Training with Wayne, which I was now learning to be relentless. I found muscles that I didn't even know existed screaming at me to stop, begging me to just take a break and stop putting them through torture. And yet through the pleading of my body I continued forth, looking at my opponent who was bigger, stronger, faster, and more durable than me. "A immovable object met by a squeaky hammer." is all I could think of when objectively looking at the situation.

Apparently combat lessons was just Wayne wailing on me the entire time, but even through this I could feel it. My body was slowly adapting, I was starting to recognize his movements. It wasn't until he got behind me and went to kick me in the back of the leg that I landed my first strike on him, it was such an awkward move to land. As I widened my stance, avoiding his foot and twisting my hips sending the back of my elbow into his jaw. He seemed almost surprised I had hit him.

Though I took his hesitation and gained some distance, getting myself ready as my hands came back up in the same guard as I had showed him before. The Obsidian Settlements trademark stance, one that was used to completely dominate the opponent that was if you had the strength to back it at least. Which when faced with Wayne I could so clearly see that I did not, hell I could even feel it as over and over again he hit me. But things were starting to change, for even the smallest of moments I was reading him.

First it was something inside me screaming "JAB!", and instinctively moving to dodge it. To my astonishment I watched his arm pass by to where my face had been moments before, though I was too surprised and slow to counter. "GUT SHOT!", I was too close to dodge this one as I felt his knuckles crash against my stomach and this morning's breakfast became heavily unsettled. "FACE GRAB", my eyes snapped back to attention as I forced myself backwards bending to let his hand pass by.

"GRAH!", I yelled as I brought my head back driving my head into his nose. And I felt some strange warm liquid speckle my face, as when I reeled back I could see blood running down his nose. Which seemed to heavily throw him off, "Well damn kid. Maybe I was wrong about you, you're not exactly strong but you sure as hell can fight.". It seemed like he was holding something back, biting his tongue as he wiped the blood away. His eyes shifting to be neutral, and his body dropping into a new stance.

A narrowed body, two open palms with the back right hand being at his chin facing down while his other facing upwards a little forwards from the hip. It was that the little voice in my head was starting to shout nonsense, or at least that's what I thought it was. "Push up, pull down", had been so cryptic as I felt my feet leave the ground being shot into the air and then pulled down at speeds much faster than normal. It was amazing truly, the fact that these abilities existed, but if everyone had one and Sam had been able to activate his it meant he had one.

"Pull towards", my eyes lit up as after hearing it less then a second I was flying towards him as he began moving. It was then I remembered a teaching of the Obsidian soldiers, "by gathering momentum one can make their strikes stronger.". That's what he was doing , gathering momentum in himself in order to unleash it out onto me. But by pulling me towards him so rapidly I was also gaining momentum, I just had to figure out a way to release it.

"Fuck it!", one giant fuck it. That's what I was banking my not-failure on, as no matter how you looked at this situation you could tell winning wasn't in the question. But, even so by losing i could still 'win' in my own way. Prove to Wayne I was more than just a helpless weak little boy. Forcing my hand forwards, i quickly threw it back at the last second spinning around and throwing the opposite leg out. Using all of the momentum of the pull to throw a kick.

But in that same moment my mind went blank, as a pain erupted in my stomach. And I felt my breakfast leave my body, and for a split moment I felt at peace. As I felt myself drop to the ground, until I was being slapped back to reality at least. With the tall Wayne looking down at me, rubbing his jaw. "You did pretty alright kid, way better then what I gave you credit for.", and at the end it seemed despite losing I had 'won'. I proved myself to Wayne, though next time hopefully I can actually win.

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An absurd thought that left my mind as soon as I thought it, standing up and looking back towards him. "Thank you sir, but with all due respect. Don't you think that was a bit much?", a question he seemed to ponder for a moment. Before giving off a big smile and shrug, "No clue! But it seemed to be working, the longer it went on I could tell you were adapting. Learning to avoid blows, and even a quick adaptation to my power.", but he seemed to hesitate before speaking again. "Though there was that elbow, and despite me only attacking your body and head you somehow knew I was going to hit your leg.".

"Well sir, I heard a little voice in my head. It told me what was gonna happen, It's weird and I promise I'm not some insane person.", I said thinking about how bad it sounded that a little voice in my head had told me what was gonna happen. "I believe you kid, maybe that's your power. Though it's a curious one.", he was right I couldn't exactly pin what it would be? It wasn't exactly mind reading, as I was getting whole thoughts. But more so the intention of what they were wanting to do.

As I pondered the question, I looked towards Wayne. Who was starting to move towards the camp again, and so I followed him while still in my thoughts. Though my body ached, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. And I even wondered if that was a sign I was already getting stronger, or if Wayne had gone easy on me. "Dinner should be soon..should follow Kayti's advice.", and with that I began heading towards the cafeteria, waving to Wayne as I thought about what warm meal they would be preparing for all of us.

Upon arriving, I could see Kayti sitting alone Sam not in sight. And without any of her friends around she seemed, quiet and more calm. No smile dawning her face just, existing and in a way it was saddening. Enough so that it made me hurry up and head over to sit down with her, which seemed to brighten her mood even by a little bit. "Hey BC, how was your talk with Wayne?", thinking back on it I would shudder a little bit remembering being beaten senseless over and over.

"It went alright, well as alright as fighting Wayne can get I suppose.", though as I looked back towards her it seemed like something was on her mind. It seemed to bother her whatever it may be, so I ended up asking her about it "Are you alright? I know it's not really my place to ask, but you seem off.". Noticing my concern she seemed to ponder the question for a moment before replying to me, "It's Sam, I haven't seen them around since we left the bunker. I know the Leader is always asking for them, but usually they'd be back by now."

Sam was missing? A little shaken by this I looked around as if I was just gonna spot them in the crowd somewhere, though after this failing I let out a sigh. Tapping my fingers as I absently ate my food, as it seemed to warm my soul directly. Still finding it quite amazing that something mass produced could be so tasty and warm. So after a bit of eating in silence, the rush happened where everyone began moving back to their dormitory, though still Kayti remained like a hollow shell.

Thinking about what would Sam do in this situation, a slow smirk spread across my face as I got up. And hit her hand, that was holding up her head to the side as she staggered. Which seemed to anger her, and seeing my smirk began getting up. So knowing what I did was a big mistake, I began sprinting away remembering just then that Kayti could summon fire at her will. So as I ran, what once was a joke turned into me running for my life to the dorm.

"I'm sorry! Help!", she only replied with cackles as she continued chasing me. Weaving through the crowds, pushing past people and getting dirty looks I didn't care. Kayti was laughing, And as the dorm was on the horizon, I found myself falling down as Kayti had finally caught up to me. My hands outstretching and trying to claw away, to crawl into the dorm. "She's gonna burn me to a crisp! Wayne!", still calling for help she rolled her eyes putting her hand over my mouth and looking down at me.

"You're fine Joel, you giant dork. I'm sure Sam is fine, thank you though." after getting off of me and helping me up, she continued speaking. "Oh and, leave the pranks to Sam yea?" giving a quick nod I smiled. Heading into the dorm in a silence as I was just happy that I could cheer her up even for a moment. And so sitting on my bed I looked down at my hands, they hurt and so did the rest of my body.

So why was it I couldn't sleep that night? My mind just remained so busy that I found myself propped against the wall in my thoughts.