A calm or routine began to fall into place. It started as just something penciled in, but the reality required it to be inked. For a relief, the lethality of said reality remained distant, a fearful memory to bury. Yet like the undead that rise, its shadow loomed dark and ever stretching over each facet of his life. Haunting fingers poked at the back of his mind.

One week down, five remained.

His deadline approached, but still slowly for now. The perception of time didn’t burden his back so far. It meant he could focus on his studies, perhaps training. Ayumi certainly was of one mind about it. And daily practice became the standard.

Chapter 27 – Against Logic

“I can’t do anymore…” he said, wiping away the sweat on his face while holding a pencil in his hand. Yuki stood up, throwing the pencil at Ayumi’s feet. “It’s too much for me!”

A restrained sigh came out of her. She bent down clutching the pencil. “It's just a Sudoku. It’s not that hard.” She marched a step forward and turned the pencil in her hand towards him.

“I still don’t feel it expanding my mind like you said it would. Like I’m okay at math, but this isn’t really math.”

“You aren’t going to see improvements immediately. It lets me gauge where your potential currently is as well as working to refine your cognitive skills.”

“Yeah, you explained it as some sort of test for remembering things.”

“Your Illusion Field isn’t the only factor that impacts your performance. You need a clear image of what you want and maintain that image or it disappears. This is a good test of retention on something well defined and not complex.”

“I get that, but to make me solve the whole thing in my head before filling it out. That’s impossible!”

Ayumi pulled over the paper book and twirled the pencil into place. Swift movements, she filled in the whole Sudoku uninterrupted. The same puzzle he had tried to do for the last hour. “You’ve seen that one already.” She flipped the book randomly to the back end and stared it for a quiet moment before repeating the same feat. “Fine, it’s impossible for me.”

“It won’t be eventually.”

A blue ripple expanded from her feet. No snow field appeared, but a dozen swords materialized around her, hovering. “This is your goal.” A moment later, they all disappeared as though nothing strange happened. “Since we’re taking a break…”

He nodded to her silent order. “I’ll try again after.”

“The other half of the Illusion Field is the Field Law, or Law.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that mentioned a few times.”

“The Field Law is tied closely to your ability to define and retain data. The reason I can even make swords is because I overwrote the reality within the Field with a new Law. That Law stated that swords could be summoned.”

“That’s it?”

“Logic and reason aren’t required. You’re inventing a new reality, it’s governed by whatever you say. As long as it’s clear in its function the why doesn’t matter.”

“Now that sounds story breaking. But you said they could be summoned, does that mean I could have while in your field?”

“No, because I made it so only I could do it.”

“But you could change it?”

“Not while it’s active. That’s one of the limitations, you have to turn off the Field and rebuild it if you want to change the Law.”

“I guess it’s not so easy to change it on the fly.”

“It’s not possible to alter it.” She saw the doubting look from Yuki. “As far as I’m aware it’s never been achieved. Any attempt destabilizes the Field and it collapses.”

“But if you rebuilt it as you said, you could make it so others could create swords?”

She paused at the question, pondering it. “Technically, you’re correct. But it’d be to your disadvantage if the enemy figured out how your Law worked.” Almost immediately, she could tell the answer sent his mind into a flurry of ideas. The fact that he accepted things pleased her. “What are you thinking?”

“Not a lot at the moment. Since I still can’t actually consciously create a Field. But this is good to know.”

“I warned you, it’s a bad strategy to leave holes in your Law that the enemy can exploit.”

“Yeah, I know!”

“One final thing, since you’re thinking about this. Our power, the Law and Field doesn’t affect the user. You can’t use it to change anything about your physical or mental make up.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“But the healing you’ve done.”

“External, I direct it, but I’m not imbued with that capability. That’s why I said before that we're completely normal and a good defense will keep you safe.”

“Definitely some shortcomings.”

“Now back to work.”

A sigh drew out of Yuki this time. “I know…” Back to the cliff wall that was Sudokus. Perhaps in time, she’d let him do something more exciting, like crosswords. Sigh.

The next day was a cornucopia of fruitful events. If said juicy sugary events included the spontaneous growth of grass over the whole classroom floor. That might be sweet, were that your pleasure. Or may haps the walls morphed into gelatinous material, the consistency of flan. Something like could be more your style.

Pleasure or style, neither were the two girls’ choice. Their answer came in the sudden need to admit Yuki to the nurse’s office for passing out in the middle of class. It required some convincing, Yuki did have a habit of sleeping in class.

A similar debate happened in the nurse’s office, seeing how a very clear bruise appeared on his head. For two strangers, they tag teamed the nurse well enough to wear them down. Their victory gave Yuki a bed to recover and hopefully not cause more public disturbances with his power.

Saki stepped outside the office with Ayumi. She leaned against the wall looking at the opposite side. “Going to give me a straight answer today?”

Maintaining the persona, Ayumi fidgeted on the other side of the entrance. Her weight shifted back and forth with each passing moment. “I told before, it’s the same as we explained.”

“Showing up, implanted false memories, strange attackers and a convenient need for Yuki.”

“I don’t know what you tell you. It’s the truth.”

“I guess call me a skeptic.”

“Then that’s your problem, not mine.”

Frustration for no more of an answer, Saki returned to silence. The same answer as last night didn’t help. Something about it felt off and she’d find out what that was somehow. However, Yuki came first.

Yuki threw up the covers of the nurse’s bed looking around a bit confused. “Wasn’t I in class?” He darted his eyes around realizing where he was.

“We brought you here after your accident.”

“Accident? Saki? Why does my head feel like it’s split?”

Saki glanced over at Ayumi with a look to pass the blame. A deflected stare rejected her attempt. She shrugged off the denial. “How bad does it hurt?” Walking over to him, she pulled down his jacket to hand over to him.

“Thanks. Mostly just a ringing and fuzziness.” The jacket slipped back on with ease. He buttoned it up feeling it turn a bit into a throbbing. “I don’t like saying it, but I might be getting used to it.” That remark gave him a bit of an eye from the nurse. He flashed a sheepish smile. “I’ve been a little accident prone recently. Bad luck probably…”

It didn’t dispel all the suspicions the nurse had, but he gave Yuki the benefit. They didn’t hold him longer. All three of them took it as a positive sign to leave on such terms.

Out in the hall, Saki leaned over quietly to them. “Why is this happening?”

“Because he has no control. His mind runs his power.”

Yuki nodded with her answer. Even accepting the truth, it still took a bit to not immediately lean on the fantastical and fiction. Each moment her mind tried to doubt it. “How long will this keep happening? For now, I think the others in class aren’t noticing or believing they’re tired. But it’s not going to last.”

“That’s why I’m training. But it’s not easy.”

“It’s his active imagination. For others it wouldn’t be so readily an issue, but combined with the strength we have a rare situation.”

“I see. So the solution is knocking his lights out?”

“Please no!”

“I try to cover it up, but you change your mind so fast I can’t keep up.”

“Sorry…” Yuki slumped over a little as they finished their walk back to class. This wasn't a routine that he wanted to pick up. It did serve as a repeated painful reminder that he got complacent. He needed to focus more on his thoughts.

The rest of the day went better for everyone other than Yuki. His mental state reminded him of the first day it started. Exhausted and raw on nerves, he walked out with Ayumi and Saki. He didn’t notice how on edge they were in his current condition. Everything went inward.

However, he felt something suddenly stop him. It pulled his mind out from the pits and to the courtyard of the school. Ahead the gate filled with students leaving. Yuki looked down to see Saki’s arm blocking him. “Saki? Something wrong?” The severe expression on her face ran fear down his back.

Another assassin?

Yuki looked where she did and then his eyes opened brightly. He hopped around her arm and dashed over to the gate. “Seiji! You’re back!”

“Damn right!” A bit of a grin, part of a smirk came over him as Yuki greeted him. Seiji kept his eyes away from the scowling presence.

“Whatcha doing here? Class end early for you?”

“Nah, probably ended the same time for you.”

“Ditching again?” Yuki caught himself in a little nostalgic grin that crept through his energetic smile.

After being ignored, Saki appeared before the two. She remained silent for the moment. Her eyes flipped between the two working out their intentions. All the while her mind battled with the past conversations. Hesitation weighed on her.

Seiji took a half step towards her, no longer able to pretend she didn’t exist. “Look, I’m not here to start a damn bit of trouble. I’ve some unfinished business.”

“Business? After a year?”

“I don’t expect you to understand, Saki. But I’m doing this!”

The mounting tension tightened as Yuki tried to put his arms between the two. It felt like someone hit replay on history. “Please, both of you! Seiji hasn’t done anything to make you doubt him, Saki.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Saki please, this seems important. Let him do what he’s come to do.”

Exchanging gazes with Yuki softened her emotions a bit. Yet a bit was all it took for her to step back. The knife edge resolved itself. “Fine. But I’m watching you.”

“I hope the hell not, this is a private matter.”

Taking another look at Yuki, she gave up the ground. Her hands balled up and opened as she tried to release the pressure. Every part of her fought with another. Conflict and doubt surrounded her. Saki could only give Yuki his request. She slowly nodded before stepping away.

Granted leave, the two made their way back out of the school grounds. Despite the insistence, silence covered the air between them. Awkwardness painted through Seiji, troubled by a yet undeclared dilemma. Yuki watched and read his friend’s expressions allowing him the necessary time.

All that time took them deep into the shopping district east of the school. A popular choice for students as they packed around the sidewalks. They held onto their uncharted course through the city until something stopped Yuki dead in his tracks.

“Yuki Hayashi, I’ve come for you…”