Chapter VII

Overhuman

Rosa sat in the middle of the class as everyone around her awaited her explanation. “What happened to you in that forest…” Suddenly the classroom door slammed open as their literature teacher entered.

"Alright class! Sit down and open your books-” The chubby man calmly ordered the children, as he walked straight towards his desk. But Ken and Marco pushed him out of the classroom and barricaded the door with chairs.

“We don’t have time for this old man!” Shouted Ken at the door.

“We're gonna get in so much trouble for that!” Terry was sweating buckets.

“I don’t care I need answers!” Ken silenced Terry's worries.

“What happened to you all in that forest; it’s called a Wave. What happened to Ken, Luna and Taran is going to happen to all of you.” Said Rosa fiddling with her fingers, not looking at any of them.

“We’re all gonna have terrible hair?” Asked Marco gagging from the thought.

“Watch your mouth fatso!” Ken grabbed the boy by his shirt.

“You can rest easy Marco, that’s not it. You all will develop your own powers.” Rosa explained.

“You think I have bad hair?” Ken looked at Rosa defeated a way he never felt before. His hair went limp on his head. Rosa acted like she didn’t even hear Ken’s question.

“I don’t know the Why of it, and I only had powers for a while, so I don’t know much.” Said Rosa bright pink form all the attention. “I’m sorry!” Ginna was fanning her with an exercise book so she wouldn’t faint again.

“And how long have you had your power?” Ren asked, leaning forward in his seat. Rosa went silent for a second

“I think it’s been two, maybe three months.”

“That long!?” Shouted everyone in unison.

“Three months can pass like five minutes sometimes…” Rosa said, gazing off into the distance.

“And what is your pow—” Vhiz would’ve asked if Ren didn’t cut him off. “Who taught you what you know?”

Rosa smiled. “You’re always good at asking the right questions.”

Ren was surprised by her reaction, but she soon continued.

“I’ve met a handful of people who passed through the village. Some encounters were more friendly than others. But what I gathered is this. There is a Reality adjacent to ours where these individuals thrive.

Powers to turn the world upside down, for a chance at their dream becoming reality. We call ourselves overhumans.” The silence of listening ears was amplified by that last word. Everyone stood in awe at her declaration.

“Overhumans?” Sun repeated the word.

“Because we are more than what we used to be. Not just humans.” Rosa explained with a peculiar glint in her eyes which caught Ren's attention.

“Cool! We will have superpowers!” Screamed Marco flexing his plumpy arms.

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call them superpowers, they are more like mutations. Take me for example.” Ren’s pupils widened.

“Rosa! Before you say it. Is it safe?” Everyone was confused by Ren’s question.

“Safe? What do you mean?” Asked Sun.

“So you felt it too?” Luna who was leaning on the wall walked closer to the conversation.

“We weren’t alone in the forest. There was someone watching us. I only noticed it when you got back with Rosa. But now thinking back how you looked at me when you went back for her...you felt it on the way down already.” Ren explained.

“Not just someone. I felt that gaze before. It was the Bug-man.” Luna revealed to the others. “Did you feel it too, Rosa?”

“Yes, but I guess you didn’t want to scare the others either.” Rosa nodded adjusting her hair.

“Wait? You can feel others? Like some comic book hero?” Niel jumped up in excitement.

“Being an overhuman doesn’t mean just one niche power. You get stronger, faster, more perceptive.”

“I was concerned that the Bug-man is watching us right now. I cannot control when I use that sensing power, so I can't rely on it.” Ren murmured discreetly.

“Gotta say, I’m impressed by you and Luna. But he is not nearby. He did not follow us into the village. It seems like something is keeping him at bay.” Rosa was surprised by her classmate's sharp perception.

“You sure about that?” Asked Luna, her voice quivered.

“Yes. Just as sure as you guys have more questions.”

“Now I want to know! What can you do?” Vhiz repeated his question.

Rosa chuckled at his curiosity, then she held out her hand and a drop of water exited her palm. “I can control the water content within my body.” As she explained she made the water into the shape of a bunny. Then morphed it into a bird in a cage, after that into a tree. "I have some control over other waters, but it is difficult and tiring."

“That’s amazing!” Said Ren with a gaping mouth.

“And gross!” Luna added.

“Yeah… if it turns yellow, we’ll know where you drew it from.” Marco started chuckling on his own joke. Everyone looked at him with a deadpan face.

“I’m sorry it’s just hard to wrap my head around that entire thing…” Iiwa sat down and started panting. “I mean what was it that caused this? The place we were at, the time?”

“Or was it because of you?” Said Terry in a similarly distressed tone.

“Stop it Terry! You are being rude.” Ren instinctively tried to protect Rosa. “She didn’t mention any drawbacks, side effects, dangers.”

“Well are there any?” Iiwa pressed the question on her.

“No drawbacks.” Said Rosa with a forced smile.

“But what about the other two?” Sun asked.

“Dangers? Other overhumans. Some are deranged, unhinged, maniacal. But within the village they are virtually nonexistent.”

“Wait? You left the village before? Rosa’s statement suggested so, but that was impossible. No kid has ever left the Village, at least to the best of their knowledge. Every parent raised their kids with one unbreakable rule, that even Ken listened to. You don’t leave the village. Atla was one of the few exceptions, but whenever Ren tried to ask about the outside world his father would change the subject.

“No! I mean there were some outsiders who told me that overhumans are everywhere, outside of Younen.” Rosa clarified her statement nervously.

“How did we not spot these strangers? Is not like outsiders come here regularly. I think I'd notice some new faces popping up." Niel asked skeptically.

“I mentioned a Reality adjacent to ours. It wasn’t metaphorical. These individuals, and now you can access another world, where only overhumans can go. Completely separate from the human world.”

“That opens an entirely different can of worms!” Shouted Ren. “My questions just multiply!”

“Could this be enough for now? I feel the pressure building up.” Rosa looked around nervously which made Ren back away and tone down his excitement.

“I’m… sorry Rosa! You can continue whenever you feel like it.” Ren sat down.

“Absolutely no way! We just learned about world changing news and you just want us to go on with our day?” Luna dissapproved of the decision to end the conversation so abruptly.

“Let her rest, Luna. We know enough for now.” Said Ken adjusting his hair again. Luna looked at Ken like an entirely different person. Smoke flew into view as Terry was lighting a sage stick.

“What are you doing?” Asked Luna.

“I asked him to run to the store for a sage stick to calm me down.” Said Ken with a serious look on his face.

“But I already had one on me!” Said Terry proudly. “You never know what bad news can ruin your mood!”

“How is getting a superpower bad news?” Vhiz looked at Terry confused.

“Powers mean there are new ways to get hurt!” Terry winced at even the thought.

“Like the man with the mandibles.” Said Luna under her breath.

“WAIT!” Ken screamed. “That would explain what happened to Ren!”

Ren realized what he was talking about. “Oh my God! You are right!”

“Yeah I know but you don’t have to call me God!” Ken shouted proudly.

“I didn’t disappear. I went to this other reality somehow.” Ren realized.

“And that bug man followed you.” Luna followed Ren's train of thought.

“But that would mean Ren was an overhuman before us.” Said Ken.

“But I don’t remember any strong winds like that. And I don’t even remember going to this reality.” Ren was confused by the new look on what happened that day.

“Do you know anything about this Rosa?” Asked Luna.

“I mean he shouldn’t be able to get there without being an overhuman. But my knowledge is limited. It could be something I just don’t know of.” Explained Rosa.

“But he could’ve become an overhuman before us and just doesn’t remember right?” Asked Niel.

“The last one was the one I got my powers from.”

“I see…” Ren was about to continue the conversation, but the teacher finally knocked the chair away that was blocking the door.

“Alright class! Today we are going to learn about war poets! And I came up with a haiku while being exiled from the class!” Said the teacher looking at the class which quickly organized itself by the time he looked up.

“You all have to write

A seven-page long essay

On using brute force!”

Everyone sighed as the teacher ordered them to write this essay for the next class. He later clarified that the text should be about a peaceful poet being silenced by an oppressive force.

Later the kids continued to chat about the world-changing news they learned that day.

“On today’s episode of Vhiz News! Our life is a lie! We have superpowers! And I’m still the best-looking guy in the school! All this and more on Vhiz News!” Vhiz was walking down the hallway with Marco recording him with his phone. He acted like the banana he brought to school was a microphone, and he used his news anchor voice he practiced at home.

“Stop talking about it in public Vhiz!” Said Iiwa snatching the phone out of Marcos hand. “And what was that last one?”

“There are some loyal listeners who want to know if the rankings changed. But thanks to my skincare routine, I am still a ten according to the Vhiz-handsomeness-scale!”

“Which is scored by…”

“Me!” Vhiz decreed proudly.

“Guessed so.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

“But if you are so keen to chat, we could do it in private. Maybe in a café?” Vhiz leaned closer to her. Iiwa took some uncomfortable steps back.

“You are not my type Vhiz. I like it when my partner has more Iq than abs.”

“Your loss. Now let’s continue with the interview. What do you think your power will be?” Vhiz snatched Marco's phone out of her hand and started recording again.

“The power to silence you! As I said, the less people know about our situation the better!”

“O-okay! I’ll ask quietly then.” Vhiz shrugged nonchalantly.

“You are a lost cause Vhiz.”

“But that’s why you love me!”

“I don’t.”

As Vhiz turned around Luna was looking at him furiously. Her fist clenched, her face red, and a vein popping on her forehead she was ready to burst. Marco noticed her and ran for it. “Sorry bro! I'm out! Find a new cameraman.” Marcos’ voice got quieter with every step he took as he ran away.

“If you don’t stop this silly act, I will find ways to hurt you that you cannot imagine. We agreed that until we find out more, we won’t tell anyone what happened. Did I make myself clear?” Luna demannded an answer, looking Vhiz dead in the eye.

“Yes Ma’am.” Vhiz swallowed slowly as he felt like he had a knife held to his throat.

“You made it crystal clear for him, sis.” Sun chuckled as he approached his sister.

“He puts everyone in danger just for some attention.” Luna turned to face her brother.

“What do you think about the others? Did everyone understand how seriously we should take this?” Sun pondered.

“I hope so. It’s not just the attention we attract. He could be hiding anywhere.” The bug-man's face popped into Luna’s mind.

“Now that we're on our way to awaken our powers, don’t you think we are safe?”

“The second we were hit with that wind in the ruins. I felt like the tiniest little particle in the world. No chance of avoiding what might come next. And that loss of control, just amplified my fear of the bug-man. That being said, if Ken can cut through a desk with his hair, I cannot begin to imagine how strong he’ll become.” Luna smiled through the fear the thought of that man gave her.

“I loathe the day we find out.” Sun chuckled.

“Guys! Terry just awakened his power!” Marco ran back to tell them.

“What did I tell you Marco!” The two of them silenced their classmate in unison.

“Oh sorry.” Marco began to whisper. “Terry awake…” The siblings let out a deep sigh and left Marco there.

As they entered the classroom everyone was staring in what looked like an empty corner.

“What are you guys doing?” Asked Sun puzzled by the strange situation. But after looking at the corner for a while, Terry appeared in front of them.

“Were you invisible, Terry?” Luna asked.

“It’s weirder than that.” Said Ren who had more time to analyze what happened to Terry. “Start moving again Terry!”

Terry, feeling threatened by even the likes of Ren, who was smaller than him, complied. “O-okay.” As the boy moved his body, it went invisible again.

“It seems that Terry has the power to go translucent when in motion.” Ren explained his observations.

“You couldn’t have said it in a more pretentious way!” Sighed Marco.

“Well, I could’ve said he is diverting light around himself, on the condition that he is in motion. Sort of a light-bending generator.”

“Ren stop it! You won’t get graded for this!” Marco pleaded with him.

“I can’t wait for you to have a power, so I can annoy you with its explanation!” Ren smirked at the thought.

“But doesn’t moving make his power redundant?” Luna raised her eyebrow thinking about his power.

“I guess it takes away from its usefulness if he has to move to be invisible.”

“Hah! You couldn’t even get this right Terry!” Marco laughed.

Everyone looked at him angrily.

”I just said what Ken would say if he was here.”

“Wait! Where is Ken?” A bead of sweat ran down Ren’s face.

“We don’t know…” Luna said embarrassed.

“Your job was to keep him out of trouble!” Ren raised his voice.

“But Vhiz was harassing Iiwa and talking publicly about our powers.”

“Shit! We need to find him now before he kills someone with his hair!” Ren said nervously.

“We have five minutes till the end of recess. Some of us will go to the back of the school and the rest of you will go to the front.” Sun ordered everyone.

As they left the building, the early afternoon sun hit their faces. And as light scattered on their skin, the kids scattered the same. Some of them asked teachers whether they saw Ken or not. Some asked for insight from other kids. Sun on the other hand felt a force pulling him towards a specific spot behind the school where five tall trees stood. This feeling that invited him there was so strong, he didn’t even say anything to the others, he just started running. As he reached the lines of trees that stood around ten to fifteen meters tall, he saw Ken charging at one of the trees and headbutting it with full force. The trunk shattered sending splinters everywhere. Sun covered his face with his arms to protect himself from the debris. The tree crumbled under its own weight and fell, shaking the ground.

“Ken what are you doing?” Screamed Sun as leaves from the tree were still falling around them.

“I was just curious how many headbutts would it take to cut down a tree. It only took three!” Ken answered maniacally laughing.

“What happened to your obsession with your hair?” This is reckless even for Ken! What's gotten into him?

“I got used to the new look, besides I can cut down trees! How cool?”

“Everyone could see the tree falling. A teacher could be here at any moment!” Sun tried to reason with the reckless boy.

“Leonmas!” The bellowing of a furious man echoed through the school grounds. "I know for sure you are behind this!” Though he was out of sight for now the p.e. teacher’s scream meant they had seconds to come up with something. Sun realizing the situation hid behind the shattered stump of the tree and called Ren.

“Ren we need your help! Ken cut down a tree and now Mr. Field is on his way to punish us.”

“I saw that tree go down from here! I’m on the other side of the school! What could I do?”

“We need an explanation. Why did the tree fall?” The distressed boy spoke as fast as he could.

While Ren was thinking Sun turned to Ken who was proudly looking at what he did. “Listen here Ken! Ren will tell us what to do to save your ass, and you will say it word for word! Got it?”

“Why the hell would I do that?” Asked Ken offended by the request.

“Because if you don’t you won’t just ruin your life! They’ll find out about everyone.”

Ken looked at him annoyed, he thought about it for a second before giving in. “Fine! What does that nerd want me to say?”

“Ren did you figure something out?” Sun turned back to his phone.

“Leonnas! Answer me right now! What did you do?” It was too late. The teacher reached the boys and saw the destruction.

“Ren are you there?” Whispered Sun nervously. He got a quick answer that he relayed to Ken. “Say it was a lightning strike!”

“What?” Ken looked at him confused.

“Just do it!”

“A lightning struck the tree!” Declared Ken with his hands in his pockets.

“Are you trying to fool me Leonnas? On a bright sunny day, a lightning hit this tree?” Disputed the teacher hat the loudmouth boy said.

“I told you it’s stupid!” Whispered Ken to Sun who was still hiding.

“Ren thought of that too! Just say this…” Sun continued with the next answer.

“It can happen. They are called bolts from the blue. Look it up, dumbass!” Ken delivered the information with the confidence of someone who discovered this phenomenon.

“Watch your mouth boy! That still doesn’t answer why the tree isn’t burnt!” Shouted Mr. Field.

“What now?” Ken leaned a bit towards Sun, then after receiving an answer he turned his gaze to the teacher with a smug look on his face. “If the moisture content of the tree is high enough, the lightning just evaporates the water and leaves no trace of itself.” Ken crossed his arms, answering the question.

“I…I see.” Stuttered Mr. Field who felt like the student after their encounter.

“Or what? You think I headbutted this tree so hard it split?” Ken started laughing.

“You idiot! I didn’t tell you to say that!” Sun groaned at him as silently as he could.

“Creative liberties!” Ken let out a smug chuckle.

“Who are you talking to behind that tree?” The teacher finally realized something was wrong.

“Shit we are busted! I say we kill him and hide the body!” Ken muttered half-jokingly.

“Just follow my lead and we’ll be okay!” Sighed Sun at his classmate.

Sun let out a fake yawn, stretching his arms above the tree stump’s cover. “That was a good nap! Oh hey there Ken, Mr. Field!”

“Sun! You were napping while the lightning struck?” Gasped the man.

“What can I say! I’m a heavy sleeper.” After a faked chuckle Sun looked at the fallen tree in surprise. “Oh my god! The lightning almost hit me! Ken! Were you trying to save my life when it happened? You are my hero!” Sun hugged him tight.

“What? I… I mean yes!” Ken puffed out his chest proudly.

“Huh… Either way, get away from the tree! You could get hurt!” Ordered the man trying to win back his authority.

“How? It’s already fallen!” Argued Ken with the teacher.

“You still have energy to talk back Leonnas? You both owe me a hundred push-ups, for talking back.” The kids froze In front of the man with his arms crossed, as they knew this wasn’t a joke.

After a while the whole class met behind the school. Ken and Sun arrived panting from all those push-ups.

“Ken for fuck's sake! You promised you’d keep a low profile!” Luna approached Ken scolding him.

“That’s why I went to a part of the school where I was alone!” Argued Ken.

“And cut down a tree that was taller than the school?” Luna screamed back at him.

“I don’t like this targeting! I am sure that some of you used your powers already. And the ones who don’t have them now will also use them once they get them! Why wouldn’t we?”

“I…I could give you a hundred explanations!” Said Terry moving around so he was invisible to the angry glare of Ken. “Because at best we’ll be treated like insane people and at worst they will believe us and gut us for our weird bodies! Or maybe we were all infected by a space virus, or using this power shortens our life, or someone will kidnap and use us like super soldiers! Need I continue?” Terry stepped on his shoelace and fell right in front of Ken, finally revealing himself to him.

“We’ll gut ‘em first!” Ken shouted with an evil grin.

“Why couldn’t he get some powers that made him cute and fluffy?” Ginna was rubbing her head.

“You cannot water down my radness with fluffy cute shit!” Ken laughed maniacally.

“Don’t you guys think he is even more unhinged than he usually is?” Sun asked the others.

“It could be his power…” Rosa said quietly.

“Really?” Sun turned to his classmate surprised.

“When I was explaining this whole ordeal I didn't get to talk about the side effects. After I got my powers, I felt a deep urge to use them. I felt like whatever I desire can be achieved with this power. And that feeling can take over your mind." Explained the girl reminiscing on her past.

“So, he is going to be like this from now on?”

“Until he gets used to his powers, yes.”

“Guys! Today was a disaster. From Vhiz’s nonchalant attention hungry acts to Terry’s uncontrollable power, to Ken all around as a person. We need to find a way to agree that we don’t use them.” Ren declared in front of the whole class.

“So what are you suggesting?” Sun approached Ren with a question.

“We need a leader first. This isn’t about the class now; we are all connected by the same fate.” Ren expressed his feelings.

“Great idea! I vote for myself, and I suggest all of you to do the same for your own good!” Ken threatened his class with a grin.

“You won’t scare anyone but Terry with that shiny new hair of yours.” Niel stepped in front of Ken.

“Try and hit me Niel! I’d like to see you protect Ren with one arm!” Ken accepted the challenge. But a hand grabbed Niel's arm and another tapped Ken’s shoulder.

“Enough you two. Ren is right, we need a leader, but I’d like to keep all my limbs by the end of the week so I can’t vote for either of you.” Sun calmed them both down.

“Why do I feel so calm all of a sudden?” Niel released his clenched fist.

Ken’s hair went down as he took a step back. “Sun your hands are shining!”

Sun looked at his hands bewildered. “It seems I can calm you down if need be. That is a nice power.” Sun smiled at the others. “But what I was about to say. I suggest Ren as the leader. He is the smartest, and he’s quick on his feet.” Sun looked at his friend.

“No way I’m following that pipsqueak!” Ken unsurprisingly objected to the idea.

“Aaand he’s back.” Sun looked at him annoyed. “My other suggestion was Rosa, but just by looking at her I can tell she’d faint just from the idea of leading us.” Sun chuckled as Rosa’s face went red.

Ren nodded in agreement. Then had a realization. “Why not you Sun?”

“Me?” Sun looked at Ren perplexed.

“I agree with Ren. You are respected by everyone, and now with that power of yours you can even calm Ken down if need be.” Luna voiced her support of Ren’s idea.

“Is everyone okay with this?” Sun asked, looking at the others.

“Let's take a vote!” Said Ginna excitedly.

“All in support of Sun as our leader, raise your hands!” Shouted Luna. Everyone except Ken raised their hands. “Ken, do you want to be the one responsible for all of our mistakes? Everyone will ask you for advice and come to you with their problems. Because that’s the task you’d have to take up. You just want to destroy stuff when you feel like it. ” Luna tried to coerce her friend into giving up.

“But I do get to wreck stuff, right?” Ken cracked his knuckles in excitement.

“But you cannot do it here! You can destroy a tree the first day imagine what you could do after months of training!” Terry screamed at the others.

“And what would be the problem with that? No school for a while!” Said Marco with unreasonable enthusiasm.

“First of all, the casualties. Secondly it would ruin our whole secret-superpowers plan!” Terry continued his pleading.

“Though I despise how annoyingly Terry screams at any given opportunity, I have to agree with him.” Luna supported her quivering friend’s ideals.

“I might be able to help with that. You see as I mentioned there is a place overhumans thrive and battle.” Rosa injected herself into the conversation.

“Yes! You mentioned some sort of adjacent reality! That was hard to even comprehend! How do we get there?” Ren jumped up in excitement.

“You need to learn the most important technique in an ovehuman's arsenal! Opening a gate to the Second Reality!”

In Master Puppet's lair

Puppet was organizing papers on his desk when Anvil entered the room.

"What are you doing sir?" Anvil slowly approached Puppet.

"I am looking at maps of the area. Looking for the right school or orphanage for my plans."

"Right?"

"One which is near Younen and has a high ovehuman count. Preferably around age thirteen."

"Why not inside Younen?"

"I just got Maria Sciron off my back. If I were to provoke her with my plans I would make a grave mistake."

"Is this to cover ourselves from the Ever Family?"

"You are a keen observer, Anvil! Yes... A wave is a rare phenomenon. They will look for a Fire without light even if they don't get a report about him from any outpost. So we will not only report it but produce the body."

"Isn't that risky sir?"

"Yes, it is... They will question our decision to act on our own, but we cannot afford being caught with our pants down. When we are done with we can finally rest easy."

"How about Youren sir? It has a similar name making the switch less obvious and it is close to Younen."

"Let's see. Youren... it has an orphanage specifically for overhuman children... That might be the best choice."

"Should I prepare a team to go on this mission?"

"Not Yet. We wait a week. Finding the fire without light immediately would be suspicious. And when you go, burn down the orphanage and kill everyone. I don't want loose ends. Bring the body of a thirteen-year-old boy, about 160 centimeters tall."

"Is there anything else Master?"

"Be descreet. I mean it. People should think this was just a terrible accident."

"Yes Master!" As Anvil left the room he stopped for a second, he looked around puzzled. "Did you brighten the place a bit?"

"I needed the light to see the maps Anvil! Now go!" Puppet got frustrated by the question. As his subodinate left he watched the shadows carefully from the corner of his eye. Who knows what monsters lurk in the dark.