Chapter 38. The test

“The test begins once you walked in.” Gran’s voice was audibly clear in his ears as the blanket completely covered his struggling body.

The blanket wrapped Seth was completely mummified within a matter of seconds before levitating off the ground. With a flick of his finger, Gran sent Seth’s entire wrapped body towards rows of four other similar wrapped cocoons of various shapes and sizes.

“Since everyone is here the test is simple, break free from the blanket within three hours to pass for today.” Gran’s muscular physique sat cross-legged as he watches the five cocoons before him struggling to break free.

Some were squirming while others maintained their calmness, each and everyone besides Seth so far knows that the only way to pass any of their training was to get a grasp of internal energy or find a flaw within the training that Gran created.

“Exotics are unique in which their internal energy doesn’t emit a Resonance to any other living species.” Gran began lecturing the cocoons.

“It is because Exotics can’t be sensed or sense anyone else that they are a double-edged sword. They are master assassins, especially when they are strong because their power is so obscure.”

“However, we of the Orthodoxy will always have people we can sense and know of their power level; we are far better prepared in battle with this kind of knowledge.”

“How you may ask? We just send someone to fight an Exotic, if they narrowly win, we’ll know exactly what we’re up against. Yet, what will an Exotic do against other Exotics they have no knowledge of? One of them will die.”

“Now, what will we do against one of our own? We send different Tiers of Resonance, the ones that gets a response against an enemy is of near equal power. It is so simple, yet this is how wars are fought and won for centuries.”

“I’m sure the Governor probably mentioned that we Orthodox Power users are inflexible, predictable, or something similar.” Gran paused as he watched the cocoons maintain their silence. He continued “However, that’s not completely true, as you can see my power of Telekinesis prevents me from controlling living beings.”

“Yet, how come you five are wrapped up right now? I don’t need to control you guys; I just need to cover you guys and it’ll still be the same.” His words rung in their ears like a hammer, if it was an enemy telekinesis, the things they would be worried about are weapons used to stab, maim and kill, never in their mind did they thought of being captured with a mere blanket.

“Now you kids may be wondering, why am I telling you all this? You just wanted to be stronger, or at least learn your powers to protect yourself or those you love. Well, the world is a cruel place, if I wanted to kill you five, I just need to squeeze these blankets a little tighter…” The blankets slowly started to constrict against their body, suffocating and constricting their passageways. Groans of pain and anguish could be heard from a few of the blankets.

“… and then those hopes, and dreams are snuffed out just like that.” Gran was unusually harsh with his words.

Gran released his hold bringing the blanket’s tensions back to normal. People gasping for air could be heard as he continued with an expressionless face, “Teachers won’t ever tell you this in school, nor will they ever try to put you in danger. It is precisely this lack of urgency in your body that makes you incapable of unlocking your powers early.”

“They’ll just slowly train you to meditate and tell you if you can’t unlock your inner energy you can just drop out at any time with no repercussions. It is this weakness of the institutions that people with powers are diminishing rapidly every generation.”

“Arthur and Shelly, you’re both a year or two youngers than my youngest, so you don’t know much about the world nor have you suffered living with the Governor. However, in my 50 years, I’ve fought two wars and I knelt helplessly in front of Roselyn’s parents when they did not want us to be together.”

“Michael, Julie, and Seth you both are older yet, so inexperienced when it comes to taking care of yourself, much less another person. Within these 30 days of training, you must decide for yourself whether to go to school or head back home.”

“If you choose to go home, you can live a peaceful life under the umbrella of the Governor or whoever can shelter you. However, if you choose to head to the Tillowisk Empire, do note that you all can die at any moment.”

Gran glanced at the passive cocoons that didn’t squirm or move throughout his entire lecture. He was waiting… waiting for a sign of their determination. However, there was still no movement after a minute.

Sigh

“There is going to a third war in my lifetime…one much more bloody and violent than the previous two combined. This was prophesized by the Sovereign of Safe Haven who was never wrong with his prophecies.”

“Tell me, do you five want to get involved in a war in the future?” He hoped that the five cocoons would start to squirm to his question. However, there was no reaction, he helplessly shook his head, “If you think you have what it takes, first break free from the blanket that binds you.”

The six blankets maintained their passive state as if ignoring everything Gran had told them. He sighed and continued to just watch to see what they are going to do. An hour passed by yet, there was still no movement.

By the second hour he believed they finally understood what the world will be like in the future and have already decided to go home. Gran couldn’t say he was displeased with their attitude, they just chose to live.

The slight breeze of the wind swayed the tall grass and trees alike as the final hour began to tick down. Gran began his countdown starting at the 10th minute.

10…

9…

8…

There were still no movements from any of them, he wasn’t completely sure if they had given up so he continued with his countdown, only when this test was over will they give him their answer.

3…

Those cocoons started to squirm; Gran’s hunched posture straighten as he stared at what they were going to do.

2…

The cocoons’ squirming became more animated and intense, Gran’s expressionless face started to crack as he stared at what was shown before him.

…1

The final minute, the sounds of tearing could be heard as some blankets were being ripped to shred.

“Gah!” Arthur exploded out of the cocoon wrapped blanket, his teeth was tearing away the blanket he had in his mouth. “Ptui, Ptui” He spat the bits and pieces as he stood up and stare at Gran with determination in his eyes.

Michael and Seth broke out using their pure physical power, tearing away at the cloth that binded them with their bare hands.

Shelly’s blanket effortlessly unraveled releasing its hold of her as she slowly stood up, the calm look in her face as she glanced at Arthur.

Everyone’s eye fell upon Julie’s struggling cocoon as the time ticked away. Only seconds were left as the once struggling cocoon started to weaken.

…

“Time is up.” Gran stated as he stared at Julie’s cocoon, however there was no movement. He didn’t unravel the cocoon for her.

“Julie!” Arthur and Michael both shouted, they were expecting her to emerge from the cocoon. However, she didn’t make it in the end, did she decide to give up?

Seth didn’t know much of Julie, so he just looked on, even though he didn’t know her he hoped she would come out.

Shelly’s calm face continued to stare penetratingly at the cocoon of Julie, she didn’t want to believe Julie had given up.

“Julie…” Michael’s voice was soft as he walked over to her cocoon. He knelt down before her and slowly unraveled the blanket that wrapped around her.

Julie’s body was prostrating on the ground, the tears on her face flowed down soaking her arm into the soil beneath. She shook her head wiping at the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing out of her eyes.

Sniff

Her soft cries can be heard as she continued to wipe her face, she didn’t dare look up at Michael or anyone else.

In the last few minutes unlike everyone else who was struggling to break free, she thoroughly thought about Gran’s words. She saw what will become of her in the future, she didn’t want to see it.

She heard Arthur’s expression as he tore away the blanket, she heard the shuffling of both Michael and Seth tearing away the hold that was on theirs. She knew Shelly too had broken out. She knew she should be able to get out too.

However, she couldn’t.

She was unsure.

She continued to struggle until the end, but the blanket felt like an impenetrable armor she couldn’t escape free from.

She thought about her destiny, she didn’t want it. She thought about home and desired it.

She felt weak. Extremely weak.

“Julie…” The two kids muttered as they walked over.

Sniff

Julie shook her head and pulled her body closer together. Her entire posture looked like that of an armadillo curling up completely.

She wanted to enclose herself from reality completely, she felt too vulnerable, too weak.

Michael saw her feeble shivering body and instinctively pulled her closer to him. He slowly caressed her back allowing for her tears and snot to soak his shirt. Only her soft cries could continue to be heard as the other four stared from a short distance away.

“Julie…” Michael’s voice was soft as he spoke slowly. Julie’s face buried closer into his chest and continue to shake her head; she didn’t want to hear him.

“Julie…you can create your own destiny.” Michael tried to repeat what the Pope had said to the best of his ability.

Julie’s body froze for a short moment when she heard his voice merge with that of the Pope. Her arms weakly pounded on Michael’s chest with her head face down staring at the ground.

Tears flowed from her eyes down onto the ground.

She gritted her teeth and muttered. “Do you know…?”

Michael only continued to softly caress her back.

“Do you know, what my destiny is?”

Sigh

“I don’t.”

Julie tears turned into a waterfall as she pulled Michael into her embrace and cried. She held onto him fearing he’d be gone if she let go. The only sound in the backyard was cries of a girl who felt too weak to change her destiny.

“Julie…” Arthur walked up and hugged her. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to control himself, “if your destiny makes you cry, I’ll cry with you.” He bawled his eyes out as he held onto her.

The tears of the boy and girl converged creating a puddle beneath them. A strange scenery took place as the puddle of water started to condensate forming a fog around everyone.

“No!” Julie shouted as she saw the fog starting to form “Don’t look! Please!”

Images started to flicker around the fog, scenes of strange creatures and super powered people were in conflict. Was this the future? Was this the third war that the Sovereign of Safe Haven prophesized?

Julie’s hands tried to reach for Michael’s face to cover his eyes… however, he ignored it and continued staring at the fog.

It was a chaotic battle; people were attacking these strange creatures that swarmed them from all side. It was only her and him standing alongside each other in a separate sea of creatures.

Michael and Julie looked a little bit older than their current appearance; Michael’s hair and eyes was still brown. Julie’s current long blonde curvy hair was cut into a well-managed short curl.

Their attire was one that belonged to the military. Their teamwork as they slashed and hacked away each creature was extraordinary. Even though they were surrounded by a sea of creature they didn’t feel like they’ll suffer.

“Please…” Julie weakly muttered. “Please… don’t look.”

The scenery shifted again; the monsters’ corpses littered the bloody battlefield. Julie was standing there; her hand was covering her face, her head tilted up towards the sky. Tears were streaming down the palm of her hand as a person who was standing beside her was nowhere to be seen, only a single torn arm remained at her feet.

“Only an arm…” Michael muttered as the fog dissipated, he tried to control himself as he saw the last scene. However, his lips started to quiver as tears welled up his eyes.

Everyone else witnessed the scene within the fog, they didn’t know what to say.

“Michael!” Arthur rushed to hug the distraught guy who stood there with tears dripping down his eyes.

“It’s not true! It’s not true!” Arthur held onto Michael with all his might.

“I’m, so sorry…” Julie muttered, her hand weakly released from Michael’s embrace. Her mind went blank.

“Julie!” Shelly immediately held Julie up as Julie collapsed into her tiny arms.