Chapter 4
Twenty girls from the first year class were lined up in front of Arnette and she looked over each girl slowly. The sky was clear and the temperature warm as she walked along the row of students. This area was typically used to practice the use of volt weapons, but today it would serve a different purpose. This would be the first section of first years to begin attempting to summon their volt weapons. A necessary step for each of the girls in becoming a Pandora.
What made this day particularly different, however, was the fact that along the side of the field a group of people stood watching. A group of people who normally were not required to attend. This group of twenty students were the top of their class so far in the first month and so earned the right to make their attempts first.
Varen stood next to Kyoichi Minase, Abel Rotomaster, and Andre Francois talking with one another. From where Skylar stood amongst her classmates the four men chatted with each other and every now and again they would grin. A little further away was both the heads of the medical facilities at West Genetics, Roxanne Elipton and Amelia Evans. Clipboards and folders were clutched in their arms as they talked with one another looking over the girls.
The most unnerving was the headmaster, Elizabeth Francois and the assistant headmaster, Ticy Rotomaster were also in attendance. Beside them stood Ingrid Bernstein, Cassie Minase, and Charles Bonaparte. The top administration of the facility was all watching as if this were some great event. Skylar knew that it was most likely because their children were all part of this group of twenty and wanted to see how they did. She couldn't shake the feeling, however, that their presence went further than just to see their children's progress.
"Summoning a volt weapon is the most vital portion of your training to become a Pandora. Without it, you have no way of defending yourself. Without it, you cannot defeat the Nova. All of you are here because of your compatibility with the stigmata implanted in your body. You already know the base concepts of accessing that stigmata and drawing energy from it. You must draw that energy and force it to take physical shape in your hands. With practice it will become second nature to you, and you will be able to bring it forth instantaneously." Arnette said throwing her arm out wide. Lights danced through the air until the pole of her scythe appeared in her hand taking form.
"Wow…" One of the girl's said as the scythe fully appeared stretching out away from her body.
"What do you think?" Andre asked quietly.
"Not sure yet. I might be more nervous than Skylar to be honest." Varen answered looking at his daughter out on the field.
"Me too. I think Elizabeth is the same, that's why she's here. She wouldn't miss this for the world." Andre responded and Varen slapped him on the back lightly.
"Attia will do great. Tina too." Varen said looking back at Kyoichi.
"When are you two going to join the club?" Kyoichi asked nudging Abel with his shoulder.
"We like coming home to a quiet house without the noise and mess of children. Besides, it's not like your kids don't spend enough time with us as is. It's like we have three kids already." Abel answered with a laugh.
"That is a bit strange. They are always at Varen's or your place. They never seem to come over to ours." Andre said tapping his chin.
"Who wants to hang out at the headmaster's house? That sounds like loads of fun." Varen muttered rolling his eyes. Kyoichi snickered in response.
"We are plenty fun!" Andre argued.
"I'm sure. I bet you and Elizabeth would talk about school and how important it is. I bet it's like being in a classroom over there." Varen continued.
"I'm sorry, but what was that Mr. Askiligar?" Elizabeth asked strolling over and standing nearby, her arms crossed. Varen glanced over at her and shrugged.
"I was just telling Andre that the kids avoid your place because you're boring and a pain to deal with." Varen answered making everyone's eyes widen in shock. Elizabeth blinked a few times trying to process his statement.
"I am not boring or a pain to deal with! Andre, tell him I'm not!" Elizabeth argued losing her composure. Andre put his head in his hands and sighed.
"You are the only person capable of doing this to her." He lamented.
"Melissa Albright, begin!" Arnette commanded and everyone turned to pay attention to the field once more.
"I like that girl. She is a sweetheart." Elizabeth said as the girl stepped forward from the row of students.
"Me too, she comes by with the others a lot." Ticy agreed joining the others.
Melissa held her hand out and closed her eyes focusing everything on activating her stigmata. She trembled slightly from nervousness as well as the process of activating the stigmata. For the first years this was all still new, and using their stigmata drained them heavily. It would take time to build up the necessary energy and discipline to use it properly.
"Don't force it Melissa. Your weapon is already out there; you do not need to create it. You only need to call for it." Arnette encouraged watching the girl begin to sweat. She dropped to a knee and Arnette took a step forward instinctively.
"No! I can do this…" Melissa said through labored breath and Arnette stopped. A shimmer appeared in the air ahead of Melissa before it expanded and sparks of light took form. A small smile crossed Arnette's lips as she stepped back and a long curved object coalesced into her hand.
"Congratulations Ms. Albright. First to attempt, and first to succeed." Arnette said. Melissa regained her footing breathing heavily as she looked at the bow in her hands. She looked over at Arnette who stepped aside and gave her a simple nod. Melissa stretched her left arm ahead of her holding the bow and used her right hand to grab the string. As her fingers wrapped around it an arrow appeared nocked and ready seemingly made of pure energy. She pulled it back swiftly and let the arrow fly and it exploded against the reinforced wall on the far end of the field.
"Long range attacker. She will be a striker then yes?" Elizabeth asked.
"Depends on her skill and the strength of her bow. She could be a finisher if she's good enough." Varen answered.
"Regardless, good for her. Lot of pressure being the first to make the attempt and she succeeded. That's a weight off the shoulders for sure." Abel said.
"Skylar Askiligar, begin!" Arnette ordered and Varen watched his daughter step forward. He noticed Amelia and Roxanne paying very close attention as the girl held her hand out.
"Natural born so she has no implanted stigmata. How does this work?" Kyoichi asked.
"The stigmata material is in our bodies, not an implant. Same process, but she must pass the energy through her entire body as opposed to a localized area where stigmata is implanted." Varen answered without looking away.
"Excited?" Ticy asked and Varen's head didn't move.
"Yes…and no." He answered honestly as Skylar began to channel energy through her body calling on the stigmata cells in her body to activate. Skylar bit down hard feeling the cells in her body beginning to fire off filling her with energy. Unlike the other girls it took more to keep hers in check as it was present in her entire body. For once she was thankful for all the time her dad had spent with her helping her to understand it.
"Aunt Rin…help me…" She whispered quietly stretching her fingers out and blinking heavily. Roxanne took a step forward jerking her head towards Arnette who also fought to stay in her place. Lines of Nova energy appeared across Skylar's eyes and they began to glow yellow. Until now her eyes had been normal, but now showed signs of a true Novaborn.
"Varen?" Ticy asked, but he still seemed as if nothing had happened.
"Calling the weapon must be what fully awakens a Novaborn. My sister never had eyes like that because she never got to use her weapon. Chiffon, Charon, and Claire all did and now Skylar will too." He explained.
"Can you feel it Skylar?" Arnette asked and the girl nodded closing her eyes tightly and forcing the energy in her body to reach out and latch onto the physical manifestation of her volt weapon. She closed her fist around the handle as it appeared in her hand. The energy continued further forming into the rest of the weapon and then as suddenly as it began everything was calm. The energy in her body receded and was replaced by an intense feeling of fear and dread. Skylar kept her eyes closed willing for the feeling to vanish, but it only intensified further.
"What…" Amelia trailed off dropping the folders in her hands to the ground. Arnette turned her head towards Varen her mouth hanging open and all he could do was stare back at her dumbfounded.
"No!" Skylar screamed opening her eyes and dropping the weapon in her hand. She fell to the ground on her knees burying her face in her hands crying violently as Melissa knelt beside her holding her tightly. Attia and Tina ran over putting their hands on her shoulders as she sobbed shaking her head back and forth.
"Is that…" Elizabeth began and Varen started walking forward away from them towards the students. The weapon Skylar had dropped landed blade down in the dirt and swayed back and forth gently. A long elegant blade with a slight curve leading to a handguard and decorated handle.
"Yes, Charon's katana." Varen answered.
