DEVIATE X / / AN UNORDINARY FANFICTION

VIII.

Next Day.

"Did you hear what Delta did to Arlo? She broke through his barrier!"

"Delta..?! The new student? No way! Does that she mean she's as strong as Seraphina...?"

"Is she going to overthrow Remi....?"

Whispers filled the hall as people glanced at me nervously. The sea of students parted back in fear as I continued down the hallway, averting my eyes down to my white converse slipping silently against the tiles.

How did the events of Turf War get out? Surely Arlo wasn't stupid enough to tell anyone....?

Arlo....that bastard. What he did yesterday wasn't reasonable or honorable. People at this school look up to him for guidance and follow under his leadership. He acted irrationally in the moment, knowing he had the upper hand. To wield such power and act the way he did as a and individual with tremendous power....he's just like every other high tier out there.

I clenched my fist angrily and winced, glancing at the source that was causing me pain. Underneath the fabric of my navy blue school blazer, a set of pristine bandages peeked over the sleeve, curling a little past my wrist. Even though I was able to use my regenerative ability to accelerate the process of healing my surface wounds, I could only accelerate the growth of cells, not create calcium needed to fix (what I suspect is) my broken arm.

"Hey Doc," I greeted coolly as a rush of cold air  from the infirmary enveloped my body.

"Have a seat kiddo." He replied without looking up from his computer screen, furiously typing away.

I took a seat closest to his desk as I took off my jacket. At the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of Blyke's red hair facing down to the floor, his legs swinging off the bed nearest to me.

"How's your arm doing?" He asked casually as he lifted his head up, his golden eyes boring into mine. "Breaking that barrier is no easy feat."

No, it wasn't. I didn't consider Arlo's strength, or the fact that the main reason he's King is because of how powerful his abilities are. I took a gamble and acted on impulse, out of anger. What's gotten into me lately?

"It's nothing compared to the wounds you suffered from yesterday." I responded slowly, wincing as Doc's fingers prodded my forearm.

It was true. Blyke's face was taped up with bandages, along with a bluish lavender shade blotting his eye. Despite the wounds, he seemed pretty carefree and unfazed by them.

"Yep, you really outdid yourself on this one, kid." Doc tutted. "You have a clean break through your radius."

Go figure. It was no wonder that even a simple motion of turning my hand face up hurt like hell.

"If it were anyone else, they'd shatter their arm." He sighed. " "I thought I told you to keep a good rep, kid. You attacked Arlo and broke his barrier-in front of the rival school. You know how people are going to react when they discover that a god tier-who isn't even a Royal-can defeat the strongest male student at Wellston?"

Blyke's head snapped up at this.

"Don't...." I replied abruptly, averting my eyes away from Blyke, "....label me like that."

"Like it, love it or hate it, but you have to accept your powers as a responsibility, not as an issue anymore. You can't change who you are, kid. I know you've never been in a public school setting like this before, and I hate to break it to you, but the hierarchy, tiers—this is how things are." Doc said as he formulated a tonic. "The sooner you adhere to the way this world circulates, the less issues you'll have."

"Was I supposed to accept the fact that because Arlo was stronger, he had the liberty to choke out Agwin's Queen like that?" I blurted out sarcastically. "He could've seriously injured her!"

"Isn't that the point of doing it? The strongest kids from each school fight each other for god knows what, but always results in some severe injury?" He said dismissively as he handed me the paper cup.

I bit my tongue and let the question resonate in the air before I let my anger bubble over. No....that wasn't the point. It wasn't Turf Wars; it was Arlo's arrogance that was pissing me off the most, giving him a distorted sense of power of what he can and can't do.

"Since you healed your own surface wounds, the tonic will take a good amount of time to repair the break in your arm. But because you broke your dominant hand, it'd probably be best if you rest for a bit." Doc informed as he returned back to his desk, waving me off to a bed.

I plopped down on the bed next to Blyke's and stared at the ceiling. I've never been so frustrated and felt so scatter brained in my life. Why is this bothering me so much?

"So is it true?"

I craned my neck slightly and looked at Blyke, who made no motion to tear away his gaze from the ceiling.

"What?" I breathed quietly.

"You don't like your powers?"

I turned my head back before I opened my mouth, hesitant to answer his question.

"Yes, it's true."

"You're powerful. Stronger than Arlo, even." He paused. "So why?"

This time, he made an effort to turn towards me. The sunlight from the window streamed through his irises, shading them like a warm pot of honey.

Why...?

"....P-please don't hurt me...."

"....I was told we should stay away from her."

"....Why did you have to be born like this?!"

I felt paralyzed as the cries from my past filled my head. I clutched my chest and slowed my quickened breaths, clenching my jaw.

"You know.....there's this saying...."

My voice sounded weak as I held out my hands in front of my face. My fingers shook slightly before I curled them into a fist and pressed them against my chest, not wanting to let go.

"Just because someone carries something well doesn't mean it isn't heavy." :;