"Decey, the main reason I called you to my office isn't Jackson. I want you to master these eyes." Lye said as he pointed towards his own eyes.
"I don't know anyone else apart from you and I.
There are…
Exceptions.
But they don't matter.
From what I could observe, there are 3 major functions of these eyes.
1. You will be able to observe the flow of Domain in people. This will let you get a headstart. Let's say they plan to pounce at you. They would have to use their Domain on their legs, which you'd notice. You can also determine what kind of Domain Manipulation Technique the enemy can conjure up."
"You did that to me that day, didn't you?"
"Not just that, Child.
2. You can effectively close off a certain area within your vision, to not permit Domain pass through it. Which something that took me a while to figure out."
Decey tried to digest everything. This sounded an awful lot similar to the "Mold" concept, he originated. If his theory is correct then...
The second power.
Another dot.
"Let's practice, shall we?"
Decey nodded.
Lye stuck out his left arm and stretched it all the way.
Decey understood why and flipped the switch. The vertigo didn't kick in, but his eyes began to feel as if they've been replaced with dry ice. He could feel the blood pumping more towards his eyes, which made Decey feel weird. Surely he should feel a burning sensation, but it was the opposite. Once he opened them, he could see golden threads, wrapped around Lye's arm.
Decey gasped audibly. The density of Domain in those strings were unfathomable.
"Good. So you can see them. What I'd like you to do is imagine squinting your eyes, effectively creating a void which will not allow Domain.
I know it's hard to imagine using an imaginary muscle but, this is the way. Trust me Decey."
Decey smiled.
"Lye."
"Yeah?"
Decey found the invisible muscle almost immediately. He squinted and imagined a circle, just circumscribing his arm. He could see the same mold he used daily, concealing his arm.
Lye smiled in disbelief, Decey noticed. What he hadn't notice was that deep down, Lye was slightly scared. For some reason, Decey couldn't see that.
It took a while for Lye to wipe that surprised look and formulate words.
"You surprise me everyday, Child. We should practice again. Those eyes of yours will be your strongest weapon."
Decey felt weird. He didn't like how he was acting right now. People regularly don't change emotions in an instant. This couldn't even be called an 'instant', but more like a heartbeat.
Decey would love to write it off as a weird quirk, similar to his mother's addiction towards death.
"Does it have a name?"
>
"Augen Gottes…?"
Heet scoffed. It was expected as much. She lost to
Dean all because of Decey. She was really angry, confused, proud, and overall angry. While Ash was explaining the fundamentals of Domain Boosting, he excused the three to go ahead and wash their faces.
They sat outside the room for a while, sitting one bench. Dean, however, was forced to sit on another one because of his sheer size.
"No wonder you won, eh?" Decey told Dean, who wasn't surprised.
Deep inside, he felt so proud that he managed to use Augenon two targets. The restrictions Lye had told him were that the mold could only be of a limited area/volume, and that it could have only one target. Thanks to Decey's already innovative approach of invisible muscle, he had more of a mastery than Lye. Then again, Lye had been using this for longer, so he has more experience.
Singularity, Ringularity, and now Augen Gottes.
Will they even be enough for Ø?
No, who am I kidding?
I'm weak as fuck.
As of now, atleast
I have years left to discover and master everything there is to my function.
I'm just getting started…
A drone of high pitched ringing, slowly grew louder. Decey slightly flinched, but it felt weirdly satisfying.
Andrew Williams...
It grew louder and louder to the point where it began to hurt.
Who really are you?
"Decey!!!" Heet snapped her fingers infront of his face.
"You're doing it again. That creepy and hot smile." Heet said as she placed her arm around Decey.
"Sorry." Decey sank into his bench, relieved that the sound stopped.
Heet turned towards Dean, sitting to the bench right of them.
"You're amazing. Were you always like that…? Even if I could use my Domain Boost, I would win by a slight margin.
Did you do any special training?"
Dean didn't know how to handle compliments, from other people that is. In the dorm rooms, he used to be called sexy, hot, hunk, all from his dear roomate Decey.
But if anyone else does that.
Especially a girl?
Dean would go turtle.
He managed to chuckle.
"Thanks, Heet. It's just intensive training, that and yeah, I was born with with good genes."
She slapped her forehead.
"Ah… Dean Lann. Fuck. I missed that detail."
Dean just sat still, hoping that he could leave his family legacy for once. Not that it was bad. It just reminded him of that man.
Decey felt slightly jealous, so he continued from when he cut himself off with his monologue.
"Lye has it too. Remember how I was able to see colored spikes, Heet? He could do that too. Apparently only the two of us could do it."
Dean frowned as Decey called the headmaster by his name. Decey and Heet both wondered if he was torturing these poor people, to involve such a reaction from Dean especially.
"Dean, you said we have 5 years, give or take a few months."
He nodded.
Decey was planning on something. He knew he couldn't take on Ø alone. Some part of was suspicious about Lye, and especially that second year Prime.
Heet and Dean are so far the only people he could trust.
Could he drag them along with him on this suicidal journey?
Deep down, Decey didn't want to be alone, facing Him. The memories of Lost still swam in his head, bringing back bad thoughts.
Decey didn't want to run away anymore. He remembered how Lost, an ordinary kid, challenged Ø and saved Everything.
That man, trusted Decey to continue the war, even after losing his life. He knew he would have to carry on his legacy.
He took a deep breath.
"Guys. I want to do something. I wanna form a group. A group of people who are willing to fight to the death against this nullification.
A group that'll stick together through thick and thin. A group that like minded people can click with us.
It's fine if y'all say no. It's stupid really.
But think about it."
Dean and Heet looked at each other. They had their own reasons as to why they joined Zahl.
They're all I have.
If they're next to me, I won't need to worry about losing them.
"Yes." Heet said immediately.
"Whenever you go, I go. Without me, you'd die. Heck, watch me go inside the gym right now, and you'll be left with a crippling cold and die instantly."
Heet sneered, but with affection. Decey was happy to hear that.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, baby."
Shivers ran down Heet's spine as he said this.
Dean, weirded out by the spectacle, said,
"I'm in too, if it means we enter class right now.", while he made it very clear he was grossed out.
All of them laughed as they got up.
"Remember everyone. It starts with us three, and it'll be filled with the best of the best. Whatever competition there is, whatever raids we have to do, we have to be on the top."
The two nodded, glad that they joined this newly formed posse.
"We need a name though right …?" Dean asked
"That's what you're worrying about? Not our team leader trying to defeat something equivalent to God…?"
Decey laughed.
" I do have a name in mind."
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝,
"𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬."
>>
"Good job on the race, you three." Ash applauded them after they took their seats, followed by everyone else.
"As you could see, being *fast* isn't everything. Dean, here, is from the Lann Family, which specializes in muscles, muscles, and a few more muscles. Only reason he won was because of the combination of physique and correct technique when it comes to Domain Boosting."
"It's very relevant in combat. You can be as fast as lightning, or you could be as strong as your body allows you to be. Everyone gets the connotation that using domain manipulation is better, it's long range, less tiring, etc etc.
That is all bullshit. Everyone needs to learn both CQB skills as well as how to use Domain Manipulation to the best of your Functions. Because we cannot forget that everyone's functions are unique.
You, the one with green hair."
A timid young girl stood up, slightly shaking.
"Y-y-y- yes..?"
"What can you do?"
"Um…
I can increase the velocity of any moving object or decrease it, depending on its relative velocity with respect to me."
"See what I mean? Thank you and sit down.
You, the one with those star shaped dorky glasses."
A very animated kid with a very grown out mullet stood up while shoving his table slightly aside. He suddenly began striking a pose.
"Good grief…
So it's the same type as my Function…
Just kidding!!!!!
Seems like your theory were right, Papito!"
Ash looked slightly disgusted but wanted to laugh so bad.
"Don't call me pap-"
"With anything I touch, it'll be divided into two pieces. Such an incredible power isn't it??"
Ash stared right into his eyes.
"What's your name…?"
The kid flicked his hair back.
"The name's Otto Quinn. You can call me OQ."
"Uh huh, sit down."
Otto sat down while all the girls began to look at him and giggle.
Heet whispered to Decey.
"What's the appeal to this guy…?"
"You're the girl. You tell me."
"Touché."
Ash projected his voice slightly louder so everyone would focus on the class.
"The point is, everyone has their own unique set of Functions. So here's what I'll do. Everyone with Addition and Multiplication based Functions sit in the right side of the gym, the subtraction and division based functions go to the left. This will be your new groups you'll be working with. Make it fast you douches."
Heet looked at Decey.
"So much for hiding your Function, Mr. I have an insane transcendent."
Decey made a fake smile to amuse her.
"See you after class?"
"Of course."
Dean was confused.
"What's she talking about?"
"Eh, you'll see."
Dean went towards the right side of the gym while Heet went to the left. The sound of everyone's feet shuffling masked the fact that Decey was still sitting in the back row.
Ash, after making sure everyone was seated in the extremes of the gym, noticed this.
"December, what happened? Injured leg?"
Decey wasn't sure how to answer this. He didn't want to sound too condescending or too timid.
"I don't know which side to go to, Professor ."
Ash looked at him weirdly.
"What's your function?"
"Exponentiation." Said Decey with a very low voice to make sure no one could hear that.
Somehow, the gym was filled with murmurs and people gossiping.
"The same thing happened with that kid Atlas."
"Aren't they brothers…?"
"So this new Prime really is.."
Ash walked towards him, looked at him for a while.
"Follow me."
Decey didn't say a word and followed Ash out of the gym.
Heet asked one of the girls.
"Where is he taking him?"
"Oh. You probably don't know but the same thing happened to Atlas Oris. Too bad. He was so handsome but now he's in his dorm room recovering from something.
Anyways, apparently Professor Ash is hell bent on mentoring people with a very high range. If that cute boy was a transcendent, it's a guaranteed ticket to the Professor's office."
"Huh. Interesting."
>>
Decey followed Ash for what seemed like an hour. His office was pretty secluded from the main building, which put him off, especially the fact that Ash hadn't said a word.
Ash stopped at a door, within a barrage of doors, and opened it. He didn't ask Decey to come on in but, he did anyways. Inside it was a large room, fitted with a couple of sandbags, sheets and sheets of papers scattered across the floor, to the point where one would think he was an aspiring mathematician.
The room had barely any windows but good ventilation, so good infact that Decey sneezed due to the cold air.
"Bless you." Ash said nonchalantly.
"Thank you."
Ash sat down at his desk and gestured Decey to follow suit.
" Headmaster told me about you. All he told me was to expect greatness from you. But from what I've seen…"
Decey was expecting another one to fall for his expertise in everything there is to do with Functions.
"You aren't even at the level of a 10 year old child. It was pathetic. Even when that girl couldn't boost herself, she still beat you. Not to mention you're a Prime who can't even boost himself properly."
Decey's mouth was wide open. He took some time to digest reality. He already knew he was behind everyone by miles purely because of experience.
But having everything laid out infront of him, was slightly depressing.
"I thought the Headmaster must've missed something but clearly since you're a transcendent, I'm forced to be interested."
"Professor, I had a problem of using my Domain ever since I was born. It was only after I got Defined, I can use my Domain.
I know I'm behind everyone, but please guide me.
If Lye told you about me, then I expected him to ask you to teach me. "
Ash got up his seat immediately in anger and slapped Decey hard.
"What did you just say…?" He practically growled.
Decey looked confused, but now wasnt the time. He needed to clear this misunderstanding.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. The Headmaster told me to call him by his name."
Ash made a mistake. He knew the value of the Headmaster's name, so much so that he did unspeakable things to be by his side.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Ash sincerely apologized.
"Please continue."
"You have good intuition. He told me to teach you how to properly use Domain Boost, and some special techniques too."
Decey's mood changed instantly. His smile even creeped Ash out.
"Ah.
That's why Headmaster told me to look after you…" He said softly.
"Sorry?"
"Don't worry about it. I will be with you, three days a week, in your training room. LYDA has been calibrated to simulate whatever you're going to need for practice."
"Professor. How does L-
How does the Headmaster know about Ø?"
Ash looked at Decey, curious to see if he knew anything.
"Why won't you ask him yourself? He seems to favour you the most."
Decey knew that. He did.
But,
He didn't know if he could trust Lye.
"Let's go back to class. I just wanted to talk to you in private."
Decey nodded and they walked back to the gym.
Everyone was talking amongst themselves till Professor Ash slammed the door open.
"Quiet everyone."
"Decey, you can take a seat and listen. What I'll be teaching these guys is going to help you greatly." Ash whispered.
>
"Alright then, losers. We all know that there's a rivalry between these two sides. Why else did I already segregate everyone?
It's to pair opposites up and make them duel!"
Decey sneaked in some snacks in his pocket and began eating them, as he saw the entire class scream in fear and excitement.
Little did he know, something very wrong was going to happen.
>>
It's been two days and Pit already began to miss Decey and Heet. It was only because of them, he was able to handle the shock of losing Kela.
"Fuck that. I'll do a full house cleaning!"
Pit started from upstairs, as he used the old but gold method of broomsticks, to sweep away the dust. The wooden floor began to look brighter almost immediately. He cleaned the stair railings, wiped the windows, changed doormats, and dusted the entire bottom floor.
By then, it was around 7 PM, and he was exhausted.
The house looked much more kept and smelled fantastic. The moon shun a gloomy white through the window. He wanted to sit down on the couch, but he noticed a piece of paper, stuck in the gap between the desk. He went towards that picture and held it up to the light so he could see it better.
.
.
.
[ 20 Years Ago]
"Hey Pit, this is my sister, Kela!"
Pit was caught with a spoonful of noodles in his mouth, as a mysterious woman opened the door.
Her and Pit used to live with each other after being neighbors for over 10 years. It wasn't much, just two bedrooms, a good kitchen, and a very spacious hall.
Pit raced to the door, trying to suck up the noodles as he ran.
He wiped the broth off of his face. He couldn't see Ira at all so he tried blocking the sunrays from his eyes
"Hey, Ira. You said wha-"
Pit lost his voice. More specifically, he wasn't in the position to think. A woman stood beside Ira, who Pit couldn't see clearly. However, he was mesmerized by her eyes.
"I-
There's leftover noodles in the back."
The two closed the door and sat at the dining table. Ira's sister looked younger than her, with silver hair and very fair skin. Ira, in the other hand, had black long hair with bangs, and was very amicable.
Pit sat at the table, serving the two the noodles he made before.
"I thought you were gonna stay at your family's house for a day or two?" Pit asked Ira.
"Nah, I wanted to come back. You know how my dad is."
"Ah.."
Pit felt slightly awkward, knowing what he knew about her family.
"Um." Kela spoke with a voice as smooth as silk.
"Can I have some pepper?"
Pit got lost to the sound of her voice and almost didn't notice he was staring at her for over half a minute.
Ira smiled, and cleared her throat.
Pit jumped.
"My bad. I'll go get it."
Ira whispered something to Kela and followed Pit.
Pit put his hand over his heart. It was beating so loud. He never felt this way.
Her name was.
Kela?
"So you like her already?" Ira leaned on one of the cabinets, peeking at Pit.
"Like is an understatement." Pit said honestly.
"Oh? Well…"
Ira put her hand on his shoulder, and the other, as if she was knightning him.
"I'm fine with you being my brother in law." She said cheekily.
Pit shoved her hand off.
"Is this why you brought her here today, unnanounced?"
"Yeah, pretty much. 10 points to you!"
"Why though?"
Ira thought for a minute, in a very animated way, almost ironically.
"56, Pit. 56"
Pit groaned. He understood almost immediately.
"Oh come on." Pit said.
"It's not my fault those many woman rejected me. It's all well and good in the first month or two. Whenever they ask me what Function I have, it's pretty much game over, Ira."
"Yeah, I know. You have very bad game in the first place." She said very condescendingly.
"Your own sister…?" Pit looked at her, wondering why.
"We've been living together for 10 years, Pit. I know you more than anyone. So I can trust Kela with you."
Pit almost looked relieved.
"You sure…?"
Ira sighed and dragged Pit to the dining room.
"Oh shit." She said.
"Kela, I left my handbag at our house! I'll be back in a few. Yall keep talking though." She winked at a very ticked off Pit.
Ira closed the door before Pit could rebuttle.
Kela, unaware, looked at the couch and said.
"Isn't her handbag lying right there?"