Beside me, Sara's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
"I wasn't planning to stand out on the first day," Sara whispers faintly for only me to hear.
Same here.
Down on the stage, Jake's eyes widened. "He isn't wrong. I felt it as well when I walked in. There's no way that all three are here."
Mari stared daggers into Jake. [Jake stop. Don't expose them here.]
"Don't deny it now, Jake. You just said you felt both of them when you walked into the auditorium. He must be taking Pressure pills if he lived here before the Strike. We both know what his signature feels like, hers included," Alecor rambles. "I can see Mari pleading behind you."
Mari glances at me in concern. [I'm sorry that I put you in the spotlight. I don't think Jake can ward off the crowd's curiosity. Alecor is right. Your Pressure is faint but is rapidly rising, try to stay calm and keep the ripples low. There must be a reason why you three are here on Terra incognito. I wasn't in my right mind earlier when I noticed you. I was just so happy.]
A tear slides down her face. [I'm sorry. I exposed you.]
[It's okay Mari. I can ask my mom later today. I'm sure now whatever it was is impossible to pull off now.]
Her mouth makes an oh shape. [Wait, your mom?]
I wave my hand back. [Who else would I ask? Let's just get through this assembly. I'm sure you still want to talk later. I'll just go down to get this over with.]
I was just about to move when a booming voice filled the auditorium.
"That is enough, I let this go on long enough." Master Flintelan. "Will the owner of the tablet please step forward, and come down to the stage so we can solve this debacle."
Alecor gives a thumbs-up to Arelena.
I sigh. Here we go. I ducked my face as I moved to the stage. When I reached the floor and opened the doors, everyone's eyes trained on me. Various Nansronians dropped their jaws when they noticed me.
"That's him?"
"There's no way that's him. Wait... I recognized the eyes! Red amber!"
Two girls in the Nansronian crowd waved to me happily. I was pretty sure they knew me personally. I caught a few death stares from a few guys from Terra when I looked at everyone with my similar attire. I had a feeling I knew those guys from my old school. One guy off to the side from Terra gives me an authentic smile and a thumbs-up.
Go get 'em.
Bet.
I walked past where Alecor and Arelena were sitting. They both nod in approval. They both couldn't hide their grins. I had an uneasy feeling that they always got their way in matters. From the corner of my eye, Emily, Sara, and Jason watched our exchange from the balcony while trying to look inconspicuous. They were very nervous.
I am so nervous right now.
I finally made it to the steps of the stage. I could feel everyone's gaze on me. As my feet go up the steps and onto the stage. Other than Mari, Anastasia and Jake both drop to their knees.
I glance at Mari. She was sobbing.
"I'm so sorry. If I didn't notice you in the crowd…"
I smile at her. She gave me a sense of familiarity.
"Don't be. I'm sure someone would notice regardless." I turn to face Master Flintelan. I hold my hand out to shake his hand. "My name is Will Arrow."
Master Flintelan stiffens and takes my hand. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Arrow. I'm sure you understand why I had to call you down. You probably don't know, but the boy that the name on the tablet refers to has been missing for the past five years. You look just like him."
As Master Flintelan says this, someone speaks up from the Terra student side. It was a dark-haired boy with long spiky hair.
"Hold on a minute. You all are talking about Will Arrow, right? That guy isn't anyone special."
I knew that voice from anywhere. Why here? Just my luck. My teeth clench up.
"And who might you be?" Master Flintelan inquires.
The boy smiles wickedly. "I am Stephen Moore. I've known Will for years, he isn't anyone special."
Someone shouts from the balcony.
"Don't talk about my friend that way Stephen!"
It was Jason.
"Don't lie to them, Jason. You and Will are two peas in a pod. You can't convince people otherwise. Will it be special? Pfft. Rank Ten my ass. What did you hack the system before the test?"
Master Flintelan looks at Stephen darkly. "I assure you, there hasn't been any hacking into the system.
"Prove it right now." Stephen crosses his arms.
"Trust me you wouldn't want him to prove it," Jake says politely.
"I insist."
Anastasia walks forward to stand beside Jake. She looks at Stephen, who was bewildered and then at the student body. "Time for you Terrans to come into the light. The one we are referring to is someone dear to us, whom we lost five years ago. Not only him but three other people as well. One of them is a very well-known doctor in this city, my aunt. The three others are my two cousins and their appointed knight in training. Terra is an ancient Nansronian colony so there was a high probability that they would integrate themselves here. They have become one of you."
Anastasia looks up at the balcony and smiles. "I know my cousin and her knight are here." She turns to me and holds out her hand. I could feel the wind whipping around. Light begins to form and engulfs her hand in bright red flames.
Terrans gasp. What was this power? This was Power Pressure?
"Take my hand, cousin."
I take her hand eagerly. I wanted to learn more.
Inhale exhale, I could feel the warmth of the flames licking my hand but it didn't burn. The warmth fills me like a familiar feeling. I could feel the pressure rising from within my heart. It had to come out.
Expel!
I looked around and people were gasping for breath. I let the pressure die down. Stephen as well was gasping for breath. Emily and Sara were fine, but Jason was choking like the rest of the crowd.
Mari takes my hand. I was breathing heavily. I inhale and exhale.
"You okay?"
I nod my head. "I'm fine."
"Was that enough proof you Moore?" Mari snarks and lets go of my hand. "You nearly risked everyone's lives asking for that, you know. If you want I could unleash mine, it would feel just as heavy."
"No no no, thank you, but no."
"Wise choice."
Alecor then claps.
"Woo! Now that was power pressure. It's been five years, but it felt like it was just yesterday. I'm glad you can somewhat control it otherwise we'd have to subdue you." Alecor wipes sweat from his face. "I'm glad you didn't emit flames otherwise the building would be gone." He glares at Anastasia. "That was risky."
"I am sorry everyone." Anastasia apologizes.
"Does he remember anything? Arelena says abruptly.
"Remember what exactly? I quickly ask.
"Why did you disappear after the Battle of Nansron five years ago? You, your sister, her knight, your mom?"
I don't remember anything. A pounding headache erupts in my head as I try to remember. My mind felt like there was a fog around my memories. Emily and Sara both shake their heads at me. They don't remember either.
"I don't remember what happened five years ago. Everything is a fog."
The Nansronians in the crowd gave me puzzled looks. They didn't believe me at all. I put my hand to my chin in thought. What happened to us five years ago? It must have been big to warrant us to come live in Terra. Why are we here and why is this happening?
"Anyone can have a high ranking right? I got a Rank 9 in power pressure." Stephen pipes and gloats. "Besides that intense pressure, he isn't anyone." The few guys that gave me death stares from earlier laughed with him.
"You still wish to speak, you snake? This is still the first day and you wish to gloat? Power Pressure ranking isn't everything you know." Mari points out. "The more everyone grows, the harder it is to control. Be lucky you are here."
We are never going to get out of here like this. I would like to get this over with and find out my classes for the year.
Mari looks at me in earnest. I could tell that she knew what I was thinking about. I shrug my shoulders and sigh, palming my forehead. If it wasn't for her and Alecor we'd be in class by now.
I hold my head in embarrassment. "Shouldn't we be getting our class assignments now or something? I should probably get back to my seat."
I start to walk back to the stairs when all of a sudden two hands reel me back. It was a girl who looked a year younger than me. Her eyes were a light shade of red amber, brown hair cut past the shoulders. The girl was in the academy uniform but on the top of her head was a golden tiara. She looked like Emily.
Emily gives me a surprised look.
Not now! I groan silently.
The girl points to me. "Who said you could leave?"
I point to myself. "I did. I thought that was the best course of action. I'm trying to get things back on track. It isn't my fault this first assembly has veered off course."
"Mmm." She looks steamed. Her face came out with a faint blush. "Total personality change."
This day is getting weirder by the minute.
"What do you mean by that?" I press.
Before she could answer, Mari walked over to both of us and stepped in front of me composed.
"What are you doing here? Do you know you can't pull rank here right? By the Fleet ranking system, most of us hold prestige over you."
The girl smiles and wags a finger at Mari.
"Tsk tsk. Mari Mari, always jumping the gun. I have no qualms with the ranking system plus I'm already enrolled per the mandatory degree of the crown. Surely someday I'd rank above most of you." She waves Mari off. "Someone needs to establish decorum."
Mari sighs and relentlessly inches away.
The girl turns back to me and says four impossible words before smiling.
"I'm Sylvia Axia, your sister."