Chapter 11: Chapter 2 (Messa region, border between the Alliance and Petra)

Private crafts are a popular gift among the Members of the Tens, Yanar's aristocracy and Izzy had several of them. Their butterfly's shape is where their name comes from. Izzy chose her favourite, a pink/purple colour gradient with silver lines named Unicorn.

The interior design gave the illusion of being in a field of flowers and matched well with the magnolia chairs.

The crafts also had four sleeping units, each with its own bathroom, a reading room, a small kitchen, and a pantry.

Transports are faster than private crafts, but Izzy had enhanced her butterfly and turned it into one of the fastest crafts in the empire. After a trip that took days, they finally arrived at the camp. It was a bitter disappointment; the camp was a semblance of a base made of foam and metal.

With outside showers and toilet facilities, large rectangular barracks used for gatherings, dining, and kitchen, it was a sad reminder that all wars were ugly no matter the reasons.

Bloody Hel, that's our camp? Thought Izzy,

She turned toward Hassan and Thor, her mouth open; Their eyes locked, and the boys shuddered when they heard a voice calling all late arrivals to their respective drill hall rooms.

They felt relieved; they were not the only people who arrived late.

It was time to say goodbye. They expected Hassan and Thor at the Navy barracks.

She hugged her cousins, took turns placing her forehead on theirs and with a breaking voice, said, "May the gods clear your path to Valhalla."

She kissed them and started walking toward the air force banner

Hassan yelled "Hey cousin"; she stopped and turned around.

"May the gods clear your path to Valhalla," he added

Sensing tears filling her eyes, she threw him a kiss, turned around and kept walking. When she reached the entrance of the barracks, with her lips closed tight and knit brows on her face, she looked at the sky.

She closed her eyes and imagined her grandfather taking her hand, squeezing it and she whispered, ". You are safe, you are loved, you are strong. You are safe, you are loved, you are strong."

She felt her face gradually relax, the frown slowly dissipated, and a shaky smile appeared on her face; she took a big breath and walked in.

The barrack was bare, with notables, no decor, not even chairs. When she stepped into the grey air force barrack, a sea of unknown faces turned to stare at her.

She stared back at them, her breathing pace increased. She was being overcome with dizziness, and she looked around to find something she could lean on, but there was nothing.

Oh great, look at all these girls, so tall and slim. Next to them, I must look like a cave troll. What must they think of me?

She couldn't help but hear her cousin's Ameena's voice. You better get that diet started, unless you want people to remember you as being the fat queen.

She managed a shy smile and stayed at the back. That way, no one is going to notice me.

There were at least four instructors; One was standing on a pedestal and noticed her first.

She jumped, gasped, and said, "Your imperial highness!"

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, the room went silent. And then, as if something had unfrozen them, whispers flew from all directions.

Izzy smiled. "I'm sorry I'm late. I missed the transport...; I'm sorry."

The other instructors started moving toward her, but she raised her hands.

"please everybody. Pretend I am not here. Just continue with your presentation. Please"

"of course, your imperial highness."

Izzy was furious with herself; she created exactly the type of scene she was hoping to avoid by being late.

She nodded "Thank you."

The instructor continued, "We all know that humans have developed to a degree that some humans, meaning us, have developed supernatural abilities."

The students smiled; she continued, "I would like one Omni volunteer."

A pale girl with purple hair raised her hand, and the instructor beckoned at her.

She added, "I need someone with dormant genes"

She waved at a cleaner who grimaced but moved toward her, anyway.

"Now turn on your dragon," she said to the volunteer, "then take her hand," she added, pointing at the cleaner.

The volunteer's hand ignited, turning into a ball of fire.

"Shake her hand"

The volunteer's eyes grew double their size; she looked at her classmates, her instructor and then the cleaner. The cleaner rolled walked up to the student and shook her fiery hand.

The students gasped, and the instructor smiled. "We are at war. One day we will be called upon to share our powers with the dormants. Do you see the banners behind me? I want each power to stand under their own."

The instructor walked to the brown banner with the green earth logo and faced the students.

"Terrayans," he called, all earth power holders walked up to her, kneeled, dipped a finger on the ground, traced their tongue and forehead with that finger and punched the ground three times.

The ritual is part of Yan culture and represents the bond between the living world and the afterlife and is called "greetings to the ancestors."

Yans believe their ancestors are with them, always. They bond with the dead by eating dirt. By putting dirt on their hair, they remind the dead that they are family.

By making a line on their hair, they let the ancestors know they will take them on a journey. The knocking of the ground, however, is a warning; they are letting them know that danger may await them on that journey.

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"Lochyans,"; they walked up to a midnight blue banner with a light blue water logo and greeted their ancestors.

"Streaks," walked up to a silver banner with the logo of a turquoise thunder and touched a stone which discharge a small jolt of electricity on their finger and greeted their ancestors.

"Airborns" walked up to a white banner with a grey logo for air, placed their finger next to a small fan, and then greeted their ancestors.

"Infernos" walked up to a red banner with a gold fire logo, touched the flame of a candle, then greeted their ancestors.

"Omnis", it's about time, thought Izzy.

They walked under a white banner with a logo of all powers intertwined and greeted their ancestors.

The students then started screaming and clamping. Some even cried. Performing the ritual is a sign of love and respect for their departed and brings great joy to the Yans; it makes them feel closer to their loved ones.

Izzy had tears in her eyes. This is what I call a bonding exercise. We are all united under one giant banner in our hearts — Gaia's banner of love.

The instructor was right. Humans had been carrying dormant supernatural powers, but they were about to be activated in more people than ever before.

The Yans, who had so far been the only humans with active powers, prepared for the occasion.

Most Yans had a single power apart from Omnis. Most Yan twins are born with multiple powers as well and so far, only 60% of the Yan population has active powers.

Studies, however, had shown that 5% of the rest of the world's population had now exhibited supernatural powers as well.

The instructor continued, "We are going to divide you into two teams. Team one is anyone with the Lochyan power. Lochyans and Omnis, please stand on my left. Anyone else to my right?"

Another instructor took Team two away.

Izzy's team was team one. The instructor beckoned and asked them to stand in a circle, and so it begins, she thought.

At 4 pm, one instructor walked up to the middle of the room. The cadets exchanged looks but didn't move.

I guess I'll have to take the first steps

Clenched her fists. This is not the time to allow anyone to see my hands tremble.

That move prompted the other to form a circle around the room. The instructor pulled out a clear, folded paper and opened it.

Izzy and Yuka exchanged looks; the paper was in fact a digital file keeper.

Folding it to decrease its shell life in half, Izzy pinched her lips. "She clearly didn't pay for that, " she whispered to Yuka.

"Obviously; that thing cost serious points. I know, I begged my parents for one, but they refused," said Yuka in a bitter tone.

"Weird that you noticed. Isn't your family one of the wealthiest in the galaxy?" added Yuka, after a short giggle.

Izzy joined in the giggle, "I am not thrifty with my money, but I am with public funds. The war council bought that thing."

The instructor threw the girls a mean look, and the girls went silent. Darn, now she is going to think I am disrespecting her.

The instructor turned her attention unto another group of chatty girls then returned to her DFK (digital file keeper) ad started calling the students.

After each name, she would send either to the left or the right. They sent Izzy to the left with Yuka.

She is sending all the first year's jumpers to the left. Why?

"All cadets on the left are to get to the orange transport, the others the grey."

The cadets exchanged looks; the instructor smiled. She is enjoying herself.

She then added, "cadets on the left will join the academy on the Gulf, the others...."

She smirked "Yanara"

The students on the left screamed in joy; the gulf station was the Alliance most advanced science station. It used to be a NONU stronghold.

NONU, short for no uterus, no opinion. Founded a few centuries ago by shield maidens to defend girls and women from the patriarchy.

Their ruthlessness, countless assassinations and violence against anyone abusing girls and women had elevated their status to almost godliness.

Although NONU's patronage of the science station has stopped, they still engrossed it with compulsory intense weapon and fighting training three times a week.

Izzy pouted. "I don't know why they are so happy. There will be nothing to entertain us. We will have to undergo The Orders' training"

Yuka frowned. "I thought NUNO was no longer on their board,"

Izzy sniggered, "trust me, there are no entertainment centres on that station."

"oh, who cares, we are not here to have fun," declared Yuka.

Let's see how long you'll cling to that idea

"Time to go, cadets," said another instructor, before rushing them toward their transport.

And so it begins....

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