The Catalyst

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

I sighed as I stripped from my gear, throwing it in my locker and wiping the sweat off my neck with a towel. I slipped back into my regular clothes and didn’t bother taking out my hair, all the hair would be hot against my already damp neck. I slung my bag over my shoulder and made my way back into the training room. I was already the only person left- besides Mr. Lunn of course. I started making my way to the door when a voice stopped me.

“Miss Behdowhen? Please come here for a moment,” he called to me, looking over his rarely worn glasses. I licked my lips, looking from him, to the door, back to him. I sighed and made my way to him.

“Yes sir?” I asked pleasantly. I just wanted to go home- this had been an already long day.

“That was an excellent performance today. You are very capable in the swordplay field. You have been  . . . trained very well.” It was not a question; it was a statement, a statement that hid something. Skepticism maybe? Or maybe he had a feeling.

“Thank you sir,” I replied formally. He let out an amused breath.

“Please, Sonomora, Call me Herunne- or Mr. Lunn if you must,” he said with a relaxed smile. I gave him a tight smile. As much as I like Mr. Lunn I did not want to get friendly with someone who suspected.

“Of course Mr. Lunn.” He laughed. His eyes glinted with a hidden agenda above his wide smile.

“Now, Sonomora- or do you prefer Sony?” he asked lightly.

“Either,” I said tersely, hoping he would get to the point.

“Alright, Sony, I was wondering something. I was curious to know if you were aware of how your immense power came about. Are you?” he asked politely. I wanted to narrow my eyes at him. I sighed.

“Yes, Mr. Lunn, I am. I was told that my parents’ were strong, powerful Mygek Manipulators, which they passed to me,” I lied. It was an easy lie that I told countless times to teachers and doctors who had tested me. It was a believable one too. My mother had been known for her adept Mygek Manipulating. As was my . . . father. He was better known as the high ranking Captain of the Merlin Wars, always gone away for long episodes of time. He was proclaimed and “proven” KIA (Killed in Action) when I was just 3 months. Later my mother was killed in a freak murder incident, still rumored to actually have been suicide.

Lies. My life was- is- filled and made up of lies. There are no ends to them. No I just told another one. A familiar one that I had told so many times that I was almost starting to believe it myself. If only.  

“Oh, yes, of course. I’m very sorry about your family, Sonomora, I know it is hard to live without one’s parents,” he murmured. My gaze turned hard and steely.

“Indeed,” I snapped. I took and deep breath, controlling my anger. He was sorry, right I wanted to snort. Everyone was sorry. More like they felt pity on me. The poor shy girl with no parents. Poor, poor girl.

I wanted to shake my head and clear my mind. This wasn’t the time to be snappy and angry. I gave him a semi apologetic smile, which he returned. He clearly suspected- suspected something. I was already restless from the crazy day I had just had, and this was making anxious and edgy.

“Yes . . .” he started with a thoughtful look and furrowed brows. “Yes, that makes sense, though. Still . . .” he mused aloud.

“Still?” I prompted. He looked back up at me.

“Hmm? Of yes. Nothing, sorry. Ignore me,” he said casually with a laugh. I gave him an unconvinced look, trying not to look irritated. He laughed again. “No, it’s really nothing. I was just pondering. It must be a very unique combination of genes to create a Lator so powerful.”