Hidden Talent

Atsuo was back on the railway tracks.

He was going past dense fog that swallowed everything around him.

He was dragging his feet, slowly, but surely to a world that felt far away.

After some time, the railway tracks ended, revealing an enormous black gate with a shade of dark-red. It had weird, wavey patterns throughout the bars, along with small inscriptions and a faint glow.

Without a second thought, Atsuo pushed it open, revealing more dense fog and red undergrowth.

When Atsuo was about to enter, he heard something behind himself, turning around.

Squinting he saw a silhouette of a tall figure, obscured by the thickness of the fog.

He felt drowsy.

As he blinked, the figure disappeared and he shut his eyes.

As soon as he fell asleep in his dream, he woke up in reality.

The first thing he saw was the black and white ceiling.

Atsuo twitched and cleared his eyes.

He was not imagining it. The all-black phenomenon was back.

Atsuo reached for the pills, but stopped, remembering Ronna’s words about the inevitable degradation of the drug’s effectiveness on his ailment.

He looked at the remaining pills in his packet and put them back in the drawer.

Atsuo got dressed and went to the washroom, before heading to Lord Kaiser’s room.

It seemed he got up quite early as silence loomed over the academy.

Despite that, he still came to Lord Kaiser’s room and banged on the door.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

“We’re going to be late” he muttered as he stared at the closed door.

He received no response.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

“Kaiser…” he called lethargically, knocking again.

Still nothing.

Atsuo sighed and went downstairs.

‘The Curfew Maintainers were already put away…’ he observed to himself.

He turned to the windows, looking at the colorless scenery.

‘What an ugly start to the morning…’

He went downstairs to the first floor.

There was no one in sight.

Atsuo roamed the halls of the academy, searching for anyone but himself. But to no avail.

A feeling of uneasiness washed over him as his sole steps echoed down the empty corridors.

He walked to the main entrance, thinking about going outside, when he stopped in his tracks.

At the end of the footpath that led up to the academy grounds, he saw the same silhouette from his dream.

This time, clearer, it was a tall figure clad in red.

Atsuo did not need a second look.

He turned around and ran up the stairs, back to his room.

As he sprinted down the hall, the steps that were his alone, were not his alone anymore.

Atsuo’s hands trembled as he hurried to unlock his door, while the brisk, ominous steps reverberated across the whole dormitory, closing in.

Atsuo opened the door and quickly shut it behind himself, panting as he heard the footsteps approaching his room.

He backpedalled, stumbling on the nightstand as he watched the shadow beyond the door’s threshold.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door, startling Atsuo and making him get up from his bed.

‘What is going on with these dreams…’ he thought as he looked around himself.

There was a pause until someone pulled on the doorhandle, trying to get into the room.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

“Sleeper, wake up!” Lord Kaiser yelled behind the door.

Atsuo sighed, and went to let him in.

The thing from the dream was gone, but the all-black phenomenon remained. Something about it really irritated Atsuo.

“Yes?” he said hesitantly, swinging the door open and looking up.

“Finally sleeper…” Lord Kaiser said, “hurry up, everyone’s already at the cafeteria.”

Atsuo nodded, got dressed for the second time, and followed Lord Kaiser to sixth floor.

***

They entered the cafeteria to find one big round table instead of the usual smaller ones. But that was not the only change.

There were none of the usual Minae students that packed the dining hall. Instead, a little over a dozen students from both factions were already seated at the table, waiting for something with Arete.

Atsuo and Lord Kaiser glanced around, finding Rivia, Crod, and Eskasa, and went over to join their side of the table.

Atsuo felt uneasy as he walked over to his friends, not because of the other students’ stares, but because of Arete who was watching him closely, and grinning as creepily as from the other day.

The moment they sat down, they completed the round table comprising of twenty students and Arete. Not longer after, she began to speak.

“Now that we’re all here, let us begin,” she said, glancing at every student, “as you might remember, my name is Arete, and I will be your instructor for your further studies at Drezore.”

“There will be no formal lecture or anything, instead we will spend our time here, while eating or drinking tea. So, relax and enjoy your meal while I explain the details. We are not in a hurry.”

“If you want to clarify something, please raise your hand. Any questions?”

No one raised an arm, which Arete took as a sign to proceed.

“Very well. First and foremost, as some of you know, Drezore is widely regarded as one of, if not the best academies in the world. We are known for many things, but not for the exact reason. Some of you might know what I’m talking about, but I’m sure most have never heard of it, since it is a very valuable art that is unbeknownst to most of the population.”

“Of course, I’m referring to ‘innate abilities’,” she said glancing at Atsuo, “…many of you are here because you showed great potential during my aptitude test. That potential is directly related to your innate abilities. What they are, you can probably infer straight from the name.”

“They are something you had since you were born. They are your hidden talents.”