The Exceptions

What You Got?

Dawn

As the lecturer stands in the front of the room, droning on and on about how 'health and nutrition can lead to stronger exception usage', Dawn plays with her hair, dreaming about what life might be like outside the Academy. How she could meet new people, team up with them, and go on the epic quests she has always longed for. How she would one day meet a man, fall in love, and go and kill things with him. Maybe even do that one thing people did way back in the day... for entertainment... besides using powers. Netflix and kill? Maybe that was it, she has no idea.

"Dawn, please pay attention," the lecturer murmurs, unenthusiastically. She rolls her eyes, turning her head to face him.

"But why? You know all this stuff doesn't help me," she drawls with the utmost boredom. The lecturer looks her over, unconvinced.

"Are you sure you understand your power that well? To me, it seems a little complex."

"Ugh, watch and learn." Dawn points an open hand towards the ceiling and waves to the side. A small line of fire appears above them, and then extinguishes almost immediately.

"That was rather weak," he says. "You should focus more, add more power."

"Yeah, I'm well aware that it was weak. I'm just out of it right now, I can't really focus on anything in this class. You know that it is based on my mental state. I had to use my arm to control it or else it wouldn't have resembled anything at all or it could have burned out of control or-" she was cut off by the lecturer waving his hand dismissively. "Sorry, did I start rambling again? I didn't mean it. And I don't mean to be disrespectful, but everyone knows I don't need this class, in fact this is the most useless one. I want to learn techniques, not the mechanics of power and duration... that's just boring!"

"Yo, shut the fuck up!" yells a kid from the back of the class. The lecturer gives up and sits down in the closest seat, walkie talkie in hand.

"Excuse me?" Dawn challenges, looking for the person who dared to say that. Did I do something wrong?

"I said shut up, you moron. Some of us are actually trying to learn, and we don't need your 'larger than life' attitude in this room"

"What am I?" Dawn questions, her face turning crimson. The lecturer's face pales as he realizes what is about to happen.

"Larger than life, you disrespectful, useless, fat mongrel!" He spits as his eyes light up. Three swords materialize next to him and fly at Dawn. She sidesteps to the left with ease and charges him. The swords spring to face her once again and barrel back at her, much faster than before.

"Scared, mother fucker?!" She screams, rushing toward her assailant. With a large explosion, his swords erupt and disintegrate directly behind her, sending a shockwave reverberating throughout the room that knocks the boy to the ground. She skidded to a stop and raised a hand towards him, closing her eyes, only to open them again. Wearing a fierce expression, she shifts her hand. Before the kid has the time to look up, his entire section of the classroom ignites like a firework store set ablaze on the Fourth of July. The inferno is massive, incinerating anything and everything unlucky enough to be caught in the blaze. The fire remains there for quite some time before other students rush in and try to calm Dawn down, offering reassuring words and comforting pats. Breathing heavily, she shakes them off and marches out of the door, laying one last solid punch on her aggressor. She storms down the hallway, trying to wrangle her emotions under control.