Problems of the Gifted

Being an agent

(*Note: TW-injury, TW-violence*)

(Dhalia Dever pov.)

[4 years ago, TOL secret compound:]

The lesson on different strategies has just ended.
In their own groups, other young agents have already stood up. A swarm of gray-turquoise vests leaving the room. One after another.
Only I'm still sitting on the dark mat floor.
Somehow I'm able to keep up with the lessons much better, meaning that I'm actually progressing.
But it's important to remember details, that's what Carmine always tells me.

I want to note something down real quick when Andrew teases, standing behind me:
"Hey, you're glued to the ground or what?"

I try to ignore him, but then he grabs my notebook.

"I'm talking to you!"

With a sigh, I stand up, turn around and tell him:
"Give it back, I have better things to do."

Grinning, he raises the book higher, out of my reach now:
"Then take it!"

Don't react, they just want you to get leash out.
Ignore them.

So when I notice Sasha, her long reddish hair tied together neatly as always, standing behind me with Emilia at her side, it's obvious they want something.

I face her as she says with a nasty tone:
"You're really trying to act smart in front of every mentor, huh? You're not as good as you pretend to be."

"Do you have a problem?"

Really, I do not want to deal with this.

Because of Sasha's obsession to become the best agent, she simply can't stand it when someone tries to be better than her.

"Me? Nah. But you know what your problem is?" She steps toward me, her voice filled with spite "Finally getting your ability doesn't make you a better agent."

Nevertheless, I walk forward as well, now facing her directly. I respond, determined to end this here and now:

"If having an ability isn't a measure of an agent's competence, then having a parent as a mentor surely isn't one either."

Her eyes widen at his, she has not expected me to talk back at all.
I hear one of the watching students around us snicker, they've stopped their conversations to take a look at what's happening.
And I'm pretty sure Sasha heard it as well, because she has a pencil in her hand, and in the next second, she slices with it across my left forearm, leaving a cut.
I wince as she does, automatically pressing my right hand against it. It started bleeding already.
It feels like it's burning, but I try to blink the tears away.

I won't let them see me cry.

"You talk a lot, but you're always afraid. No one needs an agent scum who's as indecisive as you." She hisses in my ear and then she goes away, Andrew drops my notebook next to me.

Everyone else leaves as well.
There's nothing to look at for them anyway.

[Later:]

I took some bandages from the infirmary while no one noticed. Not like it was a hard thing to do- being able to teleport is a big advantage.
When my ability test showed positive, after failing the other two and facing harsher means, I realized I could control energy.
Not just control, but manipulation was also possible. Soon I figured that if I wrap enough energy around myself, I could wander through the energy of atoms, which in turn allowed me to travel anywhere- within a certain radius, of course.
It may look easy, but requires lots of energy to travel through space.
And yet TOL's Headmaster was impressed by my ability.
As to right now, I'm in my room, sitting behind my desks and trying to bandage the wound, with less success.

Suddenly someone knocks at my door and asks:
"Can I come in?"

Carmine.
Oh no.

I scramble and almost fall down from thr chair while trying to put the bandages away.
In the next moment the door, so I quickly hide my left arm behind my back, holding the bandages out of his sight.
As he walks in, I see that he has some books with him.

He closes the door behind him and informs:
"Hey, I thought this is something you could use for-"

He looks at me then, promptly stopping.

"Eh- what? What is it?" I question innocently, trying to take a better look at the books.

Carmine Revons is a member of TOL's council members, being the one to take me in. Additionally, he was friends with my parents before they left TOL.
While being tall and having somewhat grayish hair despite his age, Carmine is not to be underestimated. Neither is his ability: Telekinesis.
He uses his ability on my left arm, unimpressed, making me show what I desperately tried to hide.

His eyes narrow as he speaks with a grim voice:
"What happened?"

"Nothing, really. I accidentally cut myself. I was just trying to-"

"Sit down."

Without hesitation I comply and sit down on the bed.
He uses his ability to bandage the cut while putting the books down on the table, then leaning against it.

"What happened?"

"I already said, I just-"

"No. I want to know the truth."

"Nothing happened."

"Kid-"

"I said nothing happened!" I stand up and turn to the window, looking at my bandaged arm.

It's much better than I would've done it.

"Is it someone from your group?"

I remain silent.
Ultimately, I've heard all kinds of versions of what they say about me already: Coward, daughter of the traitors, disappointment, and agent scum.
The last one is new.

"Which one?" Carmine presses the question.

"There's nothing you can do anyway if I tell you.
Being ruthless is just something Im not good at, unlike them."

We both stay quiet for a moment.

Really, I shouldn't make it his problem.
After all, he isn't the one who's seen as a traitor who just can't run away from his bad luck.

So I decide to apologize and look at him:
"Sorry, I- didn't mean to shout."

"It's alright kid."

He wants to leave, but before he does he turns around one last time:
"You know, next time they try something like that, don't be afraid to use your ability and hit them like I taught you."

"But- won't I get in trouble?"

"Don't forget, as long as you show your strength, TOL will only support that."

For a moment, I just look at him, then answer with a shrug:
"I guess can't just ignore my mentor's advice, can I?"

He smiles and leaves.