Divulgence (Song of Sophangence Book 2)

by E. I. McAllistair

  “Won’t that raise suspicion?”

  “In this case I have already taken that into consideration, and had you excused from the healing practicum, though you may be asked to inflict a bit of damage… I have framed it as a cross studies program to test the merits of offensive based students understanding more about their supporters.”

  “Huh. That actually is pretty sound.”

  “Of course it is sound! I may not be able to boast your mind, but I have centuries of experience boy. Also, even if it were to be absurd, no one ever questions my authority so who cares?!”

  Glad to know she isn’t above abusing her influence… “So… I have something to tell you.”

  Exerting that staggering pressure she is known for, she narrows her eyes, placing her wine glass back upon the table. “Come now, no need for the suspense at this juncture. Spit it out.”

  “Master Shin knows about my powers.”

  “Xiaowei does?! Are you just going about shouting it from the rooftops now? I thought you wished it to remain hidden?”

  Assuming a posture like a small child trying to explain why they broke an expensive vase, “What did you expect me to do?! He’s a Grand Synestate with Foresight! How was I-”

  “Did you say Grand Synestate? Foresight?!”

  “I thought you knew… Isn’t there some sort of background check or something to work here? This isn’t exactly a fast food joint paying minimum wage.”

  “Xiaowei predates my time as Headmistress. I had always felt that if something were to happen to me, he would be the next most powerful to succeed me as Headmaster, but this… And he just decided to disclose this information to you?”

  “No, I realized it the first time I met him. Apparently no one else knew either, Phavian was just as shocked when I said it.”

  “That boy knew about this before me and you ever questioned if you were in love with him? My word child, I guess there must be balance somewhere…”

  “Hey!!”

  “Nevermind that, what about his exceptional abilities exposed your own?”

  “He told me after the Melee that if I wanted to, I could have saved Maggie and won the Melee, but because I was selfish, I chose not to. I didn’t understand what he meant by that until this morning, when I awoke from a dream recounting those words. It was then I realized that he already knew about my abilities, and he was basically scolding me for not being willing to use them to save Maggie. Now that I understand, I do believe he was right.”

  “How exactly did he learn about them though? Better yet, how did you learn about his abilities?”

  “Apparently, even if I don’t act on it, his Foresight can see timelines where I use the full extent of my abilities. Operating under the presumption that he knew, this morning I challenged him using my powers and he didn’t even flinch. He definitely knew all along. I told him everything, even about the bombing.”

  “Well, when you let it out you really leave no stone unturned don’t you? I suppose there are far worse people who could know. Come to think of it, if he were to be in line to be the next Headmaster in the event of my untimely demise, it seems best that he does know. Given your relationship he can now offer you better instruction. I now approve of this decision to tell him.”

  “Thanks, I guess? I mean it was already done, so unless we killed him, there were no takebacks, and I think killing him would be a far harder task than it seems.”

  “Indeed.”

  That’s it?! Mention revealing a secret, the world ends. Mention offing someone, no biggie.

  “I have something for you. Follow me.”

  Navigating through the extravagant manse listening to the idle chatter from Ixnes, they find themselves in a large room, full of skylights that Anaar knew housed Ixnes’ largest pool. From one of the benches, she grabs a box, not unlike the one he received from Phavian, tied with a deep purple ribbon and a beautiful bow.

  “You are royalty now. I know you do not feel like it, but you have an eternity to come into your position. The color of this ribbon signifies that. My first gift to you.”

  Is she forgetting the room she has already paid for?

  Opening the box, he extricates a suit made of some material he did not quite recognize, sleeveless and clearly designed to be a compression fit. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “It depends on what you believe it to be.”

  “These things are like 20 million dollars a pop! I suppose it isn’t a matter how you would afford one as you make them, but still… It’s dark blue.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “I thought they were black?”

  “Of course they are! The low-end ones. This one is a prototype that given what we hope for it, could easily sell for over 100 million dollars.”

  “You are just handing me 100 million dollars?!”

  “Perhaps you could think of yourself as an alpha tester?”

  “What makes this one different?”

  “True Quintessences are a rare breed child, and as a result always considerably wealthy. Though these suits are remarkable in that they are capable of converting to an elemental form similarly to your implant and Vizer, they lose their imperviousness to damage when the elemental form is inactive, meaning that depending on the type of work the person engages in, over time it can be subject to bullet holes and the like, requiring expensive repair or replacement. This model takes it a step further, and is specifically coded to your DNA, which allows it to utilize your regeneration to repair itself, and it makes for easier use. There are other fun things about it that I’m going to let you find out on your own. Come now child, try it on!”

  As she stands there expectantly waiting, he looks at her embarrassed.

  “Oh really now child, you forget I’ve already seen all you have to offer. Fine, I’ll give you the first secret for free. Unlike the other suits that though amazing, can be a bit of a pain to take on and off, this one being coded to your specific DNA should respond in the most delightful of ways to you. Try using it with your elemental form.”

  Still hesitant, his hands shift into living water, immediately causing the suit to react, crawling up his arms in a liquid state as it was alive itself. Feeling it coat his skin, bypassing everything, even his underwear, it felt cool, yet surprisingly he felt like he was not wearing it at all. Peering down his shirt he found the suit had reconstituted itself, completely indistinguishable in feel from his own skin. The scooped V-neck, sleeveless design that stopped just above his knee made it possible to wear with practically anything without the suit being detectable. The one thing that he could feel though, it felt as if things were being… held in place. Without thinking he grabs his crotch, does a few high knees, ending in an impressive backward somersault. Pulling open his pants, peering down he found there were no extreme bulges, leaving him very impressed.

  Rolling her eyes in exasperation, “Yes child, I had the suit modified to protect your modesty… I know how obsessed you seem to be with it, so I would rather not have you holding back because you did not want someone to see what goods you were storing.”

  Scratching the back of his neck he laughs nervously. “Thanks. For everything.”

  “I plan on you living up to my expectations as always. Now that you are suited up, let us see what you can really do.”

  “Wha…”

  He immediately does two quick flips backwards, two giant ice spikes crashing into the places where he was. Realizing they were blocking his vision of the woman, the two spikes explode into millions of ice fragments as a whip lashes out just barely missing his face.

  I should have seen this coming. Why else would she so calmly lead me to a giant pool of water? Her attacks are much faster with a standing pool rather than needing to accumulate it from the atmosphere!

  Numerous tendrils lash out from the pool as if he were facing a Hydra of legend. Dancing between them with barely any quarter, he manages to catch a glance at Ixnes’ utterly bored face.

  She can’t even
be considered to be toying with me she is putting so little effort into this! Wait, what am I doing? Two can play that game!

  Creating a multitude of tendrils himself, he is surprised to see her move as if she was not wearing a long dress and high heels, easily out of the way. Going for her again, the tendrils stop just short, and he finds it is like playing a game of tug of war for control. Forming two of his favorite guns in his hands he releases a volley of shots, hoping to split her attention, thus allowing him to win their fight for control of the multitude of tendrils from the pool.

  A sheet of thick ice forms in front of her, blocking the first volley, but shattering upon the second. Wondering why he is being stupid enough to fight at a distance against possibly the most powerful Elemental in the world, he utilizes his guns to create covering fire so he can close the distance as she dodges and redirects the water bullets. He gets a sense of wrongness, but a moment too late, and his own guns turn against him, becoming prickly like a sea urchin, puncturing his hands. With them already healed by the time he finally closes the distance, he begins a number of punches and kicks that he is sure will put the woman down. To his utter dismay, she simply smirks, hikes up her dress, and begins an assault of her own, more vicious than he would expect from Master Shin.

  What the shit?! What Elemental is also a master of close range combat?!

  With spins and flips indicating her skill with her abilities were far from the only thing that made her powerful, a spiked heel finds his gut as a scythe of water flows right after, threatening to decapitate him. Realizing he had a better time at range than up close, he flows from his clothes into his aqueous form, springing back up reconstituted in a second. Bounding impossibly high, he releases his control of the tendrils, only to have them flash like lightning, impaling him on dozens of stalagmites made of ice, rendering him immobile in the air. Melting off them into his aqueous form, Ixnes looks at the boy disappointed.

  “Did you learn nothing from that foolish Schrodes child? This is the end.”

  Taking hold of his body in aqueous form, she draws it, amorphous and frothing toward her. Just then she feels herself pulled tight into a chokehold, an aquatic hooksword at her neck drawing blood.

  “You’re right this is the end.”

  Eyes wide, she tries her best to turn the weapon against him, but finds no control over it. With a sigh she finally speaks, “Fine, this victory is yours child.”

  Releasing her, she spins to find Anaar in nothing but the navy blue suit, all rippling muscles, still holding the menacing looking hooksword made of water. Wondering why she still could find no sway over the sword, she spins to look at the amorphous blob of water still suspended in the air.

  “I underestimated your ability to make constructs out of water. It seems to be your specialty as mine is to create ice. You can create realistic clones of yourself?”

  “Yes and no. The realism is only an illusion created by the natural prismatic properties of water. I obviously still have to control the clone for the most part.”

  She blinks a couple times, “For the most part?”

  “Yeah, you can program the constructs to do basic things, but beyond that it takes personal control. They can’t really think for themselves or anything.”

  “That is absolutely unheard of!”

  “Says the Hydrokinetic that can create ice like she were Phavian.”

  “I have had centuries to practice my craft…”

  “Is that why you so thoroughly kicked my ass? In a dress and heels no less?”

  “People always think you cannot be fashionable and still be a deadly fighter. I suppose I do not help that as most who find out firsthand from me do not live to share the tale.”

  “Ouch, maybe we really were destined to be related in some way.”

  “Perhaps. That sword, why can I not reach it?”

  He looks down at the sword. “Try now.”

  With no effort at all she is able to wrest the sword from his grasp. “Explain.”

  “Though you could not see it, there was a very thin barrier coating the sword. It was not meant to protect, at least not in the traditional sense. I used it to short circuit your control over the water inside of it.”

  “You were capable of thinking that far ahead? Nevertheless actually executing it? When did you get behind me?”

  “When I flowed out of my clothes I dove into the pool and cloaked myself from you.”

  She gasps, throwing her head back as the wound on her neck opened further.

  “Here let me.”

  “No need, this is nothing but a scratch for someone like me.”

  “You said I need the practice.”

  Pursing her lips with a nod, she allows the boy to examine her neck, finding the pain gone and the wound healed instantly. “Well that was easy.”

  “We’ll make a surgeon out of you yet.”

  Gathering up his clothes, putting them back on, they walk toward the front of the mansion so he can head home. “No James?”

  “Everyone deserves days off child. He is no exception.”

  “True. I just so rarely see you without him.”

  “He is very dependable and capable that one, but I must take care to not abuse his devotion.”

  “I guess that makes sense. Well thank you for the gift, though I suppose I’ll be putting it to use for you more than I care to in the future.”

  “You were always a quick study child.” As he walks down the steps, she shouts out to him. “Oh, do take care of the boy soon. I have something that requires your attention.”

  He simply nods in response as he disappears into the darkness. As she watches him walk away, she ponders how a boy, with no one and nothing in the world, had so quickly captured her heart and confidence to become part of her own family, thus gaining everything.

  10

  Sitting in the Receiving Room, Anaar checks his Vizer, finding that there is a little less than an hour before everyone had decided, of their own accord, to meet at his room to watch the final Mid-Year Melee of the school year. As his nostrils filled with the aroma of Harston’s cooking, he figured if he was going to skip class, he could at least be productive.

  Placing his violin on his shoulder, tucking it between his cheek and chin, he takes a deep breath, then begins to play his warmup. Once he felt he had thoroughly warmed up, he began to play a piece he had started composing himself. He did not know why, but for some reason there was something that stirred the depths of his soul when playing the ephemeral piece.

  Composing had become quite the pastime of his, as his studies did not leave him taxed, and his training of his martial arts and abilities could only last so long. His violin instructor had marveled at how quickly he took to not only the violin, but also the reading and composing of music despite his age and having no prior background in it. He had always enjoyed music, and his mother was a wonderful singer. He never thought he would have any talent for the musical arts himself, but it had become one of his greatest joys. Finding it to be a fantastic method of self-expression in a world where he was forced to constantly hide who he really was, it brought him much needed peace.

  Continuing to play, feeling the tones more and more intensely with each stroke of his bow, before he knew it, he had risen from his seat, moving in concert with his song. As he neared the end of what he had written, he had a sudden wave rush through him, feeling all the recent turmoil that had consumed his life. Pouring his pain into the violin, the medium tempo slowed, becoming haunting and heavy as he felt his woes shake free from his spirit.

  Thinking of his coming encounter with Phavian, the song wound itself down, as he shed a single tear in the finale of his performance. When he had finished, he breathed a deep sigh of cathartic relief, and is jolted from his alternate universe by profuse applause and sniffling. Opening his eyes in surprise, he finds Stefani standing there, tears streaking her face as she is still clapping.

  “Anaar, that was so beautiful! I have never heard that piece before,
what is it?”

  Now painfully aware he had an audience he had not expected, he puts the violin down quickly, wipes his face, and attempts to speak, but can only manage a shrug. Finally finding his voice, he is able to answer Stefani who is standing expectant as she dries her own eyes.

  “Oh… It is just something I have been working on. It’s not finished, that part at the end I just kinda let come from wherever. I’m sure it needs work. How long have you been there?”

  “I don’t know, about four or so minutes? Sorry I’m here so early. Actually, I’m not sorry I’m here early. Have you been keeping up with your violin practice that much even after class?”

  “Yeah, I found I really like it. I try to play every day at least. When I’m up to it, I work on composing some new things. I get why it has been such a big part of your life. I never knew what I was missing.”

  “Neither did I if you have gotten this much better in the short time class has been over. That is really impressive, though not unexpected from you. I would love to say my skill with the violin has improved, but with as much experience as I have with music, my violin work is beyond amateurish at best. Good thing I don’t need to play the violin to use my powers, right?! We’d all be screwed!” She gives a little chuckle as they stand there awkwardly for a few moments.

  Finally remembering his manners, Anaar bops himself on the forehead. “Oh! Sorry, I’m not used to having people over. I suppose I should show you around. Wait a minute. How did you get in anyway?”

  “Oh, the nice man who seems to be cooking whatever smells so good let me in, but he told me not to disturb you while you were playing. As if I would ever interrupt something so beautiful anyway! This place is enormous! I can’t believe you live here!”

  “Yeah… Me neither. Life just keeps getting crazier and crazier…”