The Mark Problem

You began reading the book while shaking your head while muttering to yourself. “Yeah… this isn’t how I learn at all.” You closed the book and decided to just listen. As you did that, the teacher, an older man with greying hair and glasses adjusted his lenses and centred his gaze on you. You stared back at him, boldly making eye contact, which surprised him.

The teacher cleared his throat. “Finn! Is there something wrong with your text book?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

He was surprised by that answer as well. “Oh… What’s wrong with it? Do you need to borrow-”

“I don’t like reading. I wanna learn by listening or doing things.” You stated. Looking around, there were a few shocked faces, then a few more chuckles and murmurs after you spoke. The teacher stared at you in disbelief.

The man got the wrong conclusion from your claim. “I see. So you think you are above this material, simply because of your past grades, Mr. Vara?”

“Not at all.” You responded frankly.

“If you don’t NEED a textbook then why don’t you tell me when and why Russia left the League of Nations?” He looked at you smugly.

“Are you listening to me? Why would I know that?” You leaned back in your chair, hanging one arm down behind the back.

“What about the recovery and unification of Europe after the Great War?” THe man smirked.

“Nope.”

“So then surely you would know about the conditions that produced the Suez City-State?”

“Isn’t that your job? I got no clue.” You offered. There were more laughs.

“If you ‘got’ no clue then perhaps you should open your text book and read about it?” The teacher stated triumphantly.

You stared blankly at him for a few moments before finally just shrugging. “Kay.” You opened the textbook and flipped the page from the one you had read with a bored expression. The teacher seemed satisfied with exercising his authority effectively and continued his lesson. After a few minutes you chuckled.

“Heh.”

“Is something about the History of the League of Nations funny, Mr. Vara.” You nodded. The teacher strode over.

“Is there something funny about-” He looked down to see what you were reading.

“The transport of Lenin back to Moscow?”

“Yeah?”

He was again surprised again by your answer. “Enlighten me as to the humour. Is this one of your generations obscure ‘may mays?’”

“I dunno what that is either. I just think it’s a funny coincidence. You were right, though. I feel smarter after reading this. Maybe this world’s history can be fun.”

“This… This world?” Asuka muttered to herself, keeping her face buried in her own book.

You eyed her for a second, then glanced back up towards the teacher. “I’ll keep reading.”

He could say nothing to that. “Very well. Please keep your odd humour to yourself. If I catch may may references in my classroom I am going to begin confiscating phones.”

You barely looked up from the page you were on. “Kay. No may mays.” The class laughed at your unintentional mocking. The teacher’s face became red as he stomped back up to the front.

This part isn’t that interesting after the train to Moscow thing. Maybe there’s more cool stuff… You began idly flipping through until eventually you reached a section on ancient history. You felt, in a sense, your spirit leave your body as you reached the section on the Romans. Sweat formed on your brow as you speed read.

W-wait… What? Who the hell copied who!? Your eye twitched as you flipped to the section on Caesar.

I feel like I’m gonna puke. You stood up.

“Can I go to the nurses office?”

“Fine… Fine. Just leave quietly.” The teacher waved you off. As you passed her, Asuka kept her head down and avoided your gaze.

You smirked. Women.

Iravani alternated between staring down at her clipboard, which she was vigorously writing on the who time, and you. You slumped down in the rolling office chair opposite to her.

“So… When did you start feeling sick at the mention of Julius Caesar?” She inquired, sucking on the butt end of her pen.

“Recently.” You responded truthfully.

Because I just learned about him. Covered your face with both hands as you leaned back, groaning.

“Honestly, it all makes me sick. Is that normal?” She looked at you with a small smile and shook her head.

“Oh. Well, what do I do?”

“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head recently?”

“Uhm…” You realised that she might be on to you.

“Yeah, I did. I also experienced trauma at home.”

“Oh?” She lifted a brow.

“My stepdad is hypnotising me and my family with this magical pocket watch.”

“Mm. I see.” Iravani wrote something down while nodding sympathetically.

“I have to figure out a way to stop it, because it also affects-” You probably said too much already.

“Affects?” She looked at you inquisitively.

“Well… let’s just say I also hear voices in my head and one of them doesn’t like that.”

The woman stared at you blankly for a few moments before crossing something out, then writing up a storm in another section.

“Your family has a history of mental illness, no?”

“My dad is in the psych ward, I guess.” It was Finn’s dad, but you figured you may as well explain it as such.

“But that doesn’t have any effect on me because I’m different.” You rolled your eyes indignantly at the thought.

“I see. These voices. They are speaking to you right now?”

“No. One of them withdrew. The other one won't pick up the ‘phone’ or whatever.”

“Intriguing. There are two? Who are they?”

“There’s a male. He’s extremely handsome and cool. Then there is a female slime version of him. I don’t like girls very much but since she’s a copy of him I have mixed feelings.”

You looked over her glasses at you. “You are attracted to men?”

“Starting to feel attracted to women, too… It’s weird. I mostly like men.”

“Are you often this candid?”

“Probably not since I ‘hit my head.’” You smiled. It was a good explanation for any changes that occurred.

“That’s fine. It’s good to be open.” She says brightly.

“Since you are a patient of mine I am bound by oath to not relinquish any information about you unless it would lead to a crime being committed.”

“Oh, okay. So if I can phrase things correctly and not tell you when I plan to commit a crime we’re good?”

She smiled blankly, pausing for a few moments. “What an interesting and very borderline thing to say. I suppose?”

“You really aren’t gonna tell anyone about anything we talk about?”

“I may use you as a case study in something I am working on on the side, however all names will be changed in that to protect your identity.”

“That’s fine, then.” You stared out the window, trying to think if there was anything else.

“So, I’m planning on… ‘Taking care of-’”

“This would be one of those crimes we talked about.” Iravani interjected.

“Hmm. How’d you know what I was gonna say?”

“Something about the look in your eye.” She shrugged.

“So… You have a problem with a bully, correct?”

“I do.” You nodded.

“Would you like help from the administration in dealing with that? Since you are my test sub- I mean… Since you are my patient I think it would be imperative that I do whatever I can to help.” She offered.

“Thanks Iravani, but I like to solve my own problems.” You stated confidently.

“Oh?” Her cheeks flushed. She chewed the back of her pen a bit more intently.

You smirked. “He’s a man. I know his weakness now.”

“Oh…” She leaned forward.

“I know what he like. His dirty little desires.” You licked your lips sensually.

“Ohh!” She chewed a little too hard, the back of the pen popping over her cheek.

“Dammit!” She got up to find a napkin.

You sighed. “Seriously, Iravani?” You stood up as well to stand beside her. You found the tissue and wetted one with your saliva.

“Come here.” You motioned with your finger.

She looked at you like her head was spinning. “Eh?”

“Before it dries, idiot.” You urged her to bend down. You gently and attentively wiped her face while cupping her chin with your free hand. After a few moments you sighed and shook your head.

“Not good. I can’t get all of it.”

“I-it’s okay.” She said.

“I have rubbing ****. I can do it.” She leaned back, stood up straight and adjusted her glasses, wiping a bit of saliva from her lips.

“Just out of curiosity, what are you going to do about your bully?”

You stood triumphantly, lifting your chin. “It is me. I know his weakness. Therefore, one way or another he will be mewling MY name!” You grinned wide, then stopped and held up your hands.

“Sh-shit. Is that a crime?”

Iravani looked confused for a second, then panic nodded in recognition. “Just say you are going to do it consensually.”

You laughed and made finger quotes. “Yes. I am definitely going to do it… ‘Consensually.’”

She stared at you blankly. “Fine. Good enough.”

You looked up at the clock. “Hoo! Just realised I’ve been here all day. Gotta go.” You left, patting her quivering shoulder as you passed her. As you left the office you stopped, having no time to move as you perceived movement to your right but did not have the strength nor the speed to react. You moved your eyes just in time to catch Asuka with a clay bottle to your right. The red haired girl lunged.

“Out, Demon!” She splashed you with water from the jug. You closed your eyes, since a loft of it splashed your face and over your uniform. You rubbed your eyes of moisture, then dried them on a dry portion of your jacket. When you opened them she was standing, holding some type of gold strip of stiff paper in her hand with stylish black symbols on it. It looked Aoian. You squinted at it and swiped it from her, holding it just to see. She began to shake more as you took it from her. A look of doom washing over her.

“N-no… My talisman…” She fell to her knees in despair.

You held it up. “What’s this say?”

“It says ‘Seal P-power.’”

You cackled, tearing up a little. “Gahah! I don’t have any, idiot. What is this dumb shit?” You tossed the talisman back, allowing it to float back down to her. Just as she was wondering if she was perhaps wrong, her dark eyes widened as the small talisman burnt up into black ash before it could fall. As you turned to leave without seeing that, the girl left to regroup.

“People are weird. I’m acting normal, so I dunno why people are acting so strange around me.”

NORMAL!? Fin screamed inside your mind. You visible flinched.

H-hey! Gimme a break… You begged and pouted.

You’re the one who left me alone.

You get why?

Yeah. You admitted shamefully.

It’s the same… I’m experiencing the same thing again. Not my mother. Not my sister… But this is too close. This guy has my name. This girl has the name of my sister.

Say no more. Part of helping him is dealing with Jacob. Only issue is, the hypnotism still works on my body, even if my mind stays awake.

“That may just be worse, Djir. If you are awake, it will start to affect your mind, as well.`

Plus, there’s the leaking the guy mentioned. I think the orders he gives will leak out over time until we’re basically all in the palm of his hand permanently.

So we’re on a timer. Damn… I tried to figure out what it was he used, but that device isn’t something from our world. Fin claimed.

What do you mean?

The way they use Aura in this world seems to be different. There are lines of Aura imprinted in complex designs within that watch, like clockwork… I can sense it but I have no method of understanding it. This is where Jeane would have come in handy… He groaned, sounding quite sad, as well.

Sorry… You felt a phantom sensation of your ears drooping.

I know you miss her.

You are all I have right now-

You felt a phantom sensation of your tail wagging excitedly. R-really?

-When it comes to figuring out this problem.

Oh… Okay.

I need you to investigate the way humans use Aura and Soma in this world. This will also help you to regain your power, Djir. It’s a win win.

Well, it’s a start. I’ll just ask arou- You began to say.

No! You’ve already fucked up SO BAD. So many of Finn’s acquaintances think he’s insane and that is the BEST scenario for what it is.

You blushed lightly, scratching your cheek. Wouldn’t it be good to get the attention of others that know what they’re doing?

Definitely not. Fin said gravely.

Why?

You know how travellers in our world tend to seem parasitic? They consume things around them in order to survive. They need to feed off of others. Sometimes even their own kind all for a bit more time and a bit more power… He exhaled.

Well… That is what we are on this side.

Fin, you’re not-

I don’t mean us specifically. I mean our kind. Others like us will want to consume us. We are powerful and weak. It is a delicious snack for anything that has been here a long time. Then there are the humans. People like John. They’ll want us for the same reason. Our lives are a power source here. Raw Aura and Soma.Understand.

I think I get it. So then how the hell do we do this?

We just keep our eyes and our ears open. You NEED to do a better job hiding yourself, Djir. It is extremely important that we do not get found out until we are strong enough to defend ourselves.

Noted, Fin. So, I should leave that Mark kid alone for n-

No… Screw that. He messed with our boy Finn. You need to deal with him, just do it without revealing yourself. You can be ‘you,’ Just do it in a way that makes it seem like… Finn snapped, maybe? That’s a good story. Figure something out, just act more like Finn to draw less attention.

I’ll try harder, Fin. You grinned.

Okay. Love you, babe. Mwah. Hanging up.

Your face became bright red. W- wuh? L-LOVE YOU TOO! You shouted.

“Ah, he can’t hear me.” You began walking out of the Academy towards the common entrance where you assumed Mark would be waiting.

“Pardon.” An accented tone spoke to you from your right.

“Yes?” You looked over to see a tall boy with short blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He had a vicious-looking scar running from his chin, over the corner of his mouth and up his cheek. You stared at it for a few moments, then made eye-contact. The martial-looking boy was built quite solidly. A body you wished you had. His uniform seemed a bit more decorated than others and even had tassel shoulder pads. There was a red sash running over his jacket. He stood like he was in the military.

He looked down as he spoke. “It is something I can’t ignore as a disciplinary committee member.”

“Huh?” You stared at him in confusion. He pointed towards your wet self and offered a handkerchief. You took it gratefully and sopped up a bit more water before handing it back.

“Thanks.” You placed a name to the face after some effort of joining your mind to Finn’s.

“Johan, right?”

He nodded. “You are being harassed within the halls overtly. I will intervene using my authority. Are you aware of the ringleader? Do you have evidence?”

“I think I got evidence.” You continued eying his scar. He looked away, touching it unconsciously.

“Sorry. Looks like it was a nasty accident.”

“It was not a-” He stopped, staring in curious amazement.

“Did you just say it was an accident?”

“Mhm. What else would it be?”

He continued speaking a bit more shyly than his martial appearance should have allowed. “People… Everyone spreads the rumour that this is a duelling scar. Because I am German.”

You cocked your head to one side quizzically. “Unless you duel with barbed whips, that's impossible. If it’s a duel with swords the scar is both far too wide and far too rough. It looks like a nasty gash from something digging in and pulling or swiping. Sword scars? Thinner. Neater.”

“That’s correct! How did you-” His jaw dropped, mouth opening closing a few times at a loss for what to say.

You blinked, holding your head in your hands. Fin’ll scold me! Finn doesn’t know shit about swords and duelling! You looked up nervously.

“Please forget I said anything.”

Johan gave a stoic nod. “Forgotten.” You lifted a brow, sensing not even a hint of dishonesty. The large boy smiled.

“Truthfully, I do not actually know much about duelling or fighting, even if I should as a Prince.” He admitted in a deep, yet soft tone while rubbing the back of his neck. He bent down.

You smiled. “Yeah, I know. It’s whatever. If you don’t, you don’t.”

“Do you?” He asked curiously.

“N-no…” You said unconvincingly.

“Forget that too, got it!?” You pointed at him. He leaned back from your finger, then smiled and laughed heartily.

“Forgotten.” Somehow you felt as though he was only being half as honest when he said it that time. You narrowed your eyes at him. He quickly tried to redirect the conversation.

“Please. Back to the topic at hand. Do you require aid in this bullying incident?”

“Hmm…” You measured your options.

Handling it in my own way would be satisfying, but could draw attention and unforeseen consequences. This guy looks like a pretty useful stooge, on the other hand. Big, tough and soft. Perfect combination for my purposes, I think.

***

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