The class was quiet when Mr. Isaac walked in.
He stood at the front of the room and looked over the students.
"Today, you're going to be divided into flocks."
A few students shifted in their seats.
"In order to properly begin official missions, you first have to be part of a flock."
"You'll train under the flock and fight under it. The captain will also take responsibility for the members of their flock."
Mr. Isaac turned toward the door.
"Five of the captains are upperclassmen."
Five students walked into the classroom.
Merlin looked at them quietly.
They looked older than everyone else.
But one of them in particular had an intimidating aura. He had black hair and a pair of bright brown eyes.
They talked amongst themselves. To Merlin, he seemed like the glue of the group, a group of four. The fifth guy wasn't really part of their little group. He had grey hair that resembled Duke's, but he was different in the sense that he had a more lively aura around him.
Mr. Isaac continued.
"Sera will be the sixth captain."
Sera stood up from her seat.
Merlin's eyes narrowed.
So she's even more important than I gave her credit for.
"The selection will begin now."
The first upperclassman stepped forward.
He looked over the class before pointing at a student.
"You."
The student stood and walked toward him.
Another student was chosen.
Then another.
One after another, the captains began selecting their flock members.
Merlin watched quietly.
The members of my class must have a reputation. It looks like the upperclassmen already know who to choose.
Some students seemed relieved when they were picked.
Others looked disappointed.
He didn't pay much attention to it.
Eventually, it was Sera's turn.
She walked to the front.
Her eyes moved across the classroom.
"Tony."
Tony stood up.
He walked over to her without saying anything.
"Edith."
Edith blinked.
"Me?"
Sera nodded.
Edith smiled and joined them.
Sera looked across the classroom again.
She pointed at another student.
"You."
The student stood and walked toward her.
Sera looked at the remaining students.
Then she stepped back.
She didn't say anything else.
Merlin glanced at her.
She had only chosen three people.
She could have chosen more.
Merlin had actually been waiting to be chosen by her, he didn't see himself getting chosen by these upperclassmen who kept pointing fingers over his head.
He looked around the room.
The other captains continued selecting their members.
Student after student left their seats.
Eventually, the classroom began to empty.
Merlin remained seated.
So did Duke.
The last captain finished selecting.
Mr. Isaac looked around the room.
"That leaves two students."
Sera looked toward them.
"I'll take them."
Mr. Isaac shook his head.
"You can't take both."
Sera frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because Merlin doesn't have an ability."
The room became quiet.
Students started to whisper.
Merlin could see the grin on Tony's face.
"You can't participate in flock activities without an ability," Mr. Isaac added.
Sera glanced at Merlin.
Merlin said nothing.
A smile slowly crept across his face.
"But I do have an ability."
Everyone stared at him.
"What do you mean?" Mr. Isaac asked.
Merlin looked down at his hand.
He remembered what Sera had said.
It's usually tied to a feeling you're already familiar with.
Merlin stared at his palm.
Futility? What a load of crap.
There was only one feeling he felt right now.
The same one he'd been feeling for days.
His eyes narrowed.
He slowly reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small blade.
The room fell silent.
Merlin placed the blade against his palm.
He cut.
Blood immediately began running down his hand.
Several students recoiled.
"What the hell are you doing?" a student asked.
Mr. Isaac watched silently.
To Merlin, the cut hurt a lot more than it should have.
He felt the thorns stabbing inside his wound.
He clenched his teeth and made a fist.
His veins bulged as a rush of power and pain travelled through his injured arm.
Then he opened his palm again.
The wound was gone.
Everyone went silent.
Merlin looked at Mr. Isaac.
"It's pain."
He looked down at his healed palm.
"My stimulation is pain."
Silence lingered for some time.
Mr. Isaac sighed.
"I guess he qualifies."
Tony glared at Merlin as he walked over to their flock.
"I guess you're free for the day," Mr. Isaac said.
Merlin turned toward him.
Mr. Isaac paused.
"But first, Merlin, follow me."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
He followed Mr. Isaac out of the classroom.
They returned to the same room where Merlin had played Hnefatafl.
This time, however, the room was empty.
Except for two chains hanging from the ceiling.
Merlin stepped inside.
Mr. Isaac walked over to the man in the coat on the other side of the glass and began speaking with him.
Merlin sighed.
What now?
After a moment, Mr. Isaac turned toward him.
"Okay. We can begin."
The man behind the glass spoke through the intercom.
"I want you to grab the rings at the end of the chains."
Merlin looked up at the chains.
He grabbed the rings with both hands and leaned some of his weight against them.
"Hold on tight and get ready."
Merlin frowned.
"Get ready for wha—"
A violent surge of electricity tore through his body.
Merlin's entire body convulsed.
His fingers locked around the rings.
The pain came immediately.
The thorns inside his flesh twisted violently, stabbing deeper into his body.
Merlin's eyes widened.
He tried to let go.
Nothing.
His hands wouldn't move.
Another surge tore through him.
Merlin's skin began to split.
Blood seeped from his arms.
He clenched his teeth.
Then another surge.
"AGHH!"
The pain spread through his entire body.
It felt as though thousands of thorns were piercing him from the inside.
His vision distorted.
His thoughts scattered.
His mind felt like it was being torn apart.
Yet beneath the pain, something else began to rise.
Power.
From the outside it looked like he was physically transforming.
His muscles tightened, and the sleeves of his shirt tore under the strain.
His shoulders widened.
His entire frame began to grow larger.
Even his hair grew slightly longer.
The chains began to tremble.
Merlin tightened his grip.
His veins bulged beneath his skin.
Then, with a single flex of his muscles—
CRACK!
The chains tore free from the ceiling.
Merlin stumbled forward.
The rings slipped from his hands.
He collapsed onto the floor.
Silence filled the room.
His body was covered in blood.
Yet there wasn't a single wound on him.
Merlin slowly lifted his head.
His eyes had changed.
They were crimson.
He looked through the glass at the people standing on the other side.
Mr. Isaac stared back at him.
This time, his expression wasn't calm.
"...That's scary! Mr Isaac said."