Jaid awoke to find her privacy had been invaded yet again, something she was slowly getting used to. On her desk was a dessert with a note that just said ‘The CP is a boring place.’ Obviously, it was from Phon. Her adventure must have been underwhelming. Jaid’s offhand comment turned into quite a reward though since Phon had brought one of her favorites. It’d certainly spoil her breakfast, but the woman with unyielding cravings didn’t care in the slightest.
The members didn’t dive right into ranking tests again that morning. Instead, Nachi wanted them to work up a sweat first, claiming that the next test would be more rewarding somehow if they did. While Nachi came off as quite arrogant and aloof, she really did take her job as a trainer seriously. There was no denying that.
In just a few days, she’d come up with completely unique individual training plans and regiments for each member. While everyone worked on every aspect, it mostly boiled down to two different schools of training for FIends. Those who were strong with their Curses worked more on training their bodies. Those who were already physically strong and dextrous worked more on their powers.
Jaid fell in the latter group. She was already nearing the peak of what could be accomplished in terms of physical prowess and very adept when it came to fighting technique as well. Her whole life she’d spent training in some form or another, following strict regiments to always be improving. Nachi could and surely would break her past her current wall over time, but it wasn’t very crucial at the moment.
If everyone was still human, probably only Drim and Nachi could stand against Jaid in a fight. It could be stated as overconfidence, but Jaid knew her own abilities and limits to an obsessive degree. Quite a few of the other members were very strong, but most were amateurs relying on the supernatural side. Very few had tasted real discipline, though that would no longer be the case after a few months under Nachi’s tutelage.
Itsy would certainly destroy her in a contest of strength if they were still human as well, but genetics were playing in her favor. That said, Jaid still believed she’d win since Itsy relied only on strength, and her technique was honestly quite sloppy. This was why instead of doing any form of exercise like everyone else, Nachi had Itsy fumbling around with delicate puzzle boxes.
Jaid started off the day doing a very basic workout routine. It was tried and true and would eventually make her stronger if she stuck with it while constantly pushing herself. After that was Curse training. It was hard to admit, but Jaid honestly wasn’t the best with her Curse. Most of it came from a reluctance to actually utilize it as much as she could. It was more a mental issue than anything, something she’d have to learn to deal with regardless of whatever organization she worked for.
Part of her hesitance came from the sheer disobedience of most of her clones. The ability to make exact copies of herself was very useful, but the mutated versions were where the real power lied. Being able to make microscopic versions to spy and sneak around. Creating a giantess to smash anything in her way. Those were capabilities of her power, and Jaid wasn’t even remotely close to being able to utilize them consistently.
So that’s what Nachi had her doing, working on trying to control her clones. She started with only a slightly deviated clone. The objective was to convince them to do a part of her workout routine. Once she managed that, she’d distort the clone a bit more—changing its size slightly or altering the overall shape. The first few were pretty compliant and easy.
After a while though, the demands started to pile on. Most only wanted input on what she’d have for lunch, each with their own tastes. It was like she was a waitress taking their orders, but whatever got them to agree and get on with things.
“This one’s being a right little bastard, I see.” Nachi was referring to the clone with absurdly long legs who was lying on the floor, refusing to do anything and trying to sleep. She gave the clone a swift kick in the ribs, causing both Jaids to flinch, but the clone went right back to its lethargy.
“A damn lazy bum,” Nachi prodded at its fake sleeping face with her shoe.
“Definitely, agree there,” Jaid sighed, losing hope. “I guess I’ll just have to lock this one away forever if she won’t do anything.”
“No, you don’t understand,” Nachi’s eyes shifted directly to Jaid’s, locking with her gaze. “I meant you.” Her words had turned accusatory. “She’s lazy because of you.”
There had been plenty of uncomfortable moments since joining this group, but this was the first time Jaid had been outright offended. “What are you talking about? It’s because she doesn’t listen to me!”
“No!” Nachi stood firm and her pointer-finger was driven directly into Jaid’s forehead. “It’s because you don’t listen to her.” The poke turned into a flick which made Jaid recoil.
“The problem is obvious to me now, in that you’re the problem,” Nachi continued. “All these different personalities your clones have, they’re all you. They’re the sides of yourself you’ve locked away and refuse to accept. The problem isn’t that this one is acting lazy. You need to figure out why she wants to be lazy. Your struggle is entirely internal. Once you’ve overcome that, then you’ll see some real progress.”
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Jaid wanted to throw shade back at her, but Nachi didn’t give her the chance, already checking on the next member. On the verge of an internal tantrum, Jaid managed to convince herself that she’d just be proving Nachi’s point if she lashed out. Instead, she relented, and crouched down next to the lazy clone.
“So, why don’t you want to do anything?” Jaid reluctantly asked.
“Depressed and sad.” It was a simple answer, but one that had no easy solution or easily identifiable way to cure or help.
“Okay, can you tell me why you’re sad?” Her response hadn’t been that helpful, but it was a start at least.
“I’m lonely. I don’t want to be he—” Jaid clasped a hand over the clone's mouth to temporarily stop her, not wanting anyone to overhear. She leaned in closer, prompting the clone to whisper. “I don’t want to be here. This was a mistake. I’m… I’m scared.” It was obvious now—annoyingly obvious that Nachi had been right. This clone was a personification of her anxiety and doubts.
The clone looked like it was about to cry, so Jaid slid her hands behind its back, lifting it up. Then they hugged. They hugged for what felt like hours but was probably only a few minutes. It came as a wash of relief to the clone which Jaid could feel in her own mind. Here, she truly was alone, but she always had herself.
Another minute or so of hugging and the clone was finally motivated. She did exactly six pushups before forcefully unsummoning herself. It wasn’t much, but it was progress. Jaid practiced for a while longer with clones that were more energetic and stubborn in other ways, not in the mood to tackle more anxiety-laden issues at the moment.
Eventually, Nachi stopped her and called her over for another reason. She took Jaid back to a private training room. Immediately on edge, Jaid tried to brace herself for whatever eventuality may come. The confusion and wariness was only compounded when she found Itsy waiting in the room for them.
“Special orders from the top,” Nachi explained. “And by the top I mean the bossy white-haired girl. She wants Itsy to awaken her Curse. As I’m sure you know, Curses are instinctual. You have to have a carnal need or fulfill certain conditions to unlock them. So I’ve been told, anyways. I’m not an expert, being a Lesser and all.”
“The thought is that due to Itsy’s immense natural strength, her Curse has never had reason to manifest. She hasn’t been pushed to her limit or been put in any real danger. A lot of Curses, the user just knows by default when they become a Fiend, usually more support-oriented Curses. Combat ones on the other hand, there’s a trend of the user only knowing how to activate them under stress and panic. Can you attest to that, Jaid?”
“Uhh, mine activated for the first time when I was literally about to be stabbed in the back,” Jaid shared her experience.
“See, Itsy, you just need to be stabbed a few times,” Nachi chuckled. “But, that’s basically the idea. Itsy needs a real brawl. Nothing fancy for now. We’ll just do standard boxing. Jaid will be your sparring partner, since well anyone else would… well… break. Thanks for volunteering, Jaid.”
Jaid had absolutely not volunteered for this, but couldn’t complain now without coming off like a total Draz. This was entrapment!
On Nachi’s orders, Jaid reluctantly—very reluctantly—made a clone of herself that perfectly matched Itsy’s height, weight, and build. The clone was tall enough that Jaid could dangle from her back and not get in her way while hopefully hiding well enough from any incoming blows.
“Aww, you’re like twins,” Nachi mocked them as she ran out the door. “Have fun you two. Make sure to knock each other senseless!”
“Hrm, first time I seen my blood.” Itsy let Jaid throw the first punch, wanting to gauge her strength. Jaid hadn’t expected Itsy to take it without flinching, and the clone bashed her right in the noise. Blood streaked out of it briefly but stopped quickly. “Thought I was a leaking car at first. This stuff’s so shiny.”
“Any closer to figuring out your Curse? Maybe a blood power or something?” It was a solid train of logic if she’d yet to bleed since becoming a Fiend.
“Nah, I feel the same,” Itsy wiped away the blood and reciprocated the punch. Jaid’s clone blocked it with her arms but slid a few feet back on her heels. They traded blows back and forth. Jaid shoved her face into the back of her clone so she could scream through the pain of it.
Itsy really would break anyone else, but she hadn’t gone unscathed either. Her entire body was covered in bruises that were slowly fading away. Jaid would have to remember this clone for the future. Its raw power was nothing to laugh at, and it was easy to see why Itsy felt so isolated from others. Jaid could feel through her clone that she could snap anything with just a slight prick.
However, even though her clone was cooperating and throwing punches without complaint, its head wasn’t remotely into it. This Jaid was dying to read some romance novels and mostly fantasized about drawing cute boys. Of her allegedly hidden personalities, this would certainly be a harder one to accept.
The two women didn’t know how long they’d been at it when Nachi came to retrieve them. They were both battered and bruised. All the visible injuries shifted to Jaid’s main body when she released her clone from its service. The pain halved at least, but she began to sweat profusely. A long hot bath was calling to her, hoping they’d get a break before the next rank test.
But alas, that was but a dream, and for whatever reason, baths were outright forbidden. “You can have a bath at the end of the next test,” Nachi repeated to the many whiners who were in a similar position. She’d dragged the remaining testers back to the North gate of the compound. Having failed early was starting to seem like the better option, since they were allowed a break for lunch and to shower and relax until this test was over.