The Calm After the Storm

When John had calmed down, comforted by the presence of his summons, Sera had already disappeared to wherever it is she disappears to. The storm he created had abated, and John was left feeling empty and hollow after crying out his emotions. He stood, and considered dismissing his summons but thought better of it as he looked over to Layla and saw Sera’s sigil glowing over her. Up until then, that sigil had meant Sera had influenced the world to his benefit, but John no longer trusted what Sera deemed to be his benefit.

What did she do to Layla? Did she really just suppress her sensitivity to my aura? Or did she do more? Less?

He felt frustration start to well up, but **** it back.

Ugh, I’ve been too emotional lately.

He looked to his summons and smiled weakly.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that. Let’s get Layla cleaned up and take her back to her dorm, shall we?”

They nodded and set to work. In a few short minutes both Layla and John were in a presentable state to walk around. John hugged each of his summons as tightly as he could before dismissing them, thanking each one for their help. Left alone with Layla in the barrier, he sat cross legged with her head in his lap, patting her head. He lost track of time just sitting there, waiting for her to wake again, stewing in his broiling regret. Hours passed, and eventually Layla stirred back to wakefulness. She yawned and stretched, slowly rising from her lying position.

“John?” she asked quietly.

“Hm?” he answered, mirroring her tone.

“Why can’t I feel you? You’re… it’s like… it’s like you’re incredibly far away, even though you’re right here. Is this some sort of projection?”

So Sera did as she said. Good.

“No, I just had… an acquaintance… help make it bearable for you to be near me. I’m sorry that I didn’t do so sooner. If I had kno-”
“NO! I mean, nono, it’s, or well, it was, I, well, I didn’t-”

John reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, a tired smile on his face.

“I want you near me. And I want you to be, you know, conscious,” John tried to assure her.

Layla’s eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as if forming silent words.

“Now c’mon, let’s get back to our dorms,” he said as he got to his feet, pulling Layla up with him.

The two of them exited the barrier in silence, a silence which persisted the whole walk back to their dorms. John, too tired to try to strike up conversation, and Layla, too stunned to speak. John walked her to her doorstep, and left her with a gentle kiss on the cheek before turning and walking into the dorm building. As the elevator doors closed, he heard a muffled squeal from outside.

Probably some kids playing in the street, he thought while suppressing a yawn.

The elevator dinged and he made his way into his dorm. After less than a moment’s thought, he summoned Calista, Omorfia, and Elora. They appeared with minimal fanfare, and the two of them tall enough to push John pushed him towards his bed.

“John, you must rest!” Calista insisted.

“You’ve been through too much today, Master, please!” Omorfia chided.

Between the two of them, he was quickly stripped of his (ruined) school uniform and ushered into bed. They laid to each side of him, stroking his arms and chest comfortingly. Elora entered the room, carried by her Aerial Squad pixies, and landed on his bedpost. She stood sentry over him as the rest of the squads spread out to secure a defensive perimeter.

I’m safe here. Here, with my summons. As close to a family as I’ll probably get in the Abyss. It’s not like I can talk to Mom or Dad about this. There’s no way they’re involved in this.

John sighed, slowly drifting closer and closer to sleep.

I’m safe here. But tomorrow I have a whole day of classes… I’m so fucked.

Sleep Cycle set for: extra rest
Wait, wh-

Natalya Ankov sat at her regal desk, though she was turned away from the thick stack of paperwork atop it. She looked out through the bay windows, surveying the sunset thoughtfully. She was disturbed in her contemplation by one of her servants, swinging the door to her study wide open in urgency.

“Headmistress! There’s been a tragedy! A most horrific occurrence! Oh, by the Smith, Headmistress, you must come at once! Your advisors seek an audience with you.”

She turned away from the sunset, reclining slightly in her chair.

“Call them in, let them tell me of this… tragedy.”

“Right away, Headmistress!”

Not a moment after the servant walked out the door, the four identical monks entered and stood before her. After all these years she still couldn’t tell them apart. They even spoke and acted similarly. The only true way to know which was which would be to get them talking about their area of expertise. So instead of singling one out, she addressed them all.

“What happened?”

“That which we predicted. The so called Elemental Alliance gathered and attacked your talented young man. He killed them all,” the one furthest to her right spoke first.

“He killed them, how ruthless. Have we sent missives to their families yet?”

“Yes, informing them of their child’s early demise as a result of gang **** unaffiliated to the school and prohibited by the contract signed upon enrollment, forfeiting their right to a refund of tuition,” the one closest to her right spoke next.

“Just as ruthless. Such is business. I will hold a press conference tomorrow morning, reassuring any families still considering enrolling their children that the gang **** was dealt with swiftly and mercilessly. The ‘killers’ of their children will kill no more, and security here at Firesmith extends further than campus grounds. Just as we discussed, yes?”

“Yes. And what of the boy? Will you do as we advised?” the one furthest to her left spoke.

“No, I will allow him to further weed out weakness in our institution. Should he begin to run rampant, we will speak again. But for now, he only acts in retaliation. What he knows and what he shows continues to be of interest to me. It is… amusing.”

The monks’ body language changed ever so slightly, but to Natalya they might as well be shaking their fists at her in fury. This too was amusing.

It’s so difficult to get any sort of reaction out of you four, for you to react so strongly is highly unusual, she thought.

“Our patience wears thin with you, Natalya,” the one closest to her left spoke. “This school of yours is a culmination of our lives’ works, to pass on our teachings. It is true that without your social influence it would be nearly impossible to find students, and that is why we chose to partner with you, but your recent nonchalance is disappointing to an ****.”

“Unfortunate. I’m afraid I will continue to disappoint. You are dismissed.”

“You do not wish to discuss further steps?” they all spoke at once.

“You are dismissed.”

The monks hesitated, then turned in a flutter of fabric and filed out of her office. Natalya turned in her seat, back to the sunset.

This is the most fun I’ve had in years, but I mustn’t let it distract me. One misstep and my chance at **** for my husband will be washed away forever. If all goes well, this Newman boy could be the key. If not… I will simply have to dispose of him.

Sleep Cycle Completed.
Total: 12 hours.
Time of awakening: 7:00 AM.

John woke with tears in his eyes.

What the fuck… I blinked and the system set its own sleep cycle… At least it woke me up before my first class?

He wiped the tears from his face, electing to ignore that they were ever there, and sat up. Omorfia yawned cutely, clinging to his chest as he tried to extricate himself from bed.

“Good morning, Master,” she murmured.

“Good morning, Omorfia.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before fully leaving bed and starting his morning routine.

A few minutes later John found himself in the kitchenette, sitting at the bar that separated it from the tiny living room. Calista served him breakfast and watched him with measured concern.

“Where did you get this food, Calista? I haven’t gone food shopping yet.” Sera’s sigil flashed above his plate as he raised his fork, and he sighed. “Nevermind. Thank you, Calista.”

She reached over the counter and squeezed his shoulder, her brown eyes searching his. Seemingly deciding against prying, she turned away and busied herself tidying up the small cooking space. John brought up his system messages as he ate, keeping an eye on the time so as not to be late to whatever was waiting for him at Firesmith today.

Skill Lock Hacked: Sorrowflood
Sorrowflood is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Sorrowflood will not be added to your skill list.

Skill info unavailable: Sorrowflood
Sorrowflood is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Sorrowflood will not be added to your skill list.

Skill Override: Sorrowflood
Rageflame disabled, Sorrowflood has taken its place.

Skill Lock Hacked: Anguishbolt
Anguishbolt is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Anguishbolt will not be added to your skill list.

Skill info unavailable: Anguishbolt
Anguishbolt is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Anguishbolt will not be added to your skill list.

Skill Override: Anguishbolt
Rageflame disabled, Anguishbolt has taken its place.

Skill Override Synergy: Sorrowflood + Anguishbolt
Skills Sorrowflood + Anguishbolt have combined and will work in tandem.
Anguishbolt is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Anguishbolt will not be added to your skill list.
Sorrowflood is beyond your capabilities, but your **** emotional distress has brute **** it into being available to you in this moment. Sorrowflood will not be added to your skill list.

Well, that’s a whole lot of nothing, John thought. I guess it’s good to know that I have shounen anime protagonist level emotions, but I can’t really weaponize that. Not reliably, at least. Did I get any achievements for this?

Achievement Unlocked! Skill Lock Hack: Hack into a skill in your skill tree that you shouldn’t have access to yet.
+1 exp

Achievement Unlocked! Skill Override: Activate a passive ability that negates a different passive ability
Feature Unlocked! Skill Synergy.

Skill Synergy: Passive Abilities of complementary elemental qualities combine rather than negate each other.

Achievement Unlocked! Skill Synergy: Combine two complementary elemental passives.
Feature Unlocked! Skill Synergy II

Skill Synergy II: Passive Abilities of complementary elemental qualities of your summons combine rather than negate each other.

Oh, okay, shit. Yeah… Yeah, this is something I can use. But wasn’t Professor Sai already surprised when I had more than one aura passive? Not only do I technically have the potential to unlock at least four different aura passives, but I can also combine them. I shouldn’t use this power in front of them if I can help it. I’m already a suspicious enough anomaly… Not to mention a mass murderer…

John dragged a hand across his face in exhaustion.

“I should head to class now… Face my expulsion while I’m still emotionally numb.”

“John…” Calista began to speak, but he shook his head at her.

“It’s not like I can run away, they have all my personal information on file from when I enrolled. Not to mention they somehow sent a letter to my house before I ever gave them my address. They could hunt me down easier than a wolf chasing an injured deer. No, the best option is to talk to whoever decides my punishment and hope my explanation can lessen it.”

Calista merely nodded and lowered her head in response.

“You are all Dismissed,” he said as he sent all of his summons back to his temple.

After another deep breath to settle his nerves, John set out to start his fifth and possibly final day of magical schooling at Firesmith.