“Don’t pass out on me. I trust you.”
“This is nothing,” she rasps.
“She’s still staying towards the back... That won’t work against these two. She needs to be more aggressive. Summer will end up in trouble at this rate.” Ms. Cosgrove swipes at one of the displays, flipping through different spreadsheets. “Clarissa could have dodged it, but she hesitated. Summer’s beginning to worry, it seems, but they appear to have an overarching strategy. I wonder what they have planned?”
“Indeed. Clarissa’s conditioning has improved, but so has everyone else’s. Whatever they have in store, I’m certain that it’s already been set in motion.”
“You think so?” Ms. Cosgrove asks.
“Maybe she’s not used to fighting with Summer,” I say, cutting into their conversation. “Tristen and Kaci have been partners before.”
“Right, but this is part of her evaluation. Her decision-making skills and tactical prowess are being tested in this fight. Summer’s fighting style and abilities aren’t what she’s accustomed to. We’ve weighed the dynamics of both teams for the exercise and arranged them in a manner to foster growth. Each advantage the opposing team has isn’t as obvious as you’d think. The same goes for disadvantages,” Mr. Hoover comments. “Just watch, Aiden...you’ll find that you’ll be surprised.” I redirect my attention to the battle at hand, determined to see Mr. Hoover’s words ring true.
Summer rips her hand forward and a wave of jagged ice shoots across the ground towards Kaci. Kaci dodges it, but ends up exactly where Summer had predicted that she’d move. While Kaci’s off balance, Summer shoots a thick beam of ice her way. Unable to do anything else, Kaci puts up a barrier which soaks up the brunt of Summer’s attack. From there, Summer pours more energy into her attack, increasing the density of her ice, and causing it to envelop the sphere of protection that Kaci had created, restricting her vision and immobilizing her. Tristen creates another flame and throws it towards Summer, but Clarissa thickens her fibers and whips them through the air, dissipating the flame with her energy by slicing through it.
“It was a good try, but Clarissa can’t do much against Tristen at that distance, even with Summer locking down Kaci. His flames are too strong for her to overpower them by herself,” Mr. Hoover comments. “However, I understand her motives. It took me a moment, but it makes sense now. I know what they’re trying to do. It’s risky. She certainly has the wits to pull it off, but even with the added protection of these new suits, Clarissa’s asking for a lot.”
“Hm... I see it too,” Ms. Cosgrove muses. “Clever girl. She has guts.”
Suddenly, the sphere of ice that Kaci’s been encased in levitates, and then the strands around it begin to illuminate with a faint green hue. Clarissa slings the sphere towards Tristen, catching him off guard. Tristen dodges it and blasts it with fire as it passes, but Clarissa still manages to maintain control. By itself, Clarissa’s threads weren’t strong enough to last long against Tristen’s flames, but Summer’s ice seems to have given them more durability. I thought Summer was only trying to take away Kaci’s vision, but their plan was deeper than that—they were laying down the foundation for a team attack.
With a defiant roar, Clarissa swings the ball upwards and then slams it into the ground. The monitor for Kaci’s vitals spikes and the screen flashes red momentarily. The coffin of ice breaks, revealing Kaci on the ground, but on one knee. Being completely encased in ice left her blind to the nature of that last attack. She was slung to the ground from high up with no warning. Even though she had manifested a shield, within that shield, her body most likely wasn’t secured. “Kaci, are you okay?” Mr. Hoover asks. “Your vitals spiked and your readings are giving me some concern.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she confirms as Tristen rushes to her side. “Hey, let’s try that move we’ve been practicing, okay?”
“I think she has a concussion...” Ms. Cosgrove announces while scanning the overview of her suit. “Kaci,” she says after linking her mic, “are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Ms. C.”
Tristen launches a tremendous wave of fire, in hopes of giving Kaci some time to breathe, but Summer has other plans. Summer rushes forward, her hand, spawning a katana made of ice while gaining ground. “They’re on the ropes, don’t let up!” She cuts through the veil of flames, but only to see Kaci and Tristen arranged in a special formation. Kaci is on one knee with one of her arms stretched out in front of her while her other hand’s gripping her forearm to hold it steady. Tristen’s directly behind her with a swirling ball of fire nestled between both his hands, slowly growing more violent as time passes.
“Dancing Devil!” Tristen launches the ball of fire towards Summer and it gains even more velocity once it passes over Kaci’s outstretched arm. Summer raises her sword to cut through it, but the strength behind their joint use of their abilities is too much for her to overpower. While being forced back, she tries to tilt her sword to redirect it, but the flame stays its course and begins to lash at her suit despite her efforts to keep it at bay. Clarissa’s threads around Summer glow and she yanks her back at an angle, pulling her away from the fire just as her sword breaks from the tension. Rather than continuing its course, the ball of fire curves and goes straight for Clarissa.
“Rissa l—” Another projectile from Tristen and Kaci hurtles towards Summer, catching her attention. “Crap! Throw me as high as you can!” Clarissa’s wires glow again and she slings Summer to the sky in the same manner that she did Kaci earlier, launching her into the air. Summer shoots a dense beam of ice downwards towards the flare, further propelling herself upward, while also thwarting their attack. Eventually, when she’s about to hit the ceiling, she rotates her body with acrobatic precision and kicks off the wall with the help of her ice, propelling her back towards the ground. “You guys aren’t the only ones with cool attack names!” she screams. “Nightmare Comet!” Summer shoots towards the earth with her palm leading the way while channeling ice around her body. In no time at all, the waves of ice stemming from her hand grow into a magnificent streak of white, frosting the air around her and encasing her in her descent towards the ground. “Clarissa, now!”
Clarissa pulls back on her wires, and Kaci finds herself pinned to the ground. She flexes her fingers and her wires expand and glow as they coil around Kaci’s body, slowly restricting her movements.
“When did she—?” Tristen asks, stunned.
“Move, or they’ll get us both!” Before she’s completely immobile, Kaci extends her hand, nudging Tristen a few feet back with her telepathic force. The ends of Clarissa’s fibers leap from Kaci in an attempt to bind Tristen, but he releases a dense ball of fire, torching them as they travel out to their intended target. While she still has her hold on Kaci, she uses her wires to throw her to the other side of the arena, separating Kaci from Tristen.
“Finish it, Summer!” she yells as Tristen’s fire zooms towards her.
His flames burst and engulf Clarissa. Her profile on her assigned monitor flashes, but my attention is quickly drawn back to the battlefield.
With the window Clarissa created, Summer comes crashing towards the ground and quickly overpowers the stream of fire that Tristen projects as a last resort to stave off her attack.
“We won’t lose!” Before she connects, Kaci manages to throw up a barrier despite her restraints, causing Summer’s attack to freeze over the ball of telepathic energy that Kaci had created. Summer’s ice flash freezes the orb along with everything around it on the arena floor, spikes erecting throughout.
“That’s the match!” Ms. Cosgrove calls out from the intercom. I look to her, confused. Did Summer just beat Tristen? Summer breaks her hand away from the orb, and lands on the ground, panting, but standing tall. That last attack took a lot out of her, but I can tell that she has a lot left to give. I thought I had my answer, but upon looking at the battlefield, I realize just how wrong I was. Clarissa’s on the ground, and so is Kaci. O
ne burned, the other pinned to the floor, buried in ice. “Clarissa and Kaci are no longer able to battle. It’s a tie!”
After the announcement, Summer’s ice prison turns red, and Tristen’s flames burst through just enough to melt the ice. He’s equally as exhausted, but I can tell that he’s just as fired up as Summer. They exchange glances, neither of them saying a word. Tristen walks away, exiting the battleground and Summer turns toward our suite at the top of the stadium and retracts her cowl. I can see her, and I know she can see me. She doesn’t have to say a thing. I already know how she feels.
“Wow...what a match. I’m impressed,” Ms. Cosgrove comments. “Did you learn anything from watching it?”
“Yeah, I think I did.”
“It really was an excellent match. Phenomenal work all around. There was a lot to unpack. Kaci and Clarissa, while strong, fell back into supporting roles while Summer and Tristen duked it out. Clarissa knew she was at a disadvantage going into the fight because she didn’t have terrain to work with, so she found another way to camouflage her attacks. Instead of using the environment, she used not only Summer, but her body as well. She set up her fibers while taking attacks or snuck them in while Summer had their attention. Not only that, but she had to weigh the cost of using them at what she thought was the appropriate time. It was like having a switch, but waiting for the exact moment to flip it. She also had to maneuver in a way so that everyone else’s attacks didn’t damage or sever her wires. Looking back, she had ample opportunities to use them. I had my theories when Summer mentioned they had a plan, but it came to me not long after she used them in a direct way—when she used her wires to give Summer her first opening. It was a strong move, but it was to mislead them. She was trying to set up something far more effective. Her taking hits reinforced the illusion that she had been outsmarted and rendered useless. Tristen, while smart, is not the most tactically inclined. Kaci, on the other hand, is far more analytical. It’s partly why she tends to favor defense as opposed to offense, although she has been making some strides on that front.” She chuckles. “Anyway, Clarissa had to make a portion of her attacks readable, yet effective, to help Summer in battle, but also misdirect her opponents so she could set up a bigger play. All of this while taking some brutal attacks, might I add. It truly was a phenomenal display of strategy.”
“Yeah, she really is amazing. I remember when I fought her. I never felt so stupid in my life. Even when I thought I’d managed to find a way, I actually just walked into another trap of hers. Kaci’s crafty, too. Her barriers were a huge problem.”
“And those barriers of hers are only getting stronger. Her powers are maturing quite well. It’s remarkable that she was able to compete with the concussion she suffered. It affected her output for sure. Mr. Hoover should be able to confirm, but I think she was stationary after Summer and Clarissa’s first combination attack because of vertigo. A lot of fight was taken from her, but she toughed it out and relied on her teammate while she tried to recover. And Tristen and Summer? They were amazing too. I don’t even know where to begin with those two.”
She didn’t, but in time, she found a way. Ms. Cosgrove went on to talk about their fight right up until the next one started. Malik was up, and he managed to win his fight by the skin of his teeth. Both teachers were shocked, and I was too. After all, his win came after joining the program while it was already months underway. Watching him fight reminded me a lot about how far I’ve come and what I need to do to go further. It wasn’t just him, or Clarissa and the others, it was everyone. After watching all of their fights I realized that I couldn’t let my inner demons get the best of me.
I was ready to fight. I knew it in my heart.
Chapter 9
“Do you really think you can beat me? I’d like to see you try.” My eyes spring open, and I slowly rise from my bed, sweat pooling underneath the covers. It was a shadowy figure encased in a dark, wavy aura, sitting on a throne in a dimly lit room. I couldn’t put a name to his figure, and his voice was inhuman—a blend of voices stitched from my past. It was challenging me. My own desires leaked out into my dreams, and my subconscious fears answered my call.
Even though I was sweating, I wasn’t afraid at all when I woke up. It was just my body’s natural response. If I had to guess what my power is right now, I’d say it’s at about forty percent of what it was when I first fought Von. Completing Mr. Ferris’s training upped my power for sure, but I’m not able to access it all...not yet...although there have been improvements. My physical fitness is leagues better than when I fought Von, and the same goes for my battle sense. Getting beat day after day while having my spirit tested pushed me beyond my limits.
I can do this. I’m ready.
I shower and head out to the same spot I’d been meeting Mr. Ferris for over two months. And just like always, he’s meditating, focusing his spirit to continually strengthen his abilities. “Ah, Aiden. My favorite student.”
“I’m your only student,” I say, while taking a seat in front of him. I clench the fabric of my pants, and it attracts his gaze. His brows furrow as he looks at me, concern evident in his eyes.
“You seem...tense, Aiden. Are you okay?”
“I want to ask you something.” Mr. Ferris tilts his head to the side.
“Sure, ask away.”
“I will—once we’re under.”
“...Oh. I understand,” he says almost disappointed.
“So, do it...please.” I close my eyes and feel a pulse expanding from my forehead, his powers linking us. “Thank you, Mr. Ferris,” I say once I open my eyes and find myself in our linked existence.
“So, you want to fight the mental block holding you back from accessing your power? Are you sure you’re ready to take on that demon, Aiden?” Mr. Ferris asks soberly. “Because ultimately, that’s what it is. The fears you hold in your subconscious can take many forms, but one this strong is your darkest fears personified. It could be anything...it could be everything. Are you ready to face that? I told you before that if you die here, you die in the real world, but there are things far worse than death. If I were to save you and enough damage has been done, you could end up as a fraction of yourself. A shell.” He sighs. “What I’m saying is, the other side can win, and if that happens, it will ruin you. You’ll lose a part of yourself, forever. I understand that you just saw your friends show their skills and you want to be back in the mix, but this isn’t a game. Going this route isn’t something that you should do unless you’re ready—not because of some emotional high. You need to be rational. You need to be safe.”
“I understand, and I know. I’ve felt this way for a long time, and I’ve been trying to work through it for months. I know the risks, and I get that they are no guarantees, but I have to try...for me. Do you think I don’t realize how damaged I am? I’m getting better, yes, but this isn’t the first time that I’ve been like this. My powers were locked away for years because I was afraid... I was afraid of a lot of things. I’d lost my foster parents; I’d almost lost my life. People were after me... My birth parents abandoned me, and this was the reason why.” A flame sparks in my hand, and I quickly extinguish it. “Deep down, I hated that part of me—my powers—they caused me so much loss...so much pain. Upset after upset, then I found this place. It took me some time, but I was able to be myself. I met some awesome people and learned to appreciate who I am—what I am. I began to take pride in the thing that I thought was the sole source of my misfortune, and realized it wasn’t my powers that were the problem. It was people. It was their choice. I know it in my head, but there’s a part of me that’s still afraid. Twisted memories and experiences. There’s a lot of bad in this world, but there’s also a ton of good. I need you to let me confront my demons... That’s the only way that I can know for sure where I stand. I know being afraid is natural, but I can’t let this dictate my life. I need to do this.”
“Hmph. Did you learn that one in speech class or something?” Mr. Ferris smiles. “You h
aven’t mastered the kite style, but your abilities have drastically improved from training here.”
“So, you’ll take me?”
“I will, but we leave as soon as things get too intense. The further our descent, the deeper we go into your subconscious. Stay close, and if I say it’s time to go, it’s time to go, no matter what you see, hear, or feel, understand?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Very well.” Mr. Ferris extends his hand in front of him and the ground begins to shake, and the sky darkens. “I originally wanted to test your abilities a final time before this, but it seems that we’re beyond that now. I respect your resolve... However, when it comes time to fight, I hope your spirit doesn’t falter, because it’ll be the only thing keeping you alive.” A wind blows at my back towards his hand, and a pitch-black void begins to grow out of thin air. A sharp pain resonates from my chest and I grip it while willing myself not to fall to the ground. Traces of my energy tear off from my body and fly into the void, causing it to expand. I can see why Mr. Ferris worked so hard to build up my spirit. If I wasn’t strong enough, this would have already been the end of the line. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s do it.” I release my grip on my chest and venture into the darkness after Mr. Ferris. Once I emerge on the other side, the void closes, and we’re both surrounded by darkness. A thick, unrelenting darkness. I can’t tell where it ends or where it starts. “Where are we?” I ask.
“Nowhere,” Mr. Ferris answers. “At least, not yet. We’re in your subconscious, but what we’re looking for isn’t here.”
“Where is it in then?”
“If you search, you’re bound to find it... You know what you’re looking for, so lead the way.”
“Right.” I raise my hand in front of me and sprout a small flame to give us light. “So, where do I start?” Everything looks the same—there’s just endless black with no distinguishing features. “Forward,” I announce. I look to my side and Mr. Ferris nods in agreement, his expression more serious than I’ve ever seen, and I totally understand why. Being here makes me feel uneasy, like there’s something sentient lurking in the shadows waiting to strike. I haven’t seen Mr. Ferris at full power, but I get the feeling that there’s a chance I may get to see him fight seriously now. The same rules that apply to me, apply to him. He feels pain in this realm, and he can also die. He’s also still holding this entire mental space together through the use of his ability, so he’s burning through his spirit quicker than I am. If we do end up fighting before we reach our destination, I’ll be sure to end the fights as quickly as I can to save our strength.
The Prodigy Page 10