Weimar ascended the stage at the center of the hall and declared the start of the feast. He encouraged everyone to enjoy the banquet. Glasses were raised, laughter filled the air, and after some heartfelt speeches, Weimar stepped down from the stage, leaving the band to take over."By the way, Wei Sijia just left Kinstria. Her flight passed through Huaishan City, so she decided to take a rest here. I invited her today; she’ll drive over later. I guess she must be on the way now. Let’s finish eating and then go get her," Weimar announced, taking a sip of his Blood Wine."So soon?" Kalidor frowned. "I have friends here…""What does it matter? I’ll go explain to your friends and let them go home by themselves. It has been too long since our last gathering. It is such a rare opportunity this time.""How about we take them with us? They are all my friends, and we can introduce them to the others," Kalidor hesitantly suggested.Weimar showed an indifferent smile. "Kalidor, I hope that tonig
From far away, Spectra watched as his sister and two others released their arrows. Shadows streaked out, hitting their targets.Though Spectra's eyesight wasn't great, he could tell that his sister's arrow was closest to the bull's eye, while the others' missed slightly. Cheers and boos erupted from the crowd, with Mira's class, Class 6, cheering the loudest.The competition continued through rounds two and three. Spectra didn't understand the rules, but he noticed the crowd cheering every time Mira shot an arrow. It seemed she was popular at school, not as reserved as she was around their parents.The archery event lasted over an hour, and Spectra struggled to stay awake. When it was time for his dojo test, he said goodbye to his sister and made his way through the crowd toward the exit.Exiting the crowd, he found the other parts of the Academy deserted, as students and teachers prepared for a sporting event. Outside, the pale sun offered no warmth, and an autumn breeze sent a chill
POV: Spectra“Duck!” Silyn yelled, pointing her hands behind me.“What?” I asked amidst the noise. I found out soon enough as my knees caved to the ground from the impact of Benjamin's punch to my back. Ouch. I shut my mouth tightly to prevent the scream that was building up inside from coming out. My insides blared hot from the pain, so much so that I questioned coming to this group. Heck, I wondered why I came to school today. I should have just called in—Focus, Spectra. Focus.I tilted my head upwards, and I saw Silyn shake her head. A small crowd had gathered to watch the combat. I pushed to my feet in a frenzy, still feeling a bit dazed. I spun around just in time to block Benjamin's attack. I studied his stance for a bit; he had his face locked in a half smile—excited that he had the upper hand—and a half frown, probably surprised I hadn't surrendered already. Not yet, bro.“You know you could just throw in the towel and save everybody's time, right?” Benjamin asked with a smirk
POV: Spectra“What would you have?” the waitress asked for the second time. I looked at the menu, still finding the dishes strange. Everyone at the table peered at me, wondering why it took me so much time to choose.Well, they wouldn't understand, I thought. I mean, it's not every day someone sleeps on Earth and wakes on another planet with different people and different– “Hello?” the waiter prodded, her eyes searching me curiously. Benjamin nudged me gently and I sat upright almost immediately. “Erm, I'll have whatever they're having,” I said most casually I could manage. Lord, please let it be something I could eat, I prayed in my mind. The waiter muttered an ‘ok’ and went with the menu. Phew.“So, anything in particular you have an interest in?” Farak asked, attempting to make conversation. “Uhm, yeah. I like jewelry.”“Oh?” Silyn sat up, with a glimmer in her eyes. “We have this amazing collection at home. You could come to see it soon,” she offered. I need it for my system ab
POV: SpectraMira’s face was locked in a frown. I rushed to her side Immediately, wondering what the matter was.“Mira, what's the problem? Are you okay?” I held her by the shoulders, searching her body for any harm. She shrugged me off vehemently and stepped back. “It’s you. You're the problem”.Huh?“How is that?” I asked, even more confused. She threw her head back in defiance. “You promised you wouldn't be close to any other girl, spectra. You promised!”Oh, so that's what it's really about? I heaved a sigh. “We talked about this, Mira. Ai Fei is my friend, and that's about that. I just met Silyn, and I don't know if we're even friends yet,” I reassured her. I felt her shoulders relax and I noticed her facial features return to normal. Good.“So… what Camp did you get?” She asked with a bright smile like she wasn't the angry teenager who had her face in a glare two minutes ago. “Emerald Lake.”“Too bad!” she pouted. “I got to be at camp Springfield” “Oh, sorry,” I said, trying
POV: Spectra.The silhouettes drew closer until they became clear. Somebody flicked on a bulb and the hall became as bright as day. I studied the assailants; four boys who looked my age. They were tall, muscular, and generally rough and they oddly looked familiar. I surveyed the surroundings and I saw a safe. That must be what they were there for, to crack the safe. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” One of them, apparently their leader asked. He had a deep, husky voice, but that didn't scare me. Not one bit. “Who I am isn't important at the moment,” I countered. “what’s more important is that you all leave that safe untouched.”The boys looked at each other and then they broke into a roaring laughter. I stood down, unflinching.“Now let me tell you something, bro,” he said, eyeing the badge on my shirt. “You’re from the academy, interesting. Now, I am giving you a chance to walk out of here unscathed. Just go home to your momma and we'll forget this. We won't come after you
Somewhere in the city, in a dimly lit room on the sixth floor of the biggest high-rise building, a lone figure stood at the center of the room, watching his boys writhe in pain, telling stories of how they had all been beaten by a very unlikely assailant: an amateur student from… POV: SPECTRA I examined the necklace in my hand for a moment, intrigued by the design. This wasn't any regular piece of jewelry; it was a precious stone. I examined the engraved Team Nexus name and closed my eyes, trying to remember where I'd heard the name before. It rang no bells. I shrugged and stuck the necklace in my breast pocket. I looked calmly around the place one last time before ringing the burglar alarm. I heard feet shuffling in someplace nearby, and I knew security was coming. The place would be safe for the night, at least.The crisp cold air hit my face as I ran into the moonlit night. I felt my speed increase and my hearing sharpen. Must be because of my new points, I though
“The Man” SPECTRAMira stood in front of me, in all her feminine glory. I swallowed and averted my eyes quickly. She must have noticed because she gave a light chuckle and pushed me aside lightly. She reached for the milk jar on top of the fridge, causing her gown to go up, revealing her fresh thighs. She looked back and shook her head. I muttered a quick goodnight and dragged my feet up the stairs. What was that moment? I thought as I opened the door to my room. I looked on the bed and saw the clothes I wore on the night of the murder. Hmm. I closed my eyes quickly, wondering why it was on the bed. I'd washed it clean, but I'd hid it in my drawer. How did it come to be on my bed? I looked back as Mira walked past my door en route to her room. She paused and looked at me first, then at the clothes in my hand. She muttered a hmm and walked on to her room.Could she have seen the clothes that night and pretended not to have seen them? I looked at the pants. There was a small
SPECTRAI turned. It was the camp director. Daphne jogged up to where we were. She was dressed in a black tracksuit and an equally black pair of sneakers. She had her hair wrapped into a bun and tied it with a scarf in an ancient dojo style.“You should do it since you're playing devil's advocate,” she shrugged. I looked around, everyone stared at me to see if I would take up the challenge or chicken out. 100 pushups? Could I manage that? “Come on, spectra,” Brucy egged me on. The students around started chanting for me to take it on. I shot Brucy a playful glare as I took my stance on the floor. Eva came alive in my ears immediately. “Do you think you could manage it?” It asked. I could pull fifty at a stretch, but I didn't know if I could go a hundred times without breaking. “Well, I'll help you,” Eva said, reading my thoughts. The dashboard appeared while I was about to take my prostrate stance. It read:“Agility points: 250”I tapped on it casually, so it wouldn't seem weird to
SPECTRAI turned. It was the camp director. Daphne jogged up to where we were. She was dressed in a black tracksuit and an equally black pair of sneakers. She had her hair wrapped into a bun and tied it with a scarf in an ancient dojo style.“You should do it since you're playing devil's advocate,” she shrugged. I looked around, everyone stared at me to see if I would take up the challenge or chicken out. 100 pushups? Could I manage that? “Come on, spectra,” Brucy egged me on. The students around started chanting for me to take it on. I shot Brucy a playful glare as I took my stance on the floor. Eva came alive in my ears immediately. “Do you think you could manage it?” It asked. I could pull fifty at a stretch, but I didn't know if I could go a hundred times without breaking. “Well, I'll help you,” Eva said, reading my thoughts. The dashboard appeared while I was about to take my prostrate stance. It read:“Agility points: 250”I tapped on it casually, so it wouldn't seem weird to
SPECTRAI turned. It was the camp director. Daphne jogged up to where we were. She was dressed in a black tracksuit and an equally black pair of sneakers. She had her hair wrapped into a bun and tied it with a scarf in an ancient dojo style.“You should do it since you're playing devil's advocate,” she shrugged. I looked around, everyone stared at me to see if I would take up the challenge or chicken out. 100 pushups? Could I manage that? “Come on, spectra,” Brucy egged me on. The students around started chanting for me to take it on. I shot Brucy a playful glare as I took my stance on the floor. Eva came alive in my ears immediately. “Do you think you could manage it?” It asked. I could pull fifty at a stretch, but I didn't know if I could go a hundred times without breaking. “Well, I'll help you,” Eva said, reading my thoughts. The dashboard appeared while I was about to take my prostrate stance. It read:“Agility points: 250”I tapped on it casually, so it wouldn't seem weird to
SPECTRAI shook my head. Would these guys ever be a thing of the past for me? I wondered. They turned as soon as they noticed our presence. He looked surprised to see me, which meant he wasn't expressly here for me. He looked at me and then, at my friends with me. He exchanged glances with his boys and they filed out of the room, careful to not come in contact with me. I wanted to shut the door and beat the living hell out of them, but I refrained. I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle the questions afterward. When they'd all gone, we turned to Daniel who stood, dusting his pants and shirts. “What happened here?” Brucy asked. He shrugged. I detested his attitude so much that I found myself questioning why they had to bunk him with us, and I wished they'd touched him a little before our arrival. “They followed me from the common room,” he spoke up as he sat on his bed. “Why?” Kalidor asked, resting his arm against the door. “They wanted me to give them a silver piece I'd thrown while
SPECTRAIt beeped again rapidly. I looked around to see if anyone was watching, but everybody was occupied with finding the common room. The dashboard popped up and it read:“New system task, due tomorrow. Location: Emerald Lake.”Some mischief was bound to happen in camp, but I didn't expect it to happen this soon. Everyone started clearing out of the dining hall. I was made to join them in leaving, but someone called me back.“Spectra!” It was Daphne, she was holding the edge of a sink and beckoned on me to come help her level it on a table. “You know my name?” I asked in surprise. She chuckled. “I handed everyone their camp charter and their name tag remember?” She explained. “Besides, your name is not very common and is memorizable,” she added with a wink. I laughed then, letting myself calm down. I thought in panic for a moment, that she was somebody from the old spectra's memory that I couldn't recognize. I didn't want any suspicion that would lead to my cover being blown. I h
Rick looked at the others. With trepidation, he picked up the phone. “Have you found him?” The hoarse voice called from the other end. “Yes,” Rick responded swiftly, eager to please. “Very good,” The Man responded. “But you know the plan right?”“Yes Sir!” Rick replied instantly. “Good. Find out if it's here. I don't want no stories,” he warned. Rick and the boys nodded amongst themselves. They had to find it and find him. They couldn't afford to fail.—— ——SPECTRA“Where exactly is Treasure Ridge?” Kalidor muttered beside me. I scanned the houses for any sign of the name labeled at the door. “There!” Brucy pointed to a house at the far right. Kalidor, Benjamin, Brucy, and I trudged with our luggage to the cabin. The night had fallen, but the whole place still looked lit due to the lights provided by the camp. We got into the cabin. The lights were on and two boys were there already. Why did I not find it surprising that Daniel, the randy boy from the bus was part of our cabin? H
SPECTRAYou've got to be kidding me.All four boys from the safe that night sat there whispering something to themselves. Slowly, Rick’s eyes looked up and found mine. He tapped his friends and pointed in my direction. They looked at me with a devilish glee in their eyes and mischief written on their faces. I sighed and rubbed my temples wearily. Not again, I sighed again.“Spectra?” Smoke’s voice called from across the circle where we sat. “Are you okay?” She had a concerned, desperate-to-please look in her eyes. She probably thought I was still upset with her. Kalidor, Silyn, Ai Fei, Benjamin, and Brucy also turned to me at the moment.“Yeah,” I said with a casual wave. “My head just hurts a little from the spinning on the bus,” I muttered. They gave understanding nods, and Kalidor gave me some water to take my own medicine with. I took it and smiled graciously, allowing them to slowly turn away from their scrutiny of me and back to the discussion. I turned back to them and they sti
SPECTRAI stood there dumbfounded, staring at her. She looked at me with her eyes widened like she'd just seen a ghost. “Spectra?” Smoke pestered, wearing a curious look on her face. “Oh, it's um, it's just a talk show I'm listening to,” I managed to say. She didn't look like she believed a word I said.“Hello? Eva Marcel on tonight's show?” I spluttered, turning my ears to reveal an earpiece situated in my ear. Nothing was playing in it, but I hoped she would buy it.She looked disbelievingly at me for a second, and then she took the earpod from me and put it in her ears. I closed my eyes tight because I knew any moment from now she'd uncover the lie to its very root. But when I opened it, she was listening to something. I tapped the other piece on my left ear and crazily enough, an actual talk show was going on. It took me only a second to recognize the voice speaking. It was Eva, my machine assistant. It had split its voice to sound like three distinct speakers and it seemed lik
SPECTRASmoke looked at me incredulously, in a disturbing manner. I went over to her seat, and even as I made my move, she didn't seem to see or notice me coming towards her. “Smoke? Are you alright?” I asked, searching for any sign of bodily harm. She jerked then as if she was in a coma all this while. “Smoke?” I pestered. She shook her head frantically. “Yes? What were you saying?”“I was asking if you're okay,” I responded. “Okay? Of course not! Nobody on this bus is okay,” she forced a laugh. I laughed too, but I didn't believe that was all. Something was wrong about her disposition, but I couldn't quite wrap my hands around it.“you’re sure?” I pestered. “Jesus, Spectra!” Smoke rolled her eyes at me. “I said I'm fine. You don't need to be my knight in shining armor. Not this time, at least.”I chuckled at her witty remarks, but still raised my eyebrows in askance. She scowled and opened her mouth to speak, but I stopped her from saying anything more. I raised my hands in moc