Tsumi and Lemon sat there listening as Dahlia continued to explain her dream. How she had many of them before and what the final one had said. If there wasn't the context of what their mission was to the three people involved, the situation would look ridiculous. Tsumi was focusing on what she was saying while Lemon looked more perplexed than anything.
"So, you think it's someone in your class?" asked Lemon, eyebrows scrunched as she clearly was trying to interpret the girl's dreams and was failing.
"No, it could also be the people that Tsumi had met today." replied Dahlia, turning to the man in question who was still repeating the dream's description in his mind.
"Unlikely." said Tsumi simply.
"Why?"
"You said the voice told you that you saw their face? Did you see Daybreak yesterday? Or Ms. Branei or the investors?" he questioned.
"No."
"Right then. Let's go through who it could possibly be."
As Tsumi got a sheet of paper to write down and took out a pen, ready to write out every name or as much a name as possible for every person Dahlia saw the face of. Meanwhile the girl looked a bit perplexed, not at the idea of remembering who she saw that day but just how easily he had believed her and taken her seriously.
"Are you just going to believe my dreams like that?" Dahlia blabbed out, a bit surprised she even said that instead of keeping quiet as she usually does when an adult gives instruction.
"Obviously," said Lemon, "You don't get hyper specific dreams like that without some of it being true."
"Yes, whoever your sponsor is, they seem to be awfully informed." Tsumi spoke, writing down the names of everyone from Dahlia's class as the first few suspects.
"My sponsor?" asked Dahlia.
Tsumi looked like he let something slip but then shrugged and spoke again.
"From my point of view there is likely some kind of entity backing you and your power. I think that entity could maybe be those 'tentacles' you spill out but that is still up in the air and possibly " Tsumi explained.
"You think my powers are being fueled by something? Like a devil or a god?" fretted Dahlia, alarmed at this information.
"She said she wasn't sure at the time but I guess these dreams confirm that someone is watching you and is the one who has given those powers to you. The fact that they are still connected to you after you left your homeworld implies they are from beyond your world." Lemon explained.
Dahlia was lost in thought for a moment at the theory. It could explain how her power never felt like dark magic and how it never got detected despite how powerful it was. During her early years of receiving the power, she was terrified of the clergy finding her by sniffing out the darkness on her but no matter how many close brushes she had with them, either out on the streets or during a (mandatory) prayer they never went after her.
But if that is true and her power comes from an anomaly to her world, does that mean that the reason most people avoided her was because of this alien power? And if so, then it's important to her that she knows if there really is someone behind it. She may not admit herself but, she hated how lonely she was back home and learning that it was all at the whims of another person would be infuriating.
But then again, in that case does that mean her power can be taken away? That one day she is suddenly without her dark gift? That in itself was simultaneously horrifying and reassuring. Horrifying at the idea of being powerless and reassuring at the fact that whoevers power she was borrowing still lets her have it.
In that case as well, could it be that she's being tested now? The shadow from her nightmares asked her to 'show me something interesting'. Does that mean it wants a reason to keep supplying its power to Dahlia?
"So," Tsumi started knocking the girl out of her spiraling thoughts and back to the topic at hand, "we have:
Yume Harthkin
Rolo Debore
Shinji Yunata
Tenha Xumi
Zannos Tillion
Panoi Hambana
Tansol Hilten
Burrus Cacious
Suto Saeki
Coach Letty Nere"
As he finished the notes, Dahlia noticed that he ignored some of the people she had seen yesterday and brought them to question. "Why is Professor Suzuki exempt as a suspect and Ms. Vermillion who I met at the gate?"
"According to what your dream said, you learned the faceless' name today. We met Professor Suzuki before that. Similarly you met that Rosaniya dame at the gate of the school but not inside, as the dream suggests." Tsumi responded.
"I see. But what about the other students?" Dahlia inquired, wanting to be thorough in their search.
"Do you know any other student's name besides those nine?" Tsumi quizzed. Dahlia shook her head after she spent a minute going through them all.
The man then set his pen down, "Of course that could change though, that woman could've been lying and does work in the school, in that case I'll put her down as maybe."
And with that a list of suspects were down and placed on the table for everyone to look at. Of course, it could all be nonsense but it is a lead that they can follow until they get something more definitive. As the three think through their plans, Dahlia notices that her time is closing in to go to school and so they split but not before discussing their chores for today.
"I will head to the academy and try to get a hold of the student's files." decided Tsumi. "I want to take a look at the medical records for future reference."
"I'll work on talking to the parents and see if they can tell me if something is off with their kids besides the usual." Lemon stated, surprisingly the most serious Dahlia has ever heard is the woman who normally spouts a more relaxed and at times lazy way of speaking.
"Then I'll watch them directly and see if I can find anything else out." spoke Dahlia.
Tsumi nodded at her with a smile as the three immediately got ready, Tsumi taking more time as he prepared his some tools to get into the school unseen. Lemon on the other hand was going to 'walk' Dahlia to school with the intent of chatting with some gossiping parents.
- - -
Lemon was walking around wearing bell bottoms and a loose white blouse, a usual outfit for as she prepared the wind on her ankles but hated skirts. She was planning to go to the academy gates and despite her fair skin and the blistering sun she was not at all phased. It seemed to anyone that she was looking to get sunburnt but the polyad had no care, being a plant meant the sun could only make her stronger.
As she saw Dahlia off at the foot of the steps up the hill, she saw her 'daughter' be met with what she can assume is another student. A girl with distinct highlights and striped knee high socks. She did catch however that said girl had come from a man in his late thirties with short black hair.
"Is that your daughter there?" Lemon asked as she approached the man, him turning his head to look at her.
"Hm? Oh yes, my Panoi. She's a part of the Highlights." he answered with a tinge of pride.
"What a coincidence! So is my daughter." Lemon exclaimed in a voice that was an octave higher than her usual tired tone.
"Oh! You must be Mrs. Novitin, I had heard from my daughter that a transfer student just joined. Where are you from?"
"Bronson."
"Ah. I imagine the change in climate was a bit rough for all of you?" he chuckled.
"Yes, it quite was." Lemon laughed back in a cheery voice.
As the two kept chatting away, Lemon brought the conversation back to where he knew her name.
"So how did you know I was Dahlia's mother? I don't suppose your daughter came home telling you everything about the new girl?"
"Of course not, we received a letter this morning about the new welcome to the class." Mr Hambana started, "I'm sure you received it too?"
"Not quite…" Lemon answered a bit embarrassed but for different reasons. The woman vaguely recalls a letter arriving for them that morning but had, in her infinite wisdom, to throw it in the bin, thinking it was an ad given how colourful the envelope was.
"Well, in case it got lost, you should know there is a meeting with the parents next week during the weekend." he helpfully supplied.
"Oh that's good to hear! I want to know early if my little girl is adjusting alright." fussed Lemon.
"Do you think she won't?"
"Oh no, just that she can be a bit shy and gets more wrapped up in her books than she does her friends." Lemon answered, completely unsure whether or not that is actually true.
"Well." said Mr Hambana as his face turned down a little, "Your daughter sounds like a wonderful girl, my Panoi seems friendly with her so I hope they become friends. It might also stop these rebellious streaks she's been having lately."
Lemon's eyes glinted at that last statement, "Yes, teenagers, am I right? Always seems to be working against you."
"Hah," he heaved, "If only it was that! Lately she has been coming home late and normally looks a bit shocked if I am still up."
"Any idea what it could be?"
"She just says she was studying but I don't really get the feeling she was. Like a father's intuition, you know?" he answered, quieter if not because they are in a full conversation.
The two chat about their children some more, Lemon having to make things up about her 'daughter' on the fly that she hopes are true from what she's seen of the girl so far. Unfortunately it seemed that Mr Hambana didn't have much else to say on any strange behaviour his daughter had.
But that mention of going out late caught Lemon's attention, so she decided to excuse herself for a few moments and left behind a couple seeds in a bush near the steps. A few purple flowers blooming forth with a black stigma that gave the impression that the flower was an eye.
Alright then little punkstar, let's wait and see if you are really studying like you said.
She steps back to the parent and begins to ask some more questions.
"So tell me about the other parents?"
- - -
Tsumi wasn't meant to be in the academy today, so instead he was wandering outside the main gate. He had come later than Lemon and could see the woman walking off with a black haired man he can assume is a parent, hopefully. The cameras aren't an issue, long ago Rika made a device that cloaks a user from being digitally seen making them invisible to cameras. The Blindspot as she called it.
Once he was around the side of the school, his plan was to find a computer connected to the academy's network like yesterday and get a way into their documents. From what Dahlia had told him, Professor Suzuki teaches only the first class today while the remaining two are taken by different teachers.
I'll have to get to his office fast. An hour's plenty of time to get the backdoor in place.
Tsumi found a fire exit at the side of the school and proceeded to take out a set of tools and unhook the wires connecting to the fire alarm. Once inside he hooked it back up and stepped carefully through the hallways. Class was in session so they were empty but there were still windows into the classrooms that can be looked out from as well as janitors and academy guards that could spot him.
Thankfully, the stairs were not far and he began to climb up the floors to the fourth. Originally he wanted to try Litis' computer but thought against such a risky gamble and settled for Professor Suzuki.
Once up the stairs, thankfully unseen, he could see the teachers office marked with a placard. The door was closed and likely locked but that wasn't Tsumi's concern. What was his concern were the two professors just down the hall.
Doesn't look like their conversation is letting up any time soon. That's where you come in handy.
Tsumi takes out a small dry grey ball made of some kind of sponge. He spits on it and quickly the ball begins to absorb the liquid and inflate to that of a small grey mouse shaped blob.
Always amazes me what Alice can make.
He drops the blob mouse on the floor and it scurries around towards the professors. One of them screams at the sight of the creature and the other immediately goes after it as Tsumi takes the chance to go for the door. Quickly he picks it and steps inside and relocks it with his tools and rushes to the computer after checking the room was empty. He attaches the hacking device from yesterday and it sinks its wires into the computer.
Right, that shouldn't take too long.
A minute goes by and Tsumi is looking through filing cabinets for any physical files when he comes across Dahlia's file. Skimming through he gets that they view her highly and that Daybreak desperately wants her to compete in the Polaratus.
He seems quite insistent on having Dahlia join the Polaratus. The kid hasn't even been here a week.
A noise outside the office makes the man flinch before he realises that the door is being unlocked. He glances around the room for a hiding place and spots a vent on the ceiling.
I don't have time to open that quietly.
He then notices the window and quickly makes a decision. The door opens and enters Suzuki, followed by Litis/Daybreak and Shinji. As the three sit down, Tsumi remains outside the window, standing at the edge of an eave and keeping as close to the wall as possible.
Here's hoping no one looks up at the school right now.
As the three inside begin talking, Tsumi makes mental notes of their conversation.
"Principal Daltis, this is the boy I was talking about, Mr. Shinji Yunata."
Litis raised his hand to shake the boys and both seemed excited to meet each other.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Yunata." Litis said with a zealous shout.
"It is my pleasure and honour to meet you Principal Daltis!" shouted Shinji back, the two not at all caring for the older man in the room cringing at the yelling.
Shinji seemed to be very excited to meet Litis and shook his hand with the energy of an inferno. The device Tsumi left on the computer hadn't been noticed, mostly due to no one being behind the desk yet and were still by the entrance of the office.
"So Mr. Yunata," said Litis, "I would like to be blunt and frank with you, how would you like to be in charge of the opening ceremony of the Polaratus next month?"
The boy's eyes lit up, "You mean, be the Polar Eye?"
"Of course!" he exclaimed.
"I'll do it sir! I'll make it the best one yet!" the boy answered happily, clearly the happiest he has ever been.
The two continued to talk about the Polaratus before Suzuki had handed the boy the papers and instructions to fill out as well as assure that he is fine with the responsibility. Once the answer was obvious, Shinji had left, leaving the two adults behind.
"Well Suzuki he is exactly as you said he is! Energetic, enthusiastic and a good head on his shoulders. Truly the makings of a good hero." Litis approved.
"Yes, in the couple months I've seen him he has been nothing but a model student." the older man stated, a bit proud of his student receiving those compliments.
"Well with that I'll be on my way and leave you to head back to your classroom!" the man waved as he reached for the door knob.
"Actually Litis, can I ask you to stay for a moment?" said Suzuki in a slightly serious tone.
"Of course, is there an issue?"
"Well it's just, I have heard a rumour going around from the other faculty and even some of the students that there has been some strange power outages lately on the third floor of the school." he explained.
"Ah how strange." the taller man said. Tsumi couldn't see his face due to Litis facing the window but he could tell there was a strange tone the man had when he said that.
"Yes, well one of the teacher's mentioned seeing someone who they didn't recognise going into the faculty bathroom and disappearing, some of the students have said they saw them as well and are saying rumours of a ghost."
Daltis didn't seem to take Suzuki's words as serious as he was and merely waved the concerns away. "Professor Suzuki, you know how the young like to play tricks? I'm sure it was just a prank."
"I see. In that case I thought it would be good just to let you know."
"Thank you professor."
Litis left the office, leaving Suzuki behind where he merely looked into the air thinking before he muttered under his breath. "That didn't look like a trick."
He leaves, allowing Tsumi to climb back into the room after hearing the door lock.
He quickly grabs the device and sneaks out of the room and quickly leaves the school the way he came in.
Sounds like next time I'm invited I should try out the bathroom downstairs.
- - -
Dahlia had just walked into the classroom with Panoi where she could see Yume and Burrus talking with one another. Yume still had some slight swelling in her face but it had mostly faded. Burrus seemed to be asking her about it so Dahlia jumped in with that too.
"Yume, is your cheek still in pain?" asks Dahlia her voice laced with concern.
Yume looked up at Dahlia and replied, "No, Dr. Saeki gave me some pain relief and it has been fine. They had said that my jaw was dislocated but it was moved back into back with the school's doctor and Suzuki's help."
She gently rubbed her cheek while Burrus seemed to be going back to his chair. Dahlia watches Burrus return to his seat, the boy clearly not wanting to talk in a group setting which Dahlia can understand.
Zannos wasn't here yet so Dahlia took the opportunity to ask Yume without fear of being overheard by the party being talked about. "Do you know why Mr. Tillion did that to you? It was quite excessive."
Yume relaxed her posture as she continued to massage her cheek, "No personal grievances but I know he doesn't believe I should belong in the Highlights because of my superpower."
"What is it? If you don't mind me asking." Dahlia asked.
"I don't mind at all, it is called Clairvoyance. I can see anything within a two hundred feet radius of me. Though it makes me nauseous to use it continuously so I don't use it sparingly outside of training." the girl explained.
Clairvoyance, Dahlia had heard of such ability used by the mages back home but it was rarely used for combat as it was more for reconnaissance and spying. "I see. Your power isn't as flashy as mine or his."
"Or that useful in combat, outside of the fact I can choose to see from all directions." the girl added.
"But to be that harsh, surely it can't be just that?"
"That's how that jerk is!" shouts Panoi, still with Dahlia. "He's always picking fights with those not in the Highlights and is barely punished because his dad's on the punishment committee."
Dahlia had heard about the punishment committee. Unlike back home, it seems that such a body has more prevalence, especially in a world where children can have powers that can destroy cities if used wrong. They also seem to be the stem of moral guidance in a school as well as assigning the general policies.
Panoi continued with her frustration, "You hear as well? I heard his dad is trying to get anyone who isn't performing well enough kicked from the school as an 'example'."
Yume asks, "They haven't done it because most of the committee is undecided?"
"Yeah, but if Zannos gets to be the Polar Eye, I'm not sure what will happen then." the punk girl said.
Upon hearing that, Yume looked down at her desk with a slight tinge of frustration. Panoi sees it and immediately tries to cheer her up. "But don't worry Yume! That's not gonna happen, I doubt Litis would allow a guy like that to be the Polar Eye."
Panoi's words caused Yume's frustration to ease but Dahlia can sense that she still feels frustrated, not over Zannos' potential victory but at her own weakness to stop it.
"I'm sorry," Dahlia started, "but what exactly is the Polar Eye?"
The two students gave Dahlia a strange look that almost made the girl fret over whether or not she said something wrong. Thankfully Panoi puts her at ease.
"The Polar Eye-"
*RING*
The bell rang out, causing the three girls to scramble to their seats and the conversation interrupted. Suzuki entered with Zannos with him who trudges to his desk and plops down as the teacher began the classes for today.
That morning Dahlia was met by new teachers as she was taught about advanced mathematics, local literature and law. Easily she felt overwhelmed at the knowledge especially only knowing simple mathematics but she knows that she can catch up with enough study, at least she hopes.
When going for lunch, Zannos is the first to leave whilst everyone departs after packing their bags. Dahlia walked to the cafeteria with Panoi and Yume as planned with Tenha joining as the four of them sat themselves down for lunch.
Yesterday, Dahlia had some of the cafeteria's food at her own wish to try out a different world's cuisine but after having rotisserie chicken spiced with paprika she soon found out that she'd rather enjoy whatever meal Lemon prepared. It wasn't because the food was bad, not at all, it was just that despite the polyad's seeming lack of self discipline, when it comes to cooking there really was no competition.
That and Dahlia was still getting used to spices like paprika.
Taking out some plastic boxed roast beef and asparagus, before she could enjoy her first bite, Tenha spoke up with a smirk etched on her lips.
"So Dahlia, excited for this weekend?"
Dahlia knew such a question would be asked so she was prepared to be asked and not immediately groan like she had on the inside. "Not particularly. When one loses in a bet they are not normally happy about it."
"Oh be honest! If you weren't fine with it, why did you take it? Surely you didn't think you would definitely win." the girl asked.
Dahlia was quiet for a moment before she tried to speak but the hesitation was all the blue haired girl needed.
"Don't tell me you seriously thought that?!" Tenha let out a laugh as Panoi too couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Dahlia still felt shame after yesterday, she had allowed her biassed opinion of Rolo as well as his struggle when he was running the track distract her from ever thinking he could beat her in a quickdraw.
But seriously, she did. She did underestimate him and if it wasn't an exercise she would be dead. She took the bet because never was there a doubt in her mind she'd win, especially after seeing what the others could do.
"Ahem! I merely made a lapse in my judgement of him and now I will learn to not let initial appearances falsely inflate my confidence."
"Wow, Rolo was right. You even speak like you're fancy." Panoi commented on Dahlia's eloquent speech.
Tenha continued with another question, "So since you took his bet, I imagine you don't have anyone?"
"If you mean if I am not being courted then yes, at this time I am not."
"Courted?" said Panoi stunned, "Seriously, are you sure you're not some secret princess?"
"No, I am not." Dahlia said seriously though she did find the accusation flattering.
"Well you sure act like one." Panoi stated. Her eyes widened a moment after, "But not in the spoiled kind of way!"
Yume couldn't help but giggle at Panoi's clarifying statement and the quartet kept chatting about their classes and their personal lives. Yume was focused on eating as delicately as she could for her jaw when Shinji came up to them and sat along with Suto.
"Hey, so do you want to hear some good news?" Shinji beamed, more excited than he usually was.
"Is it about when you left midway through the first class?" guessed Tenha.
"How did you know!"
Panoi said with a smirk, "Cause you've been smiling like an idiot since then."
"Ah! Well," the red haired boy scratched the back of his head, slightly flustered but still full of glee. "I talked with Daybreak in Suzuki's office and he asked me to be the Polar Eye!"
Everyone at the table congratulated and showed excitement over Shinji's news, though Dahlia was quick to ask a question so she can understand their excitement as well.
"What's the Polar Eye?"
"It's the student who performs a speech for the school during the opening ceremony of the Polaratus, it is the biggest dream of any aspiring hero!" said Shinji, practically shaking with excitement.
"All of the biggest heroes nowadays have done it, Daybreak, Breaking Point, Spritzella, Zadoom, every big name hero that was a student here also were the Polar Eye!"
Hearing him explain, Dahlia can sort of understand how important this position is. It's like being chosen as student council president back in Pilin though she could never see herself ever taking such a position.
Dahlia gave her widest smile, "In that case, congratulations Shinji, it sounds like this means a lot to you."
"It does, I've always viewed the Polar Eye as being the step I need to take to start becoming the best hero in the world!"
Everyone continued to chat about the Polar Eye and Shinji's plans for his speech but time flies by like a drop of sand in a half empty hourglass. The bell rings and Dahlia's training continues.