Raftia: “What do you want? If it isn’t important, then can it wait until after their treatment?”

Mr. Abrams: “Sadly, no. it can’t wait. You see, I suspect that somebody very bad has actually either A) brainwashed a few of our staff, or B) The school is filled with hidden villains. Now – both accusations sound pretty shitty and honestly lack any substantial evidence. But regardless, I plan on checking each of your memories and validating if you have any connection to the earlier affair!”

Billbert: “What?! You plan to invade our memories?? How… How UNREASONABLE! We only came here, off-duty I might add, because our good friend Dome begged us to! If you plan on making us undergo some weird investigation because we can’t be trusted – then WHY were we even invited!?”

Mr. Abrams: “My students are injured. Villains are at large and you are the deciders of whether they live or die. I will NOT take no for an answer on this matter. You WILL allow me access, I WILL confirm you hold no connection to their assaulters, and right after receiving my confirmation – you WILL begin healing them.”

Ava: “’Kay, I don’t mind. The students’ safety comes first after all. Just make it fast so the kids don’t die.”

Winney: “I also agree. I don’t particularly care about my memories being checked, but will you ONLY look for memories about the attack and suspicious people? I DO have a private life I don’t want being violated upon, no matter how cute you look~”

Mr. Abrams: “I swear I won’t investigate your ‘personal affairs’.”

Winney: “Then I agree to your desires. Search me!”

Wuce: “…”

Georgia: “Can I begin treating THAT one first? After all, he looks like he’s about to die.”

Mr. Abrams: “No. Only those I give a passing grade to will be allowed to go-”

Georgia: “Then hurry up and search me first so I can do my job!”

Mr. Abrams: “…(Snappy.) Alright then…”

He pulled down his top-hat, and his eyes glowed white once more. His pupils stared directly into hers, although she couldn’t actually see them since his were covered by a film of bright white. 15 seconds pass, and he dismisses her. Georgia seems to have passed.

Next, was Wuce. Another 15 seconds, yet another pass. However, THIS time, he noticed some pairs of eyes twitching back and forth nervously. Spot on. This batch of nurses…

Winney received the same treatment. He resolutely peered into her eyes as if he was taking a peek into her very soul. In a way, it wasn’t entirely off. He was gazing through her mental barriers and researching anything possibly helpful. One think he unfortunately had to peek at was a date this woman went on with a certain security guard a few nights prior. The reason why he broke his vow and peeked at her private affairs? That was because something… strange happened during the date. his power selected the door to this memory because the man she went on a date with completely exchanged his clumsy behavior for a serious and cold tone. He completely turned her off before she left their dinner abruptly. And all of this happened after receiving a single phone call.

The door was shut. He stopped experiencing her memory. She was bored. Heartbroken, And…!

.

.

...Flustered?

The very moment he came too, he saw her blushing gaze.

Ugh.

Winney: “My! That was a whole 25 seconds~ I’m so flattered. Was there anything special that caught your eye?”

Mr.Abrams: “(Flattered… this is why I avoid using this power if it’s unnecessary! Jeez.) Don’t be. And yes… there IS a matter I wish to speak with you about regarding a certain… Security officer whom- *changes tone to whispering* -who you went out for dinner with a few nights prior to today.”

Winney: “You…! You promised you wouldn’t-!!”

Mr. Abrams: “Before you say anything unnecessary, hear me out! *Whispering* That man changed strangely during your date. I think that may be a lead to follow. I would like your help later on in the future to question him.”

Winney: “...Okay. For the kids~”

Now that he received a clue, things seemed to be looking brighter. But it’s just a pity that this lead would take a complete detour to follow up with. He didn’t HAVE this sort of time. Right now, rather than following a possible dead end that may not pan out fairly well as a lead: Mr. Abrams needed to quickly separate the nurses who he can trust the lives of his students with; from those working with the enemies in some way.

And next nurse on his list was the serious woman, Ava. She hardly reacted while he walked closer to her, step by step. Even as he stared brazenly into her softly opened eyes, she never reacted. Even as he held his gaze for 15 long, awkward seconds, she never reacted. And finally, after she was granted a well - deserved pass; she rushed towards Rise to begin examining his body temperature, pale discoloring and a long slit parting the severed skin across his young neck.

Mr. Abrams: “Be careful with him! That boy was poisoned by a blade. I unfortunately crushed it and wiped the dust off so I couldn’t bring this particular knife in with me. Just be sure to examine if it’s a magic – based poison first! Should that be the case, and you attempt to extract it, the poison might instead react volatilely and he WILL die.”

Ava: “*Nods* I know. I’ll be careful with the difference. Georgia can you-”

Georgia: “Can’t. One woman show fixing a man that’s bent in ways he normally shouldn’t be. Luckily my healing power’s up for the job, but these bones...some are splintered so badly, that I might have to perform normal surgery first. Hold off until then, please.”

Ava: “I wish I could, Georgia. But this poison is highly resistant to the healing touch! I’ll need someone to hold him down while I systematically examine it in detail without extracting it, while ALSO halting it’s advance from spreading further. Wuce, you were cleared, right? Help me-”

Wuce: “This kid...his blood is… ladies we need to be careful with this one. Let’s save him for last. I’ll assist Ava instead.”

Georgia: “What did you find? Something wrong with him...other than his nasty injuries?”

Wuce: “...His injuries aside...this boy’s body is not something I can handle with my healing abilities on their own. His blood is most likely cursed. There’s nothing left of the cotton swab I used to touch it. I tried using another but this one sizzled a bit, before vanishing. After my healing touch was used, I focused on the curse itself, but the energy I cast along with my healing touch was absorbed by it, and nearly emptied! I...I don’t get what’s going on…! Instead of trying to gamble again, I would feel much more confident in waiting for everyone’s help. For now, magic poison sounds a lot nicer.”

Ava: “They BOTH sound bad, Wuce. Let’s just...try to stick with my plan for now. Tell me if the boy changes in any way, so I can immediately stop what I’m doing. I plan on...looking a bit further...into this magic. It feels a bit… a little familiar.”

…

Mr. Abrams: “You can go free Winney. Help them out, but warn them not to touch Noe-- the short kid until I get over there.”

Winney: “Okay.”

Mr. Abrams: “And finally...it’s come down to you both. Billbert and...Raftia, was it? Can I get-”

Raftia: “Hehe! Bye - bye!”

*KACHIK!*

*BANG!*

Billbert: “Sorry about this, sir! Bu-But orders are orders! The kids have to die!”

*BOOM*

Billbert and Raftia. Knowing they hit a brick wall, they could only attack right away. Raftia shot at Mr. Abrams wildly while her partner threw a prepared hand grenade in the opposite direction, towards the children and nurses.

The explosion could be magnificently heard...but not seen. That’s because Mr. Abrams teleported the blast directly away from everybody and safely nestled within the clouds above. He also made sure that no one visible was floating overhead before sending the blast there. That would be tragic!

Billbert noticed their surprise attack had gone awry and clicked his tongue in annoyance. with his left hand, he pulled out a rectangular box from his prepared medical pouch. From within the box a shiny green rod sat. Beneath it was a curved Ruby claw about hand’s length. He didn’t bother wasting any time waiting. By twisting the rounded end of the rod, he managed to activate it!

Vibrating energy blasts spread inconsiderately around them all. The building once again shook fiercely. Mr. Abrams tried to teleport the device away, but it wouldn’t work! Seeing the younger man’s confused expression filled Billbert with such satisfaction! Such glee! His mind was filled with a constant haze as of recent, but above the clouded mess, sat a single, clear sentence that pulsated in regular intervals throughout the man’s conscious and subconscious mind.

“Destroy...Every...Body...Related...To…The...Non-Combatant...Project!”

This sentence also filled Raftia’s every thought. It rewrote their minds and overworked their bodies to fulfill the engrained mission they’d been reprogrammed to accomplish. They would be forever forced to complete their assumed mission.

Yes, it was a deadly brainwashing. Especially so, since the brainwashed victim would be entirely at the manipulator’s whim. If ordered to kill, they would kill in a heartbeat. If ordered to die…

Well, then…

*SPLURT*

Billbert: “Surprised? Hehehe. This Emerald Rod is an ancient artifact of the Mayans! Once mistaken to have a connection to the emerald tablet of Thoth, but… in reality, this little thing can disrupt dimensional energy! Space related magic is useless here! And THIS little red beauty is known as a Phoenix’s Talon! Once it makes contact with a...mortal vessel...by way of piercing...It transforms the host into a living bomb! The only requirement...is that they must first be willing to undergo the transformation! Hahaha! Without your ability to teleport – you will all die! Everybody will die!!!”

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