Today is the day where I find out where I stand. Whether I can go on from apprenticeship to a Master, a Healer, an Offical, or a mix of both, I think we have a shortage of people. I'm aiming for a Master position.
I run to Master Plytus' room to help him pack and to ask for advice. "Hello Master", I said giving him the salute. Master Plytus' face showed a tiny smile, and he said, "Dio, I'm not your master anymore."
I shrugged, to me he's a father figure, a man who taught me for 3 years. I'm not sure if I'm really ready to leave the apprenticeship.
Today is a busy big day. First is the Testing, a special final test for the Apprentices, designed by a random high level master that's not your own, who knows all your information and level set. I'm a little nervous, but I trained all summer with Master Plytus.
My power is complicated. It's mainly radiation and a small bit of personal change (change of looks and personality) and manipulation.
Master Plytus put away the rest of his belongings into boxes and said, "You have 15 minutes Dio until your session, change and start to warm up."
Well changing is easy. I begin to warm up, doing stretches and what not. I go into the Radiation Room and took down 2 jars. "HOW MUCH CAN I HAVE AGAIN?" I yelled to Plytus who was a room away. " ONE. " He yelled back and I made a face. Damn it, only one? I put one jar back and carried the other one to a table. I unscrewed the lid and breathed in.
I can't tell you how good it is to have radiation in my body. All my organs are immune to radiation so I should never be harmed or anything. But......it feels like before I was breathing in polluted air. Radiation feels fresh in my lungs, nice and clean. I look in the mirror real quick. My uniform is black with the Elithian symbol, my white cloak flowed behind me. My choice of weapon is stashed on my belt. I looked at my auburn hair, blue eyes, freckles, and glasses. Today is the last day I'm going to look like that. Today, I get a new name and I'll be able to show my real persona without being embarrassed.
"Dio, hurry your ass up!" I run out of the Radiation room. Master Plytus stood at the door of his training room, wearing a suit with his black Master cloak. "Looking sharp there." I commented, I've only seen him twice in a suit, when I saw him going on a date with his wife and when I became an apprentice.
We walked silently to the intermission room. In there was some apprentices waiting for their turn.
"Radio Silence, you're up next." An instructor told me. I looked over at Plytus, this is the last time he'll be able to direct me, to guide me as a Master. Plytus said without looking at me, " You know what to do Dio, go with your logic. " I nodded, damn I feel so nervous.
"Alexander Noah Reis!" A voice boomed out my human name, what my actually name is because Radio Silence is more unofficial. I took a breath, and walked out the open door to the arena.
An announcer read out my basic information. My power, my Master, my strengths, my weaknesses, my potential, my goal, and others.
Without looking up, I know people are watching in the rafters. Most likely important people. When I reach the middle of the floor, I look up at my chosen Judge. Krytal, aka Lens, her power gives her a photographic memory and she can recreate anything she sees.
Her posture was relaxed, her eyes holding a hard state with mine. Part of her royal blue cloak rested on her shoulders. Her voice boomed.
"Ready, Soldier?"
I nod and salute. Time to show them my real self.
Right as the holograms were appearing and an abandoned building appears and I shouted out my soon-to-be name.
"SHINE!"
My eyes turned multicolored, mixed with blues, greens and purples. My hair grew into a white boyish bob. My outfit changed a little more feminine, with a light pink skirt and shirt.
Didn't expect that huh? Above I hear surprised shouts but I don't listen to what they have to say. Time is ticking.
I took out my twin blades and went into the building where I was met with holograms. They shouldn't have used holograms. I reached out and grabbed on to a hologram's radio waves. I turn up the frequency. The hologram didn't stop walking towards me.
SHIT.
Now I have to do physical combat. I leaped up and dove to the one standing in the middle of the floor. I mentally tore into its chip controlling its movements. I set it loose on the others, killing some holograms in the process.
"ALEX!" I hear one the floor above me.
No.
No.
No.
Anything but that voice.
She shouted my name again.
Maybe I can save her hologram this time.
I stab my controlled hologram who just finished its job and I tried a power I just figured out. I used my radiation to turn my body into waves. Floating through the air in a million pieces, I went upstairs.
There was a few holograms guarding and then there was the boss hologram.
Who was holding a knife to her throat. Her eyes were full of fear as she struggled with the bonds on her wrist. Her eyes could power storms, her tears raindrops from her stormy eyes. "Alex..." Her scratchy voice said once more.
And I snapped, not completely but still a snap.
I brought my body back together and said in a sharp voice, "Radio Silence."
Again, I was back in that form and once I said those words, I was in complete control.
The lights turned off.
A sound dome covered us.
I unleashed all my radiation in the room.
I raised my blade above the boss's head while the coughing of the hologram guards sounded.
And somehow the boss just sat there. Why isn't he moving, why isn't he attacking me, his programmed enemy?
Then it hit me, this wasn't a normal attack test.
Krytal was testing my emotions.
Damn did she just learn a lot.
I killed the hologram and look at the hostage. I'm sorry, I think as I looked at her. Her image faded away. The abandoned building faded. As well as the hologram bodies.
I wonder if I failed or succeeded.
I was welcomed with cheers when the arena came back to me. Krytal, giving no emotion stared at me, I must have given her something that she didn't expect.
It must have been Shine.
She opened her mouth to speak. "Soldier, you have high potential as a soldier. I have one question,"
" Why be a Master instead? "
I know that she wants me to say it's because of the battle in May.
But even if that isn't the case, I don't have a direct answer.
I manipulated my voice and I replied
"I want to help a person like I am or was, logic."
Plytus told that to me, and I'm saying it now.
Logic is the key in war.
Krytal looked at me again as we were all waiting for my verdict.
"Master."
I celebrated in my head as I turned around and walked off the arena.
I met with Plytus and he said that he was proud, which surprised the hell out of me. The man can barely apologize and now he's proud of me.
"How did it feel?"
To be in my real form? To fight, to think? To see the girl I could never save? To smile at manipulating?
"Real."
Author's Notes
So, I hope you enjoyed it, this part is one of the longest parts I've ever wrote, and surprisingly it only took two days. If you have any suggestions, comments or anything, please message me. Yes, I like constructive criticism, don't worry.
Part 3 will soon be out, and more characters will join!
~Racheal Gallingway~
