Guy From Nowhere

Chapter 7: Aces and Ultimates Also Valentine (Part 1)

Sunday. I did my usual. Do I even have to write down waking up anymore? Come on, you get it, I shower, get dressed. Okay, anyway. 

I felt a little lonely today, too. I felt like after I allowed myself to make connections with these people, I started just craving their company. I already spent time with Gregory, so, I thought about hanging out with someone else. But, I wondered if they would all just be too busy or... y'know just saying they were busy to avoid me. 

I got a knock at my door. I opened the door slowly, "Hello?" It was Valentine. "Oh, Valentine, PLEASE come inside." She came inside and sat on the couch. "Stanley, we need to speak." I tilted my head and sat next to her. "What's up?" She sighed, blushed, and started twisting her hair. "I think I romantically like someone in our friend group..." 
My jaw almost dropped. "What!? Oh my, tell me who!" She shook her head and chuckled with a slight smile, "Not too fast, Stanley. You need to guess because It's more fun that way." I scooted closer to her. She looked at me, "Okay, so, you know him very well..." My face went blank. This is like the first clue that it could be you. I didn't like Valentine like that... "Oh uh..." Her face turned angry for a second, "NOT YOU, DICKFACE! It's seriously just someone you know very well." I felt relieved our friendship wouldn't be ruined by romance. "Okay, so, I really only know Gregory well s-"

Her face turned disgusted, "GOD! You're horrible at guessing games. It's Nieves." 
"Ohhhh... wait, what? First off, you can call him Vincent in this sacred palace of mine and second, what??? If it's for his money, bingo." She shook her head, "No, and don't be a dick like that. Him and I spent beautiful time together yesterday. And this apartment is similar to a New York City one. It is NOT nice! But I gotta say, you did decorate pretty nice."
I nodded, "Yeah yeah... SO, Uh, Nieves." Valentine started to rub her hands against her knee anxiously, "Please, just, don't tell him. I'm not ready to confess just yet..." I nodded.
"So, you gotta tell me, I-uh.... If you know he likes me too?" I bit my lip and thought about all the conversations I've had with Vincent. "Well, I wouldn't have that type of information. We aren't tight like that um- YET, but-" Valentine interrupted, "You've known him since kindergarten, how are you not that close to him?" 
"Look, listen, we weren't really friends throughout our school years. He was the hot popular smart guy and on the high school yearbook, I was put as least likely to succeed." 
"Oh...That... I'm sorry, Stanley." She patted me on my back. I grabbed her hand away, "Watch it, lady, that's changing this year, thanks, and I don't want your pity." She nodded slowly and somewhat sarcastically. "Moving on, well, uh, do you by any chance know what kind of person he is? I also need to know how you think he would react to my.. you know... side job..." 

I thought for a second, "Hey, Valentine, you're more than just a love interest character, you know that, right?" Valentine looked confused, "Huh?" 
"Dude, you gotta be more than just Vincent's girlfriend here. Show me your  cool and epic skills then you get your answer. Her eyes seemed to light up, "Me? Show you what I've got...? Well, my whole life I've been told only body can catch boys' attention..." I stopped her there, "Valentine! This is your chance to be more than just a attractive girl! Vincent would love that, trust me, he's not just a guy that goes for lasses that show off their curves and whatnot." She nods, "Okay! Well, where do we start?" 
"Do you have a paranormal ability?"
She nods, "I can create blue fire."
"Dude, that is EPIC! You should go slash some monster-"
She interrupted again, "Do you have one? It would be dangerous if you aren't able to see the spirits..."
This made me realize... I knew almost NOTHING about paranormal abilities even though I have one myself. "Ah, well, I do, but to be honest with you, I don't know jack shit about that."
She nods, "Well, if you weren't an ace, I'd have to level with you and do a kind of ritual so you'd be able to see the spirit, too."
"An ace? Is that what we're called?" She nodded, "If you have a paranormal ability, that's what you're called. Also, the gods-" 
"WE HAVE GODS? Woah, Valentine, you'll have to level with me here as if I was a normal human, PLEASE!"

She giggled, "Okay, so, let's get started on the history of ace and sorcery. We are gifted from 5 different gods who are named Victorino, Artemis, Levi, Yahritza, and Apollo. They all represent what you need in order to go into your second form, which makes you from an ace to an ultimate for some time. Victorino is determination, Artemis is hope, Levi is amor fati, Yahritza is confidence, and Apollo is justice."
"What in the fuck is love fatty?"
Valentine shook her head, "You just call it amor fati. Don't try to translate it, numbnut, and it means to take the best of what has happened. Kinda like, accept your fate or accept what will happen next." 
I nodded... She continued, 
"Now, these aren't really called gods to US, but they are to humans. To us, they were the elites."
"Were?"
She nodded, "They're dead. There's a theory that they aren't supposed to be, though. But that lies down a whole different street. All you need to know is their power is scattered across the world. They say their hearts are placed somewhere secret in every continent. If you were to find every one and place it together, you could bring them back. You see the moon every night, correct? That's where their souls are said to stay until someone brings them back together, It is told no human is to find their hearts, only aces."
I looked in awe. "No way... But you just explained elites, so, where's the REAL history?"

"I'm onto that." she responded, "The story of each and every elite. Back then, there were no aces, no paranormal abilities, no evil spirits. It really all started with Vitorino. He was a prince of, well, where we live. Though, we are no longer run by monarchy. His hair was white, precious, some say it felt of silk no matter the condition. Being born with white hair in this universe meant you were important to the universe. See, Vitorino's parents were NOT happy about this at all. So, they would dye his hair black to the world couldn't see the power he holds. He was brutally abused every day for meaning something to the world, so, then, self defense kicked in, and that's where the first paranormal ability was born. He was able to create ice and snow, and possibly more but that's all the people knew. The second paranormal ability was Apollo Domino, he was a thief and portrayed as awful, but the truth is he was just playing justice in this world. In a way, him and I are similar with our underground 'side jobs'. He had the power to heal and create weapons with his blood." 
I stopped for a second. That reminded me of... my power.
She continued, "The third was Artemis Knight, she was known for her beauty and coldness. Even though she was cold, she was the kindest to her village and her family. A tribe tried taking over the village to claim it as theirs, that's when her ability came in. She was able to transform and shift to whatever she wanted. Even a mailbox, if she just felt funny that day. Our fourth, Yahritza... Well... She was simply just gifted. She actually lived a very happy life and wasn't attacked or insulted. Her confidence and trust in the world is what gave her her ability. Her ability is to use powers from the sun, so, she could melt stuff with her hands and create fire. Last but not least, Levi. Levi was said to be a character in a laptop that suddenly became conscious one day and escaped to become a real person. He was scary to everyone and was called a robot. He didn't want to accept that he wasn't really actually real. Even though he wasn't he felt he had a soul. Which is what made everyone see him as a human and not just code. He accepted what happened and that he'll never be really human. This gifted him his ability to read auras and know what peoples' intention really is, he was also gifted dream manipulation, so, he could talk to people in their dreams. Ah, and his last ability is being able to create whatever he wants as long as he knows how it feels and looks."

I didn't even know what to say. I was driven in shock. "So... Wow I..." Valentine looked at me, "That's all I know, really. I don't know why evil spirits were brought here." I nodded,  "No, yeah I get it. Thanks for the history lesson." She chuckled. "Okay, so, let's go see what I've got."