Particle count: 94,000
Damien was drawing a blank, gawking at the captain's Particle count.
I mean, I could feel his strength that day, but I never imagined his Particle count would double the head director's.
He must be in the 5th realm, right?
How much does each realm boost your Particle count? He couldn't help but ask himself a multitude of questions. And as he probed further into the man's Particles to get a read on his affinity, they vanished like a void.
"What did the beast Particles feel like? Steven told me you have sensory capabilities." Captain Jaelyn's expression was as emotionless as clay.
After thinking back to that day, Damien came to an immediate answer.
"Terrifying. Dark. Cold, or any other word that describes evil. Isn't that how all beasts are?"
"You didn't feel lightning?" The captain's eyes widened with something resembling fear, but he quickly hid it under a sharp look that didn't go unnoticed.
"No. Now that you mention it, it's strange since I have their lightning Particles inside of me, but I didn't feel lightning that day."
The captain pressed his fingers to his temple, not saying a word. After a few moments like this, Damien, standing awkwardly, stomach still cramping, said, "I can't be too sure, though. I was out of it for a while."
"It must be, he truly is back." Captain Jaelyn didn't seem to hear anything, muttering to himself, taking up a lot of time that Damien needed to change and head to class... Then he fixed his gaze on Damien's upper lip.
"Your mother had an oddly skinny nose, too. Is she well?"
"She's dead..."
Damien didn't know what to say other than the truth. He hadn't heard anyone mention his mother in years, not even Luka dared to speak of her. It had taken him countless months of suffering, regret, crying, and grieving to be able to say those words without showing the weakness he felt in his heart.
His heart was hurting.
How does he know her?
"I'm sorry to hear that. She was a good person. And a good wife to your father."
"Wait, my father! You know hi—"
Just as he appeared, Captain Jaelyn was gone, leaving behind only gusts of wind.
"Why is everyone such a dickhead!"
***
After changing back into green robes and pants, Damien was sitting in the back of a cramped classroom, head in his arms, looking grumpy. He had to sit next to Summer because, in Luka's own words, "I tried, but she tried harder and took your seat."
At the front of the classroom, an elderly woman, at least double the head director's age, was scribbling a diagram of an island on a chalkboard. She'd been doing it for at least ten minutes...
Damien didn't care, though, not when his mind was racing as fast as it was.
My father, does he really know him? Ha, how? I don't even know him...
What was all of that about anyway? What does he mean by he's come back? And is whatever was going on with those beasts, with their Particles, the reason they were acting strange?
Damien had no way to answer any of the questions he was asking himself, and it made him angrier every second. As far as he could tell, even though he'd taken in the corrupted Particles, they'd normalized inside him — so he wasn't being affected by them. Or he hoped.
The captain would have told me if they were dangerous, right? He remembered how socially inept the man seemed and sighed. Maybe not.
He felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Hey, Luka wanted me to ask you if you're okay. He said you seem bummed out. I told him that's how you always seemed to me, but he insisted on it." Summer was leaning across the aisle, whispering.
Realizing his own gloom, Damien sat up straight in his chair. "Yeah, I'm alright..."
"What did I say about talking!" Instructor Evans dramatically underlined her name on the board before turning and pointing the piece of chalk at Damien.
"Oh, I know, you said not to do it," Luka exclaimed, earning himself chuckles from some of the other cadets. Then Mrs. Evans threw her chalk at him, and it clanked off his head, nearly making him topple from his seat.
"Every year, I get cadets who don't get the first thing about respect. You will not undermine my authority, do you understand?" Everyone nodded.
"Hmpf." She turned back to the board with a delighted expression. A moment later, a piece of chalk shimmered to life in her hand. "Since you wish to talk so much, Mr..."
"Damien," Damien said, annoyed.
"Mr. Damien," she continued. "How about you share with the class the three rules all Raiders must know about the Island they are raiding in advance?"
From getting kicked in the nuts to Captain Jaelyn throwing his mind into shambles, Damien was already having a rough day. So, not caring too much, he said the first thing that came to mind.
"It's alive."
Silence washed over the classroom...
"Hmpf. Prodigy in body only, I see," Mrs. Evans said while scribbling on the board.
1. Monsters
2. Capture point
3. Law
"Any true prodigy would know that before sending a squad of Raiders on a raid, they must acquire the following information. One, the type of monsters, so they can come prepared. Two, the Island's weak point, so they can capture it more easily... Does anyone want to take a guess at the last one?" Her eyes swept over the classroom until an arrogant boy with spiky blonde hair at the front raised his hand.
"Ah, yes, young Julius."
"Everyone knows the Island's law is the most important for Raiders. Although that baboon touched on it earlier, he failed to explain that all Islands have a will of their own. Because of this, they have laws that impose on anyone who sets foot on the Island — laws they must follow."
"Or what?"
"Or they die."
"Correct! I knew someone from the Bloodhthrone lineage wouldn't let me down." Mrs. Evans jotted the information on the board, and Julius turned around, giving Damien a sly grin.
Just say I was right...
Obviously, Damien didn't give them too much of his time because one of his questions that had been haunting him was finally answered.
But to be sure, he raised his hand.
"Yes... Damien." Mrs. Evans said, irritated.
"Captured Islands. I don't know exactly how it works. You see, I'm not exactly as smart as you or Julius over here, but I'm guessing that when a Raider captures an Island, they lose their will and laws?"
"Hmpf, correct."
Damien felt as though the clouds had parted, and he was basking in warm rays of sunshine beaming across his face.
Those wails. The rage I felt from Baldia. All of it was because the Raiders took away its will, locked it in chains.
Then, the clouds closed... the sky darkened. Rain poured.
So it begs the question again — how much longer will Baldia be habitable? Will it hold before the settler movement takes place?
Ring!
Ring!
"Next class, we will be using a GeoShaper in the gymnasium so you can see up close how an Island operates."
And just like that, it was time for his next and final class of the day: Particle training.