of the room, surrounded by three stone pillars. It¡¯s a good resting point, but I doubt they¡¯ll need any if they took a Hoverfly.

    It was small enough for her to squeeze through and shove the pack in. After getting into the hole, she set her pack further beyond in the room ahead if she needed to run. Bunkering down, she released her stimulation and sighed as the tingling left. She felt her body lag slightly, but she sighed with relief as the electric pressure left. She reduced her static field as much as possible.

    If Kara¡¯s with them it¡¯ll do little good, but I at least have to try and elude her vision. If I can sense her manipulations again, I might be able to alternate her refractions to escape detection. Helena felt cold sweat start to cover her body as Kara¡¯s brown eyes came into mind and her body started to quiver. Taking several deep breaths, she tried calming herself. I really am frightened of her. Drake said the day would come and the only thing I can do is fight through it. It¡¯s natural to panic over an overwhelming force. I just need to learn to control that feeling.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    She counted for five minutes before hearing voices. They were both male. ¡°Why do we have to scout out the building first? Isn¡¯t he just using us as bait.¡±

    ¡°It seems so, but Ventre told us to follow his every word or he might kill us. It also gives us first dibs.¡± Those voices ¡­ the twins? Why send them?

    Mike huffed angrily. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be in this mess if you would¡¯ve listened to me in the Black Box.¡±

    Helena sat as still as she could while listening. She could see the faint outlines of light from the floor above as their voices echoed around the area. They must have brought flashlights. If they call it a Black Box then it must be inside WITCH¡¯s facility and not some cave they hijacked for their purposes. Their base could also be above or worked into a cavernous system. They were arguing something in the testing room. Hew was against whatever Mike had suggested.

    Hew made a sound of exasperation. ¡°Look, if we pushed Helena into action, the positions we¡¯ve been working for would¡¯ve been lost anyway. We had direct orders to keep everything discreet and to keep Helena alive, not test her.¡± They were ordered to keep me alive? They couldn¡¯t have lied to Peter¡¯s Telepathy, so they are a part of WITCH, which means Ventre didn¡¯t want my death in the Black Box.

    Mike spat angrily. ¡°I never said to kill her! I just said to push the waters a bit. See what she can really do and why Ventre was making such a big deal out of her.¡±

    Hew sounded heavily annoyed now. ¡°It didn¡¯t matter in any case. We saw what she could do when she snuck up behind both of us and took us out. Didn¡¯t we?¡±

    Mike scoffed, but their voices were moving further into the building, so it was harder to make out. ¡°I would have noticed her if we¡¯d followed my plan and were looking for her.¡±

    Hew sounded like he was done with the conversation. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s over Mike. We have a second chance, and we were even hinted to kill her this time, happy?¡± Their voices became unintelligible as they moved further into the building.

    The twins are defiantly after me, but why send them? Ventre seemed to have a multitude of trained OP¡¯s teams at his disposal, so why send a few low ranking espers that didn¡¯t even have the capacity to enter WITCH¡¯s ranks? They do have a grudge against me and it seems it¡¯s on their mind. Maybe I got further under Ventre¡¯s skin than I intended. Enough to warrant a possible execution than initiation or Ventre was just short on people and sent them to an unlikely isolated area.

    There also seems to be more people with the twins. Will they take the same path? It¡¯s a good place to stop with the bench... She waited another two minutes, before light filled the space above, much more light. Helena tucked down deeper into the hole.

    A breathless female voice said. ¡°Wait a second.¡± There was no response, but the light didn¡¯t fade as she heard the girl unscrewing some kind of metal container. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been out of that oppressive facility.¡± The female said. ¡°So, we¡¯re searching for that little blonde girl I saw yesterday?¡±

    Helena waited with bated breath. The silence stretched on for a minute. The other person doesn¡¯t seem to want a conversation, someone with the mission more on their mind than anything else?

    ¡°You aren¡¯t the sociable one, are you?¡± The girl asked with a light laugh. ¡°Most of you aren¡¯t ¡­ I find that once you actually get through the SSOP program you guys tend to lighten up.¡±

    Helena felt a shiver run up her spin. This guy¡¯s a part of the SSOP program? I guess I¡¯ll have the opportunity to see what they can do.

    The girl continued her one-sided chat. ¡°I guess it has something to do with less pressure and more action. You also get some nice fri...¡±

    She was cut off by a low gruff voice, it sounded like a man, not the tone of a boy. ¡°You can track the girl, right?¡±

    There was a slight hesitation before the girl¡¯s disappointed voice answered. ¡°Yes, I am a part of the Tracking Unit after all. Our training is much different from you action types. The more she uses her ability the more precise I can pinpoint her location.¡±

    Helena felt cold as a shiver run down her spine and sweat gather at her brow. How can she track my Focus usage? I¡¯ve never heard of an esper being aware of other¡¯s Focus use ¡­ wait, is that what West could do? Even more, she can triangulate an esper¡¯s position based on how much Focus they use. Is she even an esper or some kind of WITCH product to keep espers in check? There¡¯s no way I can escape if they have people like her. They can find me anywhere and never using my ability is a ridiculous idea.

    What Kara said earlier burst to the surface of her mind with a shudder that stimulated her spine. Kara said to give her the specifics when I¡¯m captured, not if. Kara knew I could be tracked anywhere and just wanted to see how far I could make it. If that¡¯s the case then the male in the next room is strong. Strong enough that Ventre thinks I won¡¯t stand a chance. Those Trackers must be rare as well. He¡¯d have to send adequate protection.

    Helena¡¯s mind worked frantically. How can I escape this situation? I first need to get rid of the Tracker, but how can I get close with that bodyguard. I have to assume he¡¯s powerful. I need to find a way to separate them ¡­ without using my ability, is it even possible? I¡¯m already completely blind without using active electroreception.

    ¡°Orders said to wait in the Hoverfly and give updates through radio transmission, we¡¯re heading back and I¡¯m dropping you off.¡±

    ¡°C¡¯mon, I rarely ever get to go out. The only time I get to see the rest of the world is when they¡¯re moving me to a new base or tracking an escapee.¡± The girl protested.

    ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t she an Electro Master? Can¡¯t she intercept the radio frequency and listen in without even using her ability¡ªmuch? At least ¡­ I think I heard that somewhere? Maybe she can even take over the computer on the Hoverfly from the ground and kidnap me! Then what will you do?¡±

    ¡°No, Kara could do those things, but this girl isn¡¯t even in the same universe as her in ability.¡±

    A plan started to formulate in Helena¡¯s mind. Drake taught me the basics, but the big problem is my vision. How much Focus can I use without her being able to track me?

    The girl huffed with annoyance. ¡°I just want to...¡±

    Helena extended her static field two meters and then quickly retracted it. ¡°Wait, I just sensed her using her ability.¡± The girl said with what seemed to be alarm.

    ¡°Where?¡± The male asked in a collected tone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It was very weak. I know she¡¯s in the general area.¡±

    The man started to sound slightly annoyed. ¡°What encompasses a general area?¡± He must be familiar with more professional units.

    ¡°Maybe, thirty-three meters?¡± The girl questioned her own statement and Helena could almost see the shrug she must have given the man.

    ¡°Can you tell the general direction?¡±

    ¡°No, it was only for a second.¡± She stated defensively.

    Helena pursed her lips. If I use my ability continually at that level, she¡¯ll be able to locate me, even if I¡¯m just extending my static field a few meters. She expanded her field one meter and then back again.

    ¡°Again!¡± The girl exclaimed. ¡°This time ¡­ it was way too weak for me to judge a location.¡± So, I can extend my field one meter without much worry of detection, but maybe continual use will draw a more accurate direction.

    She extended her field one meter and held it, waiting with bated breath. ¡°She¡¯s keeping her ability at the absolute minimum.¡± She sounded frustrated. ¡°I can¡¯t get a clear fix on her.¡±

    The man snorted with an amused tone. ¡°She¡¯s close enough to listen to you babble.¡± Helena heard the rustle of clothing from above.

    Her heart skipped a beat. I have to move. Keeping her senses at their meter maximum, she carefully walked to her pack. I now need to find the twins and cause a distraction so I can backtrack to the Tracker.

    Softly picking up the backpack, she repressed a grunt at the weight and began moving along the wall further into the building. Ventre should have sent more sensory types to capture me. This seems like the only unit because he thinks the Tracker will completely pin me down, all I need to do is get on that Hoverfly with the Tracker.

 B1 â€” 15. Unforeseen Hand

    Ventre kept a level expression as he studied the single dot left on the screen, short fits of hiccups escaping his mouth every so often. The Treaders have stopped several times, but that isn¡¯t spectacular. The navigation system ran into errors and had to reassess its direction, she¡¯s unconscious anyways.

    Five hours had passed since Helena left the compound and the storm just barely broke. Nathan¡¯s voice spoke from a console. ¡°Sir, your personalized team has just left. Their ETA to the Reaper Settlement is forty-five minutes and we¡¯ve solved all the technical issues with the satellite, cutting off the Treader feeds.¡±

    Ventre switched the frequency on his headset to his team¡¯s private channel. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve¡ªreceived my instructions already?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Three voices responded. I guess the trainer is still in somewhat of an uncooperative mood, even after all my negotiations. At least the Vice-President authorized a Tracker.

    ¡°Thank you for this opportunity, sir. Mike and I have a score to settle with that brat. I¡¯ve had twitches since the Black Box incident.¡±

    ¡°Keep it professional, Hew. She isn¡¯t to be underestimated.¡± Ventre¡¯s mouth curved with pleasure. This is what I want, personal interest.

    Tentatively Hew said. ¡°We didn¡¯t get information on the girl and man that are accompanying us on the mission. Is there anything you want to tell us personally?¡±

    Ventre stroked his mustache. ¡°Switch to the next private¡ªchannel, Hew.¡± Flipping to the channel, he waited for Hew to confirm he¡¯d entered. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªbe concerned about the girl. She¡¯ll¡ªstay in the Hoverfly. The man, however, is a high level¡ªesper, a trainer and Major. He¡¯s in charge, do exactly what he says without¡ªquestion or he¡¯ll probably kill you. By the way, you don¡¯t need to ¡­ soften the blow with Helena, do what you must.¡±

    There was a slight hesitation. ¡°Roger, is that all?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡ªall.¡±

    He let the transmission cut out. Ventre frowned as he examined the screen in front of him. The Hoverfly changed course? Now they¡¯re heading towards some old ruins? Ventre¡¯s mouth shifted to a broad grin. The Tracker¡¯s doing her job and pinning Helena down. She¡¯s a talkative girl, but most the Trackers aren¡¯t combat trained. The President pampers them too much. Helena will be shocked when they show up. She probably thought it clever to head to the ruins and send the Treader completely off course, thinking I¡¯ll never find her. She¡¯s trapped.

    One of the men at the console said. ¡°Sir, the OP¡¯s team¡¯s sensory personnel have completed their analysis on Helena¡¯s movements within the base. They¡¯ve finished the report and sent it to your HCID.¡±

    Ventre brought the holographic device up and activated the imaging. These devices are useful. He wasn¡¯t sure how the President managed to get technicians from Tech to build them since Tech hates WITCH. Only high-end personnel were permitted to have them, so he relished the status.

    The data popped up and he began to read with interest. She certainly had been busy after leaving me hogtied in that room. There¡¯s no doubting her intelligence with this report. Her decisions haven¡¯t been perfect, but with the information she had, it was more than ingenious, it was brilliant. There are few espers that could have accomplished what she has.

    ¡°Intriguing report.¡± Ventre froze in terror as a dark and haunting voice echoed behind him. He was about to turn around, but the voice instantly halted his movement.  ¡°Don¡¯t move, trash. Just look down and keep your mouth shut.¡±

    Ventre felt his breath coming out in pants and somehow his hiccups had stopped. There¡¯s no doubting ¡­ even after eight years, it hasn¡¯t changed. Phantasm, one of the Eight Primes and the Purple Faction Leader, a level one hundred and one esper.

    Ventre gulped, keeping his eyes trained on the device. The last time he¡¯d heard this voice was during Phantasm¡¯s initiation into WITCH. He¡¯d only been in training as an operator at the time, but his mentor soon died after this esper went through his tests. Phantasm held the standing record of eluding capture in the Northern Base and eventually required two SOP squads to step in and bring him in.

    Phantasm¡¯s menacing tone seemed to whisper in a surreal humorous way, right into Ventre¡¯s brain. ¡°This girl¡ªHelena, is about to outstand my capture record, fascinating. Imagine my surprise when I heard about Kara¡¯s interest and in a green recruit. I just had to see for myself.¡±

    Ventre felt snot starting to run down his nose as a cold sweat broke across his body. His voice was teasing, terrifying, and filled with lilting humor. Every note made him quake. What is this esper giant plotting?

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d be so simply outclassed by an eight-year-old girl and with such a low ability level. I remember you claiming you¡¯d run a tighter outfit than your predecessor.¡± Ventre felt the lump in his throat expand. Does that mean my mentor¡¯s death and my promotion was due to Phantasm¡¯s hand? ¡°I¡¯m now interested in this girl. She may make a good¡ªpawn to lure Kara out of her tactical position and give her yet another scar.¡±

    Why¡¯s he telling me this? What¡¯s the connection? Kara claimed her own Faction and added the color white to the Seven Primes, making eight. Why does Phantasm want to lure Kara into a trap, she¡¯s a Prime, just like him? Maybe it¡¯s a respect issue. The Primes are only under the Alpha and President, but each of them has to be ranked in a power listing. Also, no one has ever created their own Faction; all attempts had been smothered by previous Primes.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    A bizarre chuckle emanated behind him. ¡°Speculations are dangerous, even internal. You know this. Just for those thoughts, an esper in Genesis would be executed. Everyone has a favorite Prime.¡±

    He choked down the saliva in his throat. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Ventre asked in a petrified whisper.

    ¡°Oh¡ªdon¡¯t tell Kara about the girl¡¯s recovery and give this Helena some¡ªspecial treatment when she¡¯s captured.¡±  An amusing chuckle wisped behind him.  ¡°I have my own pride in pursuit of the girl. If your team doesn¡¯t capture her before mine¡ªexpect consequences.¡±

    Ventre felt sweat running down his quivering body. His armpits stuck to his course shirt and his legs felt like they were about to buckle. How far is Helena going to sink me? Now I not only have Kara to deal with, but she¡¯s also caught Phantasm¡¯s attention. I can¡¯t handle interest like this. People with higher positions have been swept under the Primes¡¯ shadow games.

    Ventre flinched and hiccupped as he twisted his body in fear as a screeching cacophony sounded behind him. He watched in dismay as the steel doors rip off their bearings and crush in on themselves. He bit down on his tongue, tasting of blood. Why, why, why is Kara here and of all times?

    Kara came prowling into the observation room through the now distorted steel doors. Her black seething eyes were wild with fury, pools of darkness. Nothing of her deep brown irises was visible. How is she changing her eyes? He felt his wrist jerk up as a powerful force lifted him off the ground, sharp pain screaming from his wrist and shoulder socket. He was too stunned to realize the pain. She¡¯s using magnetism to lift the HCID clasped to my wrist, hanging me in midair ¡­ did I wrong her?

    ¡°Where is that maggot! I sensed him in this room.¡± She snarled as she swept in. Her body a mass of energy as it crackled around the room. His staff screamed as they took cover under the machinery. Lightning flashed off control panels, sending sparks spraying and the lights dimmed with the powerful magnetic fields Kara created. Kara spat. ¡°He¡¯s gone!¡± Turning to Ventre, she demanded. ¡°What did he say, Ventre? What did Phantasm want!¡±

    Ventre was terrified, he never expected to be on the receiving end of this girl¡¯s power and his tongue was numb. I can¡¯t speak, why? He¡¯d heard the stories, but this was beyond what he¡¯d imagined. It felt like shards of metal were piercing his flesh and digging into his heart as her presence seemed to consume him. Energy crackled across the air around him, leaving the scent of atmosphere potent and making it hard to breathe.

    Her brown hair was dancing in arcs above her head as the electromagnetic fields tossed it, but most terrifying was her usually sweet face. It had transformed into a mask made for a demon. She suddenly blinked, looking slightly confused. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and exhaled. Opening them again, the lightning dwindled to nothing and her eyes were back to normal. The only evidence of its presence being the twisted metal, cracked concrete and burn marks across the ground, ceiling, doors, and shattered monitors of the control panels.

    The lights stabilized and Ventre felt himself being brought back down to the ground. His legs wouldn¡¯t support his weight as he crumpled into a heap. He only partially realized that he¡¯d wet himself. How much power does Kara have? This is only a taste of what level one hundred and one espers can do. What can she do if truly provoked?

    She stared around at the ruined room with distaste. In a chastising tone, she whispered. ¡°I seem to have lost control, again.¡± Straightening her composure, she glared down at Ventre. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I sensed Phantasm in this room. He was here?¡±

    Ventre shook, but couldn¡¯t respond. Kara angrily confirmed her question. ¡°He was here then.¡± How can she do that? Know my thoughts even though I didn¡¯t say anything? Helena did something similar. It must have something to do with their ability. She stared at him for a few minutes before saying. ¡°I assume you won¡¯t say anything, but I also presume that it had something to do with Helena.¡± Again she confirmed her suspicions without his response.

    She looked as if she¡¯d swallowed a spoonful of bitter medicine as she lightly bit down on her thumbnail and seemed to gaze inwardly. ¡°So there¡¯s a spy in my group.¡± She mumbled with narrowed eyes. She stood in the same position for over ten minutes before Klen came huffing in, clearly winded. He stared at Kara for a second then Ventre then the room. ¡°You¡ªtook off¡ªin a rage¡ªwhat¡¯s going on?¡± Klen wheezed.

    ¡°Oh, and you couldn¡¯t keep up?¡± Kara asked while turning to glare at him.

    ¡°Not with¡ªwith your ability! Using electromagnetism to propel yourself across the halls.¡± He gulped and panted for a few more seconds before continuing. ¡°In a building made of iron and steel, no one can keep up with you!¡± Finally seeming to catch his breath he said. ¡°So, what caught your attention enough to dash out of the President¡¯s office in that bundle of energy?¡±

    No way! The President¡¯s office is on the other side of the compound. Normally you¡¯d have to take some form of mobile transit to transport that distance and it would still take some time. She scaled the distance in under a minute from that end of the building and even sensed Phantasm? Did it have something to do with those searing black eyes?

    Kara huffed and scowled down at Ventre. ¡°I can see you¡¯re too far under Phantasm¡¯s ability to tell me anything useful. If he wants to play this little contest then I¡¯ll play. He isn¡¯t quite as untouchable as he likes to think he is.¡± She stated with a small smirk, now not even noticing the disheveled body in front of her; she turned and stormed out of the room, gesturing for Klen to follow.

    Why? Despair filled Ventre¡¯s heart. What have I done to deserve this? He cursed as he lay in his own waste. I have no choice. He was now in the middle of a colossal battle that would shake the foundations of WITCH. Obviously, Phantasm¡¯s orders stand and I¡¯m a little more frightened of him than Kara, she even mentioned I¡¯m being influenced by his power. Although Kara isn¡¯t to be trifled with, I just witnessed a simple outburst of her power and there are some nasty rumors about her past.

    He shuddered. Knowing his nights would be filled with the demonic vision of Kara¡¯s blackened eyes and that horrific contortion of her face. Not only Kara but that whisper of a voice that would return not only in his sleep but reality, Phantasm wasn¡¯t finished with him yet. He didn¡¯t even notice that his hiccups had stopped. Kara wants Helena and Phantasm wants Kara. I¡¯m stuck right in the middle, there¡¯s no way out. My life¡¯s ruined...

 B1 â€” 16. Trap and Trapped

    Helena made sure to scan every footstep before placing it. Her toes were starting to feel the chill, but the full body thermal suit helped a bit with her feet and noise. She didn¡¯t need a loose rock grinding against the floor to give her away. After walking through two rooms, she picked up her pace. I can draw the twins in by using my ability. Just like before, the man will send them in to test for traps. If they¡¯re looking for traps, I might as well give them one.

    Eight minutes later, she smirked as she found a suitable spot for her trap. The moon had eased its way around the clouds and had risen to its peak, shining enough light to illuminate a large demolished snow covered underground. The room had three stories, which had all collapsed into a large mass of rocks below.

    Taking the metal wire out of her bag and slipping the boots over her chilled feet, she began to set up her trap. She looped the wires into a noose and hid it in the snow on the bottom floor, in the center of food, which was partially eaten. Looping the wire around a broken pillar above the trap, she threw the end onto the second floor; it took her two attempts to get it to stay. Taking off her snow-covered boots, she scurried along the walls, backtracking to the first and second-floor staircase. Dropping a torn rapper piece on the floor and hiding her empty container at the foot of the stairs.

    Reaching her tossed wiring on the second floor, she threw it onto the third level, which took six attempts. Walking back to the staircase, she carefully took the stairs to the third level, which was half broken. She looped the wire around a pillar on the third level and lowered the rest of the wiring back down to the second floor; she took the path back to the second floor, behind a small bolder. It¡¯ll look like I hurriedly tried to hide my presence and make my way to the first floor.

    To place the finishing touches on her movements, she displaced several places in the dirt and added snow tracks. It¡¯s quick work, but all I need to do is magnetically charge the wire to the bolder on the second level and wait for the twins. I¡¯ll have to use a lot of Focus to apply the force, but that¡¯s a part of the trap. I¡¯ve never applied this much magnetic force to an object ¡­ we¡¯ll have to see if it can support the weight. There¡¯s also the possibility Mike isn¡¯t strong enough for this to work ¡­ but I¡¯m short on options.

    Pressing the wire against the stone, Helena concentrated on charging the polarity of the rock and wire to attract each other. Finished with the combination, she examined her work by pulling on the wire as hard as she could. The wire didn¡¯t budge, but that didn¡¯t mean it would hold. I just have to hope.

    She waited several minutes before seeing the twins light. ¡°Are you sure you sensed her ability being used here, Ireen?¡± Asked Hew. ¡°We did see hurried work at covering her tracks, but I don¡¯t think she¡¯s that stupid.¡±

    ¡°It means she¡¯s panicking!¡± Mike replied with glee.

    Hew sighed doubtfully. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. I think she¡¯s smarter than that.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re always worrying,¡± Mike cut off as he found her half-eaten food, ¡°Hey, Hew!¡± Mike clearly sounded excited. ¡°Check this out. She must have used this spot to catch her breath, you can see her food and that one¡¯s partially eaten. She¡¯s got to be close!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too close, Mike. I don¡¯t like how obvious it is and these footsteps are too plain. This is way too obvious for her.¡± I didn¡¯t expect Hew to be this cautious. Did Ventre order him to take it slow and be thorough? I¡¯d be prudent to be cautious since they can track me anywhere.

    ¡°You¡¯re always so cautious ¡­ she might have left another clue! We¡¯re so close, I know she¡¯s nearby.¡± Mike¡¯s tone was annoyed. ¡°We tried it your way, now let¡¯s do it mine.¡±

    Hew breathed heavily. ¡°If you want to take the reins on this one, that¡¯s fine, but try to think through this.¡±

    The sounds of crunched footsteps echoed around the area as they both approached her trap. Mike snorted. ¡°You always think that I don¡¯t contemplate my actions before I do something, but she must be fairly exhausted from all the exercise. She only has the body and mind of an eight-year-old, even if she is an esper, so are we and we¡¯re older. She¡¯s probably leading us away or was in the process of setting some kind...¡±

    Helena scraped her boots against the rock and slid a few pebbles to the edge as they stepped over the trap. They audibly clattered to the floor below. ¡°Up there!¡± Mike shouted as he turned. Helena quickly scooted back as a loud crack hit her floor. Just as I expected, Mike¡¯s too reckless and preemptively telekinetically blasted the floor in hopes of scaring me out or breaking the floor to reveal my hiding place.

    ¡°Mike, calm¡ªrun!¡± Hew bellowed. The stone floor began to crumble and the bolder crashed downward. The wire dropped with the bolder, causing her trap to spring right under their feet.

    The wire snapped shut around both of Mike¡¯s boots and one of Hew¡¯s, throwing them together as they sailed upward, upside-down. Their shocked voices were filled with panic and Mike threw out another telekinetic blast randomly striking a wall, causing it to crumble inwards.

    Helena scooted down some of the broken layers to grab hold of the taut wire next to her and sent a bolt of electricity through the feed. It ran across the thread and coursed through their connected bodies. They sized up as the energy hit them and fell limp. She was too far away to passively read their bioelectric activity, so she didn¡¯t know if the shock had killed them or not, but she doubted it with how much resistance the wire gave between them and her.

    Quietly moving back up the broken flooring to the second level, she licked her dry lips. Now I need to go back and find the Hoverfly since the twins are incapacitated the man¡¯s alone searching for me. He won¡¯t be able to corner me if I keep an ear out for footsteps and my position. Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed as she heard clapping below her and slowed, hiding behind a broken pillar. He¡¯s here. The twins didn¡¯t give him away at all.

    His deep voice held an edge of admiration. ¡°Impressive, to set this up so suddenly. I wasn¡¯t told you had metal wire or experience in setting traps, but I¡¯m assuming you had to use all of it to snare these two buffoons. After all, you can only carry so much with an eight-year-old body. No matter how intelligent you may be.¡± He isn¡¯t wrong. I used all the tread to make this trap, but now he can¡¯t block multiple paths and send the twins in for ambushes.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this trap used in quite some time. I believe the last I dealt with it was on the Palma Islands. There aren¡¯t a lot of espers there, but they made up for it in guerrilla warfare. They didn¡¯t like WITCH setting up a base on their Islands, but we¡¯ve mostly settled that.¡±

    Helena frowned. This man really is from some kind of WITCH high ranking division to have information like this. It sounds like he¡¯s from a different base than the Northern, why send him? Did he come all this way just for me? What kind of ability does he have?

    ¡°Do you know what makes guerrilla warfare so efficient?¡± He questioned with a deep chuckle. Helena heard heavy footfall. Scooting to a shadowy area, where she couldn¡¯t be visibly seen from below, she observed where the twins were hanging. She saw a dark-haired man step into the light, just below the two unconscious boys. He was dark-skinned and wearing a southern sleeveless black button-up shirt, black shorts, and sandals. How¡¯s he not wearing winter gear and not freezing?

    He bent down and grabbed one of her bait packets and opening it, he took a bite. After finishing the piece of food, he glanced around. ¡°Guerrilla warfare is effective due to several key components; weaponry, knowledge of an area, information on the opposition, mobility, and being undetected.¡±

    Helena¡¯s brow furrowed. What¡¯s his plan by talking so much, he was so quiet with the girl? It hit her with alarm. He¡¯s stalling! She bolted backward and dashed down the hall, back toward the room with the hole in the floor. She left her pack behind the rocks she had hidden it, it was too heavy to run with.

    A loud explosion billowed behind her, followed by a rush of hot air that licked her open skin. She glanced back to find a flash of orange burst through the hallway she¡¯d just been in. That could have killed the twins! Is he that ruthless? Well, they are disposable to WITCH. He was stalling while determining my most plausible location, based on the wiring. His ability is still unknown as well. That could have been an explosive and it also could have been Pyrokinesis.

    Helena¡¯s eyes snapped open in horror. Her perception picked up a multitude of metal wires a meter in front of her. She only had moments to come up with a plan of action. They could be attached to some kind of device, so using magnetism against it could trigger something; I also don¡¯t know what¡¯s beyond. If he set up his own traps throughout the building it will hamper my movements. I can¡¯t stumble into them blindly and I can only sense a meter in front of me without detection. I can use electro-stimulation to give myself an extra burst of energy to leap over the wiring and roll to the other side, but any action I take will reveal my location to the Tracker, I can¡¯t stop my momentum.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    This man has set up a brilliant counter trap. How did he know my visibility is limited? Does he know a bit about Kara¡¯s abilities and can guess what kind of tactics I¡¯ll use? Electricity flooded her muscles as she lunged over the wiring as far as possible, twisting and arching her back. She barely missed the top string. Extending her senses as she fell, she began to curl into a ball to cushion her fall and her breath caught in her throat at her electrostatic feedback. He trapped the floor beyond with wires as well! I¡¯ll fall right on top of one and they are connected to metal devices around the room!

    Helena gritted her teeth as she broke her curl to magnetically grab the attached item and pull it to herself. If I can just give myself some slack and arch my back. Her stomach dropped as she sensed the device snag. He hooked it on something further away, far enough that my perception can¡¯t see ¡­ does he know my ability that well or is he that paranoid?

    She sensed and watched the darkness as the device¡¯s pin unclick with trepidation burrowing into her stomach as time seemed to slow. Is this it? A flash of blinding light blared against her vision and a bang that deafened her ears shattered her concentration. Her internal image blacked out as she went completely blind.

    Her back sunk into the wire, the sting of the sharp metal digging into her suit¡¯s fabric and pressed against her back as a gust of dust swept up her lungs. Coughing violently as she fumbled to get off the wire, she scrambled to her knees, gasping. She grasped at her ears as a ringing blared around her stunned mind. Shaking her head, she opened her eyes to a blurred void, body quivering. She couldn¡¯t see anything, but the ringing in her ears slowly dulled..

    She quickly brought up her hand and bit down on her index finger, tasting blood. She had to calm her mind and racing heart. She breathed deeply but continued to shake as liquid started to gather in her left nostril. Extending her perception again, she swallowed a mouth full of saliva as she awkwardly hoisted herself up. Her reception was far from sharp, but it was the best her fuddled mind could produce. The ringing in my ears is throwing my balance off...

    She managed to stumble toward a hole, seeing through her mind¡¯s eye the multitude of traps. She barely managed to stagger past the many wires that lined half the room. This man¡¯s too intricate ¡­ did he really set all this up in under twenty minutes? If he set this many traps systematically then why is the hole clear? I can clearly sense nothing on the other side of the hole, but why? Deciding against the opening, she guided herself through the mass of traps as quickly as she could and slumped against the next room¡¯s wall.

    Reducing her field, she clasped her head between her hands and legs, trembling. Massaging her forehead, she blinked a few times and found she could start seeing the faint outline of orange from the last room. Rubbing her ears, she felt a low rumble above her, dust billowing downward.

    Sensing the flow of dust, Helena quickly covered her mouth and nose with her arm. She coughed as lightly as she could manage but didn¡¯t know how softly it was. Did he set some kind of timed mine on the ceiling above or could it have been triggered from the flash grenade sound?

    Helena¡¯s ears were starting to clear and another bang echoed from the room that the hole led to. Flames licked from the doorway to her left, expelling a current of heat and wind that scorched her skin. The thought hit Helena and she extended her senses as broadly as she could manage. This room¡¯s booby-trapped as well! He placed the device on the ceiling! Completely retracting her field to conserve energy, she stimulated her muscles and dashed toward the next room as fast as her body would carry her.

    As she made it through the doorway, she felt a blast of burning force explode from behind her, a shockwave struck her back, making her fly forward as dust expelled around her. Blistering pain spread across her back as she tumbled along the ground. Coughing and sputtering, each strike of the ground felt like a heavy blow crushing her body. Gasping in shock, she curled into the fetal position, trying to breathe.

    It took her several seconds to intake air and her body quivered jerkily. I¡¯ve stimulated my muscles too far ... any more and they¡¯ll tear ¡­ I can¡¯t move¡­ It took some time before she was able to get on her hands and knees, wheezing. She was sweating profusely, nose burned, vision wavering and heart pumping a hundred kilometers an hour. I¡¯ve reached my physical limit, but I need to get to a safe place. Maybe the next room ¡­ but I don¡¯t have any supplies now. I have nothing to escape with and it¡¯s taking all my energy to just sit like this ¡­ this man¡¯s a professional. Why send such a high profile person after me?

    Helena heard tongue-clicking in the next room. Her muscles shook with effort as she looked up, panting. Is it him? Light flooded the room as a blond-haired boy in his late teens walked through the entree way with a frown. He looked down at her, flashlight in hand. His speech was low and hard to make out, due to the flash grenade and shock waves that raddled her mind. ¡°Ben, is this the girl Lord Phantasm wants brought back?¡±

    A black haired boy stepped into the room. It isn¡¯t the man from earlier. This is a boy in his mid-teens. They both were wearing white snowsuits. ¡°Seems like her,¡± Ben said with little emotion as he appraised her. Who are these people? Are they with the other man?

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The gruff deep voice of the man asked. Helena craned her neck to look around and found the man exiting from a side room, the same one she was going to try next. She gulped as she shook on the ground. He was waiting for me. Has this all been a game to him?

    ¡°Seems Ventre¡¯s little group just barely missed their opportunity, but I think I¡¯ve seen this guy somewhere?¡± The blond haired boy said with laughter which cut with a confused expression as he got a closer look at the man.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± The man asked with dangerous eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t informed of...¡± He cut off as a transmission entered his earpiece. ¡°What!¡± He exclaimed with disgust. ¡°I was told that I was the only team involved with this capture. It sounded somewhat interesting with her being an Electro Master. That was the only reason I took this stupid request.¡±

    The two boys waited in silence as the man communicated with someone on his headset. ¡°I won¡¯t have my prize taken away by some snot-nosed brats; I¡¯m actually starting to enjoy myself! I don¡¯t care if that sniveling snake of a Prime sent them, this is my show and I have no obligation toward the Purple Faction.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened as smoke lifted from the ground and surrounded Ben. No, it¡¯s dust. ¡°I won¡¯t have you disrespecting Lord Phantasm, even if you are the leading expert in guerrilla warfare among the trainers in the Southern District and a Major in the Green Faction.¡± Is this Magnokinesis or Electrokinesis¡¯ sub-ability? Is he manipulating the iron particles in the dirt? No, I can¡¯t sense a magnetic field. This has to be Konikinesis, dust manipulation.

    The man studied the two boys with level eyes before sighing. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t I informed that Kara¡¯s interested in this girl? Well then ¡­ she¡¯s not worth that kind of trouble. This is a child¡¯s job anyways.¡± Crushing his earpiece, he threw it on the ground. ¡°Take the girl. I¡¯m returning to the Southern Base, I can¡¯t stand this bleak weather.¡± He grumbled.

    Helena felt the air suddenly change and fire erupted around the black-haired man. It flowed backward as if some form of pressure fed against it and a frosty mist expelled from behind the man, ice creeping up the walls. His eyes were wide with anger as he stared at the blond haired teen. His tone slow and cold ¡°Don¡¯t pick a fight with me boy, I¡¯ll destroy a Captain, like you.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t apologize for mocking Lord Phantasm.¡± The blond haired boy said with venom, but Helena could tell that he was unsure of his own action.

    Helena felt jitters start to well up in her stomach. She extended her perception and found the air pressure around the room was shifting unnaturally. Is the blonde haired boy a Nixukinetic or Aerokinetic?

    ¡°Talim!¡± Ben warned as the dust dropped to the ground without a puff. ¡°We aren¡¯t here to pick a fight with the Green Faction and in all honesty, we wouldn¡¯t last five minutes against a Major and a Thermokinetic at that. Let¡¯s leave, peacefully.¡±

    Helena felt the pressure gradually fade and so did the fire and ice around the man. He must be a high-level Thermokinetic, his clothing isn¡¯t even singed, but these two boys have very cohesive abilities. Pressure manipulation and dust, it could be spun a multiple of different ways. However ¡­ it looks like my escape ends here. I¡¯ll be taken back to the base and given a debriefing on my progress or that¡¯s what the emails predicted.

    The man quickly left back through the doorway a scowl on his face. Ben and Talim began to circle her as they examined her condition. Helena took a deep breath and sat on her butt, throwing her arms behind her for support. With a light smile, she said, ¡°I guess this is it then.¡±

    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s taking it surprisingly well, better than my first attempt. I threw a fit.¡± Talim said with a lifted eyebrow.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t stupid,¡± Ben replied with crossed arms. ¡°After all, she managed to make it this far on her own. Over five hours without capture on her first escape is very impressive, Lord Phantasm wasn¡¯t joking with his praise.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but look at her. She¡¯s a mess.¡± Talim laughed.

    Helena¡¯s arms collapsed as she sank to her back, feeling the burning pain. Being unable to do anything about the position, but wince and cry out. Her bundled up hair resting against the dust filled ground. I¡¯m completely spent, somewhat drained in ability, but physically, I''m done, I can¡¯t move. Her vision blurred. Laughing weakly, she waited. I seem to be developing a habit of passing out.

    ¡°What¡¯s she laughing ab...¡± Her mind blanked as she closed her eyes.

 B1 â€” 17. Fury

    Kara sat across from Delra, the Vice-President and Colin, the Orange Prime; she frowned at a few reports Delra had given her. ¡°Of course, Augnecia is planning on pushing the Roxium site. I told you it would happen when all the Primes are gathering here ¡­ you didn¡¯t think you could keep a lid on it, did you? You thought one General could take the place of a Prime...¡± Kara asked in disgust.

    Delra shrugged. ¡°Absolutely not, but we hoped it would at least keep them at bay for a bit. If things continue as they are, we¡¯ll have to spread a rumor that one of you are going down there to keep up appearances.¡±

    ¡°How stupid do you think the Deities are?¡± Colin asked. ¡°Trying to use the Primes gathering as a means to smoke out the moles is stupid and all of us gathering is stupid. They already expected it and with your track record there¡¯s a pattern.¡±

    Kara shrugged. ¡°True, Colin, but it could be a big win for us if we use that against them.

    ¡°Tenzen would never allow it,¡± Colin scoffed.

    Leaning back, Kara sighed. ¡°He won¡¯t, would he. He has that vision of all the Primes being together ¡­ the Rainbow Convergence.¡± Her voice laced with disdain. She folded her arms. ¡°I have several of my own faction at the site. I don¡¯t want them to be wiped out by the elite Bravert force Augnecia is sending ¡­ all it would take is to seed the information that we¡¯re going down there. They¡¯d likely think it¡¯s a bluff, one of us shows up and decimates the squad. There¡¯s no downside except that it interferes with Tenzen¡¯s vision...¡±

    ¡°What do you expect?¡± Delra asked with a shrug. ¡°Tenzen has wanted a stage like this for years. When you¡¯re as powerful as he is, why care about the Roxium site when he knows Deity control will only be temporary. He doesn¡¯t care about the lives there, they¡¯re expendable when he has dozens of more ants to take their place.¡±

    ¡°This is a disaster waiting to happen¡­¡± Colin sighed. ¡°What does he think will happen when he gets all the Primes together? We¡¯ll all tell funny stories? There hasn¡¯t been a large scale gathering since¡­¡± His eyes appraised her.

    ¡°I think, thank you, is what you¡¯re going to say,¡± Kara smirked, but it faded as her passive information mining fed back alarming information. Her nose twisted in fury as her eyes began to darken, the curse enhancing her base emotions. ¡°That maggot!¡± She screeched.

    Colin¡¯s brow lifted, an appraising gleam lit his eyes. ¡°Oh, Phantasm messing with you again?¡±

    The Vice-President stayed silent as she dashed out of the room, lightning birthed around her as she used electromagnetism to jet down the halls. Reception expanding greatly, she found what she was looking for through the digital information she received, she saw the recordings at the same time as the three-dimensional image of the entire base. Remotely cutting the power to the torture device, she flashed down halls at a blinding speed, most only noticing the whirlwind she left in her wake.

    Making it to the torture room within a minute, she ripped the door apart to reveal a shocked Ventre and several of his staff. Suspended from a device, solely designed to torture espers, hung Helena. Kara gulped reflexively as she saw the state of horror she was in, but something else caught her attention as she¡¯d moved here ... Ventre¡¯s current action.

    ¡°Why,¡± her curse was taking over, she could feel the seething hatred burning within her, ¡°why¡ªis your belt¡­¡±

    One of Ventre¡¯s men cried out. ¡°Kara, please, I had nothing¡­¡± He stepped forward and the lightning around her struck. A sharp and blinding flash lit the area as it struck the man, the energy throwing him back into the hallway, now a burning lump of smoldering flesh. The men and women screamed as the tried to make it to the door, but they didn¡¯t get a foot before arcs of lightning shot from around her, leaving holes in their chests.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Tell me¡ªwhy is your belt¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish the sentence, a tear sliding down her cheek.

    ¡°Phant...¡± Ventre yelled.

    Kara couldn¡¯t see Ventre, all she saw was a nightmare that twisted her vision as the cursed memories returned. She only vaguely knew what she was doing, doing to every nightmare before her, the fury she exacted.

    The machines dismantle with her magnetic influence, breaking into fundamental pieces as they twisted and churned. Helena dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap, the needles dislodging from her skin as she hit the tiled floor with a heavy thud. The water falling into a large grate in the floor behind her. Kara¡¯s face was a mask of wrath as she addressed Ventre, the nightmares before her. ¡°I¡¯ll eradicate you ... body, mind, soul, history.¡±

    The metal in the room twisted and thin steel wires entangled Ventre¡¯s body, throwing and holding him against the opposite wall. A large sheet slammed against the room¡¯s door, blocking the exit. The wires held him completely straight against the wall, ribboning his body, only showing tiny threads of clothing. It slowly shifted his body upside-down.

    ¡°Kara, pl...¡±

    A metal slab twisted and closed around Ventre¡¯s mouth, blocking any further words. Kara¡¯s enraged appearance didn¡¯t shift in the slightest. ¡°No Deity God, Reaper Devil...¡± The wires constricted, but only slightly. ¡°It¡¯s hard to describe...¡± Kara said with ice embedded in each word. Ventre¡¯s head squirmed as his eyes bulged tears flowing down his cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s best I just show you.¡± The steel wires began sliding over Ventre¡¯s hands and white skin shot backward as it was shaved away. ¡°If you hang a body upside down, they¡¯ll stay conscious longer through pain. Interesting fact, don¡¯t you remember?¡±

    Kara¡¯s hair was a tangling mess as it dancing above her head. ¡°I¡¯ll shave your pathetic.¡± The wires picked up their pace with a whizzing sound of metal spinning through the air. Blood started spitting back across the wall as threads dropped to the floor without further use, covered in crimson. Unable to scream, all Ventre could do was shake his head violently.

    ¡°Atrocious.¡± The wires moved up to his wrists, pieces of sheared white bone mixing with the blood, meat, and muscle shooting backward.

    ¡°Arrogant.¡± Extending to his forearm, the strands at his feet started. His boot¡¯s material spitting out as it moved down. The pressure slow and constant.

    ¡°Life from reality.¡± The cords reached his elbows and ankles, blood started to slide down the wall as pieces of his body started sticking to the steel sheets. Ventre¡¯s eyelids fluttered as his head convulsed, nostrils flaring. Two steel plates hovered to Kara¡¯s hands and she placed them over the two pieces, electricity sparking into it. They started glowing orange as they heated.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wipe you from every database on the planet.¡± The steel lines disappeared around his knees as the last of his arm disappeared and the two steaming metal slabs slammed against his armless sockets, sizzling as they melded with his skin. Small pools of blood started flowing down his front.

    ¡°Kill everyone you¡¯ve ever known and if someone so much as utters your name, they¡¯ll die.¡± The strands passed his thighs and started moving back and forth across his stomach, clothes shaving off before the meat.

    ¡°I¡¯ll wipe your abhorrent existence from the face of history.¡± Blood started expelling from his midsection as the metal dug, creating a cavity.

    ¡°You won¡¯t even be seen as an example.¡± The metal strings constricted around his crotch and an explosion of blood exuded from between the threads. ¡°Die, knowing you will be forgotten, erased.¡±

    Ventre died part way through. Kara¡¯s teeth ground together, shaking with wrath. She seethed. ¡°Feeble wretch.¡± White lightning traced itself around her and a colossal bolt of light engulfed Ventre¡¯s whole body. The thunders cacophony sounded with ear-piercing sharpness as the ground rumbled. When the light cleared all that was left was a smoldering ten foot blackened fissure and soft screams from further inside the building.

    Kara was trembling violently as she stared at the hole in disgust for several seconds before steadying herself and glancing over at Helena, a heavy sigh close to her lips as she appraised her work. The curse ¡­ I lost control again...

    She looked over at the purple and bruised visage of Helena with compassion. In a soft voice, she said. ¡°Sleep, Helena. This time¡ªget your strength back. We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯re rested.¡± A small spark of energy traced its way from her open hand, snaked around Helena¡¯s head to strike her spine and she fell limp. Contacting Belesis, she told her what had happened and to get there as soon as possible.

 B1 â€” 18. Testing the Water

    Helena felt like she was floating in a warm pool of water. Why do I feel this good? She stretched as far as she could extend, feeling soft welcoming fabric rub against her skin. The strong scent of mint floated around the room as air circulated in a faint current, she could taste the dryness of the lukewarm atmosphere. Her muscles didn¡¯t pain her at all. The burn they left was enjoyable as if they hadn¡¯t been worked in weeks.

    Sighing in bliss, she opened her eyes and stared at the blue ceiling. Several clouded panels were spaced across it, showing faded purple light. It seemed to cast a soft glow that lit the room but didn¡¯t hurt her eyes. Regulated ultraviolet lights?

    Blinking away sleep, she rubbed her eyes and shifted her head on fluff that she seemed to melt into. The wall to the left was yellow. It had a door attached to its right side and a full desk with a mirror in the center. To the right side of the wall was an elaborate full body length mirror.

    Turning her head again, she found the wall to the right, violet. It also had a door to the left side. However, the rest of the wall was filled with abstract paintings that Helena surprisingly found a mathematical pattern.

    Arching her back, she experienced several cracks in her spine and slid out of bed. She noticed her bare skin with shock. All the cuts and bruises along her legs were healed; showing natural sun-kissed medium tone skin that reflected the faint purple light above. My body was in an abhorrent state ¡­ but I feel completely fine.

    Placing her feet on the soft absorbent carpet, she made her way to the body sized mirror. Reached it, she froze. Her red diamond inlaid earrings and bracelet shimmered back at her through the dim violet overhead lights.

    Every cut, bruise, and even my teeth have somehow been healed, not replaced, but real white teeth are gleaming in my mouth. Both my adult Central Incisors on the top and bottom are fully developed. One of my lower Lateral is coming in as well.

    Running her tongue over her teeth, she found them perfect. They¡¯re even more flawless than before and every scar I¡¯ve ever received is gone, even the ones I got with Drake. Did Kara have this done for me?

    Taking a few minutes to inspect herself, she found not a single imperfection remained on her body. Finished, she bent down and unclasped the bracelet around her ankle, replacing it on her wrist. Again, that feeling when I took it off. Is my body just used to the metallic feel or is there a reason for it?

    Putting the thought away, she turned back to the room and examined the abstract paintings against the purple wall. Walking to the furthest painting to the right, she inspected it with more detail. The multitude of different shapes held a subtle geometric formula. By taking in all of the angles, dimensions, and degrees with their distance, she could work out an algorithm.

    Shocked, she realized it was a key component used for specific analysis in active electroreception, but it was slightly abstracted from her normal formula. She¡¯d never implemented this particular function into her calculations. It looked simple, but also held a strange complication in contrast; it had a strange addition that added different frequency settings.

    Moving to the next painting, she studied its design. She marveled at the complexity of the formula as she worked through cracking it. Fascinating ¡­ this one¡¯s an ingenious algorithm for electro-stimulation. It¡¯s way more complex than what I¡¯ve been using. It¡¯s worked out almost all of the pain issues and allows for a more stable stimulus.

    Staring around the room in complete captivation, she examined it more in detail. This must be Kara¡¯s private chambers, when did she make these paintings? Lips pursed, she examined the wall opposite the bed. It was green and held more paintings all along it, most likely also holding subtle meanings into the calculations of an Electro Master. Even the soft white floor was dotted with handcrafted carpets.

    Shifting her eyes to the bed, she examined its design. It was very intricate. Helena frowned as she followed the loops and curves. Amazed, she started to trace the angles with her eyes and calculate the degrees. It took her a moment to examine just a small piece of the bed, but it checked out. Even her bed had multiple algorithmic formulas worked into it and even more, it seemed to be shaved by something. Kara probably created it herself.

    Helena couldn¡¯t tell what the formula meant. It¡¯s complex, too complex for me to understand. I haven¡¯t worked out anything like this before and I don¡¯t know its catalyst or power requirement.

    Turning away from the bed, she inspected the entire room and found almost everything worked into a formula. She marveled at Kara¡¯s work. It¡¯s astounding she did all of this in an articulate manner. Was she posted at this base in her training days? Are all these pieces created to document Kara¡¯s findings without letting anyone know?

    The mattress, sheets, pillows, and blankets were all new. Not a single speck of dust was visible. Did she prepare this room for me in advance, maybe she still lives here?

    Opening the yellow wall¡¯s door, she found it a closet. The only clothing inside was a loose fitting purple long sleeved shirt, black tights, white socks, and shoes. Finally, a skirt that was made of some kind of course blue material hung on a separate hanger. It¡¯ll do. Getting dressed, she found a piece of paper in the pocket of the skirt. It read:

    Hey Helena, it¡¯s your amazing savior, HERO Kara! </img>

    I know you must be admiring my little arts and crafts work around the room. BE PREPARED FOR A QUIZ!!

    Now get some directions to the nearest cafeteria, I have someone that¡¯ll be waiting for you. He¡¯s been anticipating you for a while¡ªas I didn¡¯t tell him when you¡¯d arrive. *hehehe*

    Make sure you show up and greet him, he¡¯ll be the guy trying to act cool (you know ¡­ the glasses indoors type¡­).

    Catch you later you little Vixen! Btw ¡­ your new handle in WITCH is Vix, you know ¡­ short for Vixen (CUTE!! ^.^). I picked it out myself! Catchy isn¡¯t it!!

    Kisses to your beautiful little-dimpled cheeks! Electrolight out!!

    Helena huffed. She¡¯s certainly theatrical in her notes and ¡­ I don¡¯t have dimples?This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Looking into the desk¡¯s mirror, she smiled and found dimples gleaming back at her. Kara changed my facial structure ¡­ to show something she thought was cuter or is there a subliminal purpose? Helena was slightly annoyed, but it did look good on her.

    Looking in the desk drawer, she found a brush that seemed brand new; she quickly brushed out her tangled hair. Her hair seemed to have been washed. Her hand hesitated as she thought back on the incident with Ventre.

    Kara has a lot more power than I first thought possible and I know that wasn¡¯t her extent. She was too emotional to use her abilities properly, but is that normal behavior for her? In any case, I truly am out of her league ¡­ at least for the moment.

    A resolve fixated in her chest. I¡¯ll break past Kara. I have to if I want to escape WITCH. I just need to figure out how.

    Helena finished combing her hair and placed the brush back in the drawer, closing it. Going over the room again, she identified every algorithm formula, but she couldn¡¯t understand anything except the first two paintings. I¡¯m much further behind than I could have imagined. She let out a breath of anxiety. One step at a time.

    Exiting the room, she asked the nearest person for directions. Finding her way to the cafeteria, she looked for Kara¡¯s contact. There were quite a few people spaced around the room, only three tables were free. However, she easily identified her associate.

    Orange tinted aviator framed glasses were perched on his sharp nose and his black slicked back hair had at least half a grease bottle dumped into it. He had a black collared button-up long-sleeved shirt that had the first two buttons undone, showing his tanned skin and displaying a gold chain. His sleeves were rolled up, showing an HCID on his left wrist and a dark brown wood bead bracelet on his right.

    He must spend most his time in the southern hemisphere. His shirt dropped to his pockets, but the front portion of his button-up was tucked into his shirt, showing his belt buckle. It showed the design of two waves, an ocean pattern. His dark blue course pants weren¡¯t too tight, but fairly slim. They ended at his pointed brown boots that were made of some scaled beast.

    Five o¡¯clock shadow was evident on his gruff face as he turned to stare at her in the doorway. His square jaw showed a broad smile that framed his face. Thin lips turned into a grin and his thick black eyebrows lifted. Helena walked over to his table and he watched her approach in silence. Her reception picked up most the room staring at her. I¡¯m of evident interest.

    The man leaped out of his chair as Helena neared, moving around the table, he pulled the chair out for her. Helena took the seat, smoothing her skirt under her and closing her legs. She sat as straight as she could manage in the large lightly cushioned wood chair.

    Her hair began to vale a part of her vision. She tossed it back, out of her face and smoothed it behind her ears to keep it out of the way then placed her left hand just above her knees. She felt the strong force of the man¡¯s muscles scoot it back in and he quickly took his seat again. He smiled down at her with shining perfect teeth.

    Helena hummed for a moment before breaking the hushed atmosphere. ¡°How long have you been waiting?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry that pretty blonde head of yours, little lass.¡± The man said while leaning back and throwing his arm around the back edge. ¡°I¡¯d wait an age. After all, the Boss ordered it.¡± He had an odd drawl to his voice that Helena hadn¡¯t heard before.

    She hummed again as she examined the men and women moving around the room. There were butlers and maids of some kind taking food orders. They were moving from table to table, delivering food and receiving orders. Is this how all of WITCH¡¯s cafeterias run? It reminds me a little of the manor.

    Her mind turned to Emeldra, her personal maid that had taken care of her since she was brought to the Estate at the age of two. A ping struck her stomach as the homesick feeling came and faded. This is where I live now; I can¡¯t regret what I¡¯ve lost.

    Exploring the interior again, she noticed that most the people around her had a demeanor of higher standing. Each man and woman put off an air of superiority.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you seem like the proper little lass and your jewelry makes you seem slightly older.¡± The man commented with a chuckle. Helena cocked her head with confusion. Why would he say that? ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± he sheepishly took out a comb and ran it through his hair, ¡°I don¡¯t see many ladies besides the Boss sit like that.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°This is how I was taught.¡±

    Silence followed for several seconds, the man shifting uncomfortably in his chair. Extending her left hand across the table as best she could, she said. ¡°I¡¯m Helena, it¡¯s a pleasure.¡± The man fumbled with his hands as he took hers lightly. His rough fingers brushed against Helena¡¯s smooth skin. A physical man, what does he do to keep these calluses?

    He stuttered. ¡°Ye-yeah, pleasure and all¡ªI¡¯m Bolisquirantis ¡­ but the Boss calls me Booker.¡± A very long name, where¡¯s he from?

    Withdrawing her hand, Helena asked. ¡°Did Kara leave me a message?¡±

    Booker leaned back in his chair, seeming to regain his composure. He pursed his thin lips together. ¡°Well¡ªbasically, she told me to answer any question the lass had.¡±

    Examining the butlers and maids walking around the room Helena asked. ¡°This dining area is for higher ranking members of WITCH?¡±

    ¡°Yup, well¡ªkind of. I don¡¯t know if you could call some of these scavengers, higher ranked, just SOP. Some of these crawl fish here only want to check you out, little lass. Stake out the competition and all.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s some kind of contest that I¡¯m apart of?¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Booker said but cut off as a butler came to their table.

    ¡°What will you two have?¡±

    Booker waved his left hand. ¡°Just water for me.¡±

    ¡°What do you have?¡± Helena asked a rumble emanating from her stomach, resisting a blush. Booker interjected. ¡°Oh, for the little lass, my Boss ordered a full course meal, the special.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t argue, nodding to the butler. He left hurriedly for the kitchen almost as if he¡¯d been whipped. ¡°The Boss has a special reputation here,¡± Booker explained with a frown at the butler who disappeared around the back corner.

    ¡°Because she was stationed here for a while?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Pick up quick, don¡¯t you,¡± Booker said with a laugh, ¡°There¡¯s more to it. One of the staff here was told to poison the Boss at one point and somehow she knew it was tampered with, killed the person that ordered it a moment later.¡±

    ¡°She knew who ordered the food poisoned?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Guess so,¡± Booker shrugged, ¡°a lot of mystery surrounding the Boss. One of the biggest is her hatred toward swearing.¡±

    She thought back to the room incident with Ventre. Kara notably changed when she saw Ventre¡¯s belt undone and mentioned rape. After that, she lost control of her actions and reacted on some past memory. It¡¯s less of a mystery than Booker thinks and with the swearing ¡­ it must have been used in the process, profusely. It looks like it¡¯s had a lasting psychological effect on her. I know Ventre held some authority and Kara made some very serious threats before she killed him. She decided to bite directly. ¡°What happened to Ventre?¡±

    Helena¡¯s caught several people¡¯s eyes switch to their table. Our conversation is being noted and this subject seems to be a hot topic.

    ¡°No, no, little lass!¡± Booker whispered with a worried expression. ¡°You can¡¯t be saying that. The Boss¡¯ already killed fifteen people around the base. It¡¯s blacklisted.¡± Kara didn¡¯t go back on her word. She¡¯d drive Ventre out of this existence, certainly intense.

    ¡°What kind of person is Kara?¡± Helena thoughtfully asked Booker.

    ¡°Hm¡ªwell, the Boss is true to her word and takes good care of us. She can be blunt and dangerous once crossed. Whatever you do, don¡¯t swear around her or you¡¯ll feel the pain, even in the unit. Honestly, we have it better than any other faction, in my opinion. Some of those Primes can be,¡± he cut off with a glare around the room and lowered his voice, ¡°a bit sadistic, even to their own faction.¡±

    She frowned as she studied all the other groups inside the cafeteria. Are all these other factions then? It¡¯ll be important to understand each one. I have so much to learn it seems.

 B1 â€” 19. Valuable Information

    Helena glanced around the area, studying the different tables and noted several faces. ¡°Who are these people?¡±

    ¡°Eh¡ªyou could call them recruiters, passersby, and observers.¡± Booker said with a glance at a particular table in the back right. It had two empty tables next to it, making it the only table that no one wanted to sit next to. At the table sat Talim and Ben, talking to each other with small grins on their faces. They noticed Helena looking and Talim waved with a broad smile.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± Helena asked, studying Talim without acknowledgment. He shrugged and returned back to his conversation with Ben.

    Booker chuckled lowly but waited for the butler that just exited the back kitchen to set a glass of water and some kind of milk in front of them before answering. ¡°You¡¯re quite receptive, little lass. I guess that¡¯s a reason for the Boss¡¯ interest.¡± He shifted and glared at the table in the back right. ¡°Those fellas are the Dim Order.¡±

    ¡°Dim Order?¡± Helena questioned. Taking a sip of her milk, she was shocked to find how thirsty and hungry she truly was. The liquid was thick and pleasantly coated her tongue as it flowed down her throat.

    ¡°There are eight orders, in accordance to colors and each under one of the Eight Primes. The colors are Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Turquoise, Blue, Purple, and the Boss¡¯ new faction, White.¡± He took another sip at his drink. ¡°Most Primes send lower end members for recruitment as you can see around us, but the Dim Order ¡­ they¡¯re considered the weakest Faction. So they like having higher end members choose who enters their Pride. That¡¯s what they call their fold.¡±

    ¡°Pride,¡± Helena repeated softly as she stared at the two. ¡°I assume their Prime is known as, Phantasm?¡±

    Booker shifted uncomfortably and Helena felt his heart skip a few beats. ¡°How¡¯d you know that?¡±

    ¡°I encountered those two a little while ago.¡± She took another sip of her drink. ¡°Do you know them?¡±

    Booker¡¯s composure was back as he shrugged. ¡°I know most everyone in each faction.¡±

    That was a rather obscure answer. Why not say yes or no? She put it in the back of her mind as she listened to the rest of his explanation. ¡°You¡¯re right, Phantasm¡¯s their Prime. He¡¯s truly dangerous, spontaneous, and quite often calms his boredom with merciless games; the Boss has some kind of grudge against him.¡±

    Taking another sip of her drink, she set it down and asked. ¡°And the other colors?¡±

    ¡°If you want to know about all the factions then we can start with Red, Cassandra¡¯s Faction.¡± His eyes shifted to two teenage girls that sat at the table to Booker¡¯s back, talking quietly among themselves.

    At Booker¡¯s words, they sniffed and leaned closer to each other. They were twins, but could easily be told apart by the scars on their faces and arms. They wore plain red dresses and shining crimson hard sole shoes.

    ¡°The Red Prime¡¯s sect is known for their ¡­ passion. In fact, they call their sect Paroxysm. As I said, their boss is Cassandra.¡± Lowering his voice and head, he said. ¡°She¡¯s a violent woman, but she does truly love her recruits, sometimes a bit too much. She¡¯s explosive with her emotions and is the third longest living Prime, as of the current seats, at the age of twenty-eight.¡±

    ¡°Then Primes have a high mortality rate?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°There are only two ways to become a Prime and the main means is by killing the previous Prime of a Faction.¡± Helena nodded, waiting for him to continue.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s the Orange Group.¡± His eyes shifted to a table with the most people around it. Several people, two female and five males, were talking earnestly between each other. Helena found that each one of them seemed to have severe wounds.

    ¡°Never trust that group,¡± Booker warned levelly. ¡°They call themselves Peace Makers. Mean to say, they do a fantastic job at keeping order in their own ranks. Their group is fairly small but filled with powerful espers. Their leader, Colin, is adamant about loyalty and stresses it in his group. Their motto is: Trust each other and no one else.¡±

    Perplexed, Helena asked. ¡°How do they recruit new members?¡±

    ¡°Well, truthfully, they only take people Colin can intimidate and, by that, meet his expectations. Meaning, he only goes after those he can blackmail, but that doesn¡¯t mean he takes weaklings.¡± Booker said lowly. ¡°That makes them all the more dangerous.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s the yellow faction, Banana Glee,¡± Booker said with a glance at the table nearest the kitchen. There were three boys jovially eating their food while joking and talking about past experiences. ¡°They may seem like they¡¯re having a good time, but it can shift in an instant.¡±

    They both sat and watched them for a moment as a butler brought Helena her food. Two pieces of buttered bread, a side dish of blueberries, slices of cheese Helena didn¡¯t recognize and a strange type of meat. The butler took a set of silver wear off his tray and placed it neatly on a napkin left of the plate. He placed another napkin to the right side. Finished, the butler exited back toward the kitchen.

    ¡°Dig in!¡± Booker exclaimed with a grin.

    Her stomach growled, but she first placed the right napkin across her lap and then began to cut the food into bite-sized pieces. An approving voice from the table a little beside Helena commented. ¡°You have even more Western etiquette than Kara, a Noble¡¯s manner!¡± She¡¯d been waiting for his initiation.

    Helena sensed a single person at the table. Placing the fork and knife on her napkin by her plate, she turned her head to greet the man. ¡°Salutations.¡± Helena greeted, folding her hands across her lap while staring at the strangers light blue irises.

    ¡°Likewise.¡± The man said with a slight, but curt bow in his chair.

    Helena noted his legs were crossed and he wore a sharp black evening suit. His polished brown burgundy shoes hadn¡¯t a single scuff and his formal white tie was perfectly situated around his neck. The silver glint of an Augnecian style watch glinted underneath the slightly protruding white sleeve of his undershirt and a white encrusted diamond cane rested on the table beside him. He had closely trimmed black hair that showed no widow¡¯s peak. His broad rectangular face fit his chiseled nose nicely. He was broad and muscular, filling out his suit well.

    However, the most prominent article that caught Helena¡¯s trained eyes was a broad platinum ring that faceted a type two-a diamond that Helena knew was precisely twenty-two carats; its pinkish hue glinting in the white overhead light. The Felorne family ring, signifying its Head, but why is Rephenald Felorne at a WITCH Base?

    Peter¡¯s earlier conversation popped into mind. WITCH is funded by parts of the Great Houses. So, the Felorne¡¯s are a supporter. The Vandred and Felorne families were on speaking terms when I was kidnapped, but I doubt I¡¯ll receive any help from this man. Even if I¡¯m rescued, he¡¯ll feign total ignorance. ¡°Head Rephenald Felorne, I¡¯m truly astonished to find your esteemed presence at a WITCH Base.¡± Helena bowed slightly in her chair with her left hand across her stomach.

    Rephenald seemed slightly taken aback, but a wide grin spread across his face. ¡°Stimulating.¡± He mused while studying her appearance. Helena noticed Booker¡¯s slight discomfort as he stayed silent across the table. ¡°Judging by the gesture, I assume you¡¯re of higher birth and a part of a prominent Noble House, most likely a Great House.¡± He studied her for a few more seconds before his smile peaked. ¡°Yes, I can see it now. WITCH seems to have changed your cheeks slightly, but you bear a remarkable resemblance to Head Elis and Lady Vesla Vandred.¡± Helena bowed again, acknowledging his statement.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe your House is a part of the WITCH project.¡± He ruminated. ¡°Then again, I had no idea your House produced more than a single prominent heir.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t let her shock show, but this was truly eye-opening. My parents kept my birth a secret from the other Great Houses, for what purpose? Her life suddenly made so much more sense.

    ¡°What is your name, child?¡± Rephenald asked.

    ¡°Helena.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Quite the powerful name for a Vandred to be given and a great responsibility, I¡¯m curious if you¡¯ll be able to live up to its expectation.¡± He mused thoughtfully for a moment, before saying. ¡°I¡¯ll have to speak with the President about your appearance. In fact, since he¡¯s here ¡­ I might as well proceed there now.¡±

    Helena quickly scooted off the chair as ladylike as she could manage and waited for Rephenald to rise. Lifting from his seat and grasping his cane, he gave Helena a slight nod. ¡°Lady Helena, I take my leave.¡± Helena curtsied as he moved past her. Undoubtedly he¡¯ll find out Drake¡¯s WITCH¡¯s contact. What will he do when he finds out I¡¯ve been kidnapped? He¡¯ll most likely laugh and continue about his business. He has no obligation in helping me and would likely enjoy the sibling betrayal, it¡¯s dotted throughout House history.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Booker lifted from his seat and offered her the chair again, but this time he seemed pale. Helena took her seat once again and he scooted her in. Sitting back down, he stared at her for a few moments with scrupulous eyes. With a dry throat, he said. ¡°I had no idea you knew Head Rephenald Felorne.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Helena stated as she prepared to eat again, ¡°I merely recognize his position.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a Vandred though, right? Of the Main House?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Helena stated simply. ¡°I¡¯m the second in line to the Head.¡± At least, as far as I know, I am. With this latest incident, who knows, I may have more siblings. However, I need to concentrate on the present.

    Helena¡¯s attention was distracted as a commotion arose from across the room. A Banana Glee member had thrown their food across a butler¡¯s face. The boy yelled. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is what I ordered, is it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir. I¡¯ll fix this right away.¡± The butler said apologetically as he hurriedly cleaned up the mess and several more attendants stopped to help. He¡¯s frightened for his life; it must be a dangerous occupation.

    ¡°Yeah, you better.¡± Another of the Banana Glee members said with a threatening glare that was filled with disgust.

    ¡°Hey, peels. Keep it down!¡± One of the female Peace Maker¡¯s yelled.

    ¡°What did you call us!¡± The third Banana Glee member exclaimed.

    ¡°You know ¡­ peels ... like a banana or are you too daft to catch my witticism.¡± The woman replied with a high pitched laugh accompanied by the rest of her table.

    ¡°Say it to my face, cripple!¡± The third Banana Glee yelled.

    A low and gruff tone from across the room Helena recognized said, ¡°I¡¯m trying to eat.¡± Helena followed the sound to a burly dark skinned man that was hiding behind a few other tables in the back right of the room. He was alone and his eyes weren¡¯t even lifted from his plate. It¡¯s that Major from the Green Faction. I thought he was leaving? He still wore southern clothing, but the shirt¡¯s color had changed to a button-up blue shirt.

    She was surprised to find both the Banana Glee and Peace Makers return to their own conversation with hushed tones, but angry glares were thrown at the man. A Major must be a big deal.

    ¡°Ah¡ªhe¡¯s one of the Green Assembly¡¯s, Suppressors,¡± Booker said softly. ¡°And that one is a Major, so yeah ¡­ he¡¯s the highest ranking SOP in the room, including myself.¡± Helena wanted to ask him his ranking but decided to let him continue. ¡°Their leader¡¯s name is Brock, the leader of the largest Faction in WITCH. He doesn¡¯t really govern his Faction and lets them do whatever they want. Each of them fights each other to get stronger in hopes of killing their own Prime, survival of the fittest.¡±

    The lifestyle sent chills down Helena¡¯s spine. How can someone live like that? Well ¡­ I guess it¡¯s more like the style of a Noble. You never know which day would be your last. ¡°Does their Prime alternate often?¡±

    Booker snorted, which caused a few eyes to turn to him, but they quickly returned to their own tables. ¡°Oh¡ªno! In fact, he¡¯s the oldest Prime, almost in history, forty-eight. He¡¯s never lost and has an extremely dangerous ability, even the Boss¡¯ cautious of him, but let¡¯s continue.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s the turquoise assembly, also known as Shimmering Fiend. They¡¯re the second largest Faction.¡± Brook narrowed his eyes. ¡°Their leader Sevilla is a cruel and heartless woman. I¡¯ve never met her, but from what I¡¯ve heard, she¡¯s quite the sadist.¡± Helena sensed a small twinge in his heart¡¯s rhythm, it was a peculiar skip. She hadn¡¯t sensed anything like it. It wasn¡¯t like he was lying, but something else.

    His eyes glanced over at the closest table of people sitting next to the Dim Order. A single man and woman, they weren¡¯t talking or looking around. They were staring at the table in front of them with sullen expressions, cups meant for tea on their table.

    ¡°I hear they never smile unless they¡¯re committing an act of torture,¡± Brook whispered with disgust. Helena¡¯s brows furrowed as the same twinge shifted in his heart. She kept it to herself as she sat quietly eating her food as Brook talked. What are these twinges? Maybe they have something to do with his ability? She stared down at her mostly finished plate. The meal truly is good.

    ¡°Finally, there¡¯s the Blue Cluster. Their leader¡¯s name is Eizea.¡± Helena set down her utensils at her name. Oh ¡­ but, of course, Eizea would be a part of WITCH. It makes sense that she¡¯s a Prime. Booker leaned back and stared at the table in the center of the room. The table had a single man and woman. They seemed to have perfect eating etiquette as they talked. Helena knew these two had been watching her closely since Rephenald¡¯s exchange.

    They were dressed in the Noble fashion of the west, a style she was well accustomed to. The woman had faded green eyes, a long face, slightly curved nose, and large lips. Her medium length sturdy bright blonde hair seemed dyed from black as her roots indicated and worn straight, but flared outward at its end.

    She was wearing a blue satin dual-layer cut sleeve dress with an open curved neck showing gleaming emeralds and her large curves. The dress shifted colors from dark blue to faded white in the center and back to its previous darker sheen at the hem.

    Light blue heels situated around her delicate feet, and a single emerald toe ring was worn around her left middle toe. Her right hand was bare but had an emerald inlaid bracelet on her wrist. Two opal rings sat on her left hand''s index and ring finger.

    The man had shining black hair that was combed to the right side. Thin eyebrows, a pencil nose, thin lips, and smooth skin hinted that he could have been born from the southwestern areas of Elesveeve, Deity territory. He wore a silk black collared button-up undershirt and a black tie that was neatly positioned but was mostly covered by a dark gray wool Paletot overcoat. The overcoat had long sleeves that ended at his wrists. Its collar was flared outward and had a long V-shaped cut. It had no breast pockets, but two pockets on both sides near his stomach. His silk black pants were closely fitted to his legs and black hard soled shoes were polished, reflecting the overhead lights.

    ¡°You¡¯ll probably get the most pressure from those two,¡± Brook mumbled. ¡°They¡¯re a gold-collared bunch, well pretend Nobles. They like to pride themselves on being great, but it¡¯s only their leader that¡¯s a true Noble of a Great House.¡± His eyes glanced at the table Rephenald had been sitting at and Helena finished his sentence.

    ¡°Their leader is Eizea Felorne. I¡¯m well acquainted with her profile.¡± Drake had done an extensive course on the Primary Houses but had focused greatly on the Felorne Clan. Eizea was the next in line to the Felorne Head position. She was nineteen years of age, tall, had black hair like her father, light green-eyed like her mother, and dangerously powerful. Drake had said she was arrogantly blind when it came to her own mistakes. That she blamed everything on anything besides herself and she was very obsessive. She¡¯d been told Eizea¡¯s ability was to manipulate gravity, a Gravitokinetic. Helena picked up her cup and took a taste.

    ¡°Yeah, now that they know you¡¯re an actual Noble ¡­ they¡¯ll push fairly hard. So, be prepared when they corner you and try to convince you to join their coven.¡±

    Helena thought deeply for a moment, setting down her cup and staring at the remains of her food. ¡°Then I presume that I¡¯m not a full initiate into Kara¡¯s fold?¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªyou see it¡¯s kind of the initiate¡¯s choice to pick a side to fight for.¡±

    ¡°Fight?¡± Helena questioned, her eyes darting up to lock with Booker¡¯s glasses.

    ¡°Well¡ªmost initiates don¡¯t get the full run around like you are,¡± Booker whispered while clearing his throat. ¡°Usually an initiate would join the first person who showed interest. WITCH is a dangerous place like that and it¡¯s rare for a Faction Leader to take interest in a new Esper. Also¡ªyou see¡ªyou kind of got shot up a few levels.¡±

    ¡°I jumped up a few levels?¡± Helena asked with a frown. I was right to assume that I advanced past normal WITCH initiation.

    ¡°You see, your first test was to determine if you could become a part of WITCH. The second, however...¡±

    Helena cut him off. ¡°Was to determine my eligibility for the SSOP program, correct?¡±

    Booker almost leaped out of his seat before hurriedly moving closer to Helena and several eyes shifted her way. ¡°N¡ªno, where did you hear about that? That¡¯s a top secret, even in WITCH.¡±

    Helena hummed and cocked her head to the side. So, I still have to go through more tests to be considered a part of this SSOP program. Then what is this contest for? Just to be considered a part of these Factions?

    When Helena didn¡¯t answer, Booker sat back with a sigh. ¡°Anyways, this contest is to determine your eligibility to the SOP membership¡ªwith style, a spot in the different color sects, you choose.¡±

    ¡°What about the SOP initiation program?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Well¡ªthat¡¯s the unorthodox thing. Kara got special permission from the President himself to skip you by SOP training and throw you straight into this year¡¯s contestant lineup¡ªeven past the initiation ceremony.¡±

    Helena narrowed her eyes as they returned to her food. So, I¡¯ve jumped several stages to take part in some kind of competition and competition means losers. With WITCH¡¯s standard methods, I guess failure is death. She scanned the room¡¯s eating guests and this time paid close attention to their scars. Did they receive those wounds during a competition like this? Will it be a mission-based test or death matches with other contestants? Maybe even against already active SOP members.

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you about the competition itself as it changes all the time, but I can warn you that you have two days before deadlines hit and twelve hours after that to fully prepare, including picking a side.¡± They¡¯re forcing me in with quite the deadline.

    ¡°Most of the contestants have been personally training for two to three years for this ¡­ so be ready for a heavy fight, but they are still novices compared to SOP veterans. They come from the streets of Genesis.¡± Judging from Ben and Talim¡¯s ability as SOP, these contestants should have a decent grasp of their capacities. More than me it seems, especially considering what I¡¯ve seen Kara accomplish.

    ¡°Not only that but over the next two days, you¡¯ll be cornered by the Prime¡¯s recruiters. As I said, Eizea¡¯s group will be relentless, which actually is a good thing. It means that most the other Leaders won¡¯t be interested in fighting both Kara and Eizea for you.¡±

    ¡°No, I doubt those two will approach me, but I think you¡¯re partially correct,¡± Helena said with confidence as she looked over at Eizea¡¯s representatives. They were finishing their food and leaving the cafeteria quietly.

    Booker lifted an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Helena watched their exit with little interest. ¡°I assume they¡¯ll contact Eizea as soon as possible and Eizea will come to meet me in person.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Booker asked skeptically. ¡°The Primes are a very busy bunch. Even Kara couldn¡¯t be here because she has duties as a leader of a Faction.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see,¡± Helena replied absently. There was no doubt in her mind. Eizea will personally come and speak with me and I expect at least one other Prime to make an appearance. With how Booker¡¯s painting their rivalry and what I know so far about Kara¡¯s faction. They will definitely be interested in me, enough to come personally and try to convince me into joining them. The true question is ¡­ what I¡¯ll do?

 B1 â€” 20. Karas Challenge

    Booker¡¯s HCID beeped. With surprise, he glanced down as a holographic image popped up. A small avatar came into existence that looked somewhat like Kara. Smiling and winking, it brought up its hand into thumbs up. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be Tech.¡± Booker grinned down at Helena as he combed his hair again. ¡°Kara found some time to speak with you directly, little lass.¡± I expected as much. Kara did say she wanted to meet with me, but how did she know I¡¯m awake?

    ¡°I¡¯ve been directed to take you myself,¡± Booker said as he leaped out of his seat and rounded the table to pull out Helena¡¯s chair. She scooted off and they exited the cafeteria. She noticed every eye in the room on her again. Which of these Factions will actually approach me and who is my competition? I know a few will skip by me, because of Kara, but who will look past that?

    They briskly walked toward Kara¡¯s meeting place, Helena having to power walk to keep up. ¡°What did you mean by, I¡¯ll be Tech? Is that some kind of curse?¡±

    Booker smirked. ¡°Yup, so don¡¯t let the Boss be hearing you say it.¡±

    Slightly intrigued, Helena asked. ¡°What does it mean?¡±

    ¡°Well¡ªI¡¯ll put it this way. Tech believes in human evolution through technological integration, prosthetics. However, espers¡ªin general, believe in evolution through genetic selection.¡± Helena hummed thoughtfully and furrowed her brows in confusion. So it¡¯s something along the lines of a dead end or false direction, but what does that have to do with Kara¡¯s message?

    Booker laughed as he glanced down at her studious expression. ¡°I was wrong in thinking the Boss was too busy for you, little lass. I apologize.¡±

    Realization struck. ¡°Oh¡ªit was my ignorance,¡± Helena replied, ending the conversation.

    He quickly took the lead and went two hallways before realizing Helena was running to keep up. ¡°Oh¡ªagain, my apologies. I¡¯m used to the Boss¡¯ pace, she¡¯s a speed demon, always somewhere to be.¡± Does he have trouble keeping up with Kara? Booker¡¯s clearly taller than Kara by half a meter and quite muscular. How does Kara overtake him?

    Slowing his pace, Booker took special care to not outpace her walk. A few minutes later, Helena couldn¡¯t take it anymore and bit. ¡°How does Kara walk so fast? Does she use electro-stimulation to enhance her muscle movement?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªinteresting. Electro-stimulation you say, first time I heard that. Boss keeps her abilities on the down low. A lot of those Primes would love to know a few of the Boss¡¯ limits.¡±

    After turning a corner and stepping across a yellow taped line, Helena felt an odd disturbance that sent shivers up her spine. Her hair felt like it was standing on end and the back of her neck prickled. She quivered, recognizing a mass of unnatural electromagnetic fields of different frequencies and power bouncing around her. Uncomfortably, Helena asked. ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of all these strange fields? Is Kara causing them?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Booker replied, ¡°the dead room¡¯s up ahead. It¡¯s been designed to cut out most eavesdropping and there¡¯s much more than magnetic waves flying around to deter a sneak peek.¡± They have a room like that in WITCH? Why would Kara want to meet me in this dead room, to keep her techniques concealed?

    Booker stopped at a yellow tapped door. ¡°Inside is another door. You¡¯ll go through another after that to get to the Boss. The doors are designed to shut automatically and lock, so keep it in mind. Usually, there¡¯s a tenant that has the ability to open the doors in the control room, but Kara usually dismisses them.¡±

    Helena nodded and reached up to press the open button on the panel. The door slid open and she entered. As she reached the other side, the door closed and she took her first glimpse of the room interior.

    A mass of electro-generators were spaced all around a deep dark cavern below. It looks like from this point on the rooms are suspended and it¡¯s impossible for me to make heads or tails of my environment with electroreception. It¡¯s like lights flashing at me from every angle, blinding me.

    Walking past the next door, she found a hallway with different colored stone and metal running its length. As she passed, the stones closed behind her, sealing her exit. They must have used every material known to man, trying to make this a secure room. Are there sensors in the walls that can tell when a human is coming? How do they know to open up again?

    Entering through the third door, she found a simple wood table with wooden chairs surrounding it. Kara was sitting in the furthest chair from the door, a broad smile on her face as Helena entered.

    She was wearing a new outfit. A long blue downy u-cut sleeveless shirt that loosely hung to her hips, under the shirt showed the edges of a white tank top, sea foam green skorts ending at her upper thighs, and seafoam green open heels enclosed her feet.

    Opening her arms wide, Kara said. ¡°Welcome to the room of headaches.¡± Helena started to feel a migraine forming at the back of her skull. ¡°I anticipate you¡¯re starting to feel it,¡± Kara said with a grimace. ¡°Our brain tries to read the magnetic fields naturally and with all the mess, it¡¯s like turning around until you collapse in confusion.¡±

    Helena nodded stiffly and walking over to the table, taking a seat.

    ¡°Do you have any questions for me, Vixy?¡± Vixy? I guess she¡¯s adopted a pet name for me. I do want to know why she lost control. However, it seems like a touchy subject, but I might as well ask now. ¡°Why did you lose control in that torture room?¡±

    Kara¡¯s light and cheery attitude flipped instantly. Her brown eyes narrowed as they reflected on some deep thoughts and her face sank into a brooding frown. ¡°You certainly do aim with a point.¡± Her voice was like hardened steel as she studied Helena. It really must have been a traumatic experience for her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve deduced a rough depiction of what might have happened and I won¡¯t go into an explanation. On that point, I¡¯ll warn you about something you¡¯ve recently experienced.¡± What could that be, the torture?

    ¡°As espers, we use subliminal calculations to mitigate Focus consumption. It¡¯s an excellent way to conserve energy if you are weak in Focus Capacity. Yet, there¡¯s also power and danger in emotion, namely the basics.¡± Power in emotion?

    ¡°Anyways, that¡¯s not what I wanted to talk about. Now, where should I begin?¡± Kara thoughtfully hummed, her demeanor shifting back to its playful manner. ¡°Oh¡ªI know. How about we start with my room, what did you think?¡± Power in emotion, how is that possible for us, beings of intellect? I¡¯ll have to explore it further if she brings it up in the future.

    Helena thought for a moment before answering. ¡°I found almost everything had an algorithmic formula to it and from what I could determine, all were on Electro Master techniques.¡±

    ¡°Almost,¡± Kara repeated with a short huff. ¡°You seem to be further behind in ability calculation than I first imagined¡ªwhich is still interesting with your feats in the second test. However, you may actually require a few hints for this upcoming contest.¡±

    Helena repressed a frown. I don¡¯t like being told I¡¯m incapable in ability, but Kara knows better than me.

    ¡°What have you done in the past to exercise your ability?¡± Kara pushed. She¡¯s inquiring about my past to get a further understanding of my current ability level or some deeper purpose? Either way, I need whatever guidance Kara can provide.

    ¡°Usually I trained in electroreception with Drake. Examining how many insects are in my field, determining specific things he wants information on, and mapping my environment without vision.¡±

    ¡°You call your brother by his first name, instead of identifying him simply as your brother?¡± Kara said with a tilt to her mouth. Helena didn¡¯t answer as she pulled a few strands of hair from her vision. Why does she care and what does it matter?

    Sighing, Kara began playing with her brown hair. ¡°Only close observatory electroreception then. What about distance, how far can you sense these fields?¡±

    ¡°Five meters at best,¡± Helena replied.

    Kara burst out laughing. ¡°Funny! But really, how far?¡±

    Helena furrowed her brow. ¡°Five meters.¡±

    Kara¡¯s leaned back in her chair, dropping her hair to stare at the wall with pursed lips. ¡°You¡¯ve concentrated too hard on consolidated reception, which is limited unless combined with ¡­ other aspects.¡±

    ¡°How far can you sense?¡± Helena asked interest piqued.

    Kara grinned and winked. ¡°I can¡¯t give you my exact parameters, can I, but I can say it¡¯s more than ten times yours, while still being very safe.¡±

    Helena felt a shiver run up her spine. She can sense at least fifty meters. That¡¯s a long distance.

    ¡°Tell me everything you can do with your ability,¡± Kara ordered while pressing her feet against the table¡¯s centerpiece to balance her chair on two legs.

    Hesitantly, Helena complied. ¡°I can manipulate computer equipment faster than can be input by hand.¡±

    Kara¡¯s lips twitched with a smile. ¡°Abstract for a young Electro Master and quite intricate, which means you have the brain, anything else?¡±

    ¡°Besides that ¡­ I can produce an electrical shock and I¡¯ve recently discovered how to use electro-stimulation to heighten my physical aptitude. Lastly, I can reduce and extend my static field to perform magnetic functions.¡± Helena said, now feeling underachieved.

    Kara hummed for a moment and put her hands behind her head while flipping her hair out. Her eyes wash over Helena before saying. ¡°Quit sitting so properly, I do it enough in public."Helena tried to ease her muscles and sit more comfortably. ¡°You call that loosing up?¡± Kara smirked. Her face lit up. ¡°What did you think about the dimples?¡±

    ¡°I think ¡­ they look cute.¡± Helena awkwardly shifted in her chair.

    ¡°I know, right!¡± Kara exclaimed. ¡°I had my group¡¯s Biokinetic personally go over your every fiber with perfection¡ªor maybe I should say imperfection!¡± She giggled. ¡°She¡¯s brilliantly talented, my Biokinetic. Although, she can be a bit of a nuisance ¡­ and she always calls me names.¡± Kara huffed with a pout.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Clearing her throat, Helena asked. ¡°Was there a purpose behind the change?¡±

    Kara hummed thoughtfully. ¡°Well ¡­ I originally did it because I thought you¡¯d look super cute, but then I realized that you were a Noble and Eizea would be after you in a heartbeat if she found out.¡±

    Helena uneasily said. ¡°I don¡¯t think that worked.¡±

    Kara brought her left hand up to her mouth and lightly bit down on her thumbnail before saying. ¡°Why not, did someone from her cheerleading club recognize you?¡± Cheerleading club, is that Kara¡¯s nickname for Eizea¡¯s group or their real handle?

    ¡°No¡ªI ran into Head Rephenald and he recognized my mannerisms.¡±

    ¡°Shoot!¡± Kara exclaimed as her chair slammed back to its four legs and a frown lit her lips. Kara let the silence continue as she brooded on something but soon perked up. Anticipation washed over her features and she bounced at the edge of her chair. ¡°Oh! Smile for me!¡± Helena tried smiling but knew it came out inelegantly. ¡°Adorable!¡± Kara exclaimed. Her demeanor changed back to present a more serious position. ¡°Anyways, what could you connect with in my old room?¡±

    ¡°The only paintings I could properly identify and link with my own ability was the first two on the violet wall.¡±

    Kara closed her eyes. ¡°Electro-stimulation and...¡± she paused for a moment. Opening her eyes narrowly, she leaned in. ¡°What did you identify in the painting on reception, specifically?¡± Helena frowned but decided to confess her ploy. Kara grinned before she could respond. ¡°I see. You were trying to get me to tell you its purpose. A clever little trap you set there. However, that painting¡¯s a bit more complicated than I¡¯d expect you to understand; as of now anyways and wouldn¡¯t suggest trying it, not as you are.¡±

    Helena¡¯s stomach tightened. Kara read my heartbeats in a very advanced way just now, but how? With all these randomized fields, I¡¯m getting a headache trying not to discern my environment. Although, she is considered the most powerful Elector Master, so I shouldn¡¯t be too surprised. Kara¡¯s room must hold powerful techniques she developed, I could learn a lot.

    Kara shook her head with a sigh. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of things you don¡¯t seem to know about Electro Masters ¡­ for being one, Vixy.¡±

    Helena let a hum resound in her throat before answering. ¡°Are you going to teach me then?¡±

    Kara¡¯s grin was still in place as she began to replicate Helena¡¯s hum. Stopping she said. ¡°I¡¯m a very busy person, Vixy. I have an entire Faction to run and counter a multitude of subtle attacks by more than just the Primes.¡±

    Helena folded her arms and cocked her head. Then why did Kara want to meet me in this room?

    Wonderingly, Kara asked. ¡°Is tilting your head when you¡¯re perplexed a habit?¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened and she straightened her neck. She caught on so quickly, but Kara herself seems to have a lot of gestures. No ¡­ maybe some of them are ploys to fool people, but I have noticed she¡¯s quite antsy.

    A grin spread across Kara¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re raw and fairly untrained. Your brother didn¡¯t exactly know how to train an Electro Master I presume, but that makes my task easier.¡±

    ¡°So you will train me?¡± Helena asked, furrowing her brow.

    ¡°I wonder, Vixy?¡± Kara said with an impish grin.

    Helena only had moments to identify a strong magnetic field being thrown at her. This was different from the ones bouncing around them. This was polarized and very strong. Helena felt her body lift off the chair and slam against the opposite wall. Air escaped her lungs as she struck, coughing, she tried regaining her breath. She couldn¡¯t move a finger, even her breath was hard to draw. Kara¡¯s using an electromagnetic field to press against my static field? She¡¯s pinning me against the wall with my own natural field!

    Reducing her field to its minimum, she found Kara increasing her own. Even at my weakest, she¡¯s still being able to pin me. Flipping the polarity, she braced herself to be pulled toward Kara. However, she didn¡¯t even feel a twitch. Kara flipped her own polarity at the exact moment I had? Is that even possible?

    ¡°What will you do now, little Vixy?¡± Kara¡¯s tinkling laughter lingered around the room as she leaned against the table, her hands resting under her chin.

    Helena glanced down. This isn¡¯t a game to Kara. She¡¯s testing my ingenuity. Meeting Kara¡¯s eyes, she concentrated. I can¡¯t strengthen my field or I¡¯ll be smashed. If I flip my polarity then she¡¯ll flip hers. Then I¡¯ll have to try and interrupt it with another electromagnetic field. Electricity traced itself around Helena¡¯s frame as she generated the strongest electromagnetic field she could and tried to push against Kara¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t even feel a millimeter of slack.

    ¡°I¡¯ll win every time in force, Vixy. Better think of something quick, it¡¯ll only grow stronger.¡± Kara advised.

    Helena felt her body being increasingly pressed against the wall and air being involuntarily released from her lungs. She¡¯s right. If I don¡¯t come up with something ¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯ll happen? Her field will eventually crush me against the wall or my field might be ripped from my body. I don¡¯t know what that will do, but I¡¯d rather not find out.

    A thought struck her. All magnetic fields have a frequency. If I find that frequency, I might be able to counter it without applying as much strength as Kara. Assembling the calculations, she tried mapping out the fields¡¯ frequency, but with all the interference it was impossible. Of course! All the frequencies I need are around me. I just need to direct them. Concentrating, she began pulling every field she could control and directed them at Kara¡¯s field.

    Kara smiled. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± Helena dropped to the ground and barely managed to catch herself. Breathing deeply, she wobbled on her feet and slowly eased her heart rate. ¡°Good, well. That was a quick lesson, but honestly, I don¡¯t have time to train you right now. So instead, you can rely on my room to instruct you.¡±

    ¡°Your room?¡± Helena repeated, sniffing back liquid in her nose. ¡°I don¡¯t have a room?¡±

    Kara winked. ¡°I¡¯m giving you my old room. Everything you need to pass the contest and more is on the floor. If you master everything on the carpet, you¡¯d jump up to a level forty, easily. However, levels on the CAF¨¦ chart only get harder to achieve, so be prepared.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°How am I supposed to learn from the things in your room? I don¡¯t know how to apply the algorithms.¡±

    Kara sighed and pursed her lips. She looked slightly annoyed, but the expression quickly vanished. ¡°You aren¡¯t completely wrong, so I¡¯ll give you a small demonstration of a very important skill for us Electro Masters. Work back the algorithm and then the process of determining how to narrow down its applications. Watch closely!¡± Kara instructed.

    Helena tried her best to filter out the string of randomized fields to concentrate on Kara. Electricity gathered around her body and a string of energy shot out toward the side wall. Kara gracefully leaped off the ground and quickly rolled in the air from a vertical position to a horizontal, while shooting to the wall, where she stood.

    Her hair hung straight with her back as if gravity had shifted directions, she seemed to have no problem whatsoever at keeping her body horizontally positioned on the wall. Crossing her arms, she said. ¡°You see? We can polarize ferrous objects to attract our field. Thus allowing us to climb up walls, well ¡­ that are made of ferrous material, eventually, you can scale cliffs with only minor iron deposits.¡±

    She winced as if remembering some early memory. ¡°However, watch out for loose sections and be mindful of your surroundings ¡­ to what you can leap to ¡­ speaking from past experience, it can be a painful encounter.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Helena whispered while analyzing the fields Kara was creating. Electricity sparked around Kara¡¯s feet as she moved, reaffirming her grip. ¡°Am I strong enough to accomplish something like that? I don¡¯t think I can hold my own weight with my field.¡± Helena said doubtfully.

    Kara put her hands behind her head as she walked up the wall and across the ceiling. She stared down at Helena thoughtfully. ¡°If you don¡¯t think your field¡¯s strong enough, use it more often.¡±

    ¡°Come again?¡± Helena asked, cocking her head.

    Kara hummed lightly while taping her lower lip with her index finger. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re grasping the implications of this little trick.¡± A trick, meaning there¡¯s some kind of hidden aspect I¡¯m not getting...

    An exasperated sigh left Kara¡¯s mouth as Helena unconsciously cocked her head. ¡°You seem to catch onto minute details quickly, but skip past the broader image!¡± Electricity expelled from around her body to the ground and she tucked into a ball. Flipping once to right herself, she smoothly landed on one foot and regained her proper position to gravity.

    She muttered. ¡°And I¡¯m being so obvious about it.¡± Straightening her clothing, she said. ¡°Using electromagnetism against ferrous materials, you can ease your physical effort. If I¡¯m not mistaken that¡¯s one of the major issues with your capture. Use it to give an extra spring to your step. Eventually, like me, you can move at mind-bending speeds with three degrees of freedom.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened with understanding. Why didn¡¯t I think about it in that light? This is why Booker has a hard time keeping up with Kara. She doesn¡¯t even exert her muscles. She uses her field to walk faster.

    Kara giggled, but her mouth slowly turned into a frown. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can just pick this up either, you¡¯ll have to work on it and figure out some more tricks. Also, your current Focus restrictions will be a bit of a problem later on. I think you¡¯ll understand at some point in the future. In fact, I think I¡¯ve said too much, more than I planned.¡± Helena stayed silent as she passively went over the field strength, frequency, and variations Kara had used.

    Continuing, Kara said. ¡°After all, you have two days to decide whether to join my side or one of the other Primes. Make your decision wisely, little Vixy.¡± Kara said as she walked toward the door. ¡°I accelerated your progression. So I¡¯ll give you a few pointers to catch you up, but don¡¯t expect any more hints on ability until you¡¯ve joined me.¡±

    Helena watched Kara leave with a troubled expression. Until I join ¡­ not if. Kara expects me to enlist under her group. Then again, it¡¯s my best bet at getting stronger. She¡¯s already given me extremely valuable information on more advanced techniques as an Electro Master.

    She noticed there was a note on Kara¡¯s chair with a small pill bottle. Did Kara leave it? I didn¡¯t even notice. Walking over to the bottle and examined it, she didn¡¯t find a description. Does she expect me to take these? Picking up the note she read:

    Heya, little Vixy!! Your lord and savior Kara speaking!

    I knooow you must be mentally exhausted from these annoying fields (but you really should recognize the trick to keep them from messing with you ¡­ you need so much work), so I left a little gift.

    These will take the edge off your tiny headache, while not messing with the important stuff. *wink wink*

    Aaanyways, I left an HCID in your room for updates and a little schedule for you. FOLLOW IT!!

    *ahem*

    I know some of the steps may seem a bit ¡­ eccentric¡ªno, maybe challenging¡ªno, not that ¡­ hmm. I know!! It may seem a bit babyish for you, but I believe you can manage!

    It also has a list of my little gang. Don¡¯t feel like a stranger (it also has my own little tidbits with each name) in reading over them.

    <.< ¡­ >.> It could be valuable information to the enemy!! Make sure to keep it safe (I trust you little Vixy!)

    BTW! Oh! Oh!! Kisses from the Boss!! No!! I mean your Lord and Savior KARA THE MAGNIFICENT!!

    Helena grinned lightly. She really is eccentric in her letters; maybe it¡¯s a way to express herself. Picking up the bottle, she opened it and examined the thin purple tablets inside. Do I trust Kara enough to take them? She closed the lid to the bottle. They may be perfectly fine, but no. Kara¡¯s trying to recruit me into her Faction, of course, she¡¯ll try and be helpful, but that only goes so far. I¡¯ll use Kara for what I can and then leave WITCH. So far, I seem to be making great progress.

    Putting the paper and pills in her pocket, she moved to the door. Pulling on it, she found it locked. Sighing, she remembered Booker¡¯s earlier comment. The door will lock behind me. How did Kara get through so quickly, familiarity with the circuitry?

    Frowning, Helena probed the door and found the reroute harder than the previous doors. Did Kara do something to it? It¡¯s still manageable; maybe it¡¯s harder due to my headache? It took several minutes to get past all three doors, but eventually, she left that annoying area behind her and headed for Kara¡¯s old room, now hers.

 B1 â€” 21. Learning A New Technique

    Helena stopped outside the yellow taped line and began examining her field. Throwing her static field under her feet, she tried to add resistance to the floor. Her legs wobbled and she flew off balance. Tumbling to the floor, she barely managed to catch herself.

    Light laughing came echoing around the next corner. Helena hurriedly got to her feet and straightened her clothing as she continued to Kara¡¯s room. As she turned the corner, her passive reception returned moments too late as she saw the bioactivity of three people rounding the corner.

    She quickly sidestepped, dancing around them. I should have been using passive reception sooner, but my head still hurts¡­ She found the three boys were the Banana Glee members. Booker hadn¡¯t finished his explanation on them or their leader. In fact, she knew the least about this group.

    ¡°Look what we have here, boys.¡± The boy with a blue t-shirt said. ¡°It¡¯s that girl Booker was with.¡±

    The boy with dark skin and curly hair nudged the boy next to him that had a yellow cap. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty high profile for some greenie and look how young she is. Don¡¯t you think, Greg? Kara¡¯s interested enough to send a Captain.¡± Booker¡¯s a Captain? Why did Kara send him? He probably has a lot of other work to do himself.

    Greg studied her for a moment, while the other two boys hovered around him. ¡°What¡¯s your name, little girl?¡± They were violent when they didn¡¯t get their way at the cafeteria, even with high profile people around them. Greg seems to be their leader; what¡¯s his rank?

    ¡°Helena.¡± She replied, while slowly putting a gap between them.

    ¡°So, what makes you so interesting?¡± The boy with the blue shirt asked as he stepped closer. The curly haired boy held out an arm to halt his advance. ¡°C¡¯mon Ted, give the little girl some space. She¡¯s obviously frightened.¡±

    ¡°My bad, James,¡± Ted said with a sheepish grin as he backed off.

    ¡°So,¡± James said with a look down the hall, ¡°just leaving the Dead Room, eh?¡±

    Helena nodded silently. I could run, but I can tell these aren¡¯t ordinary contestants. They could be recruiters, already SOP members like Talim and Ben. That means they¡¯ve already passed a similar test I¡¯m supposed to go through and even Kara thought it¡¯ll be difficult for me. I can¡¯t escape these three. I¡¯ll have to talk my way out.

    ¡°Who could you have been meeting in the Dead Room? You¡¯re brand new.¡± Ted asked with raised eyebrows.

    ¡°Kara wanted to speak with me. Is there a problem?¡± Helena asked with innocence.

    The three boys looked shocked. Greg furrowed his brow. ¡°Really, the electric eel herself wanted a little get-together.¡±

    James whistled. ¡°High profile, what did I say. Fatchna will want to hear about this¡±

    Greg stood still with a twinkle in his eyes before a smirk lit his face and he bowed lightly. ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll be on our way ¡­ Lady Helena Vandred. I¡¯m sure your performance will be spectacular.¡±

    James and Tim gave sounds of recognition as they nodded and started to walk away with Greg, talking loudly. ¡°So¡ªthat¡¯s why Head Rephenald showed her respect, she¡¯s a Noble!¡±

    Helena watchfully followed their exit around the corner. Greg knew my name and my affiliation from the start. He wanted to see what I¡¯d say once confronted. I really am in a dangerous game.

    Continuing to Kara¡¯s room, she tried several times to copy Kara¡¯s fields without effect. Every attempt she completely lost control and fell to the tiled ground. She picked herself up for the fifth time with annoyance, she found her hair had gained a static charge. Extracting it, she pondered on her current calculations. I extend, push and it¡¯s like the field collapses beneath my feet. What formula am I missing?

    She stopped by the cafeteria to grab a water bottle and found all the recruiters and competitors had left. Not a single person was eating. Getting the bottle from a butler, she walked to her room. Entering, she scanned for the HCID and found it on the bed. Tossing the bottle onto the blankets, she jumped into the soft fabric.

    Lying down, she pulled up the device and brought its cores under her control, realizing it was emitting a strange magnetic frequency she hadn¡¯t felt before. It seemed to follow a pulsating pattern that reminded Helena a little of Kara¡¯s manipulations. No ¡­ I did sense this shifting array back in the Dead Room. What¡¯s it for?

    Taking it out of sleep, the image popped up and asked for a name. She pensively examined the holographic screen. Kara would¡¯ve given me a user account, but what name is it under? Typing the name Vix, she entered the command. A box appeared, pushing the others behind. It read:

    Hey, my little Vixy! Your Lord and ¡­ hmm, that seems to be getting old. How about Florescent Wonder! Yeah! That sounds good ¡­ from the top!

    Hey, my little Vixy <3! Your Florescent Wonder talking!

    I¡¯ve issued this little device just for you (am I nice or what)! For your thoughts, your password! It¡¯s¡­¡°shockyfoxxyloxxylove.¡± Isn¡¯t it cute!!

    Now, I¡¯m a little disappointed you didn¡¯t ask about the ¡®minor¡¯ detail that your brother made a deal for your capture (I can¡¯t blame you for it slipping your mind though >.> you had a pretty rough time)! And yes ¡­ I noticed your little online adventure! *wink wink*

    To answer your now internal queries, yes, you CAN train under me ¡­ but the President thought it would be fun to see if you¡¯d choose someone else ¡­ it¡¯s not a breach in word since he told me to teach you a little ¡­ he¡¯s such a weasel (gotta be polite *blah!*)...

    Sooo ¡­ make sure to glance over the data I sent you! Oh and FOLLOW THE SCHEDULE! Anywhoo, to grab the information, you¡¯ll have to download the email app. You don¡¯t have to go over the profile names of my team yet. You really should be practicing that technique I showed you (I giggle as I imagine every fall you took with vivid detail ¡­ I wasn¡¯t peeping?!) Topaz Brilliance out!! KISSES!!!

    The corners of Helena¡¯s mouth twitched. She changes her style little by little. She¡¯s right though, I can¡¯t believe my brother¡¯s demands slipped my mind. So, Kara wants to train me ¡­ all the attention she¡¯s showing me, it¡¯s like she¡¯s begging for it ¡­ why? Her head tilted as she failed to come up with an answer. Realizing her action, she righted her head. I need to break this habit! Kara picked up on it in an instant and I bet there are others just as observant as her in WITCH.

    Inputting the password, Helena watched the main holographic image display. She quickly began to scan the hard drive for information. The only thing active on the device was the server link. Activating it, she found a window pop-up with downloadable apps. She hummed. So, this is a brand new device and I can put anything I want onto it.

    Probing the addresses linked to the device, she smiled. This device isn¡¯t being monitored unless it¡¯s by the main administrators ¡­ of course, maybe Kara is monitoring me with her previous comment. I don¡¯t know if I could catch her programming ¡­ she¡¯s so much stronger than me.

    She began downloading the only application she¡¯d immediately need, the email program. Opening it, she typed Vix as the name and her previous password. The window expanded to show three email links. They read Kara¡¯s Crew, Training Schedule, and Last Minute Thoughts.

    Kara said not to be worried about knowing her members right away. First opening the training schedule, she read its contents:

    Hey Vixy! It¡¯s me again! You know ¡­ your Yellow Knight with a Glimmering Lightning Stallion!Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    I know that you¡¯re a little-lost sheep right now (makes my heart thump with a sudden urge to kiss your dimpled cheeks!!), alas, I¡¯m super busy (HATE YOU SEVEN PULPS!!)

    So, I decided to write you a little training schedule.

    This is what I did a few days before my first contest (I DID NOT FAIL!! REMEMBER THAT ¡­ I just ¡­ didn¡¯t make it to the end¡ªyou know ¡­ stupid reasons that don¡¯t need to be mentioned ¡­ yeah ¡­ I¡¯M ELECTRIC!!)

    For your schedule, you will ¡­ STUDY ART FOR TWENTY-TWO HOURS STRAIGHT! Then get a vast two hours of sleep and BACK TO YOUR FINE ARTS STUDY (Aren¡¯t I talented!!)

    ^.^ ¡ª >.> ¡ª o.o WHY WOULD YOU THINK I¡¯M BOSSY ¡­ oh ¡­ I AM A BOSS!! Joking!! I know you think I¡¯m fantabulous!!

    YOUR EMPRESS HAS SPOKEN!!

    *Blows a kiss*

    P.S. KEEP THIS DEVICE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES!!!

    Helena lifted an eyebrow as she finished. Kara must have time if she can write these kinds of letters. So, she wants me to study the paintings without any practical training?

    Backtracking to the emails, she brought up Last Minute Thoughts:

    Hey Vixy, it¡¯s the Deity of Dedication!

    I do remember telling you to just study art in that secluded, dark, and oppressive room ¡­ well, when I put it like that. NEVERMIND!! I know I told you no more hints ¡­ but after talking with you and giving it a little thought, I understand that you may need some more ¡­ applied training.

    So, as of now, I want you to go around the room and look for a formula that suddenly catches your interest. Once you¡¯ve gone over it, I want you to click this drop box below for further instruction ¡­ I¡¯ll know if you cheat! BOW DOWN MORTALS BEFORE MY ALL SEEING EYE! *hehehe*

    ---> Hidden Information <---

    Humming, Helena set the device down and scooted off the bed. She¡¯s much more fundamental in this note. Walking around the room, she began studying the paintings and still, nothing popped out at her. Glancing down, one of the rugs algorithms seemed to leap out.

    She stretched before bending down to examine it, brushing her hair out of the way. She couldn¡¯t place her finger on it, but she¡¯d witnessed these kinds of numbers in the Dead Room with Kara. Had it been from the random magnetic waves, Kara¡¯s field pushing against mine, or her walking technique?

    Unconsciously she cocked her head as she thought; she went over the calculations and added them to formulas. Thinking back on Kara¡¯s example, Helena found a particular scene floating to mind. The moment Kara landed. The electrostatic tether touched the ground and gave the iron bars embedded into the stone floor an opposite charge to her personal static field. I¡¯ve tried that and it keeps falling apart as my static field touches the resistance of the polarized rod. What am I doing wrong?

    Adding the mat¡¯s algorithm to her calculations, she lifted off the ground and moved to the green wall. Placing her foot against it, she added the calculation to the iron rods and pushed her static field against it. With a sharp spark, she found her foot stuck. Something¡¯s changed, it caused a spark? She tried to remove her foot and found it wouldn¡¯t budge. I¡¯m not even adding any more Focus to the charge, yet my foot¡¯s stuck. It¡¯s progress, but how do I get my foot off? Maybe if I add the algorithm to my field, it¡¯ll release. She gave the calculation to her static field and shrieked as a large discharge expelled from under her foot, sending her flying backward across the floor.

    She slammed into the bedside wall gasping. The air in her lungs expelled from her mouth in a grunt. Lying on the ground, she coughed violently, trying to catch her breath. Finally regaining air, she picked herself off the floor, massaging her bruises. What was that? It repelled me so violently, but I didn¡¯t even use that much Focus? Kara had been using more energy than that. How did she keep them so balanced?

    Resting against the bed, she grabbed the water bottle and unscrewed it. Sighing, she drank the cool liquid. A thought popped into her head. Dropping the bottle from her lips, she held a small pool of water in her mouth and moved it around with her tongue. Of course, I need a mediator. That¡¯s what the electricity around Kara¡¯s feet is for. Kara used a third electromagnetic field between the two polarized areas.

    It must also be used to keep her attached to the earlier polarized wall segment as she creates a new area with her next footstep. It seems complicated, but just like my reception, once practiced enough, it¡¯ll become natural.

    Walking to the wall, Helena tried charging her polarity to attract the iron railing in the wall but created a neutral field between the two charges. The area her foot touched shocked with a short burst of electricity and faded.

    She smiled as she lifted her foot off the wall and found it trying to pull her back. It was like gravity had shifted and her body was attached to the field; her static field now being pulled into the wall. She placed her other foot on the wall and walked up a step. Her hair hung down with gravity.

    Kara¡¯s statement came to mind. Eventually, like me, you can move at mind-bending speeds with three degrees of freedom. This is very useful. She winced as she felt her Focus draining rapidly. I have to break the feed, but which one first? Cutting off the feed to the wall and her static field, she then released the neutral field.

    She yelped as she dropped to her back, her hair flowing around her. Coughing as the air once again escaped her lungs, she regained her senses. Sighing with relief, she studied the wall from the floor. If I want to repel myself to a different area, I¡¯ll need to cut the algorithm to the wall. If I want to stay firm against something, I¡¯ll need to cut the formula to my static field and neutral field, simple enough.

    Hopping back onto her bed, she brought up the HCID and activated the hidden information tab:

    Heya, again, little Vixy!

    I suspect that you just had a wonderful tumble ¡­ MY BED BETTER BE INTACT!!!

    Well ¡­ I assume you¡¯ve figured out how ¡­ TO WALK ON WALLS!! You little spider! <3 ¡­ No! WAIT!! I HATE SPIDERS!! Maybe it¡¯s good that US Electro Masters have a natural bug repellent! EAT THAT BUGS!!! *Zap, Zap, Zap*

    ON to training then ¡­ I want you to head over to the Botanical Garden. I¡¯m sure your little snooping brain can find it on some digital feed (>.> ¡­<.< I don¡¯t know anything)!

    JUST MAKE SURE TO GET THERE!!

    Once you find your way, I want you to head into the back area. There should be a little structure. Pick out some clothing (they have EVERY size ¡­ believe me) and start that jog around the jungle track!!! Yup, you¡¯ll be running for HOURS!

    I have some people heading there to meet you and time your laps (DON¡¯T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOW YOU¡¯RE SO FAST!! >.> ¡­ so, umm ¡­ she¡¯s been waiting for a little bit (it has nothing to do with the disrespect she always shows me!!). *tehe*

    From your Super Lady! Good luck my, little Vixy!!

    P.S. A little (SUPER-SECRET) running trick ¡­ use your personal static field to keep your hair from bouncing around. Pretty simple to charge your hair, only giving it enough slack to bounce ever so slightly!

    Helena grimaced. Physical training isn¡¯t my strong suit. I do only have an eight-year-old''s body, but this time I¡¯ll be training my ability more than my physique. I¡¯m still getting used to the combination of fields, so I should practice on my way over to the gardens.

    Grabbing the HCID, Helena brought up the server apps and downloaded a map of the base. Bringing up the map, she raised an eyebrow. It was only slightly better than the map Ventre had given her.

    Deleting the application, she brought up the devices command windows and searched the administrator names to find the one she¡¯d created to hide her viruses. She couldn¡¯t find it. Leaning back against the bed, she sighed. I was a little naive to think that it wouldn¡¯t be caught by the network administrators. My third administrator account is still active, but I don¡¯t want to risk its detection on just a map. Kara said she noticed my activity ¡­ and surprisingly didn¡¯t get angry or call it out, she seemed to enjoy it...

    Searching for her backdoor with little hope, she was shocked to find the Main Server open up to her. My masked backdoor is still in place? Entering into the user control panel, she thought for a moment and smiled. She created a new administrator account under the handle V.

    Searching for newly appointed administrators, she found someone with just as many privileges as the network admins and to her surprise; the admin¡¯s name was Jake. That same person I met earlier with the strange bioelectrical signals? It¡¯s a possibility.

    In his description, it said he¡¯d been awarded the position by the President. Helena copied the description, pasting it into V and her money siphoning administrator¡¯s information box. As long as they don¡¯t question the President about the accounts, it shouldn¡¯t be touched. Helena smirked and under a new mask linked her account to V¡¯s. Any outside network activity she did on Vix, would be masked by V.

    Downloading the Northern Base¡¯s floor designs, she brought them up on display. Scanning through them, she found the Botanical Gardens near her. She also saw how big the base was. It was gigantic; stretching several kilometers and most of it was underground.

    She tossed the HCID back onto the bed as she found pills scattered across the ground. The bottle must have broken when I was flung against the wall. Getting down on all fours, she began picking up the pills and placed them on the desk surface. Finished, she grabbed her bottle of water and exited the room. Making her way to the gardens, she tried to use electromagnetism to lighten her steps in preparations for the run.

 B1 â€” 22. Worse Than Expected

    It took Helena ten minutes to walk to the gardens. She stumbled and fell a few times along the way, but she was slowly getting used to walking with electromagnetism. She didn¡¯t meet many people along the way, only base personnel as their white clothing indicated.

    Entering the garden through thick steel doors, she experienced an expel of warm air graze past her face and the sweet smell of greenery tingle her nose. Sun beat its radiance from the clear sky, but frozen moisture danced across the outside of the gigantic domed overlay.

    A multitude of plants and trees she¡¯d never seen before covered everything, tinted in a dully reflected ultraviolet light shining from suspended holsters to feed the vegetation. Helena could feel the humid atmosphere press against her skin as her body temperature rose. I¡¯ll need a lot more water if I¡¯m going to jog here, but they should have some kind of dispenser.

    Her eyes followed a black paved path that trailed through the foliage, small clouded glass paneling followed its edges, lights for nighttime. I¡¯m surprised there¡¯s this large of a jungle in the middle of WITCH¡¯s base and in this frozen landscape, but it¡¯s colossal enough to fit it. I remember seeing thermal exhausts in the schematics, perhaps they use geothermal power.

    Walking toward the path, she found it had steel sheeting below it. This¡¯s why Kara wants me jogging here. The foliage was fairly thick, but the path seemed to be regularly cut back to provide ease of movement.

    Walking across the path, she used Kara¡¯s technique to try and make the journey smoother. Five minutes in, she heard panting behind her. Turning, she found Booker jogging around a bend in the path, moving toward her.

    He wore some white jogging shorts and a t-shirt with pale white running shoes, shades still covering his eyes. His tanned skin shone with sweat as he steadily progressed forward. As he saw her, he grinned. ¡°Little lass!¡± He panted. Catching up to her, he slowed to her pace, wiping at his brow. ¡°How was your talk with the Boss?¡±

    ¡°Salutations, Bolisquirantis. It was illuminating.¡± Helena responded with a welcoming smile.

    Booker¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me by my full name. Just call me Booker.¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°Very well, thank you for the company, Booker.¡±

    Booker breathed a heavy sigh, slowing his respiratory. ¡°Have you picked up your pace a little since last time?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t noticed. Do you think so?¡± Helena lied.

    ¡°You do seem a little faster.¡± Booker shot a grin down at her.

    Frowning, Helena continued beside Booker as he went silent, focused on his breathing. It might be a good opportunity for me to get some information. It¡¯s a perfect time actually, training and gaining the proper information I need. ¡°Hmm, Booker, would you mind answering a few questions I have?¡±

    Booker smirked. ¡°Of course, the Boss did ask me to answer any questions you had.¡±

    Thinking about how best to phrase her question, she asked, ¡°What¡ªis WITCH¡¯s goals? What are they trying to achieve that requires their military?¡±

    Booker licked his lips and sucked on his lower lip for a second before answering. ¡°Well¡ªit¡¯s kind of complicated. Normally, most citizens, if you want to call them that, or people under WITCH control couldn¡¯t talk about this. Because of my position and your current position as an SOP initiate into a Faction, it¡¯s tolerated.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Helena nodded with a frown, ¡°so, be careful who I discuss this with.¡±

    ¡°Sharp as always,¡± Booker chuckled. ¡°So, in short, WITCH is masking as an authoritarian regime while at its core totalitarian. The Factions operate in a sort of authoritarian manner, each Faction has its purpose and duties, but each Prime is subject to the President and then you have the ultimate check to the Prime¡¯s power, the Alpha.¡±

    ¡°So, Kara herself is chained to WITCH ¡­ even with her power, she¡¯s still a slave to the President¡¯s whims.¡± Helena muttered bitterly.

    ¡°Sad, but correct,¡± Booker nodded. ¡°You have partnering organizations, like with some of the Houses, which aren¡¯t trapped, but are in a mutually beneficial relationship with WITCH, such as Head Rephenald Felorne.¡±

    ¡°Then Eizea isn¡¯t trapped by WITCH like I am¡­¡± Helena sighed.

    Booker shook his head. ¡°Nope, her group has special perks because of that. She took over the position after a few Primes died some years back. It was big news, that many Primes dying off ¡­ lots of speculation. Fatchna, Phantasm, Colin, the Boss, and Eizea all took their Prime seat near the exact same time.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like collusion.¡±

    ¡°A lot of people thought that too, but they do have the power to back it up. There are only three relatively long-standing Primes and Cassandra is the youngest of them. She¡¯s been a Prime for ten years.¡±

    ¡°I see, but what are WITCH¡¯s goals or if it¡¯s a totalitarian regime, what¡¯s Tenzen¡¯s goals?¡± Helena pushed.

    ¡°Figured out the President¡¯s name I see,¡± Booker chuckled with a shrug. ¡°Well, it¡¯s above my pay grade. I don¡¯t even know if the Boss knows, truthfully. All we do is follow orders given to us down the pipeline. We have resources and land to defend from Tech and Augnecian invasion, we''re currently in a war with the island tribes of the south seas, but it¡¯s not like we throw all our resources at it. Mostly maintain order and follow orders, that¡¯s our mission statement.¡±

    ¡°Really,¡± Helena sighed, ¡°that¡¯s all you know about a mission plan. So, at the whims of a dictator.¡±

    ¡°Basically, but the Primes each have certain things they try to uphold or accomplish. One reason why there¡¯s always such bitterness between them, but for the most part there¡¯s a stalemate, only Phantasm actively seeks to harm the Boss.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something that I want to¡ªdiscuss.¡± Helena frowned, stumbling a little as she messed up a calculation. ¡°I gathered that Phantasm has some kind of grudge against Kara or the other way around, but am I in danger because of my connection to Kara?¡±

    ¡°Ack,¡± Booker cracked his neck a bit at her statement, his heart was hard to read while he was exercising, but she knew he thought it possible by its slight spasm. ¡°I think¡ªwell, yeah, I¡¯d say so. I mean, from what I¡¯ve gathered there was some evidence to point Phantasm had a hand in your torture ¡­ that might be why the Boss has what few personnel she has at this base near you, little lass ¡­ only speculation though.¡±

    ¡°Does Kara not tell you much? I thought you were a Captain.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but only things that pertain to my specific duties. She doesn¡¯t blab to me about everything. Kara¡¯s very secretive and does a whole lot of work behind the scenes to ease up our burdens within the Faction. She¡¯s a one girl army ¡­ and takes on a full army role herself.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Helena hummed thoughtfully at his response. Kara seems to take on a lot of responsibilities herself. Booker being nearby to guard me seems like a waste of resources. He must have more pressing things to do than always waiting for me as Kara sends himtwidling his thumbs all around the base? Does she take on so much that she can give her members slack like this? He also said there aren¡¯t that many members of her Faction at this base. What number is that exactly?

    Her thoughts turned to Phantasm. His members seem to treat him like a king or god, with reverence. How would Phantasm react if I chose to join his Faction? Not that it sounds appealing from what I know so far, but how would he react or Kara for that matter? Betrayed most likely, from her statements, she expects me to join her, without a doubt.

    Her vision rose as they ended their fifteen-minute jog. The path led to a large facility, opening into a courtyard. It stood three stories and extended back into the jungle. Outside the courtyard were several benches and metal contraptions that Helena presumed were for riding purposes.

    There was a woman that appeared to be in her early twenties sitting on a bench. She had thick black hair that was woven into a ponytail and hung halfway down her back. She had a sculpted diamond shaped face with indented cheeks, tanned markless skin, slightly curved back forehead, and almond piercing lime green eyes, matching her own perfectly, with black high arched eyebrows. A thin bridged, straight slightly upturned nose, heavy lower lips that held a slight pucker and she was tall with an hourglass figure. The picture of beauty.

    Her chosen attire was a tight, long green strapped dress. She sat cross-legged with her left hand on her lap, which held an HCID clasped to it. Her right played with the holographic images that danced across her vision. Her eyes snapped up as Helena and Booker came into sight.

    Her prudent, confident, and cool demeanor fell apart as they neared. ¡°Lady Vandred¡ªBooker.¡± She stumbled out his name with a half held breath and Helena noted her bioelectrical signals a frenzied mess, but oddly held a methodical rhythm. Her entire body¡¯s electrical structure moved in a strangely efficient pattern, more so than anyone she¡¯d ever met.The only alteration being the flutter in her heart and constriction of her abdomen, her chest had quickened and quivered as she locked eyes with Booker.

    She rose to her feet with haste, the green fabric swirling around her long elegant legs and her black heels sharply clicked against the building¡¯s stone laid walkway. She licked her lips, which were far from dry and her hands darted behind her back, the hologram canceling.

    Her nervous eyes shifted to Helena and she cleared her voice, regaining a semblance of her former self-assurance. ¡°Ah¡ªLady Vandred, I presume your horrible attire is from that putrid girl. I¡¯ll have to bring some more appropriate clothing to your wardrobe.¡±

    She let the statement hang as she waited, but a small constriction hung in her throat as her eyes shifted to Booker for a slight second. Kara was right. It seems this woman does disrespect her and she¡¯s acting quite strange. Why¡¯s she so anxious and calling me a Lady, even though I¡¯ve been cleared of my name and status?

    Helena curtsied. ¡°Salutations, would you happen to be the person Kara referred to in her email?¡±

    ¡°I imagine so.¡± The woman said, taking a deep breath, her chest pressing against her dress with the action as she held it.

    Helena felt Booker¡¯s vision move across the woman¡¯s body and purse his lips, his tongue licking the inner lining of his mouth before gulping. His heart was beating like a drum and he started sweating again. He cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m going to continue with my jog.¡± Between his words, he took off at a swift pace.

    The woman let her breath out in a soft sigh as she stared after Booker a concerned look in her eyes. Swallowing, a small tremor seemed to run down her body as she turned back to Helena, her cool behavior returned. Helena was completely mystified. What kind of exchange was that? An awkward meeting and Booker takes off? It somewhat reminded her of Tamie and Rean, but she couldn¡¯t puzzle it out.

    ¡°I apologize for my behavior. Did the wench not give me a name?¡±

    Helena was slightly taken aback; she said it with such a straight face and casual tone. Does she not fear Kara¡¯s power at all? Booker¡¯s wholly respectful toward Kara, while this woman seems to hate her.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not,¡± Helena replied as she approached her and held out her hand. ¡°Salutations, I¡¯m Helena and my handle is Vix.¡± Although, obviously she knows my circumstance since she knows my last name. Is this the Biokinetic Kara mentioned?

    The woman hummed thoughtfully as she took her hand, she had long dainty fingers with perfect fingernails. As they touched, Helena sensed another quake through the woman¡¯s nerve-system and a quick intake of breath. Her bioelectrical system had somehow shifted ever so slightly. She¡¯s different than anyone I¡¯ve met so far, it sort of reminds me of the Branch Family doctor''s bioelectrical system ¡­ but much more unique. It makes sense if she¡¯s a Biokinetic, she must be powerful.

    ¡°My name is Belesis. It¡¯s a strange name, you can call me by whatever you find appropriate.¡± Her penetrating eyes darted around Helena¡¯s body with careful inspection. She could go by Bel, Bele, or even Sis; the name sounds oddly appropriate. However, if her name is Belesis, it¡¯s only natural that I respect it. It wasn¡¯t a common name as it was a name associated with the Great Houses, meaning Caretaker,often given to honored servants.

    Releasing her grip, Helena stepped back to lessen the strain on her neck. ¡°Belesis is a lovely name; I¡¯d be honored to address you as such.¡±

    Helena was shocked to find her cheeks redden with a blush. This woman is indeed strange.¡°Would you be the Biokinetic that healed my wounds?¡±

    Belesis stiffened and something deep passed through her reflected eyes as she nodded slowly. ¡°I was the one that treated your wounds, they were severe. That detestable girl wouldn¡¯t tell me who inflected them and half dragged me across the base before waking me. She brought me right to your marred body, I was quite appalled at your condition ... you seem to be doing better now.¡±

    Helena swallowed with a pit entering her stomach. That¡¯s a lot of healing for a single person to accomplish. She must be more proficient in her ability than any Biokinetic I¡¯ve met. Yet, why would a person with a high amount of control over biological structures have such bodily reactions? Maybe I¡¯m just not experienced enough to know the reasons.

    ¡°Thank you, Belesis.¡± Helena curtsied. ¡°I¡¯d be honored to call you by name. You paid me a great service and I will do my best to repay it.¡±

    ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Belesis¡¯ face deepened further into crimson. ¡°It is a part of my duty ... I was only forced to sleep two days after repairing every fiber of your body.¡±

    ¡°I apologize for inconveniencing you.¡± Helena quickly responded. What¡¯s she getting at with these positive to negative statements? Does she want something from me and if so, why¡¯s she blushing about it? Wait ¡­ I¡¯ve been unconscious for more than two days!

    ¡°Oh¡ªit¡¯s quite alright. After all, I¡¯m borrowing your eyes.¡± Belesis said with an uneasy shift. ¡°They¡¯re a bit odd, so I like them.¡± She¡¯s what ¡­ wearing my eyes? Maybe she copied the DNA that makes up my eye color and applied it to her own? She¡¯s also blushing and with increasing intensity, can she truly be ashamed or abashed? She should be able to control it with her ability...

    Nodding thankfully, Helena said. ¡°I¡¯m flattered.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªfantastic ¡­ that tyrant Kara towed me out of bed, by the hair, to time your jog.¡± Is this just a part of her personality, to portray events in an awkward manner? It seems like some kind of psychological condition, but for a Biokinetic?

    ¡°I was told to run and keep running,¡± Helena said with a light giggle, trying to ease the atmosphere.

    ¡°Oh¡ªhave I made you uncomfortable? I seem to be inefficient in¡ªareas ¡­ I apologize.¡± Belesis¡¯ expression saddened significantly.

    ¡°No, you just have a different way of speaking than I¡¯m accustomed to. I enjoy it!¡± Helena said with a reassuring smile.

    ¡°Oh¡ªyou really do look cuter with dimples ¡­ I was skeptical and didn¡¯t want to do it, but the vulture made me.¡± Vulture? She calls Kara by a new name with every reference.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to go change and start my run,¡± Helena said, trying to break away from the conversation.

    She started playing with her thick black hair. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be here ¡­ wishing to be back at the Southern Base as I stare at videos of the sunny beach. It¡¯s too cold here. Although, Booker¡¯s here ¡­ oh, and Klen, but he¡¯s annoying.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t reply as she moved into the facility. An interesting character, she seems to have some kind of condition that forces her to talk negatively and she seems to be conscious of it, to some degree. Why not fix herself? Helena sighed. Then again ¡­ I have no idea what kind of processes she¡¯d have to go through to alter that kind of condition. If she hasn¡¯t then it means she can¡¯t or won¡¯t because of the possible consequences.

 B1 â€” 23. Belesis

    Entering the lobby, Helena looked over the signs. She found the changing room two halls down and to the left. Following the hallway, she entered the room and saw the clothing racks in a glass-enclosed room. The see-through doors slid open as she neared.

    Examining the attire at her disposal, she picked out a pair of small black spankies, a white t-shirt that would fit her thin body, white socks, and comfortable fitting white running shoes. Entering a room with a female sign, she changed and set her clothes in a locker, hacking one for quick access.

    Making her way back to the front, she waved to Belesis as she mournfully examined a three-dimensional video of a beach. She waved weakly with her left hand, showing she¡¯d start the count. Taking a deep breath, Helena began her jog, while applying a small amount of push from her magnetic field. She passed Belesis four times in two hours. Each time, Belesis gave her a new bottle of water and smiled with encouraging, yet at the same time gave undesired information.

    ¡°Good job, three minutes faster than the last lap, which is odd, did you know if you push yourself too much it¡¯ll lower your immune system.¡±

    ¡°Fantastic time, two minutes faster, however, did you know that your body will start breaking down muscle you¡¯re trying to build if you exercise too long?¡±

    Belesis also talked about the southern beaches and how wonderful they were. I¡¯ve never been to a beach, but I guess I¡¯ll have the chance at some point in WITCH. She hadn¡¯t seen Booker since he¡¯d ran off. Perhaps he quit for the day or has some other duties?

    Switching her concentration back to the run, she was shocked by how much easier it was getting to create the fields with each step. However, her head slowly started to ache as her Focus dwindled. I¡¯m wasting more water from just the heat of the greenery than bodily exertion. Physically I¡¯m not tired at all, but mentally ¡­ I¡¯m starting to struggle.

    As she reached the fifth lap Belesis replaced her small water bottle and their hands brushed against each other. Belesis halted her, humming thoughtfully. Right, she¡¯s a Biokinetic. She probably analyzed my body with that simple exchange.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t physically tired, but you¡¯re experiencing elevated intracranial pressure, a standard diagnosis for onset Esper Fatigue.¡±

    Slowing her breathing, Helena nodded. Meaning, I¡¯m getting a headache.

    ¡°Eplilis¡¯ Standard states that light headaches signify a loss in sixty percent of Focus, heavy migraines at seventy-five, and nose bleeding at eighty. At percentiles reaching ninety to ninety-five, loss of consciousness, seizures, loss in memory and time are the most common cases, while at a hundred percent depletion or often called CFD, Complete Focus Depletion ¡­ death is inevitable from brain hemorrhaging.¡± I didn¡¯t know the exact statistics, it''s good information ¡­ even if it is a strange declaration.

    ¡°Your ability has depleted consistently throughout the past two hours and your headache is becoming more severe, while physically your muscles are still fairly unstrained¡ªperplexing with your extreme exertions and age. Perhaps a rare lactic acid condition that disperses more quickly than average ¡­ but no, that wouldn¡¯t account for your muscles efficiency and suggests that I missed something in my previous analysis. I¡¯m left with only your ability being the cause of such a phenomenon, care to explain?¡±

    Should I answer her? She did go through her entire theorycraft aloud, but with her condition, she might not expect an answer. ¡°Then again, I was told not to ask questions by that ¡­ eel ¡­ so perhaps you¡¯d like to keep it concealed ¡­ or the squirrel does.¡± Squirrel, maybe it¡¯s a comparison toward Kara hiding things? Helena nodded silently.

    ¡°You should take one of these?¡± Belesis produced a thin purple tablet from a capsule in a handbag at her side. It looked like the exact same pill as the ones in her room that Kara had given her. Wait ¡­ I didn¡¯t take the HCID ¡­ how could I have forgotten it? The HCID and not questioning Kara about Drake¡¯s demands ¡­ this isn¡¯t like me...

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Helena protested.

    ¡°I created these myself ¡­ are you doubting their authenticity ¡­ mistrust my ability?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Helena replied earnestly. ¡°What reason do I have to mistrust you?¡±

    A hum escaped Belesis¡¯ throat as she thought internally. ¡°What reason do you have to trust me?¡±

    Helena was about to respond when Belesis popped the pill into her own mouth. ¡°It dissolves on contact with saliva, but ¡­ I assume this won¡¯t be of sufficient proof since I¡¯m a Biokinetic.¡± She mumbled with narrowed eyes as she glared into the forest. I need to get back to training and I highly doubt the pill will have any adverse effects. Not with both Kara and Belesis giving me the tablets. Not only that, but this Biokinetic spent so much effort in repairing my body and dislikes Kara. Kara wants me a part of her Faction ¡­ it wouldn¡¯t make sense to destroy what she restored.

    ¡°Give me a tablet, I trust you.¡± Helena smiled as she looked into her reflected eyes.

    ¡°Again ¡­ those dimples.¡± Belesis commented as she stared at her cheeks with interest, but her hands nimbly darted into her bag and unscrewed another capsule, handing it to Helena.

    Taking it, she popped it into her mouth and felt it melt in her saliva, swallowing.¡°The pills have been designed to fight beta-amyloid plaques, tangled tau proteins, and slowly reduce C-reactive protein; in general it acts as an anti-inflammatory for the brain, while also promoting brain tissue longevity. A pill should be taken daily for maximum effect.

    ¡°However, only by Espers, human brains react in different ways to the chemical induction as inflammation is a lifesaving process the immune system uses to combat infection. While esper brains are continually bombarded with swelling due to Focus depletion and brain dependency.

    ¡°Side-effects may include, but not excluding; nausea, vomiting, pain in the cerebral cortex, expansion of the frontal lobe, counter inflammation of the temporal lobe, damage to cellular continuity in the parietal lobe, and rupture of the sensorimotor areas.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Belesis continued her explanation of adverse effects and her stomach heaved. I just ingested such a dangerous pill!The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°However ¡­ no cases have been documented of these conditions ¡­ in espers. I speculate that they could happen ¡­ possibly ¡­ to humans.¡±

    Helena breathed a sigh of relief as she tried to ease her racing heart and churning stomach. The timing of this woman¡¯s comments is downright morbid at times and her statements seem to carry foul humor, but it¡¯s most likely due to her condition.

    ¡°Oh¡ªhave I upset you? Dilated pupils, the exertion of sweat, tension in facial muscles and bodily convulsions ¡­ I seem to have caused you fear ¡­ I apologize ... yet, it is worthwhile information.¡±

    Letting out a deep breath of air, Helena gasped. ¡°No problem¡ªBelesis. Thank you for the medicine.¡±

    Belesis blinked a few times before answering. ¡°You¡¯re ¡­ happy with it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I can already feel my headache fading. Thank you.¡± Helena repeated.

    Taking out a few more small capsules from her bag, she shoved them into Helena¡¯s hands. ¡°Whenever you feel a headache coming on, take one ¡­ although, more than three in a six-hour period may cause a loss in consciousness. Klen has proven that diagnosis several times ¡­ unwillingly.¡±

    Helena giggled uneasily but tried to conceal it with a wave as she ran back on the trail. She certainly is an offbeat woman, Belesis. She seems to be highly intelligent to have created her own medicine and in a pill form. Her disorder could be a variance in her corpus callosum that, among other things, filters out information.

    Yelling after her, Belesis said. ¡°I¡¯ll order something to eat ¡­ although it may take some time to get here.¡±

    Helena ran around the track twice before she started to feel her headache return, her speed increasing. The light outside was starting to dim as dusk set in. On her fourth roundabout, she found a neat table set up with two people sitting, Belesis and to her surprise, Klen. The wooden table had plates of bread, meat, fruit, cheese, vegetables, and three containers filled with some kind of liquid. Klen was with Kara a few days ago. Is he also a part of their group?

    Slowing, she huffed to a stop. Her muscles were starting to leave a light burn, meaning they were being worked out. ¡°Oh¡ªLady Vandred, you¡¯ve returned.¡± Belesis aloofly stated. ¡°Come, sit with Klen and I. The waiter brought food, although, it¡¯s a little cold.¡± Waiter, I¡¯ve never heard of a waiter before? Does she mean the butlers and maids? Maybe they¡¯re called waiters in WITCH?

    ¡°So, this is the girl Kara¡¯s interested in?¡± Klen asked with an unimpressed tone as he examined her. Belesis¡¯ hand darted out and smacking Klen on the back of the head with an audible thump. Klen jumped with a yelp and stared wide-eyed back at Belesis. ¡°What was that for?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a Lady, Klen. Show respect ¡­ even if she was kidnapped and usurped of her possible future.¡± Belesis said while pouring some tea. She froze in her action for a split second. ¡°Not that she can¡¯t reclaim her position ¡­ it just seems unlikely.¡±

    Klen rubbed the back of his head and huffed. ¡°Ok, she¡¯s a Noble, but what about her ability? Is she strong or not?¡±

    ¡°She''s run continually for the past four hours,¡± Belesis said with an impressed tone. ¡°You couldn¡¯t do that with your small body; maybe I should give you some more growth hormones.¡± Belesis must hit hard, being a Biokinetic. However, Klen seemed to take the full blow.

    Helena noticed tiny slivers of fragmented light dancing down his back. Extending her active reception, she found a closely fitting shell of some kind slowly chipping away where Belesis had struck. He used some kind of crystalline substance to cushion the blow.

    ¡°What do you mean more growth hormones?¡± Klen asked suspiciously.

    ¡°Nothing ¡­ they just don¡¯t seem to be taking much effect, it¡¯s odd.¡±

    Klen had an incredulous look on his face. Sighing, while shaking his head, Helena noticed more fragments falling to the ground as his black hair flailed around. Below, she found water starting to run across the ground where the shards had fallen. Two abilities instantly came to mind.Cryokinesis and Chionokinesis; reducing atomic kinetic energy to generate ice. He could also be a Thermokinetic, which is an extremely powerful ability. Being able to reduce and magnify atomic kinetic energy, thereby creating fire or ice.

    ¡°Are you going to keep staring or come eat?¡± Klen asked irritably. He quickly held up his hands in defense as he caught a rising hand from Belesis. ¡°My Lady!¡± He quickly added.

    ¡°I have no problem with being called by either my name or handle,¡± Helena said evenly as she took the chair across from Belesis. She certainly is adamant about me being a Noble. What¡¯s the hierarchy of WITCH? I know Booker¡¯s a Captain, but what about Klen and Belesis? It probably isn¡¯t a great topic to bring up right now, best to get to know them first.

    ¡°Everything should taste fantastic,¡± Belesis commented while piling food onto a plate in front of her. ¡°These yellow fruits are especially delicious ¡­ but they have been known to carry a dangerous insect that can cause full body paralysis, leading to organ failure, without proper attention.¡±

    Helena noticed both Belesis and Klen¡¯s attention shift to her as she prepared to eat. ¡°She really does act like Kara.¡± Klen whispered with a lifted eyebrow. ¡°I was a bit skeptical when Booker said...¡±

    He cut off as he caught sight of Belesis¡¯ shining face. It was the first time Helena had seen someone so fascinated with eating etiquette. Blinking, she quickly regained her composure and clumsily tried to emulate Helena¡¯s actions. Does she have some interest in proper eating etiquette or in Ladylike behavior?

    ¡°Wait!¡± Klen said as he took a closer look at Helena and then Belesis. ¡°Did you actually copy her eyes¡ªand perfectly?¡± Klen burst out laughing. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d be so obsessed with trying to refine your unladylike attitude. I mean, put a Kiyohime in a dress, but it¡¯s still a...¡±

    Helena saw something flash across Belesis¡¯ eyes that made her pause between bites. With my eyes reflected, it really does seem to show a sense of fierceness and what¡¯s this about unladylike behavior?

    He cut off as Belesis¡¯ hand darted out with serpentine quickness to grasp the back of Klen¡¯s shirt. Apparently, without effort, she tossed him five meters into the air, over the table, and into the forest. Klen had enough time to let out a yelp before crashing into the foliage. Helena watched him disappear into the jungle as he fell down some kind of hill and seemed to stop with an audible splash.

    She took another bite of fruit, before hearing Klen¡¯s revolted voice climb up to them. ¡°Disgusting¡ªyou knew this was here, Belesis, didn¡¯t you!¡± His tone suddenly switched to a lilting tease as his voice carried up to them. ¡°Lighten up a little or Booker will never like you!¡± I see! Belesis likes Booker, that¡¯s what her reaction was, but what about Booker? He also acted somewhat strangely.

    Helena watched with interest as Belesis picked up a hard circular vegetable and threw it in Klen¡¯s direction. The projectile shot into the foliage with surprising speed and she heard Klen¡¯s high pitched squeal as two splashes sounded. Klen yelled back with anger. ¡°You could have killed me at that speed!¡±

    Biting into another fruit, Helena found it did have a rather rich flavor that tickled her taste buds and put a strangely sweet smell in her nostrils.

    ¡°Wait!¡±Klen exclaimed in horror. ¡°You weren¡¯t aiming for me, but the Kolisq Hive floating in the water.¡± Klen screeched and Helena heard him runningaway from them through the underbrush, sounds of displaced water filling the area.

    ¡°Kolisq Hive?¡± Helena asked in-between bits.

    ¡°An insect species that has a very interesting venom. When used against their small natural pray, it causes a form of paralysis by loosening muscle tissue, harmless to humans. However, in large doses, it can cause ¡­ certain effects¡ªin humans.¡±

    ¡°Is it lethal?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Oh¡ªno, not really, just produce ¡­ unwanted bodily functions to act on their own accord ¡­ and in some¡ªvery rare cases, partial loss in muscle constriction.¡±

    Helena couldn¡¯t help but let a small smile escape her lips. I¡¯m starting to enjoy Belesis¡¯ company.

 B1 â€” 24. Mistake

    Helena set down her utensils as she finished her meal. Klen hadn¡¯t returned, most likely stuck in the facilities bathroom, cursing Belesis or changing his clothes.

    Sighing with satisfaction, Belesis said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about cleaning up. I¡¯ll have a waiter handle it, even if they are slow and probably spit in our food.¡± Belesis ate a lot. I guess that¡¯s a requirement of being a Biokinetic.

    ¡°Continue your run ¡­ although, exercise after eating pulls blood away from your stomach to your muscles. You most likely will experience abdominal pain and throw up.¡± I might throw up from the motion, but I doubt I¡¯ll have cramps. I won¡¯t be exerting too much physical strength. It shouldn¡¯t hamper me with my ability.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Helena smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll take it easy.¡±

    Belesis hesitated for a moment before saying. ¡°I really like your dimples ¡­ even if I had to change your facial structure to produce them.¡±

    Helena¡¯s smile softened as she looked off into the jungle then back at Belesis. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it; I enjoy them, thank you.¡± Belesis blushed. Is she just shy? Helena began to jog toward the trail before she had a chance to continue.

    ¡°I¡¯ll time you again!¡± Belesis yelled after her. There¡¯s really no purpose in timing my runs. I suspect Kara just wanted me to meet Belesis and have her around in case something happens ¡­ was it also to affirm those pills? With them it can be assumed that I¡¯ll train quicker, but how would Kara know I wouldn¡¯t take them? I guess she could have based it on my profile.

    Helena ran for a few more minutes before her headache began to return. They seem to be coming in shorter intervals, but the pills are helping me train a bit harder. They don¡¯t renew my Focus but lessen my brain¡¯s natural defense, its way of telling me it¡¯s tired. So, as for Belesis¡¯ earlier comment. Once my Focus reaches fifty percent, my brain should really start screaming at me ¡­ like in the Black Box. I¡¯ll need to ask Booker about those stones when I see him.

    Taking out one of the capsules, she popped the purple pill into her mouth and started jogging again. Belesis said only three pills at maximum, so this is it before I need to rest.

    No more than five seconds after taking the pill, she heard white noise echo around her and a throbbing begin to surface in her brain. Gasping, she lost control of the fields at her feet, sending her spiraling down. Skidding across the ground, she curled into a ball, clutching at her head as it pulsated.

    What¡¯s happening? My head feels like it''s splitting in two! The pain was worse than the Black Box; she never experienced something to this magnitude, even Ventre¡¯s torture. Rolling around on the ground, she clawed at her skull. It¡¯s like something¡¯s trying to dig its way into my brain! Food ¡­ pills ¡­ Klen ¡­ Belesis ¡­ Kara? She was losing awareness, her eyes dimmed as the purple lights faded off and on.

    * * *

    Helena opened her eyes to blackness. What¡¯s going on? Where am I? The black environment seemed to melt away, like ink running down glass. It opened to show a mass of color and then she was standing back at the Vandred Estate.

    In stunned confusion, she looked around to find herself at the main entrance of the manor. The large courtyard with its trimmed dark green grass, hedges, trees, groomed gardens, and finely chiseled statues of previous Heads were vividly clear.

    The faint warm light of dusk shown across the hilltops and the hot dusk wind she remembered blew over her skin, gently moved her hair in swaying motions. It carried the intoxicatingly sweet, citrus-based fragrance of the Tilia Tree Forest. The distant pearly white granite gates glowed in the orange light of twilight.

    Drake was right in front of her, his blonde hair falling wildly around his head, unkempt as usual and his stunning deep green eyes gazed at her expectantly. He was wearing slightly loose black silken pants, a slack white low v-cut long-sleeve shirt that had the sleeves rolled back to his elbow, and black hard sole dress shoes. Around his neck and wrists sat the golden leaf designed necklace and bracelets he always wore. Glowing tan skin bristled between his white shirt front as he shifted his weight.

    Why am I back with Drake? Has WITCH been a fabrication of my own mind? Helena looked down and squeezed her left hand together. No, my body definitely remembers the shock of Ventre¡¯s torture.

    Helena jumped slightly; her heart compressing and she felt a bristle run down her spine as Drake spoke. ¡°Lin, what are you doing? We need to get back to father¡¯s celebration.¡± That¡¯s exactly Drake¡¯s tone and speech pattern. How can someone construct a perfect replica, even his style, and the way he holds his body ... it''s flawless?

    But father¡¯s celebration ¡­ father never invited me to a gathering? Head Rephenald¡¯s statement ¡­ my father would never let me join a celebration without announcing my birth. Then again ¡­ if that was all a fabrication ¡­ then again this could also be a fabrication. Why would a mental intruder be so careless if they put this much work into Drake? Maybe this isn¡¯t a mental intruder ¡­ then who ¡­ what?

    Looking down again, she realized she was in a gown and not just any gown, the one Drake had shown her, mother¡¯s dress when she was her age. She felt a prickling escape over her skin as she gulped. Truly, what¡¯s going on?

    Her mother¡¯s one piece blood red gown framed her upper body perfectly. Wrapping around her chest and under her arms; flowing tightly down her form in sleek brilliance. At the thighs, it flared outward into a skirt that ruffled lightly as she shifted uneasily. She wore short heels that seemed laced around her feet, but she couldn¡¯t be sure of the color.

    Checking the magnetic fields at her ears, she noted her earrings attached. Around her hands were skin tight red gloves that were pulled back to her elbows and her ruby bracelet was clasped around her left wrist. I can even feel my magnetic field and the earth¡¯s natural field is in perfect balance with my position. This is no ordinary illusion ¡­ if it is one ¡­ it¡¯s so lucid ¡­ yet, it bugs me¡­ Drake took her hand, snapping Helena out of her reverie.

    ¡°Lin, why do you look so shocked? We¡¯ve been planning this gathering for months.¡± Months?

    Blinking, Helena tried to catch hold of herself. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± I need to figure out which it is ¡­ if the last few days are the fabrication or this. If someone is inside my mind ¡­ who are they? Why send me here? How did they get past my natural resistance to Telepathy ¡­ is this even Telepathy? Perhaps they¡¯re just that powerful of a Telepath...

    Entering the manor with Drake at her side, the doorman announced them. She recognized him, Relpo, the normal evening door attendant. Very elaborate if this is an illusion.

    Helena critically examined the ballroom. On the right wall gleamed the bronze inlaid arches that centered around the large ruffled dark brown curtained windows. Clouded glass covered the bulbs of electric light, dimly illuminated the drapes and previous Head weaponry, mounted above the windows, framed by the arches. I can even sense the electronic activity in the walls. How could this possibly be an illusion or fabrication?

    The high overhead ceiling was supported by large bowed mahogany beams that held intricate carvings of previous Head accomplishments. Five gigantic chandeliers hung from the rafters, the center being the largest and each was comprised of different exquisite jewels.

    The back left corner was still comprised of oval-cut alexandrite that had a blue-green color in fluorescent light but changed violet-purple in candlelight. It currently cast a faint bluish-green hew across that side of the room.

    The back right encompassed a faint strongly saturated dark blue tone as thousands of star sapphires shown their radiance below.

    The front left side spread a glowing greenish-blue hue across the long splendorous mahogany platinum engraved refreshment tables from the trilliant-cut tourmaline.

    To her right, the saturated orangish-pink medium toned oval mixed-cut padparadscha sapphires sparkled across the ground where the orchestra softly hummed.

    The final and largest chandelier was comprised of magnificently brilliant red diamonds, scorching their glorious shreds of crimson light across the gleaming platinum lined mahogany dance floor. Black marble surrounded the dance floor with multicolored gems that dotted around the flooring, showing images of past Vandred victories. Eight hundred years of history spread across the ground in vibrant sheens of refracted light from the overhead gemstones.

    Mahogany tables surrounded the colossal entrance, dotting in patterns around the gathering areas. Sheet thin translucent high-quality crystal stem glasses lined the tables with silverware and porcelain plates.

    Old, white marble carvings that previous Main Family members crafted were displayed around the area on black granite, gold encrusted, platinum lined, glass cases. Extravagant paintings of previous Heads and famous Vandred House members were displayed along the left wall.

    Violins, Violas, Cellos, Basses, Flutes, Piccolo, and a grand piano played their melodies around the room. She recognized a multitude of Branch House members directing as maids and butlers went about cleaning, serving, and accommodating anything that the guests might need.

    The opposite wall to her held three great arches; two free hanging overhead balconies extended five meters on both sides. In the center was placed a large black marble white diamond encrusted staircase that leads to the second level and further into the mansion.

    Everything was perfect, exactly the way she remembered, but several things also seemed to be new. New tables she¡¯d never seen before and flower vases lined around the main hallway, which should have been replaced by containers, housing cut limes, lemons, and oranges.

    She recognized every person around the room, including the serving host. Almost all the important members of the prominent Great Houses were present, even Head Rephenald, which wore the exact attire she¡¯d last seen him in.

    Helena first recognized the Great House Hatter¡¯s Head, Evangeline, in all her brilliance. She had silky smooth skin; long silky silver hair that flowed down her back in locks. She had white close, thin, high-low eyebrows, almond profoundly deep blue irises that were even more abyssal than the star sapphires above, a straight nose, and thin lips.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Helena remembered that all women born under the pure lineage of Hatter had silvery hair. Her long sleek dress matched her hair with shimmering intensity as it weaved slowly against her movements and pale gleaming skin. A pure white top hat sat upon her head and the gigantic one hundred and eight-carat cornflower colored diamond ring sat upon her left ring finger, both signified her dominance over her House.

    She was just less than two meters tall, elegantly proportioned and had a firm domineering posture for a woman, which had sparked the resolve for most female Nobles. The Great House of Resilient Women, which always and only produced female Heads.

    She was standing next to the Great Warbringer Head, Head Pathiose and his wife Lady Tezebeth, talking lowly.

    Pathiose had smooth dark golden skin, thick slicked back black hair that shined dimly under the bluish crystalline light, thick low brows, and downturned eyes that had the same light blue hue as Rephenald. His nose was a tad larger than it should be and his thin emotionless lips let nothing of his internal thoughts show.

    He had a white full suit worn over a black undercoat and white undershirt. His white tie, hung neatly down his front and polished white hard sole shoes shifted to lean down and kiss Evangeline¡¯s ring.

    Helena noted Tezebeth¡¯s passive face, but her exotic dark brown eyes burned with jealousy as she and Evangeline curtsied to one another. Drake told her that Tezebeth was envious of anything that took her husband¡¯s attention, even their own children, but it was only a rumor among Nobles.

    Tezebeth held onto Pathiose¡¯s arm as they made their way to the refreshments table. Her night-black dress shifting as it accentuated her thin body. Tezebeth was a beautiful woman, but she was too curved for her skinny frame. She had a diamond facial shape, smooth blemishless skin, thick straight raven-black hair with bangs that covered her forehead, high arched thin eyebrows, outlandishly large and curved eyes, small straight nose, and rounded rosy lips. She was the only Noble with exotic brown irises.

    She used no makeup, which Nobility rarely touched since long-term use damaged the skin. However, she had too much jewelry; making her tinkle with the rock¡¯s movements. Her heels also made too much noise as she walked.

    At the refreshments table sat the Head of the Great Golitin House, Plotis. Bronze shimmering skin, sandy blond hair, short thick eyebrows, blue eyes, snub nose, and duck lips. He was an overweight man that enjoyed his girth just as much as eating; it seemed his wife wasn¡¯t with him. Of course, I¡¯ve never seen the woman, so of course, she isn¡¯t here. With every passing second, this illusion shows more of its fractures.

    Plotis¡¯ massive body was covered by a mass of clothing more suitable for the Palma Islands than a dinner party. Strips of brightly colored clothing stretched across his body and wooden piercings covered odd places, like his arms and lips. If WITCH owns the Palma Islands or is at war with the islands across the southern seas, I assume Plotis is also a part of the WITCH project.

    Rephenald was sitting at a table by himself. He was occasionally checking his watch with a bored expression. Her eyes shifted to the dance floor as the music picked up and she found the Head of the Great Olisqu Family, Winton. He was dancing with his wife, Lady Heidi.

    Winton was a small elderly man with a slight keg belly. He had a square face, lightly tanned skin, gray hair, low, small eyebrows, faint blue wide-set eyes, large nose, and thin lips.

    Heidi was a head taller than her husband and had a big boned body, but she was light on her feet. She had medium toned skin, thin black hair, slender high arched eyebrows, a fitting straight nose, and bow-shaped lips.

    Their matching blue uniforms told Helena that they recently visiting Augnecia and met with the Head Priests at the Ulteviph Monastery. The only video I¡¯ve seen of them is in that attire ¡­ could this be any more obvious?

    Duke Ryker, Evangeline¡¯s husband, entered by the granite stairs, most likely returning from the washroom. His dark black hair hanging down his back in locks, his masculine face held a soft gleam as his wife came into sight. However, Evangeline¡¯s hard frigid eyes didn¡¯t change as she began talking with him.

    His face was lit with excitement as his black high arched thick eyebrows danced with his expression. His dark blue eyes were transfixed on his wife¡¯s as his thin lips moved, but Helena couldn¡¯t hear the conversation. He had a straight nose and fair skin.

    The door opened behind Helena to show the Great House Emeldra¡¯s Head, Yogini. She had long black hair billowed backward as the sealed house¡¯s air pressure escaped behind her, high black eyebrows, a fire burned in her green almond eyes, her upturned nose small nostrils flared, and her full lips were curved with fury.

    Her blue satin gown flowed around her hourglass frame as she swept into the room and moved right past her without even a greeting, Relpo awkwardly announced her. An unusual discourtesy for a Noble entering another¡¯s domain, even if I am only the second heir ¡­ what am I getting upset about ... this isn¡¯t even real and she doesn¡¯t even know who I am.

    She stormed toward Drake, who was mingling at the back of the room, talking with the Hatters. Of course, this entire situation is fabricated. My parents would never allow me to be a part of a social gathering. I expected more from you, intruder. Perhaps you¡¯ve been rummaging around older memories of mine, while also trying to put together this little charade.

    Helena¡¯s vision darted around the room as she searched for something more obvious than the rest. A blonde girl in her mid to late teens walked up to Helena. ¡°Are you alright, my Lady?¡±

    The entire room froze as a dark and ominous voice laughed behind her. Helena narrowed her eyes and calmly turned to find only the open oaken doors as a slight breeze entered the house. The moon was ascending into the sky as the sun disappeared behind the mountainous terrain beyond, the sweet-scented forest wafting in from the courtyard. Is hiding a hobby of yours, intruder?

    ¡°So, this is Kara¡¯s little pet project.¡± The voice mused.

    Who are you and how did you get into my mind? Also, what do you expect to get from this vision?

    ¡°We haven¡¯t met before, so telling you would make little difference. Oh ¡­ what¡¯s this ¡­ it seems you have heard of me and a few times at that, interesting. Even thought of joining my faction. You actually have quite the treasure trove of information in this head of yours¡ªas expected of a Noble.¡±

    Obviously, you can read my mind, but how? If I intended to join your faction ¡­ you must be Phantasm. Helena watched Kara appear at a table, examining the room with interest. That¡¯s not my memory of Kara; she¡¯s a few years younger. It must be yours; you¡¯re losing hold of your control.

    ¡°You pick up on minute details, don¡¯t you little ¡­ what¡¯s your handle ¡­ Vix. Kara calls you Vixy, how cute ¡­ she always did have a little childish side to her.¡±

    You seem to know Kara quite well, Phantasm. If you can read my thoughts and put on this grand of a show then you¡¯re an extremely powerful esper. A Telepath or something else completely? Maybe I¡¯m hypnotized right now and you¡¯re making me think I¡¯m speaking in my mind.

    ¡°An interesting theory, not one I¡¯d imagine, but I¡¯ve been in this game a tad longer.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I can truly see the potential and why Kara did such a good job at keeping you hidden, but it seems one of you slipped.¡±

    Game ¡­ and one of us slipped? So Kara¡¯s somehow been protecting me from you ¡­ from this intrusive attack... The voice was silent for a moment as Helena thought. I knew one of you Primes would try to contact me. I just didn¡¯t expect it in ¡­ this fashion. The answer suddenly snapped into her mind, something that she¡¯d failed to accomplish in Kara¡¯s instructions, such a simple task. The HCID, that specific magnetic signature that Kara puts off ¡­ that was keeping you away and I was mindless enough to leave it behind.

    If that device¡¯s keeping you away, then their ability has something to do with the EM spectrum or has a weakness to it. Why didn¡¯t I sense your intrusion? No ¡­ I did. That white noise and the pain to my mind. Do you use radio waves as a catalyst or is that noise some kind of effect of being an Electro Master? Is this some kind of brainwave synchronization?

    ¡°Hoh¡ªmy, my ¡­ well, aren¡¯t you the brilliant one. I¡¯m truly impressed, which makes my gift to you well deserved. I¡¯m not easily impressed, Victoria.¡±

    A shiver ran down Helena¡¯s spine. Don¡¯t use my middle name! All she got was a chuckle. You obviously have ulterior motives for synchronizing with my brain. It has something to do with this environment. You¡¯re using this painted scene as a mask to cover your real digging, but it must be related to everything here. It¡¯s subtle and has a different purpose than this gathering, but you¡¯re apparently burrowing through my mind for more than one thing.

    The ghostly visage in her mind suddenly sounded confused and alarmed. ¡°Most impressive¡ªbut what¡¯s this abnormal drain to my Focus?¡± He started to sound excited. ¡°I never imagined there was a person like you in this world ¡­ I¡¯ll keep a close eye on you, Vix¡ªmost remarkable.¡±

    A depressed sigh sounded all around her in an echoing cacophony. ¡°However, it seems we¡¯ve run out of time, but I¡¯ve gained what I needed. It¡¯s been my most honored pleasure to have this little chat. You should be thanking me. I had to fix the repressed trauma you were bottling up from Ventre¡¯s little game to get the information I needed.¡± Bottled up trauma?

    ¡°Your little slight spells of thoughtlessness. You didn¡¯t think they were a fluke? You did.¡± He cackled. ¡°As a final farewell, give Kara my regards. Tell her that Phantasm is amorously awaiting our next little get-to-gather and I¡¯ve almost completed the list with just picking your brain.¡±

    Helena felt a dark sensation sweep her mind. Phantasm, the Purple color¡¯s Prime...

    A wave of pain seized her brain as something carved its way out of her skull. Her vision went blank and slowly the pain subsided to the blurry vision of Belesis. ¡°Wretch! I brought the device like you said, when will you be¡ªOh¡ªshe¡¯s waking up. I hope her brain is still intact. Lady Vandred! Are you alright?¡± Belesis asked with true concern. ¡°You don¡¯t have amnesia ¡­ brain damage ¡­ maybe possessed? The tigress said that was a possibility.¡±

    ¡°No¡ªI think¡ªI¡¯m alright,¡± Helena said dizzily as she massaged her forehead, it housed a killer migraine. Her vision fell across her arm and she found red marks from the hard gravel road. How long have I been out?

    ¡°Let me fix those. They mare your ¡­ body ¡­ that I helped rebuild ¡­ against your will.¡± Belesis said uneasily. Helena saw the red marks on her arms start to disappear back into blemishless skin as the rubble fell to land on the dirt. She really is handy with her ability.

    ¡°How long...¡± Helena began to ask while working around her dry tongue.

    ¡°When you didn¡¯t arrive at the meeting point in exactly twenty-eight minutes and thirty-nine seconds as logic would¡¯ve predicted, I thought a Quilvern attacked you and rushed all over the jungle looking for you ¡­ and I found you lying on the ground ¡­ I thought you¡¯d been killed by another contestant, I was so frightened.

    ¡°Then I frantically called the weasel and she angrily told me to: ¡°Shut up and quickly jump down to my old room and grab the HCID. Bring it to her.¡± So that¡¯s what I did in under forty-two seconds ¡­ my heels hurt.¡±

    Helena glanced down at her feet to find Belesis¡¯ heels no longer there and gashes were evident on her feet that now started healing. The tears in her flesh slowly knitted together to pink skin and soon resembled its natural state. Was she really that worried about me?

    ¡°The tigress should be coming to meet you. She said to go back to the room and wait ¡­ I think she¡¯s going to yell at you.¡±

    Shaking her head violently to clear her head, her blonde hair whipped around her face. After, she nodded in acknowledgment. Is there a pattern to what she calls Kara, something to do with action? ¡°I think I¡¯ll be fine on my own. Thank you for your concern, Belesis.¡±

    Belesis blushed. ¡°You¡¯re the first person that has thanked me so often in a single day and you¡¯re even a Noble ¡­ I feel unworthy of praise from a Lady.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°What you¡¯ve done for me is well worth praise. I¡¯ll say it as many times as necessary, thank you.¡±

    Belesis¡¯ face turned bright red and before Helena could react, she leaped up into a nearby tree. Placing her feet against its sturdy trunk and leaped over fifteen meters into the air as she flew into the forest. The tree bowed backward as the trunk snapped, but didn¡¯t fall.

    Helena looked around with confusion and found two more broken trees lying across the path, indentations in their trucks. She really had been in a hurry and was she just embarrassed from my words now? She seems to take things very seriously.

    Lifting from her position, she worked around her shoulders. Glancing down, she spotted the HCID. It was off, but still producing that strange magnetic field. Picking it off the ground, she clasped it to her wrist without her bracelet and began making her way to her room. I deserve to be screamed at. I disobeyed Kara¡¯s orders and by all means, she outranks me. I really am no different than a servant now... She¡¯s much more knowledgeable about the people in WITCH. Did Phantasm really fix me? From what I understand, he ordered Ventre to torture me ¡­ piecing it together, it did trigger Kara ¡­ my trauma was a tool he used to get to Kara ¡­ I was a tool...

 B1 â€” 25. Synchronization

    Walking back to her room, Helena thought about Phantasm¡¯s invasion. He was searching my brain for something particular, everything else was icing on the cake. Everything he scanned had been inside that mask. It was created to distract me from understanding his true goals. At least, from what I understand of Telepathy if the victim is aware of an intruder they can fight back. However, I didn¡¯t have an understanding until the mask was already in place. Is there something deeper with his incursion?

    Helena sighed as she worked through the pieces. He seems to transmit his ability with radio waves, but that¡¯s still only a theory. Obviously, he siphoned through my memories on the Estate or at least a small portion of them. The Hatters and Warbrings seem to be the most prominent, but Drake had also been touched on.

    He wasn¡¯t searching for a single memory, but multiple strings that could be put together into a whole as his final farewell indicated. I only have half the puzzle, but ¡­ my mother¡¯s dress? What do I know about my mother that Phantasm¡¯s interested in? I only know what WITCH wrote in my analysis sheet. No, Drake had said a few things about her in the past.

    Helena scowled as she scoured her memories for Drake¡¯s exact words. They were early memories, a few years ago. All she could remember was her brother¡¯s confusion about her parent¡¯s decision, but it was when she was sick and many of her memories were fractured from that time. Throwing it in the back of her mind, she focused on the rest of his apparition.

    Everything¡¯s a clue, everything. The environment ¡­ that could translate to everywhere I¡¯ve ever been around the Estate ¡­ even the silverware ¡­ he actually must be brilliant to develop all of that in moments. Kara¡¯s paintings maybe? He obviously has a connection with Kara, but it seems all the Primes do.

    Helena halted as she noticed a strange indentation in a wall and several personnel clustered around it. They were taping the area off. Moving closer, she found a few wet bloody footprints imprinted on the center of a steel panel, showing distortions in the metal. The path led along the way to her room and more personnel were moving along the halls, cleaning it all up with great care.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Helena asked as she watched a man and woman apply hazmat suits.

    ¡°Belesis came flying through the halls like a vamp on steroids, what¡¯s happened. She slammed against the wall and this is the result.¡± The man said with a grimace as he slipped into a hazmat suit.

    Examining their yellow suits curiously, Helena asked. ¡°Why the protection?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± A woman yelled as she finished putting on her suit, her voice came out slightly muffled. ¡°She¡¯s a General class Biokinetic! If that blood touches living tissue ... who knows what her cells could do without her controlling them. They could hold an extremely rare and deadly virus or mutate your genetic structure! It could even go viral if it evaporates, who knows ¡­ melt through this suit...¡±

    A man next to her laughed. ¡°Or it could hold the cure to a lethal disease. Short answer ¡­ it¡¯s mysterious and potentially dangerous.¡±

    Helena watched them scrape several samples into containers before washing it down with some kind of liquid. The steel warped further as the liquid ran down its length, covering the blood. Within a few minutes, they¡¯d untapped the section and moved on down the hall to another indentation.

    Belesis certainly is powerful ¡­ a General class? I haven¡¯t heard the rankings yet, but I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s a higher rank than Booker. She¡¯s a very intriguing woman, but if she¡¯s of such ranking, why act as she does?

    Booker¡¯s at least of some higher rank in WITCH as the Cafeteria indicated and a General seems to be a big deal as well, possibly even bigger than a Captain. In WITCH, I guess it¡¯s like a Noble associating with lower class ¡­ it¡¯s not appropriate and others could find fault with it. Helena¡¯s brow furrowed in concern, but she dropped the thought until she got further details.

    Continuing on her way, she resumed her thought process. I don¡¯t understand what Phantasm was trying to get out of me. He mentioned a list almost complete, but what kind of list is it? A list of House members? As a Prime, he should have access to any information WITCH has and with his ability, shouldn¡¯t he be able to get into anyone¡¯s mind? I imagine he can, but I don¡¯t know its limits. Maybe it has certain conditions that must be met.

    Wait ¡­ what if the entire elaborate scene had been the farce and I was the target? He could have gained information on Kara¡¯s electromagnetic walking, but that¡¯s almost a guarantee. What else did he get from my mind? He said something about a power drain. What did he mean? Did I have more of a drain on his Focus than he expected, since I¡¯m an Electro Master? He also said he gave me a gift and fixed my trauma, so many unknowns!

    I seem to be special in some way ¡­ at least how he made it sound, but he could be leading me on. I know he was after some early memories I have hidden somewhere in my brain, but that couldn¡¯t have been his only goal. I don¡¯t seem to be getting anywhere from what information I have ¡­ I¡¯ll store it and wait for more details.

    Entering the final hallway to her room, she prepared herself with a hefty breath. She recognized Kara¡¯s static field well before getting this close. I don¡¯t even need to passively sense her. She just pops out like a black dot on white paper. Opening the door, she walked through. She was shocked as Kara¡¯s strong arms smothered her.

    Kara began to quickly examine her while spouting continual questions. ¡°Are you alright, my little Vixy? Nothing¡¯s broken or damaged? What did he want? Did he talk to you? What did you see?¡± Lifting her arms, spinning her around, and asking how many fingers she could see. Helena was completely compliant but kept silent until Kara sighed and stepped back.

    Clearing her voice, Helena said. ¡°I¡¯m alright ¡­ from what I can tell. Belesis couldn¡¯t find anything wrong with me physically. Yes, he did talk to me and I¡¯ll explain what I saw.¡±

    Helena went over everything she saw in as much detail as she could, but Kara couldn¡¯t sit still through her account. She walked up the walls, laid across the bed, and bounced around the ceiling. After the explanation of the events, Kara hummed. ¡°You know, I was going to shout at you and explain how stupid you are ¡­ but then I realized that I was the one at fault.¡±

    Helena lifted an eyebrow as she supported her head with her left hand, her elbow resting against her left thigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t follow your instruction, so it can¡¯t be pinned on you.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give you an explanation to why you needed to keep that device with you,¡± Kara said while gesturing at the HCID. ¡°For a more specific explanation, it¡¯s customized with my personal design. I have my own contacts in Tech that were able to have it specially built for you.¡± Kara certainly is a mystery, even having contacts in a city that hates any and all espers.

    ¡°It¡¯s shielded enough to not break upon entering an electromagnetic field, emits that specific magnetic wave that hampers Phantasm¡¯s ability, charges from your natural field, and was upgraded with the most advanced Tech computing technology.¡± Almost as an afterthought, she emphatically added, ¡°And it¡¯s waterproof.¡± Hampers ¡­ not repel or reject.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Helena said. ¡°What about his ability? It felt like he was trying to synchronize with my brain somehow. The pain was fairly intense.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed you thought about synchronization because you¡¯re right.¡± Kara grinned. ¡°However, it¡¯s still a bit more complicated. That pain you felt before blacking out was Phantasm forcibly altering your brainwave signature. In essence, he was cramming a square block through a circular opening. It can only be accomplished through extreme force and even more so with Electro Masters.¡±

    ¡°Then we do have a natural resistance toward his ability?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°In a way,¡± Kara commented while standing horizontally against the yellow wall. ¡°You could say that there is a backlash with our ability. That intense pain doesn¡¯t normally happen to his victims. They simply fall under his mental influence, but with us ¡­ our field sends a recoil and makes the experience all the more painful to both of us ¡­ at least it gives him a taste of his own medicine.¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t stop him from trying.¡± Helena frowned as she studied the painting across from her on reception.

    ¡°No, because his ability has another affix and that is what makes him worthy of being a Prime.¡± Helena kept quiet as she waited for Kara to continue. She was now dropping from the ceiling and falling, back first, onto the bed. The bed shook with her weight as she hit and she continued her explanation. ¡°When he synchronizes with someone, he doesn¡¯t only have access to their memories, but also their ability.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Then he can have any ability?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically,¡± Kara said with a low tone, ¡°however, he can only have that ability as long as the victim is unconscious. He also has to keep a constant feed, draining Focus rapidly.¡±

    ¡°Can it be fought against?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but normally it requires a few times being under his influence to figure out the method. It can¡¯t really be taught without personally experiencing his control.¡±

    ¡°How far is his maximum distance?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Normally only forty or fifty meters, but he found a clever little loophole that allowed him to become the Purple Prime. He can use radio waves as an amplifier.¡± Helena saw a hint of regretful pass over Kara¡¯s features, but it was gone as quickly as it had birthed. Her heart also reacted in a way to show slight angst.

    Helena frowned as she studied Kara. ¡°So, his ability is similar to ours?¡±

    ¡°Maybe, I¡¯m not completely sure. Highly intellectual espers have the capacity to resist his synchronization completely. That¡¯s why the other Primes are safe, but everyone has to watch their back with Phantasm running around and he can attack from anywhere.¡± Kara scooted to the side of the bed with Helena.

    ¡°You seem to know a lot about him and his ability?¡± Helena pressed.

    Kara was silent for a moment as she considered something. ¡°I used to be friends with him, about eight years ago. We theorized different techniques we could use with our abilities ¡­ it was fun at the time.¡± I see ... so that¡¯s their relationship.

    Lying across the bed, Helena was silent for a moment. ¡°Does that mean ¡­ I¡¯m not that intelligent if he was able to get into my mind?¡±

    ¡°No, you just had no idea what was going on. Being able to tell you were in a fabrication is actually fairly impressive. Next time, you should be able to redirect the frequency, interrupt it, counter it, or even throw him back completely.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else we can do against him?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Kara said with a small grin, ¡°We can track him!¡±

    ¡°Through radio wave transmissions across electrical equipment?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Yes, and he¡¯s frightened about that. He hides behind his little radio games and doesn¡¯t like someone being able to track him.¡±

    ¡°What about the Tracking Unit?¡±

    Kara¡¯s laugh tinkled around the air. ¡°Once you reach Prime level, the Tracking Unit becomes irrelevant. Who would they send to catch us? No, once you reach a Prime¡¯s level, the Alpha comes into play.¡± What Booker mentioned...

    ¡°Who and what is the Alpha?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve seen him of course, but he always stays by the President¡¯s side. He¡¯s the counter against the Primes, the power behind the President¡¯s word. Basically, he¡¯s the reason WITCH doesn¡¯t crumble under all the different Factions.¡±

    ¡°Then even you are held in check?¡± Helena said with a pit entering her stomach. How am I supposed to escape WITCH with this Alpha¡¯s shadow hanging in the background?

    Kara giggled, but Helena sensed an edge of nervousness in her voice. ¡°Honestly, none of the Primes know if we¡¯d be a match for the Alpha. You could call it a fear factor, the same influence that causes the volatile stalemate between Primes. No one wants to risk a losing battle and I do have a lot of pull in WITCH, just because I¡¯m strong.¡± Kara said with a wink.

    ¡°Anyways, back to the point at hand. I was worried about your torture and lingering effects, but it seems Phantasm had to break past that trauma to achieve his goal, which is actually wonderful. You asked me what kind of gift he could be speaking of and that is an interesting little issue with Phantasm¡¯s ability. You see ¡­ with our natural defense, the similarities in ability, and that recoil, there is a side effect that he has no control over.¡±

    Helena listened closely. ¡°When Phantasm creates a link with an Electro Master, the Electro Master drains his Focus, but not in the traditional method. Basically, we attract the energy he¡¯s trying to feed us and that¡¯s the main issue behind the pain ¡­ or so I presume. It¡¯s like an energy transference and breakdown. Phantasm¡¯s Focus has already been shaped, but as it reaches us a portion of it is broken down again.¡±

    ¡°So, I¡¯m stronger now?¡± Helena asked while staring at her hands with pursed lips.

    ¡°A little, you can only drain a tad more than your maximum rest potential or in other words, your maximum Capacity. So for you, I¡¯d say you could go another few hours at running!¡± She said with a wicked grin.

    Excitement exploded on Kara¡¯s face. ¡°I know! Why don¡¯t you test your limits against me?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Helena asked with raised eyebrows.

    ¡°A little Electro Master one o''one, it will always be the same for us Electro Masters. One of the most powerful attacks we can do in terms of raw power is a lightning bolt. However, with finesse, you can accomplish less draining, but even more powerful attacks.¡± She added as an afterthought.

    Helena frowned but nodded. ¡°So, you want me to attack you with a bolt of electricity.¡±

    Kara nodded and she hopped off the bed, moving in front of Helena with spread arms. ¡°Give me your best shot, little Vixy!¡±

    Sitting up, Helena held out her left hand, while still frowning and applied the calculation for a simple bolt of electricity. As she unleashed the tap on her Focus her stomach did somersaults. A chilling fearful quiver ran up her spine as warning signals flew off in her mind. Whatever¡¯s coming, I can¡¯t control it. It felt like a torrent of electricity was running down her entire body and Kara¡¯s smile vanished, replaced with distress as her left-hand shot toward Helena¡¯s.

    A mass of energy expelled from Helena, shooting off in all directions. It was more like lightning than a simple bolt of electricity. The arcs of lightning swirled around the room as Helena felt an alien force rapidly take control over the flood and maneuver it. The sound was deafening. The large force of electricity arced around the room, causing the floor to vibrate and hot air to be expelled around in a torrent. The smell of atmosphere potent as it left small dispersions of plasma in the resistant air.

    All of the strings suddenly shot toward Kara and seemed to be absorbed into her body. She wore a troubled expression as she cradled Helena¡¯s hand, examining it thoroughly. Helena felt her body quivering and her muscles locked. All she could sense was the moment she¡¯d lost control, the terror of that instance. I¡¯ve never lost control, never. There was too much energy.

    ¡°Helena ¡­ Helena!¡± Her muscles convulsed and she jerkily looked up at Kara. She now looked angry and confused as she talked into the HCID at her wrist, but Helena couldn¡¯t hear her words. Everything seemed dulled compared to the previous moment, she kept reliving in her mind.

    Faintly she recognized a quake strike the room as everything shook and moments later Belesis was rushing in, her hands and feet trailing blood. Helena looked down and felt the air in her lungs convulsing. Her eyes transfixed and her body felt numb, but the pain started erupting from her hand or where it once had been. Her left hand¡¯s fingers to wrist was now a steaming blackened lump and she started recognizing the smell of burning flesh as the smoke rose to her nostrils, mixing with the ozone scent.

    Belesis¡¯ hand touched the blackened crust of her hand and her forehead, her vision instantly washed out.

 B1 â€” 26. Espology

    Helena felt a slight jolt collide with her body, sending her consciousness bubbling to the surface. A tremor ran across her nerve-system before she bolted upright. Her heart was thunderous, colliding against her chest as her eyes darted around out of focus. Recognizing the mirror in the left corner, she followed the green wall to the door. Swallowing uneasily, she found the steel door hanging off a single hinge. It wasn¡¯t a dream.

    Kara¡¯s troubled voice slowly increased in volume. ¡°Well¡ªthat was completely unexpected. I would say impossible if I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes.¡± She was standing to her right, against the bedside wall. Her left thumbnail was clamped between her perfectly even white teeth as her right hand rested across her stomach.

    Helena¡¯s head slowly tilted down to stare at her left hand, heart fluttering as her peripheral vision fed back its shape. Her skin was slightly pink, but her hand wasn¡¯t blackened charcoal as she remembered and the HCID was still intact, just above the discolored skin. Her stomach constricting as the memories returned, the terror washing over her body. It really did happen. I¡ªincinerated my left hand...

    Noticing a crease in her mattress weight distribution and the soft smell of lavender, Helena glanced left to find Belesis sleeping next to her with a worried expression. Taking a shuddering breath, Helena asked. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Kara studied her for several seconds before answering. ¡°You¡¯ve been out for a few minutes. Belesis got here fast enough and repaired your hand to the best of her current condition. With her present Focus and cellular distribution, she was only able to heal your hand to that state before collapsing. She was quite adamant before passing out that I tell you she¡¯d finish.¡±

    Helena could now smell the lingering smells of the lightning and her burning flesh. She couldn¡¯t work her head around it. Why am I being treated so well? Kara¡¯s interested in me, sure, but this goes far beyond simple curiosity. Belesis is a General and she¡¯s used so much Focus on me over the past few days.

    She stared down at her left hand and flexed it. Not even a millisecond hesitation, a perfect reaction. It did leave a slight tingling sensation she wasn¡¯t accustomed to, but just a moment ago she didn¡¯t have a hand. Playing with her fingers, she asked. ¡°Why did that happen? I recall you saying that my ability would only be slightly overpowered. I¡¯ve never produced anything¡ªclose to that.¡±

    Kara¡¯s brooding complexion deepened as she moved to the foot of the bed and leaned against the curved foot rod. Seriousness drew out every word Kara spoke. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you questions that seem completely unrelated, but I want you to answer them. You¡¯ll get your answer soon enough.¡±

    Helena nodded stiffly. Kara didn¡¯t ask her questions for another few seconds as she scrupulously studied her wrist. ¡°What kind of calculation did you use to produce that lightning?¡±

    Shifting under the blanket, Helena scooted to the headboard, resting her tight back against it. ¡°A simple electrical shock that I¡¯d¡ªnormally just feed Focus into.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever produced an electrical bolt exceeding five hundred million volts and eighty thousand amperes?¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What, no ¡­ at most I¡¯ve produced a hundred and fifty milliamps.¡±

    Kara was silent for a moment as she paced the room, every so often looking over Helena¡¯s body. Stopping and folding her arms, she examined Helena¡¯s right arm. Kara¡¯s eyes narrowed as she looked at her earrings and bracelet. ¡°What about your jewelry?¡±

    Confused, Helena asked. ¡°My jewelry? What about them?¡± Odd, why bring my jewelry into the questioning? I¡¯ve had my jewelry for four years and never had a problem with excessive power.

    Adamant about her questions, Kara continued. ¡°How long have you been wearing them and how long have you gone without them?¡± She¡¯s serious.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe taking them off for more than an hour and I¡¯ve worn them since I was four. Drake gave them to me as a present and told me to always keep them close, they were expensive and jewels showed the signs of Nobility.¡±

    Kara rubbed her right temple and sighed in frustration. She whispered to herself as she paced the room again, suddenly cutting off her silent conversation. ¡°What¡¯s your brother thinking ¡­ I¡¯ve never heard of an experiment like this. The side effects suggest it¡¯s impossible! Yet ¡­ no, there has to be a different explanation ¡­ but what?¡± She asked herself and her voice continued to accentuate her annoyance.

    Helena felt totally out of the loop, a bit of exasperation entering her chest, her hair started to stand on end as static gathered. When¡¯s she going to tell me what she¡¯s figured out or theorizing? She obviously narrowed something down and she doesn¡¯t like her answer. ¡°What are you talking about? What do my jewelry and Drake have to do with some kind of experiment and that power outburst?¡±

    Kara broke eye contact with Helena as two people came running into the room, Booker and Klen. Booker¡¯s jogging clothes were rumpled; his glasses askew showing Helena a glimpse at his dark blue eyes and his skin was covered in sweat. ¡°I heard Belesis came flying down the halls like an esper out of Tech!¡± Booker exclaimed, white-faced. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Klen was breathing heavily as he leaned up against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment to focus on slowing his heart. They both slowly looked down and leaped back with a yelp as they found bloody footprints leading to the bed.

    ¡°Is that Belesis¡¯ blood?¡± Klen asked as he shrunk back into the hall.

    Kara¡¯s troubled tone hung as a hum. ¡°Booker, Klen, grab the containment personnel and have them quietly,¡± she stressed the word with a thumb pointed at Belesis, ¡°clean up this mess and send word to the medical department.¡±

    ¡°What about...¡± Klen cut off as Booker put his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Got it, Boss. Let¡¯s go, half-pint!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a half-pint, I¡¯m taller than Helena.¡± Klen exclaimed as they walking out of the room.

    Booker¡¯s laughter echoed down the hall. ¡°Yeah, an eight-year-old girl and by what, an inch?¡±

    Klen¡¯s angry voice quickly disappeared. ¡°At least five!¡±

    Kara waited for their voices to fade before leaning against the side of the bed, staring down at Helena. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take this into a relief room? There aren¡¯t a lot of personnel on this side of the base at the moment, so most relief rooms should be fairly clear.¡±

    Helena nodded as she lifted herself from the bed, steadying herself. She walked with Kara out of the room as she led the way. The hallways were chilly against Helena¡¯s bare legs and arms. Without a glance backward, Kara asked. ¡°Have you been taught anything on Espology at the Vandred manor?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it,¡± Helena replied. Espology? Is there something in the practice that explains that outburst?

    She was silent until they reached a room with multiple couches and armchairs. Kara walked over to a couch and sat down, pressing a button on a device resting on a table. ¡°This is Kara. I want refreshments brought to relief room Y16.¡±

    The response was sharp and the voice seemed in haste from hidden speakers around the room. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±

    Kara huffed as she looked at Helena from her sitting position. ¡°Where should I begin ¡­ Espology is a basic among espers.¡± Esp is obvious enough and ology is the study of something.

    Sitting across from Kara, she asked. ¡°It¡¯s the study of ESP, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but the basics should be known to all espers. I¡¯m shocked your brother didn¡¯t have you taught the foundations, but,¡± she cut off as she glanced at her jewelry, ¡°I presume he had his reasons. With that information, you could have figured it out¡ªeventually.¡±

    Helena was starting to get tired of the ambiguous approach Kara was taking. ¡°Then please teach me what in Espology I need to know.¡±

    Kara pursed her lips disapprovingly. ¡°That¡¯s not the tone you should take with someone who¡¯s going to teach you something, but¡ªI am drawing this out a bit. I¡¯m¡ªtrying to wrap my head around it myself.¡± Kara said as she bit down on her left thumbnail again. She must be very annoyed. Is she trying to figure out something Drake did? ¡°Why don¡¯t we start with Focus, what do you know about it?¡±

    Helena sat a little straighter before answering. ¡°It¡¯s an esper¡¯s power source, the energy behind our ability. Our mind calculates and directs what our Focus becomes, based on our individual ability.¡±

    ¡°Right, but what do you know about the Focus initiation process?¡± Kara asked.

    ¡°Initiation process? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re referring to? Doesn¡¯t it convert into base elemental partials and your subliminal and conscious calculations carry on from there?¡±

    Leaning back with a hum, Kara waited a moment, finding the right words. ¡°In a way¡ªyou know the four categories of an esper¡¯s power; Regeneration, Capacity, Force, and Control?¡±

    Thinking back to her profile and several things people have said over the past few days, she nodded saying. ¡°I¡¯ve recently heard about them, but I don¡¯t know how they relate.¡±

    Kara put her hands behind her head. ¡°It¡¯s explained like this to the new recruits. Imagine a spout that pours water, but instead of water imagine its Focus. This spout is only dripping small amounts of Focus as a young esper develops, but usually around the ages of ten to twelve the tap is opened and it releases its full amount.

    ¡°It¡¯s been proven that espers can¡¯t increase or decrease their Focus amount ¡­ naturally. It¡¯s just set by nature, genetics, or whatever else Espologists speculate. This tap is categorized as Regeneration.¡±

    Helena frowned but nodded. So this Regeneration is what replenishes an esper¡¯s Focus and its amount will only change once, as an esper matures. It also can¡¯t be manipulated with by the esper himself.

    ¡°Then you have a gigantic bucket that this Focus tap feeds Focus water into. This bucket holds all the Focus that is supplied to an esper, our reserve, and it has tiny little crevices. Those leaks are our passive fields we produce naturally and that we can¡¯t stop. For us, it¡¯s an electrostatic field, while say a Pyrokinetic would naturally increase molecular motion around them.¡± Kara explained.

    The regenerating Focus fills a bucket, giving espers the ability to store and use their ability later on, simple enough. The small holes let a minuscule amount of Focus continually escape, giving espers their passive ability effect.

    ¡°Force is a large hole in your bucket. It has two subcategories; Force Pressure and Force Width. Pressure is how quickly Focus can be expelled from the bucket and width is how much can be drawn out at a time.¡±

    That means an esper can¡¯t dump all their Focus into a single attack. There¡¯s a limit to the power that can be drawn into the action. They are in a sense the same, but different.

    A high Force Pressure can expel a singular ability at a fast pace, while a high Force Width will allow an esper do multiple actions with their ability. It really does seem elementary.

    ¡°Control is where our brain comes into play, everything before is natural and out of our control. Consider control as the cap on your Force opening. It designates how much comes through and at what speed.¡±

    I see, my Control couldn¡¯t handle the Force being expelled back in the room, but there are still plenty of things that need addressing. Like how my Force is large enough to expel that much energy and at such a fast pace, also how that much Focus could be stored inside my Capacity.

    ¡°Espers can increase the Capacity, Force, and Control categories, but not the Regeneration. The reason Focus being given the simile of water is its behavior.¡± Does Focus behave like water?

    ¡°Water has the dynamism that hates to be bound; it tries it''s hardest to escape and can find the tiniest holes to escape through. Focus is the same way and this is how an esper expands their Capacity and Force. Think of your bucket or Capacity being filled with a bottomless sand pit. Focus is constantly in motion, making a current. That current slowly carries out sand, making your bucket or Capacity deeper.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    So the more an esper uses their ability the more their Capacity increases by the sand leaving the bucket. What does all have to do with Drake and my jewelry? A pit formed in Helena¡¯s stomach as it started to click together in her head.

    ¡°Water also corrodes, which is exactly what Focus does to the hole in your bucket, making the opening larger. That means that your stopper, your Control, needs to increase as well.¡±

    Helena was white-faced. ¡°Then my jewelry is like the stones in WITCH¡¯s Black Box?¡± My stones are continually draining my Focus, making my Capacity deeper and my Force wider with less resistance.

    Kara breathed a heavy puff of air as she examined her. ¡°Not exactly.¡±

    She leaned closer. ¡°There are hundreds of D-grade Espit around that room ¡­ the Black Box.¡± The stones are named Espit ¡­ there are ranks to their quality as well, then what¡¯s mine?

    ¡°DG Espit is rare enough to find and Tech goes to great lengths to horde the majority of it. However, your stones must be of higher grade, AG or Advanced-grade. It¡¯s the only explanation I can come up with. However, this plan has a gigantic hole I¡¯m trying to work through.¡±

    ¡°What kind of hole?¡± Helena asked, fearing the answer she¡¯d already worked out.

    ¡°An esper¡¯s Capacity normally sits at ninety to seventy percent and going below that can cause extreme discomfort in the brain as it makes up for the loss with more elaborate subliminal calculations, maximizing potential loss with efficient quality in the product. However, with you...¡± She cut herself off with confusion evident in her voice. ¡°How can you still use your ability if it¡¯s consistently being dropped to its minimum? In absolutely all cases of Full Focus Depletion, subjects die, even nearing Full Focus Depletion. Yet, you¡¯re standing right in front of me and I¡¯ve seen you use your abilities without effort.¡±

    Helena gulped, feeling her breath hasten slightly as she remembered back to her earlier years at the Estate. Tentatively Helena said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s relevant, but after my fourth birthday, when I received these pieces of jewelry, I became deathly ill. I had severe migraines and the family Biokinetics couldn¡¯t leave my side. I was bedridden till the age of six.¡±

    Kara¡¯s eyes popped open as if realizing something. ¡°Of course! It could have even saved your life as an Electro Master!¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Helena asked feeling the nervous jitters in her stomach. How did I not noticed anything strange until now? Had I just been an experiment for Drake or had it been our parents? It was beyond risky; the success rate was in the multi-decimals. Her mind turned back to the argument Drake had with their parents. She still couldn¡¯t recall their faces, but she remembered how outraged Drake had been about something that teased her thoughts, just beyond her reach, the gap in memory likely caused by the FFD side effects.

    ¡°In the early years of an Electro Master or any esper that can control one of the four base energies of the universe; it can be hard for Control to take hold. A burst of Focus can cause an electrical backlash in the brain¡¯s bioelectrical impulses, causing brain death or even send a shock through your heart or other organs, stopping its rhythm and causing tissue damage.¡± It all makes a lot of sense. Learning to control the three different aspects of an Electro Mastery wasn¡¯t an easy task for me.

    ¡°However, now it means you¡¯re dependent upon those restraints to control your Focus,¡± Kara said as she bit back down on her thumbnail with a concentrated expression.

    ¡°How will I increase my Control without taking them off?¡± Helena asked.

    Kara¡¯s demeanor showed that she was deliberating on unfavorable resolutions as she studied Helena¡¯s bracelet and earrings. ¡°First we need to rid you of all your excess Focus.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Helena asked, heart skipping.

    Kara held out her hand. ¡°Take my hand and direct as much energy as you can into me.¡± Helena watched Kara¡¯s open hand with reserve. ¡°What¡¯s with those hesitant eyes?¡± Kara asked with a grin. ¡°Do you actually think that you¡¯ll hurt me? Make the most complex and powerful bolt you can.¡±

    She¡¯s right. Kara instantly took control over my outburst in her room and she didn¡¯t even think it was in the remote realms of possibility that I had that much energy. Yet she still recovered quickly enough to save me from my own electricity. A cold shiver ran down her body. I seem to be all but helpless latterly ¡­ relying on Kara¡¯s Faction for everything. I¡¯ve never felt so useless.

    Taking Kara¡¯s hands, she found her skin surprisingly smooth. ¡°What did you think I¡¯d have rough man¡¯s hands?¡± Kara asked with an incredulous grin. She¡¯s so good at reading muscle spasms¡­ Helena didn¡¯t answer as she went over the most complex formula she could think of in electric motion. She felt a horrifying sensation as the energy started flowing out, but Helena found a wall. She couldn¡¯t progress past a low stage of energy and it was much less than what she normally produced.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Kara asked with concern and a knowing fear in her brown eyes.

    Helena noticed her own hand was shaking and her mind shifting back to the previous overwhelming feeling of power, not ten minutes past. Kara released Helena¡¯s hand and sat back with an apprehensive sigh. Her eyes reflecting her deep internal thoughts as she passively studied Helena.

    Helena examined her hand as it shook and questioningly said. ¡°I¡ªcan¡¯t produce anything more?¡±

    Kara closed her eyes as she brought her left index finger up to the corner of her eyebrow, pressing against her skin apprehensively. ¡°I was afraid of this...¡±

    Helena studied Kara with a sharp screw twisting into her intestines as she swallowed nervously. With a serious tone, Kara said. ¡°You¡¯re frightened of your own ability; your subconscious is blocking your conscious from producing anything serious.¡±

    Breathlessly, Helena asked. ¡°How¡ªcan I break past it?¡±

    Kara huffed with a frustrated expression and a weak laugh escaped her lips. ¡°Tch ¡­ I don¡¯t know! I¡¯ve never had to deal with this kind of problem before, I grew into my ability.¡±

    Panic started to leak from Helena¡¯s voice. ¡°What about all the excess Focus? How can I get rid of it?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret!¡± Kara demanded. ¡°Your jewelry pieces will drain your Focus back down in no time.¡±

    Scrutinizing Helena¡¯s red diamonds, Kara said. ¡°I want you to give me your jewelry pieces, separately ¡­ there¡¯s another thing that¡¯s bugging me.¡±

    Complying, Helena removed her bracelet and gave it to Kara. The strange sensation escaped as she unclasped it. Is that the feeling of the leech being pulled away from my Focus cavity?

    Kara studied it as if it were a dangerous creature. Clasping it around her wrist, she winced and quickly removed it again. ¡°Not an AG, but a Terminus-grade. TG is the maximum grade among Espit, impressive.¡± Kara said with a sigh as she handed it back to Helena. How could she tell?

    Replacing the bracelet, she felt the strange sensation leave. It must be my Focus depletion taking a shift. Is that the feeling Kara got or can she somehow read deeper into it? Giving Kara one of her earrings, she waited, but for some reason, she didn¡¯t feel a shift like her bracelet.

    Placing it on her ear, Kara¡¯s eyes popped open in disbelief. ¡°Fascinating, could this be¡ªgive me your other earring,¡± Kara ordered and Helena sensed her heart begin thumping dramatically as if in excitement or dread.

    Removing it, she handed Kara the piece. Helena still didn¡¯t feel a thing. Taking a deep shaky breath, Kara added it to her ear and tenses, while closing her eyes with a slight quiver. Why¡¯s she acting so strangely? Opening her eyes widely, she stopped shaking and a brilliant smile lit her face.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°These aren¡¯t TG, they aren¡¯t even Espit!¡± Kara said breathlessly.

    Perplexed, Helena asked. ¡°Then what are they?¡±

    Kara seemed awestruck. ¡°These two gorgeous little girls are Espite.¡± Like I would know what that is.

    ¡°Is it rare?¡±

    Kara shook her head as she stroked the gemstone in her left ear. ¡°Beyond rare, they¡¯re only theory among Espologists.¡± Taking one of the earrings off, she shook her head again in disbelief. ¡°How did your brother get his hands not only on Espite, but also resonating pairs.¡± Wonder shook her voice.

    Helena found a strange twinkling shimmer in her deep brown eyes as she stared at an earring. Thoroughly confused, Helena asked. ¡°What is the difference between Espit and Espite? And obviously, I¡¯ve never heard of resonating pares. What makes them so special?¡±

    Kara took the earpiece off and handed them back to Helena. Solicitously, she said. ¡°Put those back on.¡± Helena complied and still didn¡¯t feel a difference.

    ¡°Where to start¡ªwhere to start,¡± Kara mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll start with Espit,¡± she decided, staring into Helena¡¯s eyes. "Espit are special stones that act as a leech. Once in contact with your personal field, they can latch onto your Capacity ¡­ your bucket. Eventually, somehow, they find their way to your Force hole and draw out your Focus. Like in the Black Box, if there are enough, they can amplify their effects and drain an entire area of espers.

    ¡°That wrist accessory is a TG, which means it acts a bit differently. It instantly attaches onto your Force opening and starts pumping Focus out. The more Focus you use, the more of a pull it can drain.¡±

    Helena hummed with understanding. ¡°Is that why my energy is much weaker than when I was back in your room?¡±

    ¡°No, your fear is getting in the way¡ªalso; it¡¯s your room, not mine,¡± Kara said with a frown. Helena nodded silently, experiencing a slight shock race across her body.

    ¡°Now¡ªEspite is different in the way it attaches,¡± Kara said as her eyes flickered to her earrings. ¡°Espite doesn¡¯t attach to your Force opening¡ªit attaches to your Focus Facet your Regeneration,¡± Kara said with excitement.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that worse?¡± Helena asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean that my bucket would go dry?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, yes. It would continue to drain your Focus until basically, you weren¡¯t an esper anymore. However ¡­ the truly astounding thing about your Espite is they are resonating.¡±

    Helena sat quietly, waiting. Clearly Kara¡¯s excited, not worried. So this resonating thing should be a good thing?

    ¡°Resonating has only been documented in Espit and in rare circumstances. Resonating Espit forces your bucket to expel all the water at once. Essentially it causes a massive power spike, but soon kills the esper from FFD.¡± That sounds horrible. Why is she so excited about Espite resonating? Is there a difference?

    ¡°If removed quickly it''s fine, which is why I tested it myself and I was a bit light-hearted, let me tell you! I mean ¡­ with how much Focus I have¡ªthat would have been ¡­ bad.

    She concluded with a tinkling laugh close to her lips. ¡°It seems that Espite resonating pairs act as a shield!¡±

    ¡°A shield against what?¡±

    ¡°Think about it like a limiter on your Facet that is connected to your Control valve. In accordance with your Control, it lifts more of the restriction off your Facet. It¡¯s brilliant! I never would have imagined it possible!¡±

    Helena¡¯s mind birthed with realization. The earrings are to prevent my Capacity from gaining more Focus than I can control. The bracelet is used to deepen my Capacity and widen my Force. Eventually, I¡¯d take off my bracelet and work on Control, now that my Capacity is fairly deep and Force wide. The earrings will keep my Capacity amount in check. The plan truly does seem genius, but again, the only issue would be the shaping process, being able to survive with minimum Focus.

    ¡°Do you get it?¡± Kara asked with a grin. ¡°It really is fascinating that your brother not only came up with this plan but against all odds managed to get the items to accomplish it.¡±

    Helena nodded. The words wouldn¡¯t come to her mouth. I still don¡¯t know Drake¡¯s intentions with WITCH, but he certainly has given me somewhat of an advantage ¡­ though, at extremely great risk. However, he didn¡¯t calculate Phantasm into the formula, which is understandable. It¡¯s up to me to figure out the rest. He undoubtedly wants me trained by Kara, which is logical since she¡¯s the most powerful Electro Master, but for what reason?

    Kara leaned backward with a huff. ¡°I¡¯m a little bothered about the emotional charge though,¡± Kara said with a frown.

    ¡°What do you mean? What does emotion have to do with anything?¡± Helena asked.

    Kara¡¯s brows furrowed as she studied Helena. ¡°What do you know about the Esper Emotional Correlation Effect, you might also have heard it as EECE?¡± Kara asked.

    Helena¡¯s stomach twisted. Yet another fundamental topic to espers that I¡¯m completely unaware of, why didn¡¯t Drake tell me about these things? Kara must be right and he skipped over anything that could ruin his plans. ¡°Nothing,¡± Helena regretfully admitted, ¡°just that emotions can hamper my ability to judge a situation.¡± Is this EECE the reason why Drake always warned me to keep a level head ¡­ subliminally instilling a rule that would keep me safe from some kind of side effect?

    Kara pondered a moment. ¡°There are eight basic emotions; Ecstasy, Admiration, Terror, Amazement, Grief, Loathing, Rage, and Vigilance. Each of these emotions when truly felt can amplify esper abilities, but doing so will cause esper¡¯s Focus to drain more rapidly and your cognitive rationalization, in most cases, will regress.¡± Like the feelings, I had toward Ventre. I did notice a strange stir inside of me ¡­ loathing, rage?

    ¡°I¡¯m just worried about the effects of strong emotion. You see, the sand I was talking about earlier isn¡¯t dry. It¡¯s saturated ¡­ soaked with Focus and depending on how high your Capacity is ¡­ the more Focus sinks down with pressure.¡±

    ¡°Is it like a hidden reserve?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°You could see it like that and emotion can boil that compressed Focus to the surface. It¡¯s just a rhetorical expression, but it¡¯s fairly accurate and with how deep your Capacity already is and at your age ¡­ if that emergency fuel comes fizzing to the surface ¡­ with all of Phantasm¡¯s weighted Focus that has already sunk below.¡± She cut off, not needed to continue. The same power spike will occur, even worse than that outburst.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have a problem with that right now,¡± Helena said.

    ¡°Maybe not now, since your catalyst is dead.¡± She cut off, not willing to say Ventre¡¯s name. ¡°However, there are things that can stick with you, even when your catalyst is no longer a part of this world.¡± She¡¯s warning me to keep a handle on my emotions, but she clearly has issues of her own with emotional outbursts. Does that mean that she can¡¯t control certain situations and loses cognitive control?

    ¡°Don¡¯t go thinking emotions are useless to espers.¡± Kara said with a concentrated expression. Didn¡¯t she just say that emotion will reduce your ability to rationalize? Why isn¡¯t that a disadvantage?

    ¡°Emotion can be an espers greatest weapon and should be used. However, the absolute hardest thing for an esper to do is to find the equilibrium ¡­ the serenity between emotion and rationalization.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t found it yet?¡± Helena asked.

    Deliberating her answer, Kara said. ¡°At times ¡­ but I¡¯m not perfect and there are other issues...¡± Helena recognized a slight shift in Kara¡¯s personality as her demeanor darkened and her eyes shifted toward the left wall. ¡°To end this little conversation, you should make sure to keep your emotions in check, because it¡¯ll become life-threatening otherwise. Now, I think it¡¯s time you get back to training ¡­ and keep that bracelet off. Put it in the drawer with the brush for safekeeping.¡± Kara instructed.

    Helena nodded and rose to her feet, exiting the room. Espology ¡­ interesting.

 B1 â€” 27. WITCH

    Helena left the room as a rushed waiter entered, stacks of food on a tray. Why did Kara order refreshments if she only talked to me for a short time? She must have planned to talk with someone else. With how she ended our conversation they must be close.

    Arriving back at her room, she found Belesis still lying in bed, sound asleep. However, an IV was now inserted in her arm; pumping liquid into her veins and all the blood had been cleaned up.

    Walking over to the desk, she unclasped her bracelet as Kara instructed. The tingling sensation returning, it felt like a weight had been lifted. Placing the bracelet in the drawer, she glanced over at the pills lying on the desk¡¯s smooth surface. Considering it, she popped one into her mouth; it dissolved swiftly and she soon started to feel her headache subside. These pills are useful, but I can¡¯t take any more for the next two hours.

    She glanced back at Belesis. She¡¯s helped me more than anyone in my life and without a request for payment. Why is she so infatuated with me? Always calling me Lady and emphasizing that I¡¯m a Noble ¡­ it all reminds me of Noble servant behavior. A superior bending over for their servants spells a trial filled future. Realistically, kindness cannot go without return or it¡¯ll lead to ruin.

    She frowned. Klen mentioned her liking Booker and with that earlier reaction, it did remind me of Rean and Tamie¡¯s response to Tom¡¯s hormones. He also said learning Ladylike behavior wouldn¡¯t help her cause; calling her a Kiyohime ¡­ what is a Kiyohime? It sounds like some kind of Verlish creature.

    Bringing up the HCID clasped to her wrist, she took its cores out of idle and was shocked to find how much easier the manipulations had become. I barely have to think about the calculations. Is it because my Focus is actually replenishing without the bracelet?

    Searching WITCH¡¯s database, she found a file on the monster. Activating the file, a three-dimensional holographic display of a woman appear and suddenly started to transform into a large grotesque serpent. It had the lower half of a snake and upper half of a woman. However, it did have fragments of scales running across its skin, fangs, claws, and the serpentine tongue.

    She read the information by the image: Kiyohime are large serpents that have the ability to transform into human females, masking themselves. They have also been documented to breathe fire at temperatures of a thousand one hundred and twenty degrees Kelvin, hot enough to melt some bronze compounds and swims quickly in water. Further research shows they forcibly undergo the serpentine transformation if exposed to a large volume of water. Their scales are hard, but not as steel. It can be penetrated with normal ammunition, although, it seems to be resistant against UV radiation, susceptible to higher frequencies; such as x-rays and gamma rays.

    Helena mused over the comparison. Interesting, but why would Klen refer to Belesis as a Kiyohime, she¡¯s a Biokinetic? Perhaps it has something to do with her personality being two-sided.

    Finished speculating, Helena deactivated the HCID and took the small capsules out of her pocket, placing them on the desk. They were starting to hurt her butt while running. Instead, she pocketed a few of the tablets from the broken bottle and made her way back to the Botanical Garden to continue jogging. Finding a ladies room along the way, she went to the bathroom and continued on. She passed several people removing in-caved wall paneling and replacing it with new material.

    I haven¡¯t seen many people on this side of the base. Where are all the personnel for this massive base? In fact, where does WITCH recruit these people and keep them despite the risks? So much information to learn.

    Entering the gardens, she tapped her toes against the paved walkway and did a light stretch. After finishing, she began to jog along the path using electromagnetism to lighten each footfall and propel herself forward. It¡¯s much easier than before, specifically on my Focus.

    As she reached the split, she found Booker stretching and still wearing his running attire, his glasses were still perched between his nose. His tanned muscular torso was bare, showing his toned physique. How often does he work out and what does he actually do in the Faction as a Captain? Both Belesis and Booker seem to have a lot of free time. Wait ¡­ did Kara tell him to meet me here since she knew I¡¯d be training the technique she showed me?

    As Helena rounded the corner, he straightened and walking to a bench, throwing on a white tank-top. ¡°Sorry about that, little lass.¡± Booker said sheepishly, repositioning his glasses.

    Helena nodded. ¡°Salutations, Booker. Going on a jog again?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Booker said, starting to work out his calves.

    ¡°Would you mind jogging with me? I have some questions.¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am, it¡¯ll be my pleasure,¡± Booker replied with a grin. Booker walked over and handed her a water bottle from an ice-filled bucket at a bench. ¡°Shall we begin?¡±

    Helena set the pace as she thought about what question she should start with.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, little lass?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m at a lost with how WITCH operates; the internal structure is still a mystery to me and I keep hearing about different classes.¡±

    Booker hummed pensively. ¡°Where do you want me to begin?¡±

    ¡°How about the top of WITCH and work your way down,¡± Helena suggested.

    ¡°Right, well¡ªthe top, of course, is the President. He¡¯s the law around WITCH. Then there¡¯s the Alpha, the check to the Primes. Then the Primes and Vice-President, they coordinated together, but the Primes aren¡¯t under the Vice-President.¡±

    ¡°Is there any more information about the Alpha?¡± Helena cut in.

    ¡°Well, he¡¯s kind of an extension of the President. He doesn¡¯t really have a voice and doesn¡¯t coordinate any kind of missions, just stays by the President as his authority.¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°I see.¡± So, he¡¯s saying he has no clue what the Alpha does or why he follows the President¡¯s commands. ¡°Continue.¡±

    Booker took a quick inhale before continuing. ¡°After the Vice-President and Primes, you have the Faction Generals, which usually stay in specific regions to receive their Prime¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°Then the Generals are usually of higher power than normal SOP members?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°In most cases,¡± Booker replied with a shrug, ¡°There are some really strong Generals and really strong bottom level SOP, it just depends on their Prime¡¯s decision as well as the individual¡¯s goals ¡­ if the Prime feels like listening to them. However, to become a General, you have to pass the SSOP tests, which you somehow already know about. Usually, that information is only for Captains and above.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a Captain, what does that encompass?¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Booker laughed incredulously. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m just a Captain¡ªwe normally take orders from Majors, but here I take my orders from Belesis ¡­ but we don¡¯t have a lot to do here at the moment.¡±

    Belesis¡¯ a General of Kara¡¯s Faction and she gives orders straight to a Captain? There seems to be a large berth in ranks in the Northern Base. There has to be some kind of deeper relationship between them. The connection does seem somewhat muddled between Belesis and Booker with the ranking system.

    ¡°So Belesis gives the orders while Kara¡¯s gone at this base, but that usually isn¡¯t the order of ranking?¡± Helena questioned.

    Booker fell silent for a few minutes as they jogged. He seemed to be considering how he should explain something. ¡°Kind of, but the Generals usually have personally appointed leaders or messengers of their own.¡± Interesting; he said usually, so Belesis doesn¡¯t have a team?

    ¡°What rank are these personal team members given?¡±

    ¡°A squad that¡¯s personally under a General is a step above a Lieutenant Colonel, they¡¯re called Colonels. Under the Lieutenant Colonels are Majors and under them are Captains, which then usually personally appointed first and second Lieutenants. Finally, under the Lieutenants are all the SOP members in an area.¡±

    Helena frowned. That usually statement again ¡­ a lot of usuals and exceptions in this base. ¡°Then where are all of Kara¡¯s members. If you¡¯re a Captain and Belesis is a General where are your teams and the Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and Colonels?¡±

    Falling silent, Booker frowned as they jogged a good ten minutes before answering again. Realizing her position in the rankings, Helena waiting patiently. ¡°That¡¯s the odd thing, you see. I just got promoted to a Captain and the same for Belesis as a General, but she¡¯s fairly new to the Faction. She¡¯s only been with Kara for a year, while I¡¯ve been with Kara since the start of the Purists.¡±

    Booker frowned at his statement. ¡°She certainly has the ability and power to be a General, but she¡¯s ¡­ too soft for the position. I keep telling Kara, but she won¡¯t listen. I think Belesis should spend some time under Olivia in New Genesis before becoming a full General.¡±

    ¡°Olivia¡¯s the General in New Genesis?¡± Helena took a drink of her water.

    Booker smiled broadly. ¡°Yeah, an older woman made of grit and nails. I don¡¯t know where Kara found her, but she whips the new recruits into shape right quick.¡±

    ¡°WITCH runs New Genesis, right?¡± Helena slowed her pace slightly as sweat began appearing across Booker¡¯s tan skin. They almost completed a full lap around the track at a swift pace.

    ¡°Hold¡ªyeah, you could call it that. WITCH built New Genesis from an old esper colony called Genesis.¡±

    ¡°So, WITCH has a capital city of their own, like Tech City for Tech¡¯s people. I¡¯ve heard that New Genesis only has espers in it. Is that true?¡±

    Booker was silent for several more minutes as he worked around his mouth and considered several approaches. He was starting to slow at a consistent pace. In that time, they passed the checkpoint. ¡°Well¡ªWITCH seems somewhat peaceful and relaxed here at the Northern Base, but its brutality isn¡¯t something to take lightly.¡±

    This is peaceful and relaxed? Interesting, I might get some real answers about WITCH¡¯s structure. ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°A large portion of WITCH¡¯s resources are diverted at the moment in the southeast and midsouth sections of Elestveeve for subtle conquest. There¡¯s also resistance in the Palma Islands that keeps arising.¡±

    ¡°What about the far East? I know we are in the northeast and WITCH is setting up a base on the Palma Islands or already has, but in the far Mideast is Tech. Would they sit idle, while WITCH conquers territory around them?¡±

    ¡°No¡ªand they¡¯ve been gathering Espit since their founding a hundred and fifty-six years ago. Tech has managed to gather a large portion of it and construct a fair share of their upper city with the stones mixed into its design. It¡¯s like an esper death trap; all espers born there die as children, CFD.¡±

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s an effective means to ensure espers aren¡¯t born among them. I didn¡¯t know that Tech was built within that short of a span. How long has WITCH been around then?¡±

    ¡°Best guess I heard was approximated at two hundred years, maybe a bit more,¡± Booker said with a studious frown. Before Tech¡¯s founding and how did both of them wrestle control of this side of the continent from the Houses and Deities?

    ¡°You hinted that New Genesis¡¯ not as calm as it seems. What did you mean by that?¡±

    Booker was now sweating and breathing heavily, they¡¯d been jogging at a fast pace for over thirty minutes. ¡°I see¡ªyou learned¡ªKara¡¯s¡ªlittle trick.¡± He huffed with a smirk as he clutched his side. I guess talking and jogging at this speed is hard for normal muscles, even if tone.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop for a moment,¡± Helena suggested while trying to sound somewhat strained.

    ¡°You don¡¯t¡ªhave to act for me¡ªlittle lass,¡± Booker wheezed as they slowed. ¡°I should have brought another water bottle.¡±

    She handed him her water bottle. He opened the lid and squeezed it into his mouth, water wetting his lips. Finishing with a gasp, he wiped the liquid from his lips and stretched a little. Helena waited for him to catch his breath, leaning up against a layered hard bark tree, its long leaves sprouted out in stiff horizontal patterns to provide excellent shade from the UV lights.

    Catching his breath, Booker continued. ¡°New Genesis is under the President¡¯s direct and complete authority, meaning a totalitarian political structure, but as I said before, masked as authoritarian. The same is said about every level of the color Factions and what makes Kara¡¯s different.¡±Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Different how?¡± Helena questioned.

    ¡°Kara doesn¡¯t make her members do anything but sets a number of goals that need to be accomplished and allows the districts to vote to decide who takes the job. If no one wants it then a Lieutenant will normally step in and volunteer his squad.¡±

    ¡°Has that ever happened?¡±

    ¡°Not while I¡¯ve been in¡ªwhich is since the start. So, nope.¡± That¡¯s a surprise.

    ¡°When were the Purists created?¡±

    Booker thought for a moment as he motioned that he was ready to continue the jog. ¡°She turned sixteen three months ago¡ªwell, everyone celebrates that day as her birthday¡ªso, about five years to date,¡± Booker said thoughtfully examining his memories.

    Helena was extremely impressed and intimidated. ¡°She challenged the Prime¡¯s rule at eleven?¡±

    ¡°It was right after her Secondary Awakening,¡± Booker said. Another thing I¡¯m completely unaware of!

    ¡°What¡¯s a Secondary Awakening?¡±

    Booker looked astonished. ¡°Only the thing every young esper dreams about! The Secondary Awakening is when the seal on your Focus Facet breaks. You honestly didn¡¯t know that?¡± Oh, it¡¯s what Kara described. ¡°It marks an esper¡¯s maturity. Basically, an esper gets a power boost at their Awakening.¡± She skipped over that little detail. She only said that it would change my Focus Regeneration.

    ¡°In what way does it give a power boost?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°A physical change happens to the brain¡¯s processing capabilities. You get smarter and have better control. With that also comes more Focus Capacity, and Force as the new torrent blows through your Force cavity.¡± It makes a little more sense.

    ¡°So, that causes a burst of forced Focus to expel, causing a short spike?¡±

    Pursing his lips, Booker said, ¡°Yeah, usually it¡¯s like a flash of energy that bursts out, but it¡¯s not really that big of a deal if you¡¯ve been working on control as you should. I mean, how can an esper gain more Focus then they can control? I¡¯ve never heard of something like that happening.¡±

    Helena gulped and a large weight pressed against her chest. What¡¯s going to happen to me when my tap restraint is broken? Will my earrings keep it in check or will it all burst out of me? Kara forgot to mention that little detail or maybe didn¡¯t want to scare me.

    Getting back into rhythm with his steps, she asked, ¡°Can we go back to WITCH¡¯s structure. There seem to be non-espers working at this facility. Are there other positions besides esper SOP rankings, like those OP¡¯s Teams the Operations Manager has control over?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the most powerful non-esper position is the Vice-President. The position directly under him is equivalent enough to at most question a Captain and that¡¯s the District Supervisor. There¡¯s a District Supervisor in each base and they take care of final base decisions. However, this base doesn¡¯t have one, since the Vice-President¡¯s main housing is here.¡± Why doesn¡¯t he live in New Genesis, at WITCH¡¯s heart?

    ¡°Under the DS is the SS or Section Supervisors. They have a little bit of weight with SOP members, but only in their direct fields.¡±

    ¡°The SS are like Supply, Operations, and Security Supervisors, right?¡± Helena asked, recounting previous books she read on common organization infrastructures and what information she had browsed in their system.

    ¡°Yes, they have specific control over their fields and can extend into others if the occasion demands it. The one with the most pull would be the Operations and Security Manager since it can encompass the entire base facilities.¡± Ventre¡¯s position.

    ¡°What about all the random personnel? Where does WITCH find them?¡±

    ¡°Ultimately they¡¯re slaves.¡± Booker shifted his position uncomfortably. ¡°WITCH collects them from around their territories. They can be claimed by the Deity Faith or Tech Citizens, but we¡¯re too far away from the Deity Capital and Tech has lost a lot of control in the last few years with a few revolts.

    ¡°That¡¯s the largest problem with the Deity Empire and why I suspect the Great Houses have started joining WITCH. Their vast territory stretches too far for them to govern. They simply don¡¯t have the military power to enforce it all. Since the Great Houses are unwilling to appoint anyone as a lands caretaker and take on full responsibility. WITCH takes these people away from their families and promises they¡¯ll be taken care of as long as he learns a specific trade.

    ¡°Most of the espers found in these towns are taken to New Genesis, either secretly or by force. They usually only make it to operation teams, which the different Supervisors have command over. Occasionally, an SOP member will take interest in one and see about indoctrinating them into their Faction, that¡¯s Kara¡¯s main way of recruitment.¡± So, that¡¯s it. WITCH blackmailed Deity and Tech Citizens into operating their systems.

    ¡°What do the Color Factions actually do in WITCH?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Well¡ªas SOP indicates, we take care of special operations. If it¡¯s a large force or small incursion, we take care of it. It could be a simple extraction job to espionage to full out army annihilation as the Primes have well enough power to do so.¡± Really, they have enough power to take out entire armies?

    Helena hummed nervously. ¡°I have no formal training from WITCH. I¡¯ll be expected to fit into a Faction, into a team, and accomplish these feats?¡±

    ¡°Honestly¡ªI don¡¯t know, little lass. I mean, Kara did bump you up a lot of training levels. Essentially, she dropped four years of experience that prepares you for this contest. That¡¯s even after the five years you¡¯d be taught different languages, tactics, and survival techniques. Many SOP members train from mental cognition.¡± If someone¡¯s born to an SOP life, it doesn¡¯t seem like they are given much room to think for themselves. Just follow orders and a set schedule.

    ¡°That means that Kara was also bumped up a few levels, to have already gained the power to challenge the Primes at age eleven?¡± Helena asked.

    Booker looked somewhat flustered. ¡°Truthfully, I don¡¯t know. The Boss¡¯ past is a mystery like I said. No one at my level knows anything; I only met her a few weeks before she challenged the Primes. If anyone has knowledge of the Boss, it¡¯s the Primes, she kind of came from left field.¡±

    They stopped, while passing the checkpoint and grabbed some water bottles, continuing on. She¡¯s done a fantastic job at keeping her past concealed; to what lengths did she take?

    ¡°Is there anything else you can tell me about WITCH¡¯s goals?¡± Helena asked as they started on the trail again.

    Booker stumbled. ¡°Umm, well, besides what I told you¡ªthe President wants to take over Elestveeve¡ªI suppose.¡±

    ¡°But, why?¡±

    Booker shrugged. ¡°Like I said, I doubt Kara even knows the real reason, we¡¯re all the same, trapped by power, even the Primes.¡± Expanding WITCH¡¯s territory and to have a totalitarian rule over it. It seems too fickle of an idea to be practiced for over two hundred years and passing through multiple Presidents. There has to be a grand scheme underlining the simplistic plan for subtle conquest.

    ¡°What are the conditions like at New Genesis?¡±

    Booker let out a long sigh. ¡°Harsh¡ªI¡¯m glad I was able to leave that oppressive environment.¡±

    Helena¡¯s brows knitted together as she took a sidelong glance at Booker, his sweat sticking to his skin as he huffed beside her. That¡¯s the first positive lie I¡¯ve heard from Booker. It was very faint, but I know I felt a twitch in his heart¡¯s rhythm. Maybe he does have something he missed there. Maybe that¡¯s why Belesis doesn¡¯t have a chance with his affections as Klen said. Maybe he has someone else he loves?

    ¡°Imagine a sky that¡¯s always overcast, showering the city with ash from the factories and volcanic ash that suffocates the blue sky. There are cold winds constantly flowing around a deteriorating city; rotting skyscrapers and small structures surround the city, completely in disarray.

    ¡°There¡¯s an extremely thick mist that floats in from the east sea, where two contrasting winds meet, one cold, the other warm. The mist blankets the city over two hundred days of the year and ashen overcast clouds cover the rest. Some say it hasn¡¯t broken in over a hundred years.

    ¡°It rarely snows, but it¡¯s never above ten degrees Celsius and you have to add wind temperature to that. That¡¯s the kind of conditions the espers of New Genesis work in and you know what¡¯s kind of sick?¡± Booker asked.

    Helena felt his heart beat rising, even with the workout. ¡°The ash that mingles with the fog ¡­ some of it is the burnt remains of dead espers.¡±

    Helena glanced sideward at Booker. ¡°They burn the dead in the same fires they use?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not uncommon to see someone die at the heart of the city, which is by far the worst area. You know why?¡± Helena shook her head. He¡¯s really getting into the story, but I¡¯m getting good data from it.

    ¡°It¡¯s because the heart of the city is where the Tenants are and the Shimmering Fiend¡¯s headquarters, Sevilla¡¯s hangout.¡± Helena recognized his heart start to even out and his demeanor seemed to shift darkly, but only for a second.

    ¡°Shelter¡¯s a privilege, even though it¡¯s a big city and can house every esper. Some espers live in entire skyscrapers, while below, tens of thousands of espers huddle in the backstreets without the ability to even light a fire.¡± They can¡¯t even light a fire? How do they enforce that and by what means?

    ¡°Why can¡¯t they light a fire?¡±

    ¡°Everything for the slave class is distributed by hours. It¡¯s a way to give them a small ounce of hope for advancement. Every two hours someone works get them one ticket.¡±

    Helena¡¯s hum was low. It¡¯s an easy system to get productivity, but how do they administer it and what are the prizes for the tickets?

    Voicing some of her thoughts, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the average ticket ratio per person for a set period and what are the distribution exchange items for their labor?¡±

    ¡°On average¡ªa person will work from sixteen to eighteen hours straight, seven days a week for four weeks.¡±

    Helena whispered. ¡°Two hundred and forty to two hundred and seventy tickets a month.¡±

    Booker nodded. ¡°Three square meals are provided, no charge, but expected to be eaten while working. Water is also provided free of ticket expense.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Helena commented, ¡°they can¡¯t have their workers becoming unhealthy, an efficient calculation on WITCH¡¯s part.¡±

    Breathing for a second, Booker slowed a bit. ¡°Well¡ªyeah, but shelter as I said, is a luxury and even heat. It takes two tickets to just light a fire for one hour and it costs two hundred and twenty tickets for a month of shelter.¡± I still don¡¯t understand how they enforce all of these conditions over the entire city unless they have a full army and continually have the city under surveillance.

    ¡°That must be very harsh on the bodies¡¯ of New Genesis, in a constant season of winter-like conditions and forced to spend points on shelter.¡±

    ¡°Not just that, but medical attention is also a luxury. It costs a hundred and fifty tickets for a single visit from a WITCH Biokinetic.¡± It continually gets more simplistic, can it really be that easy of a system?

    ¡°Then I assume WITCH snatches any Biokinetic they can find on the streets?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be correct,¡± Booker grunted. They left the branch off twelve minutes earlier. Booker was panting as they slowed to a stop. Helena drank a little bit of her drink and handed it to Booker, who gratefully took it and downed its content. ¡°Once you pass the contest, you¡¯ll probably be sent on duty at New Genesis as an Overseer.¡±

    Helena furrowed her brow. ¡°Overseer ¡­ I¡¯ll be enforcing the laws the President puts into effect?¡±

    Shrugging, Booker passively played with the empty bottle. ¡°In a way¡ªyour main duty will be suppressing revolutionists.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Green¡¯s title, Suppressors?¡±

    Laughing, Booker said. ¡°You really are observant. Yes, you¡¯ll be working in conjunction with Green and Turquoise. There¡¯s a lot of tension between them and even more with their Primes. So you¡¯ll have to watch your back, Brock and Sevilla are the longest living Primes and have a deep grudge against each other. No one really knows why it¡¯s something personal. But ¡­ I think I¡¯m going to head back and take a shower.¡± Booker wiped the sweat off his brow.

    Stretching, with a yawn escaping his mouth, Helena said. ¡°Can I ask one more thing?¡±

    Booker emulated her action, saying, ¡°Sure thing, little lass¡ªwhat¡¯s on your mind?¡±

    Helena scrutinized Booker inquisitively. ¡°You said, once I pass the contest, not if. You expect I¡¯ll pass?¡±

    A wide grin broke across Booker¡¯s lips. ¡°Far too observant, little lass. Yes, I think you¡¯ll pass. After all, you¡¯ve run a stitch into me.¡± He finished with a hearty laugh. Turning, he waved the back of his hand at her. ¡°I¡¯ve got credits on you, little lass. You¡¯ve got what it takes.¡±

    Helena¡¯s frown deepened. We get paid?

    Jogging for three more hours, she finally began to feel the burn in her muscles and she started to sweat. However, a smile broke across her face. I didn¡¯t stop because of a headache, but because my muscles aren¡¯t tone. That¡¯s a huge improvement.

    Heading back to the rest stop, she started searching for a female shower room but instead found a spa. They must power their base through thermodynamics. I¡¯ve never been in a real spa. Although, I read somewhere that thermodynamic power was quite volatile...

    Entering the female side, she removed her clothing and took out the extra pills from her pocket, placing them in a basket. Throwing the jogging clothes into a hamper, she soaked in the water and washed for thirty minutes. Not a single person entered. It really does seem dead on this side of the base.

    Drying herself off, she found a message pop-up on her HCID. It notifies me of my messages without prompt. That¡¯s nice. The message read:

    Lady Vandred, I apologize for the delay, but that vicious toad had picked out such horrid clothing for a Lady of your status. I¡¯ve been all over the clothing department and added sets of clothes to your closet. All in accordance to what will fit your looks!

    I¡¯m starting to faint while writing this ¡­ so, I¡¯ll probably be asleep by the time you return. I apologize for using your bed, but it¡¯s comfy¡­

    Closing the message, she moved to the robing area. At least I have clothes now and Belesis ¡­ a General, near the highest ranking person within the Purist Faction, ordered them for me. This can¡¯t be appropriate ¡­ Booker may be right, she¡¯s too soft, but ¡­ I kind of like her personality. She just needs to learn how to be a leader, because she¡¯s acting like a proper House servant.

    Finding a comfortable robe size and slippers in a side compartment, she placed the pills into its pockets. Removing her dirty clothes from the locker, she backtracked to the hamper and threw them in. She didn¡¯t know how WITCH handled dirty clothing, but there were other dirty clothes inside the hamper. She then made her way back to the front, stretching with a long sigh. It¡¯s time for me to get some rest and start my jogging again in the morning.

    She made her way back to her room, Belesis probably sleeping in her bed. How long does she need to sleep to recover her Focus? She¡¯s healed a lot of my tissue over the past few days. She¡¯ll probably sleep for a while.

    Helena entered her room¡¯s hallway and froze as a prickling sensation spiked her perception. A strange disturbance circulated in her room. The electrons are moving in an odd manner and I¡¯m seeing a blurred image of a person inside? How can I not make them out?

    Hesitating at the door, Helena examined the interior with her active reception, but the information was still warped. There are two bioelectrical signals. One is Belesis, but I¡¯ve never encountered the second and it¡¯s causing a strange alteration in all three of my sensing aspects. It has to be someone¡¯s ability, but to cause such a modification in their environment? I won¡¯t get any answers out here.

    Opening the door, Helena began to enter the room when her reception warped, in a torrent, her reception was being distorted in a wave-like pattern. Her body convulsed with a shiver. I can¡¯t get into that field, whatever¡¯s coming, it¡¯s dangerous!

 B1 â€” 28. Decisions

    Expelling an electrical field under her feet, Helena sent a burst of magnetism to propel away from the expanding danger. She only saw a glimpse of blue and her reception told her there were foreign metal objects in her room before flying backward. Throwing an opposite charge to her back, Helena pressed her field against the wall to ease her momentum. However, the alien field expanded past the doorway.

    In slow motion, she watched in horror as her newly replaced door and its frame twist, bending unnaturally. Distracted with the dancing steel in front of her, she didn¡¯t use enough focus and her back struck the wall harder than she¡¯d expected. The collision making her eyes close and breath expel from her lungs. The sound of twisted steel resounded ahead of her; she could sense the metal coming. Can¡¯t recover fast enough¡ªneed more distance.

    Directing another blast of electromagnetic force under her, she pushed sideward to her left and back down the hall. Her slippers slid off as she soared a meter above the ground, skidding across the smooth steel flooring. A sharp grunt escaping her lips with every sharp impact the momentum carried.

    Wheezing as she stopped, she looked up to black spots distracting her focus. Blinking, she found the wall dented inward. The slippers had flown off her feet and now were flattened against the wall, pitted in the steel. Her thick metal door had cut into the indentation, showing glimpses of light from the small gaps it left.

    Her eyes darted to the left to stare at the distorted open door frame. Emphatic clapping came from inside her room. A woman¡¯s amused voice. ¡°Consider me rapt! I didn¡¯t expect you to react so nimbly. Kara was right, you have talent.¡±

    Helena got to her feet, readjusting her robe that had become partially indecent in her flight. What is this power and who is this woman?

    ¡°Well now, don¡¯t be rude. Come inside and sit. I won¡¯t bite, not anymore.¡± She laughed, it wasn¡¯t quite as tinkling as Kara¡¯s, but it had a similar note. Rude, she attacks me and calls me rude?

    Slowly, she neared the doorway and entered her room. Sitting in a cushioned royal blue gold enlaced chair was a woman Helena knew, at least in video. Eizea Felorne sat amicably in the seat, expectantly waiting for Helena to take the cushioned emerald green silver enlaced chair opposite her. Gravitations, Eizea was testing me and apparently Kara had talked with her. Of course! The refreshments ordered, Eizea was Kara¡¯s guest after I left. She¡¯s finally arrived to convince me into joining her side. What¡¯s her angle, intimidation?

    Eizea¡¯s features were expectant, examining her. She had dark tanned skin and her black hair was permed, falling down her back and front. It gently waved as her natural gravitational field slowly alternated around her body. She had a small straight nose, close high-thin arched eyebrows, light blue prominent eyes, and red glistening full lips.

    Helena could feel the irregular waves flowing around her room with warning signals flashing across her mind. She¡¯s done testing me. I need to bear through the discomfort.

    Her thin eyebrows were raised as she waited expectantly. Dangling platinum sapphire inlaid earrings tumbled down her earlobes, alternating their movements with the gravity. Her shimmering satin royal blue strapless dress appeared to be made of scraps of cloth that had been sewn together. Each piece folded under each other as it poured down to her thighs, and spread pieces of the same fabric cascaded from her thighs to her ankles in frilled patterns that slowly flared outwards. The dress highlighted her developed curves in an accentuating manner and would give her an eye-catching posture while walking.

    ¡°Salutations, Eizea Felorne.¡± Helena gave her a slight bow. The Felorne didn¡¯t have laws against gender-specific roles like some of the other Great Houses. In the power scale of the Great Houses, Eizea was slightly above her because she was the next in line to the Head, but lower in House Status. Helena wasn¡¯t officially disavowed by her house, though her middle name being leaked meant she was stained and pending disavowment by the elders.

    ¡°Helena Victoria Vandred.¡± Eizea said her name slowly with a wide smile, showing her glistening pearly teeth as she emphasized her middle name. A slight tingle ran down Helena¡¯s spine at her middle name was called by another Noble, but she quelled her body¡¯s reaction.

    Helena took the seat in front of Eizea. ¡°It¡¯s an honor. To think a Faction Prime and Great House heir in my room.¡±

    Eizea shifted her posture to lean against her chair¡¯s right arm. ¡°I was astonished when my father called to inform me of your existence. The Vandreds have always been secretive, but to hide a potential heir from the other Great Houses¡ªit almost seems disrespectful.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t have anything to say on the matter, so she stayed silent, waiting for her next question or statement. ¡°How has your brother been?¡± Eizea asked a glint showing in her light blue irises. She must know of my circumstance, she would have gathered all the facts before approaching me.

    Without emotion or shift in weight, Helena said. ¡°As far as I am aware, he¡¯s still at the Estate; I haven¡¯t seen him in the last few days. Not since he knocked me out and gave me to WITCH.¡±

    An expression of disbelief crossed Eizea¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, my¡ªhe subdued you himself.¡± She shook her head regretfully. ¡°Sometimes I¡¯m grateful to be an only child.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t answer. Leaning back slightly, Eizea brought her left hand up to her mouth in a thoughtful gesture as she stared at Helena scrupulously. ¡°You know, your brother has been amassing power in your House, supporters.¡±

    Helena knew where she was leading and suspiciously asked. ¡°He¡¯s planning to usurp power from our parents?¡± She¡¯s steering this conversation down a dangerous road among Nobles.

    Eizea shrugged. ¡°From what I can tell, he¡¯s been plotting something over the past four years. He¡¯s such a clever boy, but a tad too ambitious in my humble opinion.¡± Coming from a family that supports WITCH; an heir to a Great House, and Prime Faction Leader ¡­ she¡¯s frightened of something or her father is.

    Leaning forward, Helena tilted her head ever so slightly, and putting a small smile to her lips, she said. ¡°His actions have a possibility to endanger the Felorne House¡¯s standing and your father sent you to explore¡ªanother option. However, you would have come in any case, just to meet me, an unknown Noble¡ªyet, on the brink of disavowment. Your curiosity had to be piqued.¡±

    Eizea¡¯s face shifted from its placating manner to true astonishment, which was closely followed by a fascinated glow. ¡°Oh¡ªsmart, I¡¯m enjoying my detour more with every passing second. I got to have a lovely chat with Kara and now you. Yes, your brother is a¡ªloose cannon. There hasn¡¯t been a codetta among Nobles in over three hundred years and¡ªthe last was your House, against Head Milnor Vandred.¡±

    Helena frowned at the statement. That section of Vandred History had been blanketed; blotted out of the books.

    ¡°Head Milnor, a loved man by his House as he sacrificed everything for the Branch Families. He deteriorated the family name to such a lowly state, almost to the point of losing the title of Great.

    ¡°Expenses, power among the Houses, and domination in the Deity Faith¡¯s movements were the highest in House History before Milnor took the seat. Milnor came into the Vandred Head position at its prime. All thanks to his father, Head Alfred Vandred¡¯s conquest. A truly brilliant man, Alfred took over the entirety of Elestveeve in under fifteen years; everything was under him and by his own power.

    ¡°However, the product of Alfred the Great would crumble the whole of his empire that his Clansmen bled and died for in under a year.¡± Eizea laughed. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you haven¡¯t received an education on Head Milnor, he was cut out of your history, a shame to the prodigious name of Vandred.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re correct, there¡¯s a blank in that section of our history.¡±

    Eizea¡¯s lilting voice penetrated the room. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t complain, in fact, my House documented Head Milnor carefully. Because of his blunders, it allowed our previous Head, Gabriel Felorne, to take claim in Milnor¡¯s squandered inheritance and now look how powerful my House has become.

    ¡°Although, the generations that followed Milnor¡¯s reign managed to gut their inheritance back from the Lesser and weaker Great Houses, now standing tall. Of the current fifteen Great Houses, the few that can be considered within the power scale is Hatter; Vandred; Felorne; Warbringer; Emeldra; Olisqu; and barely hanging on through WITCH connections, Golitin. The Six Major Houses are very close in influential power, but there is that tip of the scale.¡±

    Helena posture and expression had become a blank slate, but she felt the worry starting to ebb down her gut. Something big is brewing behind this woman¡¯s mind and that vision from Phantasm. Something is subtly taking place underneath the Houses¡¯ shadow and Drake is plotting something that¡¯s deeper than a codetta. The possibilities coming to her mind sent chills down her spine. ¡°You¡¯re here to try and persuade me to join your side, but what exactly are you scheming?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get to that,¡± Eizea said with a tick of her tongue, ¡°I want you fully aware of the current positioning of the Great Houses before making up your mind.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Helena nodded as she waited.

    ¡°The Deities are getting bolder, they¡¯ve even raided a few of the Lesser Houses, plundering funds, killing all espers, which is most of every House as you know, and are even taking any non-espers to join in their cult. This all in the name of their Deities. Of course, it was only a matter of time before the Deities branched away from House support and we¡¯ve grown out of their petty beliefs as an advanced evolutionary race.¡±

    Advanced evolutionary race? In all aspects excluding Focus, we¡¯re still human, smart as we may be. That was quite the statement. Eizea might be showing signs of Megalomania, though Drake did talk about her pride. I don¡¯t think she¡¯d be satisfied with just Vandred loyalty in the end...

    ¡°Tech is a true threat as well; their sole purpose is to counter us espers. They believe in ridiculous technological integration as a means of evolution, because they haven¡¯t been gifted with true power as us espers.

    ¡°It¡¯s a process of genetics and natural selection. Tech needs to be stomped out, but WITCH has had plans in the work for some time, so I don¡¯t need to concentrate on that little side project. Kara was given key tasks in any case.¡± Kara¡¯s been given tasks to complete in regards to Tech¡¯s downfall and Eizea knows about them?

    Helena gulped as unease settled into her abdomen. ¡°You¡¯re talking about a great war coming?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªit¡¯s been in the makings for a while now,¡± Eizea said with a simple shrug.

    ¡°Who will be the opposition, because it sounds very widespread?¡± Helena asked, trying to understand the scope.

    ¡°Yes¡ªit is fairly widespread, but there will be sides. The Houses have been struggling for power for over a thousand years and because of their struggles, this continent is almost completely free of monsters.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Then the Deity Faith shows up and dupes our ancestors into believing their supercilious religion. We far out stage these weak beings, but are held by antiquated principles¡ªwhich your parents happen to still follow.¡±

    It was all starting to come clear in Helena¡¯s mind. Drake¡¯s unwilling to bow down to Eizea and join her but is willing to start this war, forcing her hand. She wants to be one of those conquerors in history, to achieve supremacy, but without another Great House¡¯s support, it¡¯s uncertain if she¡¯ll survive. ¡°You want me to join you and take the position as Vandred Head.¡±

    Eizea clapped lightly with a grin, a twinkle in her eyes. ¡°Think about it, you¡¯ll get away from WITCH and take the Head¡¯s position. You¡¯ll lose nothing and gain everything.¡± She isn¡¯t completely wrong. I¡¯ll totally bypass WITCH with her influence, which Kara isn¡¯t willing or can¡¯t do and even proceed on a journey to becoming the Head of my House. However, I wouldn¡¯t have the power a Head needs to rule. I¡¯ll be completely under Eizea¡¯s hand as she pulls the strings.

    A dubious grin lit Eizea¡¯s features. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, it must seem all too obvious to you. However, there is a quote that I¡¯m rather fond of and Kara was the one who spoke it¡ªon the day she claimed a separate faction, the White Faction, The Purists.¡± I didn¡¯t know she named it herself, but that isn¡¯t too surprising. It¡¯s a fitting name for the color white.

    ¡°She probably didn¡¯t tell you, but she isn¡¯t really considered a true Prime. Although, at the same time, technically she is one since she killed the previous Purple Prime.¡± Then Phantasm took control over the remaining factions of Purple, while Kara broke away from the WITCH color traditions?

    ¡°She fought in the presence of four Primes, including myself and I wasn¡¯t a Prime at that time. She said this:

    ¡°The powerful stand firm and crumble over time. The wise wallow away in their superior knowledge until realization shatters their beliefs. However, the one that continually survives is the one that adapts that has the ability to alter themselves to a situation.¡± Eizea seemed to look back on the incident with a fondness and her heart picked up its pace in excitement.

    Helena¡¯s complexion deepened with a frowned. She¡¯s right, I need to adapt and the path Eizea¡¯s giving me is tempting.

    ¡°As Kara said, it¡¯s not the strong or wise that survives, but those that learn to adapt to form around those powers.¡± She¡¯s talking about me following her and amending to the situation. I didn¡¯t expect her to play such a high hand, she certainly has come prepared.

    Lifting from her seat, she smiled down at Helena, who quickly followed her example. ¡°I¡¯ll give you your allotted time to think it over, Helena.¡± Helena bowed, signifying her acknowledgment.

    A frown crossed Eizea¡¯s face as she glanced at the bed, at Belesis¡¯ sleeping form. ¡°I¡¯d be wary of that one. Even I don¡¯t have information on her. She appeared out of nowhere a year ago and quickly accelerated in Kara¡¯s ranks, all the way to the top.¡±

    Glancing around the room, her smile lit-up again and she critically examined specific areas. ¡°Truly fascinating, absolutely everything in this room has multiple algorithms spread across it.¡± Multiple and everything has an algorithm?

    ¡°I was examining the bed to room ratio in contrast with the size of each object and found a particularly complex formula that combines with the bed¡¯s designed algorithm. Kara certainly is cryptic, I love it.¡± She¡¯s given me the guidelines for completing the room¡¯s grand design. I know Kara¡¯s powerful, but Eizea must be just as dangerous. These formulas are for Electro Masters and she instantly recognized the room¡¯s secrets.

    Glancing down at the chairs, she said. ¡°Keep the furnishings; you need chairs in this room in any case.¡±

    With an impish grin, directed her way, Eizea said. ¡°You know, Helena and Victoria are very strong names. The conqueror that formed the Great House Vandred a thousand years ago, Helena Vandred and then Victoria, her General in planning strategic militaristic decisions, a true genius.¡± Before exiting, she wistfully said, ¡°I wonder why your parents would name you after such prominent figures.¡± With a hum, she exited the room, leaving Helena to ponder her options. Helena watchfully followed her back as she left. Eizea¡¯s even more dangerous than Drake described.

    Turning to look at Belesis, she studied her sleeping form. She was slumbering peacefully, curled up against one of Helena¡¯s pillows. If Eizea couldn¡¯t find information on her then who is she? If I¡¯m going to get answers, I need to go to the source. Is Kara still in the same room? Examining the doorway, she sighed. The maintenance crew must hate me.

    Heading back to the relief room, she found two people, but Kara wasn¡¯t there. However, a strange folded piece of statically charged paper was stuck to the bottom of the couch she¡¯d been sitting on. Why does Kara enjoy paper messages when she could send an email?

    Much to the two occupant¡¯s bewilderment, Helena reached down and plucked the paper out from under the sofa. It read:

    Vixy, Vixy ¡­ I must say that I did expect you to come looking for answers after that conniving minx showed up. I was expecting it of course ¡­ since my cute little dimples fix didn¡¯t quite catch (*huff* fine I guess it was a bit fickle, but it looks SOOOO ADORABLE!!).

    Well¡ªI guess I¡¯ll have to explain a few little twists that woman spun in your mind. Btw ¡­ I hate Gravitokinetics, they think that they¡¯re sooo powerful ¡­ we hold one of the four basic forces of the universe too ¡­ and electromagnetic force is stronger than gravitational force!

    Anyways ¡­ you have questions as to super-secret plots and cover-ups, I¡¯m sure. So when you find this note, meet me in the next room to the left, exiting this room ¡­ this area gets a little cramped at this time. I¡¯ve been able to complete most my business for tonight anyway.

    See those cute cheeks in a moment then!! Karaightning away!

    Retiring from the room, Helena walked to the next door. Kara¡¯s field was definitely repressed inside and so were a few floating static charges. What¡¯s she doing and why is she repressing her static field this much when before it was evident all the way from my room?

    Opening the door, she found Kara in a small gathering room with a single oak table in the center. Kara was leaning back in a chair as it rested against the steel paneling. In the air were several pieces of paper that were folded into some kind of air vehicle. They flew around the room in response to Kara¡¯s static field.

    Her attire had changed. She was now wearing a tight, open neck, light brown and black dress that was very short. Under the dress showed black shorts and white flats that came to the ground as Helena entered the room. Her small curves seemed more highlighted with the apparel.

    ¡°Salutations, Kara.¡± Helena greeted as she took a seat.

    ¡°Vixy, how are you? Why are you wearing that? Did you see all those clothes Balesis picked out? I knew she¡¯d do all the work, but was my choice really that bad?¡± She asked while studying her robe with lifted eyebrows.

    ¡°I found it more pressing to find answers than dig through the closet,¡± Helena replied as she took a seat.

    ¡°Ah¡ªof course, Eizea showed up in your room throwing around gravity like a plaything. She really does have flashy tastes ¡­ I¡¯m not much into the style. What do you want to know then?¡± I keep hearing how proper Kara is, but every time I¡¯ve seen her, she¡¯s been all, but completely carefree.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Prime, the White Prime, and leader of the Purists?¡± Helena asked getting to the point.

    ¡°No and yes,¡± Kara mumbled as her eyes followed the paper designs floating around the room. ¡°I never officially claimed the title of Prime and White is something the throngs gave my group as a color. I, however, did claim my group as Purists.¡± Eizea had been incorrect in some of her statements ¡­ well, she didn¡¯t give me all the information. I couldn¡¯t even read her heartbeat with her field¡¯s distortions. That is if Kara is telling the truth as well and I doubt Kara has any real motive to lie to me about such topics.

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    Kara frowned. ¡°I bet Eizea said something about the strong and wise crumbling or something, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Helena hesitantly answered, ¡°she quoted a phrase she claims you said after killing the Purple Prime.¡±

    ¡°Yes ¡­ she¡¯s quite fond of my little quotes, but she only hears what she wants to, that woman.¡± Kara said with distaste. ¡°And, that event is much more complicated than she probably explained, more than I¡¯d like to recount.¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s different than how she stated it?¡± Helena pressed.

    ¡°No, I bet she spoke every word to the line. What did she say exactly?¡± Helena hesitated for a moment before recounting her quote.

    Kara hummed as she finished and a snort escaped her mouth. ¡°Yes, word for word. However, she skipped out on the most important part, the ending.¡±

    ¡°Is it relevant?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Kara replied with a tinkling giggle. Helena fell into silence, waiting for Kara to continue.

    ¡°You asked why I call my group Purists ¡­ it¡¯s because of that statement.¡± The reticence followed for several seconds as Kara shifted in her chair, unable to keep a specific posture. She truly hates to sit still, she¡¯s very hyperactive. It probably has to do with combat experience.

    ¡°The last portion of that speech is this:

    ¡°Nevertheless, adaptation is nothing in the wake of a permutation of a trinity involving the three aspects. True perfection comes from having the strength to stand; the wisdom to guide; and the ability to adapt to your opposition. Forming a unity between these three aspects; strength, wisdom, and adaptation is how a true leader is shaped.

    ¡°That¡¯s how I try to live my life and why I named my group Purists.¡± It makes sense.

    ¡°What about Belesis, who is she? Not Booker or even Eizea has an answer.¡±

    Kara huffed irritably. ¡°Should I divulge your past to every individual in WITCH.¡± Helena didn¡¯t answer as she realized her rudeness. Kara sniffed. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t think so. We are all entitled to our own pasts. If you ever outrank Belesis in my group then you can demand it of her or you could always take the easy route and ask her directly.¡±

    Helena sighed and bowed. ¡°I apologize for my rudeness.¡±

    Kara shrugged. ¡°I understand you¡¯re trying to determine some very important decisions. Just keep in mind that we¡¯re civilized and try to give each other some form of rights, at least in my group.¡± Helena nodded.

    ¡°Now, is there anything else evident to ask me?¡± No ¡­ she just dispelled a lot of what Eizea had said and so easily. Now that I think about it ¡­ most of it had been directed implications that had no real merit. She played me, but much of the Houses situation still stands...

    ¡°So, what will you do now? I¡¯ve gone over several reports,¡± she gestured at the pages flying around the room, ¡°and that¡¯s the last of who¡¯s interested in you joining their faction.¡± Again ¡­ why does Kara use paper for reports, wouldn¡¯t digital feeds? Pursing her lips, she pushed it in back of her mind and thought about Eizea¡¯s plan. The quick path is taking Eizea¡¯s offer, but I could also take the long dangerous route Kara¡¯s presenting. Both decisions I¡¯m a slave at either¡¯s whim with different goals ¡­ I know Eizea¡¯s goal, but not Kara¡¯s...

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand ¡­ why me?¡± Helena asked, feeling frustrated she couldn¡¯t figure it out herself.

    An impish grin lit Kara¡¯s cheeks. ¡°My lips are sealed¡ªyou still have a night to decide, but time¡¯s running out,¡± Kara warned.

    Sighing, Helena shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve made my decision.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªand what¡¯ll that be?¡± Kara asked as she absently shifted the papers around the room to perform aerial acrobatics.

    ¡°I believe you already know my answer.¡±

    A smirk lit Kara¡¯s lips. ¡°There wasn¡¯t a doubt in my mind.¡± Lifting from her chair, she lifted her left hand and several strands of energy shot out, disintegrating all, but one paper. She exited the room without a word. As the door shut, the last paper came floating down to rest in front of Helena. Unfolding the paper, she read:

    I knew your cute dimpled cheeks would lighten my band of ragtag fools¡ªahahaha!! I can imagine your serious face as you enter with a rumble in my stomach.

    Anyways ¡­ WELCOME TO THE PURISTS!! Now get some sleep and meet me in the fifth training room at twelve o¡¯clock today!! I think it¡¯s time to enforce your training for the competition. I¡¯ve set the alarm on your HCID ¡­ don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll wake up.

    NOW RUN OFF TO BED!!!

    Helena sighed. My journey to join a faction begins. Checking her HCID, she found it twelve-three AM. Kara times things perfectly; I¡¯ll learn a lot just from her example and I didn¡¯t even recognize her intrusion into my device...

    Heading back to her room, she found a ladies room along the way and went inside. Finishing, she found her door frame had been replaced with an automatic sliding door and several people were fixing the wall paneling, trying to get the door and slippers out. They work very fast.

    Pressing the panel to open the door, she entered her room, the door shutting behind her. Sliding next to Belesis, she quickly fell off to the first voluntary sleep she¡¯d had in days.

 B1 â€” 29. Personal Lesson

    Helena jolted as a high pitched sound screeched through her mind. It only lasted a millisecond, but it completely slammed her mind out of its REM state. She heard a groan and something squeeze around her stomach. Her back pressed up against something soft. Looking around, Helena found Belesis¡¯ arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her into her body and her head rested next to hers. How long has she been cuddling up to me?

    Trying to break free from Belesis¡¯ grip, she found it impossible. The hold was loose enough to breathe but too firm to slip through. bunching her lips, she gently shook Belesis. ¡°Belesis, I need to get up.¡±

    Shifting her weight, Belesis slowly opened her eyes. Helena gave a squeak of surprise as Belesis¡¯ muscles constricted, pressing her body against her chest. Confusion crossed Belesis¡¯ face as she stared into Helena¡¯s reflected eyes.

    Breaking her grip, Helena felt Belesis¡¯ powerful arms slide under her as she bolted upright, a flush coming across her face. She bowed as she knelt on the edge of the bed. ¡°I apologize, Lady...¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Helena wheezed. ¡°You¡¯ve healed my body three times now and I have yet to repay you in any way. Please, sharing my bed with you is but a trifle. In fact, I enjoy your company.¡±

    Emphatically Belesis said. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to compliment me on something that comes naturally to me. It¡¯s just something I¡¯m good at ¡­ my niece once told me that my ability should be used to help serve and I need to find someone to give those talents to. Although¡ªmy personality can turn people away.¡±

    ¡°A wise course of action,¡± Helena said as she lay in bed, rubbing her side. ¡°If one is not to serve themselves then the next course of action is to serve a duty, partake in a cause.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Lady Helena¡ªbut what if someone hates you for who you are?¡± Belesis asked, a slight tremble running across her body and down the bed frame.

    Stretching, Helena thought for a moment. It¡¯s an interesting question and has a multitude of varying answers. ¡°I would say, you can¡¯t please everyone and it¡¯s difficult to change something that¡¯s a part of you. Those in power are meant to rule, but must recognize and compensate for their subjects faults.¡±

    ¡°What if it¡¯s me at fault¡ªI try to make them happy, but still, they don¡¯t like me.¡±

    Helena huffed. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they like you?¡±

    ¡°Because¡ªI talk in crisscrosses ... positive and negative statement. I try to use neutral comments, but it seemed they also don¡¯t enjoy bland people.¡±

    Helena lifted from the bed and tightened the robe around her waist. She has to be talking about Booker, but I think she¡¯s getting the wrong opinion of him, which is strange since she¡¯s a Biokinetic. Maybe she hasn¡¯t the courage to touch him and find out if he feels the same. He may have someone he likes back at New Genesis, but I definitely saw some kind of chemistry between them.

    Thinking a moment on an answer, she hesitantly said, ¡°Sometimes¡ªwe can fool ourselves into thinking correlation equals causation. Your perception might differ from what reality reflects. Take a different angle on the subject.¡±

    Belesis¡¯ looked somewhat doubtful, but said, ¡°It¡¯s a possibility.¡±

    Stretching, Helena hopped out of bed. She walked to the closet, moving around Belesis, who was standing beside the bed, stretching. She checked the time on her HCID and found it still early, ten o¡¯clock. Kara gave me some time ¡­ but for what? She¡¯s very precise with timing, there must be a reason.

    Her eyes glanced back at Belesis, who was shifting nervously beside the bed, staring at the messy coverings. It¡¯s a harsh truth. If you¡¯re in the service of an unseeing lord there¡¯s little to do, but bare it. However, if she¡¯s talking about Booker, then there¡¯s hope for her yet. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Helena asked.

    Belesis jumped as she returned from her internal thoughts. ¡°I feel fantastic, Lady Helena, I had a wonderful rest¡ªwhich your dangerous actions with that hateful woman caused.¡±

    Hateful woman, it¡¯s an improvement from the animal names she¡¯s been giving Kara. ¡°Why do you hate Kara?¡± Helena asked.

    Belesis was silent for several seconds as Helena sorted through the closet. Hesitantly, she asked. ¡°Do I have to answer?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Helena responded, ¡°you don¡¯t have to tell me anything you don¡¯t feel comfortable with. You¡¯re a General; you don¡¯t really have to do anything you don¡¯t like.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lady...¡±

    Helena sharply cut her off. ¡°Also, you can quit calling me Lady. My first name will suffice, I¡¯m in your debt and you¡¯re my superior. Also, I¡¯ve been taught that Vandreds always pay their debts, so I must find a suitable tribute.¡± Even if the Vandred image isn¡¯t exactly how I first imagined ¡­ some of our principles are good ¡­ in practice.

    ¡°Thank you¡ªHelena.¡± She said it awkwardly as if tasting it on her tongue. She must have been in service to a Noble House before WITCH snatched her up. She has strong roots in servant formality. If she wishes to act Noble then what¡¯s the harm. She may not be a Noble, but in WITCH she might as well be. An environment where the strong trample the weak, I¡¯ve grown up in an environment such as that. However, the strong was determined by blood. Not raw power, but in WITCH it¡¯s the opposite. I am the weak one and these are my betters. Like Eizea said ¡­ I must adapt.

    Picking out a white close fitting t-shirt, course blue pants that ended at the shins, white ankle socks, blue flat shoes and white undergarment; she tossed them on the bed. ¡°Belesis, wherever you came from, I assume you were considered of low standing,¡± Helena said with a glance at her.

    Belesis nodded silently and slowly as she watched Helena with twitching fingers. She¡¯s resisting the urge to dress me...

    ¡°Back at the Vandred Estate and in the presence of other Houses, I could be considered of higher standing. However, here in WITCH the name Vandred means little. I started at the bottom of WITCH¡¯s poles; in comparison, it¡¯s as if a Noble Lady or Kara has taken a liking of a specific talent I possess and offers me a chance at her side. Still, I am no more than a servant. Now, you are like a Noble, a General. It is I who has been shown unearned treatment. I am in a debt that must be earned back.¡±

    ¡°You are still a Noble¡ªthough stripped of your rights,¡± Belesis mumbled with a troubled expression.

    Helena was silent for a moment as she thought. I need to steer this in a different direction. Booker¡¯s right, she¡¯s too soft and naive, but it can¡¯t be helped if she was a servant. I¡¯ll try to repay my debt by teaching her how to conduct as a Noble.

    ¡°Do you remember your first charge?¡± Helena asked.

    Belesis shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Do you remember having that angst in your chest at wanting to switch places with that charge?¡±

    Belesis trembled slightly but answered truthfully. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Well ¡­ your dream has come true. I¡¯m under your charge and every other SOP member in the Purists has to answer to you. You are in essence the Head of a Lesser House or Heir to a Great House. Only under that of the Great House Head, you serve. I have been given a chance to excel in WITCH¡¯s ranks and as I have Vandred blood within me, I will accomplish these expectations.¡±

    ¡°You are a General and unless I gain the same title or defeat a Prime ¡­ you will always be above me, at least while I¡¯m in WITCH. Understand?¡± Belesis nodded with a hard swallow. ¡°You may treat me however you please, but it¡¯s expected to keep an air of superiority. Nobles rule by example and so should Generals. Show your wards that they have a powerful and respectable leader.¡±

    Belesis shifted nervously with slight tremors. ¡°I¡¯ve studied Noble behavior¡ªbut, I don¡¯t know¡ªhow to act it.¡±

    Helena smirked. Perhaps this is my first task of the day, to help Belesis with her predicament. It¡¯s my duty as a charge. Kara may have even planned this, how does she do it?

    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll teach you how to be a Noble. Follow me through getting ready. Belesis started to shake her head as her tremors increased. ¡°Yes! Until you act like a General. I¡¯ll have to show you what is expected. Emulate me and learn.¡± Helena demanded.

    Belesis automatically began to bow at her command, but quickly caught herself. ¡°Please, Lad...¡±

    ¡°What did I tell you about my name?¡± Helena asked with stone in her voice.

    ¡°Please, Helena. I can¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°You can and you will,¡± Helena ordered. ¡°Now, where are your quarters?¡±

    Belesis took her left arm and Helena felt a prickling as the pinkish skin was replaced with her natural color, the replacement skin filming over her pink layer. Stepping back, Helena curtsied to Belesis, who looked horrified. This is going to be tough. Helena spent the better part of an hour and a half teaching Belesis how Nobles bathe, dress, sit, eat, freshen up, and speak.

    Once the time neared to meet Kara, she broke away from Belesis and followed the map on her HCID to the fifth training area. Arriving, she found Kara standing in a large rectangular room. Metal beams, scraps, and paneling were all around her.

    ¡°What¡¯s all this for?¡± Helena asked as she entered.

    ¡°Odds and ends!¡± Kara replied with a wry smile. ¡°How was your day with Belesis?¡± I was right. How does she plot these things so far in advance? I thought I excelled at planning, but Kara seems beyond genius.

    ¡°Exasperatingly difficult,¡± Helena replied with honestly. ¡°What will I be learning today?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see your progress,¡± Kara said as she nodded toward the wall. Kara wants me to go up the wall? She seems rather pushy with her training. I only learned to run using electromagnetism yesterday and now she wants me to climb walls.

    Moving toward the wall, she placed her foot against it and applied the fields. She felt the shift in gravity as her field reacted and her hair statically charged to her back. Placing her other foot on the wall, she stood horizontally and looked up at Kara.

    ¡°Go on, climb the wall.¡± Kara prompted.

    Helena walked up the wall and found that it did use more energy because she was keeping the fields continually active, but it was more than bearable, it almost felt effortless. It¡¯s just like passive to active reception. Active takes more Focus but has incredible uses at times like in the Black Box. Kara must have taken that into account when having me train at the gardens.

    ¡°Good, now run,¡± Kara called up to her as she reached the midsection of the wall. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Taking a deep breath, Helena started to pick up her pace, until she was at a run. It¡¯s not as hard as I thought it would be. The only difference is keeping myself attached to the wall at all times. Continually running while using my fields yesterday was excellent practice.

    Nearing the edge of the wall Kara called out. ¡°Now leap from one wall to the other, don¡¯t hesitate.¡± What! Already she wants me to do acrobatics?

    Tensing, she dropped the formula from the piping in the wall. She felt her stomach clench and a dreadful tingling sensation invade her body as she was thrown away from the wall. Looking around she found herself flying through the air and for the first time, a sense of vertigo hit her as her breath caught in her throat.

    The wall was racing toward her. She threw out her static field as her body hit the opposite wall. Soft sounds of crackling electricity followed her as she tumbled down the stone wall, stopping a meter from the ground; she lay against the stone, heart pounding. She took several shuddering breaths as the fear started to pass. She was staring at Kara¡¯s lifted eyebrows two meters away.

    ¡°Really¡ªat least you kept to the wall.¡± She rolled her eyes.

    Helena eased her beating heart as she altered the force holding her and rose to her feet, against the wall. ¡°Again!¡± Kara instructed as she walked back to the center of the room.

    Inhaling deeply, Helena repositioned herself and ran across the wall. Five meters from the edge, she leaped off. Her eyes widened as she felt something enter her sensory radius. A polarized metal panel was being tossed right at her landing trajectory. It¡¯ll land moments after I do and cut me in two! This is how Kara trains her disciples? I need to dive away, but I can¡¯t go back, I don¡¯t have time to turn. I need to keep going with my momentum, but I need more speed to escape!

    Landing with both feet, she constricted her muscles and leaped forward. She felt the panel wiz by her legs as it slammed against the wall, the collision echoing around the room and small shards of stone pelting her back. Holding out her hands and spreading her feet, she tried to catch the wall. No, I¡¯ve pushed out too far. I can¡¯t get a grip on the wall again!

    She shot out an electrical charge to try and hoist herself back to the wall as Kara had done. However, her charge broke halfway as her body tensed fearfully and she fell into a free fall. My fear of electrical discharges is going to kill me!

    Bracing herself, she pushed a hard static charge to her back. A powerful electromagnetic field burst into existence below her and she found her back arching with the pressure as her body fought against gravity, flying upwards. I¡¯m going too fast¡ªneed to cushion my blow!

    Shifting the magnetic field to her front, she braced for impact. The shield cushioned the impact, but it also threw her back down again.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a game of toss-up.¡± Kara commented dryly from the ground. Use your field to soften the blow, while also applying another field to stick. It¡¯s a bit more complicated, but you can manage.¡± The magnetic field from Kara shot her back into the air at an even greater speed.

    Helena tried to manipulate the field to repel and at the exact moment. She felt her body start to shift directions as her tether applied. Breathing heavily, she felt herself hanging from the ceiling, her hands and feet touching the concrete.

    ¡°Good, but you were a bit late on that leap forward. You need to practice your timing better!¡± She could have killed me with that panel and she¡¯s talking about how slow I was! Kara certainly is extreme, even more than Drake.

    Her internal thoughts broke as a steel beam flew upward at her. Darting left, she found herself losing grip and quickly released the calculation on her field, sticking to the ceiling.

    ¡°No, no! What are you doing? You¡¯re a fly stuck to a trap. Move! Keep moving!¡± Kara demanded.

    Helena felt more pieces of metal being thrown up at her. Shifting her field on the ceiling¡¯s internal railing, she started to dash in zigzag motions around the pieces as they smashed against the room¡¯s ceiling and drop below. Each step felt like she was going to fall to the ground, making her stomach heave. The sound was deafening as the steel clashed against more metal pieces and slammed against stone.

    The volley stopped for a moment as Kara yelled up at her. ¡°You¡¯re too stiff with your movements. Slid using your static cling, don¡¯t halt your progress. Also, ionize the particles by your ears to prevent hearing loss. Sound needs something to travel through, just change the direction of the charged particles as the vibrations near.¡± Easier said than done!

    The shower of metal continued for thirty minutes before Helena started to learn how to skim the edges of the floor, ceiling, and walls using her magnetic field as a buffer; she also started to statically charge the air near her ears and repel them to lessen the impact on her eardrums.

    ¡°Good, now you¡¯re getting it,¡± Kara said with excitement. ¡°We should pick up the pace!¡± What! I¡¯m already getting physically tired from this much! Her muscles burned stiffly from continual constriction. Kara¡¯s onslaught stopped. Looking around, Helena found Belesis enter the room.

    ¡°Belesis!¡± Kara exclaimed with a wide grin. ¡°Feeling better?¡±

    Belesis was wearing the attire they¡¯d chosen together. A white undershirt with a light tan open overcoat, a sapphire necklace hung at her throat and course tight fitting black pants fit around her long legs. Her feet were clothed in cushion soled black flats.

    ¡°Are you training¡ªHelena ¡­ it looks dangerous.¡± She stumbled across her words, but there was sharpness in them that Helena had tried to instill.

    ¡°My!¡± Kara said as she stared up at Helena. ¡°You work miracles, little Vixy! I¡¯ve been trying to get that downtrodden tone out of her for months now. Of course ¡­ she only speaks subjugated toward Nobles; she¡¯s never showed me an ounce of respect.¡± She sounded slightly hurt, but soon after laughed humorously.

    Helena eased her respiratory and smiled down at Belesis. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s doing well.¡±

    Belesis blushed but nodded with a smile touching her lips. ¡°I have a fantastic teacher.¡±

    ¡°You can help with Helena¡¯s training, Belesis!¡± Kara said with a devilish grin directed at Helena. Helena felt a pin stick into her side. What¡¯s she planning?

    Belesis looked doubtful as she shifted uneasily, starting to lose her powerful posture. Kara huffed audibly. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want her killed so easily in the competition? If you help her train, she¡¯ll have greater odds in surviving the ordeal.¡±

    Helena gulped as Belesis¡¯ face and demeanor hardened notably. ¡°What do I need to do?¡± Belesis asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s just getting used to dodging, so you might want to keep it a little toned down. I think a new aspect will help her improve even more though!¡± Kara exclaimed optimistically. Kara¡¯s even warning Belesis to go easy! What will she do?

    Her eyes darted to the metal scraps as piles of metal started to levitate against Kara¡¯s fields. Brightly, Kara stated. ¡°A mobile Electro Master is a living Electro Master.¡± They started accelerating toward Helena.

    Leaping out of the way of several large chunks of metal, she began to make her way to the opposite wall. She¡¯s even started to use the thrown pieces of metal as trajectory changes, using their force to propel more artillery in different directions so I can¡¯t read her field trajectory...

    Her eyes snapped open in shock as Belesis¡¯ bioelectrical signal leaped from a metal bar and raced straight at her. Helena slid, back skimming the ceiling as Belesis¡¯ hands barely missed her collar. She could have gotten me. She¡¯s just easing me into it. She¡¯ll make it harder to dodge each time.

    Helena was surprised to find Belesis¡¯ expression had changed dramatically. Now she seemed completely absorbed with the task at hand as a fierce concentrated reflected in her passing eyes. Reflected, I kind of enjoy seeing my eyes. They do strike a Noble image.

    Belesis landed on an accelerating steel panel and kicked off toward her, changing the direction of the panel as it flew sideward, toward the ceiling edge. I¡¯m in a free fall. I can¡¯t dodge her!

    Extending an electrical tether, she latched onto a piece of metal as it flew upward two meters to her right and pulled herself to it. Belesis¡¯ hand grazed past her face, Helena felt her skin tingle as her middle fingernail lightly slid across her cheek. I¡¯m dead ¡­ Belesis had skin contact...

    Landing on the panel, she kicked off, three meters before it hit the ceiling. Sparks of energy birthing at her hands and feet as she skidded to a stop upside-down, her breath pushing out of her lungs in short pants. I pushed my fear barrier back a little, enough to latch a tether at least...

    A sharp sound of crushing stone sounded as Belesis landed on the floor, sliding to a stop. The cascade ended as Kara clapped. ¡°Not bad, little Vixy ¡­ I mean, you died, but it was an improvement. I think it¡¯s time to add energy redirection into the practice!¡± Energy redirection? One thing after another, Kara¡¯s going to kill me before my competition even begins!

    She felt the sharp pulse of electricity as her hair stood on end. From Kara¡¯s outstretched fingers burst a jerking bolt of energy that battled its way across the air toward her. Helena quickly tried taking control over it but instead found she could only deflect the blast. The single bolt branched into several arcs, tracing across the ceiling around her, dust falling from the points of contact.

    Kara hummed amusedly. ¡°At least you were able to do something to it. You¡¯ll continue your previous training with random strikes of energy. You better learn quick, little Vixy!¡± The danger escalates every second!

    The dodging and deflecting procedure continued for fifteen minutes. Helena felt the headaches begin two times within that short period and Belesis gave her a pill for each instance.

    ¡°Nice, you¡¯re finally starting to redirect the lighting instead of splitting it apart, but be wary! A higher level esper of similar abilities can counter control them, you must be firm!¡±

    Helena dropped down to the ground, using magnetism to ease her landing. She was panting heavily and her body was covered in sweat. Her eyes were out of focus as they shifted with black spots and her mouth felt like a desert.

    ¡°Your body just can¡¯t handle the physical drain...¡± Kara observed with a frown.

    The silence stretched for several seconds as Helena dropped to her back, completely exhausted. Belesis handed Helena a water bottle and she downed its content. She drank too quickly and coughed, sputtering as liquid shot from her mouth across the dusty ground. Dust, broken rock, and metal were sprawled around the room and stuck out of every dimension.

    Sniffing and regaining her breath, she examined the space. Who¡¯s going to fix this?

    ¡°I think¡ªI can help accelerate her progress...¡± Belesis said in a hesitant mumbled and she furrowed her brow, saying something else under her breath.

    ¡°Will it comatose you?¡± Kara asked with pursed lips and a lifted eyebrow.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so and I think I can help her more than you think¡ªalthough there will be slight pain involved,¡± Belesis commented softly.

    Looking at Belesis with a distrustful glare, Kara asked. ¡°What do you say, Vixy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll¡ªhelp my stamina?¡± Helena asked between pants as she massaged her temples.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Belesis answered with utter seriousness.

    ¡°I¡¯m in your hands...¡±

    Belesis bent down and placed her warm hand against Helena¡¯s exposed skin around her neck. A sharp, but tingling pain erupted from her every fiber. Somehow Belesis had paralyzed her muscles; she had no control over her body. It wasn¡¯t excruciating; she suspected Belesis was easing her nerves. In five minutes, she stopped and stepped back.

    Helena breathed for a moment and found it extremely easy. Leaping up, she stretched and found herself extremely flexible, much more flexible. Each tension gave an exhilarating sensation throughout her body. ¡°What did you do?¡± Helena asked, wondrously.

    Kara¡¯s tone was disapproving as she glared at Belesis¡¯ sweat-slicked face. ¡°The greatest gift a Biokinetic can give. Full body modification requires a lot of Focus and concentration. A simple miscalculation could have caused instant and horrific repercussions. You said it wouldn¡¯t drain you!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s done¡ªalthough, I had to go over her body three times and calculate growth.¡± Belesis panted and she almost collapsed, she walked to the wall and slid down its length to the floor.

    Kara sniffed in disapproval. ¡°You can¡¯t keep exerting your body like this, Belesis.¡± Shifting to examine Helena¡¯s frame thoroughly, Kara explained. ¡°She¡¯s made your muscles and bones denser. Also, she strengthened your veins, circulatory system, and most likely added immunity to a multitude of diseases as well.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s way too much!¡± Helena exclaimed as she turned to Belesis with a concerned expression. ¡°How¡¯s your Focus holding up?¡±

    Kara huffed and a scowl pervaded her usually sweet looked features. ¡°It¡¯s not her Focus you should be worried about, but her body.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Helena asked in concern.

    ¡°Biokinetics aren¡¯t like most espers. They use three energy sources to accomplish their ability; Focus, mental concentration, and their own cellular structure.¡±

    With numb realization, Helena asked. ¡°Then¡ªshe¡¯s been hurting herself to heal me this whole time?¡± The IV, the large amount of food she ate ¡­ how can I repay her service? ¡°What can I do?¡± Helena asked at a loss.

    ¡°Train!¡± Kara huffed with a grimace. ¡°She¡¯s given you a very strong gift. Most have to work years to get the physique she¡¯s given and that¡¯s with Biokinetic aid ¡­ and yet still she managed to keep your childish appearance. She must have really gone to work on density.¡± It¡¯s true, I feel lighter, but I know I must be several pounds heavier.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to need time to adjust to your new body. That means more training and now you have the stamina to continue for a while. It¡¯s all dependent on your Focus and you can only use one more pill in a five hour and forty-five minute period.¡±

    Helena nodded as she ran to the wall, feeling the strength in her legs. Using her ability, she quickly scaled up to the ceiling. ¡°Let¡¯s get started, the competition is approaching.¡± I¡¯ll try harder. I need to get stronger before the contest and to show Belesis her faith is well placed.

 B1 â€” 30. Unanticipated Meeting

    Helena trained for three more hours before having to stop. Her body was exhausted, even with Belesis¡¯ body enhancements and her skull housed a horrible migraine.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Kara commented with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯ve improved greatly and it¡¯s about time for the ceremony to start.¡±

    ¡°Ceremony?¡± Helena puffed air from her lungs in violent gasps.

    ¡°I could just test you myself and incorporate you into my Faction, but where is the fun in that¡ªfor the President. It¡¯s a chance that many recruits train years for, the opportunity to advance in the eyes of the President.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a requirement for me advancing so quickly?¡± Helena asked as she sat on a steel panel.

    ¡°Yes and no.¡± Kara sounded slightly annoyed. ¡°I can test you and throw you into the group. However, you wouldn¡¯t get personal commissions by the President himself unless you participate in this competition and it gives you notoriety¡ªsimply, he wants to see you perform himself.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have to win, just take part in?¡± Helena asked. That would account for Kara¡¯s earlier statement about not winning her first contest. She must have received requests from the President, getting stronger and gained the opportunity to strike at the Purple Prime.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, but the likelihood of you coming out alive without winning is slim. These contestants you¡¯ll be fighting aren¡¯t just here to get a better life. They¡¯re here for glory and, in my opinion, nothing special. They are unrefined, but that¡¯s what the President enjoys.¡±

    ¡°My opposition is already SOP capable?¡±

    ¡°Kind of, they¡¯ve been training for a while now and initiation matches were held a week ago. My selection would be different, but it is what it is.¡± What those workers were talking about in the hall when I was trying to escape.

    Nervously, Helena said. ¡°So far you¡¯ve only shown me how to dodge and deflect energy. I have little experience with offensive techniques and ¡­ my fear of electrical discharges. Can I win this way?¡±

    Kara lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Yes ¡­ if you could project electricity, but Phantasm¡¯s given us a very precious insight, gift, as much as I hate saying it, and a curse.¡±

    ¡°The Espite knowledge, my trauma, and my fear of generating my own electricity...¡± Helena said, folding her legs.

    ¡°Yes. Fear of your own ability is an atrocious handicap, to say the least.¡± Kara said with a sigh.

    Helena let out a heavy breath of air. I¡¯m handicapped.

    Studying Helena for a moment, Kara asked. ¡°What makes electricity so powerful?¡±

    Jolting out of her self pity, Helena said. ¡°The combination of high Volts and Amps.¡± What¡¯s she getting at?

    ¡°Volts are like pressure, it¡¯s how fast electrons can spread. Consider it like a water bottle with a hole in its lid. The more pressure you apply the faster it comes out. Can you kill someone with a water bottle pressure?¡±

    Helena lifted an eyebrow. ¡°No?¡±

    Kara laughed. ¡°Very unlikely, but then you have amps, the power of electricity. Consider amps as a slow-moving river. Can you stand in it without being pulled under and dying, yes?¡± Helena nodded. ¡°Can you stop it?¡±

    Helena shook her head. ¡°Not likely.¡±

    ¡°Now what if you add the volts pressure with the amps power? The answer¡¯s simple, you get a lot of powerful energy moving at lightning speeds! Consider it like a typhoon. An electrical discharge is one of the strongest attacks we Electro Masters can accomplish, raw power, understand?¡± Silently, Helena sat back and nodded. She¡¯s already gone over this.

    ¡°The problem is its requirement. It¡¯s dependent on our Capacity, Force, and Control. If we have a large Capacity and little Force, but a lot of Control ¡­ we can still only expel a small amount of pressure. The same goes with little Capacity, a large Force and Control. However, you have a lot of Capacity and Force, but little Control. That makes it extremely dangerous for you to use electricity, but ¡­ your brother found a fix, Resonating Espite.¡±

    Helena hummed thoughtfully. ¡°So, I can use electricity without worrying about Control, but I still have my fear.¡±

    Kara¡¯s teeth clamped against her left thumbnail as she studied her internal thoughts. Releasing her thumbnail, she said. ¡°Try it against the wall, see what you can control.¡± Helena¡¯s hand twitched and started to shake slightly. I hate this gut ripping feeling. ¡°That¡¯s what I was most afraid of, you¡¯ve started to fear electricity ¡­ at least producing it yourself.¡±

    Helena swallowed the saliva that gathered in her mouth. ¡°I can do it.¡±

    ¡°I know you can,¡± Belesis said from her position by the door. She seemed to have gotten ahold of her body and now leaned comfortably against the wall. She¡¯s been extremely quiet since expending her energy on reforming my body, is she really alright?

    Extending her hand, Helena brought the electricity to birth. Small electrical currents expelled from her hand and danced across the floor in arcs; leaving small tendrils of smoke as they traced small black lines.

    ¡°You can¡¯t even produce more than that amount,¡± Kara said with a shake of her head. ¡°You know you can, but you¡¯ve subconsciously blocked yourself off. I hoped that by deflecting my bolts you¡¯d be able to get over the fear. However, it looks like it¡¯s not electricity you fear, but the energy you produce.¡±

    Helena ground her teeth together as she thought. She¡¯s right, I can come up with the calculations, but it¡¯s like my mind is blocking me from producing the Focus. My hand¡¯s even trembling with this small amount, just using a static tether I could do more damage than this. Why can I do that, but not a raw bolt of energy? Her hair started to stand on end as a charge shot through it. Even more annoyed, Helena extracted the static.

    Kara frowned. ¡°I know it must perplex and anger you. That¡¯s good, it means you have the will to move past your fear, but again ¡­ be careful about your emotions. As you¡¯ve probably noticed, just now, sparks were flaring at your brow. A common sign of frustration or annoyance to Electro Masters.¡± Helena grimaced. So that¡¯s why my hair keeps becoming charged.

    Kara let go of a dreary sigh. ¡°I need to get ready for the contest and Belesis needs to go to the medical bay to restore her body.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine...¡± Belesis started to protest.

    Kara cut her off sharply. ¡°No, Belesis! You¡¯re a General; you need to present yourself as such.¡± Kara glared at Belesis until she sighed with resignation but soon regained her spirit.

    ¡°Tigress wench!¡± Belesis fumed as she stormed out of the training area.

    Kara shook her head. ¡°That woman...¡± Lifting her head, she stared at Helena. ¡°You need to redress and wash up. That dust covered appearance isn¡¯t glorifying at all, if they don¡¯t even know who you are.¡± I¡¯m pretty sure, they¡¯ll notice me by size ¡­ but Kara¡¯s right. I don¡¯t want to make my first live impression in these clothes.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ¡°Also, you need to get some rest. I¡¯ve set your alarm again.¡± She¡¯s invading my HCID more than I like and I don¡¯t even recognize her invasion. Then again, she is the one who gave it to me and I¡¯ll be following her from now on ¡­ until I surpass her.

    Helena¡¯s teeth ground against each other as she stared back down at her open left hand. How am I going to accomplish that with a fear of my own ability? A charge sparking at her brow again, she viciously extracted it as Kara left.

    Going to the cafeteria, she found a few people eating, but no one paid her much attention. Ordering a few items, she ate in silence. Heading back to her room, Helena picked out a new set of clothes; a tight plain white t-shirt that extended to her upper thighs, black tights that stretched to her ankles, white ankle socks, white undergarments and white soft sole shoes that fit her comfortably.

    She placed the items on the table for after she awoke and made her way to the spa. Arriving at the spa waiting room, she found a familiar face. It¡¯s Peter?

    Peter sat in a chair; he was ashen face as he looked up at her. ¡°Oh¡ªHelena, you look well. I¡¯ve heard about your training with Kara, wonderful feat. It looks like you¡¯ll be advancing quickly.¡± He looks troubled.

    ¡°What are you doing here? Did you advance past your second stage of testing?¡±

    Peter gulped down his response with a fearful tremor and nodded.

    ¡°What¡¯s next for you?¡± Helena asked as she walked over to sit next to him. I don¡¯t think this is a trap, but I should keep my guard up and reception active.

    ¡°I¡¯m being sent to New Genesis, the middle ground,¡± Peter said, teeth chattering.

    Helena examined Peter a bit closer. He had a plain white shirt on, with blue course pants, and white soft sole shoes. His complexion was pale and seemed to shiver every few seconds, despite the room being fairly warm. His heart thumped at irregular intervals and his eyes spoke his terror. He¡¯s gripped by fear, this is real. What could have changed his confident attitude so much? Then again ¡­ I¡¯ve changed a lot myself.

    Frowning, she asked. ¡°To do what?¡±

    A low emotionless voice echoed behind her, sending a chill down Helena¡¯s spine as a presence entered her reception. ¡°To train ¡­ my Head Quarters.¡± Helena froze as one of the strangest sensations she¡¯d ever identified came into her receptive radius. It was as if a mass of positive and negative energy was swirling around in a mass of chaos. All she could sense of whoever was behind her was a mass of energy.

    Turning, she found a stringy woman in her mid-thirties; she was as thin as Tezebeth. However, this woman was curve-less, but a little over two meters tall.

    She had high cheekbone and thin cheeks, a strong chin, dark golden skin, and damp, thin, ragged black hair that fell around her gaunt face to her chest. Her sharp nose fit her face perfectly and her large open forehead accentuated her low-thin arched eyebrows, making her exotic deep brown eyes almost seem black. She looked as if she didn¡¯t eat nearly enough.

    A tight black shirt covered her thin frame, course black pants framed her bony legs, and black flats shielded her feet.

    Apprehension filled Helena¡¯s chest. If this woman claims New Genesis as her Head Quarters, then ¡­ she must be Sevilla, Prime of the Turquoise Faction. What ability does she have? It seems to be similar to an Electro Master, but that isn¡¯t too surprising since electromagnetism is one of the four basic forces. It¡¯s like the particles she¡¯s near becomes ionized. Is that her ability, Iokinesis? She¡¯s the second longest living Prime, it must be for a reason.

    ¡°Sevilla, I presume,¡± Helena said as she stood and curtsied. Peter scrambled out of his chair and bowed lowly, trembling heavily.

    Sevilla pursed her downward-turned lips but somehow didn¡¯t change her expressionless face. ¡°Smart girl. Kara¡¯s girl ¡­ Vix.¡± Peter¡¯s obviously scared of her. It seems Sevilla took an interest in him and that¡¯s not good from what Booker said. How can I repay him, what can I do for the knowledge he gave me in the Black Box? His information was critical to so many different facets over the past few days.

    Helena curtsied again to acknowledge her statement. ¡°Seems true ¡­ a Noble. No wonder Eizea ¡­ excited. She¡¯ll be disappointed ¡­ I understand.¡± What particularly does she understand and how did she know of my decision so quickly?

    ¡°Preparing ¡­ sleep ¡­ competition ¡­ smart.¡± Sevilla commented. Her eyes darted to Peter¡¯s back as he kept his head bowed. ¡°Know ¡­ boy?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We took the first test together.¡± Helena replied. She has an interesting way of speaking, breaking apart sentences with only words of interest.

    Coldly, Sevilla asked. ¡°Opinion?¡±

    Helena¡¯s vision didn¡¯t leave Sevilla¡¯s black eyes. My opinion will cause an effect on Peter, but in which way? It¡¯ll also strengthen my opinion if I win this next fight and lessen if I lose. Sevilla has been described to me as sadistic and torturous. She¡¯s cold and her subordinates seem to turn out that way, most likely due to torture in her own Faction. Should I give her a failing account or a shining recommendation? She might be able to sense the active pulses in my organs as well, discounting any lie. I don¡¯t know the parameters of her ability and she¡¯s a Prime. This decision will drastically change Peter¡¯s life.

    She noticed Peter¡¯s flinch with her reception as Sevilla spoke, he knew what was transpiring. ¡°I think he has things to learn but is incredibly bright. In the Black Box, he was the only competition I felt worried about.¡±

    Sevilla¡¯s eyes darted from Helena back to Peter. ¡°Calculated ¡­ Black Box ¡­ you say ¡­ worried ¡­ bright ¡­ needs to learn ¡­ yes.¡± She moved around the chairs at an even pace. ¡°Boy.¡± She stopped and turned to stare into Helena¡¯s eyes. ¡°I ¡­ anticipate ¡­ rainbow ¡­ here.¡±

    After her words, she left with Peter trailing behind her. She spoke in increments and only words of a sentence. Each held an important message, it is a very interesting speech pattern. She¡¯s anticipating my match and warned me about a rainbow or the rainbow. It struck her. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Turquoise, Blue, and Purple; every color is a part of the rainbow, the only exception being white. All the Primes are here. I¡¯ve met Purple, Phantasm; Turquoise, Sevilla; and Blue, Eizea. Phantasm may have been the replacement for Purple when Kara killed him, but he apparently took the position without much objection.

    It looks like I¡¯ll be seeing all the Primes in the coming day. A rare opportunity it seems and even the President will be present, the Alpha would also be with him. This competition really is a big deal, but how would it affect their organization to have such a consolidation of power in one place? What if all the Primes attacked the President ¡­ or is that a part of his plan, she¡¯s telling them it doesn¡¯t matter if all of them are together...

    Heading into the bathing room, she threw her dirty clothes in a hamper and washed. Finished, she donned a robe and made her way back to her room. Helena was surprised to find this many personnel starting to run around the halls. It must be in preparation for the contest, but the way Kara described it, it¡¯s more like a game for show.

    Entering her room, she dropped into bed with a sigh. Even if I¡¯ve been awake for only several hours, I feel completely exhausted. Kara pushed my mind and body hard. She quickly fell to sleep.

    * * *

    She heard the same single screech strike her eardrums and jolted awake, blinking rapidly at the dimmed lights in her room. The HCID beeped again, signaling a message. She tossed the blankets back and scooted back against the headboard, pulling her hair out of the way. She brought up the HCID¡¯s message:

    Heya, little Vixy! The Lightning Cat herself speaks!!

    It¡¯s time for you to start your competition; slept for a while this time didn¡¯t you!

    Helena noticed the time on the HCID and grimaced. I¡¯ve slept right through the six-hour preparation period, but she was the one that set my alarm. She began to read the message again.

    Get yourself dressed and meet me in Training Room One. It¡¯s time for your life-threatening battle to commence! All the Prime¡¯s are coming ¡­ which is STUPID, but whatever! Some arrived later than expected and we can¡¯t start ¡®till EVERY Prime arrives ¡­ even that cockroach Phantasm will be present. I JUST WANT TO CUT HIM UP INTO PIECES AND FEED HIM TO A WEREWOLF!! But alas ¡­ that isn¡¯t allowed ... this time¡­

    We¡¯ll be able to talk a bit about the contest when you arrive, so hustle!!

    Goddess Lightning Kitty out!!

    Helena smiled. She refers to herself as a cat and then a kitten. Phantasm must have had some part in Kara¡¯s trauma for her to hate him this much...

    Discarding her robe in the closet hamper, she dressed into the items she¡¯d picked out and combed her hair, placing it in a ponytail. Stretching her muscles, she sighed. Whatever, it¡¯s time to meet my competition. Exiting the room, she made her way toward the contest room.

 B1 â€” 31. Rainbow Convergence

    First stopping off at the ladies room; Helena got a water bottle from the cafeteria and pulled up the HCID¡¯s map. After going over the plan a few times and unable to find the first training area, she had to ask a passing employee, discovering it was just recently constructed. Taking the man¡¯s directions, she entered a hallway that didn¡¯t show up on the map. It must be very new to not show up on the floor plans; they were updated four weeks ago.

    Kara was leaning up against a wall; she smiled as Helena rounded the junction point. ¡°Took a bit longer than I expected, Vixy. I presume you had a few things to take care of?¡±

    Helena nodded studying Kara¡¯s new attire. When does she have the time to change and sleep? She showed off a dark blue and white striped crochet long sleeve short v-cut top that formed around her body, dark gray tights, and black boots.

    Moving to stand beside Kara, she let people filter in and out of the room as she waited. From the people coming in and out, she determined the first training room was huge. Pursing her lips, Helena glanced up at Kara. ¡°Are there more preparations before the competition starts?¡±

    Kara huffed. ¡°Well, this entire section wasn¡¯t here a few weeks ago. They¡¯re putting the finishing touches on it now. Ridiculous really, but what Tenzen wants, he gets.¡±

    Constricting her brow, Helena stared past her toward the doors. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the first training area? Were all the training centers recently built, as well?¡±

    Smirking, Kara lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Nope. You must be questioning the base designs. When they were constructing this room, they just renamed all the training sections. It also has a different name than training area whatever number, but it¡¯s changed so often over the past week that I just refer to it as the first training area.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Helena said while watching a few men enter the room.

    Breaking away from the wall, Kara said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get our first view at your stage!¡± Gulping, Helena followed Kara through the door; people dodged around her as they brought packages in and out, unwilling to block her path.

    Getting her first look at the room, Helena was moderately impressed. Hundreds of personnel ran around the gigantic inside stadium. It housed an octagon shaped pit. Twenty meters deep with a length and width of a hundred and fifteen meters. Each side had large steel doors that were all open as people sprayed off walls with water. The liquid was running down the steep fortified barriers and seeping into small brass colored drains spaced around the floor. What are they spraying off ¡­ maybe they¡¯re coating it with something?

    Over the pit¡¯s center hung a black box that reflected the room around it; the box had a full view of the arena below. Rising above ground level were stands with comfortable seats. They rose twenty levels and around the upper ends of the room were more overhanging stands. Is this entire stadium going to be full?

    The only break in the ground level stands was a section placed with eight seats, each enlaced with gold and showing a different color. The Prime¡¯s chairs, I presume.

    Refreshment stands were being set up all around the area; they were preparing food for the workers and getting ready for the competition. Large, bright lights, shone from the ceiling, walls, and overhanging stands.

    ¡°Hungry?¡± Kara asked as they walked further into the interior.

    Helena shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯d like to keep my stomach clear before going into the fight.¡± She unscrewed her water bottle and began sipping at it to keep hydrated.

    ¡°Smart choice and look, Klen¡¯s early as usual,¡± Kara said as she pointed at a boy staring down at the pit¡¯s edge. ¡°He¡¯ll probably be a little hurt that he doesn¡¯t get a chance to show off to the President in this match. So, expect somewhat of a cold shoulder.¡±

    Nodding, Helena walked with Kara to meet him. He wore a dark gray v-cut over-shirt with a white under-shirt that showed its white hem, ending below his waist, slightly loose black pants, and black boots.

    His eyes lit up the moment he saw Kara but quickly lost their light when recognizing Helena beside her. He really must have some kind of grudge against me. He seems spiteful. Is it only from not taking part in this match or something more, perhaps I draw too much of Kara¡¯s attention?

    Kara¡¯s lips parted in a joyous mood as they met him. ¡°The President didn¡¯t cut any work here, did he!¡±

    Klen glanced around the room. ¡°Nope, it looks like it¡¯ll be an interesting game. Whatever the President has planned. Know how many contestants will be in this arena?¡± His eyes moved to the black overhanging box. Helena¡¯s focus shifted to it. The President¡¯s Box? Fairly big for just him and the Alpha.

    Shaking her head, Kara sighed, ¡°Who knows. As far as I¡¯m aware, just one, but you can never tell with him. So, be prepared if he suddenly wants other contenders added.¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°The President will be above the action, and those chairs over there are for the Primes?¡± she asked while pointing at her observations.

    Kara examined the glass box. ¡°Yup, you¡¯ll have to put on a good show, Vixy.¡±

    She noticed Klen¡¯s hardened expression at Kara¡¯s words and took a sip at her water. What about me rubs him the wrong way? She examined the area below with interest. ¡°When will I be told the factors of the contest?¡± There have to be iron or steel rods reinforcing the walls and floors; I should have the ability to at least move along them for support. I wish it had a ceiling to use though.

    Kara¡¯s smile turned wry, and she waved at the shimmering box. ¡°Not until you¡¯re already in the arena. The President likes last-minute changes to his plans; he¡¯s a bit funny like that.¡±

    Examining the impenetrable mask, Helena asked. ¡°He¡¯s already there?¡±

    ¡°Mhm, and he¡¯s looking this way.¡± Kara can sense people¡¯s visible focus that far away and even through that material? What¡¯s her secret with reception?

    Helena¡¯s vision shifted to Kara as her expression faltered slightly. Her cheer diminished as they darted to the door they¡¯d just left behind. ¡°Klen, take our newest member to the stands and explain everything that needs illuminating.¡±

    Klen looked reluctant. ¡°Explain what?¡±

    Kara responded without moving her eyes from the door. ¡°Whatever comes up.¡±

    Huffing, Klen motioned for Helena to follow him. Her eyes followed Kara as she moved with Klen to the baseline seats. Kara knows something¡¯s coming and wants us away from it. From her tone, it must be dangerous.

    Shifting her vision to Klen, she decided to test the waters. ¡°Will you be competing later?¡±

    He made a disgusted sound in his throat. ¡°No, not ¡®till the second contest ¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have won most the preliminary matches. Because of it, I had the opportunity to skip by this stage.¡± The last portion was fueled by sarcasm.

    Helena hummed as they sat down; she continued to stare in Kara¡¯s direction. So, this is a fighting stage worth risking your life for. To be in front of all the Primes, the Alpha, and President, with this large crowd. Why would winning multiple matches exclude you from this competition? Is this a losers bracket? Taking out her quarter empty water bottle, she drank another gulp before replacing the lid.

    Klen awkwardly tried starting a conversation. ¡°So¡ªhow¡¯s your time been with Kara?¡±

    Helena shrugged. ¡°Edifying...¡±

    She cut off, dropping her water bottle as a radiant beam of orange energy blasted from the hallway entrance, engulfing Kara. However, the light seemed to be deflected sideward as lightning exploded around her and the rod of energy slid across the ground and into a wall. The concrete was disintegrated as the molten strip showed the building¡¯s interior.

    A sonic boom resounded around the area with deafening clarity as the energy faded, leaving a dark brownish haze. Kara stood in the same location, lightning sparking around her. There was a glowing crescent scar in front of her that moved toward the molten stone wall.

    The smog around Kara suddenly lifted into the air with the ventilation filtration system kicking in. What was that beam? It was powerful, extremely powerful; it liquefied concrete on impact ¡­ no, before impact, and with pure heat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Helena asked, ready to leap into the arena and dart through the steel doors.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Klen¡¯s face was ashen beside her. ¡°Cassandra,¡± He whispered.

    Out of the cloud came a thin black-haired woman in her mid to late twenties. She had golden brown skin, long hair that hung down her back, arched low-thin eyebrows, a thin upturned nose, and smooth full lips. Clothed in a red gown with a slit in the side; her hair blew around her with the shifts in air pressure as her dress blew backward, illustrating modest curves against the rippling fabric. The room became deadly silent as workers and guests locked eyes with the Red Prime. Why did she attack Kara? Are Primes allowed to fight each other?

    Kara¡¯s threatening voice cut through the hushed atmosphere. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Cassie?¡±

    Cassandra¡¯s lips curled and her high pitched answer came with an edge of exhilaration. ¡°I just wanted to greet the great prodigy properly; I haven¡¯t seen you in quite a while.¡±

    Kara¡¯s vision narrowed, and she sighed. ¡°With the President in the area, fights between Primes are...¡±

    Cassandra laughed halfway through Kara¡¯s declaration. ¡°You know that wasn¡¯t an actual attack.¡±

    Helena sensed someone appear in the stand behind her. A Teleporter? Shifting her eyes to the side, she warily welcomed the newcomer. ¡°Salutations.¡±

    A soft chuckle emanated from the stranger, but a strong man¡¯s voice spoke. ¡°Greetings, Kara¡¯s pups. Cassandra has such and foul personality, too heated. I think someone should step in¡ªand it looks like the mediator has arrived.¡± His voice shifted with amusement.

    Klen looked back and in a breathless tone said. ¡°Fatchna, it¡¯s a¡­¡± He cut off as another large orange beam shot in front of Cassandra¡¯s right hand, and a sharp blur of white lightning danced from around Kara, both propelling toward each other.

    Helena¡¯s eyes opened with surprise as the space between the energies warped as they were emitted. The two forces shifted trajectory, spinning around the deforming space in a spiraling circle. They struck each other, causing an explosion that expanded, but then swiftly halted to be sucked back into the bent void to disappear. After the dazzling show faded, it showed the ground beneath a blackened concave scar.

    A familiar heated voice emanating softly around the area as Eizea stepped through the demolished wall. ¡°Cassie, please stop acting like a spoiled brat and behave yourself; you¡¯re in the presence of the President and Alpha.¡± She was flourishing in a royal blue sleeveless dress.

    Cassandra¡¯s head tilted to stare at the Blue Prime and spat. ¡°Eizea¡ªwhat an unpleasant sight ¡­ are you a blueberry?¡± The saliva struck the ground and started to sizzle, sending puffs of black smoke flowing into the air.

    Eizea huffed as she placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Clean up your lingering radiation; I detest having to redirect it.¡±

    Helena sensed the man behind her vanish, and Klen looked back with a slight tremble. Cassandra didn¡¯t respond to Eizea¡¯s demand. She shifted her weight and put her left hand on her hip. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± She asked, raising her head high.

    ¡°Well¡ªit would be disrespectful to the President¡¯s guests. I doubt he¡¯d start the competition with radiation poisoning hovering about.¡± Eizea said with a shrug, and her eyes shifted to Kara. ¡°Also ¡­ Kara, did you have to redirect that little firework right at me? I thought Cassie had picked a fight and in the middle of the base. I was quite perturbed.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes shifted to the chairs as three men appeared in them. I didn¡¯t even see them arrive. Did the Teleporter bring them in ¡­ the Teleporter¡¯s sitting in the Yellow Prime¡¯s seat? Klen called him Fatchna and those Banana Glee members mentioned a Fatchna.

    Fatchna was muscular, a little below two meters tall, and in his mid-twenties. He had a pointed chin, tanned skin, and blond hair that flicked upwards to the left side, leaving his forehead clear. She had seen his blue almond-shaped eyes that were below his thick eyebrows when he¡¯d appeared behind her. He had an aquiline nose and bow-shaped lips. Wearing a course blue folded collar button-up long-sleeve shirt with the cuffs folded back and black course pants; he studied the scene unfolding with interest.

    Next to Fatchna sat a large black skinned man in the Green¡¯s seat. He stood taller than two meters, had a muscular physique, and had a brooding demeanor. He had a rectangular face with a clef in his chin. Without hair, his skin reflected the bright lights with smooth white tones. The man¡¯s low eyebrows were drawn as he stared at the arena below, his large nose turned in disgust, and his large lips pulled into a grimace. He was clothed in a very thick gray shirt, heavy dark brown knee shorts, and large sandals covered his feet. That must be Brock, the oldest Prime.

    Her eyes moved to the last male by Kara¡¯s white chair. He was in his late teens; he sat in the Orange Prime¡¯s seat. And Colin. Colin was thin and a few centimeters shorter than Fatchna. His thin lips were pulled back into a smile that emphasized his large straight chin and thin cheeks. He had fair skin, thin partially brushed hair that covered his ears, close, thick, low brows, and a straight nose. He wore a dark gray collared long-sleeved shirt and blue course pants.

    Eizea finished her sentence as Helena finished examining the Primes. ¡°You could have directed it at Fatchna or Brock. Why choose me?¡± Fatchna laughed heartily from his seat, and Brock shook his head tiredly, shifting to examine the scene with a bored expression.

    Kara shrugged. ¡°I could have, but I wasn¡¯t sure what they¡¯d do with it.¡±

    Helena licked her lips. ¡°All these are Primes I assume?¡±

    Klen took a deep breath as adrenaline pumped through his veins and his heart raced. ¡°Yes. Cassandra has one of the rarest abilities WITCH knows about; she¡¯s a Nucleokinetic. She can manipulate the atomic particles of nuclear radiation. Including Strong Force and Weak Force, she¡¯s extremely powerful and hot-tempered. However, it¡¯s a very consuming ability and requires a lot of Focus. She also puts off weak waves of radiation as her natural field. She doesn¡¯t appear in the open too often.

    ¡°Eizea¡¯s a Gravitokinetic, gravity manipulation. Between Kara, Cassandra, and Eizea; you have the four forces of the universe ... pretty daunting.¡±

    Helena nodded silently as she watched the Prime¡¯s glare at each other. The three women turned to scowl at Sevilla as she passed Cassandra from the doorway. Cassandra¡¯s face turned scarlet, and she yelled, ¡°What did you say, Sevilla? Children! You want to say that to my face!¡±

    Sevilla slowed to a stop and turned to look into Cassandra¡¯s eyes. The stone around her liquefied and lifted into sharp spikes, turning a deep red, they pointed toward the Red Prime. ¡°You¡ªchallenging?¡± Sevilla asked, still in her emotionless voice.

    Cassandra¡¯s expression darkened as her face turned serious, but her answer came in the glowing orange energy that started to pulsate around her body. Hot air began to sweep across the area as Kara¡¯s lightning moved to enclose the four, likely redirected the radiation. The sound was becoming deafening.

    Fatchna appeared in the center of the group, between all four women. His arms held out and a wide grin on his face. Much of the energy vanished, the bright energy around Cassandra and Kara only extending a few yards before disappearing. ¡°Ladies, please don¡¯t fight. Even though it gives me great pleasure to see you four getting along so well, the President and Alpha are watching us.¡± He finished with a flourishing bow at the glass. He¡¯s quite the showman. Coming in and dampening the mood, while also providing a slight display of amusement. He must be somehow teleporting their energy elsewhere.

    Klen¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°Sevilla¡¯s a Terrakinetic and Fatchna¡¯s some kind of Teleporter, but I don¡¯t know his particular ability.¡± I don¡¯t know what a Terrakinetic is; it obviously has to do with ground like materials.

    Eizea huffed. ¡°Fatchna,¡± she said dryly, ¡°finally stepping in to take the glory?¡±

    Fatchna chuckled. ¡°Not at all, my dear! However, if this escalates and you four quite playing around ... it¡¯ll turn the entire northern continent into a wasteland. I doubt the Alpha would inertly sit by. I¡¯m looking after your health!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Colin in your head,¡± Klen said with a gulp.

    Helena lifted an eyebrow. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him in your head?¡±

    Confused, Helena looked over at Colin. ¡°Is the man in the Orange seat a Telepath?¡±

    Klen was looking at her incredulously as he turned to face her. ¡°Colin¡¯s not just a Telepath; he¡¯s the most powerful Telepath in the world! In fact, he¡¯s more than a Teleparth; he¡¯s a Mentokinetic.¡±

    I¡¯ve never heard of a Mentokinetic. ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Helena asked.

    Klen shook his head with disbelief. ¡°A Mentokinetic is different in the way that they can manipulate dreams, behaviors, emotions, memories, sensations, personalities, subconscious, primal instinct shifts, make illusions, and even plain mind control.¡±

    Helena narrowed her eyes as she examined Colin. That sounds more dangerous than anything I¡¯ve heard today. He¡¯s also able to project his thoughts at this distance and likely to everyone. ¡°That¡¯s a very dangerous ability.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with you...¡± Klen cut off as Colin¡¯s annoyed voice came resounding around the silent room. ¡°Kara ¡­ your field is as infuriating as ever. Even I cannot penetrate it without extreme effort ¡­ and I¡¯m not willing to put forth that Focus at this moment. I see you¡¯ve gained a prot¨¦g¨¦ with the same ability. It must be exciting for you!¡± His eyes shifted to Helena. ¡°Fatchna¡¯s right. You four can calm your emotional discharge for the President and Alpha.¡± They always seem to emphasize the word Alpha.

    Klen had a shocked expression as he stared at her. I guess he¡¯s stunned that I¡¯m resistant against Telepaths and even Mentokinetics.

    Brock¡¯s hard agitated voice boomed around the arena. ¡°Can you all take your chairs so we can be done with this weak¡ªcatfight? I have places to be!¡±

    Klen moved closer to Helena to whisper. ¡°Brock¡¯s considered an Agrokinetic, and he¡¯s the longest living Prime in over eighty years.¡±

    Helena hummed with interest. ¡°He can manipulate agriculture? What can you do with that ability that makes him strong enough for a Prime¡¯s position and have so much weight to his word?¡±

    Klen shivered. ¡°That¡¯s the odd part. From what I know, he can grow plants and mutate them into strange alterations of their former selves. It¡¯s a creepy ability, because of how vague it really is. I¡¯ve heard that he has a bizarre fighting style.¡±

    Helena¡¯s tone was low and wondering as she stared up at the overhead box. ¡°All of their abilities are exceptionally powerful ¡­ the Alpha keeps a handle over all of them?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Klen said as he studied the Primes, his shivers starting to ease.

    ¡°A true marvel,¡± Helena whispered. What kind of ability does the Alpha have? Someone has to know.

    Cassandra stomped off to the indentations in the stones and extracted the radiation. The rest of the Primes began making their way to their seats; scowls were thrown like knives. Helena pondered on the experience with a cold expression. I need to surpass these titans. I¡¯m in for an arduous road.

 B1 â€” 32. Fighting Chance?

    Helena studied each of the Primes. The only empty seat was Purple. Their abilities are phenomenal ... how can I hope to compete? Kara can, but how long will it be ¡®till I¡¯m at her level, and I don¡¯t even know where she rates on the power scale.

    Kara and Colin were chatting, both with smiles. Her eyes shifted to a short black haired boy that had just sat in the Purple seat. Helena sat up straighter. ¡°Is that Phantasm?¡±

    Kara¡¯s demeanor darkened as she cut her conversation with Colin to talk with the boy. Klen scoffed. ¡°No ¡­ well, I doubt it. Phantasm invades his Faction member¡¯s minds and controls them to get around.¡±

    Helena hummed as she studied the boy. One step at a time. I need to win this competition, and because of Drake¡¯s negotiations and Kara¡¯s interest, it seems I do have an edge; I¡¯m just at the start of the race. Her focus flickered to Klen. He looked nervous, but everyone was on edge with that display of power. She turned to the suspended glass box; a shiver ran down her spine. There¡¯s so much mystery surrounding the President and Alpha.

    A familiar bioelectrical signal entered her receptive radius. Turning, she found Jake making his way over to her. For some reason, he wore the same attire as before, but it didn¡¯t look any dirtier.

    Adding Focus to her reception, she initiated its active feed. Furrowing her brow as she read Jake¡¯s muscular stimulation, it was still oddly dissimilar than what she was accustomed to. Closing her eyes, she drew a three-dimensional image of her environment. The gray and golden scratches began to ink into existence across her inner eye. She was shocked to find the more in-depth scan show Jake¡¯s image as a faded green. Why¡¯s he not golden, what makes him so much different? His bioenergy is different.

    With a bemused smile, Jake said. ¡°Hello, Pepper¡ªI mean Helena¡ªVix ¡­ maybe Janice? Which do you prefer?¡±

    Helena¡¯s lips curved at the edges and she opened her eyes. ¡°We meet again, Jake, and you may call me by whichever you prefer.¡±

    Jake scratched the scruff on his chin. ¡°Helena¡¯s your proper name?¡± Helena nodded. Jake¡¯s voice was low, and he sounded concerned. ¡°I hear you went through some unpleasant treatment at the hands of Ventre.¡±

    She felt Klen twitch at the name and whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t say that name or Kara will kill you!¡±

    Jake lifted an eyebrow as he looked Kara¡¯s way. ¡°Intense!¡±

    Helena¡¯s smile widened. I kind of like Jake¡¯s personality, but there¡¯s something unnatural about him. Leaning closer with the sudden increase of crowd noise, she waited for Jake to do the same. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a distasteful memory. However, I¡¯m more interested in talking about you.¡±

    Jake¡¯s eyebrows lifted. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    Helena stared meaningfully into his light brown eyes. ¡°Because I don¡¯t think you¡¯re human.¡±

    Jake chuckled. ¡°Why do you think that? Oh, and you¡¯ve gained dimples! They¡¯re cute.¡±

    ¡°Captivating,¡± Helena mumbled. ¡°I can¡¯t even discern a shift in bioelectrical stimuli to distinguish natural reactions. Your heart beats at an impossible rhythm and too consistent of a pattern, even when displaying emotion¡ªI¡¯m shocked, I didn¡¯t recognize this much before, but perhaps I¡¯ve learned a little since then. Just what are you?¡±

    Jake¡¯s face was unreadable, and he didn¡¯t answer for a few seconds. ¡°You¡¯re the second person to ask me that since coming to this base. Although, I hear you and Kara share the same ability, so it shouldn¡¯t be a surprise.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t respond as she waited for him to continue. A wry smile split his lips. ¡°I think I¡¯m learning to enjoy espers. I can tell your race will soon shake this old fashioned world. Few regard your subspecies as a threat, but from what I just witnessed ¡­ there is much to be feared, once you expand beyond Elestveeve.¡±

    He lifted off his seat and took a piece of paper from his back pocket. He handed the paper to Helena. ¡°I¡¯ll trust Kara in our little conversation about you. I¡¯m interested in your progression. If you need anything at all, don¡¯t hesitate to message that address. Just remember, I do trades, not charity.¡± Helena took the card and watched Jake leave with a quizzical gaze. I¡¯m meeting many curious individuals as of late.

    ¡°Do you know that guy?¡± Klen asked distractedly, not shifting his gaze from Kara.

    ¡°Only recently, but yes; we are acquainted.¡± Helena examined the IP address the card showed. Fascinating ¡­ it¡¯s connected to Tech¡¯s Network. Yes, a very fascinating being, whatever he is. Friends with the President, on chatting terms with Kara, and has contacts in Tech. What other surprises does he have?

    A few more minutes passed before a voice resounded around the room. ¡°I¡¯m thrilled that we could gather so many viewers for this contest! There will be three competitions starting with this one today. I want each of the first contestants to make their way into the waiting areas!¡±

    Klen leaned over and whispered. ¡°That¡¯s the Vice-President. He wants you to go through those steel doors on the back wall, and wait in the first room the hall leads to.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes shifted to look up at the glass. ¡°This does seem sudden. Will I receive further instructions there?¡±

    Klen¡¯s voice was hurried. ¡°Yes, but if the Vice-President gives an order, you need to follow it.¡±

    Helena lightly huffed, but lifted from her seat and made her way out of the stands. I guess the Vice-President can order around SOP if I interpreted Klen¡¯s inference correctly. Booker mentioned he was equal to officer ranks in the SOP; is he only in a management role or does he have combat experience as well? Walking toward the door, she found three other people joining her; three boys and they were already at the entrance.

    The first boy to enter had blond hair and looked to be in his late teens. The Second had blue eyes and seemed to be in his mid-teens. He glanced back and appraised her for a moment. Snorting, his black hair vanished behind the opening. The third was a younger boy, maybe fourteen. He didn¡¯t even glance her way, just continued through with the other boys.

    Following their example, she entered the hall. It extended downward and circled under the stands. Stepping into a large brightly lit room, she found the first three contestants sitting in chairs around the spacious area. Four other halls led further in, most likely to the four main doors in the arena.

    No one talked as they waited; the occasional glare being shot out at someone. So, these three are my competition. What are their abilities and levels? I can extend my perception and try to figure it out, but that also has the possibility that they can detect my field. I won¡¯t take the risk this early in.

    Walking over to the chairs, she sat in one and waited. She did notice a familiar shift in electrons and protons from the youngest boy with her passive reception. What will we be competing in? I¡¯m positive there will be a brawl, but there has to be more to it.

    A dark haired woman entered the room from one of the side passages. She held four different colored cloths around her arm; red, green, orange, and white. Pulling each off, she handed them to the participants.

    Green to the eldest boy, purple to the youngest, and red for the boy in his mid-teens, lastly she went to Helena and gave her the white armband. Following her opponents¡¯ examples, she tied the cloth around her arm. The woman exited without a word. Bands to show whom we represent. So, I¡¯m competing against potential members for Cassandra, Brock, and Colin.

    Five minutes passed before a female voice sounded in the room¡¯s hidden speakers. ¡°Each contestant, make your way into separate hallways. Wait until the door opens and step through to receive further instruction.¡± They¡¯re very secretive.

    Helena watched the three boys lift and each head toward a different corridor. It looks like I¡¯ll be taking the last open. It shouldn¡¯t matter since it¡¯s an octagon, but I suppose your position to the Primes would change.

    Lifting from her chair, she made her way into the hallway. The walls had branching doors, but the instructions were to wait at the end. The passage was slick and gray in the pale light. I¡¯m much better at control, but I still have a fear of using a moderate amount of Focus in a forced attack. I doubt I¡¯ll get the opportunity to attack in physical contact and I don¡¯t know their abilities. Helena felt a nervous shake pass over her body. Breathing slowly, she shook herself loose. I need to stay calm ... one thing at a time. I¡¯ve gained skills and suffered a handicap, but I just need to adapt.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Stopping as the path ended, she waited in front of the massive steel door. Helena breathed again and put her hand to the door, feeling the pulse of the metal. How can Kara put out enough energy to rip this out and bend it?

    Creating an electromagnetic field, she slowly clenched her fingers together as her right hand rested against the cold metal. Nothing happened. Not even a creak escaped the metallic surface. Releasing the field, she thought back to the room and all of Kara¡¯s hidden messages. I do need more control. An extensive selection of my abilities requires finesse. I need more effective formulas if I want to get stronger.

    Helena examined what Kara was doing during their training. She remembered the equations Kara had been using to guide and create strong electrical currents. She also recalled most of the calculations for the strong magnetic fields she was directing, but she was purposefully not using many complicated formulations. Kara knew I was studying her as best I could and mainly used raw Focus to accomplish the electricity. However, she had used some. Likely to test how close I was paying attention.

    A voice spoke from the speakers on both sides of the door. ¡°The contestants may enter through the doors!¡± Helena inhaled deeply as the doors opened and a large light shone down, momentarily blinding her. Releasing the breath, she stepped into the arena and examined the extravagant area.

    Cheering echoed all around her as she found every seat visibly full. A clear shell was placed over the top to provide protection that she hadn¡¯t seen it before. It must be strong to protect the onlookers, but how strong can it really be? It looks like a clear plastic covering.

    Glancing around the room, she found the other three contestants exiting opposite each other. The oldest boy faced her and in front of each person stood a podium made of the same strange see-through material as the cover. Wires evenly ran inside it and down into an outlet in the ground. When did they place all this new material here? In the ten minutes, we¡¯ve been underground? They work fast. It must have been someone¡¯s ability.

    A voice expelled from speakers embedded in the clear glass above. ¡°Welcome contenders to your first arena appearance. Just like the Florescent Stadium of New Genesis and the Black Pit of the Southern Base, a new arena has been made for the north.¡± Games like this are common? The Vice-President seems to be announcing the contest as well. He does have an extravagant voice; it fits the scene.

    ¡°On this opening day, we have not only the current eight Primes but also the Alpha and the President himself watching! Make this an entertaining performance for them, for this¡ªis your¡ªtime for glory and placement! Show your leaders your skills, and perhaps you will be rewarded! Now, each challenger¡ªstep¡ªto¡ªyour¡ªpodium!¡± He waited for each of them to approach the pedestal.

    Helena noticed a microphone implanted into the translucent glass. Sliding her hand over its silky smooth surface, she found it wasn¡¯t paramagnetic. In fact, it seemed insulated. Glaring at the ceiling, she let go of a low groan. I won¡¯t be able to run across the cover. No, maybe I can if I use the metal in the speakers. It¡¯ll blow the circuitry, and I¡¯ll only be able to use it as a boost.

    Flexing her feet, she noted the iron rods in the floor. There must be a level below me, maybe the waiting room.

    ¡°As the competition demands, each contender will state their handle and ability for a fair contest, and observers understanding!¡± What! I need to tell them my ability? I guess this is better than worse. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start from the eldest to youngest¡ªnow¡ªbegin!¡±

    The boy opposite Helena spoke, and his deep voice echoed around the stadium. ¡°Fraden and I¡¯m a Vibrokinetic.¡± He can cause shock-waves. Not the best ability to have in an area that could collapse on you, but he might be able to get out of nearly anything by vibrations.

    The boy in his mid-teens spoke next, his hands rising to the sky with enthusiasm as the crowd screamed. ¡°Vetnis, and I¡¯m a Toxikinetic.¡± So, he can generate some kind of toxin. As long as I stay away from him, I should be fine.

    The voice of the youngest boy¡¯s cracked as he spoke, but he pumped out his chest and shouted. ¡°I¡¯m Braxton, and my ability is Fulminokinesis.¡± A specialist in a particular field and even an electric based esper. That¡¯s the familiarity I sensed in the room. It looks like Kara¡¯s training on electric redirection will come in handy. Did she know? Likely ¡­ in any case, Braxton will be easy to counter.

    Helena couldn¡¯t help but giggle at his statement. Being a specialist gave him more time to study a particular talent, but it shortened his maximum potential.

    The Vice-President¡¯s voice boomed around the area. ¡°It looks like we have a show of superiority from our youngest contestant, Helena¡ªVictoria¡ªVandred! I wonder why she¡¯s so confident; could she have some plan against her elders?¡± The crowd went wild at her last name, and they started chanting the Vandred name.

    Helena¡¯s throat constricted as she swallowed, a tightness entering her stomach. I really shouldn¡¯t have done that. However, I can¡¯t appear weak, and it¡¯s a game of popularity as much as victory. It¡¯s best to use my WITCH title for this kind of contest, and it¡¯ll get my name out.

    Braxton glowered at her as she spoke calmly and assuredly into the microphone. ¡°Vix and I¡¯m an Electro Master.¡±

    The crowd above halted their cheers to mutter excitedly at her statement. The words Kara and Purists were thrown around. All three boys were now glaring her down. I feel like I might be a primary target. I do have the most versatile ability, and I seem to have taken the crowd¡¯s attention. The one that can beat me will gain the crowds¡¯ support.

    ¡°Fantastic! Now that is said, I¡¯ll explain the parameters. The clear shell above you is made of a substance called nanocellulose, but with some slight modifications. The Green Prime, Broke himself made it; it¡¯s stronger than steel, can withstand high degrees in temperature, and is a magnetic semiconductor!¡± Helena¡¯s eyes lifted to the substance with excitement. What, it¡¯s a magnetic semiconductor! Maybe this podium is made of a different structure? I have a slightly better chance with that maneuverability.

    Applying a weak magnetic field, she pressed it up against the podium and found it slowly liquefying. A bizarre substance and it was made by the Plant Manipulation Prime?

    ¡°We¡¯ll now¡ªbegin the games!¡± Helena kicked off her shoes and tensed her legs. What will it be? ¡°The game is simple really¡ªa few riddles posed by the President and spoken by me!¡±

    Helena¡¯s legs relaxed. A riddle, but why would they gather all these people to ask a riddle? Does the winner get something?

    ¡°James is stranded on a floating, forest-covered island. He cannot jump because the fall will kill him. That day, lightning strikes on the west end of the island and sets fire to the foliage that is so intense it will consume the entire island! How can James survive?¡± That¡¯s a stupid riddle and entirely obvious, but should I answer it?

    The oldest boy quickly spoke up, answering the question. ¡°James just has to pick up a piece of wood that is on fire at the west side of the island and quickly takes it to the east end. Start a fire there, and he can take shelter in the already burnt area.¡± That¡¯s correct, but at the same time wrong. If he answered it, it must be good to participate, and the President had posed the question.

    With only a moment¡¯s hesitation, Helena said. ¡°That¡¯s wrong.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªthen what¡¯s the right answer our new, little Vix?¡± The Vice-President asked.

    Helena cleared her throat. ¡°James will live through the fire, but he won¡¯t survive. First, you stated that the same day James is stranded, the fire starts. This doesn¡¯t take into account water, or food and the island is floating. So, theoretically there is no source of water, yet it has foliage. Meaning there is a consistent rainfall. The fire is stated to burn hot enough to consume the entire island. Taking shelter in an already burnt area is logical, but he still won¡¯t survive.

    ¡°With lack of food from the fire and an unknown supply of water, he¡¯ll die. There¡¯s no mention of rescue or of anyone knowing where he is. The riddle asks how he¡¯ll survive, but he¡¯s doomed.¡±

    There was silence for a moment, and then applause emanated from the crowd. ¡°Excellent, Vix, on to the next riddle!¡± How many riddles will there be and for what purpose are they for? ¡°This seems to be a very simple riddle¡ªby the way, I love riddles!

    ¡°A man hijacks a Hoverfly carrying eight important people, including the pilot, and there is precious cargo aboard. After taking the cargo, the hijacker demands nine parachutes from the company that owns the cargo, putting one on, he jumps, getting away with the cargo. Why would the villain want nine parachutes?¡± How stupid do they think we are?

    ¡°If the people on the Hoverfly are important, the company wouldn¡¯t risk giving him a faulty parachute.¡± Helena reasoned before any of the other contestants.

    ¡°Splendid.¡± The man praised. These questions seem to be judging different aspects of mental capacity, but for what reason? Could the contest change depending on how we respond? Helena noticed that all three of the other contestants were glaring at her, dark expressions across each of their faces.

    ¡°A very famous chemist was found murdered in his kitchen today. The officers have narrowed it down to six suspects. They know it was a two-person job¡ªtheir names: Felice, Maxwell, Archibald, Nicolas, Jordan, and Xavier. A note was also found with the body: 26-3-58/28-27-57-16. Who are the killers?¡±

    Everyone was silent as the four espers below spun calculations and theories in their minds. Helena huffed. The note is an important clue ¡­ don¡¯t they correspond to... Helena spoke up, ¡°The killers are Felice and Nicholas ¡­ I believe the numbers correspond to atomic numbers on the periodic table of elements: Fe-Li-Ce/Ni-Co-La-S.¡±

    ¡°Brilliant.¡± The Vice-President praised. Laughter sounded from around them. ¡°You managed to puzzle that out faster than any of your competitors despite their advanced age! Truly brilliant, my dear!¡± Maybe I won¡¯t have to participate in the first round if I got all the questions right? ¡°We have a winner of the starting game with a landslide ratio of three to zero. We have now determined the contestants¡¯ intellectual ability for all the viewers. Make your bets wisely!¡±

    Helena¡¯s face drained of color. Of course, why didn¡¯t I see it? I was too caught up in the answers. They weren¡¯t for game mechanics, but to heighten viewer engagement. Her eyes darted between her competitors, eyes like daggers, all directed at her. I¡¯ve dug my own grave; they all have to focus me to gain any crowd support!

    She caught Kara¡¯s hand raise to her temple with a light shake of her head. I can¡¯t believe how foolish I am ¡­ arrogant...

    With a grand exclamation, the Vice-President yelled. ¡°Now let the deathmatch¡ªcommence!¡±

 B1 â€” 33. Desperation

    Helena pushed back, throwing down an electromagnetic field; she flew backward and skidded up the wall, electricity sparking as she cushioned her momentum. The three boys were racing toward her.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t look good for young Vix! All three boys are lining up against her. What will she do?¡±

    Electricity sparked to life around Braxton as he ran and shot a bolt toward her. At the same instance, Fraden stopped and slammed his hands together. He¡¯s creating a shockwave. I need to halt its progress, or it¡¯ll flatten me against the wall, maybe knock me out.

    Redirected the lightning from Braxton, she curved its trajectory toward Fraden. As the bolt neared Fraden, it exploded downward, traces of energy dancing across the ground. It struck the pressurized air and changing its directed route to the path of least resistance.

    ¡°Fascinating! Vix can redirect Braxton¡¯s lightning at the other members, making him a liability in a team fight unless he can do the same to Vix!¡±

    Helena felt a light breeze pass her and she looked left. Three meters to her side the wall cracked as the vibrations struck. The electricity won¡¯t be a great deterrent for Fraden¡¯s shockwaves. It¡¯ll be best to direct it at...

    She sensed something enter her perceptive field. Sidestepping, she found greenish slime strike where she¡¯d stood. The concrete started to sizzle as light green smoke lifted from the spot, the liquid dripping down the wall. Glancing at Vetnis, she found another green ball of goo in his hands oozing between his fingers, ready to be thrown. He can project acidic chemicals with his bare hands? I¡¯ll need to analyze the next one. If I can statically charge it then I can redirect it; if they get close to my five-meter radius, then I might be able to send it to one of the other boys.

    The Vice-President¡¯s voice boomed around the room. ¡°Vetnis can generate different chemicals in his body to different effects, such as acidic projectiles!¡±

    Helena¡¯s legs propelled from the wall as she threw her magnetic field behind her. Spinning in the air, she threw out an electric tether to the ceiling as a shockwave pulsed under her, causing more cracks to appear in the wall. Please be magnetic! The support latched on and lifted her to the spot. Her hair clung to her back, keeping it from obstructing her vision.

    The Vice-President¡¯s voice roared from her left as a speaker sounded, making Helena wince and fight to keep her field under control. Energy entered her reception, and she redirected it at Fraden. ¡°Look at this little spider monkey! She¡¯s holding back all three contestant¡¯s attempts to kill her; a true marvel!¡±

    Helena bit her lower lip. A simple mistake can get me killed ¡­ this is a lot of pressure. She dashed across the ceiling as a shockwave smashed against her previous spot. Fraden¡¯s shockwaves can negate Braxton¡¯s level of electricity through air resistance. At least Vetnis isn¡¯t strong enough to throw anything up here, but he might have other tricks up his sleeve.

    She glanced back and found that Fraden¡¯s shockwave hadn¡¯t damaged the ceiling. It must have a high threshold to vibrations. Brock¡¯s material seems fairly impressive.

    Another lightning strike flew toward her. Fraden will only resist or counter the attack, but Vetnis shouldn¡¯t have the ability to stop it. Taking control over the energy, she spun in a quick arc. Finding Vetnis she flung it down at him as he was poised to throw a handful of acid.

    His eyes popped as the energy twisted around her body and flew toward him. Diving, the glop of acid was thrown from his hands and landed half a meter from Braxton as the energy blackened the area a foot from Vetnis.

    Helena cursed internally. ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Braxton managed to shift my calculations.

    ¡°Watch it!¡± Braxton yelled as the acid starting to sizzle against the ground.

    ¡°We already see conflict arise between this shaky alliance!¡±

    A shockwave flew from Fraden¡¯ hands as he clapped. Helena propelled herself from the ceiling and sent a tether to the massive door Fraden had exited. Landing on the steel, she slid across it to the stone sidewall. Her field almost collapsed while shifting to the new material. Helena locked her jaw as she recalculated the formula. I should have practiced my calculations more with transferring to various materials.

    Vetnis looked outraged. ¡°Me¡ªall you¡¯re doing is giving her fuel to counter!¡±

    Helena darted around the room as Fraden continued to throw concentrated shockwaves in her direction as Vetnis and Braxton yelled. Jumping to the floor, she dashed with long leaps to the left wall, skipping a few meters at a time with her field. I¡¯m entirely on the defensive. I need to figure out a strategy, but I¡¯m continually on the move to avoid their attacks. Braxton can interfere with any long-range lightning attack I redirect, I don¡¯t know what close range toxic mixtures Vetnis can expel, but I should be able to redirect any ranged projectiles, and Fraden has me on the defensive from a distance. It¡¯s only a matter of time before they start working more congruently, but Fraden is the real threat.

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened as a broad shockwave, followed by a consolidated pulse came at her from behind. Expelling an electromagnetic field underneath her, she darted upward. Will I make it? No, it¡¯s moving too fast!

    The blast struck her in the back, and she felt the pulses pass through her, the air pressure altering her trajectory. Her teeth felt like they were chattering against each other and her eyes shut as a nauseating feeling spread through her body. Her senses blacked out for a moment, but thankfully the second impact missed her. Reception returning, she sensed the wall coming up to meet her while she twisted through the air.

    ¡°Oh, will this be it. Vix is in trouble!¡±

    Throwing a field behind her, she pushed out. She felt the resistance immediately against her back when she reached two meters from the stone, she slowly stopped. Twisting with a short burst of her field, Helena righted herself before her hands pressed against the cold concrete. She expelled a second field, sticking to the wall. Another blast behind me, condensed. I need to do something, but my body won¡¯t escape the radius in time.

    She felt a screw twist into her heart; her chest seized as she formed the calculations in her mind. An electrical discharge flew from her back, and she felt the pressure strike the energy. The pressure of the blast hit, but it only partially knocked the breath out of her frozen lungs. She felt dizzy as her control over the magnetic fields wavered with her fear, the terror of produced electricity gripping her. Another poisonous ball¡¯s coming.

    She couldn¡¯t calculate the right formula, so she let go of her cling. Dropping from the wall, she reapplied the field, but it was too weak. Her focus was split, trying to analyze the acid. Her weight was barely negated as she slid down the wall, fingers scraping against the stone; the skin on her fingers and toes ripping as her socks slid off her feet from the friction. Striking the floor with her heels, she dropped to her butt, a jarring sensation passing through her lower end.

    Blinking rapidly, she shook her head; mind started to clear. I¡¯ve got it. Now that I know the right amount of power to statically charge his acid. She sensed another concussive blast; it was carrying a spray of liquid, she didn¡¯t have the time to think; scrambling to her feet, she kicked off as hard as he could, throwing her field out. Flying up inches from the wall¡¯s surface, she slowed her rise with resistance against the iron-fortified concrete and landed near the ceiling again. She was breathing heavily and could already feel sweat starting to gather at her temples. I can¡¯t ¡­ last like this ¡­ need to buy some time...

    ¡°Is waving your behind, all you can do? Fight!¡± Vetnis yelled.

    Helena breathed heavily as she glanced down. The wall was sizzling as a film of acid oozed down the concrete. Her mouth was dry, but they were giving her precious seconds to recover.

    ¡°The young eight-year-old is in trouble as the three teenage boy¡¯s gang up on her! What¡¯ll she do?¡± The announcer yelled, and the crowd screamed in response.

    Gasps emanated from above as Braxton dropped to the ground, convulsing. ¡°Oh¡ªwhat just happened. Did anyone see that? Vetnis must have poisoned him, but when? This is turning into a splendid show!¡± Braxton was convulsing, foam exiting his lips and blood coming out of his ear, eyes, nose, and mouth as his skin discolored.

    ¡°Braxton should have known better than get close to the toxic Vetnis and now Vix can¡¯t redirect his energy!¡± He¡¯s right. Vetnis killed Braxton because he wasn¡¯t helping, he was a hindrance, and needed to get rid of him anyways ¡­ Braxton should have been smarter. How should I use Vetnis¡¯ acid though? I could surprise Fraden with it...

    ¡°Now that your little lightning cloud is out of the way, we should start getting a bit more serious!¡± Vetnis said with a sneer as he glared up at her. I should have drunk more water before starting. I¡¯m already thirsty from all these quick actions. I need to stall a bit longer to calm my body. Helena wiped the sticky sweat from her forehead as her body shook with laughter. The crowd went silent as they studied her anxiously.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Fraden asked with a dark expression as he tossed another shockwave in her direction. He didn¡¯t look happy with how silent the crowd had gotten over her action. She barely managed to dodge it.

    Helena took a deep sigh, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°Oh¡ªnothing of spectacular importance; I¡¯m just musing over the fact that I came into contact with WITCH not six days ago and already my competition is being forced to team up against me.¡±

    The Vice-President followed her laughter. ¡°That is quite the accomplishment Vix and to only be at the age of eight. Consider me impressed!¡± The throng exclaimed their amazement with her statement, and all sides began chanting her name. She noticed Kara¡¯s broad smile as she studied the scene unfold. Good, I¡¯m doing well. Vetnis did take out Braxton, but that¡¯s one less person I need to worry about. I¡¯ve bought myself enough time.

    Vetnis started whispering in a low tone as his searing eyes trained on Helena. She couldn¡¯t hear what he was saying, but Fraden grinned and nodded.

    ¡°What an interesting plan they came up with. Will our little spider be able to escape this trap!¡± How¡¯s he hearing what¡¯s being said down in the pit? I haven¡¯t sensed any audio transmitters anywhere.

    Vetnis nodded and looked up with a grin, before taking a deep breath and then letting the air out. His mouth was open for much longer than normal lungs should be able to support. He¡¯s using his Focus for something, but what? Most likely poisonous gas. Can he actually expel enough to reach me? I shouldn¡¯t take that risk.

    Bracing herself against the wall, Helena prepared to skid across the ceiling. She watched Fraden raise his hands and send a powerful shockwave directly at her. It¡¯ll destroy the upper wall and strike the stands!

    Leaping from the spot, she sailed across the translucent shell. In slow motion she watched both Vetnis and Fraden closing his eyes and covering their ears. Why would¡ªgas¡ªelectromagnetic friction¡ªthey¡¯re creating an explosion, and I¡¯m the fuse!

    As Helena realized their plan, a light appeared in her peripheral vision, the gas propelled by the shockwave. The fire expanded into a brilliant inferno combusting along the ceiling, white and orange flames racing toward her. Shooting the most powerful electromagnetic field she could calculate behind her, she flew out over the arena. The heat chased behind her but quickly died as she escaped the gas range.

    The ground halfway across the field came rushing toward her. Extending her static field, she tried to slide across the concrete and felt Fraden¡¯s consolidated wave following behind her. Bracing herself, she threw out her field and slid centimeters above the floor. She made it two meters before the shockwave struck her back, driving through her body.

    Her muscles constricted and her electromagnetic field broke with the shift in pressure. A jarring sensation broke across her body as she tumbled over the hard concrete, hot air flowing around her. Coming to a stop, she felt the bruises sting and scrapes burn.

    Coughing, she spat and inhaled deep breaths; her eyes were blurry as she partially regained her senses. Another pulse behind Helena made her grind her teeth and propel herself upward with a magnetic push. Throwing out a static tether, she stuck to the ceiling again. My muscles are starting to wear out. The shockwaves are really taking their toll! I would already be out of the match if not for Belesis¡¯ enhancements.

    Looking back, she found Fraden and Vetnis running across the field toward her; Vetnis¡¯s mouth was open as if blowing. The ceiling didn¡¯t even have scorch marks, but the top of the wall she¡¯d been before was blackened and broken. Showing sections of people, but seemed to have been instantly protected by the expanded ceiling. Brock¡¯s continually shielding this entire space.

    Her eyes concentrated on the blackened stone as spots blinked across her vision. I can¡¯t stay on the ceiling. Vetnis¡¯ locking me to the mid-walls and floor. He¡¯s likely using methane gas. Slinging herself away, she made it to the opposite wall and slid down to its midsection, electricity sparking behind her. Fraden can broaden and focus his shockwaves then Vetnis is locking me to the ground. If only he stuck with his acid...

    How can he expel that much methane? Is it all Focus? His ability is a subsection of Biokinesis. Kara explained they use their own body to house the different elements to use with their Focus. Has he been preparing all that methane beforehand? Maybe he¡¯s already out of acid, but does he have a death wish? If he fills the entire area with it, I won¡¯t be able to move, but any friction would cause a massive detonation. The material Brock¡¯s using seems extremely resistant, but that only means it¡¯ll go down if it can¡¯t go up. At least methane doesn¡¯t cause a considerable shockwave or I would be deaf right now.

    Vetnis closed his mouth, a smile on his lips. No, he¡¯s just filled the ceiling with the gas. Fraden can still set it off with friction, but now they¡¯ve limited my movement. However, if I blow their fuse early, he¡¯ll continually have to waste Focus and biological resources on reapplying it. Did they think I was stupid? The air pressure is flowing to my right. It¡¯s about time I bring the fight to them.

    Sliding down the wall to the ground, she dodged left to avoid another condensed shockwave carrying purplish smoke that slowly curved up toward the ceiling.

    Breathing apprehension, Helena fought through the fear and sent the proper calculations. A bolt of electricity raced from her hands and flew toward the ceiling.

    ¡°What¡ªno...¡± Vetnis cut off as the electricity struck a meter before the shell and lit a sea of white flames across the covering. The fire blew down the sides of the room as it followed the current to her right. Both boys cringed in fear as the flames licked down the walls.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Helena closed her eyes and followed her three-dimensional reception toward the two unsuspecting boys. Weak sparks of light sparked around her hand as she leaped toward Vetnis. As long as I consolidate the amount of electricity to my hands, I don¡¯t have to increase the power to counter resistance and avoid my fear. If I can touch them, I can win. I have the least amount of information about Vetnis, and he¡¯s locking down my movement. I¡¯ll take him out first.

    Her hand came out as she skipped past him and sent the current ripping through his mid-back, making sure to touch clothes, not skin. He convulsed and dropped to the floor.

    She flew past him as Fraden regained his wits and threw a blast at her. Sidestepping the attack, she leaped to the nearest wall and used it as resistance to change direction. Quickly darting back and forth, she made her way to Fraden. He was pale-faced as he threw out shockwaves, trying to strike her. As she reached four meters from Fraden, he collapsed to the ground and placed both hands against the stone. I¡¯m just about to touch ground. If he times it right, I¡¯ll lose control over my field, and it¡¯ll collapse, leaving me wide open. No, he¡¯ll definitely catch the right timing. I need to preemptively ruin his plan.

    Throwing a large portion of Focus into a field below her, she flew upward before striking the floor. Fraden grinned wickedly as he lifted and placed his hands were Helena was heading in the air. ¡°Got you!¡±

    Helena smirked as a tether shot out around her body up to the ceiling. No more methane, what does he expect me to do? Helena¡¯s mind froze as she sensed her tether snap and heat expand from the point of contact. How? Didn¡¯t I incapacitate Vetnis? It¡¯s not enough to burn me, but enough to disrupt my electromagnetic field.

    Her eyes snapped to Vetnis, who was squirming on the ground. He¡¯s already conscious? Did my fear keep me from using enough volts? Her eyes closed and she tensed as a shockwave entered her perceptive radius. A pounding force ripped through her body as she lifted a few more centimeters, wind rushing around her. All the air in her lungs exited in a violent torrent as her vision blackened. She only realized she was falling when her fractured senses sent back information about the floor rising to meet her.

    Sending out electrical threads, she tried to create a field to slow her descent. Her numb body couldn¡¯t feel the cushioning, but the jarring sensation of striking the concrete racked through her frame. She lay face down against the ground, panting and watching her vision spot.

    ¡°Seems your arrogance with your ability blinded your reason.¡± Fraden¡¯s boot stopped in front of her eyes. Helena¡¯s stomach twisted as she laughed softly, belly sending back waves of pain, but she fought through it. Tears, however, danced at the corners of her eyes.

    ¡°You have another opinion?¡± Fraden asked. ¡°But of course! You have to. You¡¯re always right.¡±

    It isn¡¯t arrogance that landed me in this situation, but ignorance. I assumed I could just overcome my fear of electron discharges, but it seems to run deeper than I thought. Helena gulped down the blood she felt in her mouth. My muscles are drained, but I can stimulate them. It¡¯s the only thing I can think of right now.

    ¡°Well? What¡¯s your explanation then? What¡¯s your intelligent answer?¡±

    Helena waited until his foot struck out. Expelling an electromagnetic field under herself, she leaped up, dodging the kick to her side. Firmly planting her left foot against the ground, she bent her leg and struck out with her right foot, stimulating her muscles. Her right calf connected against the back of his knee, throwing out his only supporting leg.

    He toppled to the ground with a grunt, and Helena quickly brought her right hand out to connect with his skull, sending the strongest electrical current her mind would formulate ripping through it.

    Cutting the stimulation off, she felt her weight multiply, but she forced herself up. Standing, she stretched, experiencing the burning sting of multiple bruises and cuts. That was close, and I still need to deal with Vetnis. She only just realized the crowds¡¯ cheers. I must have blocked them out to concentrate or maybe Fraden¡¯s shockwaves did something to my hearing.

    She shifted her vision to Vetnis and watched him slowly crawl toward her with jerked movements. The shock must have disrupted his nerve-system. Sighing, she slowly limped over to him.

    The Vice-President sounded thrilled. ¡°Well done Vix! To have bested all three contestants alone!¡± Not exactly alone, Vetnis did take out Braxton. However, the horde went frantic at his statement.

    Vetnis gasped as he dropped to his back, staring up at the glass. ¡°You¡ªfought¡ªwell.¡± Helena didn¡¯t answer as she stood over his jerky body and studied his condition, just out of arms reach. The shock affected his body worse than I thought, but it didn¡¯t reach all the way to his brain.

    ¡°What¡ªyou¡ªwaiting¡ªfor? Finish it.¡± Vetnis growled.

    Helena¡¯s tone was level. ¡°You want to die?¡±

    Vetnis gulped and seemed to achieve most of his speech capability. He chuckled with pained gasps. ¡°I lost¡ªthe moment I joined¡ªthose pathetic losers.¡± It may still be a trick.

    Helena charged her static field and magnetized the liquid across Vetnis¡¯ forehead. Sure enough, tanish goo started rising toward the charged area she created. He chuckled mirthlessly, twitching sharply.

    Taking off her armband, she wrapped it around her hand and held her breath as she darted in. Her shielded hand touched his forehead, and she sent a strong electrical current through his brain. He convulsed, eyes popping open. As she finished, she found his eyes blank and drool flowing down his mouth. His body still shook with irregular pulses, his muscles reacting to the stimulus.

    Lifting her hand, she found more tannish goo stuck to her white band. He fought ¡®till his last breath. She flicked her field, sending the floating liquid spraying across the floor and stood over the body; a strange void pitted in her heart. This is my first premeditated kill.

    Cheers erupted around her but were soon cut short as screams sounded. Helena glanced up and froze. Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open from shock as Kara appeared right in front of her. A beam of purple energy melted through Brock¡¯s ceiling and expelled right at her. Cassandra, but why?

    Helena¡¯s vision was blocked as Kara slowly moved in front of her. Lightning birthed around her form, and the purple energy shifted course to collide with the stone ground eight meters to her left.

    The concrete was pierced like a knife through butter as it disintegrated everything in its path. Milliseconds later the assaulting beam shifted directions with Kara¡¯s energy and Helena felt a very sharp shift in air pressure. Her body started to get heavier as she slowly began to skid toward her left. The purple radioactive energy shifted along its entire length and slowly bent. It was flowing into a dark, rotating mass in the center of the arena, all the light in the area curved as objects twisted in her vision.

    Cassandra¡¯s high voice was distorted as it reached Helena¡¯s ears and she jumped into the arena. ¡°Don¡¯t try and stop me Eizea!¡± Her decent seemed in slow motion as the energy intensified, and so did Kara¡¯s lightning.

    Helena¡¯s legs no longer supported her as she dropped to her butt, air gushed around her and slowly pulling her toward the black void. Kara produced an electromagnetic field that went beyond Helena¡¯s understanding, keeping everything under them faceted in place as portions of the floor ripped away to be sucked into Eizea¡¯s crushing gravitational singularity. Kara¡¯s somehow redirecting most the kinetic heat and energy, while also countering the gravitational pull¡­ She felt numb, unable to grasp the sheer power being thrown around her.

    A large bolt of lightning shot from Kara and split into threads of energy dancing around Cassandra as she landed. It even escaped Eizea¡¯s gravitation field as magnetic fields shifted around it. The arcs of white lightning bounced around Cassandra, but not one touched her. Is Cassandra redirecting the lightning or is Kara doing something else?

    Large shimmering purple flowers started to grow around Cassandra as the light surrounding her pulsated, turning white. Roots broke through the concrete and ran down like a waterfall from Brock¡¯s chair. The flowers started shimmering and growing in size; their two-meter peddles turning an illuminant white. The roots grew around Cassandra and lateral roots twisted around the edges of her produced energy. The plants are absorbing the atomic radiation and heat! Is there an actual plant that can do that?

    The blinding radiance flickered, and Cassandra sank to her knees. Her voice sounded distorted but infuriated and strained. ¡°Colin¡ªI¡¯ll destroy you...¡± Her energy seemed to pulse, strengthen then diminish in rapid succession. The threads of lightning around Cassandra slowly began to close in on her, setting one of the roots ablaze and finally an arc struck her. The bolt collapsed as Cassandra fell to the ground unconscious or dead.

    Helena realized her body was shaking. She watched the events unfold from behind Kara. A distorted bang sounded in the center of the gravitational bubble. A burst of orange and yellow energy exploded outwards, but only made it five-meters before being swallowed back up by the dark mass. The gravity slowly lessened, and Kara dropped her colossal magnetic manipulations.

    Fatchna appeared beside Kara, an amused expression lighting his face. ¡°Fascinating, it takes five Primes to subdue a single member! It would have been much easier for two to kill her.¡±

    Heart leaping out of her chest, Helena breathed hastily. Her hand rested over her heart as she trembled. I was only moments away from death. How did Kara get to me so fast? That beam was traveling at the speed of light, which means Kara was already in front of me and preparing a counterattack before the blast even went off? Ezia, Brock, they all acted in an instant, before Cassandra even started her attack.

    Kara turned to face the man to her right. ¡°Thank you for your assistance, Fatchna.¡±

    His grin broadened as he flourished with a wink and a bow. ¡°It¡¯s not every day the Great Lightning Cat herself shows gratitude or asks for aid. However, I doubt your little pup was in any real danger. You definitely had something up your sleeve.¡±

    Kara¡¯s eyes shifted to the other Primes above. Eizea was scowling down at Cassandra, Colin seemed entertained as he looked inward, but in the direction of Kara, and Brock wore an emotionless expression. Sevilla was gone.

    Helena noticed Brock¡¯s roots starting to shrivel up and die as the lateral root continued to burn. Without the energy supply, they¡¯re decaying. Did it really take all of them to completely battle down Cassandra? Maybe they didn¡¯t want to use too much power, or they¡¯d destroy the base, but... Her eyes locked with Eizea¡¯s indignant posture. She produced enough Focus to bend light with gravitational fields, but how did all of us not instantly get sucked in?

    The crowd had become silent as they hid under their seats or ran for the exit, but the sound quickly grew as cheers echoed around the room, louder than ever. Helena noticed the cries of the throngs dim and Eizea¡¯s voice float down to them. She¡¯s manipulating gravity in some strange way to be heard.

    ¡°Anyone have an idea why she lost control like that? I mean¡ªI know its Cassandra, but she went crazy, and with the Alpha just above us.¡± She was glowering at the unconscious Red Prime with lifted eyebrows. Helena then noticed Phantasm¡¯s double was hiding behind his seat. His connection must have been cut with all the interference of powers.

    Helena¡¯s attention was diverted as a portion of Brock¡¯s ceiling cracked and soon broke; dust floated down to the ground as Belesis came barreling through. Landing, she ran toward her with light steps, but Helena noticed the slight limp.

    Colin¡¯s eyes shifted down to scrutinize Kara. ¡°The last thought running through her mind was the ending scene of Kara and Goltwra¡¯s fight. I had no idea it played out like that. Now I understand why she¡¯s so incensed over Electro Masters, and that win hit home harshly for her.¡±

    ¡°Is she still upset over that tiny detail?¡± Eizea asked incredulously. Kara didn¡¯t answer.

    Was Goltwra one of the previous Primes? She shook her head violently, feeling her hair flip around her face. It doesn¡¯t matter right now. I¡¯m completely exhausted and almost died; I only woke up a few hours ago, I shouldn¡¯t feel this tired.

    Kara frowned, her vision shifting to her as Belesis arrived. ¡°Are you alright Lady Vandred? Powerful gamma-ray bursts like that can cause odd mutations in biological structures!¡± A sharp shiver ran down Helena¡¯s spine. I was in the path of a gamma-ray burst? How did Kara manage to redirect energy of that magnitude? How did Eizea contain it?

    Belesis¡¯ fingers wrapped around Helena¡¯s hand. She was silent as Belesis¡¯ concentrated; the pain in her muscles eased but didn¡¯t completely go away. She watched Belesis¡¯ demeanor sag with concern. She¡¯s completely exhausted. I¡¯ve been nothing, but an energy dump for her the past few days. There¡¯s no way I could have won this contest without both Kara and Belesis¡¯ support...

    ¡°There you have it, folks, Vix¡¯s the winner!¡± Fatchna yelled. Slowly, but gradually, the cheering began to increase in volume again.

    Helena didn¡¯t know why but felt like it was important to ask. ¡°Kara¡ªhow did everything not get pulled into that gravitational singularity? It was powerful enough to bend light.¡±

    Kara¡¯s eyes flickered to meet Eizea¡¯s incensed demeanor; she was still scowling at Cassandra. ¡°Eizea¡¯s likely very fatigued right now. She had to counter her own gravitational singularity with even stronger fields to not involve the audience. That¡¯s why she¡¯s so angry.¡± Helena fell silent, with stitches pricking into her side. How ¡­ how can I best these titans?

    Fatchna¡¯s brow lifted in surprise. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear that Kara, but Colin says the President wants a word.¡±

    Kara¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Directly?¡±

    ¡°Yup and he even wants your pup to come along.¡±

    Kara hummed lowly. ¡°Can you transport Belesis to my old room?¡±

    Fatchna shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ll have to deactivate that defensive shell you always have placed over your area, like before.¡±

    Kara nodded, and Helena felt a strange shift in her environment, stomach twisting with vertigo. She appeared on translucent ground, below her, she found the crowds of people and devastated arena. Some people were already leaving the area. I¡¯m in the President¡¯s Box.

    Lifting her eyes, she found two chairs both made of dark leather and placed in the middle of the room, its back facing their group. In the middle of the chairs sat a small table with a bottle and two glasses. To the side of the right chair was a black haired tall man. In the left chair sat the straight black hair of a tall woman. The man must be the Alpha, but why does Sevilla get a chair next to the President and the Alpha doesn¡¯t?

    The Alpha¡¯s hair was slicked back and dropped to the middle of his neck. It wasn¡¯t slick or shiny with any product. Is his ability holding down his hair?

    The Alpha wore a proper black suit that didn¡¯t reflect a single particle of lint. It fit his frame well, even if he wasn¡¯t that muscular. He stood a little less than two meters tall and held a stiff composure. Deep sunken blue eyes appraised them with a sullen expression. He had thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, small chin, receding forehead, and thin lips.

    The only part of the President that could be observed was his thick black hair and dark skinned neck. He¡¯s from the Palma Islands. The President began to speak from the chair, not turning. ¡°Welcome Primes and the young, but promising Vix.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the audience, President Tenzen.¡± Kara bowed.

    Helena noticed Cassandra lying in the right side of the room, where a couch had appeared. She could sense her heart pumping.

    Colin spoke from beside Brock, who still held an emotionless expression as he stood completely still, his blue eyes didn¡¯t hint at his inner thoughts. ¡°Yes, I sent all the thoughts of the fights to your personal Technopath. He¡¯s storing everything into digital form as we speak; I¡¯m slowly feeding him the information as his brain can¡¯t handle the full spectrum.¡±

    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll love going over today¡¯s proceedings.¡± He has Colin take everyone¡¯s memories of the fight and send them to an esper that can translate those thoughts into digital data? Just for future entertainment? That¡¯s a lot of work and for a high ranking esper to do?

    The President¡¯s voice was even as he said. ¡°Kara, I¡¯m very interested in your acolyte. That was an impressive show for her level of ability. She¡¯s versatile, thinks on her feet, and quite agile; you were right to take her under your wing, she¡¯ll make a fantastic addition to WITCH.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Helena¡¯s voice quivered, and she felt her saliva go dry in her throat.

    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve met your pupil, I¡¯ll have a private talk with my Primes. Fatchna, transport Ms. Vix to her chambers to sleep, she must be exhausted.¡± The moment Tenzen said the words, she felt the same strange sensation of vertigo and her room appeared around her.

    Helena trembled on the ground. I¡¯ve witnessed so much power today and almost died several times. Will this be what my life is like now, daily?

    ¡°Lady Vandred, are you alright?¡± Helena looked up in surprise to be smothered by a blur of green. Belesis swept her off the ground and placed her in bed. ¡°Nothing seems broken, and I¡¯ve already healed most your bruises.¡±

    Helena let go of a sharp breath and smiled, staring up at Belesis¡¯ worried lime green eyes. ¡°You¡¯re too good to me Belesis, and I don¡¯t understand it.¡±

    She stuttered nervously at her compliment. ¡°No¡ªnot at all! It¡¯s only natural to be worried about your¡ªcharges¡ªas you said. The moment you entered Kara¡¯s faction I became responsible for you, even if you continually require aid.¡± Belesis¡¯ face turned scarlet at her words.

    ¡°Thank you, Belesis ¡­ there¡¯s a limit to the amount of focus a superior should give to their charges, but ¡­ I can only feel gratitude. I should be angry and confused about your actions, but ¡­ I¡¯m not. You¡¯re the closest thing to a friend I¡¯ve ever had, even more than my brother. No one has ever been so concerned about my wellbeing.¡±

    Tears dripped from Belesis¡¯ eyes as she stared down at her. ¡°That¡¯s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.¡± She must have had a horrible childhood.

    Helena¡¯s eyes sank as her consciousness started to fade. Belesis must have given me something. Belesis¡¯ face blurred and a warm sensation filled her body as her mind washed into the background.

 B1 â€” 34. Purists

    Helena awoke as a familiar bioelectrical signal stood outside her door, Klen. Stretching, she brushed up against Belesis under the covers. She lifted the blanket; she now wore a thin long blue t-shirt and silky short-shorts while Belesis was wearing a bright green nightgown. The clothing was new, but Helena felt sweaty and dirty. I need a bath.

    Dropping the blanket, she studied Belesis. Her lips were curled into a sweet smile as she hummed and snuggled further into the covers. I shouldn¡¯t be okay with this ¡­ it goes against everything I¡¯ve ever been taught. I never allowed a servant to sleep with me ¡­ why does it feel so good and right? I¡¯m a slave now ¡­ it doesn¡¯t feel that way though.

    Lightly scooting against the backboard, she hugged her knees. Is she always this friendly with recruits? Even Kara seems out of place. She¡¯s bent over backward for me. Kara¡¯s pushy and expects a lot from me, but she¡¯s way too accommodating to a lowly recruit with much weaker power in an organization governed by it. Belesis is relatively new in Kara¡¯s faction, but shows enough potential to make it as a General; she just needs experience and time to acclimate I guess.

    Examining Klen outside, she chewed lightly on the inside of her cheek as he hovered at the door, pacing back and forth. He obviously wants to talk to Belesis or me. Bringing up her HCID, she found Klen¡¯s message address and sent a message, telling him to come inside.

    She waited several seconds before he tentatively opened the door. ¡°You awake, Helena?¡±

    Helena put on a polite smile as he entered, keeping her voice low. ¡°Yes, take one of the seats.¡±

    Klen scanned the room, eyes freezing on the exquisite chairs Eizea had left. ¡°Where did you get these? Is that gold?¡±

    Helena shrugged. ¡°Complements of Eizea.¡± A thought occurred to her. ¡°Where was Booker during the competition?¡±

    Mumbling under his breath, Klen took the gold enlaced blue chair and slowly dragging it across the floor to Helena¡¯s bedside, trying not to make much noise. ¡°Off on some simple mission that was nearby.¡± Sitting in the chair, he asked, ¡°Anyways, how are you doing?¡± His tone was only partially sincere.

    ¡°Fine, Belesis has been a lifesaver, literally. She¡¯s rescued me time and time again, the same with Kara. Honestly¡ªsince coming to WITCH, all I¡¯ve found out is how inept I really am.¡± Her vision hazed over as she looked back at the multitude of events that she¡¯d been saved from. I keep being reminded of my limitations. I owe so much to both of them.

    Her eyes shifted to Belesis, and she was shocked to find the beginnings of tears coming on. I don¡¯t cry from appreciation! It¡¯s not proper. Fighting down the feelings, she realized a mild sting in her heart and a tingling overtake her body. Her breath was difficult to draw and release. Is this really how gratitude feels? It doesn¡¯t feel bad...

    ¡°I understand. Belesis helped me out too, and I¡¯ve been with Kara more than a year longer than her. She has that ¡­ aura. She loves to help people, but I have noticed her giving you a lot of attention.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t respond but kept her vision centered on Belesis. Klen cleared his throat. ¡°You know. At first, I thought you were being given special treatment because you¡¯re a noble and have Kara¡¯s ability.¡±

    Breaking away from Belesis¡¯ face, Helena studied Klen. ¡°At first?¡±

    His eyes dropped, and he let out a long sigh while combing through his hair. ¡°Seeing you in that arena¡ªit really was amazing. I couldn¡¯t have taken those three together. That I know for sure.¡±

    Helena smiled. ¡°To be honest, it was a real challenge, and I was fortunate. I also dug my own grave, not realizing the purpose of those riddles. However, it did earn me accolades since I was able to come through it.¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ve made excellent use of Kara¡¯s teachings. Candidly, I¡¯m kind of nervous about facing you in the second matchup.¡±

    Helena¡¯s smile evened out. I see ... I¡¯ll be facing him in the next competition. I doubt it will be a deathmatch like this one, but I can¡¯t be sure... ¡°I¡¯m a bit nervous as well. After all, I don¡¯t know your ability or what you might be able to do with it. All I know is that you can cushion blows with some kind of crystalline substance.¡±

    Klen huffed. ¡°I guess you were paying attention when Belesis smacked me ¡­ I don¡¯t have an amazing ability. It could be developed into being incredibly versatile, but I¡¯m still fairly weak in it.¡±

    Helena breathed a heavy sigh. The conversation will turn sour if we continue along this path. I¡¯ll have to direct it another way. He seems fond of Kara. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, will you tell me how you met Kara and joined her Faction?¡±

    Klen sat back in the chair and seemed to recede into his past. ¡°Do you know anything about New Genesis?¡±

    Shifting to a more comfortable position against the headboard, Helena nodded. ¡°A bit, Booker described the basics to me.¡±

    Massaging his shoulders, Klen said, ¡°WITCH takes newborn children and sticks them in training programs ¡®till the age of eight; to stabilize their abilities and provide enough information to go through New Genesis life. After that, they throw them back into the streets and assign them specific tasks related to their ability. It¡¯s tough to accomplish your hours, especially since your tickets can be stolen.¡±

    She picked up one of several water bottle at the foot of her bed, likely left by Belesis. ¡°Does that happen often?¡±

    Klen sniffed, and a grimace creased his lips. ¡°Very often. Usually, if a child isn¡¯t strong enough, they need to join a group for protection, but that also comes with its disadvantages.¡± Helena listened while taking a sip at the room temperature liquid.

    ¡°The new members get a little extra food, shelter, and water; but must give up all their tickets. So they can¡¯t spend anything for themselves, and the group leader has power over their lives. New member can be kicked out at any time if they rub the senior members the wrong way. The longer you¡¯re with a group, the more perks you receive¡ªcustomarily. If you¡¯re friends with the leader or a primary protector, then you don¡¯t need to work at all¡ªassuming the district quota is met without them.¡±

    Two of Helena¡¯s fingers pressed against her lips for a moment. ¡°How powerful are these groups in comparison to the WITCH Factions stationed there?¡±

    Klen huffed. ¡°Truthfully, the Factions do little in New Genesis. They mainly just loiter around as a symbol and leave everything to the new recruits that are hired on. The Generals stationed there keep order over New Genesis by intimidating the District Bosses and have them deal out orders.¡±

    I see. So the Factions are there to keep these bosses in check, and to force them to handle their members to do their jobs. It¡¯s even more brilliant than I thought. As long as the fear factor keeps in check, the Factions need to do little, and all the work gets done. Perhaps an example is set every once and a while, a show of power to keep the fear fresh in their minds.

    ¡°The city has its own personal unit that deals with the little stuff, and the Factions are more of a fear factor that keeps overhead control?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°Yes, but the Factions have supremacy in any event; if an SOP member was put into an area, they have the full authority of their Faction ¡­ in word. I mean, you better be ready to back yourself up, but most people wouldn¡¯t want to risk repercussions. Soon you should be sent to New Genesis and meet up with Kara¡¯s General there; she¡¯ll have you working!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be under General Olivia?¡± Helena probed, recalling Booker¡¯s explanation.

    ¡°Yup, I was under her eyes for a year before joining Kara around her trips. Olivia¡¯s horrible! She¡¯ll place you in the worst parts of the city, beat you with a paddle, and scream insults that will make your ears bleed!¡± He whispered heatedly. ¡°Also ¡­ even if the City Guards are technically under you, they can be a pain to handle.¡±

    Curious, where does a Prime go with a lower member? ¡°Where does Kara go on these trips with new recruits?¡±

    Klen frowned as he leaned in a bit closer, taking a more comfortable position on the chair. ¡°Random tasks assigned to her by the President or stuff the Vice-President asks her to do.¡± She has a choice to coordinate with the Vice-President then. It seems she is only under the President and Alpha. What is his ability? They must be dangerous if she¡¯s sent out, but she still brings along weak members? I guess she is capable of defending and attacking.

    ¡°A lot of what Kara does personally is dealing with high-level creatures, Deity high ranks, and sometimes Tech expansions ¡­ with managing special assignments to the faction.¡±

    Helena bunched the blankets against Belesis and stretched out on the bed. ¡°Do you know the Alpha¡¯s ability?¡±

    Klen shook his head with an incredulous expression. ¡°How do you make stretching look elegant ¡­ nope, I don¡¯t know his ability. I doubt even Kara knows.¡± He points out every action I take ¡­ is it that odd? He¡¯s right though; Kara said that it was a fear factor, which means it¡¯s still unknown.

    She switched back to the previous topic. ¡°Are there many monsters left on Elestveeve?¡±

    Klen repositioned himself, starting to talk more fluently. ¡°Commonly, only weak ones that were kicked out of their territory and try to relocate here, starting a new hold. However, between the Deities, Tech, and us; monsters are relatively nonexistent on Elestveeve.¡±

    He started to sound more and more interested in their conversation as his speech speed increased. ¡°Occasionally, there are stronger monsters that enter our waters. I saw Kara kill an Otaphia, a creature with a body part bull and serpent. A hideous beast, but it¡¯s said that if you burn its entrails, you can kill gods.¡± Klen laughed softly. ¡°Such a superstitious belief!¡±

    ¡°Did she burn it?¡± Helena asked, starting to enjoy hearing about Kara¡¯s adventures, things she might have to do later in her progression.

    ¡°I guess. Kara disintegrated it after she finally got it out of the water. It took an hour.¡± Klen said as he revisited the memories. ¡°She pulled off some crazy moves over five kilometers of ocean.¡± She fought it in its territory?

    ¡°What else has Kara accomplished?¡± Helena asked, sitting up and leaning forward, against her knees.

    ¡°She disintegrated a coven of drovak one time, another she slew fifteen teska off the Veltu Reef. I also heard that she outwitted a molvak.¡± His voice lowered with anticipation. ¡°I caught a rumor once that she battled against Tycros, one of the most powerful Monsters we know of, a true titan. No one¡¯s quite clear what happened to him ¡­ since he¡¯s the size of a mountain. It¡¯s just said that she fought against him; Kara won¡¯t talk about it.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Helena threw her legs over the bed to face Klen. ¡°What about the Deity Faith?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªthe Deity Faith¡¯s military are collectively known as the Celestrian Unit and have three separate military branches; Rangers, Braverts, and Soul Links¡ªbut I expect you know all about that.¡±

    A smile lit Helena¡¯s lips. ¡°I don¡¯t. What are the differences between the three types?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Klen¡¯s eyes lifted with shock. ¡°Seriously, you don¡¯t even know about the Deities rankings, and you¡¯re a high-level noble?¡±

    Helena shrugged dismissively. ¡°My brother didn¡¯t consider the information useful when training me.¡± This is truly spectacular material, but some of it has to be exaggerated.

    ¡°Well¡ªif you don¡¯t know anything about the Deities then I should tell you the basics,¡± Klen muttered with a concentrated expression. ¡°Celestrians can manifest something they call the Spirit. We can¡¯t measure the energy, but we can see its white light. It can cut through almost any esper attack, no matter how strong. Anything having Focus added to it.¡±

    Her eyebrows knitted together thoughtfully. ¡°So, if I were to manipulate a natural lightning bolt, and strike a Celestian, he couldn¡¯t cut through it?¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Klen said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ve never been around when Kara fights a Celestian because the targets she¡¯s told to chase are high ranking members.¡± That¡¯s good to know. This Spirit can cut through Focus infused elements ¡­ but how?

    ¡°Rangers have these gloves that help them harness their Spirit and manifests it in a bow that shoots spirit arrows. Also, they can change their eyes to see more.¡±

    ¡°How so, and what do you mean by more?¡± Helena asked, trying to puzzle it out.

    Klen¡¯s lips pursed, and he looked down with a confused expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know; I just heard that their eyes change and they can see through walls, clothing, and other such things.¡±

    Helena cocked her head as she thought about the topic. ¡°Continue.¡± Is it like my reception, sensing specific fields and elements, or different?

    ¡°Braverts can enhance their physical ability and project cuts of Spirit with their sword, but they have to be physically attached to their sword to do so. I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re pretty physically strong though.¡± If I can get them away from their weapon, they¡¯re no more than strong humans. That doesn¡¯t seem that difficult; however, could they use any sword or object as a weapon ¡­ that would be valuable information.

    ¡°Soul Links can manifest their spirit in some kind of corporal form, like a beast.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°If you separate them from their creature then it would be easy to kill them, right?¡±

    Klen shrugged with a sigh. ¡°I guess. That¡¯s what training suggests.¡± Why would WITCH give him so little information on Celestians? Because he isn¡¯t ready to hunt them? Perhaps it¡¯s reserved for Captain rank and above.

    He shifted subjects with a broad smile. ¡°This one time I entered Tech with Kara, and that was intense. I don¡¯t know why we were there, but Kara had to blow up one of their city pillars to escape. They had some strange bio-machinery chase us that drains Focus!¡±

    Helena tilted her head in confusion. How did they even get in with Tech building their structures out of Espit? ¡°Isn¡¯t the city built with Espit? How did you guys survive so long in the middle of it?¡±

    Klen shrugged again. ¡°I know. I was told that too, but Kara said that it was a silly superstition and they only build important sections of their city with it; since it¡¯s so rare.¡± I see. That actually makes a lot of sense. They¡¯d need a massive hoard of the stuff to mix their entire city with it, and I¡¯ve never even heard of the stones until recently ¡­ of course, Drake was likely censoring the information.

    Continuing to tell his tales with Kara, Helena smiled. She watched his extravagant hand gestures for a few more minutes before saying. ¡°You really like her, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Klen jumped, and his heartbeat increased. ¡°What¡ªwhat are you talking about? Kara¡¯s amazing; she¡¯s a Prime. Everyone in the Faction loves her¡ªshe saved us!¡±

    Helena hummed with a bit of amusement. I¡¯ve only recently started realizing the signs, but I think it¡¯s a bit deeper than just admiration. Shifting the conversation, Helena asked. ¡°What about your time in New Genesis? You mentioned groups, were you a part of one?¡±

    Klen breathed a heavy sigh before answering. ¡°Yeah¡ªI joined a group called Talft. They were a ruthless gang that tried expanding into the Oltex territory. The objective was to steal their tickets, members, and kill their leader.¡±

    He was silent for a moment as he sat back, slumping against the chair. ¡°I had worked up in the group since the age of eight to thirteen and had a decent amount of credit, but that expansion was something we couldn¡¯t accomplish. Our leader had recently died, and the new one wanted more, his greed almost got everyone killed.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a lack of blood in Genesis streets. Women and men with strong abilities are prized for genetic breed candidates too; naturally, they end up in the strongest groups. Some of our members with strong abilities defected just before the assault. I would have died, but Izicx was passing by that area. In no time at all, he quelled the fighting, killing several members on both sides, including my new leader.¡±

    Helena stretched her back out. ¡°Is Izicx a part of the Purists?¡±

    An exasperated tone escaped Klen¡¯s lips. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Kara given you her little notebook on each group member?¡± Notebook? She sent me an email, not a notebook. She did give me the personnel list of her members though.

    ¡°She gave me the information, but she said I didn¡¯t need to go over it just yet.¡±

    ¡°You really should learn to multitask!¡± Klen said with a huff. ¡°It¡¯ll save you time.¡±

    Helena huffed at his tone but knew that she¡¯d been putting it off. It¡¯s true. I don¡¯t know why I didn¡¯t read through it while jogging. Maybe because it all would sink in ¡­ showing a specific Faction I¡¯m a part of now, the Purists, and that WITCH owns me...

    Licking his lips, Klen continued. ¡°Izicx is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Purists, and he¡¯s¡­a Crystallokinetic. He can create, control, and otherwise manipulate crystalline materials.¡±

    Curiosity took hold of Helena. ¡°Why did he take an interest in you?¡±

    Klen hesitated. ¡°Because¡ªhe and I have similar abilities, I can become a Crystallokinetic. Right now I¡¯m just considered a Chionokinetic.¡±

    Helena¡¯s brows furrowed and she folded her arms. ¡°Why would you tell me that if we¡¯ll be competing against one another?¡± Chionokinetic ¡­ he can slow kinetic motion. It is a very powerful ability at higher levels.

    Rubbing the back of his neck, Klen said. ¡°Because, I¡¯m going to have to tell you during the competition anyways, and this makes things a bit more even between us. I know your ability, and you know mine.¡±

    Resting her head against her left fist, Helena asked. ¡°If Izicx is a Crystallokinetic, why are you training with Booker?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because¡ªBooker¡¯s an Echokinetic, which is a counter to my ability. With sound vibrations, he can shatter my ice.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Helena whispered thoughtfully. ¡°Continue with your story.¡± So Booker can manipulate sound, interesting.

    ¡°He brought me into WITCH, and I had to do six months of training with Olivia. Then I had to keep the peace in New Genesis if you¡¯d call it that. All we do is make sure people get their work done and allow them to do pretty much anything else¡ªbesides leave.¡±

    A warmth lit Klen¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Six months of that, and Kara picked me up to travel with her. It¡¯s something she likes to do with new recruits. The first part of our journey, I was with another follower, Wintry is her handle. She taught me a few cool tricks since she¡¯s also a Chionokinetic.¡±

    Kara¡¯s group must be bigger than I initially thought. She seems to mainly operate in the Southern Base and New Genesis, but the Southern is new, so that isn¡¯t a big surprise. The time scale also puts Klen around the age of fifteen. He¡¯s been a part of WITCH for two years. It also shows that I¡¯ve been given a considerable leap in events.

    ¡°Are there usually kids my age in the SOP squads?¡± Helena asked, interested in Klen¡¯s response in comparison to Booker¡¯s.

    Klen chuckled lowly to not wake Belesis. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s quite rare. Kara started at nine, and that¡¯s still very young. There are a lot of rumors surrounding her, but the timing is fairly solid.¡±

    A beep from Klen¡¯s HCID stole his attention. ¡°Oh¡ªI¡¯ve spent too much time here. Booker¡¯s back and waiting for me. Have to keep up training!¡± He cringed as Belesis mumbled a few unintelligible words.

    When she just nestled further into the blankets, he sighed with relief. He hopped off the chair, and Helena felt a warmer presence from him. Is he starting to accept me?

    Quietly he whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll see you at the second competition, it should be interesting. Oh¡ªand read over Kara¡¯s notes. She has an important person¡¯s section that you can glance over if you want, but you need to get caught up.¡± He dashed out of the room, the door sliding open at his request and automatically shut as he left.

    Getting off the bed, Helena made her way over to the desk. Extending an electromagnetic field, she moved the silver enlaced chair to the table. Hopping onto it, she pulled out the brush and combed out her hair. She hesitated for a moment as her eyes caught the red glint of her bracelet inside the drawer. Shoving it out of her mind, she continued brushing.

    Finishing, she left it on the counter and brought up her HCID. Pulling up the email program, she opened Kara¡¯s personnel email and activated the program inside. A new window opened and showed a list of options¡ªImportant Personnel; Non-Important Personnel; Lazy People; Annoying People; Full Purist Database.

    Initiating the Important Personnel icon, she examined the reaction. A two-dimensional window popped up with several names. Olivia; Regima; Hulmix; Belesis. Helena¡¯s brows knitted together. This must be Purists¡¯ Generals. Triggering Olivia, she watched a three-dimensional image of the woman appear.

    She had a wrinkled face and a faded scar running from the side of her nose to her right cheek. She was tall and muscular; she had narrow blue eyes, a crooked nose, cleft chin, thin lips, and sullen cheeks. She wore coarse dark material that framed her muscular frame. The information on the side read.

    This wrinkled wolf will eat you alive! O.o

    One time, she actually spanked me, ME!!! I¡¯m a PRIME AND HER LEADER!!!

    *Ahem*

    She¡¯s a powerful Telekinetic that wields a wooden spatula like a Bravert broadsword! She runs Purist operations in New Genesis and the highest ranking General in my Faction, only under me.

    Don¡¯t expect to be eased into the experience! She¡¯ll throw you to a werewolf if she thinks it¡¯ll toughen you up (a famous quote she loves to say ¡°There¡¯s always another esper if you can¡¯t cut it.¡± ¡­ yeah). Olivia is my Purist trainer, and EVERYONE has to go through her (eventually).

    Selecting Regima, she watched the three-dimensional image change to a man in his thirties. Regima was squat and plump. He had a round face, balding blonde hair, dull green eyes, a squat nose, ample chin, thin lips that showed a crooked smile, no facial hair, and pudgy cheeks. He wore a slick blue suit with golden buttons, a white undershirt, red bowtie, and dark brown hard sole shoes.

    This pudgy little man is the third most powerful Telepath in WITCH, and the second highest ranking General (he¡¯s pretty impressive). He has a habit of snooping, but it has turned out in my favor more times than I care to count. He¡¯s in command at the Middle Western branch (quite small, but I like people everywhere).

    Not much to say about him ¡­ he¡¯s a bit odd and can be annoying (never stops talking! Blah, blah, blah¡ªI DON¡¯T CARE!!!).

    Next, she activated Hulmix. A tall, muscular man in his mid-twenties appeared. He had fuzzy black hair that dropped to his lower neck and left his forehead bare, dark green eyes, flat top lips, sharp nose, firm chin, high cheekbones, and a black goatee. He wore a casual white v-shirt, showing his dark skin, woven tan sandals, and white course shorts.

    This man is from Palma (as you can tell), and my third highest ranking General. Lately, we¡¯ve discovered that Palma has fairly strong esper genetics (but few espers ¡­ funny, right?).

    Hulmix is very interesting, a Thermokinetic, and he¡¯s the governor of the Sothern Region. You might be able to meet him in the upcoming years (he may look serious, but he¡¯s a jokester!).

    The South is in an uproar right now, so there may be a chance for you to check it out ¡­ a little (it¡¯ll be going on for a few years ¡­ trust me).

    That¡¯s about all you need to know about¡ªwait!! Just to clarify (and I don¡¯t want to rewrite anything ¡­ even if it is only a few calculations with our ability ¡­ I¡¯m lazy like that ¡­ no I¡¯m FANTABLUOUS!). These ¡°important people¡± are all Generals in my faction. Blah, blah, blah, ask someone about the ranking system.

    A smile curved Helena¡¯s lips. Kara always does seem rushed and is fantabulous even a word? A blip popped up in the corner, showing a new message had arrived in her inbox. I¡¯ll open it after viewing Belesis¡¯ file.

    Switching profiles, she examined the information. Belesis looked as usual, but her eyes had changed from vivid green to a dimmer version of the same color, and her hair had turned golden blonde. She had near the same eye color as me before? Did she like the brighter version better and did she not like her blonde hair?

    Her clothing had changed into a plain white t-shirt, white shoes, and blue pants. Very basic to what I¡¯m used to her wearing. Switching her attention to the information, she read.

    Belesis the Insolent ¡­ that¡¯s what I call her by. YES, SHE IS INSOLENT!! She shows me so little respect T_T even after I rescued her from such a cruel fate! Alas, we can¡¯t wish for everything. This veiled beast is a Biokinetic and quite vicious with her offensive tactics (yet has a bizarre kind side, I think she likes having a family =]).

    She talks in strange polar opposite ways. If she says anything positive, she must say something negative right after and vice versa. Though ¡­ there have been some occasions that she doesn¡¯t? I don¡¯t really understand it ¡­ which is VEXING!!

    I think you¡¯ll get along well with her and maybe you can teach her to be a little more ¡­ proper (she¡¯s soooo rude!!! At least to me¡­ T_T). Well ¡­ these are your Faction Generals! I hope you can teach Belesis ¡­ just a little.

    Helena closed the image and looked up at the woman in her bed. She seems too polite and kind. Has something changed or is her ire specifically directed at Kara? Reverting back to the emails, she found the new message in her inbox read: Second Contest Information.

 B1 â€” 35. Kidnapped

    Opening the message, she read:

    Greetings, Participant! Your next challenge will be in the same training room tomorrow at three P.M. Rest up and be ready to fight!

    Helena hummed thoughtfully. A relatively short and undefined message. Then it¡¯ll be another surprise game like today. Will they be able to fix all that damage in such a short amount of time? The clock showed six-thirteen in the A.M. My internal clock is in shambles. I¡¯m still reasonably dirty from the last contest, and I¡¯m feeling a little drained by sleeping too long.

    Looking at the bed, she frowned. Will some maids clean up the sheets or will I need to do that myself? I have no idea how to wash things. I¡¯ll wait ¡®till Belesis wakes and ask her ¡­ no, I can¡¯t. She¡¯ll only insist on washing it herself, which is something a high superior should not do. On my way to the bathing house, I¡¯ll ask a worker.

    Lifting herself from the chair, she opened the closet and picked out a change of clothes. She still felt a little sluggish. Unclipping a black one-shoulder blouse, white pleated shorts, and white ballet flats, she carried her clothing with her while exiting the room.

    The first person she came across was a man. Stopping him, she asked about the sheets. ¡°The cleaning crew typically stays clear of Kara¡¯s room, but I can ask them to add it to their schedule.¡±

    Helena smiled up at the man. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°No problem. Have a nice morning, Vix. That was an amazing match, and the aftershow with the Primes was awestriking!¡± She watched him walk down the hall with a slight frown. I guess my name did get out with the competition.

    Continuing to the spa, she set her clothing in the changing area and took off her dirty attire. Throwing them in the hamper, she went to the restroom before washing herself. How do they know it¡¯s my clothes? Perhaps there¡¯s a list of particular clothes with each person listed to own them? Do I need to go to the clothing area and pick out new clothes once the ones in my closet all run out? There are so many unknowns...

    Finishing, she put on her new apparel and exited the room. I need to work on controlling my fields when shifting to new material. The most secluded area is probably the garden. I can use the walls and ceiling to practice; it should be big enough to escape attention. She heard a beep at her wrist and found another message. Opening it, she read:

    Kelloo, Vixy!! I won¡¯t be in base for the next few hours (important Prime stuff ¡­ quite dull). Belesis should be out sound in your bed (does she snore ? O.o I bet she does!). Klen¡¯s off training with Booker ¡­ so, they¡¯ll be off for a while ¡­ keep your HCID on you this time!

    I¡¯ll be back before the second stage, so hang tight AND PRACTICE THOSE ELECTRIC SHOCKS!!! The hesitation almost got you killed today!! See you in a bit. You better not hesitate in the second round!

    Helena¡¯s mouth turned into a grimace. She didn¡¯t give me any advice on how to overcome the fear, other than keep training. I suppose she really doesn¡¯t have a clue on how to subdue it.

    Passing through the garden doors, she found the room dimly lit with purple lights and the stars shone down with their brilliant splendor, shadows lining the ceiling. Looking around, she didn¡¯t see a single person. Walking over to the wall, she ran her hand over the surface. Smooth and the concrete has iron bars inside with thick steel support beams running up the dome¡¯s walls and ceiling.

    Applying her field, she began walking up a steel beam toward the top of the ceiling. Reaching it, she hung from the top of the dome and examined the jungle below. Her blood started rushing to her head, so she moved to the beam¡¯s side and sat against it, keeping herself attached. I bet Kara knows some trick to keep the blood from running to her head...

    The faint light illuminated the top of the trees, giving the jungle an eerie sheen as the leaves reflected the purple glow. The center building extended further back than she¡¯d thought and gleamed brightly with a yellow radiance. Her eyes traced the running pathway that was lit by faint lamps along its side. They put a lot of work into this room. Though, I guess they do need some place to pick up their servant¡¯s spirits.

    Further investigating the roof, she took a deep breath. Bracing herself, she leaped across the bars, aiming for the switches between steel and iron. It was difficult and dangerous, but she quickly got the hang of it. Stopping, she felt a shiver crawl over her skin. Now I need to work on my discharges. I need to find a clear spot to practice. Studying the area, she found a rocky space that expelled water into the jungle.

    Moving above the area, she halted over the closest route and dropped to the ground. Cushioning her fall with an electromagnetic tether, she made her way to the spot. Calculating the right direction with her internal compass, she found her way without difficulty.

    She quickly climbed up the rocks and sat down at the top. I need to overcome this phobia ¡­ but how? I could control Braxton¡¯s lightning without difficulty and even Kara¡¯s, but I have a hard time generating it myself.

    Sparks danced around her fingers as she studied the energy. Slowly, she began to increase the volts and amps. With every upsurge, her breath became harder to control, and her hand shook. Energy started to spark around her arms and run down her fingers. It wasn¡¯t difficult to control, but impossible to escalate. It¡¯s like I¡¯ve capped out my Focus Force; but from what I¡¯ve seen, my Force is vastly greater than this. Her entire body shook now, but she managed to keep control over the electricity as it crackled against the air.

    Releasing the energy, she took a deep shuttering breath, calming her nerves. I need to break past this barrier with drive, but that¡¯s what I¡¯m lacking. It¡¯s mentally tied to my confidence. If I doubt my Control then subliminally it will affect my conscious thought ¡­ just as Kara said.

    Bringing up the calculations, she sent a string of energy flying toward the water, but the electricity was absorbed by air resistance long before reaching the desired target. That was pathetic. Staring down at her palm, she tried contemplating different means to overpower her inability but continued to draw a blank. I¡¯ve never had this problem before. I¡¯ve always been confident in my ability to produce electricity.

    ¡°Having trouble with particle emission, Pup?¡± Helena¡¯s eyes widened. How did I not notice him? Looking back, she made out the faint outline of a man five and a half meters away. Just outside her sensory radius. How does he know my limit? Pup¡¯s a term the Prime Fatchna used...

    Politely, Helena said, ¡°Welcome, Fatchna. Can I help you with anything?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡ªI imagine so. The little Pup with developing fangs. I think you¡¯ll make perfect bait.¡±

    Helena lifted to her feet and walked a meter closer. It is Fatchna¡¯s bioelectrical signature; there¡¯s no way I can handle him. If I¡¯m supposed to be bait, then it has to be Kara. No one else would give him trouble. I¡¯ll need to buy time to get a message out. ¡°Bait, what will you be targeting?¡± Manipulating the processors in the HCID, she disabled the display and sent out a message to Kara, Belesis, Klen, and Booker¡¯s inboxes.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Fatchna walked closer, a smile on his face. ¡°Fantastic, I presume you¡¯re done?¡± What! He wanted me to send out a distress call ¡­ of course, what good is bait if there isn¡¯t a lure! That information¡¯s important, I...

    Helena brought her hand up in disbelief as the electrons shifted around her wrist and the cores broke connection with her ability. Looking up, she found the device hanging from Fatchna¡¯s open fingers. ¡°Oh, no. We can¡¯t have you warning Kara and the others about that important bit of evidence. What good is bait if the target knows there are jaws of steel underneath it? Of course, Kara will know it¡¯s me, but I expect her to understand. The others you likely messaged though, that is the entertainment.¡±

    ¡°What do...¡± Helena¡¯s stomach twisted, and vertigo flooded her spatial perception, her surroundings altering. She could feel a strange shift in electron distribution around her. She was now in a glassy structure, showing a forest and moss-covered chairs sitting around her. Fatchna was sitting in a soft dark green wing shaped chair. ¡°Sit, Pup. We¡¯re waiting for everything to come to flourish.¡±

    Helena warily took a matching seat three meters across from him. ¡°Baiting Kara is a bit out of taste since she¡¯s off on a mission.¡±

    Fatchna chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t think I know that? However, with that message, she¡¯ll be back within the hour, and the Northern Bases¡¯ Purist members will arrive here in less than thirty minutes.¡±

    Folding her arms, Helena studied Fatchna¡¯s calm demeanor. ¡°How will they know where to look, now that they¡¯ve been directed to a false location?¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s smile didn¡¯t shift. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Your little device here will lead your rescue here, right on time. They¡¯ll have to talk with Kara to gain the exact location, and then they¡¯ll be storming up here. Kara knows I wouldn¡¯t dream of sullying my hands with anything lower than a Prime.¡± Up here?

    Sitting straight in the chair, Helena narrowed her eyes. ¡°What do you intend to achieve from this little exchange. With your ability, I doubt you¡¯ll be in any real danger, since you can escape at any time, and you are a Prime. It wouldn¡¯t be a match to fight even Belesis, as you said, you wouldn¡¯t sully your hands.¡±

    Fatchna laughed and leaned closer. ¡°You seem to have a wrong opinion on what will happen, Pup. Phantasm¡¯s been working on this little plan for years, and I won¡¯t be fighting your friends, Phantasm¡¯s Colonel will. I only have a score to settle with Kara, and Phantasm understands that¡ªat least to an extent.¡±

    Glancing outside, Helena studied the scenery. ¡°Will a battle between two Primes be permitted with the President in the building?¡±

    Fatchna replied with a hearty chuckle. ¡°Who says we are in the Northern Base?¡±

    Helena probed for more information. ¡°Then there are other Botanical Gardens in the North?¡± Studying the Earth¡¯s natural magnetic field anomalies, she found he was right. They weren¡¯t near the Northern Base; they were way further north. She guessed they were near the edge of Elestveeve¡¯s northeastern tip.

    Fatchna smirked and rested his fist against his cheek. ¡°Yes, a private one, Brock¡¯s to be precise.¡± The Green Prime, he created this as an Agrokinetic?

    ¡°I see¡ªwill he appreciate your disturbance?¡± Helena slowly stated. ¡°I¡¯m sure there would be damage between you and Kara.¡±

    Fatchna shrugged. ¡°Who knows, Brock usually doesn¡¯t mind people coming here, and I really don¡¯t care.¡±

    A wooden door in the sidewall opened, and a woman entered. She was small and thin; she looked to be in her forties. Stringy blonde hair, an expressionless face, green eyes, downward turned lips, and an oval face; she spread herself across a sofa, studying Helena. She wore a white thermal suit. ¡°Fatchna, a Hoverfly was dispatched under Belesis¡¯ orders.¡±

    He looked delighted. ¡°Brilliant response time, right on schedule. I wonder if she¡¯ll forget to change. I know she was sleeping only a moment ago ¡­ as I woke her.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re following Phantasm¡¯s orders?¡± Helena asked trying to gain a better grasp of the situation.

    Fatchna shook his head with a grin. ¡°Why would any Prime follow that sniveling loser? I¡¯m simply here, because he¡¯s making a move, and asked if I was interested, which, of course, I am.¡±

    At his words, she saw the woman stiffen but said nothing. Phantasm¡¯s members don¡¯t like people making fun him, but there¡¯s nothing she can do against a Prime.

    Helena sat back in the chair; she tried loosening up. ¡°Everyone seems to have some kind of grudge against Kara. Is there any particular reason for that?¡±

    Fatchna hummed lowly. ¡°Kara doesn¡¯t speak to many people, and to those she does, it¡¯s usually for command purposes. Also, I wouldn¡¯t call it a grudge, but more of a ¡­ fascination. I assume she hasn¡¯t told you anything about her past.¡±

    Helena shook her head. Drake said it¡¯s best to keep your captor preoccupied with offhand topics, and if I can get information about a subject, all the better. A bitter sensation coated her tongue at the thought of her brother.

    ¡°You may have realized this, but Kara has a special¡ªtemper about specific issues, which is relevant to so many matters it can be downright confusing. There were witches involved and a great many other factors. You see¡ªshe didn¡¯t just kill the Purple Prime, but aided in the deaths of the previous Orange, Yellow, and even a small portion to do with the previous Blue Prime¡¯s demise.¡±

    Helena felt her blood go cold. She aided in the deaths of three Primes, while also personally killing the Purple. There has to be a lot of story behind that. ¡°Aided, but didn¡¯t actually kill them, and that¡¯s why Phantasm, Eizea, Colin, and you are currently in power?¡±

    A glowing smile broke across Fatchna¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Yes. She is the only Prime to date to not only survive, but win a fight between three Primes, and even intimidate a fourth to not take action, that being Cassandra. Of course, Cassy was still a fairly young Prime then.¡±

    Tingling sensation ran through her body. No way, no wonder Cassandra acted the way she did, and from Colin¡¯s words, it even ran deeper. ¡°Yet, you want to fight her after knowing all this?¡±

    Exhilaration broke into Fatchna¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh¡ªwith all my heart, but fear dampened my anticipation.¡±

    Helena felt pressure welling up in her chest. ¡°Something changed your mind, and spurred on this action?¡±

    He licked his lips. ¡°Most definitely, and that was your performance.¡±

    ¡°Why would that break past your fear of Kara?¡± Helena asked.

    ¡°Because, it was like watching Kara accel through WITCH all over again, it was inspiring!¡± Fatchna exclaimed.

    Helena gulped. He¡¯s mad, why attack someone for such a purpose, but maybe it¡¯s actually deeper. Perhaps he wants to see if he has what it takes to be considered a true Prime.

    ¡°That show with Cassandra also urged my eagerness. Kara tries so hard not to show any of her more advanced techniques, and that¡¯s what makes me so¡ªnervous. You see¡ªI wasn¡¯t there at Kara¡¯s grand debut fight. The only people still alive who witnessed that cataclysmic event are Eizea, Brock, and Cassandra; and they¡¯re as tight-lipped as it gets to that moment.¡±

    ¡°You mentioned that Cassandra was too intimidated to enter the battle, but Brock was there too, right? Why didn¡¯t he join if it got so out of hand?¡±

    Fatchna shook his head with a chuckle. ¡°Brock isn¡¯t the type that gets involved in other¡¯s problems, usually. He was simply there to intervene if it got¡ªtoo out of hand, which in fact is odd that he didn¡¯t. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say he was even in awe at her performance, since the southern gulf was created from that fight. Just about twenty thousand square kilometers of the earth devastated and turned into sea ¡­ the effects of the fight spanned the world for months. It must have been glorious!¡±

    Helena had never heard or seen pictures of the south, but an entire land mass was devastated by Kara¡¯s battle. It was hard for her to imagine such a clash, but she did recall hearing there was a massive weather phenomenon that happened several years back.

    ¡°It¡¯s considered a true wonder as it should be, and I want to experience that, but in even more invigorating imagery. I want to be on the receiving end, but first I need a reason for her to take this fight seriously, which Phantasm¡¯s plan will accomplish!¡± He is insane. If he wants an adrenaline rush, take a Biokinetic into your group; don¡¯t provoke Kara knowing what she can do!

    The silence stretched for more than twenty minutes before the woman broke it in the same emotionless voice. ¡°Fatchna, they should be arriving soon.¡±

    ¡°We should go and greet our guests then.¡± At the end of his sentence, the room changed and Helena was now sitting on a rock. She felt the discomfort against her butt moments later and again noticed the electron shift. It must have something to do with his teleportation process; it just took a few times to recognize it.

    Around her was a clearing with spots of large rock formations and behind her was a huge, sheer cliff face. Above the valley shone a dome that seemed to be made from the same material as the arena cover, but had to be different. It stretched more than two kilometers into the sky. The atmosphere was warm and filled with greenery. Brock made this? It¡¯s amazing.

    A glint gleamed in the sky as a hovering vehicle quickly moved above the jungle toward them. A few minutes later, it landed twenty meters away, and three people jumped out. Belesis, Booker, and Klen stood outside the machine with wary complexions as they studied Fatchna and the woman. What will they do? Will this escalate into a fight?

 B1 â€” 36. Colors Mix

    Belesis, Booker, and Klen were twenty meters away from Helena. Fatchna was three meters behind her and Phantasm¡¯s member stood eight meters to his left. Helena sucked in her lower lip as she saw Belesis still in her nightgown. She rushed straight here...

    A light warm breeze gusted across the clearing, fluttering each blade of grass to the north, along the cliff edge; the large trees surrounding the clearing weaved gently back and forth, leaving the faint sound of rustling leaves. The dome seemed to magnify the very faint light of the sunrise as it started glowing over the edges of the horizon and the stars shown in radiant gleams of twinkling splendor. A blue haze was evident over the forest that Helena hadn¡¯t seen before and a pine smell coated her nostrils.

    Belesis seemed calm as she addressed the Yellow Prime. ¡°Is there a reason behind your action, Fatchna?¡±

    The green chair appeared behind Fatchna, and he took the seat. ¡°I have no intentions of giving you a reason. I¡¯m just going to enjoy a show between Hawthorn and you.¡± Helena¡¯s vision moved to the blonde haired woman. Her name must be Hawthorn. She¡¯s a Colonel; can she really take a General?

    ¡°Then you are declaring war with the Purists?¡± Klen asked, standing ready to dart in any direction.

    Fatchna laughed. ¡°No, silly boy. What fun would it be to destroy an entire Faction that couldn¡¯t lay a finger on me? I¡¯m not here to fight you, weaklings. I¡¯m merely killing time before Kara arrives and coordinating with a deal made with Phantasm.¡± He doesn¡¯t have any problem selling Phantasm out, talking poorly of his methods, but still willing to work with him, despite his earlier statement. He¡¯s certainly strange.

    Klen stiffened and started to shift uncomfortably. ¡°Phantasm...¡±

    Belesis¡¯ hand passed in front of Klen, signaling him to stop. ¡°No harm will come to Lady Vandred?¡± She¡¯s calling me Lady again, just when I thought I was getting her away from the habit ¡­ but this isn¡¯t the time for these kinds of thoughts. I need to figure a way out of this. There¡¯s just ¡­ no possible way to escape Fatchna¡¯s teleportation. Is waiting for Kara all we can do? That¡¯s pathetic ¡­ I¡¯m so pathetic, being a noble, power was natural, but in this world ¡­ none of the rules apply.

    Fatchna hummed thoughtfully. ¡°I hadn¡¯t planned on it, but it may be a necessity. It would be best if you had an incentive to take this fight seriously. What to do?¡± The silence stretched for several seconds before he smirked. ¡°I know! For every cut Hawthorn gives you, an exact gash will appear on Kara¡¯s pup. Be it a torn limb or a small scrape. Interesting, isn¡¯t it? Even if you cannot die from such simple wounds, she¡¯ll perish very quickly due to blood loss.¡±

    Klen¡¯s teeth ground as Fatchna spoke his terms and shouted. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Booker¡¯s hand rested on Klen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t fret about the little lass. Belesis won¡¯t let a hair on her head be taken.¡± Klen¡¯s brows knitted together in confusion, but he nodded.

    Booker seemed right. Belesis had a concentrated expression on her delicate face as a resolve burned in her reflected eyes. She kicked off her shoes and flexed her bare feet against the grass as Booker and Klen moved to the forest edge. Why are they so adamant about saving me? I just barely entered their Faction ¡­ I don¡¯t understand!

    Fatchna clapped his hands together with excitement. ¡°Superb. Now, this isn¡¯t like the President¡¯s competitions, you¡¯ll have to figure out what Hawthorn¡¯s ability is, but obviously, she does know you¡¯re a Biokinetic. Every General is famous, after all. Begin!¡± Both Booker and Klen vanished as Fatchna transported them ten meters away from the machine.

    Belesis leaped off the ground and onto the Hoverfly as the ground erupted, revealing tendrils of roots grasping for her feet. She seized the edge of the Hoverfly¡¯s hood and swung inside, her green nightgown blowing up to her waist, showing black spankies. The sound of pressured metal resounded around the clearing as dents appeared in the machine. What¡¯s going on? Why isn¡¯t she going after the main body and what¡¯s attacking her?

    Glancing over at Hawthorn, she found her not moving in the least, and her hair seemed to be flowing in a strange manner with the breeze. It was stringier than before and slightly more bunched together. It¡¯s a duplicate. That isn¡¯t Hawthorn; it¡¯s some kind of plant replica. How didn¡¯t I notice her disappear? Does she have a similar ability as Brock?

    The cacophony of solid objects striking metal pricked her ears, a dull, hollow sound. The thumps began to pick up, and Helena noticed darting blurs exiting the surrounding woods. What¡¯s she projecting? Is she in the forest?

    Roots expelled out of the ground and began wrapping around the Hoverfly, crushing its frame as they constricted. The rhizomes were growing sharp barbs, two centimeters thick and five in length.

    Belesis kicked out the Hoverfly¡¯s side paneling, the metal bouncing across the clearing and she darted out. As she passed a rhizome, she spat on it. She now wore a black elastic restraint around her waist, preventing her gown from blowing past her hips. The roots quivered and bulged around the machine, causing a sharp screech. All of the spikes shot out of the rhizomes, piercing the metal plating of the Hoverfly and flying toward Belesis.

    Belesis grabbed the metal plating she¡¯d kicked out and leaped back, using it as a shield. The barbs stuck into the steel but didn¡¯t penetrate due to the lack of momentum. She skidded to a stop, her gown billowing around her legs; she tore off part of the fabric, up to her thighs. Letting the scrap carry off with the wind, she spat on the ground.

    None of the spikes touched Helena. As they neared, they simply vanished. Fatchna¡¯s protecting me against any of the attacks. She watched dark brownish liquid ooze out of the roots, and the pungent sweet odder of sap filled the clearing. Hawthorn¡¯s manipulating tree roots into pressurizing the pine sap, creating a gun to propel the spikes.

    Amusedly watching Belesis dart around the clearing, Fatchna said. ¡°As you have guessed, Hawthorn is a Ligneokinetic, wood manipulation.¡± He maneuvered us into an area that¡¯s surrounded by trees, giving Hawthorn the upper hand since Belesis is a close-range fighter. She¡¯s at a complete disadvantage.

    Belesis jumped to the cliff, flying fifteen meters into the air, she slammed against its rough face, her fingers digging into the stone. Just as she left the ground, roots expelled from the earth, overgrown rhizome hairs grasping the air.

    As they appeared, an explosion broke across the soil, leaving a high-pitched resonance hanging in the air. Dirt ejected in all directions as dark smoke lifted into the air. Helena covered her ears too late, the ringing still echoing in her head. She created some kind of explosive in a liquid form, then spit it where the roots would exit, causing friction? Is it Nitroglycerin? It¡¯s reactive enough to be.

    Another sharp explosion sounded at the Hoverfly. The root had been blown apart, and black scorch marks shown all over the metal through the smoke¡¯s exit. Helena watched in shock as a light appeared on the roots near the Hoverfly. It¡¯s on fire. Sparks started dancing around the resin as it flared and a strong burning smell started to carry across the breeze. The roots quickly pulled back into the ground, smothering the flames.

    She can¡¯t win like this; Nitroglycerin is too reactive to act as a timed trap. Is she buying time? Belesis¡¯ eyes scanned the ground for a second before she released her grip on the wall, sliding down its surface.

    Roots expelled below her, breaking apart a portion of the rock base. Belesis kicked off the side when she found purchase, flying over the ground. Twisting once and flipping, she slid across the ground. Jumping up again, she landed on a small boulder that jutted out of the ground. Her fist struck the rock¡¯s surface, and a portion of it broke into three pieces. Grabbing a chunk the size of a man, she lifted it over her head and threw it in the direction of Hawthorn¡¯s dummy. Picking up a jagged piece of shattered rock from the ground, she raced toward the tumbling rock. Darting to the left as root hairs broke through the soil, trying to grab her.

    The chunk struck the wood creation and smashed through it, landing on the ground, it slid. Causing clumps of dirt to expel around it and expose a hole. Of course, she was trying to find Hawthorn¡¯s access point, and she¡¯s feeling the vibrations in the ground with her bare feet. She is a Biokinetic; she has enhanced senses.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Rhizomes started to link the opening together, but Belesis arrived too quickly and dropped down the cavity. The roots closed over the entrance, sealing off escape. Helena¡¯s breath was held as she studied the grass. She ran right into Hawthorn¡¯s environment. Does she have a plan?

    Helena winced, feeling a sting at her cheek and left calf. Skimming her fingers over the spot on her face, she found a trickle of blood clinging to her finger. She glanced at Fatchna. He¡¯s keeping true to his word, but how does he know what happens to Belesis underground? Can he perceive everything within a specific range? I have no clue how his ability works...

    Fatchna had a wide smile evident as he studied the soil in the center of the two groups. Klen had a pale face with tension in his posture. Booker was calm and collected, but his eyes were closed. He¡¯d removed his shoes and held his toes still against the grass. Is he following the battle through the vibrations in the ground? Echolocation?

    Fatchna¡¯s enthralled voice spoke in quick syllables. ¡°Belesis is good. I¡¯m thrilled that she¡¯s doing this well against a Colonel in her key environment.¡± There¡¯s no way I could fight Hawthorn, but even at a severe disadvantage, Belesis is still holding her own.

    The ground exploded in a fountain of dirt as roots surfaced and two figures shot through the shower. Hawthorn was surrounded by dark hardwood roots, each having a multitude of razor-sharp barbs. However, three roots were concaved. How is Belesis on the offensive? She¡¯s pushed Hawthorn out of her hiding place and damaged her defensive shell. All Belesis needs is a single touch, and it¡¯s over. A smile lit Helena¡¯s lips. Why was I worried in the first place, Belesis is a General ¡­ in a structure of power, she far outranks Hawthorn.

    A taproot sprung out of the ground slick with sap. Hawthorn landed on it and slid across its surface as it moved toward the forest. Belesis rushed to the rock she¡¯d split earlier and hurled the largest piece at the roots carrying Hawthorn. Jumping after it, she followed the slab. The rock sailed through the air; its jagged end landed on the roots. Belesis came down on the stone with crushing force. The taproot cracked with a section of the boulder, and the root snapped as the weight cut it, throwing Hawthorn off and rolling across the ground.

    Bracing herself, Belesis raced off her solid support, following her target. The thorns protruding from Hawthorn¡¯s armor were cast out. Darting back and forth, Belesis dodged every spear. From the empty cavities of Hawthorn¡¯s armor fired a spray of sap as the wood constricted, shriveling.

    Belesis leaped into the air to not get covered with sap, but rhizomes shot out of the ground and root hairs extended to grab her. Breaking the hair with force and moving quicker than the rhizomes, she latched onto one and slid down its slick stem. A large trunk shot up around Hawthorn. Branches and leaves sprouted around her, obscuring Belesis¡¯ vision.

    Using a large root as support, she drove off and kicked into the branches, disappearing from Helena¡¯s sight. Every leaf shuddered, and the entire truck of the tree cracked at the base. With the extra momentum, Belesis slid across the grassy earth as the tree tumbled to the ground. ¡°Nice, now¡ªwatch out!¡± Klen shouted, taking a single step forward.

    Two roots shot out and wrapped around Belesis¡¯ feet, halting her progress. She dropped to the ground; face first as what remained of her gown flew up around her waist. She couldn¡¯t find enough perches against the ground to escape; she¡¯s caught! More roots blasted out and wrapped around her body, pinning her to the ground. Even if she is extremely strong, she can¡¯t escape from that position. Is it over for both of us?

    Not a single centimeter of her skin was showing under the confinement; only her head was free. Klen had his fists clenched in front of him as he bounced. ¡°Get out of it, Belesis!¡±

    Fatchna clapped emphatically. ¡°That was a brilliant fight and well played! Isn¡¯t your handle, Pernicious Antivenin? I enjoy that name, much more than Belesis, a weak name. Higher level struggles are so much more interesting to watch, but I expected a bit more fight out of you!¡±

    Face down in the dirt, Belesis laughed. She didn¡¯t sound strained in the least. ¡°You of all people should realize that espers of my rank don¡¯t fall so easily. Though, she can counter.¡± Helena gasped as the roots holding Belesis started wilting and decaying before her eyes. Belesis moved swift as a viper, rising to her arms and feet, she launched toward Hawthorn¡¯s shocked complexion. Klen shot a fist into the air. ¡°You¡¯ve got her!¡±

    A second before her hand reached Hawthorn¡¯s face, she vanished. Spinning around, Helena found Hawthorn standing next to Fatchna, her face ashen.

    Turning back, she discovered Belesis picking herself off the ground and rearranging her attire. There were several tears in the clothing, but it still kept its modesty, and her undergarments were still intact.

    Sighing, Belesis asked. ¡°So¡ªI assume the fight is over with your interference? Is it fair to put Lady Vandred¡¯s and my life on the thread, while keeping her relatively safe?¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s laugh was low. ¡°I never said it was over. Kara still has some time to arrive, and I need something to entertain me.¡±

    Belesis didn¡¯t answer as her eyes flipped to Helena and centered on the cuts. Her jaw locking and an expression of anger flashed across her features. Why¡¯s she so irate about a few simple cuts? It was extraordinary that she accomplished what she did with so little damage.

    Hawthorn was breathing with difficulty as she stood next to Fatchna. Her wooden frame was completely decayed. She started to create a new one; however, it also started to deteriorate.

    ¡°Cheap!¡± Klen exclaimed.

    Ignoring Klen, Fatchna expectantly asked. ¡°Tell me, how did you accomplish your victory ¡­ I have an overall idea, but I¡¯d like a detailed explanation.¡± I¡¯m putting her in the position to force a response. She has to tell Fatchna how she did it, giving Hawthorn more information on how to counter her and reveal her secrets. What an underhanded method for a Prime to use.

    Klen was in an uproar. ¡°What! Why should she explain her tactics? That gives that woman even more of an advantage!¡± He flinched as Fatchna glared his way.

    Drawing out her breath, Belesis glanced her way and reluctantly explained. ¡°When I first realized Hawthorn was a Ligneokinetic and learning about the sap I decided upon a specific plan. However, first I needed to buy time to gather the proper elements, it was somewhat difficult ¡­ after gathering the proper materials, I harvested a parasitic worm known as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. They are handy to wipe out a forest of coniferous trees, though normally take a while to work their process.¡± Helena saw Hawthorn¡¯s face drain of color at the name.

    A gleam appeared in Fatchna¡¯s eyes. ¡°You know this worm?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s also called pinewood nematode or pine wilt nematode. Though, it normally takes weeks to kill a tree.¡±

    ¡°You accelerated their mitosis to accommodate a more ferocious appetite!¡± Fatchna exclaimed in delight.

    Helena now noticed growing creatures crawling around the roots on the ground. Belesis¡¯ much stronger than I thought. To be able to do this at such a wide scale. The amount of knowledge she¡¯d have to have...

    Fatchna burst out laughing. ¡°Brock will be furious when he comes back to this resort and finds it completely barren. Discovering gigantic carcasses of worms or maybe their mutation will be enough to create a brand new species that will overrun the continent, fascinating.¡±

    Belesis shook his head, eyes not leaving Fatchna. ¡°No, they can¡¯t exceed a defined size before dying, and they only last for a few minutes without food. However, there is the possibility they can further mutate.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve taken that much into account. Splendid, absolutely splendid! You¡¯ve completely locked Hawthorn out of this area, but I want another match, so we¡¯ll relocate. It did fascinate me that you could make a virus carried by insects to ravage your enemies, but those can¡¯t be targeted. You¡¯d hurt the ones you love.¡±

    Klen squirmed as he examined a trunk near him. Vertigo returned and her environment altered. They now stood beside a lake with the forest around them. Two streams emptied into a body of water with a single exit. Small boulders and red maples surrounded them. The highest point is the trees, leaving Belesis completely open without a way to defend against Hawthorn¡¯s initial attacks. Fatchna wants to see her even more pressed.

    ¡°Now let the fight, begin!¡± Fatchna yelled. Hawthorn suddenly collapsed to her knees holding her head as she screamed. Fatchna looked completely lost. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Hawthorn?¡±

    ¡°I see, it¡¯s kicked in; it¡¯s about time.¡± Belesis huffed with a repulsed expression and a low tone. What¡¯s she disgusted about, the slow reaction time or the effect?

    ¡°What did you do and when?¡± Fatchna sounded eager for the explanation as Phantasm¡¯s Colonel writhed on the ground digging at her skull.

    Belesis glanced at Hawthorn with sad eyes. ¡°A short distance air born virus that I spread in her tunnel, it causes a mass of abnormal cell growth in the brain. In the end, it has similar effects to Cluster Headaches. One of the worst conditions an esper can be diagnosed with, excruciatingly painful.¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Fascinating, but still conditions from the last match are to be removed. Get rid of it so you may continue the fight and don¡¯t implant anything else or the Pup will lose a limb.¡± Helena tensed.

    ¡°That¡¯s completely unfair. She won!¡± Klen complained, throwing up his hands in exasperation.

    Belesis slowly walked to Hawthorn and placed a hand on her forehead. Her face held no hatred, but remorse. The gouges Hawthorn had made with her own fingers started to heal. I see ¡­ Belesis doesn¡¯t like using her ability like this. She really is kind ¡­ too kind.

    Stepping away, she walked back to her previous spot and waited for Hawthorn to get to her feet. Hawthorn was sweating profusely and shook violently, but soon took hold of herself.

    Fatchna clapped his hands. ¡°Right. Now¡ªbegin!¡±

 B1 â€” 37. Shattered Heart

    Belesis sprinted toward Hawthorn, nimbly dodging around the rhizomes that shot out of the ground.

    ¡°Watch out for the one on your left, it¡¯s growing more appendages, and take it easy; you¡¯re using too much Focus!¡± Klen screamed. ¡°You haven¡¯t fully regained your Capacity!¡±

    Helena couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty at his words. I¡¯m sure Belesis realizes that, but what can she do, and it¡¯s my fault! Why am I so powerless? Fatchna has enough power to kill me before I even twitch; I¡¯m useless! Booker still calmly examined the scene in front of him, without a word as his eyes followed Belesis.

    A gigantic wooden block erupted from the earth around Hawthorn, sprouting thick branches as it reached into the sky. Helena felt dizzy as she appeared at the edge of the forest, three meters from Fatchna, particles dancing around her in strange patterns. The block transformed into a gigantic tree, and large roots expelled from the ground, attacking Belesis.

    She danced around the branches, back toward the forest. Helena¡¯s attention darted around her surroundings as all the red maples surrounding the area wilted and died. Hawthorn¡¯s taking shelter inside the tree, and using all of the maples around us as fuel to spur her construction, taking all their nutrients. She doesn¡¯t have to expend as much Focus if she¡¯s redistributing the resources around her; it¡¯s smart.

    Belesis reached the dying trees and started using them as supports to leap around from trunk to trunk, cracking and knocking them over in her wake. Roots chased her at a quickening pace as Hawthorn attached new feeds to the surrounding foliage. After breaking down several trees, she made her way back; sliding across the trucks, running her hand across the broken sections and roots in reach, while spitting on others. More Nitroglycerin? Spikes shot out from the rhizomes, but Belesis agilely avoided every projectile.

    ¡°Yeah, light on your feet!¡± Klen yelled and yelped as several spikes darted around him. Hawthorn may be safe, but she¡¯s sacrificing her reaction time. She¡¯s getting closer to catching Belesis, but she¡¯s giving a General level opponent more time to prepare a counter attack.

    The broken trees started to shrivel up as the nutrients were sapped from them, and then the newly forming leaves on Hawthorns tree began to wilt, the wood coloring sickly. She must have applied poisons to the roots and with the rapid intake of all the tree¡¯s nutrients; Hawthorn took in all of Belesis¡¯ poison she¡¯s been spreading. Rapidly dispersing it throughout her control feeds, it¡¯s brilliant, yet simple.

    Belesis leaped toward the tree and dug her fingers into the dying trunk, ripping into the bark. She began breathing into the hole; mist escaped her mouth and flowing into the pit. A few seconds later, the base of the tree broke, and Hawthorn exited, coughing. She tried to walk but collapsed to the ground. This time it¡¯s over.

    Jumping down, Belesis slowly walked over to Hawthorn, who was shaking her head violently and mumbling. ¡°Why am I here¡ªwhat was I doing before this? Who am I,¡± she huffed, ¡°I don¡¯t even care.¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s tone was not entertained as he asked. ¡°What did you do to her?¡±

    Belesis¡¯ expression showed deep regret as she studied Hawthorn¡¯s condition. ¡°I sent a dissociative drug in an airborne form into the confines of her shell. She should be experiencing hallucinations, distorted sounds, and undergoing feelings of detachment. The dose will have ¡­ harsh lingering effects, but at least she¡¯s free from Phantasm.¡± Hawthorn started to jerk back and forth as she swayed. Her body seemed to be trying to lie down, but sit up at the same time.

    ¡°Can you reverse it?¡± Fatchna asked with a disgusted expression.

    Belesis shook her head with a tragic tone. ¡°I could counter the dose, but it was a concentrated quality. It¡¯ll have adverse effects on cognitive realization ¡­ she¡¯ll never be the same, but she may be happier this way.¡± He should have known better to put a Colonel against a General; even if Hawthorn had the terrain advantage, Belesis has complete control over cellular structure.

    Sweat was gathering on Belesis¡¯ brow, and she breathed sharply. She¡¯s reaching her Focus limit. It must be tough on her body to produce and protect against these chemicals. She also has to combine different formulas into compounds. All while trying not to get hurt for my sake ¡­ no wonder she¡¯s a General. Not only is she being pushed beyond her limits, while already being low on Focus, but she¡¯s going against her core principles to protect me. She truly hates using her ability for destructive purposes. How much longer can she last?

    Fatchna hummed as he examined Hawthorn. ¡°It seems like she¡¯s out of the picture. However, I¡¯m still interested in how you accomplished destroying the tree.¡± Hawthorn disappeared. Helena breathed a sigh of relief. I don¡¯t know where he sent her, but it was most likely to her death. She was now useless to both him and Phantasm.

    Belesis turned to examine the tree¡¯s decay with mournful eyes. The large tree that had protected Hawthorn was rotting rapidly as branches dropped from its trunk. Its leaves and roots withered, dying from some kind of chemical ingestion.

    Turning to glare at Fatchna, Belesis swallowed and replied. ¡°I created a combination of pesticides that Hawthorn unknowingly fed through her tree¡¯s nurturing process since she was pretty much blind ¡­ a sad mistake on her part, but advantageous for me.¡± The sweat gathering around her body had increased in a very short amount of time; her dress showed wet spots, and her posture had sagged.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be faring well. Are you reaching your Focus limit? I¡¯m a bit disappointed. I¡¯d assume as a General you¡¯d have a greater pool; yet, you¡¯ve used a lot of liquid to create all those pesticides, and your Focus can only take you so far as a Biokinetic.¡±

    ¡°Belesis beat your pawn! What do we do now?¡± Klen yelled tensely.

    ¡°Well¡ªHawthorn was only a Colonel. It would have been awfully embarrassing if a General lost to her, but are you truly out of Focus?¡± Fatchna said, leaning into his seat. He studied Belesis for a moment. ¡°Perhaps I have a higher standard. Being a Prime, I have a near unlimited amount of Focus ¡­ well; I¡¯ve never actually reached my limit.¡± He scoffed. Helena shivered at his response. She does have a lot more Focus Capacity ¡­ but she¡¯s already used most of it on me. Why did Fatchna and Phantasm have to act now?

    Vision shifting to Helena, Belesis¡¯ eyes softened, and she showed a reassuring smile. Seriousness returning, her sight turned to Fatchna; she bowed, prostrating herself on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything you ask of me, but please let Lady Vandred go. You don¡¯t need her to fight Kara at her best; she¡¯s never afraid to engage an enemy. I believe you know this.¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s face lit up at her action, and he leaned forward in his chair, a curved smile on his face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, Belesis.¡± Klen mumbled, ¡°Kara will be here soon.¡± Booker narrowed his eyes, and his vision shifted to Fatchna a dark expression on his face. Klen¡¯s composure hardened as he took a step forward, puffing out his chest. ¡°I think we should fight, here and now! We won¡¯t be bullied by a Prime that can¡¯t even fight his own battles!¡± Blue shimmering gleams danced around Klen; ice started forming over his clothes and skin. He¡¯s creating an armor of crystal, but that won¡¯t help him against Fatchna¡¯s teleportation ability. What does he think we can do? He¡¯s faster than sound for Booker, Belesis seems out of options, and he and I are all but useless. We¡¯re all hostages...

    ¡°C¡¯mon Booker, let''s show this Prime what the Purists are made of!¡± Klen said with a grin.

    Shifting her vision to Fatchna, she saw a sneer spread across his face as he waved his hand. Helena looked back as a long wicked knife cut out of the crystal armor, right at Klen¡¯s heart, the blade held in Booker¡¯s right hand. Booker was leering down at Klen, the knife sinking deeper into Klen¡¯s back, icy chunks falling to the ground.

    Klen¡¯s head turned slowly, confusion crossing his face as he opened his mouth; a gush of blood sliding down his throat, freezing as it touched his armor. He dropped to the ground as the crystal shattered into dust around his body. The blade easily slid from his back, and Booker examined the crimson liquid dripping off the edges.

    Belesis¡¯ stared at Booker from her kneeling position, vision shifting to the knife and finally Klen¡¯s unmoving body, the blood spread across his shirt back. ¡°Why?¡± Belesis asked, beginning to quake. ¡°Did Fatchna¡ªwere you¡ªblackmail?¡±

    Booker¡¯s cool eyes lifted to study Belesis as he flipped the blade around his hand, sending blood spraying across the blades of grass. ¡°No, I have nothing to do with Fatchna.¡±

    Belesis¡¯ voice shook. ¡°Then¡ªwhy?¡±

    Bending down, Booker wiped the blood off the blade with Klen¡¯s pants. ¡°It¡¯s simple, Phantasm ordered it.¡± Helena felt numb. Why didn¡¯t I see it? There were signs. Why didn¡¯t Kara catch it? His odd bodily reactions I couldn¡¯t recognize ¡­ was he trained by Phantasm to escape our reception?

    Tears started to leave Belesis¡¯ eyes. ¡°When¡ªhaven¡¯t you¡ªwith Kara from the start?¡±

    ¡°All in accordance with Phantasm¡¯s orders,¡± Booker responded with a small grin and a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s been fun leading you on for the past year. I really couldn¡¯t have asked for a better reaction.¡±

    ¡°Why now?¡± Belesis asked, words stumbling over each other.

    ¡°Because¡ªPhantasm found a remarkable link between the Great Lady Vandred¡ªand the Great General Belesis. In the Lass¡¯s treasure trove of a mind, there was quite the bank of information.¡± He tapped the blade¡¯s hilt lightly against his skull.

    Helena found it hard to breathe. Is she connected to me? This was¡ªit¡¯s my mistake ¡­ because I didn¡¯t listen to Kara ¡­ all of this, it¡¯s my fault? She found herself on the ground, ringing in her head, vision blurred. Blinking rapidly, she covered her ears and shook her head. Right¡ªBooker¡¯s an Echokinetic¡ªsonic waves.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The sounds around her cleared; Booker was already at Belesis. She was dodging his blade dexterously, but not attacking back, a conflicted expression across her face. She has feelings for Booker ¡­ he played on that for over a year. There¡¯s no way she could push that psychological state away in an instant. She¡¯s trying to work through her feelings, but she¡¯s slowing down with every movement...

    Booker was laughing. ¡°Even when completely exhausted, you¡¯re still as agile as when I first watched you go against Kara.¡±

    His blade cut through tree limbs and roots like butter, but couldn¡¯t find its target. Is he using sound waves to cause vibrations along the edge, sharpening it? Fatchna looked thrilled as he watched Booker chase Belesis around the area. His eyes centered on her pained expression. She can¡¯t fight back, even if Booker is a betrayer and killed Klen.

    ¡°Please¡ªstop this, Booker. You don¡¯t¡ªhave to follow Phantasm.¡± Belesis pleaded, even her contrast speech had disappeared in her desperation.

    Booker stopped his assaulting strikes and stood still. Belesis halted, panting and clutching at her chest, body quivering. ¡°I do like Kara and how she treats her members,¡± Booker said with sudden agony flashing across his face. Helena¡¯s brow knit together. Is he being controlled? I¡ªI don¡¯t think so ¡­ this has to be a ploy.

    A hopeful smile lit Belesis¡¯ lips. ¡°Yes¡ªKara loves her members¡ªshe¡¯ll help you break free from Phantasm ¡­ though she¡¯ll be mad.¡± Helena¡¯s jaw tightened. Her emotions are blinding her! How is this even possible for a Biokinetic?

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He¡¯s lying!¡± Helena exclaimed.

    Concern crossed Belesis¡¯ eyes. ¡°Do you¡ªmean it¡ªBooker?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Booker said with a sincere smile. ¡°I¡ªI think Phantasm did something to my mind...¡± I¡¯ll give him that. He¡¯s an expert at faking emotion. There¡¯s not a hint of ill intent in his tone. No wonder Phantasm chose him!

    ¡°Don¡¯t trust him,¡± Helena warned again.

    Conflicted sentiments overlapped Belesis¡¯ face as both hands clutched at her chest, and her body wobbled with audible intakes of breath as she panicked. Lips trembling, she stepped closer to Booker. ¡°Please,¡± She begged.

    ¡°Anything for you, but¡ªhe¡¯s so strong...¡± He said, hand shakily setting down the blade. Faith-filled Belesis¡¯ tear struck face.

    ¡°No! Why are emotions so blinding?¡± Helena screamed.

    Right before it touched the ground, he flipped it up and swung it from some kind of string. It extended toward Belesis, but she leaped back with a burst of strength. However, the blade cut a gash in her left thigh from her slight moment of hesitation. Helena fell to her right leg as pain erupted from her leg. She winced as blood started seeping down her leg, she stared down in shock. Fatchna¡¯s still playing that game?

    She looked up to find Belesis land on a small bolder between her and Booker, creating a triangle between them. Her wound very slowly started to congeal back together, and she was clutching her right side, face white with horror as she stared at the wound in Helena¡¯s leg, her lips trembling and throat constricting.

    Fatchna and Booker laughed emphatically. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you fell for that. You¡¯re supposed to be a General!¡± Fatchna wheezed. ¡°Now, Booker, what¡¯s this connection. I¡¯m dying to know what that weasel found on the mysterious Belesis.¡±

    Booker sneered, while Belesis¡¯ face beseeched him to stop. Agony painted across her features as she struggled to stay on her feet. ¡°Belesis¡ªwhat? I think you can guess the answer at this point¡ªBelesis Vandred. A former member of a Vandred Branch House, and at one point was commissioned by her father to kill the Main House second daughter, Helena Vandred.¡± Helena¡¯s body went numb as she stared at Belesis¡¯ mortified expression.

    ¡°Helena¡¯s own mother gave the order, and since Belesis was Helena¡¯s healer at the age of four ¡­ it made her the perfect candidate.¡± Not possible, my healer was a blonde and ¡­ that holographic image; Belesis¡¯ a Biokinetic. Of course, but why didn¡¯t I see the subtle differences in facial features? They haven¡¯t changed that much ¡­ I just ¡­ I don¡¯t remember a lot from when I was sick¡­ The memory flashed into her brain as clear as day, the events as sharp as four years previous. Her mind bringing her back to the exact moment Booker was describing.

    * * *

    She was in her old gem encrusted mahogany bed. Her vision hazed and she felt convulsive shudders running up her body. Muffled coughs expelled from her lungs and pain disrupted her thoughts. It lasted several seconds before she felt herself stabilizing.

    Gasping, she looked up to find the blonde haired teenage version of Belesis. Helena could make out a plain green dress that was elegantly cut, the attire of a Branch Family female doctors.

    Her bright green eyes stared down at her in concern. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright Lady Vandred¡ªeven if your mind is trying to deteriorate. I¡¯ll keep you safe¡ªunless I¡¯m not here.¡± A buzzer sounded in the background and Belesis uncovered a portable phone from inside the folds of her dress. Right, back at the manor, they used phones to communicate between Houses.

    ¡°Father, why are you speaking so quickly¡ªwhat?¡± Moving further away from the bed she whispered. ¡°Lady Vesla has ordered our family to carry out an¡ªan assassination against the young Lady Vandred? How can that be¡ªshe¡¯s her daughter? It would make the succession more in our favor, but¡ªno¡ªI understand! We have to obey the Head and Lady, no matter the order, but¡ªme?¡±

    Belesis¡¯ voice became desperate. ¡°Master Drake has charged me with her protection and healing. I can¡¯t just¡ªI understand the Heads trump all previous orders, but she¡¯s only four years old. If¡ªif I leave her alone¡ªshe¡¯ll die in any case¡± Belesis seemed to have a hard time letting go of the words. ¡°I¡¯ll be disowned¡ªand charge me with treason if I don¡¯t comply with your order? I¡¯m...¡± She cut off as her father said something else.

    Belesis¡¯ hands were trembling as she stopped talking and the phone slowly fell below her cheek. Her eyes were scared, body shaking as she stared down at Helena. Slowly, hesitantly, she began moving her hand toward Helena¡¯s brow, every inch increased her quakes.

    Helena had watched with a throbbing heart as her body worked furiously to keep her alive. Centimeters before touching Helena¡¯s skin, she retracted her fingers, tears springing from her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t do it. I don¡¯t like hurting people. It hurts¡ªI¡ªI can do it so...¡± Her hands clutched at her chest, folding the fabric together as she convulsed.

    Her weak voice came out in gasps. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªalright, Sis¡ªI¡ªmother ¡­ you¡¯ll be punished¡ªif...¡± She coughed violently, and Belesis¡¯ hands darted out, pressing against her forehead. The pain eased, and her vision cleared again. ¡°If¡ªyou don¡¯t. I like you¡ªdon¡¯t want you hurt...¡± She coughed again and blacked out.

    In the next memory, Belesis still hung over her, playing with her blonde hair; a torn expression marring her face. ¡°Sis?¡± Helena¡¯s voice came out in a squeak that was overshadowed by the door bursting open and Drake rushing into the room.

    His hard green eyes were odd to her; she couldn¡¯t remember seeing them like that before. I never saw him outraged to this extent, was this the only time? He and Belesis vanished. Seconds later, Belesis was pinned against the wall. Drake¡¯s gloved hands against her throat. What was that shift, Drake¡¯s ability? I¡¯ve never seen him use it.

    Belesis choked with tears falling down her cheeks. Her arms seemed suspended at her side, and her head was the only thing that struggled to move. ¡°You were going to kill her.¡± He spat with venom.

    Her body trembled as she rose. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the bedside mirror. Her very young face was flushed with anger, weakly, but surely. ¡°Don¡¯t bully Sis¡ªshe always talks to me and teaches me stuff. You never come and visit¡ªDrake, only Sis.¡±

    Her body seized, and she blacked out again. Moments later, her vision cleared to Belesis¡¯ red face hanging over her, and sweat covered her palms, shakes transferring to Helena¡¯s body. Drake¡¯s voice was cold and dark, holding an edge that sent chills down Helena¡¯s spine. ¡°You better keep your promise.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, and anything else you instruct¡ªunless I die,¡± Belesis said with vigor and a breathless tone. Helena¡¯s vision faded again, and she jolted as Booker¡¯s voice came into focus.

    * * *

    ¡°What will you do, Belesis?¡± His face showed a malicious grin as he snapped his fingers and Helena felt her brain blank as she staggered. Activating her reception, she picked up Belesis¡¯ body rush into her perceptive radius with Booker. Helena¡¯s breath caught as she found Belesis¡¯ muscles were constricting in resistance. She¡¯s completely exhausted! What¡¯s she doing ¡­ no ¡­ she doesn¡¯t have enough strength to get away...

    Running between Booker and Helena, Belesis shoved her shoulder, sending her tumbling across the ground. Her reception sent back every millisecond of information. Slowly, effortlessly, the blade slid through Belesis¡¯ back, severing the renal artery, descending colon, stomach, and puncturing her left kidney. No ¡­ she¡¯s too exhausted to heal herself from that kind of wound ¡­ she has to ¡­ she can¡¯t die...

    Her vision stabilized, fear pervaded her body as she witnessed Belesis standing above her, quivering with the blade pointing out of her side. Her hands clasped around the knife as blood gushing from her wound, soaking into her green nightgown and dropped onto the bladed grass, coloring it red.

    Belesis looked down with a strained smile, the curved knife protruding from her stomach. Booker sunk the razor¡¯s edge to its hilt into her back, twisting, the tip hovering in front of Helena¡¯s eyes. Belesis¡¯ body started to shake, but she had the warmest smile Helena had ever witnessed on her face as blood began coating her lips. Her body worked frantically to keep her alive.

    Swallowing, she gasped. ¡°I¡¯m¡ªsorry. Lady¡ªVandred, I didn¡¯t deserve your kindness then or¡ªnow. The Branch Houses¡ªare meant for this kind of task.¡± Cold chills spread down Helena¡¯s body as she watched Belesis¡¯ glowing expression. That¡¯s not right...

    Her eyes shut for a moment as she laughed. Her left leg shot out, forcing Booker to jump back, blade leaving her body as blood cascaded down her legs. Her face contorted with pain as the edge left; Helena¡¯s mind was in a panic. Why isn¡¯t she healing faster? Is she that empty on Focus? Run!

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to give my life for yours¡ªthere¡¯s nothing more I want.¡± Her eyes slowly faded and her smile waned. She wobbled in place her bare legs quivering as red vitality flowed down its smooth surface.

    Helena felt an emptiness she¡¯d never experienced before as she felt the same blade puncture her soul.

    She dropped to her knees as blood gushed from her mouth and flowed from her knitting wounds. Her raven-black hair floated around her in the warm breeze. Helena¡¯s lungs convulsed as air came in short shuttering pants. Mother ordered a Branch House to kill me ¡­ he shoved it on Belesis ¡­ she¡¯s my cousin¡­

    Her sight fuzzed as tears fought past her shock. Belesis¡¯ eyes were faded as she wobbled, body hanging on by a thread. Is this how Vandreds use their relatives? As shields, assassins, and trash? Belesis had done more than her duty to the Main House, and this is her reward? Drake sent her to look after me in advance, yet again another tragedy befell her. In all cases, Belesis was charged to me, and it had first cost her family and now her life. The one thing she emotionally attached to played her like a fool and stabbed her in the back The entire situation was in response to me ... everything...

    No! It¡¯s not only Drake or my mother. It¡¯s Phantasm and me. I could have avoided this entire situation if I had just listened to Kara and kept that device with me! That simple, simple mistake had given Phantasm all he wanted and more. I¡¯m weak and stupid!

    Fatchna and Booker laughed uncontrollably.

    Fatchna ended his laughter with a low chuckle. ¡°Is this all that Belesis, the Pernicious Antivenin, is capable of? Killed by a Captain!¡±

    Uncontrolled tears fell down Helena¡¯s cheeks as Belesis dropped to the floor in her pooling blood. Her wounds were almost healed, but her body was still struggling. Everything around me is crumbling! Drake uses me as an experiment, my mother wants me dead, and my life is spared by sacrificing my cousin. The only person that was there for me was Belesis, a member of the Branch Family! The Branch Families were always with me; the butlers, maids, doctors, only the Branch Families ¡­ I haven¡¯t been in control at all¡ªI¡¯m weak!

 B1 â€” 38. Breaking Walls

    An explosion sounded above them; looking up, Helena barely made out shapes falling through her tears. Energy burst around the zone as tendrils of lightning danced across the ground; a black haze lifted from the dirt and shot into the air to create a massive black cloud. Booker rushed to Fatchna¡¯s side as Kara dropped down from the sky, pieces of the broken dome falling around her. The dust cloud condensed as it neared them and Kara appeared as the mass of iron particles piled into a dune. A small portion of the metal scattered as she landed atop it.

    Kara stood atop the mound, surveying the scene. Her eyes moved from Helena to Belesis, Klen, Booker, and finally Fatchna. She rose into the air, hovering slightly as she descended her iron platform. Her foot touched dirt as she reached the bottom, and she moved to Belesis. Magnetic fields pulsed around her as she examined everything in the area and identifying Belesis¡¯ condition.

    Kara breathed deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve been monitoring the situation through your HCID.¡± She knelt beside Belesis, keeping a distance from her blood. ¡°Fine cut, too refined for a normal blade, and her muscular system is in shambles ¡­ she used far too much Focus. There¡¯s a chance she¡¯ll survive if we can get her to another Biokinetic in time. Her brain is in a critical state ¡­ she¡¯s nearing FFD.¡± Her vision shifted to Klen, the melting fragments of his ice around him.

    Tears began welling up in Helena¡¯s eyes again as her body trembled, chest seizing with fits, and her heart throbbed. ¡°No need for words,¡± Kara whispered. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Focus shifting to Booker; her eyes showed pity. ¡°I never once suspected him. He hid his purple taint well.¡± How could she not know? She seems to know everything ¡­ why didn¡¯t she know...

    Helena¡¯s vision fuzzed. Kara sighed before moving to a branch, picking it up and returning to her side. ¡°Bite down on this and close your eyes.¡±

    Numbly, Helena did as she was told; her tongue experienced the earthen taste of the bark as she bit down. Her eyes snapped open as Kara¡¯s fingers sparked with electricity and began moving down the gash in her leg, cauterizing the wound as powerful electromagnetic fields kept her from squirming. It was over within moments; Helena collapsed on the ground, breathing sharply as Kara released her fields. The cool breeze stung her cheeks as more tears fell. There was the taste of blood in her mouth; one of her baby teeth had broken from the pressure.

    Kara¡¯s arms wrapped around her body, pulling her in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯ll take more than this to kill Belesis ¡­ I¡¯m here now.¡± Helena bawled into her shirt front; she couldn¡¯t stop herself, guilt strangling her heart with all the emotion she¡¯d bottled up.

    Fatchna clapped his hands together. ¡°Kara, I¡¯ve been waiting...¡± He cut off as Kara¡¯s head slowly turned to stare in his direction. His pitch changed, his throat constricting. ¡°Oh¡ªwell, I can be mannered and wait for you to finish.¡±

    ¡°No! This is the best time to strike ¡­ when the girl is next to her!¡± Booker exclaimed.

    Fatchna huffed with disgust. ¡°Please, I¡¯m not some desperate esper with no class. I am a Prime¡ªthough, Phantasm sullies that reputation, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°Fatchna...¡±

    His fearful voice cut as Kara spoke, grip tightening around Helena¡¯s quivering frame. ¡°Good, let all the fear, anguish, and frustration out. After that¡ªthere are lingering feelings that must be expressed...¡± Helena felt it, a burning that replaced the gash in her chest. An inferno that billowed up to consume the darkness. An odious sensation lit her face red.

    Kara¡¯s grip loosened and Helena broke away to glare at Booker. In her eyes, she pictured everything she hated; Booker, Phantasm, Drake, her father, mother, Ventre, herself, everything wrong around her¡ªthe combined embodiment of all her grief, animosity, and fear.

    Kara¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Break past that barrier and release those emotions in the rawest form you known.¡±

    ¡°No! Fatchna stop her!¡± Booker screamed.

    Fatchna vanished instantly as sections of the iron dust pile lifted from the ground and surrounded Booker, enclosing him. Helena felt her body light with energy as she closed her eyes and expelled every ounce of Focus she could grasp, the hollowness burning in her chest. She didn¡¯t need to see, everything in front of her would be destroyed. It wasn¡¯t a possibility, but a fact.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I control any sound waves¡ªwhat are you doing, Kara? Please, what about all I¡¯ve done for you¡ªdoes that mean nothing? I can tell you about Phantasm¡ªhis plans! Don¡¯t halt my movements¡ªat least give me a fighting chan...¡± Booker screamed out in frustration and fear.

    Bubbling up from somewhere deep inside her, she felt the energy that came with emotion. The power surged up the sand soaked pit to fill her Focus pool. Energy beyond her comprehension spilled out of her body. Uncontrolled, she let it gush out like a tsunami. An external force took control of that raw lightning and guided it.

    Her hearing dampened as Kara blocked the deafening roar, shockwaves coursing through her small frame; she let the energy flow until it was gone. Her chest heaved, the smell of ozone heavy as she opened her eyes; it was potent in the air, making her dizzy, and hot, thick humidity pressed against her skin.

    Her vision slowly came clear of spots, and she observed where Booker had been. A blackened scar was carved into the ground, three meters across and half a meter topsoil had been eradicated, the earth blistering. The charred path led to the lake and continued into the murky surface as it steamed and waves expelled from the point of impact.

    ¡°Booker¡¯s no more,¡± Kara stated softly, wrapping her arm around Helena¡¯s shoulder and draw her in. Helena stared at the torrid ground for several seconds in numb awe as sparks of energy flashed across its surface. I would have been vaporized with Booker if Kara hadn¡¯t taken control.

    A clap resounded around the area as Fatchna appeared four meters to her left, still sitting in his chair. ¡°Now that¡ªthat was electrifying. Quite the intense power you produced there, little pup¡ªno, lion! Very impressive.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be threatened¡ªyet,¡± Kara¡¯s demeanor flipped to cold fire. ¡°All of that energy you saw was Phantasm¡¯s Focus that was transferred to her during his invasion.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating¡ªbut to be able to not only carry but to expel it in such a torrent¡ªit¡¯s mind-bending. I can¡¯t wrap my head around it. To think a child of eight would have that much Force Capacity, Width, and Pressure; not only that, but you have yet to reach your Second Awakening.¡± He clapped emphatically. ¡°Brilliant ¡­ she¡¯s a true prot¨¦g¨¦ for you, Kara.¡±

    Kara didn¡¯t answer him as she examined Belesis¡¯ weak condition and Klen corpse again. Fatchna put his left hand to his forehead. ¡°Oh¡ªof course! Would you like me to transport Belesis back to the base and take us to a new area? Perhaps the General could be saved, she¡¯s earned that, and I don¡¯t care much for whatever Phantasm¡¯s goal was. Would you also like Klen¡¯s corpse out of the way?¡± Kara¡¯s eyes burned, but she nodded.

    A devious smile lit his lips. ¡°Then you¡¯ll allow me to teleport you and stop that pesky disruptive electronic shift that makes it impossible for me to get a clear spatial fix on you?¡± His comment in the arena, Kara¡¯s unable to be teleported. She truly is amazing. How does Fatchna think he can win if he can¡¯t affix on her location?

    ¡°You didn¡¯t go through all this for a dirty match,¡± Kara said with a hard tone. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you as far as this goes.¡±

    Fatchna bowed slightly in his seat. ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡±

    Kara¡¯s eyes shifted to the horizon. ¡°Transport Belesis and Klen to the medical bay in the Northern Base; I¡¯ve already sent them instructions.¡±

    Both Belesis and Klen vanished. ¡°It would be a shame if you lost such a capable General as Belesis; Biokinetics of her skill are rare to come by, but it makes sense, being from the Branch Family of a Great House.¡± If only I had noticed sooner ¡­ what then? She can¡¯t do anything for me, and she¡¯s much higher ranked than I am. She may be my cousin, but our skill and abilities are worlds apart, Belesis has gained real power ¡­ not just in title.

    Kara looked up at the morning sky. ¡°What¡¯s your reasoning, Fatchna? You aren¡¯t stupid enough to make deals with Phantasm; so, what¡¯s your goal?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯m only using Phantasm¡¯s maneuvering to execute a desire of mine.¡±

    ¡°You honestly want to fight me ¡­ why not test yourself against the Alpha?¡±

    Fatchna chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure the rest of you would love that. To be able to see the Alpha in action without the risk. Before that, I need a gauge of my limits, and you¡¯re the perfect candidate.¡±

    Kara closed her eyes. ¡°Did you really have to bring my faction into this? I would have agreed without you working with Phantasm.¡±

    ¡°Right, but I never understood that about you. You care so deeply for your members; Booker¡¯s betrayal must be difficult to swallow, it¡¯ll hit the moral of your faction even harder. Why do you care so much, Kara? You stand close to the pinnacle of all espers; they are but atoms for us to use.¡±

    Drawing in a deep breath, Kara let it out in a slow stream as her eyes opened. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±

 B1 â€” 39. An Electro Master

    Kara¡¯s fingers opened as her left hand rose, iron dust gathering above her wrist before condensing into a glowing orange ball. It vanished, leaving a trail of orange light. Fatchna had already teleported, and Helena could only see the after effects; the wooden chair shattered. The fragments lit with fire as trees exploded, the projectile penetrating the forest to strike a rock; stone fragments shot in all directions as the bolder fractured. A torrent of warm air gushed around Helena, whipping her hair back as dust billowed around the rock; several trees ablaze as the roar faded. Kara just concerted an iron ball into an electromagnetic cannon ¡­ how much focus does that require?

    Right-hand lifting, Kara sent a bolt into the sky as a pool of water appeared over their heads and electricity racing across the ground to the pile of iron dust. The surge struck the water, and it vanished into a nebula of shimmering colors. The cloud started to concentrate together until it formed a glowing ball of white pulsating energy, sparks flashing around it, and it began to spiral outward. Did she create plasma with electrolysis? The lightning cut, but the ball continued to rotate in magnifying loops, slowly picking up speed.

    The iron sand stirred and swiftly started to lift off the ground, flying toward Kara. All of the large boulders and the ceiling plating disappeared, Fatchna teleporting them away. Leaping off the ground, Kara took to the air and hovered in the ion storm. Helena¡¯s stomach twisted as she felt herself rising with Kara, being drawn to her side. As they left the earth, the ground exploded with dirt and large rocks soaring upward; the masses shifted direction as they came in contact with Kara¡¯s electromagnetic fields. He teleported concentrated air into the ground with rocks, causing an upheaval. It didn¡¯t matter though; she just took control of it.

    Kara held both hands out and spread her fingers as eight spheres of iron hovered in front of her before being discharged in several directions, one after the other. It wasn¡¯t quite as fast as the previous electromagnetic cannon, but more than enough to penetrate a body. Fatchna appeared several meters away from them, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before vanishing ahead of the iron bullet that expelled toward him. Kara¡¯s brown eyes darted around the area as she tracked his teleport locations.

    Water emerged within Kara¡¯s iron sand and the electricity running through the haze strengthened, evaporating the liquid. Helena¡¯s attention was diverted by an explosion of energy from her left as blinding light flashed, followed by a blast of noise and hot air, whipping her hair within the magnetic field. The plasma ball detonated ¡­ was she waiting for the right time or did Fatchna detonate it preemptively?

    Helena rubbed her eyes as she looked up to see dust expanding across the sky, sections being transported away. It was starting to fill the area. Kara¡¯s cutting off Fatchna¡¯s teleportation areas, but he can just teleport the sand away...

    Lightning danced into the sky, connected by the sand, a network of energy blinded her. She shut her eyes, and suddenly she was being pulled closer to Kara. Squinting, she saw dozens of trees surround them. The wood exploded, sending shards of splinters flying in all directions at high velocity. However, just before reaching them they disintegrated, smoke flying outward as they burned to particles. Did Kara radiate a microwave burst around us ¡­ how?

    Lightning shot from Kara¡¯s left hand to skid across the water and three plasma balls formed. They shot into the sky and began to alternate each other, expanding in a triangle pattern. The rocks and dome shell pieces appeared, accelerating three meters from them. Fatchna shot them into the air to pick up momentum and then teleport them close to us!

    Electricity exploded around them in a flash of energy and the pieces instantly changed directions as several pulsating brilliant balls shot out. They vanished and high above large multicolored flash bangs flickered, the sound deafening. Pyrotechnic projectiles and Fatchna teleported them away ¡­ is this a battle of attrition?

    Helena hugged herself as they both shot upward, the iron sand following them as it filled more of the sky. Several trees surrounded them again and bulged with internal pressure. The sand surrounding them whizzed with a sharp noise as the trees exploded. The bits of iron ate away at the wood, deflecting all of the shards. The sand thickened, blocking her vision, and her hearing was eased by Kara¡¯s manipulations.

    Orange beams shot from around Kara to penetrate the sand, and she could feel the hot wind shift around them. I have no clue what¡¯s going on! Is Kara¡¯s electroreception this powerful? She must be able to sense at least as far as the sand was across the sky.

    Helena¡¯s eyes snapped open as water dropped around her and large iron clusters fell with them to the ground as she felt Kara¡¯s electromagnetic field break. She threw her arms over her head as the heavy clumps collapsed around them. He countered by throwing a lake on everything. Lightning encircled them, and they slowly hovered to the now blackened soil.

    Fatchna appeared in front of them with a smile on his face, not a single wrinkle or wet spot stained his suit. ¡°That was a good warm-up, but maybe we should start getting serious. I know we usually put restraints on our skirmishes, but I want a full understanding of your capacities, like when you killed the Purple Prime.¡±

    Kara took a deep breath. ¡°Fatchna ¡­ if you really want me to try and kill you,¡± she closed her eyes. Taking another breath, she opened them, ¡°Then okay. You¡¯ve proven to me that you want a fair match¡ªno restrictions. Teleport Helena to the ridge I see in the distance. You won¡¯t try to use her; I¡¯ve come to accept that, but I expect you will run before I really start getting serious.¡±

    Fatchna¡¯s teeth gleamed as his smile grew. ¡°We will have to see.¡±

    Vertigo hit Helena¡¯s stomach as she was teleported to the ridge. She looked out at the valley with tingles shooting up her skin; a small section of the forest was smoking from where Kara¡¯s projectiles and lightning had struck. Kara didn¡¯t choose to have me sent back to the base, like Belesis? She wants me to witness this ¡­ does she want me to know what I have to overcome? That¡¯s the only reason¡­

    Helena¡¯s thoughts froze as a fire erupted across the valley with a thunderous sound; within a perfectly straight line was a molten scar that stretched off into the distance. What was¡­ The earth began to quake as rolling thunder vibrated the air; Helena collapsed to the ground as a beam of energy shot from the valley floor into the heavens, a large section of the overhead canopy shattering. Ground to sky lightning only occurs when the charge on the ground exceeds the sky ¡­ Kara¡¯s producing enough electricity that the atmosphere is attracting it?

    Colossal arcs of lightning branches out of the pillar, ripping apart the terrain and leaving fire blazing in their wake. Enormous vortexes of iron sand rose into the sky as Helena felt magnetic fields extend over her and beyond, the hot wind whipping around her as they changed the air pressure. Colorful balls of plasma began forming across the sky, shooting to specific spots before exploding. This ¡­ can¡¯t be real.

    Gray clouds began to form as the moisture around them rose, electricity sparking through them as they darkened. Bolts of lightning shot out from the heavens, breaking apart the canopy and causing it to fall; the energy struck across the sky all around the valley, chasing Fatchna.

    A massive dirt hill appeared over Kara, cutting off the energy flowing from the dark sky; however, the mound exploded in clumps of dirt that expelled at such a velocity that it caused avalanches to fall down a nearby mountain. Helena curled into a ball as the bottom half of the cliff she was on was struck, causing the lower half to crumble; the vibrations shook her body, making her teeth to chatter.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Opening her eyes, she retreated back from the cliff edge as she watched the falling sections of roof disappear, reappearing in front of strings of lightning; the material quickly crumbled but appeared to give Fatchna time to escape. He¡¯s on the defensive. Has Kara always had this much overwhelming power?

    She charged the particles at her ears to dampen the sounds but felt the quakes course through her body. More beams of invisible energy blackened the earth and burrowed into mountains; arcs of lightning twisted around the valley as bright balls of plasma continued to explode, many teleported around Kara but were easily redirected.

    Helena¡¯s eyes widened as a section of clouds blew apart, the sky beyond turning from blue to purple. What was that? There¡¯s no way I can do anything like this¡­ Her legs gave way as a gigantic mushroom cloud appeared at the far end of the forest, the shockwave uprooting the forest and smothering the fire. The ground lifted to produce hill sized clumps of earth as they spun around in a circle and expelled in violent torrents of stones. The plasma and iron tornadoes were blown away as the wave decimated them, dust momentarily blocking Kara¡¯s pillar of energy from view.

    A massive glacier appeared in the sky and flew toward the chain of lightning with several lakes of water above it. The pillar of energy connecting the heaven and earth bowed to run through the water and ice. A colossal nebula of shining energy appeared and was quickly swept into an enormous ball of plasma that detonated on the first pulse.

    Helena¡¯s watched the combined shockwave of the plasma and mushroom cloud in stunned realization. The concussion of air alone will kill me¡­ The repercussion shattered what was left of the canopy and destroyed everything she could see, but an enormous amount of lightning shot from the sky between the blast and her, blocking the oncoming wave.

    She swallowed as the dust began to clear; the environment in a three-hundred and ten degree angle was ravaged. The quakes under her were only partially noticeable to her with all the chaos; everything within sight except her little cliff was gone, most of the clouds were blown away in the torrent. How can she be worried about me ¡­ she¡¯s fighting a Prime, but it seems so one-sided...

    Beams of orange energy discharged from the middle of the lightning chain and flames erupted along the pillar, but they were quickly suppressed or redirected. There¡¯s so little to throw at Kara ... she¡¯s destroying everything. Fatchna must be teleporting pockets of gas around her, but they¡¯re charged, she can easily deflect it. All he can do is teleport around while Kara chases.

    Her mouth dropped open as a burst of pinkish light emitted from the lightning chain, distorting the air around it; it burrowed into the ground to Helena¡¯s right. The beam eradicated everything it touched; it penetrated the terrain, causing the earth to quake. Four meters of the cliff she was one shaved away from the rumble; yellow and orange liquid jetted out of the earth. Lava? Kara¡¯s beam burrowed that far underground?

    The lava flowed upward and soon entered an arc of lightning; it swirled, the molten material twisting with the arcs and expelling in a multitude of directions. Another earthquake shook the ground, and one more section of her cliff tumbled below. Two more magma chambers burst open, spewing lava that Kara quickly took control over.

    A large section of molten stone was teleported above the mass of energy but was easily deflected as it fell. Another surge of pinkish light expanded from the chain, and all of Kara¡¯s lightning died down. The magma fell from the sky, clumping upon the blistered earth. A single sparkling light flew from the center of the devastation toward Helena.

    Moments later, Kara appeared. She landed lightly on her feet, next to Helena with an annoyed expression; her body was covered in sweat, clothing damp, and there were several cuts and burns along the fabric, but her skin was undamaged. She was barefoot, and there was a six centimeter cut in the middle of her brown hair that shot halfway up its length.

    She huffed, looking back at the ruined valley as jets of magma continued to jet up from the ground. ¡°I hate Teleporters ¡­ so annoying to catch.¡±

    Swallowing as she shakily rose to her feet, Helena glanced across the valley. ¡°You killed him?¡±

    Taking a deep breath, Kara cracked her neck. ¡°No ¡­ I knew he¡¯d run when he ran low on Focus. It¡¯ll hit his pride; he thought he had a Focus pool equal to a real Prime ¡­ he now knows he does not.¡± She grimaced. ¡°I was hoping the radiation would kill him ¡­ he managed to skirt most the damage, and he¡¯ll have a Biokinetic heal whatever damage I did¡­¡± She cut off, features brightening. ¡°What did you think?¡±

    ¡°Of the fight?¡± Helena licked her lips.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be capable of all that ¡­ in time,¡± she giggled. ¡°You have a long ways to go though, and that isn¡¯t even half of what a real Prime can do ¡­ Fatchna is just a temp until a real Prime leveled Esper shows up.¡±

    Helena gulped and looked out at the ravaged land again; her attention was caught by two black specks that appeared in the distance. Two Hoverfly flew their way.

    Kara followed her gaze as another tremor shook the earth and grimaced. ¡°WITCH, there¡¯ll be two Primes or the Alpha in that.¡±

    Feeling a twist in her stomach, she waited for the two vehicles to near. A person leaped out of the nearest one and quickly outpaced the machines. Eizea appeared in the bright morning light and hovered down to them. She wore a royal blue gown that made it seem like she was going to a summer ball. An amused expression lit her cheeks as she caught sight of the two Electro Masters. ¡°Rough morning, girls?¡± Eizea asked with laughter.

    ¡°What¡¯s the verdict?¡± Kara asked, brushing off the dust on her torn clothes.

    ¡°Favorable. Since no one was around to see your abilities in at least a moderate degree, and Fatchna is dead? That is correct, yes? Fatchna is dead?¡± Eizea asked with a sidelong glance at the wasteland.

    Kara breathed deeply before shaking her head. ¡°I knew he¡¯d retreat as soon as his Focus ran low.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Eizea hummed. ¡°I doubt he¡¯ll be bold enough to confront you again, but his pride must be hurt. He must realize now that he doesn¡¯t stand up to the rest of us.¡±

    Nodding, Kara shrugged. ¡°His pride may be hurt, but I don¡¯t expect him to join Phantasm. He must, at least, think that he¡¯s above that snake. So¡ªyou¡¯re here to take us back to the base?¡± She asked, placing her hands on her hips and adding a smile as she stretched.

    ¡°That¡ªand clean-up,¡± Eizea mumbled while looking back at the valley, ¡°which, I¡¯m not looking forward to.¡±

    The two Hoverfly landed, and Colin exited. He walked beside Eizea and surveyed the area before whistling. ¡°Really got into it, didn¡¯t you. Although, it still isn¡¯t near as widespread as the other incident I observed in Cassy¡¯s memory¡ªthat¡¯s understandable. It¡¯s not like you had to go all out against Fatchna. That memory though¡ªnow that was a real fight. Oh¡ªCassy¡¯s been sent back to the Southern Base¡ªafter talking with the President and Alpha that is. So, don¡¯t worry about a surprise attack from her¡ªat least for the moment.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Kara said rubbing her neck and laughing in her tinkling way. ¡°She might give me a run¡­¡± She stopped and brought her hair around to study it. ¡°What¡ªmy hair!¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t notice?¡± Eizea asked with a lifted eyebrow and small smirk.

    ¡°No¡ªI was too absorbed in locking down that stupid Teleporter¡ªnow I¡¯m going to have to cut off half my hair! I wish¡ªI¡¯ll annihilate him!¡± She seethed.

    Colin and Eizea laughed shortly, but it slowly died. ¡°I heard about a casualty within your faction, and someone was gravely injured?¡± Colin asked with a frown.

    ¡°Klen was killed by Booker and Belesis ¡­ she¡¯s not in the best shape.¡± Kara responded, with a darkening expression.

    ¡°Booker¡ªI see.¡± Eizea cut off as she recognized Kara¡¯s frigid eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure Belesis will pull through; she is an excellent Biokinetic. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already made preparations for Klen. You two get on and get some rest. It¡¯ll be finished here by the time you wake up.¡±

    Colin cleared his throat. ¡°Oh, and¡ªthe President wants a last-minute word with you, Kara, before he leaves.¡±

    Helena tried to shake out the jitters in her body before asking, ¡°What about the competition?¡±

    A smile lit Eizea¡¯s lips, and she spread her arms. ¡°With this mess¡ªit¡¯s been canceled. There are a host of other issues that arose as well. You¡¯ve also been given full SOP clearance within Kara¡¯s faction. The President must have really liked your performance.¡± Examining her leg, Eizea lifted an eyebrow. ¡°That looks nasty; you should get it fixed. I¡¯ll send someone to the bay.¡±

    Glancing down, she studied the burns. I completely forgot about the cut. Her leg started to pain her. She nodded and complied with her comment, climbing into the Hoverfly. Kara studied the landscape for a few more seconds, before following her. Colin and Eizea waved them off as the vehicle took them back to the base. I need to come to terms with all this before I make a decision ¡­ what will I live for now...

 B1 â€” 40. Resolve

    Helena was silent the entire way back to the base as she thought; Kara waved to her as the hoverfly landed and the ramp lowered. ¡°Don¡¯t wait up for me; Klen¡¯s funeral won¡¯t be ready for at least twelve hours, and Belesis won¡¯t be awake for a few days. You should go sit in the spa and clear your mind; I know your little brain is spinning.¡± With one last encouraging smile, Kara exited.

    Taking a deep breath, Helena buried her face in her hands. What¡¯s really changed though? I keep coming back to the same answer. I¡¯m weak ¡­ shockingly weak; I didn¡¯t think there was this much of a gap and there¡¯s so much more connected to it. For my family to hold their land, contending against WITCH, Tech, and the Deities from taking over their territory ¡­ we must hold enormous power.¡ªmy parents must hold massive power ¡­ even Drake. So, why am I so weak?

    She sat back against the cushioned seats of the hoverfly; her eyes following the pilot leave; he gave her a stiff nod that she returned, trying to keep a passive expression. Drake¡¯s experiment is the answer ¡­ I know that I¡¯ve been operating near zero Focus for the past four years. My Focus reserves will start filling up again, and I can function at a level of Focus that no other Esper can; it¡¯s amazing, but I still feel empty. Drake didn¡¯t explain it to me or even give me the option to opt out and to top it off; he sent me to this hellhole without so much as an explanation.

    Staring up at the ceiling, she slowly cracked her neck. There¡¯s no getting around it; I¡¯m trapped in WITCH, and if I want to get out, I need to get stronger. I have to stay in Kara¡¯s faction and use what resources I can get to their fullest. It only took Kara a few years to rise to the point of a Prime; I have the capability. There is a genuine danger though; my control is dangerously low. I need to strengthen my control within the next three years to a point where I can handle the release on my Focus tap or else I¡¯ll be vaporized. Kara can¡¯t always be there to save me in that two-year awakening range; I need to gain control over my Focus.

    Helena straightened, arching her back. She sighed before walking down the ramp, head turning as her name was called out. A woman with a medical coat came jogging up to her. ¡°Lady¡ªLady Helena.¡± She dashed over to Helena, panting. ¡°I¡¯ve been¡ªlooking everywhere for you.¡± The woman straightened, trying to present herself. Swallowing nervously, she did a deep curtsy. ¡°Lady Eizea told me to get here as soon as possible¡ªit is an honor to serve you.¡±

    Her actions seemed to be causing a halt among the Hoverfly Bay workers. Helena sighed, as she appraised the kneeling woman. I bet Eizea has told her entire faction to treat me as a Noble. It¡¯s all wrong though; she could have taught them the proper way to address a second born heir to the Main Family of a Great House¡ªshe¡¯s acting like a second cousin. She initiated contact and casually called out my name¡ªof course, that would take ages; a non-royal approaching a Noble is unthinkable ¡­ it would be in a formal setting, planned for hearing the common folk¡¯s very brief and thought out requests. Common healers are nowhere near as proficient as the Branch Family healers, in any case; this situation would never arise. My desires would never trump Eizea¡¯s in this girl¡¯s eyes; I¡¯ll have to play along with this weak facade.

    Keeping her thoughts clear from her features, Helena nodded. ¡°Lady Eizea made me aware. Proceed.¡±

    ¡°Excuse my impertinence,¡± the girl muttered as her fingers wrapped around the scar on her leg. Shock crossed her face. ¡°Who did this to your body? There are active stem cells throughout your system, and your body mass is extremely condensed.¡±

    Pain flashed across Helena¡¯s face. ¡°Belesis.¡± In only a few days, she¡¯s done more than I can ever repay.

    Astonishment filled the doctor¡¯s face. ¡°The General¡ªas expected of a Noble¡ªthe work she did was massive¡ªmarvelous!¡± Helena didn¡¯t answer as the memory of Belesis¡¯ exhausted frame appeared in her mind. The doctor swallowed as she examined her face and cleared her throat. ¡°I apologize, my Lady. Yes, I¡¯ll remove the blackened skin and accelerate the process to the point of knitted tissue.¡±

    Helena waited for several minutes as she worked, going over the last hour¡¯s events. If only I knew about Belesis¡­ then what? It still wouldn¡¯t have changed the fact that I¡¯m weak and she gave up everything to make up for my inadequacies when I was her subordinate. An abrupt shiver ran down her spine, breaking her concentration. It goes against everything I¡¯ve been taught ¡­ I was the servant; she was the master.

    The woman lifted from her position. ¡°I¡¯m done Lady Helena. Thank you for allowing me to examine such an extraordinary body.¡± She curtsied again.

    Sighing, Helena left the woman standing in the bay without a second glance and made her way to the medical bay. She was told Belesis was in a secure location and Kara made it clear no one was allowed to visit and when she arrived to direct her to the spa. A little frustrated, she made her way to the spa by her room. Am I this predictable? Grabbing a robe and towel, she removed her clothes and threw them in the hamper before setting her towel and robe by the water. Entering the steaming liquid, she sat, back against the wall and tried to relax. Slowly, she cleared her mind and drifted off to sleep.

    * * *

    Blurred shapes echoed across her vision as if she were watching a sheet show and dull voices resonated in her ears; she couldn¡¯t make out what was said. That¡¯s Drake¡¯s voice ¡­ but it seems a lot younger than anything I remember ¡­ is that my father¡¯s voice? What are they saying ¡­ I can¡¯t breathe! Kicking upward, she exited the hot water and breathed a gulp of thick air. She sputtered, clutching her throat. I fell in the water while sleeping ¡­ I could have killed myself!

    Calming her racing heart, she sat back against the wall and reflected on the incident. Drake was talking to our father about something. I don¡¯t remember any events like that.

    Rising, she sat at the pool''s edge and stared down at the very faint scar along her left leg. It was now pink, but visibly evident. Rinsing the previous thought from her mind, she returned to her reverie. Belesis couldn¡¯t have killed me from the start. She¡¯s a victim of circumstances¡ªher world was ripped apart, forced to use her abilities in a way she despises. Not only for WITCH, but she went against her principles to protect me from Fatchna ¡­ she almost died because of my weakness. Some Noble I am ¡­ Eizea would have ripped Fatchna to pieces.

    A burning sensation filled her nose as her stomach dropped and stirred. I completely ruined her life. A sharp intake of breath filled her lungs and tears gathered at her eyes. Me¡ªa pathetic¡ªhelpless child cost her everything. There has to be more, something I could have done or can do ¡­ no, nothing. She has everything already ¡­ she¡¯d normally never be in that kind of situation.

    A fire kindled in her heart as the bolstering feelings consumed her emotions. I will become stronger¡ªit¡¯s a necessity. For the sake of the Branch Families that have been trodden upon for over a millennium; I¡¯ll destroy the Vandred Family Principles. I¡¯ll protect the Branch Families with my own power. Head Milnor had the right idea, but the wrong approach. The House needs to be strong and absolute, not just cared for. Also, the House shouldn¡¯t rely on the Branch Families to bring power to the family. It¡¯s the duty of the Head to take care of everyone under their charge, not the other way around.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    I will become the Head, even if I need to kill my father, mother, Drake¡ªif he gets in my way ¡­ anyone. I¡¯ll destroy any obstacle for Belesis alone ¡­ I owe her everything. Even if my immediate family gets in the way, I¡¯ll remove them for the sake of the whole, but first, I need strength. I need to get rid of WITCH, including Phantasm, especially Phantasm, and finally take over my House, making us the most powerful Great House. No one will harm my family; no one will hurt Belesis again ¡­ I will not cause her further pain. She thought about her family¡ªmaids, healers, guards, and many others she¡¯d seen as throughout her short life. The Branch Families have taken care of me; what has my parents done? Nothing but bring me and those that cared for me pain.

    Lifting her legs out of the water, she dried herself off and went to the ladies room. Combing out her hair, she robed herself. Stopping off at the Cafeteria, she forced down some food and rehydrated before going back to her room. She picked out an all-black outfit as customary for Noble funerals¡ªa black v-dress, undergarments, and black flats; simple and appropriate.

    Sliding her hands over the material, she reflected. Belesis picked out these clothes for me. Klen could be considered family. I entered Kara¡¯s faction; he was an equal ¡­ he was nowhere near strong enough to handle his opponents, but he still came to my rescue. He was stupid ¡­ courageous. Who am I to say his choice was wrong ¡­ he truly wanted to save me; he even challenged Fatchna before his death. Stupid... Tears started to gather in the corners of her eyes, but she pushed them down. She placed the clothes on the desk, climbed up her bed, snuggled under the new sheets, and fell asleep.

    * * *

    She was awoken, by the HCID¡¯s alarm and a message popped up. Get dressed and meet me outside. I¡¯m right around the corner.

    Helena eased the tension in her neck before getting up. Dressing, she did a once over with her comb and walked outside to greet Kara. She was dressed in a similar outfit, except she had black tights and a black non-reflective belt around her waist; her hair had been cut shorter.

    They traveled to the Hoverfly Bay in silence. An iron coffin was clasped underneath the vehicle. Walking inside, Helena found Eizea and Colin present. Helena¡¯s lips turned into a slight frown at the two Primes and sat across from them; Kara followed shortly after, sitting next to her. The Hoverfly lifted off the ground when the doors shut and began to move.

    Her eyes shifted between the two Primes. Would it be appropriate for me to ask their reason for coming? No, I¡¯m sure they understand my thoughts and will answer if they desire.

    Eizea was expressionless, but her lips lifted slightly as her eyes rested on her for a short time before returning to Kara.

    Helena¡¯s focus shifted to Colin as he shrugged with a short sigh. ¡°Despite what you may think; I was acquainted with Klen. I talked with him every so often.¡±

    ¡°Studying his time with me, no doubt.¡± Kara¡¯s tone was steel.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Colin said without shame. ¡°Still, I knew a great deal about the boy. Such is the life of a Mentokinetic.¡±

    Silence fell upon the group; Helena looked through one of the windows, watching the icy scenery below. After several minutes, she asked, ¡°Where are we taking him?¡±

    Kara¡¯s voice was low and held little emotion. ¡°A nice area I discovered a few weeks back. It¡¯s a little out of the way.¡± She smiled a little as her eyes turned to her. ¡°Belesis is doing great; she¡¯ll make a full recovery.¡±

    Tingles shot across Helena¡¯s Body; she swallowed reflexively before rubbing her shoulder. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    After an hour they flew over an enormous tundra to a large mountainous area. Landing on its flat top, they all exited, excluding the pilot. The freezing wind flowed around them as Eizea manipulated the gravity of the space to cut the force, but the chill remained. Kara produced an electromagnetic field, and the air started to warm as the coffin unclasped from the bottom of the shuttle. Helena followed the group to a large hole in the ground that was partially frozen over.

    Eizea produced a gravitational push, and the sheet of ice slammed against the ground, melding with the icy floor. As they neared, rough steps appeared, imprinted by compressed gravity, complete with a rough texture for grip. They descended for several minutes before coming into an enormous cavern with a vast pool of steaming water. The frost ended with dripping stalagmites hanging over twenty meters above them.

    Eizea smiled as she gazed around the space. ¡°As you said, Kara.¡± Sparkling granite glistened across the ground as reflected light somehow shone around the area.

    ¡°Can you do it?¡± Kara asked.

    Eizea rubbed her hands together and held out her hands. ¡°Of course.¡± The walls of the cavern to their side trembled and a massive mansion-sized chunk of ice crushed upward; the integrity of the room seemed entirely stable, likely held by Eizea¡¯s manipulations. The blocks split into four blocks that started to compress. Once they reached three meters by one, she stopped and turned to Kara. ¡°Your turn.¡±

    Kara unsealed the coffin to expose Klen; his clothes had been changed to a customary black suit, fitted to him. His expression was peaceful, and it seemed like his wounds had been healed, leaving his body unscathed.

    He lifted from the coffin with Eizea¡¯s manipulations and hovered over to the slabs. Laying him across the compressed ice, Eizea lifted the two compressed chunks and slowly brought them down to insert into the other. She¡¯s preserving him in the ice; did Kara ask Eizea here to help her do this?

    The pieces started to form around his body as Eizea perfectly molded it to his shape. The ice fused and the two final constructs lifted to show Klen standing in casual position, frozen in the super dense casing of ice. If his eyes weren¡¯t shut, I could believe he was still alive. Helena felt a ping against her heart. Why do I feel this way about someone I barely met? I don¡¯t understand these emotions ¡­ Drake always told me to push them down and burn them. This feeling ¡­ isn¡¯t bad, but isn¡¯t good ¡­ it¡¯s so mixed. I can¡¯t tell what I¡¯m feeling...

    ¡°Quite sad,¡± Eizea commented while staring at Klen. ¡°It would have been a real tragedy if Belesis had fallen. Biokinetics of her caliber are quite rare.¡± She sounded sincere, but she couldn¡¯t tell by her heart from all the gravitational interference.

    Looking up at Klen¡¯s serene expression, Helena reaffirmed her conviction. I will not let a member of my family die; I will get stronger.

    Eizea moved the slab to a granite island at the center of the pool and faced him toward the stairs. The group stood there in silence for several minutes before Colin left, followed by Eizea with the parting words, ¡°I¡¯ll continue to wait for you, Helena. Sooner or later, you will join my cause; in Kara¡¯s faction or out.¡±

    Helena¡¯s throat went dry at her words. Just how far ahead do Primes plan? She left, leaving Helena with Kara. They stared onward in silence for several more minutes. Kara¡¯s serious voice echoed around the cave. ¡°What have you decided to do? I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured it out by now.¡±

    ¡°I want to become stronger,¡± Helena responded in a low and sure tone.

    ¡°You leave for New Genesis tomorrow. I¡¯ve already sent word for people to pack up the necessary items to be moved to your room at the new location.¡± Helena nodded. Now I have a goal and, I will achieve it.

    Kara left, leaving Helena to stare into Klen¡¯s closed eyelids, reaffirming her plan in her mind. She didn¡¯t know how long she stood there, but at some point, she decided to leave. Exiting the cavern, she found the three waiting in the Hoverfly. New Genesis ... what awaits me?

 B1 â€” 41. Moth to Flame

    Rean walked around the throng of the back-alley market as she walked through her hometown Holbron, an iron bucket in hand. Her mother had given her some money to pay for a good birthday dinner. She¡¯d turned nine earlier today and just wanted to play it off like any other day, finding fish in the ocean for their supper. However, her mother had insisted upon getting something more exotic for this special day. She¡¯d given her two hundred credits; learning she¡¯d saved it up for the last three years for such an occasion.

    Rean¡¯s lips were pursed as she kept an eye out for pickpockets. Why is this such an important day? It¡¯s just the day I was born in relevance to celestial movement. I¡¯m also cursed; The Deity Oltim found my previous life unworthy of exaltation in heaven; so he sent me back down to live a life of penance as an esper. What¡¯s so glorious about that kind of birth?

    Her heart sank at the thought, her head lowering to examine the dirt. Born with the sins of contracting with the Reapers; why did I sacrifice my eternity for temporary power? How could I have been so blind?

    She went to every Sixth Day Deity Sermon with her mother, but everything spoken labeled her as a branded soul, something to be trodden upon. Her mother wanted her to keep it a secret so she wouldn¡¯t be killed, which she didn¡¯t understand. Mom says even espers can be saved, but I haven¡¯t perceived anything about it from the sermons. Am I not looking hard enough or is she lying to me? No ¡­ I can¡¯t doubt her, she¡¯s much more experienced than me.

    Her fingers closed around the small teardrop-shaped topaz necklace under her shirt front before looking around at the multitude of stands. The gem had belonged to her father, the only thing he left her before leaving. She¡¯d never met her father, but her mother said that he had to abandon them. Of course he¡¯d leave ¡­ why wouldn¡¯t he go after finding out his daughter was an apostolate in her previous life? Sins chained into my very soul, persisting even after death. He didn¡¯t want to be drawn into my iniquities¡ªI can¡¯t blame him.

    Her nose stung and she sniffed back her emotions, swallowing. Right, I need to concentrate on the task at hand. Mom says I have an overactive mind; a product of the Reaper¡¯s so-called gift.

    Fish, jewelry, odds and ends from the east and south, the market was busy with even more merchants than usual. Matching the strange objects from distant lands were just as many different styles of clothes; her eyes slid between the merchants as they lifted their wares. Her vision lingering on a few middle-class Augnecian styles. It would be nice to have something more than rags, but you take what you can get ¡­ what you can make.

    Rean always wanted to see the Holy City Augnecia with its Sacred Guard, the Celestrian Unit, and the high-quality products that were imported there from all regions across the world. Holbron was located on the southwest side of Elestveeve, by the coast. Their primary fish in the area were Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Giant Yellowfin Tuna, and in general blue water fish. Mom said she wants something called a Weakfish. She also wants some olive oil, vidalia onions, and some more salt. Finding the oil, onions, and salt in less than thirty minutes, she paid twenty credits for all the items and headed to the exotic fish section of the market, asking around for merchants selling Weakfish.

    It wasn¡¯t long before she discovered only a single merchant sold it. He was a young man, which was odd since most merchants were old veterans that stopped at the same time every year. The man had fair skin, dark hair, thick eyebrows, blue eyes, and a crooked nose. His thin lips curled into a smile as she neared. ¡°What can I do for you, little girl?¡± His accent sounds more southern, near the border to Holoq.

    She rarely met people with his accent, which caught her interest; people south of the border were required to go through many stages of processing to get into Elestveeve. Not only was there a long administering dispensation, but those living close to the border rarely went north because of the desert like climate between the far west and south.

    Clearing her throat, Rean said, ¡°I hear you have Weakfish for sale.¡±

    The stranger lifted one of his thick eyebrows. ¡°Expensive tastes you have there.¡± He glanced over her rough shirt and pants; his eyes halted at the slightly rusted bucket and her brown shopping bag. ¡°Are you sure you can afford something so rare?¡±

    ¡°How much are you charging for one?¡± Rean asked, knowing she¡¯d likely be swindled for this fish.

    ¡°Well ¡­ you can¡¯t get Weakfish around these parts, and where you can get them, they¡¯re a dangerous catch. In the areas of Tech and New Genesis you know!¡±

    Rean let a heavy sigh escape her lips and repeated her question. ¡°How much are you asking?¡±

    Perking up, the man said, ¡°Since you¡¯re so young and I have a soft spot for the youngins, how about I shave twenty credits off, a hundred and eighty credits.¡±

    Rean kept a straight face. What! That¡¯s as much as a twenty-five pound cut from a Giant Yellowfin Tuna! How big are these Weakfish? ¡°How big is the fish?¡± Rean asked, keeping her voice in check. She didn¡¯t want to insult him, or he might raise the price.

    The corner of the young man¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Two-pounds, a fantastic deal I¡¯m giving you!¡± Fantastic deal? Right ¡­ two-pounds; I can get thirty times that amount from a Bass with the same amount of credits! Mom wants it though ¡­ what¡¯s so good about this fish? I need to find some way to lower the price; it can¡¯t be a coincidence he¡¯s asking for the exact amount of credits I have left.

    ¡°I have a hundred and fifty credits; can you lower it down a little? My mom really wanted to cook a Weakfish!¡± She tried sounding as cute and hopeful as possible.

    The man laughed heartily. ¡°I know for a fact that you have exactly a hundred and eighty credits, little girl.¡±

    Rean¡¯s mouth curved into a grimace and she glared at the man. He must have a scouter around the market. He could have put a tail on me, but why go after me? I didn¡¯t announce that I was looking for a Weakfish until I came into this specific market; perhaps the merchants take a little cut if they help pin a customer into a deal. I haven¡¯t taken out my money since I bought the onions ¡­ so, there must be a merchant guild that¡¯s entered the town.

    ¡°Normally I wouldn¡¯t budge a credit, but I¡¯m amused that such a little girl would try haggling with me. Tell you what, I¡¯ll drop the price five more credits.¡± His eyes appraised her bucket; however, it¡¯ll be an extra credit for the ice. Scoundrel, all the other merchants take away the ice fee if the fish is over twenty credits, but he¡¯s the only eastern fish merchant in the area ¡­ I¡¯m lucky enough he dropped it four credits.

    Begrudgingly, she handed him the credits. His hands darted out and grabbed her hand, shaking it earnestly. ¡°Pleasure doing business, little lady!¡± I might as well be a Lady! Only a Lady would fork over this amount of credits for a two-pound fish ¡­ ridiculous.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rean grunted, hoisting the bucket, now carrying the fish, over her shoulders.

    The merchant lifted an eyebrow as she stumbled a little with her burdens. ¡°You sure you can carry that all the way back home?¡±

    Rean nodded with a sullen tone. ¡°Yeah, I help my mom with her fish all the time. I¡¯m fine.¡± The man snorted, but turned back to the passing crowd and shouted out inflated prices for exotic fish.

    Walking back through town, she kept to the main streets and away from the alleys. Thieves would be drawn like bees to honey. She exited the town, making her way into the woods; their cabin was a few hundred meters into the town¡¯s surrounding forest. Entering the foliage, she shoved her way into a dense bunch of brush. Sighing, she set down her items and stretched out, feeling her muscles burn. What¡¯s with that merchant! Charging me so much for this small fish; we could have saved the money and been set for the next few months living off Bass. Maybe it has a unique flavor that mom likes ... she does work hard. She deserves it, I shouldn¡¯t complain; she¡¯s taking care of me, even when I¡¯m an esper.

    Rean¡¯s focus shot back to the road as she heard low voices approaching. It sounded like the merchant and a young boy. ¡°You sure she went this way?¡± The boy asked.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The merchant eagerly responded. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s only like nine or ten; she can¡¯t have gone far into the woods without stopping.¡± What a vulture! He¡¯s coming after me to steal back the fish, even after charging me such a ridiculous price. He might as well have already stolen it from me! I just need to wait ¡®till they go further in and¡­

    Rean¡¯s breath caught in her throat as a black coated Worg soundlessly exited the brush four meters in front of her. It stood four feet tall at the shoulders and had dagger sharp ten-centimeter canines protruded from its drooling mouth. Ten-centimeter claws flexed against the ground, and its sleek black fur bristled as its black nose creased, tasting the air. Mom¡¯s only told me stories about them, but this has to be a Worg! What¡¯s a Worg doing in the Itol Forest? They¡¯re usually found in the Northern Tundra and rarely travel south, never this far. How did it get past the Celestrian patrols? I have thieves to my back and a vicious Worg to my front! What do I do? Either the men scare it off and take the fish, most likely killing me to not hamper business, or I get eaten by the Worg. Her breath came out in hindered pants as her body trembled. What should I do?

    The Worg bared its yellowed teeth as its beady black eyes centered on her. It prowled forward circling to her right, closing the distance. Mom said they hunt in packs of three, spreading around an area to corner their prey. Why hasn¡¯t it howled for its party? Why does it even matter! I¡¯ll be eaten if I don¡¯t do anything. Do I not have a choice? I don¡¯t want to leave mom alone...

    As it reached three meters from her right, Rean panicked. Closing her eyes and holding her hands in front of her, she sent the calculations through her mind that she told herself she would never produce. Orange light danced across her eyelids with a rush of air that pressed against her skin. She heard a yelp of surprise escape the beast and Rean stumbling backward. She tripped, falling to her butt. She opened her eyes in a panic. The Worg had danced back several feet and sat down, its eyes fixated on her. The ground in front of her was scorched, and small flames started spreading across a nearby bush.

    The boy¡¯s voice sounded beside her in the underbrush. ¡°What did I say, Geri? Her body temperature is at the point of a heavy fever, but she looks perfectly fine. She¡¯s a Pyrokinetic.¡± Rean swallowed a heavy lump as the merchant, and a teenager emerged from the bushes. The teenager looked to be around the age of seventeen; he had fair skin, black hair, blue eyes, and wore a white shirt with blue pants. He walked over to the Worg and started petting its sleek fur.

    Geri laughed nervously. ¡°I¡¯m shocked she waited that long to act. Normally, wouldn¡¯t an esper kill the beast on sight?¡± The Worg¡¯s low tone of pleasure escaped its throat, and it began scratching its side as the boy rubbed its upper chest, Geri still apprising Rean with nervous eyes.

    The boy huffed. ¡°She¡¯s grown up in the Deity society, what else would you expect? She probably thinks her ability is a curse of some all-powerful being ¡­ really, it¡¯s sad.¡±

    Shakily getting to her feet, Rean tried to make sense of what was transpiring. The Worg isn¡¯t attacking the boy, it¡¯s enjoying his attention. It¡¯s a trained Worg? Did I just fall into some kind of esper trap and what¡¯s a Pyrokinetic? I¡¯ve never heard of that word before. ¡°Who are you?¡± She slowly edged back toward the main road.

    Geri chuckled, and the Worg leaped to her right as quick as a viper, darting around to block her escape. She swallowed as her heart pounded and her breath coming out in twisted pants. What do they want? Are they Celestrians here to cast judgment on me? Is the Worg a Spirit Linker beast? Tentatively, Rean asked. ¡°Are you two Celestrians?¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Geri gasped through heavy spurts of laughter, losing his nervousness. ¡°Celestrians¡ªno. Stephen here is an esper¡ªjust like you.¡±

    Rean closed her fists as her hands started to tremble. Another past sinner, like me?

    Geri gestured to Stephen. ¡°This young man has the esper ability of Zoopathy. Think of it as Telepathy for animals. He can control and direct them to do as he wishes. While I¡¯m a normal human, who¡¯s under the payroll¡ªsimple really. I know you must be fairly intelligent if you¡¯re an esper; you should be able to grasp that.¡±

    ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Rean asked, her throat going dry. There¡¯s no way I can escape if I have this Worg tracking me.

    Stephen shook his head with a puff of air escaping his mouth. ¡°We don¡¯t need to explain anything. Stick her so we can get back to work.¡±

    Rean¡¯s eyes widened as she felt a prick in her back. Turning in shock, she found the Worg had snuck up behind her and held a needle carefully between its teeth. The Worg drugged me? Her vision faded and her body seemed to gain weight as the ground met her blurred eyes.

    * * *

    She felt something slide across her left hand as she awoke. Her hand twitched at the contact. Where am I? Those ¡­ men, they drugged me. She stayed silent as she listened. Are they gone? Odd tingling sensations started in her left hand, climbing up her body. She could hear shallow breathing and drops of water that echoed around the area. It reminded her of her house; she had a leak in her room that fell into a bucket. The noise calmed her racing heart and eased her nerves. That Zoopathy esper, Stephen, his Worg drugged me and now I¡¯m waking up. She laid still for a minute before she heard someone¡¯s clothes rustling. Opening her eyes, she followed his action, lifting to a sitting position.

    A boy¡¯s frightened voice asked, ¡°Where am I?¡± It¡¯s a good question, the room¡¯s pitch black.

    Starting to feel the darkness closing in on her, she shivered even though she couldn¡¯t feel cold weather. ¡°No idea.¡± Should I use my flames? Mom said I shouldn¡¯t, but I already did against the Worg¡ªand look where it got me, but how am I supposed to find my way out ¡­ what if that Worg is still here?

    The boy¡¯s scared voice had stabilized as he asked, ¡°Still there?¡± Who is he and why am I with him? Was that his hand that rubbed against mine? I might as well try and see what this area¡¯s like, I¡¯ve already sinned. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s my first time anyways, I¡¯m condemned either way.

    ¡°Yeah, give me a second.¡± Lifting her hands into a cup, she sent the appropriate calculations that she¡¯d only done a few times. Concentrating on her hands to birth the fire, she felt a warm sensation spread throughout her body as the flames lit the area.

    Blinking rapidly, she stared around. Seven people were in the room. A young blonde haired girl that looked even younger than her was sitting up against the back wall and the boy next to her seemed to be a few years older.

    When her eyes settled on the blonde haired older boy, her heart fluttered and a strange pressure pressed against her chest. What¡¯s going on? I can¡¯t get his face out of my head? Clamping her jaw shut, she switched her eyes to the flames, which were starting to flicker and sputter with her lack of concentration. No matter how hard she stared at the fire, her mind kept replaying the boy¡¯s image. Her jaw slackened as she started breathing through her mouth, her lips felt so dry. I can¡¯t focus, and I¡¯m getting tired, but why? This has never happened before?

    The boy moved to face her, his hand grasping her shoulder and panic broke across his face, his terror returning. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on with the light? Why is it dimming? Don¡¯t let it go out!¡±

    Snapping her jaw again, she felt a strange urge to pour everything into the flame. Her face contorted as she muttered. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her heart was beating so fast. She began panting as she tried her absolute best to keep the flames lit, but her mind kept flashing back to the boy, disrupting her efforts.

    She felt a slight tingling sensation at her neck as the boy¡¯s hand squeezed her shoulder, beside her neck. ¡°That¡¯s enough. It won¡¯t do us any good if you faint.¡± Rean felt her vision gloss over, and her mind blanked.

    * * *

    The next moment, she found herself in a dark box with the dimensions of two meters, and she was tossed around every few minutes. There were small gleams of light spotted across the small holes in the ceiling. What happened? I can¡¯t remember anything. The boy touching me and ¡­ I blacked out? Was he an esper too? What¡¯s happening to me?

    She felt tears coming to her eyes. The confusion sank into her stomach as it growled hungrily; her throat hurt, her muscles were sore, and she needed to go to the bathroom. Why did it turn out like this? What will mom do when I don¡¯t come back? She¡¯ll be lonely; she may even think that I abandoned her like father. Tears dripped down her cheeks at the thought, and she sniffed back snot that began running down her nose. Her hand closed around the necklace at her throat. Why did dad leave? Mom really could have used his help¡ªshe should have abandoned me.

    She didn¡¯t know how much time passed, but it couldn¡¯t have been that long. The side of the box shuddered as it landed against solid ground and blinding lights shone around the edges as it opened. Strong hands darted in to yank her out. She struggled for a second before she was tossed to the stone floor. She felt the blow jar through her body; more tears dripped down her cheeks as she looked up at two men standing over her. One had a clipboard and some kind of writing utensil as he checked things across a piece of paper.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Rean asked.

    The men didn¡¯t answer, but a moment later they stood at attention, holding their left fist over their heart. Turning, Rean watched a very tall, skinny black haired woman approach her. The woman stopped before her and the coldest eyes Rean had ever seen studied her. Rean was speechless, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. ¡°Ability?¡± The woman demanded, voice devoid of emotion.

    The man with the clipboard said, ¡°Pyrokinetic, not OP¡¯s level, and she¡¯s from Holbron.¡±

    Appraising her, the woman said, ¡°Kitchen ¡­ Boltis.¡±

    The man without the clipboard flinched, but said, ¡°Yes, Sevilla.¡±

    Rean felt cold shivers run down her spine as her body quaked. The woman appraised her one more time, before moving on. Where am I and who are these people? I want to go home!

 B2 â€” 0. Prelude: Is there Hope?

    Rean walked through a miasma of provocation, the pressure of the frigid apathetic atmosphere gnawing at her mind. Low, malicious conversation echoed around a massive eating hall that held three levels of serving areas; the layers were evenly broken by ten-meter square terraces that showed the floors below. Elevators were placed by each hallway extension. The three layers each held their own style.

    The first layer had oak tables and chairs, themed wilder than the upper levels; animal pelts and monster skins covered the floor, the walls housing trophies of past faction occupants. This layer was the gathering place for the bottom-ranked SOP members of the Turquoise Faction

    The second floor was designed for Captain to Colonels. This landing was comprised of glass tables with embedded microchips inside that connected to the WITCH network, giving the officers data to browse and coordinate with other team leaders.

    The third and final eating floor was designed for Lieutenant Colonels up to Generals; the Prime having her own private level. The third layer comprising of hardened granite and marble tables that were somehow embedded with the same technology as the second layer; precious metals encrusted the floor, and jewels furnishing the walls.

    Security feeds covered every floor of the complex and fed directly to the Prime¡¯s personally assigned SOP security detail. Over three hundred stories of data continually feeding to the personnel; hidden cameras also covered almost the entire length of New Genesis; even if it was mostly governed by the Green Faction.

    This building was located at the center and held a special significance to the city; this building overlooked the entire fog filled Capital of New Genesis, Sevilla¡¯s home¡ªTurquoise Faction Prime, New Genesis Overlord, Empress of Suffering, and a Terrakinetic. Rumors had spread to Rean¡¯s ears over the past few days.

    The Turquoise Faction, the Shimmering Fiend, had always been associated with torture, persecution, and prolonged deaths. Turquoise promotes torment and cruelty as a sign of initiation; all faction members going through cruel instigation to ensure unquestioning obedience to leadership sanctions; numbing them to what was expected of them. Showcases of this were held daily. One of these such incidents was accruing at this time; Rean, a new server and cooking instrument was making her rounds on the first floor.

    Blood polished granite platforms spaced around the entire level. No cheers were called and no ecstatic bloodthirsty crowds; more than a third of the room was filled, but the only notable sounds came from the tormented. Hundreds of coldly amused expressions focused on the platforms, their gaze only broken by shadows of low conversation, whispered voices that only held cold entertained animosity.

    Rean had stopped trembling yesterday after the scathing response it brought her. Hundreds of thin cuts across her skin still burned as her thick, tight clothes pressed against her body. Focusing on showing no emotion as she hauled scraps of meat down the aisles of tables; however, her eyes couldn¡¯t suppress the fear she felt. Internally haunted, Rean passed men and women that were more callous than she could have imagined. She was kidnapped, taken to the City of Sin, the Esper capital, New Genesis. It was worse than she¡¯d been taught, nothing could have prepared her for this trial, this is what she was, more than a sinner, she was damned, an esper, the same as these people.

    Stopping as a man looked at her; she walked to the table and offered her tray up. She couldn¡¯t see his face; she didn¡¯t want to. She mentally blocked it with the image of a blank wall. She couldn¡¯t breathe; her thoughts were choking her. She couldn¡¯t even greave her own soul, because she wasn¡¯t sure she deserved pity. The man¡¯s fingers slowly came up to prod the meat on the tray, causing Rean to jolt out of her vision and back into the pressing atmosphere, which sent a shiver down her spine. The man¡¯s passive irises darted to Rean¡¯s green eyes as the tray shook for a split second, his emotionless expression shifting into a vindictive crease. She was petrified, her lungs locked in place as her heart seemed to freeze in place.

    Rean¡¯s lungs expelled the breath in a torrent as a heavy blow smashed against the right side of her ribcage. Flying sideward, the tray and food spread across the rugs as she slid a few feet before lying in shock, no air in her lungs. Drawing a breath slowly, she made sure not to let a sound escape her mouth. Shakily getting to her hands and knees, she bit her lower lip as a razor gash slid across her back. Swallowing the lump in her throat with difficulty, she grabbed the tray and began piling the food back on the plate. Her hands trembled, but she refused to let a tear fall. The last tear she shed cost her hundreds of micro cuts all along her skin.

    Getting to her feet, she dropped to her left knee as pain shot from the back of her thigh. Locking her jaw, she got back to her feet and began making her way to the hallway that would lead her back to the kitchens. Her wounds burned with sharp attention, but she struggled to keep her face placid. No laughter followed her, only indifferent stares.

    Getting into the hallway, she let a convulsion shake her chest, abdomen tightening, but she quickly got ahold of her emotions. Now, away from their vision, she let a tear drip down her cheek. Sniffing, she wiped it away, clearing her throat. Her lips were dry, her vision strained, and her right side pulsed with pain with the new cuts she¡¯d received. Examining the back of her thigh, she found a thin two-inch long gash, blood dripping down her leg into her red-stained white shoes.

    Vision hazing, her nose began burning, but she held her tears back. Is this really what I deserve mom? You always said that espers could be saved, but beings capable of this? Self-loathing pushed against her heart. How could espers be worse than I was taught? How can they be this cruel? I¡¯m going to turn into one of these monsters ¡­ why did I make that deal ¡­ why?

    Breathing for a moment, she let several quakes rack her body, almost causing a few pieces of meat to drop from the tray. Calming herself, she continued into the kitchens. Thirty other slaves were hustling around the large room, preparing food and getting items ready for serving.

    The pudgy kitchen taskmaster, Boltis, came waddling over to her as she entered and looked over her gashes with a gleam in his green eyes. Rean knew better than to break away; the last time she¡¯d tried running away had earned her a night on the freezing terrace. The chill, howls of the espers below, and compressing mist kept her awake the entire night.

    Boltis snapped his fingers, and his personal attendant took one cold look at her and ran off. The boy returned with a bottle of water, handing it to Boltis. Rean stood perfectly still as he slowly unscrewed the lid and motioned for her to turn. Heartbeat pulsing in her chest, she complied; her hands were white as they clutched the tray. Closing her eyes and holding her breath, she tensed. The pain came as the strange liquid inside the bottle slid down her back. She breathed in, her lungs filling with air before catching again; her chest burning with her back¡ªthe liquid irritating her new wounds.

    The liquid stopped. Turning, Rean looked into Boltis¡¯ eyes; holding back the tears screaming to be let loose. She knew her face must be red and there were small quakes that escaped her control; she hoped it wouldn¡¯t be enough to earn more torture.

    He looked down at her with a hard smile and pointed toward the wine area, where several trays had already been prepared. Rean didn¡¯t know why, but for some reason, almost no one talked in the Turquoise Faction; in the last few days, she¡¯d only heard a handful of words from the SOP members. Five other servers had returned and were picking up their trays.

    Going to the trays, Rean didn¡¯t feel a glance of compassion from any of her fellow servants, which only made her want to cry more. Sympathy got you killed here; empathy made you a showcase for SOP entertainment. Every person had different variations in abilities, and they all used them in savage ways.

    Setting down her meat tray, she picked up one of the platters of crystal cups. She hesitated, staring into the water at her dirty appearance. Her long brown hair was tangled and matted; her cheeks flaked with dried blood and dirt. Is this what my life is worth? Stomach shaking with silent tearless cries, she stared back into her green eyes with hopelessness. I¡¯m worthless, no matter how many times I cried out for Deity help ¡­ don¡¯t answer. Why ¡­ why am I so meaningless to them? Did I really sell my soul to the Reapers for this meager power? It¡¯s worthless in the face of these monsters ¡­ no, they¡¯re worse than monsters ¡­ they¡¯re espers.

    Rean cried out in surprise as chubby fingers snatched a clump of her hair and lifted her off the ground. Her tears finally started to fall as she kicked open air before a heavy blow slammed against her left ear, sending her flying to the ground.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    World spinning in a nightmarish twirl, she saw Boltis¡¯ repugnant face glowering down at her. In a deep disgusted voice, he demanded. ¡°Back to work.¡±

    Unsteadily getting to her feet, she shook as she caught every child, teen, and adult scowling at her. If she messed up, they could all be tortured; she knew she was in store for a beating tonight. Wiping away her tears hurriedly, Rean sniffed, saying, ¡°Yes¡ªI apologize.¡±

    She closed her eyes as Boltis¡¯ hand came out to backhand her, but the blow didn¡¯t come. She opened her eyes in confusion just as Boltis¡¯ fist struck her stomach. She fell to her knees; gasp escaping her lips in a rush. Crumpling to the marble floor, she began to dry heave, stomach acid coating her throat. Shuddering with spots etched across her vision, she regained her senses as quickly as possible. She tried to stand, toppling over a few times in the process; vision clearing, she saw Boltis had already walked away, harassing one of the cooks.

    One of the other servant girls in her mid-teens came over with a rag. She shoved Rean into the granite counter beside her. Grunting with tears leaking out of her eyes, Rean wobbled to her feet and grabbed one of the trays. Taking it out of the kitchen with trembling legs, she walked a little bit down the hall and set the plate on the ground. Slumping against the wall, she clutched at her stomach, a low cry hiccupping through her lips. Taking several shuddering breaths, she picked the tray back up and continued to the first eating hall, her throat continuing to burn with the acidic liquid she¡¯d expelled.

    Entering the hall, she examined the scene, looking for empty glasses. Licking her lips, she began making her way to a table that had a few empty glasses. Waiting beside the table for them to acknowledge her, they finally shifted their gaze and moved a little to the left for her to grab it. Expecting some form of brutality, she was shocked that nothing happened.

    Pulling away, she almost dropped the dish as someone tapped her on the shoulder. Turning her head hesitantly, Rean looked into the hard green eyes of an SOP member. He had an odd grin on his heartless face, and he motioned for her to come closer. Shakily, Rean stepped closer, and the man¡¯s head moved to whisper in her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t drop that plate ¡­ got it?¡±

    Leaning back with a catch in her throat, Rean nodded with terror. Nodding, the man glanced to the woman next to him, who nodded with a silent chuckle. Hesitantly, Rean broke away and continued to the next table, which had also finished their wine. A large hard looking man looked down at her with a twist to his nose and snatched a glass off her tray, handing it to a lanky looking teen next to him. The teen downed the drink.

    Rean was about to turn away when the man¡¯s hand shot to his throat, and he gasped, dropping to the table top. Rean¡¯s blood went cold. That woman from the last table ¡­ she poisoned a glass while I wasn¡¯t looking! The large man stood quickly and lifted the teen¡¯s head to find white foam expelling from his mouth, vision blank.

    Trembling with fear, Rean watched the scene with knowing trepidation as the man bellowed and turned to her. She closed her eyes, her body going numb as he snarled an intelligible phrase from a language she didn¡¯t understand. Her throat constricted as the man¡¯s firm grip closed around her neck and lifted her off the ground before throwing her back a few meters. Striking the ground with a gasp, the crystal glasses shattered across the floor, and she heard the sharp patter of the platter as it hit the ground.

    Dazed, terrified, and numb, Rean watched dozens of elemental streams expel around her as abilities were fire off at different SOP members. Crawling under a table, she curled into a ball, soft whimpers escaping her throat as explosive sounds echoed around the area. During the skirmish she somehow got drenched in a jet of wine, it burned her closing wounds as it washed away the forming scabs.

    As the noise died down, she shakily crawled out from underneath the table and found small ice crystals embedded in the oak. The area she was in had devastated table fragments, chairs ripped apart, and several dead bodies. More chilling still, the atmosphere was almost entirely silent as hundreds of people looked at the outcome with amusement. The man and woman that poisoned the wine, groaning lowly. A woman from another table got up and moved to the two with a dark grin.

    Rean watched in stunned horror as she picked up a split chair leg and stabbed it through the man¡¯s head. Next, she snatched a few smaller shards of crystal and began embedding them in the woman¡¯s flesh. Rean couldn¡¯t turn her eyes away as the woman played with the dying woman. The throng didn¡¯t cheer but accepting the sight with silent entertainment.

    After several seconds of low screams, Rean couldn¡¯t handle it anymore and started walking slowly to the hallway. Tripping on the way out, she laid across the ground in disbelief. How can this be real? Nightmares would be better than this reality! Her eyes glazed as she heard her name called, but not in her ears.

    Slowly, she looked up to find Peter on one of the platforms. Face bruised, body littered with cuts and gashes; he looked at her dully and again her name was called, from inside her own mind. ¡°Rean ¡­ Rean is that you? It must be ¡­ yes ¡­ I recognize your brainwaves.¡±

    Rean was speechless as she stared up at the boy, she¡¯d seen in that black room. It was all a blur, and she only remembered small portions, but she did know this boy. What happened to him? Why¡¯s he up there?

    Freezing as Peter¡¯s voice entered her mind again; she forced her throat to swallow. ¡°There¡¯s not a lot of time left; you need to get back to work before they¡¯re done with their fun. When you¡¯re done tonight, tell whoever¡¯s over you that Jandith wants to meet with you. He¡¯ll send an escort with you.¡±

    She was completely bewildered. Why? Who is Jandith?

    Voice becoming frantic as his eyes darted left, he said. ¡°Get back to the kitchens now!¡±

    Scrambling to her feet, Rean complied. She barely made it out of the room before another cacophony rocked the hall. Managing to work her way into cleaning dishes, Rean continued her work with only minimal abuse from Boltis. When the final clean-up finished, Rean hesitantly went to Boltis and told him Peter¡¯s message. A pit shrunk into her stomach as Boltis¡¯ mouth twisted into a wry nod and motioned his shadow to escort her. The boy continued to look her over as they walked through the maze of halls to an elevator.

    Uncertainty shot through her chest as the boy hit the seventieth-floor key and the elevator shot upward. Shaking, she met the boy¡¯s wicked grin with terror. What¡¯s Peter getting me into?

    Stopping, he led her out of the elevator and into a well-maintained floor. He gestured for her to follow, but stopped as Peter came into view around the next corner. His cuts had started to heal, and the swelling lessen. He now wore nice white clothes, clothes she¡¯d seen other SOP members wear. His eyes were stone as he met her guide¡¯s face, and he instantly looked down, nodding. Utterly bewildered, she found the cruel boy cower before Peter, bowing before leaving her and heading back toward the elevator.

    Realization sinking in, she tried stilling her shakes. Is this a trick? Is he leading me into a trap? That¡¯s what espers do. Why did I trust him? I¡¯m so stupid! Espers are espers, I should know better by now!

    She faltered in her thoughts as Peter smiled at her, not in the way she¡¯d come to expect over the past few days, his face was warm. Something she thought she¡¯d never see again. Motioning for her to follow, he brought her to an empty lounging room. Sitting, he offered her a seat. Obediently, she followed his action. Waiting with bated breath, she stared down at the red spotted carpet.

    Peter¡¯s voice entered her mind. ¡°I was shocked to find you serving today.¡±

    Swallowing, Rean began getting used to the conversation in her head. How can you speak in my head? You can hear my thoughts?

    Shifting to a more comfortable position, Peter nodded. ¡°I¡¯m a Telepath. I can read people¡¯s minds and project my own. I¡¯d like to apologize.¡±

    Confused, Rean asked. What did you do? Breathe catching, she thought. What are you about to do?

    Shaking his head, Peter responded, ¡°You¡¯re misunderstanding my actions. I¡¯ve been thrown into this life just as abruptly as you. I, however, was able to acclimate much better. No, what I want to apologize for is what I did in the Black Box incident.¡±

    Black Box? Rean asked. Her eyes widened as her vision returning to the dark room.

    ¡°Yes, during that incident I managed to glimpse a little bit of your life; mainly your abduction,¡± Peter explained, his eyes staring at her neck front. ¡°I understand why you guard that necklace with such passion. It must have been hard to keep it hidden the past few days.¡±

    Rean swallowed, I¡ªI don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.

    Peter sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m not here to take away your possessions. I want to help you ¡­ I think it¡¯ll benefit both of us.¡±

    Taken aback, Rean asked, Why?

    A low hum shot through Peter¡¯s throat. ¡°Because I glimpsed an incident in your past that might lead to a significant find. You owing me a favor would work very well for me in the long run. A memory you have that some would kill you over, and that¡¯s why I locked it away, tightly inside your skull. If everything I¡¯m planning works out ¡­ this hell you¡¯re in will be over.¡±

 B2 â€” 1. Position

    Helena examined the tundra below from a Hoverfly window. I wish I could have stayed long enough to see Belesis, but it¡¯ll take at least a week for her to heal, even as a Biokinetic. What will she think when she wakes up? Hopefully, she¡¯ll stay at her post and not follow after me ¡­ I understand why she¡¯d devote so much attention to me, being from a Branch Family, but this is a different world. So, New Genesis will be my starting place; I should be met by Olivia upon arriving, but Kara was vague about the details. Is this another test?

    Holding out her hands, she sent a stream of electricity between them, absorbing the energy through her body to ground it. After waking up ¡­ I never dreamed of having this much Focus in reserve, but it¡¯s to be expected since I¡¯ve been near depleted for years. I¡¯m currently capped; thanks to these Espite earrings, I can work on Control. Realistically, I¡¯ll be doing grunt work of some kind at New Genesis which will likely involve killing people that step out of line ¡­ I¡¯ll have to prepare myself for that.

    Her vision shifted to the closed door leading to the pilot''s cabin. I suppose ordinary workers don¡¯t speak to SOP members unless spoken to; I¡¯ve entered an elite force, but I¡¯m at the bottom of the hierarchy. I don¡¯t know what to expect from this point. New Genesis is still such a mystery, but if I want to survive, I need to get stronger.

    She spent the next few hours playing around with calculations on magnetic force, trying to bend and straighten a thin steel bar into different designs. Her attention was diverted as she saw a mountain range with fog frothing over the edges. That must be the valley New Genesis is located in.

    Stabilizing her feet with magnetic fields as the Hoverfly rose, she watched the fog below swirl slowly. The valley was blanketed in the dense vapor, but one structure stuck out of the milky soup; a massive black tower that seemed to absorb the sun¡¯s rays contrasted the gray below. Is that Sevilla¡¯s base that Booker talked about? It seems that way, which would make it the center of New Genesis.

    They entered the fog, and after a time, she could see a landing zone open up. The Hoverfly slowly entered the bay. I couldn¡¯t see anything of the city itself; why create a base in such thick fog? Wouldn¡¯t it be much easier for people to escape? Logically, they¡¯d have some means to prevent that, but what? The Trackers can¡¯t be used for the entire population.

    Her eyes shifted to the door as it lowered. Exiting the vehicle, she watched the large overhead doors close, hydraulics hissing before her attention turned to examine several people moving around the Hoverfly bay, working on their individual tasks. The doors on the opposite end of the bay opened to reveal a young man in his late teens; he wore a casual black T-shirt, gray course pants, and soft sole shoes.

    When he spotted her, he walked over. ¡°Vix, how was the flight?¡±

    ¡°Uneventful.¡±

    ¡°To be expected,¡± he shrugged. ¡°My name¡¯s Julius; Olivia wanted me to guide you to her office.¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    They fell silent as Helena followed him through the door; the workers paid them no mind as they went about their business. When they entered the hallway, Helena noticed a few people lined up along the walls, eyeing her. It seems I¡¯m of interest. They passed the group without comment and moved through the branching hallway; she caught a few people in different rooms following their movement, but it seemed only casual interest.

    Arriving at a particular door up three levels, Julius stopped. ¡°Wait inside here until Marth tells you Olivia is ready for you.¡±

    Nodding, Helena pressed the button by the door, and it slid open. How does this base receive power? Is it thermal based like the Northern Base? Walking inside, she noticed a big muscular man seated behind a desk, eyes scanning documents before him. He didn¡¯t raise his head to acknowledge her as the door shut and she took a seat by the right wall. This is all very business-like, nothing like the Northern Base; there weren¡¯t many Purist members there though.

    Placing her hand across her lap, she brought the cores of her HCID out of sleep; she noticed that it automatically synced to the WiFi signals bouncing around them. That¡¯s convenient. The first page that opened seemed to be a Purist home page. The first thing that caught her interest was a New Recruits icon on the right side of the page. Activating it, she read down the information:

    Welcome to the Purists; as a new recruit, you will be assigned to a beginning unit, and the First or Second Lieutenant in that unit will then provide you with a set duty to complete in regards to the unit¡¯s stationed area. You will be trained in a multitude of situations that are expected to be performed within the city and educated to a standard degree in math, science, and combat. The Purists have high standards of conduct, and you will be expected to maintain a dignified presence; everything learned in your Prep SOP training is to be carried out without fault.

    Helena¡¯s head tilted slightly. So, how will my exception be taken? I haven¡¯t gone through the Prep SOP training, will that be taken into consideration or is it something Kara thought wasn¡¯t necessary for me? If the regular recruits are kidnapped or enslaved espers, there would be the need for a program to break and educate them to conform with WITCH and Faction standards.

    Her attention shifted to Marth as his head lifted to examine her. ¡°Vix, Olivia will see you now.¡±

    Nodding, she rose without comment and pressed the button to open the inner door. Walking through, she entered a large space with many filing cabinets neatly arranged along the walls. The room held no decorations, and no seats beside the one Olivia sat in behind her large oak desk. Olivia¡¯s sharp eyes appraised her as she walked before her, curtsied and waited to raise her head.

    ¡°Huh,¡± she said with a gruff tone. ¡°Straighten up,¡± Helena complied silently. Olivia folded her fingers atop her desk. ¡°Good posture, Kara wasn¡¯t exaggerating. You do have the air of a Noble.¡± The silence stretched as Olivia studied her. After five minutes, she smirked. ¡°No fidgets, perfectly relaxed and awaiting my verdict, at the age of eight no less. You have composure and nerve; I like that.¡± Sitting back in her chair, she folded her legs and intertwined her fingers atop her lap. ¡°What is ahead of you?¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t hesitate as she recounted what she knew. ¡°Kara told me I would be meeting you, but gave me no indication of my direction. However, from the Faction¡¯s home page, I assume I will be assigned a unit and undergo SOP follow-up training under a First or Second Training Lieutenant.¡±

    Olivia¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t fade. ¡°Resourceful. You¡¯ve been in WITCH for less than a week and already know how to use your HCID; not only that, but looked for information regarding your place in the Faction. Impressive, arriving at the New Recruit page without prompt. Kara said I¡¯d like you, which makes her decision tolerable for me.¡± Helena waited patiently. ¡°Vix, you will be placed under First Lieutenant Gengler, under the command of Captain Esther, in the Fishing District, Sector Three as a Second Lieutenant in training.¡±

    Helena didn¡¯t let her surprise show. ¡°I will be training to become a Second Lieutenant?¡±

    Shaking her head, Olivia leaned forward. ¡°No, Vix. You are now appointed a Second Lieutenant and must learn your duties quickly. Esther was just assigned to take the place of Booker, and you are taking Gengler¡¯s former place.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± This could cause problems ¡­ I was the one that killed Booker, but do they know that? Kara took control of my electricity, but it was by my Focus and intent that he was killed. How will this group take it, especially when they recently discovered their Captain was a Purple Faction agent? Then there¡¯s the issue of my age and activity in WITCH; I¡¯m likely overtaking many candidates for a Second Lieutenant seat.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re considering all the negative aspects of what this decision means for you and your image. You¡¯ll be surprised though,¡± Olivia said with a light chuckle. ¡°The President¡¯s competition in the Northern Base was recently displayed; between your exploits, Kara¡¯s display of protecting you from Cassandra, and the information spreading that you¡¯re a Noble from the Vandred Main House¡ªyou¡¯ve grown quite popular.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the information,¡± Helena curtsied again.

    She chuckled. ¡°If only Kara were as proper as you,¡± she mused. ¡°She can sell the image in public, but she¡¯s such a restless girl¡ªI sent for Gengler to fetch you. He will direct you to their section of the base before introducing you to your unit.¡±

    ¡°I will be over my own unit then?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Olivia hummed. ¡°A new unit of recent recruits, fresh out of SOP training, small for normal standards; Gengler will give you the rundown of your daily schedule. That will be all.¡±

    Bowing her head, Helena left the room, her passive reception telling her that someone was waiting for her on the other side of the door. Gengler was tall, at least two meters in height, and muscular. He had blonde-hair and brown eyes; he was handsome, but his nose showed evidence of being broken at one point.

    ¡°Vix,¡± he said with a friendly smile. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to meet you.¡± He held out his hand, a twitch in his heart drawing Helena¡¯s notice. The first thing he says to me is a lie, that¡¯s wonderful¡­

    Taking his hand, Helena mirrored his smile. ¡°Thank you, First Lieutenant Gengler. I¡¯ll be in your care.¡±

    ¡°Right, please follow me, and please, just call me Gengler.¡± Another twitch, what about me rubs him the wrong way? I¡¯ll need to change his perception somehow; having a superior that dislikes you is not favorable.

    ¡°If you wish it, then I shall; please, Gengler, lead the way.¡± I¡¯m a Second Lieutenant, which means he is my superior, but not by much. We are both under Captain Esther as our primary supervisor. Gengler is my senior, but not directly over me or my unit, but he could still cause me trouble; especially, since he¡¯s the one in charge of tutoring me. I don¡¯t want to appear a fool, and he could instruct me in just that manner. I¡¯ll need to do my own research into a Second Lieutenant¡¯s duties when I have the time.

    Walking slightly behind Gengler, she asked, ¡°I assume you are aware that I¡¯m very new to WITCH and the Purist Faction.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware. I saw your match in the Northern Base; brilliant on the ground decision making. It¡¯s no wonder you caught Kara and the President¡¯s interest.¡± That could be it ¡­ he feels he deserves the interest I¡¯ve garnered. How to direct that emotion¡­ ¡°By the way, what do you know about a Second Lieutenant?¡±

    ¡°Not a lot; I¡¯ve been told that I¡¯ll be in charge of a small unit and that they are all fairly new SOP recruits. I read that it is a part of the Lieutenant¡¯s duty to train and direct such individuals.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Gengler nodded. ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less from you. My unit is excited to see how you progress.¡± That¡¯s the truth. Expectations already, that could be bad. If I fail in any way, then my image will be tarnished since they already have such a high opinion of my abilities. He could negatively sway public opinion; if he¡¯s bolstering my reputation, then the slightest failure would be met with criticism, while success would be downplayed since it¡¯s an expectation¡ªnot a good position to start in.

    ¡°Could you elaborate on my schedule for the day?¡±

    ¡°Of course. First, I¡¯ll show you to your room, second, you¡¯ll meet with your unit and get to know them, third, you¡¯ll have dinner in the Officer Mess Hall, and then you can retire for the night. In the morning I¡¯ll meet you in the Officer Mess Hall for your more scheduled daily routine.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Helena said.

    They walked in silence for a moment, going up another flight of stairs before Gengler cleared his throat. ¡°So, something caught my interest in the fight¡­¡± Helena¡¯s lime green eyes shifted toward him as he spoke. ¡°You were able to kill two of your opponents, and it looked like you didn¡¯t hesitate in the least. It usually takes a while before espers not born into New Genesis to accomplish that. How was it?¡± Is he speaking from experience? Perhaps he hasn¡¯t been able to deal with his first kill.

    ¡°It was simple; fight or die. The Vice-President had stated that it was a death match, which meant it was either them or me. That¡¯s all there is to it. I wouldn¡¯t have killed them if given the option; they could have been used for other purposes, but I acknowledge the wisdom in WITCH for such a competition. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to participate in that contest, but I was forced into it by the President¡¯s decision. To have a competition to weed out those that do not have the resolve to survive above all else in positions of power is wise in a power-based tyrannical hierarchy. Especially when the power structure has such a weight on public order.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Gengler muttered. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard someone talk like that since Booker ¡­ he talked about the hard to swallow stuff¡­¡± Wonderful, now he¡¯s linking me to a traitor; consciously or not, it¡¯s a bad connection for my image.

    ¡°Yes, I was rather horrified by what Booker did; particularly since he was one of the few people that seemed so straight forward and trustworthy since I was kidnapped by WITCH. He fooled us all.¡±

    ¡°That, he did,¡± Gengler sighed, but his nose was twisted with contempt. I guess he really was well liked around the Purists; that love opens a big space for hate to fill when betrayed. Phantasm planted quite the bomb; there will be question among all Purist members, conscious or not, that the person next to them might stab them in the back.

    They stopped outside of a room. ¡°This is your room; used to be a storage area, but for some reason Kara had the entire room gutted to put your stuff inside.¡± That bordered on a question; few would know about Kara¡¯s creative arts, and as Eizea mentioned, the room itself is a part of the equation. I have so much to learn ¡­ Kara was even holding back against Fatchna. Her comment at the end ¡­ how can anyone be that powerful? Yet, it¡¯s true, and my parents and the other Heads of the Great Houses must hold equivalent or greater power to keep their position. I have to get even stronger than Kara to match my parents¡­

    The room was the exact same as the Northern Base, down to the purple automatic overhead lights. ¡°Thank you; I¡¯ve memorized the path we¡¯ve taken so far. I can identify it on the map.¡±

    ¡°Really, do you have a perfect memory?¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± Helena said as she examined a few of the rugs. Kara hinted at the mats being an excellent starting place. I¡¯ll need to study those tonight.

    Gengler shook his head with a slight sigh. ¡°You keep surprising me, but there is something that¡¯s bugging me.¡± He said with a scrutinizing eye.

    ¡°If I can answer you, I will,¡± Helena said, turning to him.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t show much strength in ability during the competition; true, that was one of the amazing feats about it, but it just got me wondering. Are you hiding your true power or are you just really good at maximizing what you can do?¡± It¡¯s an honest question but could expose me to danger if answered correctly. I doubt the raw power I showed in the arena would qualify as a Lieutenant and that must have him wondering why I was appointed. I need to give him an answer though.

    Helena kept a straight face. ¡°I didn¡¯t show everything I could do in the contest, but I was trying to maximize my abilities to a certain extent.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a vague but acceptable response,¡± Gengler said with a slight smile.

    He tilted his head, signifying for them to get moving again. ¡°The group you¡¯ve been set up with are¡ªto be frank, not the best of their class.¡± So, I¡¯ve been given the trouble kids? Not the best in a structure of power means they¡¯re weaker than the rest. ¡°They aren¡¯t much older than you; most of them come from outside of New Genesis, kidnapped kids that went through the program. They¡¯ve passed, but still, they have some issues.¡± He doesn¡¯t try to hide the fact that they were kidnapped; he was likely in that category at one point anyway. So, the troubled group. Olivia said I¡¯d grown popular, but that doesn¡¯t mean in a positive light; however, she did hint that it was positive.

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll be expected to shape them up? How many are inside of a unit?¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Gengler shrugged. ¡°Normally, in a small, unit there are five espers, excluding the Officer. You¡¯ll only have four as of now.¡±

    ¡°I see. So, I have the possibility of gaining one more at a later date?¡±

    ¡°Probably, the reason why you¡¯re one short is because he was killed in an attempted escape.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°Understood.¡± There could be lingering feelings of resentment and loss in the group if any of them were close. Individuals can bond in hostile conditions like WITCH.

    Stopping before a door, Gengler grimaced. ¡°On the other side is your unit. I need to go check on one of my own units and give my Directing Officer some orders.¡±

    ¡°Directing Officer?¡± Helena asked, looking up at him.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a position the Lieutenant issues to a member of each team to direct things when they are away; I am over three units; therefore, I have a Directing Officer in each one. They hold no power in WITCH, other than the Lieutenant¡¯s name; so, be careful who you give the title because you could be roped in with any misbehavior your Directing Officer causes.¡± Helena nodded before he walked off. Well, let¡¯s see this new unit of mine.

 B2 â€” 2. A New Challenge

    Helena opened the door, reception active; the room was large with a few square tables. Other than the tables, the room was relatively bare. She got her first look at the four people she was in charge of; two boys and two girls sat around a table. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the metal each of them wore; both boys had steel chain necklaces, the brown haired girl had steel bracelets, and the black-haired girl had steel studs in her ears and a nose ring. The four turned to look at her with deep frowns.

    ¡°So, this is Vix?¡± The boy sitting to the left of the table said with an unimpressed tone. He looked to be around eleven and was blonde with blue eyes.

    A black-haired girl with dark green eyes hummed as she appraised Helena, she looked to be ten. ¡°She sure looks like a Noble¡­¡±

    The brown haired, blue eyed girl to her right snorted. ¡°Like she¡¯s better than us.¡± She was a little taller than the black-haired girl and looked twelve. The final boy had black hair, brown eyed, and was shorter than the girls; he smirked at her statement but didn¡¯t comment. This just keeps getting better. Examples need to be made; this is a power hierarchy, but restraint is a measure of power and defining of Nobility. Reflect dignity at all times. Each of them are wearing metal too ¡­ they know I¡¯m an Electro Master from the video. If they intended to act this way, why give me an advantage if provoked?

    She resisted a sigh. ¡°Salutations,¡± shutting the door behind her, Helena walked up to the table, features neutral. ¡°I will allow the rude manners this once; I am not only a Lieutenant but your Lieutenant. That said, I understand your circumstance; you were taught to respect power. I offer this once,¡± her green eyes shifted to each member of her new unit. ¡°Attempt to kill me now if you wish to take my position.¡±

    The atmosphere chilled as the four took a hard swallow. ¡°She really just said that¡­¡± The blonde-boy muttered. They averted their eyes as Helena stared down each one.

    ¡°Respect is an expectation as your superior; pretend if you must,¡± Helena stated. ¡°If you will not challenge me then¡­¡±

    ¡°Challenge?¡± The black-haired boy spat with a dark grin. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you, but I¡¯ll challenge you!¡± What a naive statement ¡­ is he trying to drop my guard? Without the resolve to kill, they will not survive WITCH. Getting out of his seat, he puffed out his chest as the other three smirked with nods. I see, he¡¯s earned respect from the other three. He¡¯s likely the strongest or simply the most outspoken; is it ability, intelligence, or both. Perhaps charisma ¡­ no, that wouldn¡¯t characterize his confidence in combat.

    He walked around the table to stand five feet from her. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your footage from the arena¡­¡± And he¡¯s wearing metal? There has to be some kind of scheme, but I can¡¯t detect it...

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Is that so? Then are you prepared to die?¡± She felt his fear through her reception. Is he just idealistic? If this is what they¡¯re giving me to work with ¡­ how are they SOP material? This makes no logical sense. He has seen me kill before, yet still resolves to beat me without the same commitment ¡­ it¡¯s a grounding method of advancement in WITCH. His statement is an insult at best, horrifyingly naive at worst; not the kind of person I want watching my back.

    ¡°I have Audiokinesis! Do you really think you can beat me, knowing that? I could rattle your brain until it bursts!¡± Okay ¡­ he¡¯s an idiot ¡­ a complete moron. Please ¡­ please! I hope this is a ploy to redirect me from his actual ability.

    She ionized the particles around her ears, dampening vibrations as Kara had taught her, and prepared the calculations to dart to the ceiling and electrify him while keeping her active reception. ¡°Act or sit back down,¡± Helena stated coldly.

    ¡°I warned you!¡± The boy said before taking a deep breath; Helena¡¯s mind kicking into overdrive. Is he going to spit something out at me? A Biokinetic? We¡¯re too close for an airborne virus like Belesis uses, it¡¯ll affect his friends. He could be callous enough and wants to take this opportunity to advance even at the cost of their lives. It could be acidic chemicals as well, it could even be mixed with a resistant virus to infect my body. Water vapor could be condensed from the lungs and used to form sharp projectiles as well. He could also cause focused vibrations to knock me out. It would be best to get out of the direct path and get a better grasp of his combat strengths.

    An electromagnetic field launched her upward as she charged her static field; G-forces slamming against her body as she rose. Cushioning her landing and clinging to the steel reinforced concrete, she sensed the three observers below close their hands over their ears. No ¡­ he can¡¯t really be an Audiokinetic.

    He opened his mouth, and she heard the dampened sound as she adjusted the ionized particles. It¡¯s not even close to Booker, and he could do it with a snap of his fingers. So ¡­ he really is just a fool. What kind of training is Pre-SOP training? Surely it should produce smarter espers than this; the OP¡¯s groups in the Northern Base were much more organized and disciplined. Is this another test or prank? This must be a prank they¡¯re playing on the new Lieutenant ¡­ I just don¡¯t want to think about the alternative, but I can¡¯t help it ¡­ why give me such brain dead subordinates? Klen would have eaten them alive...

    Helena took a deep breath, before puffing it out in exasperation. She extended her electrostatic field; charging the metal chain around his neck, she polarized the chain and her field. The chain lifted, closing around his throat. His eyes bulged as he rose to his toes, choking, hands lifting to his neck. Helena charged the back of the chain, clamping it.

    ¡°Hey!¡± The boy and two girls rose with alarm, and Helena lifted each of their metal pieces.

    ¡°Hey, stop, please!¡± The black-haired girl pleaded as her earrings and nose piercing forced her up on her toes.

    ¡°My wrists! It hurts! Stop, please!¡± The brown haired girl cried as she rose into the air. The blonde-haired boy was choking with the other boy, chain closed around his neck.

    Helena rubbed between her eyes, feeling a heavy weight against her shoulders. She dropped to the ground, landing with magnetic fields. Releasing her magnetic fields, she watched them recover with a tad bit of hope, but the black-haired boy just opened his mouth again and tried the same attack.

    She shook her head, his attack completely nullified as she continued shielding her ears. ¡°This is my unit?¡± She groaned. She breathed out another sigh, trying to release her building tension. I haven¡¯t felt this annoyed in some time ¡­ I¡¯m losing composure. Deep breaths. She sent a bolt of energy to strike at the boy¡¯s throat; only enough energy to tense his muscles, making him choke again.

    ¡°Please, stop¡­¡± The blonde-haired boy had tears in his eyes as he clutched at his throat, trying to remove the metal.

    Helena rubbed her neck. Composure, stay composed. If this was Olivia¡¯s intent, to test my patience, she hit the nail on the head. I¡¯ve never had to deal with incompetent subjects. Everyone in the Branch Families are well trained and educated. ¡°Everyone, take your seats.¡± They trembled on the floor; after a few seconds, Helena pursed her lips. ¡°Very well.¡± She magnetized their metal again and forced them up and back to their seats, causing them to cry out again. Releasing the fields, she pulled over a chair and sat before them, crossing her legs; they each watched her with red cheeks and wide eyes.

    Folding her hands across her lap, Helena looked at each one of them with cold eyes. ¡°No forethought, no discipline, grossly cretinous, and unable to react to a stressful situation, breaking down into tears and begging the enemy ¡­ how can I¡ªis this even fixable?¡± She sighed. You can¡¯t fix stupid, but they¡¯re still young ¡­ still, by eleven and twelve, they should have much more sense than this. They were all kidnapped; their educational background should be a factor.Stolen novel; please report.

    The brown haired girl sniffed back her tears. ¡°Umm, Vix?¡± She flinched as Helena¡¯s lime green eyes shifted to her. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat are you going to¡ªto do with us?¡±

    ¡°Are¡ªare you go¡ªgoing to throw us away¡ªk¡ªkill us?¡± The black-haired girl¡¯s chest heaved a few times.

    Helena licked her lips, expression pacifying as she breathed for a moment. They fidgeted as they waited for her response. ¡°Honestly¡ªI¡¯m feeling extremely disappointed and frustrated, right now.¡± Their quakes increased, eyes widening. ¡°Your display is pathetic¡ªdo you understand the position you are in?¡± Looking at the floor, they nodded. Her jaw locked for a moment, feeling the heat rising in her chest. ¡°Look at me when I¡¯m talking to you.¡± They twitched at her sharp tone but lifted their eyes to comply.

    ¡°Good. My name is Helena Vandred, and my handle is Vix, you may call me by either. I am a Second Lieutenant, and I have been placed in charge of this unit. In essence, that means I own you; depending on your background, that may be hard to swallow, but it is a reality in WITCH. Understand?¡± They tried to keep their lips from trembling; silent tears fell down their cheeks, but they kept eye contact. ¡°Tell me each of your names, ability, and where you¡¯re from.¡±

    Swallowing, the brown haired girl began. ¡°My¡ªmy name is Adara Andreaou, and¡ªand I can help trees grow. I¡¯m from¡ªMerveilles.¡± Trees grow ¡­ it seems they don¡¯t know how to distinguish between different kinetic abilities. She¡¯s likely at the beginning stages of Ligneokinesis. Powerful if properly used; Hawthorn utilized it reasonably well, but she was high ranking SOP. If she¡¯s from Merveilles then helping trees grow would be a great help; I believe seeing it on the continental map. It should be a farming village in the mid-southeast of Elestveeve. The steel bracelets make sense too, steel is a lower class fashion statement that could be converted to practical use if needed.

    The black-haired boy was massaging his throat; he coughed before saying, ¡°My name¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s Chance Bisgaard ¡­ you know what I,¡± his voice cracked at Helena¡¯s glare. ¡°I¡¯m an Audiokinetic. I¡¯m from Andreaou too.¡±

    Helena frowned. ¡°Did you two know each other before being kidnapped?¡±

    They both shook their heads. Adara was getting control of her sniffles. ¡°No¡ªI saw him around a few times, but we weren¡¯t close.¡±

    Nodding, Helena turned to the black-haired girl with the piercings. ¡°Umm¡ªI¡¯m from the Palma Islands¡ªmy name¡ªI¡¯m Viera Bechett ... Koloka Village. I can move water a little; I was in charge of mixing herbal brews in my village.¡± Hydrokinesis can be extremely powerful if she¡¯s able to manipulate the water in someone¡¯s body. By her reaction and downplaying her ability ¡­ she¡¯s not very skilled with it. Palma Islands as well, how did that happen? She¡¯s not dark skinned ¡­ well, I can learn more about their pasts later. For now, baby steps.

    Finally, she turned to the black-haired boy. He flinched for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡ªmy, ¡°he stuttered, ¡°I¡¯m J¡ªJaiden K¡ªKolkis. I¡ªI¡¯m¡ªmove things around with m¡ªmy mind. G¡ªgrew up, n¡ªnear G¡ªGoglix.¡± He has a speech impediment; it¡¯s overcomeable. He¡¯s likely a Telekinetic and near Goglix ¡­ it¡¯s just outside of Deity territory.

    ¡°Do you believe in the Deity Faith?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Alright,¡± Helena said evenly. She stared at each one of them. ¡°Jaiden, Chance, Adara, and Viera. You each have much to learn in a very short time if you¡¯re going to survive WITCH and not embarrass me. I will try to teach each of you to the best of my ability, and hopefully, we¡¯ll all survive our first assignment.¡±

    Adara raised her hand, fidgeting as Helena nodded. ¡°Umm¡ªwhat will we be doing?¡±

    ¡°Likely, each of you will need to kill people and maintain order within the city.¡± They tensed at her words. ¡°How long have each of you been with WITCH?¡±

    Chance scratched the back of his head, looking at Viera with a slight frown. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for like¡ªthree weeks, I think ¡­ it¡¯s hard to tell time in the fog.¡±

    Helena¡¯s eyes narrowed. Passed SOP pre-training in three weeks after being kidnapped? They have no reliable skills or experience ¡­ what kind of game am I dancing to? This can¡¯t be normal.

    ¡°You have a lot more to learn than I originally thought,¡± Helena resisted a sigh. ¡°I want each of you to really ponder on my words, they are very simple. Will you kill or will you die?¡± They were silent; she watched their hearts flutter in distress. Her eyes moved to Chance. ¡°Your statement about challenging me without the intent to kill ¡­ foolish, extremely foolish.¡± He flinched at her tone. ¡°This is not a game; you will be pushed into life and death situations. The only way you can possibly win without killing someone is by being vastly more powerful and you four, from what I¡¯ve seen, don¡¯t even match the normal operation teams. In other words, you¡¯re weak.¡±

    Chance and Adara¡¯s faces turned red. ¡°Not like I can help it,¡± Adara huffed. ¡°I¡¯ve never fought before in my life.¡±

    ¡°Not my problem,¡± Helena stated coldly. The four froze at her response, trying to work through her statement. This is tiresome. I have to teach them how to think¡­ ¡°It is not my problem that you have never fought to survive; it is my problem that now I¡¯m supposed to rely on you to fulfill a task I¡¯ve been given.¡± I guess it¡¯s time for a thought exercise; I used to hate these when Drake would do it to me. ¡°Adara, I¡¯ve been given the assignment to guard a fish stall against anyone without the proper tickets from accessing. A starving kid in rags crawls to the stall; what do you do?¡±

    Adara¡¯s brow creased. ¡°Well, I look to see if anyone¡¯s around to see and if I don¡¯t see anyone, then I hand him a fish.¡± How naive can she get; can¡¯t she tell it¡¯s not so straight forward?

    ¡°The boy pulls a knife and stabs you.¡±

    ¡°What!¡± Adara¡¯s teeth snapped shut as she growled. ¡°Why? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. I just gave him food, why would he stab me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never know,¡± Helena stated coldly. ¡°You¡¯re dead.¡± She looked between Chance, Viera, and Jaiden. ¡°The three of you are still alive. Why did the boy stab Adara?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t check for a knife?¡± Chance asked.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t the reason; that¡¯s the cause of her negligence. Why did he stab her?¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI think, s¡ªshe, h¡ªhe wanted all the f¡ªfish.¡± Jaiden stammered. A simple and obvious answer, but a train of thought that¡¯s not so careless.

    Helena smiled a little. ¡°That¡¯s scratching the surface and raises one option.¡±

    ¡°The surface¡­¡± Viera muttered. ¡°So, the object of your question is to address the reasons not to approach the boy?¡±

    ¡°An astute observation, but there is still more facets to be examined, cross-examined, and reevaluated. I see that none of you have an HCID; were you trained to use one?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s an HCID?¡± Adara asked, voice still reflecting her embarrassment. How could I sink further into depression? The amount of work that these four needs are ¡­ wait, Kara ¡­ wow, I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t catch that. This is a reflection of Kara¡¯s perspective to me; I thought I was patient, but this proves I still have a ways to go. The comparison escaped my notice too; Kara couldn¡¯t have read me this easily, could she? Well, she has in the past, it would be wise to consider she is this intelligent considering her feats. So, this is another form of growth for me and also a challenge in the full sight of the Purists. Another public trial where I will be judged based on my unit¡¯s advancement; this is a big bite to swallow, but packed full of protein.

    ¡°Vix?¡± Viera mumbled.

    Vision rising, she met their eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to leave with an assignment.¡± She held up her wrist. ¡°This is an HCID; I am going to send in a request for you to go receive one. The one you will pick up is only a placeholder. I will have a specific design made for each of you; your assignment tonight is to get one, learn how to use it, and send me a message detailing what you¡¯ve learned by tomorrow morning. Understood?¡±

    They were silent for a moment as they thought about her words. Licking her lips, Viera wiped at her cheeks before nodding. ¡°Understood.¡± The other three nodded slowly.

    ¡°Also, do not talk about escaping; it is impossible.¡± Before they could respond, she added, ¡°Do you think I or even the Primes wish to be here?¡± Well, there are exceptions with the Felorne Great House. ¡°No, just about every person in WITCH does not wish to be here, but it is a reality, and you cannot escape. Put it out of your mind, listen to me, learn, think, and maybe you¡¯ll survive.¡±

    With that, she left the room. This will be more of a task than I expected. I¡¯ll need to start from the ground up. Pulling up the base designs, she found the Officer Mess Hall. Along the way, she sent a message to the base Admins about her unit. I assume I¡¯ll be approached by someone in the mess hall, but for what purpose?

 B2 â€” 3. Calculated Action

    Helena passed by several people as she continued to the mess hall. I have four members within my team, and I assume I¡¯ll have a time designated for training them; however, it stands to reason they¡¯d still put us to use in some other manner. Olivia seems like the efficient type and would run the Purists in that manner. It would need to be something worth an SOP squad, but nothing requiring a massive operation, especially with how incompetent my team is. Olivia will more than likely test how quickly I can bring them up to standards, but I don¡¯t know enough about Purist activities in New Genesis to make an educated guess. I¡¯ll need to study what new SOP team assignments entail.

    She turned down a branching hallway, descending stairs to the second level. My team is comprised of a Telekinetic, Hydrokinetic, Audiokinetic, and Ligneokinetic. What an odd assortment of abilities; is it chance Olivia gave them to me? I have to assume there was a reason and I need to puzzle it out. Each of them never grew up around espers and have a very rough understanding of their abilities. Olivia must have heard what happened with Kara and me ¡­ Booker was an Audiokinetic and Hawthorn was a Ligneokinetic; I¡¯ve seen both of them use their abilities to deadly means, and Olivia herself is a Telekinetic, but Hydrokinesis ¡­ perhaps I¡¯m overthinking this.

    Stepping onto the second floor, she continued toward her destination. I need to refocus. What is of primary concern? My elevated position, how I achieved it, and the consequences that brings; they¡¯re connected. I will have expectations placed upon me and the pressure to accomplish those goals with high marks. This is a power-based hierarchy; if I don¡¯t meet those expectations, then I¡¯ll fall behind and be trampled underfoot. I must obtain knowledge of what is expected of me with this new unit and the snakes hiding in the bushes. It will be key to identify how much time I can devote to my own growth while also training my team to learn self-improvement habits; if I can teach them to improve on their ability and thinking habits on their own, then it will free up time for me to advance as well.

    She turned into the Officer Mess Hall and stopped in her tracks; ahead of her, sitting at a table with a passive expression, sat Peter. He wore a turquoise and black striped shirt with black pants and shoes. This is the Purist Officer Dining Area ¡­ can other factions eat here? Her eyes swept the room, taking note of the other Purist Officers. No, this is abnormal. The atmosphere is tense; it seems it¡¯s not banned or there¡¯d already be trouble. If he¡¯s here, it means he¡¯s at least an officer as well. He¡¯d obviously be here for me; this was not the meeting I expected.

    Gengler was sitting a few tables away from Peter with a blonde haired girl, glaring in his direction; however, she caught Gengler¡¯s face wrinkle as he noticed Peter staring directly at her. Wonderful ¡­ does Peter know the position he¡¯s placed me in? Either way, he¡¯s here for for a reason, and if I, a new member to the Purists, talks to Peter, an Officer of Shimmering Fiend, right after Booker¡¯s betrayal ¡­ it¡¯s going to give me a very bad image. Of course, the same could be said for him ¡­ if he came to the Purist district of New Genesis, then he¡¯d have gained permission from a higher governing body. It can¡¯t be anyone here ¡­ I don¡¯t see how he could have gotten into contact with Olivia or gained her permission, but that is a question for later.

    Helena kept her face passive as her eyes slid back to Peter. I don¡¯t think I can avoid this; if he came all the way here then he¡¯d approach me at another table, but that might be preferred. If he wishes to talk to me, then he¡¯ll have to initiate which will be a little brighter on my image for the rest of the Purists. I¡¯ll let him approach me. Peter knows how I think much better than most within my faction; he would guess my reasons.

    Turning away from Peter, she walked toward Gengler¡¯s table; the room was fairly quiet, a few people looking away from her to glare at Peter. Taking a seat by Gengler, she looked at the blonde haired girl next to him; she sat casually, blue eyes cold. She seemed to be in her late teens and was dressed in a modest way with a black dress that fell to her upper shins and black two-inch heels adorned her feet. She didn¡¯t wear any jewelry, but there was evidence of a little makeup to redden her cheeks and darken her lips. How does she connect to Gengler? She could be Esther, which would make sense if she wanted to meet one of her new Second Lieutenants. If that¡¯s the case ¡­ what a terrible time for Peter to show up. Since I¡¯m the lowest ranking person in the room, it would be prudent to wait to be addressed.

    The girl hummed as she turned to watch Helena sit. ¡°So, Helena Vandred ¡­ what was it like being a high ranking Noble?¡±

    Helena folded her hands across her lap. ¡°For me, normal life.¡±

    She huffed with a light smile. ¡°Not going to ask who I am?¡±

    ¡°That would be rude since I am likely of inferior status.¡±

    Gengler smirked, leaning to raise his eyebrows at the girl. ¡°What did I say? She¡¯s got an interesting way of speaking.¡±

    The girl nodded. ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less from a Noble girl. I suspect you¡¯ve already guessed my identity, Olivia seems to have high regard of your mind. I¡¯m Esther, your Captain.¡± Her eyes narrowed as she looked up; Helena followed her gaze. Everyone in the room followed Peter as he rose and walked toward their table. ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Glaring at him, Gengler¡¯s nose twisted. ¡°What do you want, fiend.¡±

    Peter¡¯s tone was respectful and low. ¡°Hello, Helena, I know this is an inconvenient time, but I need to speak privately with you.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Esther frowned. ¡°Helena, do you know this boy from the Turquoise Faction?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Helena looked at Peter, hiding any emotion. ¡°I was initiated into WITCH in the Northern Base, and Peter was a part of my first trial. He was recently initiated into the Turquoise Faction, and it seems he was promoted to an Officer¡¯s rank.¡±

    Gengler¡¯s teeth ground together for a moment. ¡°Tsk, what did you do to get that promotion? The Shimmering Fiend doesn¡¯t just hand those out.¡±

    Peter¡¯s gaze slid to Gengler. ¡°I killed someone for it.¡± I see, if he was going to survive in that kind of a faction, then it was a necessity. It could also be argued that I put him in that position. Has he come to collect that debt? If I can, I will, but it is a rather inconvenient time; however, if I¡¯m to uphold the standard I¡¯ve set for myself, I repay my debts. That¡¯s the kind of image I want the Vandred House to represent. He must know my own position, and he isn¡¯t dumb, which means he thinks I can accomplish it. It could also be argued it¡¯s time sensitive if he¡¯s willing to go to these lengths.

    ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less from the Fiends,¡± Esther said without bite. ¡°It¡¯s how they operate. So, who did you get permission from to propose this kind of meeting? You couldn¡¯t get in here without someone¡¯s support.¡±

    ¡°General Olivia,¡± he stated, taking a folded piece of paper out of his pocket to show her. I see ¡­ if that¡¯s the case then there¡¯s nothing anyone can do; the only person above her is Kara. Was she just interested in his request? It also begs the question how he was able to get a meeting with her at all? He must have done a lot to make this happen.

    Glancing over the paper, Esther hummed. ¡°It¡¯s genuine.¡± Her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward Helena. ¡°What will you do?¡±

    The mess hall had grown silent as everyone listened to the conversation. ¡°May I read the paper?¡± Helena asked. A small smiled grew on Esther¡¯s lips as she handed it over. Reading the short letter, she noticed a specific seal imprinted in the paper with white wax. So, he has permission to be within key facilities inside the Purist Faction Base until he has accomplished meeting me and making his request. I can refuse this ¡­ however, Olivia would have already officiated this request before I arrived. She didn¡¯t tell me about it, meaning this could also be a test. How many trials must I overcome? I could refuse Peter¡¯s request, but I do owe him a bit of debt. I need to hear him out while also keeping my image with my superior positive.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    She handed the paper back to Peter. ¡°I will first eat with Captain Esther and First Lieutenant Gengler. Once I finish my time with them, I will humor your request.¡± Both Gengler and Esther¡¯s brow rose with a hint of approval.

    ¡°I understand,¡± Peter stated, putting the paper away. ¡°I will wait for you in the nearest meeting room.¡± He nodded toward Esther and left without a second glance.

    ¡°You handled that with skill,¡± Esther complimented, eyes sparkling. ¡°Do you have any idea what he wants?¡±

    Helena shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t; however, I assume it must be of importance if he went through such means to obtain this meeting. Especially in regards to General Olivia.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Esther muttered.

    ¡°He has some nerve though,¡± Gengler huffed. ¡°I can¡¯t remember a time when any Purist voluntarily went to the Shimmering Fiend to request a meeting. Maybe to resolve a fight, but nothing else.¡±

    ¡°The interesting part is that he received permission from Olivia,¡± Esther said, leaning back to stare at the exit. ¡°If it caught Olivia¡¯s eye, then it must be worth pursuing. Olivia didn¡¯t order you to do anything either,¡± her focus returned to Helena. ¡°She¡¯s interested to see what decision you make. I¡¯d like to know what is decided.¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°When would you like a report?¡±

    ¡°When everything is decided,¡± Esther¡¯s elbows rested on the table as her fingers intertwined. ¡°Now, why don¡¯t we get something to eat.¡±

    Helena ordered a balanced meal; chicken marsala with red potatoes and green beans. While waiting for their food to arrive, Gengler reported to Esther about a few of his teams. I see¡ªsince we are Special Operations, we take care of specific targets and operations within the city. Spying in the streets, meeting with different section bosses to receive reports, making sure production is on schedule ¡­ we¡¯re basically management. In a power-based system, I guess you¡¯d need powerful individuals to accomplish those potentially dangerous tasks. Just going into the streets is life-threatening. It¡¯s to be expected that you¡¯ll have to make examples, especially if you¡¯re new to an area; the espers inside the districts will test you to see how far they can push it.

    After hearing the report, Esther nodded and turned to Helena. ¡°So, what are your thoughts after hearing that?¡±

    ¡°Honestly,¡± Helena said, repressing a sigh. ¡°I feel as if my team is ill-prepared for such tasks. I will need to teach them a great many things and expose them to a few threatening encounters to prepare them to handle New Genesis.¡±

    She chuckled. ¡°So, what was your impression of your team?¡± So, this is Esther¡¯s test. She¡¯s digging to identify my personality and how I responded to the lackluster situation I¡¯ve been placed in. Transparency will be important with her.

    ¡°First impression,¡± Helena¡¯s tone turned cold. ¡°Frustration.¡±

    ¡°How did it go after I left?¡± Gengler asked with amusement; he accepted a plate of food as a server set their plates across the table.

    Helena neatly placed her napkin across her lap. ¡°They were rebellious, unrefined, and asinine. I offered them a choice; kill me now or listen and obey.¡±

    Esther smiled at her statement while Gengler licked his lips, a slightly nervous edge in his tone. ¡°Oh? What did they do?¡±

    Waiting for Esther to begin eating, Helena sat straight, tone cold. ¡°They froze, and then one worked up the courage, with the emotional support of the others, to face me. He idealistically stated that he would not kill me but fight to show his superiority¡ªit was painfully obvious that he lacked the resolve. I hoped that the group was leading me on, that they had some hidden motive, or killing intent, but I was utterly disappointed. I easily subdued all of them at once, and they broke into tears, begging for their lives.¡±

    Gengler swallowed as she recounted the incident. ¡°Seriously? All of that happened when I left? I wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡± He muttered.

    Esther rested her chin on her interlaced fingers for a moment before lifting it. ¡°How did their response make you feel?¡±

    Helena calmly locked eyes with Esther. ¡°Odious.¡±

    ¡°Odious ¡­ explain.¡± Esther ordered before preparing to eat.

    ¡°A team in WITCH is linked to your life, at least to a certain extent; it is imperative to trust someone to make up for something you lack. It could be intelligence, ability, skills, or a host of other things, but you must be able to put at least a degree of faith in others. This sets up a problem with a power-based hierarchy; it requires unquestionable loyalty. This, I think, is why Booker¡¯s betrayal hit Purist so heavily and why I feel this way toward my team.¡±

    Gengler cleared his throat at her statement, but Esther nodded with pursed lips before taking a drink. ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°I do not feel like I can put my trust in my team members to accomplish a task; at least, not at this point.¡±

    Esther finished swallowing before asking, ¡°Not at this point?¡±

    Helena nodded. ¡°It is true; I feel odious about the members of my team; they are ignorant, cowards, and essentially worthless as they are. However, a soldier isn¡¯t built overnight. They haven¡¯t been introduced to the right program to cultivate their utility and are therefore unrefined. It means I have a lot more work to do, but they can be refined, pressed, and developed into proper weapons. Upon reflection, my frustration is with my expectation, not the product. I was under the impression that I¡¯d be handed soldiers, but instead, I was given raw materials to build them¡ªI just need the forge.¡±

    Esther leaned back, folding her legs; she looked around at the other officers with a small smile before her gaze returned to Helena. ¡°You really are something else; you presented a request without directly asking it. I planned on dumping you into the fire, but you¡¯ve really caught my interest¡ªokay, I¡¯ll give you some time at the forge. I¡¯m interested to see what you can mold; I¡¯ll send a message to you later tonight with the details on your required duties.¡± She examined her for a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s hard to see you as an eight-year-old, Helena. Even for an esper, examining your words and actions ¡­ no wonder Kara is interested in you.¡±

    Plate half finished, she rose. ¡°When your business with Peter is finished, you can find me in the Faction Library. I¡¯m eager to learn what the request is and your response.¡± With that, she left the hall.

    Gengler took a deep breath. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re deadly with words. It isn¡¯t easy to impress Esther¡ªI guess you impressed Olivia and Kara though.¡± He shook his head as Helena began eating. ¡°You really are a Noble, eh?¡±

    She took it as a statement and continued to eat; the mess hall began to build with low conversation as they ate. Once finished, Helena left the hall with Gengler. He joined her as she made her way toward the nearest meeting room, seemingly deep in thought. I¡¯ve gained a bit of leniency with my daily activities, but there will be duties I still need to perform. I¡¯ve also tightened the noose around my neck if I fail, but it was necessary. The unknown factor is Peter; what does he want with me? Before I meet him, I should probably use the washroom; I don¡¯t know how long this will take. There¡¯s one down the next hall; will Gengler voice what he¡¯s been thinking before or after I finish?

    Making it to the washroom, she turned to him. ¡°I will only be a moment.¡± He nodded, posting up against the wall, eyes low. She relieved herself, washing up before exiting.

    He cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s easy to see ¡­ you¡¯re pretty smart¡ªwhen did you realize Booker was a traitor?¡± It was bound to come up; he was directly under Booker.

    Helena frowned. ¡°Not until the moment he stabbed his blade through Klen¡¯s chest. There were things that puzzled me about him, but I didn¡¯t think he was a traitor; his mask was so well placed that even Kara was blindsided ¡­ that, I believe, was his true skill. How he was able to pull that over on her ¡­ I don¡¯t know; it baffles me.¡±

    He nodded, downcast. ¡°Yeah ¡­ we¡¯re all baffled.¡± He smirked, staring down at her. ¡°Well, from what I¡¯ve heard so far, I think you can handle that fiend without a problem. Good luck,¡± he reached down, shaking her hand before departing.

    Helena watched him go, face unreadable. I don¡¯t know ¡­ Peter¡¯s a completely unknown factor. I don¡¯t know his goals at all; I can¡¯t even guess his motives. That unknown factor is what sparks trepidation. He hasn¡¯t revealed anything yet which is a sign of his intelligence ¡­ I can¡¯t plan for something I don¡¯t know. At least it¡¯s something Olivia wouldn¡¯t be opposed to; there¡¯s at least that. Standing in front of the door, she took a deep breath before opening the meeting room.

 B2 â€” 4. Difficult Situation

    Helena entered the room, the automatic door closing behind her. Peter sat in an armchair by a warm fire, another chair tilted toward the fire opposite him. He stared into the flames, face unreadable, but his bioelectricity told her that he was nervous. Quickly scanning the room, she found it as expected, empty; there were bugs in the room, so she created static to disrupt their feedback. She walked over to the armchair and sat; crossing her legs, she waited.

    Peter scratched at his nose with the back of his index finger with a short sigh. ¡°What a ridiculous situation we¡¯ve found ourselves in¡ªI couldn¡¯t have imagined myself here a few days ago.¡± Is his plan to be sincere? It¡¯s a true statement. Inside that sealed box, we both couldn¡¯t have been prepared for what would come.

    His head sank back against the cushion. ¡°It¡¯s sad how New Genesis operates ¡­ this fire is such a luxury that we take for granted.¡± He paused, staring at the propane-fueled flames. ¡°You know, I went over it a thousand times in my head after the Black Box ¡­ what would happen if I was pit up against you.¡±

    His muscles sagged. ¡°Every time¡ªwithout fail, I¡¯d die. There¡¯s no way I could possibly hope to outclass you ¡­ mentally or in ability. That understanding only increased as I saw your fight.¡± He¡¯s leading up to something, but what? Yes, a Telepath is at an extreme disadvantage to an Electro Master. It¡¯s natural that he¡¯d play out that scenario before being recruited ¡­ what¡¯s his point though? Is this just emotional release? Confronting an enemy, he couldn¡¯t hope to best and trying to overcome that fear? There must be more to it than that.

    He glanced at her, sitting in the armchair, features neutral. ¡°The way you handled the situation back at the Mess Hall ¡­ it was beautiful¡ªbrilliant. Others might see you as being given opportunity with a silver spoon, just another Noble handed things, but I know better¡ªyou struggled tooth and nail to get where you are. You¡¯re actually a source of inspiration for me¡ªbelieve it or not.¡± He scratched the back of his head, glancing away. ¡°You¡¯re wondering why I went through all this trouble ¡­ a lot of trouble, to just get the chance to meet with you. Yes, I¡¯ve heard about the Vandred always paying their debts and what not, but I wanted to verify that with you personally before continuing.¡±

    Helena kept her tone even. ¡°Yes, I recognize that it was my voice that caused Sevilla to catch interest in you. It was a terrible situation that could have branched a multitude of ways. Given the amount of information I had at the time, I wouldn¡¯t have done it differently. I feel I do owe you to a certain extent because of the Black Box and the role I played in Sevilla making up her mind about you. If the request is reasonable, then I will honor it as best I am able.¡±

    Peter smiled with relief. ¡°Everything I planned hinged on that response. I worried that you might not see your hand in my situation or consider the debt already paid ¡­ that the rumors about the Vandred paying their debts was fake. There were so many factors that could have gone wrong, but it was my best option ¡­ you were my best option.¡± He hasn¡¯t told me anything yet. All he¡¯s done is compliment me, which he knows won¡¯t gain him any favors. If he wants to use me to get out of the Turquoise Faction ¡­ no, he¡¯s not that stupid. Then what?

    Helena tilted her head before quickly righting it. Honestly! I wouldn¡¯t have even noticed if Kara hadn¡¯t pointed it out, but now it just annoys me. Sparks danced across her brow as her irritation flared, strands of her blonde hair standing up. How ¡­ I need to get this under control! She neutralized the static, her hair returning to normal. It¡¯s fine, he won¡¯t know the reason for the sparks; he may take it as a sign of my impatience and actually get to the point.

    Peter frowned, his vision darting to the sparks at her brow, but he didn¡¯t ask about it. ¡°Right¡ªI assume you¡¯re fairly busy. So, I know you have everyone¡¯s eye, and that is an important aspect of my plan. I want to be as clear as possible with you on the subject; I assume you¡¯ve already dealt with the bugs in the room?¡± He knew most of WITCH would have bugs placed around the area, it¡¯s only natural with the power structure, but why is his request require secrecy? This is The Shimmering Fiend¡¯s headquarters ¡­ perhaps he¡¯s worried about his own Faction.

    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Yes.¡±

    He nodded, becoming a lot more comfortable. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. It¡¯s tough playing the part all the time, but I had to adopt the persona of the faction, or it would set my plans back. Okay¡ªI want to use your connections to move over a servant of the Turquoise Faction and take her under your wing.¡±

    ¡°A servant?¡± Helena repeated. That makes no sense. He¡¯s found himself in a deadly circumstance but is concerned about someone else? No, he has an angle. This girl is important for some reason, but what can a servant girl do to improve his situation? ¡°What¡¯s your angle, Peter?¡± Helena bluntly asked. ¡°Let¡¯s put aside the assumption I could accomplish that and focus on the gain. You are already in a precarious situation, why would you stick your neck out when there were so many variables that could go wrong¡ªthat could still go wrong? I don¡¯t take you for a fool; therefore, something this servant girl has is of great value because I refuse to see you as the charitable type. You¡¯re not in a position to be charitable, especially in the Shimmering Fiend.¡±

    Peter looked back at the fire, tucking his lip under his teeth. After a moment¡¯s thought, he nodded. ¡°Yes, this is not charity¡ªI have my reasons for doing this.¡± He turned back to her, eyes firm. ¡°Can you do that though?¡±

    Helena sat back, glaring at the fire. He¡¯s not going to tell me his reasons then, which isn¡¯t a requirement to pay back a debt; however, this is an extremely complicated issue ¡­ does he not know the state The Purists are in? A deep undercover agent of Phantasm just attacked the faction ¡­ tensions are high with any new recruit or potential spy. I certainly have worked hard to improve my image, but if I go forward with Peter¡¯s request, then that will be put in jeopardy. The maneuvering I¡¯ve done to just get my new team properly situated was difficult enough.

    Putting aside The Purist¡¯s internal issues; I don¡¯t even know the rules about swapping factions and which channels I¡¯d have to go through ¡­ this is entirely outside my expertise, which is not a place I like to be. Did he let Olivia know about this request or did he bluff his way with another explanation? I could ask him, but would he give me an honest answer? He¡¯d have to; it would be easy enough for me to verify it with her.

    She kept her active reception always alert with her recent massive increase in Focus, which let her know he was nervous about her response. ¡°Did you tell Olivia why you wanted to meet with me?¡±

    Peter swallowed. ¡°Yes, everything that I¡¯ve told you, she knows. She seemed interested in how you¡¯d respond; I assumed it¡¯s likely a test of your own ethical standing with the current situation.¡± Not even a flutter in his heart. Brilliant ¡­ how many trials must I overcome before they¡¯re satisfied? I left the Wolf Pack to step into a Snake Pit. Olivia knows the situation in The Purists all too well, which means she¡¯s testing my resolve and how I handle the situation. I could refuse or accept, but how I respond and work around the issues will determine her rating on my performance.

    What are the pros and cons of each side? If I refuse the request, then I¡¯m saying his request is impossible and not within my capacity, which could lower Olivia¡¯s image of me, but it could bolster it with Esther. Esther could become angry if I ask to take on a servant form another faction, but she could also be intrigued ¡­ it would really be touchy though. Her choosing my team members from non-esper population could say that she¡¯s scared about recruiting spies, but that doesn¡¯t have the greatest evidence behind it. She was confident and intelligent from what I could gather ¡­ Gengler on the other hand.

    She shifted her legs to cross the opposite way, causing Peter¡¯s muscles to twitch slightly. If I can accomplish it then I believe Olivia and Esther would be interested; it would be another test, can I turn a servant into a soldier. It shouldn¡¯t be any different than training the members of my team, but I¡¯d have to meet her to really determine that. She could be tough and cold if she¡¯s been in the Turquoise Faction for an extended period of time, which would cause problems with The Purists if they know her.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Helena¡¯s vision shifted to Peter. ¡°How long has she been in your faction?¡±

    Peter licked his lips before puffing out a sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve already met her; her name¡¯s Rean, the Pyrokinetic from the Black Box incident.¡± Her eyes narrowed at his confession. Rean ¡­ she was under Tom¡¯s influence during the Black Box; I wasn¡¯t able to get an accurate read on her character. Of course, you could say I had a glimpse of her true nature if her hormones were indeed overpowering thought; her true emotional state, at least. She seemed to be¡ªpassionate; at the very least, she wasn¡¯t opposed to violent action in support of something she believed in. That could be cultivated.

    If everything worked out and she was in my team, then what would be the change? I¡¯d have a Pyrokinetic added to my party. It could be a beneficial ability if it developed into Thermokinesis. Most untrained espers haven¡¯t learned the proper way to utilize their talents, which means they have the potential to discover their true ability origins. It¡¯s possible she¡¯s just a Pyrokinetic, but it could also be something much more; it would also fill the empty seat in my squad.

    How would I accomplish a faction transfer though? There would obviously need to be something given in return, but what could that be? What would The Shimmering Fiend want in order for them to relinquish a servant ¡­ of course, perhaps Peter can just throw her away since he¡¯s an Officer now. ¡°Do you know how a transfer works in the factions?¡±

    Peter took a deep breath before responding. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware ¡­ it¡¯s never happened. So, no, I don¡¯t, but I assume Kara would.¡±

    Helena¡¯s features darkened. ¡°You want me to bother a Prime about this kind of issue? A ranked Branch Member in the Great Houses would never dream of approaching me to ask for such a thing, much less a ranked servant; why would I bother the highest ranking individual in my faction about this issue? What purpose warrants her attention?¡±

    Peter¡¯s nervousness increased as he glanced around the room. ¡°Okay, there is a reason to draw her attention, but I need to send her that information myself¡­¡± I see ¡­ so, the favor wasn¡¯t actually meant for me to get the girl into the faction, but use my connection to Kara to deliver this sensitive information he has. His comment about bugs in the room is becoming clearer. Everything he¡¯s done to get a meeting with me was, in turn, to get a single message out to Kara.

    It must be of great importance for him to risk this; you could even consider this treason against his own faction ¡­ they must know about him being here. That meant that he would need to gain something of importance for his own faction in return. Kara could certainly accomplish that, but what about Rean is so important that he¡¯d risk everything on? Could it be about her abilities or who she was before captured? I¡¯d believe that WITCH would have done their homework on her beforehand. He is a Telepath though ¡­ he went through everyone¡¯s mind in the Black Box. There must be some significant bit of information in her head.

    Helena forced her body to remain calm with deep, even breaths, actively trying to keep her head from tilting. Okay, he wants to send out an important message to Kara that seems time sensitive and of great worth for him to risk his own life over. It¡¯s bound to have some kind of reward for him, but this could also be a ploy to gain higher favor in his faction by using me.

    Her lime green eyes locked onto Peter¡¯s blue irises. ¡°Are you using me to further your own agenda?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Peter stated without flinching. ¡°It is for my agenda, but my intent is not malicious in any way.¡±

    ¡°You do not wish my faction harm?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You do not wish my family harm?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Are you hiding anything from me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am only hiding the sensitive information that I will fully disclose to Kara.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t misleading me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Helena frowned. Everything checks out; he wants to discuss this topic with Kara.

    ¡°You believe this information is worth her time and risking my position?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    She sat back, closing her eyes, trying to envision any other possible danger or trick. He could be manipulated by someone, using me to get to Kara. It would be a really roundabout method and quite tricky with the number of people he¡¯s already had to go through to get to me. However, it seems legitimate. In the end, it¡¯ll only increase the expectations upon me and could draw some negative emotions from other faction members, but if Kara¡¯s the one doing the bartering, then it will be out of my hands. I¡¯m only the contact. Kara would also have a lot more information to sniff out any trap; she¡¯s likely very alert after Booker¡¯s betrayal. As of now ¡­ it doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. I¡¯m debt free and potentially gain a new member to my team.

    She opened her eyes. ¡°Very well, I will send a message to Kara, but that is all I can do. How would you have me phrase it?¡±

    Peter chuckled tiredly as he shifted in his chair, rubbing between his eyes. ¡°You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say those words. I¡¯ve been pouring over possibilities and what you might ask to accept my request ¡­ to have all of that over. I feel ¡­ so much lighter.¡±

    Helena waited patiently. This seems appropriate for a debt paid. If it comes at no risk to me, then it was not a sacrifice or worth much, but this is a rather odd request.

    ¡°I want you to message Kara my WITCH handle, Meleco. Doubtless, she¡¯ll want to know how you know me and what you¡¯ve gathered from this meeting. Tell her that I have important time-sensitive information regarding a sensitive topic that she wants knowledge on. That is it.¡±

    She resisted licking her lips. ¡°Okay, to do that I¡¯ll need to stop interfering with the bugs. Are you alright with that?¡±

    Peter nodded. ¡°That¡¯s everything I wanted to ask from you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll discover the results when Kara makes a decision. I¡¯ll be heading back to The Tower.¡± He scooted off the chair, muscles much more relaxed as he worked them out. ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure, Helena.¡±

    She watched him leave with a slight frown touching her lips. What an odd request. She retracted her static field and brought the cores of her HCID out of sleep. She composed the message, going over it a few times to confirm she had documented all the information before sending it. Scooting off the armchair, she stretched out her stiff muscles with a low sigh. This has been quite an experience. How will Esther take it? From everything I¡¯ve gathered, it is an essential bit of information; it seemed like the logical decision to make.

    She left the room while pulling up the Purist base map and memorized the section of the base the library was located. Making her way there, she received a return message from Kara. She swallowed reflexively. What¡¯s the verdict?

    Vixxy! The sky is raining lighting! Literally >.> anyways, just destroying a bunch of things while reading over this message your little friend sent; make sure the info is encrypted ¡­ I can¡¯t believe this! *AND wipe all that info off the web ¡­ gone!* Grr ¡­ this couldn¡¯t have come at a more inconvenient time! You did wonderfully ¡­ this is quite important information. However, it¡¯s going to be tricky with Sevilla. I¡¯m shocked your little friend was able to get this to us without her knowing ¡­ I should have recruited him too ¡­ wasted opportunity. Anyways¡ªI¡¯m going to have to ask you to take the lead on this one.

    Helena stopped in her tracks as she read that line. What?

    You see, Vixxy ¡­ Sevilla and I don¡¯t have the best track record ¡­ I might have cut her once ¡­ she got a good cut in too ¡­ what?! She messes with my plans ALL THE TIME! She¡¯s such an irritating woman! But anyways, that¡¯s in the past (three months ago)! <3 those dimples ¡­ I¡¯m not looking at a picture of you >.> never! That would be creepy (hides picture in secret folder)! So, yeah ¡­ you¡¯ll need to go over to the base and negotiate for Rean to come over and join your squad. BTW! I heard about your first encounter from Esther! Hehe, put those kids through hell! I know you¡¯ll get them whipped into shape! Olivia¡¯s super impressed by you so far (she lectured ME about being more like YOU! ¡­ THE NERVE! I¡¯M HER BOSS! *huff huff*).

    Okay, anyways, getting back on topic ¡­ go over and see Olivia after reporting to Esther. You can ONLY talk to Esther and Olivia about this, okay! Strictly need to know! *Gasp!* Is this your first official assignment! This is more of a Lieutenant Colonel''s level of operation, but I know you can handle it! It requires a level of tact and finesse that most SOP don¡¯t learn, but you¡¯ve mastered the art, my little lady! Olivia will let you in on what you have to work with! *Cracks the whip!* Now get on with it! This is important, and if I get involved, then Sevilla will KNOW something¡¯s up. She¡¯ll be suspicious with you, but I think you can work it out! I believe in my little kitten! As the thunder rolls, I¡¯m out! <3 Kisses!

    Helena took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. Great ¡­ a Lieutenant Colonel level assignment ¡­ I¡¯ll likely be dealing with Sevilla herself or some high level representative. From the Snake Pit to the Lion¡¯s Den...

 B2 â€” 5. Esther

    Helena paused, shifted to lean against the wall to not impede traffic. This will be quite troublesome. Sevilla already seems to have a decent opinion of me which will pique her interest when she realizes I¡¯m after something in her faction. I need to know more about Rean to give an acceptable explanation and lay out the plan to Esther, then there¡¯s the issue of why all the higher ranks above me allowed me to act in such a way; Esther will expect a strategy when I arrive to report. Rean didn¡¯t come off strong in the Black Box; she was a tool from the start.

    She hummed, pursing her lips. What reasons could I give for my sudden interest in her? She didn¡¯t seem particularly powerful ¡­ can I get to WITCH¡¯s information on her? She activated her HCID and manipulated the input to get to the desired information. It seemed she was locked to the Purist Network, but it was simple to bypass the encryption with her administrator account and mask the information viewed by creating a dummy account to search, wiping the creation log data in the process. Rean¡¯s information popped up on display.

    Helena read through it quickly; there wasn¡¯t much. The information is linked to Sevilla¡¯s network, so she¡¯ll have access to the same data ¡­ this is rather bleak. The report on her capture is unimpressive; she was apprehended by a Turquoise recruiter with Zoopathy ¡­ he was controlling a Worg ¡­ she allowed the Worg to sneak up behind and sedate her ¡­ very unimpressive. There¡¯s no possible way I can give the excuse that she¡¯s intelligent. From reports issued by her handler, it seems she follows the Deity Faith ¡­ even more of a failing. She wouldn¡¯t have practiced with her abilities and would have been brainwashed into thinking she¡¯s some abomination. Could the Deities be real? Possible, but from what I understand, what they teach the commoners is far different than what¡¯s examined in the Houses.

    She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the cool steel wall. She¡¯s mentally suppressed by her belief in the Deities; she can¡¯t utilize her abilities well; she was easily subdued and used as a tool ¡­ is there anything good I can center on? What could I possibly say that would give merit for wanting her inside the Purist Faction and in my own unit? I could use my own image in Sevilla¡¯s eyes to dismiss my authority to gain access to recruit someone into my unit. I¡¯m sure Olivia will also give me appropriate resources to offer as a trade; Kara insinuated as much¡ªthat could also be a concern...

    Shifting her weight, she pressed a hand against her forehead with a light groan. Why would anyone want her? Why does Kara want her in the first place? I guess that¡¯s the question. Peter gained some piece of information that makes Rean useful for some reason; it could be her identity, but from the reports, they¡¯d identified her as a peasant. Her father isn¡¯t in the picture, for whatever reason, and her mother makes her living off fishing among other things. She¡¯s just some random peasant ¡­ perhaps her father¡¯s identity? How ¡­ well, Peter could have fished that out of her head. It must have something to do with the girl¡¯s identity; she did have witch characteristics, such as her brown hair. Witches and espers conflict though; they don¡¯t inherit both magic and esp ¡­ at least, that¡¯s what my education taught me. How much can I accept Drake¡¯s explanation on that? Well, he wasn¡¯t lying, I could tell if he was ¡­ no, I can¡¯t think that way. I don¡¯t know Drake¡¯s ability, he could have been fooling my reception.

    She opened her eyes to glare at the ceiling. What do I know? Peter discovered something, Kara seems extremely interested in that, and now I¡¯m being sent to make Kara¡¯s demand come true. What¡¯s Peter¡¯s gain in this? Peter is in a very volatile faction that looks down upon weakness; they seem to have a proclivity toward torture and deadening their member¡¯s emotion. He obviously doesn¡¯t enjoy it, but stuck his neck out to give Kara some very valuable information. Kara was very interested in it, and Peter seemed to know she would be, and his request was for me to take in Rean. If Rean is to be placed in my unit, then it means her safety would also be in my care ¡­ Peter wants Rean protected for some purpose, and Kara feels the same.

    Her head lowered to passively follow personnel moving supplies or walking down the halls; she noticed she was drawing attention, but no one stopped to question her or start a conversation. If I can¡¯t give the Turquoise Faction a decent enough answer for my interest in the girl¡¯s ability or intelligence, then it would imply she holds information or her identity runs deeper than they investigated. It would also depend on where I start the bid; what I use as a starting point should be relative to a slave ¡­ she is basically a human stove from what I¡¯ve read of her handler¡¯s report.

    Sevilla herself placed her in the kitchens; she might have been interested in Rean since we were in the same test. Her response with Peter was evidence that she¡¯d done a little more homework on me and connected the events; especially with her questions about the incident. I might have even sparked her interest in Rean when I mentioned the Black Box to her. She must have been disappointed with what she found since Rean wasn¡¯t added to the SOP roster, but given as a plaything to her kitchen staff.

    I could run off the premise that I believe she has hidden potential from what I observed in the Black Box, but the incident was recorded; Sevilla or her members could access the footage. If they did check it, they¡¯d see that Rean was used, went hysterical, and was subdued by the twins. Of course, I could run with the mystery aspect of it; similar to my own mystification with Kara and Peter¡¯s interest. If I went that route, then they¡¯d try to up-bid the offer until I started to cave, trying to determine how much of a price she was worth to me, which I have no clue, to begin with. It seems like my only viable option; she holds hidden ability potential that could benefit my unit.

    Helena vision snapped to a boy in his mid-teens broke away from the flow of traffic as he nervously stepped up to her. ¡°Umm¡ªVix, I umm¡­¡± He shifted a little.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Helena¡¯s features pacified as she looked up at the boy. What¡¯s he want? He¡¯s nervous, not a sign of higher station. I doubt it¡¯s a message, people can just message me on my HCID ¡­ so, what does he want?

    ¡°I just¡ªI¡ªit¡¯s an honor to meet you. I was losing a bit of hope¡ªI just, I haven¡¯t been able to increase my ability for a while, but watching your fight ¡­ I just wanted to say thank you!¡± He ran back off down the hall. Well, okay then, I guess there are people that admire me. I supposed that¡¯s natural. Morale could be a tough thing to keep up in a system such as this.

    She sighed before pushing off the wall. This seems like the only strategy I have to work with. There¡¯s some mysterious aspect about her that will benefit me and hope they¡¯ll buy it. I¡¯ll have to come up with a stopping point, something I¡¯m not willing to go beyond; that can be determined when I meet Olivia to see what I have to work with.

    She made her way to the library. Her trip was uneventful; there were a few people that glanced down at her, several nervous glances or hardened expressions, but for the most part, people kept to themselves. The library automatic steel door opened when she neared, and she stepped through; the room she entered was massive with five stories. Stairs were leading up to each level with multiple exits; it was surprisingly empty with only a few people walking around, examining the spines of different volumes. I didn¡¯t expect a Totalitarian organization to have such a massive collection of books, but I suppose real destructive power is the key to their enslavement, not mental constraints.

    She caught sight of Esther in an armchair, reading a small green covered book; she looked up with a slight smile. ¡°Helena,¡± placing a folded orange piece of paper in the corner of a page, she closed the book. ¡°What does the Turquoise Faction want? Anything we must speak in private about?¡± Helena walked up to her before nodding. Esther¡¯s smile grew slightly. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s go to a meeting room. I suspect you have means of canceling out electrical equipment. So, we can move down the hall to a sitting room.¡± A statement. She knows I can interfere with electrical equipment. Is that a part of my file? I¡¯ll need to read it, possibly scrub some of the information.

    Helena followed her down the hall; they passed several doors before Esther opened one to their right. Going inside, she closed the door, pressing the lock function inside. The room was very similar to the space she¡¯d talked to Peter in with the exception of the fire. Sitting in an armchair, Esther motioned for her to sit across from her. Her voice was filled with curiosity. ¡°So, what¡¯s the scoop?¡±

    Extending her electrostatic field, she disrupted the several bugs within the room. ¡°May I ask something first?¡±

    Esther nodded, leaning back before folding her fingers, ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Why are there so many listening devices around the Purist base? I¡¯ve sensed them all over the place; there have been cameras and many other devices for gathering information.¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°My guess is that they¡¯re here from other factions; some must be from Sevilla, she did reconstruct the entire city several years ago, but I¡¯m sure Kara has her own devices. It¡¯s wonderful having a Lieutenant that can create a safe space relatively anywhere; I¡¯m sure there are some restrictions on range, but this seems acceptable since you didn¡¯t voice your objections.¡± She¡¯s smart ¡­ she was able to determine a little bit about my ability from this scenario. I suppose that is an important thing to determine if those under you could attack at any time; she¡¯s understandably cautious.

    ¡°I appreciate you indulging my curiosity,¡± Helena better positioned herself before continuing. ¡°Has Kara contacted you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Esther frowned. ¡°So, Kara was brought into this request. Most curious; the Lieutenant from the Turquoise Faction that has information to make Kara get involved while a Lieutenant under my command has the ability to contact her. Kara pays very close attention to detail; so, there must be a reason she left the details up to you.¡± Yes, Kara does seem detail oriented, but this is a delicate conversation. How will she take the information?This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Helena was silent for a moment. ¡°Peter brought information to present to Kara; after analyzing his explanation, and the fact that he¡¯d have to go through Olivia to reach me, I determined that it was worthy of granting his request. It involved Rean, a Pyrokinetic that was present in my first test, inside the Black Box. I allowed him to send the information he requested to Kara, but before I could look at it, Kara zeroed it. His request was that we bring Rean, a cooking slave within the Turquoise Faction, over to our faction, and to bring her into my unit.¡±

    Esther¡¯s features darkened as she glared at the floor. ¡°I see. Kara accepted this then?¡± Meaning she has no choice but to accept.

    She nodded. ¡°Kara sent me a message that the information sent to her was vitally important; she instructed me to keep this matter only between Olivia and you. I am to go over to the Turquoise Faction and negotiate for her; Olivia will give me the appropriate means to set a price.¡±

    Helena paused as Esther¡¯s eyes narrowed, lifting to study her. ¡°Really, she,¡± her mouth shut, jaw shifting a little. ¡°Do you know why she wants Rean on your unit?¡±

    ¡°My only guess would be Peter¡¯s request. Peter mentioned that he wanted Rean in my unit, which, to me, it sounds like he wants her protected. When I received the message from Kara, I could speculate that Kara wants her trained with my other members.¡±

    Esther bit on her lip for a moment before sucking on it; after a moment, she took a deep breath. ¡°What can you tell me about Rean?¡± Obviously, she¡¯d want to know a little more about a recruit that just shifted factions, even if she was only in that faction for a few days. She also is asking why Kara¡¯s interested in her.

    ¡°Why Kara is interested; I have not been able to discern. She did not tell me the reason. From the Black Box incident, she¡¯s unimpressive; she was manipulated, she was helpless against a Worg during her capture, and completely oblivious to her surroundings. She was brought up in the Deity Faith and believes in their teachings, which hampers her ability and reasoning. That also has me somewhat concerned about initiating a negotiation for her.¡±

    ¡°I can imagine why,¡± Esther muttered. ¡°She doesn¡¯t appear intelligent, and because of her background, her ability suffers. Why would we want her?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but Peter is a Telepath.¡±

    Esther sighed with an understanding nod. ¡°I see ¡­ he must have identified something in her past that makes her important.¡±

    ¡°From the message sent by Kara, the information is time sensitive; however, she didn¡¯t send me any requests to gain or send her any information ¡­ I¡¯m only to add her to my unit. So, I can only assume Rean is the target of the information. With what I have; the only possible route I can take with negotiating is the mystery. She has some form of hidden potential that I saw in her during the Black Box, and then I have to shoot blindly with the starting bid. It will need to be compelling enough to warrant me personally showing interest, but not enough to draw an extreme amount of attention.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it does seem rather hard to identify a starting point and to sidestep their suspicions. You¡¯ll likely begin the deal with Boltis if she¡¯s in the kitchens.¡±

    Helena pressed her index fingers together, shifting them up and down. ¡°That is the name of her handler from what I¡¯ve been able to research.¡±

    ¡°I figured as much,¡± Esther whispered, glaring at the wall. ¡°He¡¯s a repugnant man that has quite the sadistic reputation. He¡¯ll likely not be willing to give her up easily, but he¡¯s not SOP¡ªhmm, actually, that might be a bit preferred.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Do you have some information that might help me negotiate for her?¡±

    ¡°Possibly¡ªhmm, if she¡¯s in the kitchen ¡­ what are some of the details you¡¯ve been able to identify? If you knew about Boltis, within the amount of time it must have taken you to converse with Peter and walk to the library ¡­ you¡¯ve been able to acquire some information through another means if you¡¯ve already researched her. Is that right?¡± She really is sharp. I shouldn¡¯t have let that slip; I was skirting how I obtained Rean¡¯s background, but it seems she isn¡¯t interested in how I got it, but she knows I had some means.

    ¡°It seems likely that she was brought into the Turquoise Faction after Sevilla took a bit of notice of me. All the Primes seemed to take interest between me being a Noble and Kara taking interest; it also appears that when I won the competition, they took even more notice. Fatchna indicated that. Sevilla looked into the other espers I entered with and recruited Peter; he stated that I had a major role in that decision, which I might have from what I¡¯ve gathered. It seems Rean didn¡¯t meet her expectations though; she personally appointed her to the kitchens.¡±

    A smile curved Esther¡¯s lips. ¡°So, the queen actually appointed Rean herself; this might be very interesting. Sevilla¡¯s personality¡ªshe¡¯ll be quite curious about what you see in her and will question her decision. She personally decided that Rean was nothing special; suddenly, the person that drew her attention to the girl shows up to snatch her away ¡­ she¡¯ll be very interested in that. Did she miss something ¡­ why would Vix want this useless and damned girl?¡±

    Frowning, Helena¡¯s vision narrowed. ¡°Why would Sevilla¡¯s attention be a good thing?¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t gained the experience of the Faction Primes yet,¡± Esther smiled darkly. ¡°If you point out something that she missed, then she¡¯ll hand over Rean. Sevilla is quite peculiar. She respects people that can match her; power or intellect, even instinct. Because of this, she makes a habit out of playing with Kara¡ªit¡¯s a game between a few of the Primes. If you study their behavior, you can map a bit of it out. They each actually have a lot of respect for one another; well, certain Primes, new and old.¡± That is actually amazing insight, but I still can¡¯t connect it with that being a desirable outcome. I don¡¯t know why Rean is important, but Peter found something she missed. The moment Kara received it, she acted without hesitation; most definitely Sevilla would be interested in it, but I can¡¯t tell her something I don¡¯t know.

    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Helena tilted her head. ¡°How can I use that though? I don¡¯t know Rean¡¯s importance.¡±

    ¡°The problem is Boltis,¡± Esther smirked mischievously. ¡°He would rather die than give up a toy he enjoys, and she¡¯s fresh meat; however, if you already have Sevilla¡¯s attention, then it¡¯s going to send ripples through the faction. Peter will likely mention something to his Captain as well¡ªit would be good to know who that was.¡± Esther eyed her with a twinkle evident. She must have determined how I found out about Rean; it¡¯s not a big leap from my ability, and I¡¯m beginning to see the guile in her. She¡¯s a lot more intelligent than I would have guessed.

    Accessing her HCID, she entered the Turquoise Faction¡¯s network. ¡°His Captain¡¯s name is Julias Hallmark; he¡¯s a Pannokinetic ¡­ that¡¯s an interesting ability. To manipulate cloth or thread. It doesn¡¯t say how far or adept he is at it, but if he¡¯s a Captain, then it must be to a proficient degree.¡± If it turned into a fight, I could burn all the thread, but that could burn me, and he could manipulate my own clothes. I¡¯d have to be very careful. How would that work with Focus? Does his Focus generate it out of nowhere? It could be a subpart of Biokinesis with organic material. That would be an interesting one to study.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Esther licked her lips. ¡°You¡¯re quite the useful subordinate. Yes, you are¡ªJulias, huh.¡± She folded her right hand across her stomach while pressing the knuckle of her index finger against her nose. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about him, but from what I have seen, he¡¯s very cautious. If Peter does mention what you¡¯re doing as you enter their base ¡­ I can see him making himself available when you arrive. He¡¯ll use that as an opportunity to reveal enough information to spike curiosity in his Captain and possibly even the feeds leading back to Sevilla.¡±

    ¡°What about the possibility of a trap?¡± Helena sat back, crossing her legs the opposite way. ¡°I can¡¯t see this being some elaborate ploy to get me inside their faction walls. They¡¯d have to fool Olivia and Kara, which I believe to be a very difficult task, but I can¡¯t drop the possibility.¡±

    Esther huffed. ¡°I think even Sevilla wouldn¡¯t want that kind of attention. You¡¯re somewhat of a celebrity at the moment; that will die down, possibly¡ªit depends on what else you accomplish. This, for one, will paint you negatively in a lot of the faction¡¯s eyes; however, Olivia and Kara know this but ordered it anyway. That makes it of even more importance, and that will also spike Sevilla¡¯s interest; she won¡¯t be ignorant of how Booker¡¯s betrayal hit the faction.

    ¡°No¡ªthe biggest trap would be bringing Rean into the faction to cause discord, but Kara doesn¡¯t seem worried about that. This must be quite important.¡± She chuckled. ¡°And we both can¡¯t figure it out; no, I highly doubt this is a trap¡ªCassandra¡¯s spike against you that Kara interfered with ¡­ everyone can tell that you¡¯ve gained her favor. Sevilla isn¡¯t on the best terms with Kara, but they aren¡¯t enemies like her and Phantasm¡ªI doubt even Sevilla would wish to be on that kind of relationship with Kara, and she showed her willingness to face someone as strong as Cassandra for you. Plus, from everything I¡¯ve heard, even Eizea has a high stake in you¡ªyou should be flattered, but I have a few theories myself about that. No ¡­ between Eizea and Kara; even Primes don¡¯t want that kind of attention¡ªwell, Phantasm¡¯s insane, and hides like a mole ¡­ can¡¯t apply conventional logic to him.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡ªthat¡¯s well deduced,¡± Helena nodded. ¡°Thank you for sharing that; it does help my nerves a bit. I don¡¯t know a lot about WITCH customs or power plays yet. I¡¯m thankful for your experience.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet,¡± Esther folded her fingers across her lap. ¡°I suspect that Peter will meet you as you enter. You¡¯ll tell the guard about Rean with Olivia¡¯s document of official representation. They¡¯ll direct you to the nearest Officer, Peter, which will then decide what to do about it; if Olivia¡¯s seal is on it, they can¡¯t ignore the request. Since it¡¯s just a slave, they¡¯ll direct you to the handler over that area, Boltis¡ªif it were an Officer request then it would be different, like with Peter¡¯s roundabout method, having to go through higher channels. Peter will report that to Julias since this is new territory for him, which will come to see what the hype is about¡ªyou¡¯re famous after all.

    ¡°You show up at another faction¡¯s base taking an interest in a slave, and just recently after being appointed as a Second Lieutenant being sent as an official representative of a First Ranked General ¡­ that¡¯s not normal. Bolis will have no choice but to meet with you, and you¡¯ll state your desires. He¡¯ll have to really consider your offer, at least on the surface, and if it¡¯s of decent merit, then he¡¯ll be in a pickle. Not long after, Julias will show up with Peter, perhaps even Sevilla will show up shortly after ¡­ it¡¯s a possibility. You just have to play the game, be mysterious and let them draw their own conclusions. You¡¯re just there for a business transaction, you¡¯ve gained the approval of your First Ranking General to accomplish this ¡­ there must be merit to Rean, somehow, and that, I believe, will be the thing that draws Sevilla out of her metal tower.¡± Very well thought out. There¡¯s some room for error, but it seems the most likely scenario.

    ¡°Alright, that seems appropriate. With Sevilla, I just have to hope that she¡¯ll notice what Kara and Peter noticed, or that they¡¯ll end up taking the deal because it seems worth a bit more than a portable stove that eats, gets tired, and requires supervision. Now, all I need to do is get the document and resources to trade. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to discuss?¡±

    Esther pursed her lips. ¡°It will require tact on your part, but your Noble manners will see you through. I¡¯m not thrilled about this assignment, but it is what it is¡ªKara must have her reasons. I am looking forward to how you perform though; quite the first assignment, but I¡¯m expecting it to run like clockwork.¡± She rose to her feet. ¡°Don¡¯t mess this up; it seems unknown, but high stakes are at play. I¡¯ll expect a report when it¡¯s done.¡± With that, she walked out, thoughtful grin in place.