It’s been about a week since I had my little fight with Tobias Kurt. Despite him keeping his mouth shut, Mr. Travers found out about the whole thing anyways. Apparently, there’s only two other people in the school with enough power to bust through the barriers in the practice rooms. I have no idea who the third-party member could be, but I think the other guy is Wyatt Thompson. I don’t know much more about Wyatt than anyone else. The thing is that he can’t project a lot of magis, but he’s rumored to have amazing control over it and precision like no other. He’s popular among the lower ranking students around, as well as the girls. He has the rare ability to shoot a perfect stream of pure energy, most people can only express magis in the form of an element.

With this skill of his he was allowed to go to the school as a special case, even though he just uses it to engrave trinkets to impress the ladies. I thought we were pretty alike with our limited abilities making us different from everyone else. I approached him one day trying to strike up a conversation, but he gave me this look, it kind of pisses me off just to think about it. It was like he was looking through me or at an insect or something. I asked if he needed help practicing or something, I’m no good at small talk, and he said that he’s not interested in being around someone like me. I was used to that kind of thing, but then he said this, “There’s something about your face and the look about you, it screams of helplessness.” Needless to say, I went to deck him right then and there when Travers, who seemed to come out of nowhere, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me off. I kind of hated Travers back then; he was always keeping tabs on me. Anyways I think since he has that precision-based ability, he could probably really concentrate a beam or something fancy like that and if he didn't screw it up it could have some armor piercing qualities or something. I don’t have anything solid though, as far as proof.

As for Alina, she became extremely popular, and she’s said to be the schools best and brightest, I couldn’t imagine impressing people to that point within a week. She’s made more friends but still hangs out with me a lot, Travers sat us next to each other in homeroom, so we just talk about how the day is going. I never say much other than “fine”, but she seems to have a books worth of material to talk about every day. It’s not like I’m complaining though it’s nice to have someone to talk to. Whenever we hung out outside of school it’d be more of the same. I don’t get why she finds me so interesting, but it’s a nuisance to have her ask me all these questions I don’t have the slightest clue how to answer. She asked me why my hair is always the same no matter what I do with it, I replied “I don’t know man, genetics probably.” Which is the best answer I think anyone would be able to come up with. Despite her quirks, and how annoying she could be sometimes I found Alina to be a great new addition to my life. I valued her companionship.

Today Mr. Travers sent for me to come to his office after school, so Alina went and walked home with some of her girlfriends. Usually going to his office is a treat to most people, the school was mostly white walls and white floors, it wasn’t very impressive aesthetically. The exceptions being the courtyard and teacher’s offices. The office of Hank Travers was filled with color and art, he usually never left the office unless he had to be in class teaching. He even installed a side door that goes into the wall, but enchanted it so that whenever he opened it, it would take him directly to his classroom. Students usually loved to be invited there to peep at the scenery and have tea. Travers loves green tea, specifically when it's piping hot. He always has some on standby at his desk; he’s the one who got me hooked on the stuff. I expected to be welcomed by a smile and some tea, like I always was whenever I wasn’t in trouble. But today I walked in and saw a different Hank; a stern looking man, with coffee in his mug and wrinkles in his face that aged him a few years. I haven’t done anything since the scuffle with Toby, so what could possibly have happened? He didn’t look up and gestured me towards the seat in front of his desk with a wave. I sat down as a knot began to form in my gut.

“Tyson, I need your help.” His eyes met mine, I redirected my gaze, I’m not sure I can get used to this grave look of his. He’s close to being, well, intimidating. The only time I’ve ever seen him even look close to this was when he stopped me from swinging at Wyatt, and if I hadn’t been so mad I probably would have realized the look he gave me then.

“What’s goin’ on Hank?”

“Remember how I told you to only use your talents in an emergency? Well we have an emergency coming our way and I need you to be ready.”

“What kind of emergency?”

He took a sip out of his mug and continued. “I can’t give you one hundred percent of the details right now, but in short we have some things we need to protect at this school and I need your help doing that.”

“Okay, but why is it me you need? Won’t the other teachers be able to help?”

“A teacher's job is to oversee the development of their students, as well as protect them. I feel that the one's that I would trust to be involved would drop what they're doing and come to defend the institution and their pupils without hesitation. That being said, I can't be entirely sure where all of their loyalties lie..." He trailed off for a second before reaching into his suit jacket.

Take this with you.” He handed me a pocket watch with a chain attached, I latched it onto my belt loop and put it in my right pocket. “It’s sealed shut, but if someone dangerous is around it’ll open and serve as radar to keep track of their movements. Now there’s only one enemy out here to worry about right now, but I fear this city is much too large to be covered by just one person for security. I’m going to stay and guard the school for now.”

“Who else is in on this sir?”

“The principal, he’s had me looking out for students who could help, I chose you for one. Your friend Alina is a prospect right now.”

That news left me with mixed feelings. She could definitely handle herself in a scrap I guess, but I didn’t like the idea of her potentially being in danger. If I take care of this myself though she won’t need to get involved with anything too crazy, right?

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I stood up and started for town, “You can count on me!” I was gonna take the lead with a preemptive strike against whatever this trouble was, that way no one would get hurt. Aside from Alina, Hank Travers is the only person who’s ever seemed to see something worthwhile in me.

With that in mind I’m not going to let either of them down if I can help it.

I pulled out my sender’s switch and sent for Alina, telling her to get home safe and let me know if she sees anything weird going on while she made her way back. She replied with “I will, thanks, everything okay?” It was a weird thing for me to say out of context for her, I guess. I might explain later. I never really had to use that thing before except to contact Hank, I’m glad they don’t take much skill to use.

I kept pace heading wherever my instincts lead me, I didn’t have any real leads on where to go so I tried to keep within a mile radius of the school. After a about twenty minutes of this search method I got another send from Alina, just saying “square.”

Alina’s sendings are always more… elaborate, she must be short on time for some reason. She usually doesn’t seem to feel like she can give enough detail. I started heading to the square with my new toy in hand; hopefully there’ll be something to go on.

I didn’t get far before I saw Toby and a handful of other people running in my direction from the square, he was frantic, I ran across the street to cut him off and question him. “Slow down! What’re you running from?”

He shoved me out of his way and said “First you turn out to be some freak who doesn’t burn. Then some crazy guy in red robes shows up outta nowhere in the middle of town and starts screwing up the place after someone totaled their car ramming into him! I’m getting a transfer as soon as possible, so just stay away from me!”

That should be good news, but anything that could scare a guy like Toby this bad must be a serious threat, I ran full speed towards the square praying Alina had gotten out of there like Toby did. Also, I really hoped I was ready for whatever was causing this ruckus. As I closed in I saw fire, lots and lots of fire. I wasn’t mentally prepared for this sort of anarchy, but I also relished the chance to get to use my power again.

Covered in sweat I reached the scene of all the action; two mages were going at it. A large blonde man with a buzz cut and a girl with brown hair and glass- Shit. There was Alina crossing elemental beams and bolts with the person who presumably caused all of this. Let’s go Tyson.

I focused some magis into my legs and made a mad dash at the enigmatic menace, and went for a drop kick while Alina’s spell kept his hands busy. She saw me coming and held her fire right as I made contact with him. He was sent into the corner of the street slamming into the pole of a traffic light. That seemed to do the trick, I ran over to my friend. “You alright?!”

She looked exhausted and had a few burns on her. He actually hurt her? I’m starting to hope he gets back up so I can get some payback. She coughed into her hand while holding her side with the other one there was blood dripping from both palms. She’s gotta get out of here before it’s too late. “Listen, I need you to get going Alina you’ve done enough.”

She shook her head, “No because you wouldn’t come with me and this guy is too much for you Tyson, or me for that matter. If I leave you here... well I'm not doing that!”

Honestly, that pissed me off just a little bit, “Alina I’m not gonna argue with you about this, please just- “

My watch started going haywire in my pocket, the face of it was nowhere to be seen when I pulled it out. It was a big black sonar looking thing, with a large red dot moving towards us. I turned and looked as the titan that I had knocked down earlier was walking towards us as if nothing happened, stone-faced with electricity crackling in his palms. “Move!”

I pushed Alina out of the way and heard a stomp; he was using techniques you only see pros do. Right after his foot touched the street's surface; the asphalt beneath me enveloped my legs. I couldn’t break it down for some reason either. I looked up at him, despite my life being in great potential danger I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw my shoe prints on his face. I couldn’t move at all, gripping the rocks that had encased my lower body, I began to try deconstructing the bonds that made them so warped and strong. I kicked one leg free, but that’s when he grabbed both of my arms and picked me up, ripping my leg out of the rubble. He then continued by treating me like a sandy towel as he whipped me in the air repeatedly, being extra sure he slammed my whole body back into the ground before his next rep.

Things got a little hazy at that point, all I know is that I couldn’t feel my legs and I was bleeding a good bit. That’s when he set me on my knees and put his giant hand across my face, grabbing my whole head. He could crush me so easily, but he whispered in my ear saying, “You know twerp, you kind of hurt me. Not actually with that prissy kick of yours, but it hurt my pride to even be moved by some knuckle-dustin’ amateur.” Salt in my new wounds, which were only piling up at this rate. He encased me in earth again with another tap of his foot, up to my neck this time. I tried to stay awake, just to see if Alina had gotten away. Of course, she didn’t, that would’ve given me a sliver of relief.

Instead she was watching me get murdered, trying to cast a last ditch shot with wild eyes full of frustration. She was clearly more capable, why did I think I could or should try to protect her?

I guess he was done playing with his food because he mystery mage began to grip my skull tighter, I felt like my head was gonna pop! "This aint some schoolyard brawl kid!" He boasted as he began running an electric current through me, and electricity made purely from magis hurts just as much as regular electricity. At least I didn’t scream; I was too weak to let out any kind of noise. As I was being fried, I thought of how sorry I was to Hank, and Alina.

There are two people I care about in this whole stupid city, and I managed to let both down. If I somehow lived through this, I didn’t know I how I was going to face either of them again. I grit my teeth lamenting the situation, waiting for it to be over.

Alina threw the last of her strength into a final blast, “Tyson hang on! Please!” I was proud too, she really poured it on. It was an advanced spell, a stream of plasma. She got the bastard to take one arm off of me, but he absorbed all of Alina’s energy into his hand, or negated the force of it? I'm too roughed up to tell at this point. Either way the fatigue would set in soon enough for her and there's nothing I could do about it. That’s when three loud bangs echoed through the streets.

The behemoth fell to his knees and his eyes went white, the pain stopped, and Alina collapsed. I watched as our savior walked over to Alina and picked her up in his arms, “Thanks, if you hadn’t had gotten him to keep both of his hands busy, I wouldn’t have had the opening I needed.” He holstered his gun, no magazine, just enchanted scriptures along the grip of the frame; it was some sort of magis weapon like and edgy wand or something. Waves of shame overwhelmed me as I saw the face of the man who had saved us both checking his pocket watch exactly like mine for any further threats. “I’ll tell Travers you’re here and get her to a hospital.”

I shook and tried to hold all my frustration in as he walked away with her. Wyatt Thompson, things started to go dark as I fought against accepting how right he was before... When the chips were down I was totally helpless.