Lyn and Visette entered the restaurant, but the latter briefly examined a man short black hair who seemed to be observing them. She had no way of detecting whether or not he had abnormal traits with just a visual glance alone.

The short interaction made Visette understand that her psionic pulse needed to be upgraded. If she could somehow examine the anatomical structure of certain individuals she would easily be able to discern if they were an Abnormal. She made a mental note to study electromagnetic radiation in order to reproduce its effects with psionic energy.

“Ah, so this is Visette?” Lyn’s grandfather, Morris, smiled warmly as the two sat down at the table.

“Visette, this is my grandfather, Morris O’Hara.”

“Hello,” Visette greeted him with no detectable enthusiasm, though he didn’t seem to take it personally.

“She’s just like you described, a silent, stoic, type of girl. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s even said that Anton had a personality just like that. Anyway, Lyn told me that you’ve learned the highest level of our family’s fighting style. Do you think you've gotten enough out of it?”

“I believe that my hand to hand combat abilities are very proficient.”

“Good, that’s good,” Morris spoke with a satisfied laugh cutting into a large steak. “You know…” He started.

“Please, don’t tell that story again, Grandpa.” Lyn held her head while preparing for what was to come next.

Visette's interest slightly increased due to Lyn's reaction.

“It’s said that our fighting style was taught to one of our ancestors by Anton himself.”

“Is that true?” Visette suddenly became skeptical as the information she learned about Anton placed him very far from New Mayhall.

“It’s not.”

“It is.”

Lyn and Morris answered simultaneously with the former being the voice of disagreement.

“New Mayhall was only established one hundred or so years ago. Before that, the city was called Mayhall and it was further to the east. Back then, it's said that Anton passed through Mayhall one day and our ancestor, Lawton O’Hara, who was just a boy no older than you at the time, challenged Anton to a fight.”

“I swear his name changes every time,” Lyn muttered.

“As I was saying, Lawton challenged Anton to a fight and lost terribly. After suffering so much he took a walk to get rid of his frustrations but was approached by one of Mayhall's family who wanted to kill Anton themselves. Being the man that he was, Lawton agreed but secretly warned Anton ahead of time. After that, Anton saw Lawton as an honorable man and taught him for a while before sending him off. As for the family, they all tried to trap Anton in a small tavern but they were all killed in the blink of an eye."

"Does that mean Anton had the ability to dispatch multiple armed combatants in close quarters? I am sure that rudimentary firearms were in circulation at the time so that would factor in his combat potential as well."

“You aren’t actually buying that story are you, Vis?” Lyn asked, pushing her empty plate to the center of the table.

“To answer your question, Visette, yes, Anton could easily wipe out a room of enemies no matter the circumstance.” Morris nodded confidently.

“Did Anton ever detail what gave him his strength and combat abilities?”

“You know he actually did, but Lawton took that secret to the grave. I still have some old documents from my grandfather that talk about how much Lawton knew but they never got into detail.”

“See, that doesn’t make any sense. If Anton had a secret way of getting stronger then Lawton’s name would’ve been right up there with him,” Lyn said while rolling her eyes.

“Are you doubting Anton?” Morris asked with a scrutinizing gaze.

“No, I’m doubting you, Grandpa,” Lyn replied with a light sigh as she looked toward Vis.

“A man is approaching this table,” Visette said to Lyn as she met her gaze.

Lyn turned in her chair and saw a well-dressed man with an aggressive pair of grey eyes staring at them, or more accurately, staring at Visette.

“Here we go.” Lyn rolled her eyes.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to bother you, but could I ask a question?” Demetrius made a surprisingly polite greeting as he arrived at the table. He spoke to Lyn’s grandfather, Morris, but it was obvious he was interested in Visette.

“If you didn’t mean to bother us you wouldn’t be asking questions, would you?” Lyn responded while as she brought a glass of alcohol to her lips.

“Now, Lyn, a simple question isn’t a bother at all,” Morris spoke with a warm smile but narrowed his eyes skeptically at Demetrius.

“Are you really Morris O’Hara?” Demetrius asked.

“I’d certainly hope so,” Morris replied.

“Oh! Nice to meet you!” Demetrius’ face lit up with admiration before he turned to Lyn. “So you must be his granddaughter, Lyn O’Hara.”

“...You got what you wanted?”

“Yes, but I’m a little curious about this young woman?” Demetrius looked to Visette who didn’t give him a single glance.

“I think you should leave.” Morris frowned. He had already realized Demetrius was only pretending to be interested in them while his real focus was Visette.

“Come on, not even a name?” Demetrius did away with all politeness and lowered his face so that he was blocking Visette’s view.

“Are you deaf, bastard?” Lyn growled.

“You know, I’ve never seen someone with white hair.”

“I’ve had enough of you-” Lyn reached in her jacket but her grandfather grabbed her arm before she could draw her gun.

“There’s no need for violence.” Demetrius laughed without a hint of fear.

“Leave. Now.” Morris’ expression crumbled and his anger was clear to see.

“If you go up north you find these war hounds with white fur. A whole pack of them can even take down a single Corrupted. You can see how ferocious they are by looking into their eyes but I find that applies to people too.” Demetrius looked into Visette’s dark brown eyes and couldn’t see any discernible emotion.

“Let me deal with this, Grandpa.” Lyn seemed ready to put a hole right between Demetrius’ eyes but her grandfather shook his head and held her arm even tighter.

Morris meaningfully looked around the restaurant where other people were enjoying their meals in complete bliss. If a fight broke out the odds of someone who wasn’t involved being hurt went up tremendously.

“I will ask you to leave one last time before this escalates and ruins the evening for all the people here.” Morris began loosening his grip of Lyn’s arm.

“You think you’re fast enough to shoot me, Lyn O’Hara?” Demetrius slammed his hand on the table with a smile filled with provocation.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Will you continue to stay even after repeated warnings?” Visette finally spoke. Her voice was as indifferent as always which made it clear she wasn’t very annoyed.

“It depends, will you be the one to make me leave?” Demetrius asked with an anticipating gaze.

Visette gazed at him for a single moment before she moved. She drew her knife and stabbed it into his hand, pinning to the table.

“Ahk-” Demetrius’ painful shout was stopped short as Visette drove her fist into his abdomen causing him to lurch forward.

With another fluid motion, she performed an uppercut with one hand and removed her knife with other before sheathing it on the back of her waist.

Demetrius was unprepared for the sudden attack and as soon as his hand was freed, he fell backward.

“You know...that really fucking hurt,” Demetrius groaned as he cradled his hand.

His companions were taken by surprise due to the sudden development but rushed over to defuse the situation. The commotion stunned the rest of the restaurant into silence as people tried to understand what happened.

“Apologies for my friend, he’s a total bastard and I don't blame you for doing what you did. I know it’s too much to ask for forgiveness but could you let him off with just a beating, Ms.O’Hara?” A man in glasses began helping Demetrius up. Inwardly, he was surprised by Visette’s level of skill since Demetrius was an incredibly strong Abnormal if his traits and service record were taken into account

“It’s Captain O’Hara and as far as I see it, that was an assassination attempt on a military official.”

“Please, Captain O’Hara, a-aren’t you being a bit too unreasonable?” Demetrius’ companion didn’t expect Lyn to show such a drastic reaction. Especially when Demetrius didn’t even get to throw a single punch let alone attempt to assassinate her. It became an even worse scenario when he realized an investigation would reveal that their identities were forged.

“You really caught me off guard this time,” Demetrius rubbed his sore jaw as he looked at an emotionless Visette who had already returned to her seat down as if nothing happened.

“Shut up, Demetrius.” His companions seemed to want to kill him themselves but knew he was too important.

“Take your friend and go before I change my mind.” Lyn’s anger was relieved with Visette’s assault so she chose to let them go.

“Thank you, Captain.” The man in glasses bowed slightly before he, and the rest of the group, carried Demetrius out.

“I almost want to thank that guy, I got to see something really great today.” Morris chuckled to himself.

“In any case, we should probably leave.” Lyn looked around the distraught restaurant and decided it was better to go.

“Ah, you’re right.” Morris agreed.

Visette stopped just as she was about to continue eating and nodded.

…

“By Anton’s soul! Did you trade your brain for your Abnormal traits? I've never met someone more idiotic.” One of Demetrius companions began berating him.

“Quiet down.” Demetrius held his gauze covered hand tightly. “And you should be happy anyway, I’m the one who discovered that New Mayhall was hiding a secret weapon.”

“...You are right about that one. Whoever that girl is, she’s definitely dangerous if she could do that to you. I’ll make a report to the higher-ups about her and make some inquiries with our contact while I’m here.”

“I don’t think it’s wise if you try to find her again, Demetrius. We’re under O’Hara’s radar and your hand is all fucked up. Don't make things any worse or it'll ruin our mission.”

“Say, do any of you know what makes a fight the most enjoyable?” Demetrius closed his eyes and tried to recall every detail of the moment Visette attacked. Moments later, his face began to show signs of frustration as he realized he didn’t even notice when she made her move.

“It's when you're fighting someone who’s more skilled than you since it forces you to put everything into surviving. I'd really like to fight that girl one day.” Demetrius opened his eyes and smile.

“Did you hear anything we just said? We have a job to do and you’re already injured so how about you focus on that.” As the patience of his comrades began to wither away, Demetrius’ mood seemed to improve.

“...I think I may be in love,” Demetrius mumbled to himself.

…

A few days went by and Visette found her footing in the academy. Though, most of her time was spent at the Academy's library. And no matter how many times she went to visit it, Charlie was more than happy to tag along.

A table not too far away from Visette buzzed with whispers as a group of students observed her.

“There she is again.” A boy murmured as he pretended to read a book.

“Who? Visette?” A girl next to him asked. “She’s always in here, didn’t you know?”

“I heard there was one guy who tried to ask her out and she thought he was dying.”

"Sucks for him."

"Like you'd be much better."

“Have any of you spoken to her?” Another girl inquired.

“I was going to but…” A boy trailed off.

“What?”

“Well, she’s a little...strange.”

“Hm? How so?”

“For starters, she’s always with Charlie, but have you ever seen her laugh or smile?”

“Now that you mention it…” The girl furrowed her eyebrows before she jolted in surprise and averted her gaze. “Charlie’s looking over at us, don’t be too obvious and don't look her way.”

“Got it.”

"You don't have to tell me twice."

“Wait, why?”

“You haven’t heard about what could happen?”

“No.”

“It’s a pretty old story but someone bothered her the first week she arrived. After that, the guy’s father was forced to clean toilets for a month straight.”

“How do you know if it’s true?”

“...I don’t but I’m not willing to find out.”

"Ah, you're right."

The group of students lowered their heads and pretended to be studying.

“The nerve of some people.” Charlie clicked her tongue before turning to Visette who was surrounded by a small wall of books. “...What are you reading this time? Electromagnetic Waves, Anatomy, Cooking books, and- woah, woah, woah, wait...Visette?”

“Yes?”

“Is that a romance novel?”

“Yes, I have already finished it. You can read it if you wish.”

“Why are you reading romance novels, Vis?”

“I have recently discovered that there is a complex layer of social interaction behind the act of sexual reproduction.”

“Please don't be so frank about it and could you explain it a bit for me?”

“Previously, I assumed that individuals were selective in their reproduction in order to obtain the strongest genetic makeup for their children. Upon further study, it appears that there are other major factors that influence it with social interaction usually being the most important one.”

“Oh, I think I kind of understand what you mean. So, does that mean you're interested in romance?”

“No,” Visette responded without hesitation.

“Not even a little?”

“No, I have no interest in the act of sexual reproduction.”

“Again, you don’t have to be so blunt about it.” Charlie looked around with an embarrassed expression before continuing, “And you just said there was more to it than just...reproduction.”

“I am unable to produce a child so it is irrelevant to me.”

“...I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I guess I asked a bad question.”

Charlie seemed regretful but Visette wasn’t bothered at all.

“There is no need to apologize, Charlie.”

“Then, could I ask why you looked for romance novels in the first place?”

“I only sought to understand the actions of those who have approached me during the last several days.”

“Wait, people have confessed to you?”

“If my understanding of the term and context of it is correct, then yes.”

“What? And you didn’t tell me, Vis?”

“Is it information that is important for you to know?”

“Of course, we’re friends aren’t we?”

“...I suppose.”

Visette went back to her book while Charlie was full of smiles.

…

After the day was over, Lyn came to pick up Visette as usual but wore a conflicted face as she did so.

“Is there an issue, Lyn?” Visette inquired as calm as she always had been.

“I’ll tell you on the way.” Lyn tossed the helmet to Visette before climbing on her motorcycle.

It was a mostly silent ride and Lyn didn’t speak until she entered Visette’s apartment.

“The Commander has a new assignment for you. There’s a target that he wants you to...eliminate tonight.”

“Are there any other details? I cannot complete a task with so little information.”

“Your target's a Councilor who lives in the Upper Wards. I’ll take you to the address so you don’t have to worry but the thing is…”

“Continue.”

“The Commander says it has to look like an accident.”

Visette contemplated the matter briefly before she gave a short nod. “I understand. It will not a be a problem.”

“Are you sure?” Lyn asked.

“I am certain,” Visette reaffirmed her decision.

“...Then be ready, I’ll come back in a few hours with your equipment.” Lyn left the apartment with a darkened expression while Visette remained standing while contemplating how to create an accidental death without drawing suspicion.

‘Sudden cardiac arrest would be the most effective way of accomplishing my goal but I would not be able to explain how it was done if asked. The same problem applies to any other methods which involve trauma to internal organs...If I sever the cervical spine of the target and place them in a position which makes it appear that they have fallen there would be no worries of scrutiny.’

Visette made up her mind on the method of execution and then moved toward the bedroom in order to change out of her uniform just like every other day.