S
Stein
Guest
By six hundred hours, Erika had been up for an hour, her breath coming in measured gasps as she finished her run. Welcome beads of sweat rolled down her exposed skin as she headed toward the academy, reveling in its dawn-ridden glory. The trumpets sounded to signify the awakening of the school and student body alike. There were times when she could think of the academy as an entity, with a circadian rhythm almost as real as her own. A giant mother to them all in some sense as well as sentinel of protection.
The behest of the horns signified the official start of a new year and Erika was rather unsure how to feel about it. But instead of wallowing in such a murky thought, wrought with potential to birth negativity, she headed to her dorm to quickly change and prepare. Opening ceremonies would be later today and she had a stop to make before that.
---
"Well, Miss Vostrum, I'm actually surprised you made it in today. You know, these things aren't essentially mandatory at this point, more like optional guidelines," Mr. Paulson commented as Erika opened the door to his office 30 minutes later, dressed in her uniform attire.
Erika nodded her head and sat down, looking at the wall. Even after a few years, speaking to her counselor and looking him in the eye took her a few moments to adjust to. Her father had always taught her that respect was looking a man in his eyes, but she had learned to look away from them when all she saw was disdain in her home life. "I apologize for my tardiness, sir."
"Ah, but that's the thing, Erika! There's nothing to apologize for," Mr. Paulson told her, leaning in his chair with a warm smile. "You're doing fine. And I commend you on even coming in today. It's a standing appointment, but you make sure to abide by it. How about we do this? How about, we lessen things to once a week. How does that sound?"
"No!" Her hands found the table and she was suddenly out of the seat she had only just sat in. Catching herself, she apologized quickly. "I mean…that's not a good idea." The morning rays of the sun filtered in from his large window, and Erika longed for a moment to absorb them and take flight. If she had more freedom, she would have done so. If only…
Unfazed, Mr. Paulson crossed his leg and laced his fingers, adopting his comfortable position. Erika knew he was getting ready to pry, but she had no way of stopping him. "And why is that? What is the problem? Is it the new school year?"
Erika stayed quiet, her eyes locked on the sky beyond him.
He smiled knowingly and Erika bristled with frustration. How did he do that? What the hell did he know? His ability was that of inducing sleep and dream manipulation. There was no way he could tell her thoughts. "It's the new team member, isn't it?" He chuckled as he tossed her an object. Instinctively, she snatched it from the air, holding the hard diamond shaped glass in her hands. His version of a stress ball for her.
She began to squeeze it, debating on speaking. She knew that he knew he was right, so there was no sense in denying it. Conventional stress balls didn't work for Erika as she tended to rip them apart. This, however, she could squeeze as much as she liked. "It's not just that..." she mumbled stubbornly.
"Then go ahead, Erika, tell me," he encouraged her.
"I've got to be better this year," she started, looking at him. "Not just for me, for them. But…I don't know why, I just know I need to. And I have to be better for my mom. She needs to see that…I'm better here, or at least that I can be better here. And that new member, Hunter, he's… vexing."
***
Erika left a little while letter, feeling somewhat better yet somewhat more raw. That's how it always was with Mr. Paulson. But Erika took a deep breath and hurried to the mess hall to scarf down some breakfast, so as not to be late for opening ceremonies.
***
As she waited for things to start, Erika couldn't help but mull over the team in some capacity. They were a stronger team in comparison, but at times they didn't feel like a fully functioning force outside of missions. But she didn't have time to think long as Aiden appeared and soon after the ceremonies began.
***
As they were dismissed to pack, Erika made a beeline for her dorm, mind already mentally cataloging what to grab and where things were. Luckily, her roommate was as neat as she was and they had a mutual respect for each other. This would be simple to do.
Bursting through her door, she set to work, grabbing her few things and rolling her clothes up to stuff them in her pack. The camping trip was a tradition, but it was an experience every year and if she was honest, she looked forward to it each time.
Finishing her pack, she rushed out of the door and made her way out to where they were supposed to meet up. She saw Emma there, surprisingly and raised an eyebrow. She waved to her and made her way over. Setting her things down and looking to the sun, she drew on its energy. She stored some and stretched out her fingers. Particles of light began to appear, bright pockets and they began to connect, forming a block floating in the air for her to sit on. She might as well practice her construct control while she waited for the others.
But she should also practice something else. Small talk. Still something she had to become accustomed to. "Hello Emma. Umm…" she faltered to find words. "Ready for the trip?" she tried.
The behest of the horns signified the official start of a new year and Erika was rather unsure how to feel about it. But instead of wallowing in such a murky thought, wrought with potential to birth negativity, she headed to her dorm to quickly change and prepare. Opening ceremonies would be later today and she had a stop to make before that.
---
"Well, Miss Vostrum, I'm actually surprised you made it in today. You know, these things aren't essentially mandatory at this point, more like optional guidelines," Mr. Paulson commented as Erika opened the door to his office 30 minutes later, dressed in her uniform attire.
Erika nodded her head and sat down, looking at the wall. Even after a few years, speaking to her counselor and looking him in the eye took her a few moments to adjust to. Her father had always taught her that respect was looking a man in his eyes, but she had learned to look away from them when all she saw was disdain in her home life. "I apologize for my tardiness, sir."
"Ah, but that's the thing, Erika! There's nothing to apologize for," Mr. Paulson told her, leaning in his chair with a warm smile. "You're doing fine. And I commend you on even coming in today. It's a standing appointment, but you make sure to abide by it. How about we do this? How about, we lessen things to once a week. How does that sound?"
"No!" Her hands found the table and she was suddenly out of the seat she had only just sat in. Catching herself, she apologized quickly. "I mean…that's not a good idea." The morning rays of the sun filtered in from his large window, and Erika longed for a moment to absorb them and take flight. If she had more freedom, she would have done so. If only…
Unfazed, Mr. Paulson crossed his leg and laced his fingers, adopting his comfortable position. Erika knew he was getting ready to pry, but she had no way of stopping him. "And why is that? What is the problem? Is it the new school year?"
Erika stayed quiet, her eyes locked on the sky beyond him.
He smiled knowingly and Erika bristled with frustration. How did he do that? What the hell did he know? His ability was that of inducing sleep and dream manipulation. There was no way he could tell her thoughts. "It's the new team member, isn't it?" He chuckled as he tossed her an object. Instinctively, she snatched it from the air, holding the hard diamond shaped glass in her hands. His version of a stress ball for her.
She began to squeeze it, debating on speaking. She knew that he knew he was right, so there was no sense in denying it. Conventional stress balls didn't work for Erika as she tended to rip them apart. This, however, she could squeeze as much as she liked. "It's not just that..." she mumbled stubbornly.
"Then go ahead, Erika, tell me," he encouraged her.
"I've got to be better this year," she started, looking at him. "Not just for me, for them. But…I don't know why, I just know I need to. And I have to be better for my mom. She needs to see that…I'm better here, or at least that I can be better here. And that new member, Hunter, he's… vexing."
***
Erika left a little while letter, feeling somewhat better yet somewhat more raw. That's how it always was with Mr. Paulson. But Erika took a deep breath and hurried to the mess hall to scarf down some breakfast, so as not to be late for opening ceremonies.
***
As she waited for things to start, Erika couldn't help but mull over the team in some capacity. They were a stronger team in comparison, but at times they didn't feel like a fully functioning force outside of missions. But she didn't have time to think long as Aiden appeared and soon after the ceremonies began.
***
As they were dismissed to pack, Erika made a beeline for her dorm, mind already mentally cataloging what to grab and where things were. Luckily, her roommate was as neat as she was and they had a mutual respect for each other. This would be simple to do.
Bursting through her door, she set to work, grabbing her few things and rolling her clothes up to stuff them in her pack. The camping trip was a tradition, but it was an experience every year and if she was honest, she looked forward to it each time.
Finishing her pack, she rushed out of the door and made her way out to where they were supposed to meet up. She saw Emma there, surprisingly and raised an eyebrow. She waved to her and made her way over. Setting her things down and looking to the sun, she drew on its energy. She stored some and stretched out her fingers. Particles of light began to appear, bright pockets and they began to connect, forming a block floating in the air for her to sit on. She might as well practice her construct control while she waited for the others.
But she should also practice something else. Small talk. Still something she had to become accustomed to. "Hello Emma. Umm…" she faltered to find words. "Ready for the trip?" she tried.