Chapter 97: 87. A Blink in Time

Jay blinked, feeling strangely out of sorts.

He was standing in front of the principal’s office. In his hand was an envelope with a formal dropout letter inside. He could recall it was Friday. He could recall everything since the moment Mike had announced he and Lilith were dropping out.

That was four days ago.

The week had rushed past Jay somehow. Like he’d experienced it from the backseat passenger of a moving car. And someone else had been at the wheel. But Jay knew it had been him driving. Nobody else. Yet, he felt unattached to all the developments that had occurred.

“You’re back, Master,” Kleo rasped from Jay’s chest.

“I’ve been gone?” Jay asked, disturbed.

“Not fully gone.” Kleo squirmed around inside his chest. “The major part of you rested. While the lesser part of you maintained basic functions and managed itself predictably.”

Jay stumbled against the wall, feeling nauseated. “How?”

“The less functional you used a combination of meta-g and 4D headspace to map out its course. With my help.” Kleo stroked her little claws along the walls of her home, giving Jay a weird squiggly feeling. “You needed the rest, Master. You needed it badly.”

Jay started to hyperventilate, his mind flashing through memories that he hadn’t exactly experienced. Then they crossed over to his freshest memories before he went partially asleep. The memories from the Yoroachian Lair.

“What the fuck, Kleo? What would’ve happened if something attacked us?” Or if he had lost control and tried to stab an innocent person? Jay ignored the frightened and bewildered looks of passing students and faculty. He’d have to turn them away if they tried to help him.

Or would they even try?

The secret was unofficially out that he had magic. It was all over the web. He’d been ignoring the rapid questions from Systemless students all week. The lesser version of him. Not him, him.

“Nothing attacked, Master,” Kleo informed, crawling out of Jay’s chest.

She phased all the way into the open and climbed to his shoulder. She sat while perfectly visible. Right in one of the busiest sections of the school. Where administrative staff, busy-bodied students, parents, and just about anyone could see.

The reactions ranged from one old superstitious lady screaming about the devil to most people freezing and staring. Jay looked around, feeling highly uncomfortable with all of the attention while he was imbalanced. Nobody was going to do anything to help him either, which was for the best. He was just starting to recollect the terrible rumors spinning around on the internet about him.

He was dubbed the most monstrous and murderous Champion because of the public execution that wound up recorded and scattered across the web. Yeah, that was pretty bad for the optics. People outside of Central High's gates wanted to interview him. He had to keep slipping past or soaring over. Most people avoided him. Nobody would want the bad publicity unless they were a desperate influencer or–

“Hi, Jay,” said a male background character. Next to the guy was a girl that should be in the background like the boy.

Jay blinked at them in confusion before his Intellect gave him a kick in the rear. “Ivan, Sarah?”

“Yeah.” Ivan approached carefully. “Are you okay? You’ve been off during practice all week.”

“Want a Capri Sun? I got plenty to spare.” Sarah held out two juice pouches. She even poked the straw through the tops for him and Kleo.

The [Faerie] snatched the offering from Sarah and crawled into Jay’s hood to drink in peace. It was a lot compared to her little body, but the [Faerie] could put away more than her appearance suggested.

Jay stared at the other offered juice pouch, dumbfounded. He sifted through his memories quickly. Ivan and Sarah knew the truth even if they hadn’t talked about it much. They kept practicing at the Capoeira Club as normal. All the controversy surrounding him and the other Champions stayed outside of the dojo.

Jay’s throat hurt suddenly. His eyes itched. He didn’t know why he was still here. Most of the Champions had dropped out already. It started with the [Mages] and [Crafters]. Then the [Mediums]. Then the [Fighters] started to drop out one by one.

“Out of all the Champions, you’d think I’d be the first to drop out,” Jay said, uncaring of the phone cameras recording him.

He sat against the wall. Ivan and Sarah sat next to him on either side. They were a little afraid of him. That wouldn’t go away. But they cared about him more than they feared him.

“My mom doesn’t have a high school degree,” Jay said. “She didn’t get to enjoy her high school or college years.” He smacked the envelope against his knee. “She sacrificed everything for me. It’s weirdly hard for me to let go of this without anything to show.”

“This is the nicest high school ever,” Ivan said. “But I bet there's way nicer stuff out there.”

“I read you guys are going to travel the universe and go to all sorts of cool places,” Sarah added gingerly, still holding the Capri Sun for Jay. “Maybe you’ll get your high school diploma at an intergalactic school?”

“Yeah!” Ivan cheered.

Jay almost asked them if they wanted to come but stopped himself from doing so. He shouldn’t have too many named supporting characters. Old Malcolm was a warning that could’ve gone worse.

He took the Capri Sun. The laboratory-made sweetness was too strong. Jay slurped it up anyway.

He stood. Wiped the back of his sweater and pants. People were still recording. He wrapped an arm around Ivan and Sarah both, annoyed that they had a few inches on him. He turned them away from the cameras.

“See you guys for one last practice session?” Jay asked.

“Heck yeah,” Ivan whispered.

“I’m going to duel you this time,” Sarah said, sounding pumped.

“Nice.” Jay let them go, hoping they wouldn’t get harassed too much by social-media-crazed students. Or anybody that was getting cash under the table from the news media. He wiped at the moist corner of his eyes, a little peeved that the cameras might’ve caught him going misty-eyed.

He started to enter the main administrative office when a kid boldly ran up with his phone in Jay’s face.

“Is it true you’re a top secret teenage experiment unleashed by the U.S. government?” the guy rattled off. Once he started, others followed suit.

“Is it true that YoAnna is the true mastermind of everything and she’s actually an alien queen from venus?”

“What are your thoughts on Disney stars reaching out for a date with Dennis Miller or the Divine Four?”

“Is there really an apocalypse, and how are we supposed to prepare?”

“Are you a monster in disguise? And what is that thing hiding in your hood?”

Jay shoved one of the annoying media brats away without hurting anyone. He slammed the door shut behind him. The metal threshold creaked. A piece clanked free. Jay definitely broke something, but he wasn’t going to tattle on himself.

Turning to the administration staff, he made himself seem like a normal student. They pretended he was a normal student with super squeaky faux cheer. They moved extra quickly to get out of his way as he dawdled over to the principal’s office.

All white wood panels, a big complimentary desk, and bold gold and black decor that would sing a glorious tune in support of the school’s pride. The man Jay sought stood looking out the window with his back to Jay.

“Jay Luckrun,” the principal said without turning around.

“Sir,” Jay replied.

“Today’s Friday, Mister Luckrun. Another end of the week. Another opportunity for our Central Lions to go out and conquer. Be it in football, band, or any competition. Yet, the school spirit feels dimmer than it has ever felt before. All that I’ve built here is losing its luster before a full four years. I can hear the foundations… cracking. How can that be possible?”

The school was just a cover. A gathering point for YoAnna’s chosen. Where she could examine them from above as she made preparations for the eventual tests that they’d face. This mythical, shiny school was a place where she could influence and develop her future Champions based on nicknames or archetypes that could fit her needs. Instead of training them popular like Frank, she aimed to use their extreme personalities to punch through the challenges of the System with pure teenage renegade spirit and loads of youthful insanity. It was pretty manipulative but not malicious.

Did she purposefully have Jay bullied? No.

But she didn’t move to stop it. For she was a Godling of Challenge and Change, and that meant Jay’s bullying was a challenge he had to overcome. Becoming changed for good or ill. Consequently, the principal was just a tool. And no matter how much he hated Jay and blamed him, the [Freak] could only feel pity for the man. The principal actually believed in the integrity of the school. He was not daunted by its original purpose to funnel together eleven of the most important teenagers on Earth. He wanted to make the most out of this magic that bent reality and provided heaps of greatness.

But the school's true purpose had run its course.

The school arc is a quiet challenge. To fail will stain the white crusade, tarnish the gold grandeur, and weaken the black strength. And the Champions will tear themselves apart.

The challenge was to leave it behind, Jay realized. The challenge was to see a glimpse of what awaited them, feel the pain of their inadequacy, suffer the weight of their responsibilities, and know that they were not enough. Then they must make the personal decision to achieve more. To aim for more.

To challenge.

To change.

“Sir, I’m just here to deliver my dropout letter,” Jay said.

“That should be music to my ears, Luckrun,” the principal said, his back still to Jay. “Yet, it sounds like the death bells to all that was promised to me by leading this institution. What will happen to us?”

Jay paused at the door.

“Dunno. I’ll see if YoAnna will keep the school running,” Jay said. “If not. Might wanna apply to other positions just in case.”

***

Jay nodded his head happily to an upbeat and very percussive Batucada song. Most people wouldn’t know the subgenre since it fell deep under the Samba tree and mixed its Brazilian origins heavily with African roots. These songs were perfect for Capoeira warm-ups and roda sessions.

Jay, Rob, Ivan, and Sarah formed a circle. One or two capoeira artists would enter the circle’s center and practice kicks and forms while controlled and onbeat. They would switch out and take on different partners every minute.

Rob had years of practice to hone his roda movements down to both a science and an art form. Jay had years of dance and parkour to come across as an unconventional but fluid talent. Ivan and Sarah would struggle between having two left feet and moments of breakthrough where they looked like naturals.

What made this fun for Jay was the good vibes. It didn’t matter if they were great at this or not, nobody got looked down upon in this art. Maybe the same could be said in other martial art dojos and gyms, but Capoeira felt like it was generally grounded from the start. Its roots came from humble origins, after all. Origins Jay understood.

It was these moments that Jay looked back on fondly in his week when auto-pilot took over. He hated how he wasn’t fully present to enjoy it all the way, but there was no denying his weariness after not sleeping for weeks. His [Freak] Class and inhumanity had found a way to overcome the issue.

“Alright, alright!” Rob cheered, clapping his hands. “Let’s put on some gear and get some light sparring in. Remember, we’re not going one hundred percent. That wouldn’t go well for most of us.”

“It’s cool, I’ve gotten better at withdrawing my power, sensei.” Jay grinned.

“Thanks for that,” Rob said seriously, clapping Jay on the arm.

Jay hummed, feeling gleeful as he slipped on his shin guards and MMA gloves. He kept humming as a troublesome Champion entered the athletics building and made a sharp turn toward the Capoeira Club’s hallway. Surely, this Champion had better things to do with her time.

Casey swung the door open and entered the Capoeira Club’s little dojo. Brand-named slippers adorned her feet for easy removal. The black belt tied around her waist was a stark contrast to her white karate gi. The sight of her was frightening enough for most people.

The power she exuded without limitation was another world of scary for the Systemless. Before Jay could snap at her, Casey withdrew her magic completely. She got down to the Systemless level surprisingly fast.

Jay couldn’t say he was shocked to see her. She’d stayed throughout the week. They’d even danced together Tuesday and Thursday regardless of her hatred for him. Strangely, that made their dance sessions all the more… memorable. Even if it left nail marks that made him bleed a little.

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But why would she come here?

What business did she have with him in front of Systemless?

“How may I help you, friend?” Rob asked, pushing past his nervousness to greet a Divine like a normal visitor.

Casey’s icy blue eyes cut away from Jay to Rob.

“You can help me.” Casey dropped her duffel bag off to the side. She stepped out of her slippers, gave a respectful bow to the mat, and then stepped on. “Show me this Super Capoeira that has a Champion so interested.”

“I didn’t talk about this,” Jay said immediately.

Guilt surfaced from both Ivan and Sarah. They two stuttered incoherently, tripping over each other.

Casey waved them into obedient silence. “Will you entertain me, Rob?”

“I’m no match for you,” Rob said.

“I’m restricting myself just like Jay,” Casey said. “You’ll have a better–”

“I’m serious that I’m not a match,” Rob pressed. “I’ve heard the rumors, Casey. You crush people. And that’s before whatever you guys got going on with the Champions.”

Casey frowned.

“Look. You can sit and watch. Or join if you like. But I’d rather continue like normal,” Rob pleaded.

“That’s not possible,” Jay said. “She’s set her eyes on me and you, Rob.”

“What do you mean?” Rob asked.

“Me, because she’s going to crush me for being me. And you, because you’re the sensei.” Jay shrugged.  “I guess I’ll pay double.”

The challenge had been set forth. If the Systemless didn’t want to see it through, Jay would have to absorb the ferocious girl’s fury. It had been cooking up for a while now, hadn’t it?

“Fine,” Rob muttered. “Clear the space. We’re doing this with gear on. Shins, gloves, mouthguard, elbows, and knees.”

“No headpiece?” Casey asked, pulling out her own gear that covered all the safety precautions.

“It’s hard to see with them on. Capoeira needs all the vision you can get.”

“That’s because it’s inefficient and would do poorly in true combat scenarios,” Casey said, stalking around the room like a cat circling prey. “Why teach a martial art that will fail when met with direct and straightforward force?"

Rob’s emotional-g flared as he bounced lightly, following Casey’s circle. Rob was nervous, scared, angry, and affronted, but he didn’t let those emotions rule him. They gathered in a dense and controlled sphere that motivated him.

“Don’t need a longer warmup?” Rob asked.

“No,” Casey said before blocking a roundhouse kick that would've knocked a Systemless person unconscious. She barely got her arms up in time. The kick stumbled her to the side.

She really had withdrawn fully to Systemless levels, which added another handicap. An extreme amount of willpower was required to limit your Attributes and keep them limited.

The fight’s start had Rob as the clear dominator. He kicked and punched Casey around mercilessly.

Ivan and Sarah cheered Rob on, especially when he landed a few clean hits to her legs and midsection. He couldn’t score a clean hit while she defended her head, so he might as well chop her down.

Jay frowned as Casey got more comfortable with the reduction of her Attributes. She started moving easier. Lighter, too. She dodged punches. She bounced away from kicks. She threw out feints to break up Rob’s rhythm.

They didn’t work.

The Super Capoeira artist blasted through those feints with a solid kick to Casey’s midsection. Casey grunted in pain. She was a tall and physically imposing girl, as beautiful as she was brawny. Not quite heavy, but she definitely had enough weight and muscle on her to outdo some guys. But at Systemless levels, Rob had a clear advantage over Casey in power. He might actually beat her.

Rob smiled.

Rob got overconfident.

He swung out a wide kick Casey baited for and dodged. Rob lost his balance just slightly. In most cases, he would have enough time to recover and reset. Casey pounced on that tiny weakness like a deadly big cat. She stormed Rob with a speedy Karate-style blitz with an incredibly accurate flurry of straight punches.

She paddle-balled Rob's head, his neck serving as a string, and kept him senselessly imbalanced and staggered backward. Rather than try to overcome him with brawn, Casey used her power, speed, and flawless technique. She used the excellency of her honed craft to overcome Rob's greater Systemless prowess. She crushed him.

Rob fell to the floor, completely dazed after getting pummeled by so many quick, sharp, and perfect hits. Sarah ran over to help Rob while Ivan looked at Jay. The kid’s eyes pleaded for Jay to call out Casey for using magic. She must have cheated, right?

“That was legit,” Jay answered. “She was fighting without magic. Hell, she was physically weaker than Rob while doing so.”

Rob turned out to be fine, thankfully. He just needed a sit-down and a moment to catch his breath. Casey had truly stunned him while at his level. She was that good of a martial artist.

Her icy blue eyes called for Jay to come up next. 

He took center stage across from Casey. He looked so small compared to her. He was outmatched completely at the Systemless level.

“You’ll be better off learning Karate,” Casey told him, withholding her anger for him. On the mat, Casey cared more about the arts. Just like when they would dance.

“Don’t wanna,” Jay answered. “Super Capoeira is the way for me.”

“Even if I beat you down every time you screw up? The margin for error with that style is big. You're going to get crushed under my heel again and again.”

“That’s perfect for me. I got this thing about going big or going home. And I'll get used to the view. Just don't lose your cool when I keep getting up like an anime hero.”

Casey snorted derisively before taking a karate stance.

Jay bounced around, thinking of a weakness to exploit.

Fifteen seconds later, Jay looked up in a daze while crumpled against the wall. Blood leaked from one nostril. He spat out his mouth guard and tongued the gap in his upper teeth where his molar hadn’t grown back. He hadn’t lost any more teeth, thankfully. His nose should heal just fine, too. The beatdown was too mundane to leave permanent damage.

“That’s it,” Sarah said. “I’ll fight her myself. I don’t care if you’re a Divine!”

“I’m not Divine,” Casey said, packing her stuff. “Not in the way you think I am. I dropped out today.”

“Oh.” Sarah lost her anger. “That makes you, Hailey, and just about all of the famous magic kids.”

“We have to dedicate more hours to what we are,” Casey said. “We’ve gotten lucky. But that’s going to run out sooner or later.”

She shrugged her duffel bag on and wriggled her feet into her slippers. She paused in front of the door, her back to their dojo.

“It could be possible,” Casey said from over her shoulder. “Making an effective Super Capoeira. But only a [Freak] like Jay could pull it off consistently.”

“It’s not just for me,” Jay muttered.

“I don’t care. Come see me again when you want to get stomped on more, Jay. You make for a decent floor mat.” Casey stepped out like she arrived, a predator on the prowl.

Jay looked worriedly at his sensei. That was a brutal ass-whooping Casey had dished out. An embarrassment for any dojo.

“Wow,” Rob said. “I’ve slackened off. If that’s her without magic and at a disadvantage, what am I doing being a teacher for you guys?”

“Don’t let her discourage you, Rob,” Sarah said.

“Yeah, man, she’s not human,” Ivan pointed out.

“Ouch,” Jay said.

Ivan gave the [Freak] an apologetic look.

Rob’s emotions didn’t show discouragement. There was no real negativity. From a more basic viewpoint, Rob looked excited. Like a fire inside of him got rekindled.

“Jay?” Rob called.

“Yeah?”

“Are you down for training on the weekends when you’re not, y’know, busy being a magical superhero?” He looked around the room. “You’re included, too, Ivan, Sarah. If you want. We can take days off during the school week if that makes things easier.”

Ivan and Sarah quickly agreed.

Jay looked at them speechlessly. “This was supposed to be our farewell.”

“And leave you to develop Super Capoeira on your own?” Rob cringed. “No way. Until you’ve clearly surpassed me and can kick Casey’s ass, without magic, I’m your sensei all the way.”

“Then you can show off Super Capoeira against all the alien invaders!” Ivan cheered.

“And kick demons back into hell where they should stay,” Sarah added.

Jay laughed, wondering how he kept picking up supporting characters so easily. All of the other Champions had shrugged off their most unnecessary relationships and focused on in-champion business.

Yet, Jay was doing the exact opposite, making new friends at a consistent rate that might not be necessary. And that was scary.

Because he still had a phone call to make. His last major supporting character had gotten the Death Flag realized.