Crystalline Cavern: The Brigaders

Chapter 20

Jane

       I have no idea what's been going on lately. It's like our team is starting to fall apart or something. It can't just be TNT at this point. First, Forest and Violet become distant a week after she told him how she felt. Then, Dark and Rose practically become mortal enemies, and Ocean...ever since we talked that day, I really can't seem to wrap my head around anything anymore. I always knew how he felt but I didn't have the courage to face him and tell him what he really needed to hear. He was like family to me and I don't think I could ever see past that. Rank Rage is just around the corner and if we don't fix the situations that happened between us then we could be on the verge of ending the Brigaders all together! I won't let that happen! We've all been through too much together to just end it all thanks to some ruined relationships. I don't care if they postponed TNT. I don't care how much Rose and Dark hate each other right now. And I especially don't care what Forest and Violet are becoming because we're the strongest in the entire academy!

       I think I should just lay low for a while and try to clear my head. I hope Eliza is okay, she walked off pretty pissed off. I also wonder what happened between Rose and Dark. Why do I even try to get involved? I just never seem to know what's going on in this group. Everyone has been giving off really intense emotions. We can all sense our emotions in our auras as well. It's strange though because Forest should've been able to sense somewhat of an attraction towards him from Violet. Maybe that's why she kept her distance from him. As for Rose and Dark, well those two are practically masters at hiding their emotions, well besides anger of course. I honestly have no idea what to do now. Should I call Violet to make sure she's ok? Or should I just keep on towards the Training Facility without another word? I can't just train my way through this one. I feel kinda out of it today, but I have to get stronger and show them that it's not the end of the world even after everything that's happened. We have a couple more years until TNT so we should all focus on leveling up till then. They can't keep their distance from each other forever...

       I keep on walking until I reached the Training Facility. Surprisingly, none of the others have come here. I think everyone just went their separate ways to clear their minds as well. When I walked in, of course, the underclassmen looked my way in awe. Honestly...if they trained just as hard as we did, they could be just like us if they were so fascinated. I walked up to the track that ran at least two kilometers around and shifted into my Neon Form. I took my mark and started jogging along the track. I should really study as well. The Cirisse exams consist of both physical and mental strength. My mind went towards the history lesson that was discussed the other day. The origin of the Neon Warriors and how we ended up down here.

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       The TI spoke up and immediately started off the lesson, wasting no time as usual. "Alright, so for your final test, we'll be focusing on the topic of our history. And by that, I mean how the Neon Warriors came to be." A topic like this was discussed back during our elementary days in the academy. However, it was extremely vague. The TI spoke up. "About one thousand years ago, scientists tried to make humans immortal. This meant lots of investigation and experiments. However, the experiments were dire, meaning that many humans did not survive during them, so of course, they went along and took a more dangerous approach to try and decrease the number of deaths." Nicole was in my class as well. Naturally, being the brainiac she is, she always asked smart questions. "Wait, if many humans didn't survive during the experiments, then why would they do more dangerous ones?"

       "Good question. The reason for that is because they thought that if they used all of the data they've collected from previous experiments, they could combine them all. By doing this, it was easier for them to find more tragic conclusions by combining certain chemicals and DNA mutations. You see, back then, they used DNA to create mutations. They would use the DNA from all sorts of animals. Our speed could originate from a cheetah and our strength from a combination of all sorts of creatures. The colors we obtain when we're born has been tested as what DNA mutation we earn and are portrayed in the color of our hair when we shift. We are still unsure as to where our weapons come from, but then again, many chemicals and DNA mutations were used in those times. It could be from certain metals running through our bloodstream and our weapons are cultivated from that." This time, I had a question. "Okay, but if there's so much scientific evidence about where our powers come from, what does that make the Goddess Hur Tur?" My question caused a lot of comments and debates to swirl around the classroom. "That's the next part of my lecture. These experiments took a rather dramatic turn about fifty years later when a human of rainbow hair and whits of an owl, who many of you may know her as the Goddess Hur Tur, started to use these powers and strength to change humans altogether. Meaning that she went and converted her powers into other humans to turn them into what she called her 'Neon Children'. Approximately one hundred humans were converted and repopulated from there." Another question popped up. "Sir! Were the one hundred warriors the Children of the Arco?"

       "Yes, excellent deduction." The Children of the Arco were the original warriors. Very few descendants remain to this day and usually, those who are, live in the more foreign sectors of Crystalline Cavern. "After they were converted, humans began to fear us thinking that we would kill them off to start a new era when really, our humanity was still inside us. We went into hiding, and slowly, they believed that we've become instinct when really, we're hidden off here in the underground where they can never find us again. The underground city of Crystalline Cavern is our home and it is against the law to make any contact with humans, for it could forever jeopardize our existence. Only authorized and top-ranked humans on the surface know about our existence, which is why only a select few are chosen to be level 10 every year to help defend and represent the good that comes with our strength. Never forget that, students. This is why you are to work hard here at the academy."

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       To make contact with humans is like breaking the fourth wall around here. We don't even talk about them, so it's best to never mention them again. I kept speeding along the track, trying to erase the images in my head of this afternoon. This is no time to show weakness.