[Sinistra is 15, Lure is 14; the simple style is intended]

Die, they should all die!

I beat the empty trash can with my fists and legs. My palms were blood-smeared, and every hit further opened old and news wounds caused by my dangerous lifestyle. Yes, I was the leader of a local gang – or should I say ex-leader? Physical pain numbed the true agony that gnawed on my soul. It helped. A little bit. Why did she have to die? If only I had foreseen this betrayal.

The threatening, blackish-blue clouds unleashed their terror and it was raining pitchforks. I liked it; the filthy odour of Khalut was temporarily washed away. When I went back to the orphanage to start another fight – which is so damn difficult to win as a girl –, I met a foolish little prey. Another girl stood there in the rain watching the clouds like an idiot. My chance. I dashed forward. The idiot did see me, yet she was petrified, sitting on her bicycle. I rammed her and she flew from her vehicle. I didn’t stop. I merciless sprang on her, beating her up until her nose bled. Damn. What good fabric. She must be rich, wearing a nicely decorated coat. The trash from Glory district, a superheroes’ loyal lapdog. I took her money and left. I didn’t need a bicycle, so I left it. I was not that bad of a person.

The next day, I departed from the orphanage with a bloody nose again; they do not care if I am a girl or not. But it doesn’t matter, at least I was clever enough to hide the money. Not that much, but better than nothing. Then I saw her, I couldn’t believe my eyes. That fool came back, without any additional help and in good shape. Or maybe it was a trap. I didn’t approach her.

“Hello, you there,” spoke the rich fool.

Did she try to bamboozle me? Me, an ex-gang leader?

I retreated; I ran. The best I could do. The trap was too smelly, too obvious.

Two days after, I took the very same route. I still didn’t avenge her and my guilt was eating me. The fool stood again in the same alley. I blinked. I didn’t know what to do.

“Sorry, I want to speak with you.”

Bamboozled. I felt bamboozled, does everyone play games with me? I retreated again.

“Wait,” the fool shouted.

Another week after that third meeting, I was sitting on a bank near the port. I vomited, I felt bad. I had taken too many drugs in my life. It was too much. Help. Help. Help. I need help. I had indirectly killed someone by being an incompetent leader. My skin was aching, my eyes hurt. It was too much. I grappled my knife and scratched my hands with it. It felt good; the tearing, the dissolution of my guts disappeared. I thought of my brother. Only warm emotions, the sun rays, the kiss of a lover or the most delicious cookies, could describe his being, his warmth. He was my pillar. I can’t fail him, but I had to... I slowly placed my knife under my throat, until a fine red line appeared.

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“What are you doing?” asked the fool.

I stopped. “Why are you stalking me?”

“May I sit next to you?” The girl smiled. An innocent, naïve smile, untainted by the world.

“Fine.” I tapped on the bank on my left side. She sat down where I showed her, and I put my knife back into my pocket.

“Why?” I felt uncomfortable. “Why, do you come back? Do you want to have your money back? I won’t give it to you.”

The idiot shook her head. “No, I’m here to give it to you.”

She held some credits in her hand and I snitched them as fast as I could.

“Why?” I asked again.

“Do you know the story about the little prince and the fox?” Her expression was jovial. I couldn’t see any bad intent in it.

“I do, am I the fox and you the little princess?”

She laughed. “I am indeed the princess and you’re the little fox. Your brown hair glimmers reddish in the sun.”

“So, you speak to me with the goal to become my friend, despite the fact that I have stolen your money? “

“Yes,” she declared. “I demand nothing and I only give.”

I frowned. I had never met someone in my life who wanted to be my friend for the sake of friendship alone.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to answer. Tomorrow, I’ll come back again.”

And so she did the next day.

She didn’t ask for anything. We only spoke. Our interactions became a habit in time and I even awaited every afternoon eagerly.

After several days, she asked for my name.

“I’m Laura. May I know your name?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Jeane.” That day I smiled, for I had found my first true friend in my life.

Glossary V1.2 [Chapter 10]

Banished Diplomats: A villainous organization. Huic is a member.

Concepts: Higher ranked empowered beings fight with concepts, with manifestations that don’t exist in the physical realm (conjured swords/water/bullets belong to this category since something from nothing was created which is impossible in the physical realm)

Hero-villain dynamic: Heroes are united under one banner, whereas villains aren’t. Some splinter groups of each faction hate each other, some have amicable relations. Still, NIP is the leader of the heroes and usually has the last word.

Inner demon(s): Empowered humans hear voices which try to ensnare their host. Every use of an ability has a cost, a price to pay.

Khalut: The poorest district of 3N. Only the port is of strategic importance. Ruled by the villains.

Low-rank, middle-rank, high rank: low-rank from F-D, middle-rank from C-B, high-rank from A-S

Natural: Someone who achieved his current rank without renouncing.

Phenomenon: Speaking an ability out lout makes it stronger. Thinking or speaking the word/concept “Renounce” is always accompanied by physical manifestations/distortions in the world, though only barely noticeable. The act of renouncing, however, leads to the manifestation of storms and other unnatural catastrophes, dependent on the skipped rank.

Restoration: After becoming an Empowered, the body is healed from all physical damage.

Roaring Mice/Roaring Mouse: The flag of The United Belgian Empire

The United Belgian Empire (UBE): The official name of the country that governs the US and Eu (the only party/ruling body would be NIP)

The watch with no clock-hands: Mysterious artifact

25 September: International holiday of UBE, date of The International Festival for Superheroes in 3N

Rulebook: explaining what abilities can do and can’t [in progress]