Disconnect

[1] Casting

This world is nothing but a raveled up mess of dreams and concepts. Ideas and comprehension. A single human, a single mind.

ISAAC CRUX

Isaac stood on the edge of his mind. Reaching outwards towards the deep abyss that consisted of all that wasn't, but never taking a step across the threshold. He absently gazed around the small room he was in. Which was bland, for a lack of a better word; or at least he thought. Others might've found the paintings of flowers and glass tables to be aesthetically pleasing; again, he thought otherwise. The room had nothing that concerned him, therefore it was bland of his interests. He was narcissistic, and he needed no man to tell him that.
Again he reached out with his mind, and practiced establishing a Link with the computer on the other side of the room. It was a small, pale laptop, which was open and had a glowing white screen. He brushed the conscious of the computer's code, and felt a massive rush of information swarm his brain as he dipped his foot in.
There is nothing here you seek, now go. The voice in his head screamed as it tried to withdraw from Isaac's mind. But he stood his ground and held on tight to the information slipping his mind.
I'm not about to lose you though. He thought back, making the opposite. conscious scream in rage and instead push back. This time, it was Isaac's turn to feel afraid, as the information began to infest his mind faster than he was able to handle. Forcing him, as a result, to drop out. He took two heaving gasps and collapsed back out of his sitting position. Staring at the light fixture hanging above his head, flickering lightly every few seconds.
Why does this have to be so hard. He thought desperately to himself. My life could've been so much easier if I had just turned down this offer... Oh well. What time is it? His mind wanders off towards the clock, where he sees it's 12:30 NOON. He wrestles with himself for a moment, trying to consider what he wanted to do about his stupid computer, which seemed to refuse to let him in. He glared at it now with an evil eye, grumbling under his breath as he got up finally out of his bed and went to go prepare for his class.
This is so stupid. I hate how these people are trying to control who I Link with. That shouldn't be something that's even legal... He mentally grumbled to himself, pulling a shirt over his head. Makes no sense... He threw on some shoes and gave one final stare at the computer before slinging the blue and red backpack over his shoulder and opening the door to the rest of Apex Academy.
The sunlight glanced off the massive windows in the dorm hallways overlooking the view of the Academy. Isaac squinted and tried to make out shapes in the halls as his eyes got used to the uncanny amount of light. A large crowd of kids were several feet down the carpeted halls already, he was late, as usual. Grunting, he ran off after them, not wanting another late note; not that it would matter, he already had too many.
A few kids amidst the group turned to look at the straggler running towards them.
Dangit...look at them, they just look like there's nothing in the world they care more about then themselves. He thought, taking his place in the back of the group, not willing to push any further inwards. The loud yet somewhat monotone conversations brightened the mood of the day, but all Isaac could think of was the grumbling of his stomach. He chose not to eat breakfast as he would rather not deal with other humans first thing in the morning. A respectable claim; he thought. But now he was suffering the consequences as lunch wasn't until 2:15 PM.

The first classroom was small, about the size of a normal public school's classroom would look. However, there were no desks or even chairs for that matter. The entire classroom was blank. Therefore, students had to make their way to the relative center of the room and turn to look at the professor Okers as he walked up slowly to the whiteboard. Okers was a young professor that most of the female students whisper about. He was tall and had ruffled brown hair. His intense green eyes gazed around before settling on a single area. He wore a sweater with a collared shirt underneath it, and stood with a bent posture at the front of the classroom, having the attention of most of the class.
Hello. Okers thought. Casting the words out into all of our consciouses. As we have explained in the past, today is the day we begin to learn how to Cast. Casting is a very important part of a Linker's carrier, especially as one who plans on fighting Manipulators.
He explained, moving around the room slowly in a pace.
I want all of you kids to get into groups of 4. He commanded, making all of the kids in the room react quickly. Isaac just went into a group he saw didn't have enough people. He didn't really have any friends in this place, so he would just have to make do for now.
Good. Now, I want you to pair up within these groups. I'll explain what I mean later. Okers thinks. Isaac looks across at some random guy he'd never seen before. The kid was a weird one, with his hair dyed ice white and steel blue eyes. He as well walked about with a bent posture. Isaac does a nod to silently agree with the kid that they will be partners. Once you've done that, I want you to just think of something. I'd recommend your name for starters. Okers explains. Isaac does as he's told and begins to think about his name. Isaac. Isaac. Isaac...okay, what's this going to accomplish?
Okers walks around. I assume you've done as I've asked and you're all now thinking about your name? Good. Now I want you to do something quite a bit more difficult, I want you take your name, look out into the Void, and use your name as a vessel to get to your partner's conscious. He mentally explains, making all of the students erupt into subtle background chatter. It might be difficult, but you can at least try.
Isaac grins, he's been able to do this already. For some reason, it just comes naturally to him, something he was quite proud of. However, he still wasn't good at it, as seen with the computer. So he steps out onto the threshold of his mind. One more step off would lead him to the Void, a dark, cold place full of all that wasn't. But there was still life within this abyss of nothingness. There were still human consciences, standing out like stars against the blanket of a night sky. One of the closest stars to Isaac happened to be the boy across from him, so he stopped for a moment to collect his breath. Once he was ready, he moved his conscious closer to the boy's, until they were safely across the Void. He then called his name out to the close mind, enveloping it and pushing in the idea of his name deep within the other person's mind. The boy across from him suddenly shrieked with fear and jolted backwards, breaking the Cast, and making the back of Isaac's eyes lightly itch.
Professor Okers looks over towards the two. One sprawled across the floor like a rug and the other standing there awkwardly.
"Isaac Crux! Have you already managed a proper Cast?" He calls out in slight disbelief, walking over to the two kids.
"Yes sir, I've always known how to do this." Isaac replies, making Okers reel his head back in apparent astonishment.
"Prove it then, think your name to me." Professor Okers challenges, folding his arms over his chest. "Prove this isn't a game."
"Alright." Issac says aloud.
Hello Professor Okers.
Oh my gosh...you can actually do a proper Cast this quickly?! Professor Okers responds quickly.
Yes. As I previously stated; I have actually been able to do this for quite a while now. Isaac responds, this time folding his arms around his chest.
"Are they doing a Cast?" One girl whispers from the crowd, moving in a little closer.
"I don't know, maybe they are."
Listen, I don't know how you're able to do this so well for just a student, regardless of how well you've been able to do it in the past. This is simply incredible. Professor Okers exclaims, beginning now to pace. About how long have you known how to do this? He asks.
As long as I can remember and more. Isaac responds, unfolding his hands and stuffing them in his pocket.
"They've been quiet for way too long now..." The same girl comments, drawing moans from the rest of the crowd.
"Just shut-up Julian."
What else are you able to do? Isaac stops and ponders a moment as Professor Okers asks this question.
I...don't actually know. I feel like I can do so much, but there's no way of me learning what it is.
I think I can help with that. Here. Try to imagine a place or thing and send me a mental image of it. Professor Okers suggests, shrugging his shoulders. Isaac responds by thinking about the painting in his room which he always would idly stare at while he'd silently think to himself.
Okay, I'm seeing a painting of a flower, is this what you intended?
Yes. Came the quick reply. Drawing yet another approving nod from the Professor.
"Hey, teach, what's going on? What're 'ya nodding about?" Julian asks again, drawing yet more groans from the class.
"I said just shut-up Julian."
"Hey! I'm just asking questions!" She retorts before Professor Okers breaks the short-lived argument by raising his hand in their direction. Obviously trying to cut them off.
"Alright. I've reached a decision. Isaac, I want you to come with me. The rest of you guys, I need you to stay here and continue working on this project. You have one week to be able to do a proper Cast. No shorter." Okers explains to the class, igniting more complaints.
"Why does he get to leave class early?" One kid asks.
"Because he's special." The Professor bluntly puts, obviously not in the mood to answer any more questions. He dismisses them to go do their work and starts out the door, beaconing for Isaac to follow.
"Sir, where are we going?" Isaac asks once the two were out in the halls.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you this. But Casting is incredibly difficult at first and actually should take several months. The original point of this lesson was to get people frustrated before we told them that it was impossible to do in only 7 days. However, it was also a test to see if anyone was able to at least get close. I never expected someone to get it immediately though."
"Is this a bad thing?" Isaac asks, glancing out at the sunlight sheepishly peeking over the edge of the wall that borders the Apex Academy.
"Potentially." He responds. "But in the least, we need to provide special care for you. So in most of your mental based lessons you will no longer be taught by me, but rather a mentor." Isaac nodded in understanding, and sighed.
"But that doesn't fully answer my question, where are we going?" He pushes. Okers runs his fingers through his brown hair, and the lines under his eyes grew more visible. He was young, but it looked like great amounts of stress had been put on his shoulders. The poor man.
"You shall see. Don't worry, it shouldn't be a bad thing." He confirms, turning a corner into the female dorm section of the school. Isaac abruptly stops at the threshold as the Professor continued on walking.
Where do you think you're going?!? Isaac screamed at Okers through thought. The Professor turned around with a mischievous grin.
I'm going into the girl's dorms, where else?
Yeah. I can see that. But why? Professor Okers ignores the question and continues walking.
Follow me and find out. The Professor challenged. Isaac sighed in apparent anger and confusion, weighing his morals and judging whether or not he wanted to follow. He eventually gave in though and found himself following Okers through the pretty hallways of the female dorm area. Isaac was in constant worry as to what was going on, and didn't want to be caught here, even with a teacher.
Why!? You know going here is against the rules. You're a teacher! Isaac desperately thought, making Okers chuckle. He didn't break stride though as he walked past the bathrooms and made it to the end of the hall, where the waiting room was. The waiting room was the area you sat in before your dorm was decided. Why they were going to this place now was unfamiliar to Isaac.
What's going on here? Isaac Casts out to Okers, who responds with a grunt.
I want to teach you something right here and now, a rather simple concept. It's called Scan. It's simply the act of expanding your view into the Void to look for more minds. Isaac nodded gravely and attempted the technique. Standing first on the pillar of his own mind, he cast a weary gaze about the darkness of the Void. Scanning for any signs of other minds, and finding none besides his own and Okers.
I don't see anybody.
Look harder, you're still not all that good at this. Isaac was offended by the comment, and began to search harder. Straining his minds eye for any sign of life besides his own out there. But again, he only came up with Oker's.
Still nothing.
Hmm, then I was correct about this... Okers thinks, a grin pasted on his face which mocks Isaac.
Correct about what?
You'll see. Okers muses, making Isaac pout in anger, his eyes beginning to water from such a long time Casting. They were growing red and itching, and he found it was getting to be hard to keep them open.
Now then, shall we see what's on the other side of this door? The Professor asks with a goofy grin, making Isaac scowl.
"Please." He says in a quiet voice, breaking the Cast as a tear fell down his face from how watery his eyes were. It was physically straining to hold a Cast up for too long, which was why people generally just send a single thought, not hold up a conversation. Okers nods in response to the reply and opens the door to the waiting room.
Inside there is a girl about Isaac's age. She looks up from the book she was reading, moving a silky pale hand to clear away the stray strands of black hair that covered her field-green eyes. She smiles just lightly, a touch on the edges of her lips. Her rosy cheeks contrasted against her pale face.
"Hello. Who are you?"She asks, pointing towards Isaac, who found himself staring in a mindless stupor towards the girl.
You're blushing. Okers adds, reddening Isaac's face even more.
"I-I'm Isaac Crux." He stammers, walking over and offering his hand to shake. She doesn't accept it though, so he awkwardly puts it down. "Who are you?" He asks.
She grins a cute grin, making tiny dimples appear in her cheeks and she put a bookmark on the page she was on. Standing up, this time she offered her hand.
"My name is Autumn Sorrow."