Chapter 2 - Training ground

A day has passed, and it is now afternoon. I am waiting in a cabin. Made of wood, it is small in size, but large enough to accommodate about fifteen people.

Cushions serve as our support despite their questionable quality. The temperature remains optimal due to the current season. In the end, you get used to it.

In fact, I am not alone; I am surrounded by other young children. Like me, they have lost their loved ones; we are all orphans. With our legs crossed, we wait for an announcement from the leader.

There are 10 of us in total, 5 boys and 5 girls, all wearing brown armbands. The characteristic feature of this village is that all the boys have dark blue eyes and the girls have dark violet eyes. At night, with the moonlight shining, our irises appear lighter.

We don't know each other, or barely. The only thing we have in common is our age. Given the responsibilities that the chief carries on her shoulders, managing an entire community, including orphans, is no small task.

The cabin door opens. To everyone's surprise, the leader is accompanied by the two young individuals from yesterday. Being well positioned, I can see on each face a look of questioning.

_ Moana: " Starting today, these are your new guardians. They will train you. I have a lot to do in the village, so I can't take care of everyone. Be good and listen to them. See you later. "

The boss calmly closes the door. Silence falls. No one dares to speak.

_ Keren: " Well, as she said earlier, we're going to take care of you. My name is Keren. Introduce yourselves. "

Her stern face and piercing gaze make no one feel comfortable.

_ Keren: “ Hey! I asked you to… ”

_ Gwen: “ That's enough. Look at them, they're scared. We need to try a different approach. ”

_ Keren: “ Tsss. ”

On one side, there is this guardian with a rather intimidating presence, his hands in his pockets and a haughty look on his face. On the other, this guardian who seems to show no emotion. However, there is no feeling of animosity.

_ Gwen: " How are we going to do this? I'm not good at communicating, and my brother is too impatient. " she wonders.

_ Keren: " Okay, let's forget about introductions. How about a practice match against me? "

We all raise our eyebrows, speechless.

_ Gwen: “ Oh, uh… ”

_ Keren: " Don't worry, I'm just going to see what they're capable of. If there's any trouble, you're here anyway. If they don't want to talk, I'll take them on in a duel. "

Eyes lower, then a sigh escapes.

_ Gwen: “ Ahh... Okay. ”

We all leave the cabin in single file and head for the training ground. Since it is located at the far end of the village, this area has not been damaged as badly by the war. It is still in good condition.

The prohibition on using our Sources, in principle, does not give us the opportunity to enter this field.

Upon arrival at our destination, we see for the first time a very open, airy area of about half an acre, with a few pillars in the corners. It feels like being in a garden. All that's missing are flowers to complete the scene.

_ Gwen: “ Well, it hasn't changed in all this time. ”

_ Little girl: “ Excuse me, have you been here before? ”

Gwen turns around. A huge curly mop covers her field of vision. She bends her legs to get to waist height.

_ Gwen: “ Yes, when I was little. ”

_ Little girl: “ Oh, okay. How old are you? ”

_ Gwen: “ 22, and call me Gwen. ”

The little girl's eyes crinkle, accompanied by a smile.

_ Little girl: “ Okay! Got it! ”

_ Gwen: “ And you, what's your name, sweetie? ”

_ Little girl: “ My name is Shailly. ”

_ Gwen: “ Shailly? ”

Shailly's hair is gently stroked.

_ Gwen: “ That's a pretty name. ”

_ Shailly: “ Thank you! ” she says, smiling and showing her teeth.

Along with the other orphans, I sit down on the stone steps and wait for instructions from the guardian.

_ Keren: “ Okay, let's get started right away. I'll choose at random. ”

Each head passes under the radar of the guardian Keren.

_ Keren: “ You, there, the girl with the brown fringe. ”

The girl's eyelids flutter rapidly, her lips trembling.

_ Little girl: “ M... Me? ”

_ Keren: “ Yes, you. Come here. ”

_ Little girl: “ O... Okay… ”

The bleachers lose a seat. The girl's hesitant gait is quickly noticed by others. She grits her teeth and stares at the ground, powerless in the face of the outcome that awaits her.

The idea that everyone's eyes are on her goes to her head. She stands in front of the tutor, her chest tightened by her two hands. With her head held high, she sees the tutor's bitter gaze, then instinctively looks away in another direction.

_ Keren: " The rules are very simple. Show me what you're capable of. I'll only act in counterattack. "

He leans toward his older sister.

_ Keren: “ I hope the rules suit you? ”

Her sister, arms crossed, does not react.

_ Gwen: “ Yes. ”

He smiles proudly, then stares at the young girl.

_ Keren: “ Perfect. Start whenever you're ready, kid. ”

_ Little girl: “ Okay... I'll... I'll go ahead… ”

The girl leaves a trail of ice several feet long and foot-high.

_ Ayden: “ Oh? A source of ice. ”

_ Little Kid: “ A Source? ”

I turn to my left. A shaved head with a large mohawk fills my view.

_ Ayden: “ Yes, a Source is what defines your power. ”

_ Little kid: “ Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info, man. ”

_ Ayden: “ No problem. ”

_ Keren: “ Is that all? ”

_ Ayden: “ Huh? ”

I turn my gaze to the tutor. The demonstration seems to be over already.

_ Keren: " Your technique is far too weak. It's not scary. I can't learn anything from this. There's no point in continuing. Go sit down. "

The young girl returns to her seat, with tears in her eyes.

_ Little kid: “ It's hard for her. ”

_ Ayden: " That's not surprising. No one has had the opportunity to use their Source regularly. "

_ Little kid: “ You, for example, have you ever used it in secret? ”

_ Ayden: “ Yes, but it's not enough to master it. ”

_ Little kid: “ That's true. By the way, what's your name? ”

_ Ayden: “ Ayden, and you? ”

_ Little kid: “ Son. ”

Son continues to stare at me without me understanding why. Then, his teeth are revealed in a big smile.

_ Son: “ You seem like a good guy. Remember my name. ”

_ Ayden: “ Okay. ”

_ Keren: “ Who wants to take me on? ”

After the young girl's fleeting performance, motivation gradually dissipates in the stands.

_ Keren: “ Well, I'm going to try again… ”

_ Shailly: “ I'm up for it! ”

All eyes turn to the top of the stands. A little girl with a curly mop of hair is standing there. A sincere smile, both fists clenched with conviction. She is filled with determination.

_ Ayden: “ She's not afraid. ”

_ Gwen: “ She's the little girl with the fringe from earlier, she's got guts. ” she thought to herself.

_ Keren: " All right, come join me, fringy girl. I hope you'll satisfy me more than Miss Bangs. "

_ Shailly: “I'll try!”

She gets into position. Her heart is racing, excitement enveloping her entire body. The gust of wind brings a certain tension to the atmosphere. When silence finally takes hold, the hostilities begin.

Shailly draws on her Source to create a transparent electric sphere in the palm of her hand and throws it at Keren.

Keren deliberately takes the blow thrown by Shailly, putting her forearms in opposition to gauge the power.

Shailly continues her momentum, taking the four small magnets from her pocket and rushing towards Keren.

She throws the magnets to stick them to the ground around Keren, one in front, one behind, and two on either side. Then, while running, she forms her sphere again in the palm of her hand.

In a split second, she finds herself right in front of Keren, where the magnet is planted, ready to send out its sphere. Keren reacts quickly and pulls a large, menhir-shaped stone about 2 meters long out of the ground to block the attack.

With incredible stealth, Shailly manages to teleport again, this time behind Keren. Confused and eyebrows raised, his eyes widen and in the process, his back is hit hard.

Keren is thrown slightly to the ground. He gets up and looks behind him at the hole in his suit. A smile spreads across his face.

_ Keren: “ You're stronger than I thought, this is getting interesting. ”

_ Ayden: “ Wow, she's impressive. ”

_ Keren: “ My turn to attack. ”

Keren places her hand on the ground and forms a stone igloo that traps Shailly. Immediately, a red light emanates from the ground, and a few seconds later, a loud noise occurs. A deafening explosion echoes from the stone igloo.

The body recoils, carrying most of the audience with it. Faces freeze in front of the unveiled scene. Pieces of stone shatter. A silhouette emerges through the smoke, which gradually dissipates.

Shailly is sprawled on the ground, the smell of burning filling her nostrils, injured from head to toe with several cuts, the top of her uniform partially torn, she appears to be KO.

_ Son: “ Hey, didn't he go a little too far there?? ”

_ Ayden: “ We have to stop the fight. ”

Keren slowly approaches Shailly, her face cold.

_ Keren: “ Get up, girl. ”

Pinned to the ground, her head stuck in the grass, Shailly's body reacted, but without success. Keren turned around, her hands in her pockets.

_ Keren: “ She managed to hit me. This kid has potential. ”

After walking a few meters, the crowd began to stir. Keren turned toward the audience to understand better. For the most part, a lively look of hope lit up their faces.

Keren turns back and, to her surprise, Shailly is struggling to her feet, hands on her knees. She lifts her head, jaw clenched and gaze intense.

_ Shailly: “ I haven't shown everything yet, I refuse to give up! ”

She stands up straight, fist clenched, and exudes an electric aura around her. With a determined look, she draws all her strength from her last attack and creates a sphere on each palm of her hand, preparing to lunge forward. Cheerful, a huge smile of excitement spreads across Keren's face.

_ Keren: “ Very interesting! I like you, kid, I'm in too. ”

He takes off his jacket and cups a heavy black ball in his palm. Immediately, his sister, who was sitting in the stands, jumps up and runs toward her brother. Several meters separate them. All the kids watch closely as the two scenes unfold in parallel.

Shailly and Keren are rapidly closing in on each other to deliver the fateful blow. In the heat of the moment just before the collision, Keren catches a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of her sister rushing towards her.

The moment their eyes meet, Keren is struck by an intense migraine and loses her balance slightly.

This brief moment allows Shailly to complete her attack. She strikes Keren in the stomach with all her might, sending him flying several yards backward and destroying a pillar in the corner of the plain.

_ Gwen: “ End of the fight, I declare Shailly the winner. ”