Class Incognito

Singularity of the Thunderstorm (1)

4 weeks have passed since the Simulation Tests.

The days in class were dull and completely... devoid of excitement, we weren't allowed to take on missions because Miss Emma found out about Eula helping Theo out in the final test. So, as a team, we were placed under probation.

Our class today was with Mr. Icarus, our new topography and history professor. He had a droning voice, and half of the class will fall asleep in just 10 minutes. I was drifting away in memories because the class was dull. Brave and foolish considering I was in front of the teacher, but the topic... was all about the Land of Senzaku. So naturally, I zoned out. But not to a pleasing memory:

'Remember, in this household, trust nothing but your strength.'

The sound of wooden swords clashing against each other, the screams of pain. The agonizing pleas of mercy, and the ever distant yet ever present thunderstorm that shines above us. The shade of the violet gardens that made me fear the outside, and the tumultuous voice of my grandfather still burned brightly in my head.

'I mustn't show any weakness. I have to be perfect.' I told myself when I was young.

'That's right Daigo. You are one step closer in inheriting the Narukami legacy. All you need to do, is get rid of those... unnecessary emotions.'

Those words... imprisoned me. My grandfather, the stubborn and cruel patriarch of the Narukami Clan. But I cannot stand up against my grandfather, for his words are the law in the land of Senzaku. The technologically advance city in all of Deus Alma, forever underneath dark clouds and a perpetual rainstorm.

So I trained all my life in the ways of Senzaku Martial Arts and SHF Military strategies. I endured it all; the sneers, the jeers, the hazing, and even those who thought I was able to train thanks to nepotism. I hated it... I hated being a Narukami.

My only reprise, was the solitude in my room, and the tunes I am able to play using my guitar.

Music... That was my first best friend. And my only escape.

"Diego?"

I woke up from the zone and noticed that class was over. I shake my head until I was awake, and looked at the person who woke me. Eula Kresnik, whose light brown hair clipped with a star studded barette. He brown eyes radiated concern.

"Yeah what's wrong?" I asked.

"We're summoned to the hideout. Miss Emma says our probation period is over." She says glumly and I sighed with relief.

It's about time that our probation ended. The whole reason we got a probation is because of one kid, Marc Callahan Noan.

From the first time we laid eyes on him, we knew he was a walking disaster. His feature alone screamed trouble, Black hair, crimson red eyes, scars on his eyes and his chin. He was a delinquent no doubt. His fight with Vann and Argent confirmed our suspicion, he was too emotional and too unstable.

Then he got on Kaiser's radar and hit list, things quickly went out of hand. We wanted to recruit a powerful Telekinetic superhuman, his adopted brother, Elios Dracon Noan, but that was blown off the water when he was ambushed by an unknown party. And to make matters worse, Marc went on a rampage.

"How's is that rampaging black head?" I asked, not bothering to hide my discontent.

"Well since our probation ended, I guess he's awake, not that anyone has any info about him. Come on, let's head to the hideout." Phoebe said, and she was equally annoyed at Marc's escapades.

At the hideout, everyone was bustling about. The operators, our communication managers, were busy marking off documents containing mission reports in their office. The maintenance crew, was renovating the whole place because we expect to have more members. And then our squad, the Task Force, was sitting by the main foyer. Our leader, Blake was counseling our newest member, Theo.

He's a breath of fresh air, that kid. Smart, kind, and undeniably talented. It was a bit foolish that Blake even considered an unstable kid as the sixth seat, I don't know what came over Blake, but that was the first time I lost respect for him.

"Blake! We're here!!" Eula announced and he smiles at us. His classic charisma was making me feel welcomed, but there was a bit of strain in his welcome, but I decided not to let it bother me.

Phoebe sat down in front of his cousin, clearly they were still mad at each other. I mean, who can blame Phoebe, she risked her cover because of Marc, but Blake still sided with him.

"So... what were you guys talking about?" Phoebe asked Theo, who turned pink.

"Oh... I was just asking Blake on what I would be doing now that... I'm the sixth seat." Theo said meekly, he still has that cute side of him. Like a squirrel.

"I see, so do you get it?" I asked and he nods. Good, he's catching up very well.

The doors opened, and Vann comes in, along with my older brother, Seth. They were having fun like always. When they saw us, they stopped laughing and made a fist bump, Seth heads over the Operations Office and begins his work, eventhough he doesn't have that much work to begin with.

Vann on the otherhand, just sat two seats away from the rest of us and fiddles with his watch. He was also smiling at something.

"Vann... How's Marc?" Theo said after minutes of silence. But Vann didn't say anything and just kept swiping on his watch.

"Ignore him Theo... he won't talk to you unless you pique his interests." I told him, but Theo doesn't look convinced.

"Please Vann... I... I just want to know so I could apologize in person." Theo said and Vann just let out a laugh. But it was hollow and full of scorn, Vann is an expert in instigating fights.

"Apologize for what? What's done is done Theodore. No matter what you say now, it's already in his head." Vann said as he gives us all a playful but menacing glare.

Theodore looked down and Phoebe comforts him.

"Vann, don't scare him." Eula scolded him, but Vann rolled his eyes and gets up.

"I shouldn't even be here... Hate to tarnish this beautiful canvas of yours." He grumbled and walks over towards the Operation's Department. Seriously, Vann was difficult before, but he wasn't this difficult.

"Blake? Do you have any idea about his condition?" Theodore asked. Seriously why is he concerned about him?

"I don't... Doctor Belforma never let me in. Only Vann and Seth were allowed to approach him, from what I recall." He said, and I could tell he was distressed by that.

"Seriously can we not talk about him? It's his fault that everything is going wrong." I said indignantly.

"I see Narukami is as spirited as ever. Take your seats Task Force." Miss Emma came in with a stack of papers.

"Miss Emma!" All of us stand in our feet and greeted our adviser.

"At ease. All of you are going back to the front as of 1500 hours. Mathis and Kresnik, as your class' representatives, you are to ensure that the first years will be in their best behavior during the Prelimenary Exams." She said.

"Yes ma'am." Eula and Blake responded, though Blake was less than thrilled to be sent to mere guard duty.

"Maxwell, you will be in charge of Scifios' training. Show him the ropes." Miss Emma continued.

"As for today's mission, Narukami and Alencon will be escorting me and Sir Auron." She said.

"Where are we going?" I asked for specifics and Miss Emma sighs.

"The Noan Orphanage in Lysensa." She said simply and I groaned. What business do we have in that place?!

"Miss Ems! Can Seth come too?" Vann bursts out of the Operator's Office, startling everyone in the vicinity. Miss Emma massaged her temples, clearly vexed.

"Fine he can come... But no monkey business Alencon." She said and I just gaped as Vann tells Seth, who scatters his papers in celebration. Are they monkeys or something? And why are they so invested in going to the orphanage?

10 minutes later, we boarded a van bound for Lysensa, sure enough, Seth and Vann took the front seats, while Miss Emma and I accompany Sir Auron, who was fast asleep in the back. So an escort mission and a request.

"Remind me again why he came with us?" I asked Miss Emma about Seth. Who was busy driving the van smoothly. And Vann was snoring away at the shotgun seat.

"Seth is an invaluable asset. While yes, his power of Electrokinesis is subpar compared to you and Erika, he has better and stable control in picking up magnetic interference."

"I could do that too you know..." I grumbled. I never liked my older brother. Always smiling, always upbeat. Seriously, even though Grandfather never considered him to be a successor for the Narukami Clan, he is still well favored by the retainers.

"I know... But right now, I need your fire power Diego. And you can't overextend your senses. Remember last time?" Miss Emma reminds me of the mission when I first started out in Incognito.

It was supposed to be a simple warehouse heist, get in, grab the thing, get out. Simple, but I didn't anticipate a trap that included the use of dampeners. I could've disabled them with my powers, but... I didn't sense them. My senses couldn't pierce through a wall of concrete. The mission was a success, but it was by the skin of our teeth. Of course, Everyone made it back, but the dampeners... made us weak. Eula couldn't enhance our strength, Phoebe went head blind, and Blake panicked because of the unforeseen variable.

If only I was stronger. If only I also had Seth's power of Electromagnetism.

"Why don't you ask Seth to help you train in Electromagnetism?" Miss Emma asked and I flinched.

'In House Narukami, non-successors cannot train with the Successor.'

My grandfather drilled that mandate to my skull when I was of Age. Asking assitance to the unworthy ones is an offense to the clan, and to the retainers.

"I can't." I said quietly and put on my headphones. Music... My only solace. And my solitary escape route.

The sweet beats of the drums, the tickling of keys, the vibrant strums of the strings. A harmony that helps me calm down and think things through.

'You got this Diego. It won't set you back.' I told myself.

3 hours later, we've arrived, and the sun has already set. Vann got out first and the first thing he said was:

"Dang, Marc's family is freaking loaded."

I got out and was looking at the magnificent castle-like structure. The windows were spotless, and the pavilions were filled with laughter and music, some kids were using their abilities for playing and for fun, along with a student with a Regis Dragonia uniform, who was as equally . A solitary woman was reading the girls a story, who were all having misty eyes and romantic expressions.

"Excuse me? But who are you?" A boy with a red and gray uniform asked, he had the same face as Elios, but his hair was longer and tied to a ponytail. This must be his brother, Keith.

"We're here to escort Mr. Kayden Auron to meet with Mr. Reginald Noan." Miss Emma informed him and his eyes widened.

"Y-you're Lady Emma Ramirez right? The author of the Theory of Ability Concepts?!" Keith asked and he had energy that Elios nor the freak displayed.

"Keith? Who are you talking with?" The woman with silver-gray hair came, the girls who were with her were calling everyone and telling them it's almost dinner time.

"Mom, dad's guests are here." Keith said and this woman must be the matron of the orphanage. Why does she look familiar.

"Shannette. Been a while." Miss Emma smiled, and wait... she can smile? A stoic and serious person like Miss Emma can smile?!

"Stoic as always Emma." Mrs. Noan teased and Emma blushed.

"I take it you know each other?" Sir Auron raised an eyebrow.

"We were classmates in Lupus Alma, she was always the Valedictorian." Miss Emma told us and Mrs. Noan scoffs.

"Please Emma, don't bring up the academic past. And you left the part out of us being best friends." She said and we all had our mouths hanging. Best Friend?!

"That's right... Elios, Keith, and Conner are my God-Children." Miss Emma dropped another bomb on us and Keith literally fainted on the spot.

"Though I never thought you would adopt another child Shannette." Miss Emma noted and she smiled softly.

"He is just a sweet kid... I couldn't leave him out as another oprhan for others to take away. Plus, the boys have taken a shine on him." Mrs. Noan must be talking about Marc, but him? Being sweet? That was nauseating.

"I've kept you all out too long, come in, Dinner's almost ready." She invited us in and once inside the Noan Orphanage, I can see everyone was raised with care and love. The ambiance is well kept and the whole place was warm and welcoming. So how did they produce a monster like Marc?

I was confused... And worried for these folks. Why on earth did they adopt a beast who can't control his power and emotions?

Then my eyes closed in on the family portrait of the Noans. It looked like the Brothers were 10 years old. They have different eyes too, but their hairs were the same, silver gray with a tinge of black. Then on the side, a bit farther from them, with a small and fragile smile, Black hair short and spiky and eyes red like blood, was Marc Callahan Noan. Even then, he had scars on his eyes and his chin, but he looked, shorter than the rest of his adopted siblings.

"I see you've taken a fancy on the family portrait." Seth's voice surprised me, he was smiling warmly at me, but... I never looked at him with any brotherly love.

"What do you want Seth?" I asked, not bothering to hide the vehemence in my voice.

"I just want you to know that Marc isn't the monster you think he is." Seth said. "He's just a lost kid."

"Lost kids don't take pleasure in breaking bones and strangling a room full of people." I rebuked his words and Seth just sighs.

"Cut him some slack Diego. He didn't mean to hurt those at the Student Council Room." Seth argued.

"Didn't mean? He almost blew our cover! Do you know how many of our comrades sacrificed just to get this close? And then some random kid comes in and wastes it by going on an emotional rampage?! Marc is a dangerous person, a monster that doesn't know how to be human." I snarled at him

"You're the one who cannot see bigger picture, Little brother. That's why you're becoming more and more like grandfather." He said and I snapped at him with my lightning, or at least tried to but golden threads were wrapping around my hips, arms and neck.

"Both of you... You'll scare the kids if you fight, and I don't want Shannette and Reginald hearing you two fighting about Marc." Miss Emma said, her stilettos clacking on the marble floor.

"Sorry Miss Emma, a wrong time to give my little brother a reality check." Seth said and goes inside the dining hall, where Vann and the Kids were enjoying the food like unruly children.

"Perplexed, Narukami?" Miss Emma asked.

"Just why on earth are Seth and Vann defending him?" I asked Miss Emma.

"That's not our current objective Narukami. Focus." She said and beckoned me to go inside the dining room.

The kids were a storm of chaos and fun, but nothing that Elios couldn't handle. He was looking fine, smiling and interacting with the whole crowd. And his ability to control his telekinesis is on par with Theo's. Although it's shade is on the red side.

"Okay kids, those who are done can wash up and go do what they're suppose to do." Mrs. Noan said. And the kids all flooded out, but they weren't hurt whatsoever.

"Now then... Please sit down Diego." Mr. Noan, the patriarch of the Noan Orphanage. I've heard he also has Telekinesis, and the color of his aura was cyan. His salt-and-pepper hair wavy and clean, wearing a brown suit and a yellow tie, he looks like a nice doctor.

"To what pleasure do I have you visit, Kayden?" He began. His smile as dry as Sir Auron's.

"Oh Regi... You're the one who called us here. So please... Cut to the chase." Sir Auron said and the atmosphere was becoming heavier. Sir Auron's Gravity Manipulation is strong, but the adults looked unfazed, and so was Seth.

"Boys... Play nice." Mrs. Noan smiled but her voice was firm. The gravity ceased and I was able to breathe again.

"Sorry dear. A bit upset actually." Mr. Noan straightened himself and opened his dull red eyes, similar to Elios and Marc.

"Now then, to the reason why I summoned you here like my bitch-"

"Reginald." Mrs. Noan warned.

"I summoned you here is that I have information regarding the Magnum Regalia this winter." Mr. Noan said.

"This year's regalia? An info I already know." Sir Auron said.

"Ros Ursa sponsered are backed up by Daymore Industries." Mr. Noan said casually, making us perk up in response. Daymore Industries?!

"Kaiser's family?" I asked, my hands shaking in anger.

"That's right... and from what it stands, I think Kaiser is going to involve Ros Ursa students as a pretense of a 'School Exchange Program'." Mr. Noan said.

"But how can we trust that info?" Vann asked, and he has every right to be suspicious. Ros Ursa and Lupus Alma are never in friendly terms. If the relationship was with Regis Dragonia or Empris Leonid, then I would believe it completely.

"Because... Marc sent us this." Mr. Noan then revealed a copy of the order.

An order that 'congratulates' Marc Callahan Noan, to be the sole exchange student for Ros Ursa.