Immortālitās

Chapter Nine

A week before the U.A. festival I received a call from my quirk specialist that asked me to visit his office as soon as possible.

"Ivan," the specialist greeted me. "Please take a seat."

"What is it that you've discovered, Doctor?"

"I'll cut right to the chase," he removed some papers and charts from his desk. "Your quirk is going to be re-classified."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I questioned him. "I regenerate and that's all there is to it."

"Oh young Ivan," he laughed. "Your quirk is so much more than regeneration."

Okay? Now my interest was piqued.

"We believe that your quirk is a physical manifestation of vitality."

What?

"I can see that you're confused," he noted. "Vitality has many different concepts depending on who you ask. To put it simply, in accordance with your quirk, vitality is life, health, youth, or the ability to even live or exist. That's why your body regenerates. It's how you're stronger and faster than a normal person without an enhancement quirk. You are the epitome of life itself. But with there being so many beliefs behind the concept of vitality, I'm not quite sure where to go from here. I do have some ideas though. First and foremost, do you have any questions for me before we continue?"

"It's not particularly a question," I tried to reel my thoughts in, "but I do have one thing that comes to mind."

I told him about my previous training and how my finger regenerated.

"I see," he cupped his chin in thought. "I believe your body took longer to regenerate because that's how your quirk was being treated. We believed that your quirk was regeneration and so that's how you used it. You waited for your body to do something rather than willing your body to do it. So, when you were training, your thoughts aligned more with willing your body to regenerate. Does that make sense?"

"I, I think so." I rubbed my hands against my thighs.

It was a lot to take in.

"Now as I was saying earlier," he continued. "Depending on who you ask, people are going to give you their idea of what vitality means to them based upon their beliefs, religions, ideologies, and what have you. Our question right now is, which concept best fits your quirk? Perhaps it is just as I described earlier, the basic concept of life itself. Others believe vitality is a life force or substance of physical energy. Would this energy flow remain within your body, or could it be manipulated to affect any persons or things around you? Could your quirk be one or both of those things? Or perhaps something else entirely? That is what we'd like to discover today or attempt to at least. If you're willing, there are a handful of tests and exercises we'd like to take you through to understand more of your abilities."

I openly gaped at him and nodded.

There was so much hidden potential within the depths of my unexplored quirk.

"Well then," he chortled. "If you would follow me, we can get started right away. I'm thankful that you came as early as you did, we've got the entire day ahead of us!"

I followed him to another room that was labeled the Quirk Analysis Lab, I remembered it from my early childhood.

"I can see the recognition on your face," he commented lightly. "This is, indeed, the room you were first brought to after your recovery. If only we weren't so shortsighted then."

He sighed and proceeded to guide me to the center of the lab.

"First thing's first," he turned to me. "If you could take a seat on one of the mats on the floor, I'd like to start with meditation."

"Meditation?" I queried, seating myself on the floor.

"Yes," he replied. "What I'd like you to do, or attempt to do, is to locate your quirk within yourself."

"Within myself?" I hesitated.

"Yes," he chirped again. "It has been recently discovered that some of the Quirked while meditating, feel some kind of source, or energy within themselves that we believe is tied to their quirk itself."

"Okay," I shrugged shutting my eyes. "What am I supposed to be looking for? Or feeling, I guess?"

"Any sensation that feels different," he advised. "I've had one person associate the feeling to that of a flowing river, while another related it to a bouncing ball. It will feel different from one Quirked to another."

I hummed in understanding and closed my eyes.

"Just relax and breathe," the doctor offered. "And don't feel rushed. Like I said, we have plenty of time."

I decided not to respond and focused as he typed away on his computer. I listened as he worked away until the typing became white noise, and faded away into the background. Then, I listened to myself. I listened to my breathing, as I slowly inhaled and then exhaled. Once I was relaxed enough, I stopped breathing altogether and listened for my heartbeat. At one beat per minute, it was easy to get lost in the emptiness I currently felt.

I continued to search and dug deeper.

I felt like I burrowed into the very depths of myself before I felt it.

There was something that tickled at the very edge of my senses, so I reached for it and it responded.

Warmth.

It felt like a Spring breeze, lightly blowing through a flowering meadow, signaling a new beginning.

I could feel death leaving as new life gave way.

I left my inner-self and felt as a tear slipped from beneath my eyelids, I smiled.

"I found it," I expressed.

"I knew you would!" The doctor rejoiced. "This has opened up so many possibilities! So many doors to look through! So? How did it feel?"

"It felt nice," I grinned as he looked at me, obviously wanting more than that simple explanation. "I don't know if I'll be able to properly put my feelings into words, but it was warm. Like the kind of warmth you feel when you step out into the sun, but radiating all over. Then there was this gentle, relaxing breeze. I feel like I can still feel it, brushing past my face. As I said, it was nice."

"That does sound quite nice," he babbled. "Rather descriptive too. Well done. Now, focus again without going too deep and see if you can still feel it."

"Let's see," I closed my eyes and focused. "I can feel the warmth, but just barely."

"That's quite good all things considered," he typed something into his computer before rising from his seat. "It's been a few hours since we started, so I need to take a quick break to get something to eat. You can come join me for lunch if you'd like, if not I can leave you here to keep trying to pull that feeling out?"

"I'd like to keep trying," I stated. "Thank you for your offer."

"No problem kid," he walked towards the door. "I should be back in about one hour. I look forward to your progress!"

I closed my eyes as the door clicked behind him, and started focusing on the warmth again.

Without getting too focused, I tried pulling on it and attempted to bring it to the surface.

It hardly moved.

Huh.

Perhaps this was another example of treating my quirk like something it wasn't?

Earlier it felt like I just reached for it and it responded, now it felt like I was trying to grab onto it and force it out.

I took a deep breath and felt for the warmth again.

Only this time, I reached for the feeling and just called.

It responded once more.

"You look pleased," my specialist laughed when I startled. "I take it you were able to make the feeling respond?"

"Yes, sir," I beamed.

"Excellent," he clasped his hands. "I just returned half an hour ago, so you're making impeccable progress. Let's keep moving forward! What I want you to attempt next is moving that energy throughout your body. See if you can pool it within your stomach, and circulate it throughout your body. Get creative!"

I did as I was instructed and called the warmth forward. I was surprised at how easy it was to pool it into one area. If Spring could be taken and turned into putty, that's what it was now like. I felt like a potter as I manipulated the warmth to move from one part of my body to another. But as it moved, it was light and airy, like the light breeze that drifted over the flowering meadow from earlier.

"I've got it," I opened my eyes and smiled at the man.

"Wow. That was fast." He walked around his desk and pulled out a small video camera. "Now this next exercise is merely due to my curiosity. I want you to take the warmth and spread it evenly throughout your system. Once you do that, try pushing it outwards. I'll be using this camera to record anything that might occur."

I settled back into my position and pooled the warmth in my chest before spreading it evenly throughout my body. Once it was comfortably spread, I pushed it a little bit but it fought back. It didn't want to leave me.

Huh.

What if I simply extended it?

I brought the warmth back into my chest and condensed it, trying to bring out its purist form before spreading it evenly throughout my body once more.

I relaxed and let it spread out, merely as an extension of myself.

"Oh, wow," the doctor whispered.

"What?" I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Is something wrong?"

"I think you should look," he walked towards me and handed me the camera. "Just hit the replay button."

I took the camera and turned it around, hesitating before pressing the replay button.

I watched the screen for a moment before my eyes widened.

"That young man," the specialist proclaimed. "Is a breakthrough."

I pressed the replay button again and smiled.

The remainder of the week passed quickly as my class trained and before we knew it, it was time.

The morning of the U.A. Sports Festival finally arrived.

"I wanted to wear my costume," Mina sighed.

"It's to keep everything fair," Mashirao smiled at her while stretching.

"Are any of you curious as to what the first round's going to be?" Rikido questioned us.

"The events are decided at random," Izuku replied. "But they have a whole list of things that could be selected. I watched one year where the first-year students had to..."

I chuckled at his muttering. What an oddball.

"Everyone!" Tenya crashed through the door. "We will be entering the arena soon!"

"Midoriya." We all stopped as Shoto approached the green-haired boy. "In all fairness, I believe I'm the stronger one between us. But that doesn't stop All Might from having his sight set on you, does it?"

Izuku froze.

"I'm not going to pry into that," the scarred boy continued. "I will beat you."

"Hey," Eijiro walked over to them. "What's up with the drama all of a sudden? The festival is about to start!"

"What does it matter," Shoto shoved his way past him. "This is a competition."

"I don't know what you mean when you say you'll beat me," Izuku willed himself to respond. "But you are better than me. You have more potential than most people. But the students from the other classes are shooting for the top with all of their might. I won't fall behind."

"Class rep?" Mashirao looked my way. "Is this okay?"

"There's nothing wrong with a little bit of competition amongst peers," I smiled before grinning mischievously. "But I expect you all to remember who the top predator is in this room."

I walked out as the room exploded.

That should get them fired up.

"Hey!" Present Mic announced while we waited in the tunnel before entering the arena. "Flock around you media outlets, and all you viewers be sure to pay attention! This year's high school rodeo of fledgling heroes that you all adore, the U.A. Sports Festival, is about to begin! Are. You. Ready?!"

The arena erupted into cheers.

"It's time for the first-year stage entrance!" He continued to lead the crowd as the entrance music started playing.

"This is it, guys!" I overlooked my class. "Let's show them what we're made of!"

We walked out of the gate.

"These are the ones!" Present Mic continued building up the crowd. "The inexplicable youngsters that took-on enemy attacks with their hearts of steel! Hero course, Class 1-A, yeah?!"

"Calm down, Midoriya." I looked at the boy. "We're going to be heroes. Show confidence to the crowd."

"B-but Ivan," he muttered. "Isn't your heart racing?"

"I wouldn't know what that feels like," I laughed at his confused expression. "But chin up! We're Class 1-A!"

"This is part of the training required to become a hero," Tenya added regally.

"I'm getting nervous," Eijiro looked at his blonde friend. "Aren't you, Bakugo?"

"I'm just getting into it," the explosion boy smirked.

"This class hasn't received much airtime," Present Mic's voice called over the arena. "But, they too are full of talent! Hero course, Class 1-B! Next up is general studies! Classes C, D, and E! Let's not forget that the Support course is here as well! Classes F, G, and H! The Business course fills out the end! Classes I, J, and K! Here we are, everyone! All of U.A.'s first-years are on the field!"

We all stopped in the middle of the arena and stood before the R-Rated Hero, Midnight, who was on top of a platform.

"It's time for the player pledge!" She called out. "This year's representative for the first-year's will be Katsuki Bakugo from Class 1-A!"

"K-Kacchan?!" Izuku stuttered as Bakugo stepped forward. "What in the world?"

"He did do pretty well on the entrance exam," Hanta added before looking at me. "But didn't you finish first, Ivan?"

"In the hero course," a girl from the general studies scoffed.

"They asked me to open the ceremony, but I recommended Katsuki instead," I answered Hanta before looking at the foolish girl. "I usually don't like showing off, but I don't like your attitude. I got the highest score out of anyone in any course that took the entrance exam this year. So Hanta was correct, I did finish first in the entrance exam."

I laughed at her glare.

Yep, they hate us.

"I pledge," Katsuki stated from the podium. "That I'll be number one."

The rest of the students freaked out while I smiled.

I knew that was going to happen.

Now the real competition was going to begin.

Hello, friends! Sorry for how slow this update came out compared to the others. My work schedule got in the way, so I had to take a moment to adult. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as we dove a little bit into Ivan's quirk, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

TTFN.