Tiphe Session
I found myself alone in my room, a room now equipped with a turret that clung ominously to the window. My thoughts swirled in a tempestuous storm as I grappled with the events that had just unfolded.
An assassin had been dispatched to eliminate me—me, of all people. It was a bewildering notion, for I was far from the seasoned agent that evoked fear and respect among my peers. I was a newcomer, a mere fledgling who had arrived just two days ago, barely scratching the surface of combat training. I didn't possess the formidable powers of a seasoned agent, nor did I command the mystique that came with experience.
Yet, someone had deemed me a target, a threat worthy of elimination. It begged the question: what significance did I hold? Perhaps it was the enigmatic power within me, the Perk that lay dormant in my DNA. But I remained ignorant of how to harness that power, unable to summon it at will.
Tears threatened to well up within me, the weight of fear and uncertainty pressing down on my chest. But my eyes remained dry, bereft of the solace that tears might bring. I couldn't afford the luxury of vulnerability at this moment. Classes were imminent, and I needed to steel myself, banishing the fear that threatened to consume my heart.
As I made my way to the next class, I encountered two figures approaching me, their smiles illuminated by the gleam of their white teeth. Tisiah and Nikki, the inseparable siblings, exuded an aura of warmth that was difficult to resist.
"Hey, are you okay?" Tisiah inquired, concern etched across his face. I nodded in response, though Nikki appeared less convinced by my reassurance.
We stepped into an elevator, descending to the outdoor classroom where our next lesson would unfold. It was an intriguing facet of our training—wand-fighting in an open, natural setting.
Our instructor was a formidable figure, a woman with jet-black hair that transitioned to a vibrant pink at its tips. She sported the sleek black attire characteristic of the female agents in our midst. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of awkwardness at the thought of donning such outfits. Not that I would ever admit it.
Her name was Master Tiphe, and she had a reputation for being a stern instructor, especially when dealing with the less proficient students. I had a nagging feeling that I would soon become a prime target for her scrutiny.
"Hello, students," she greeted us, her voice carrying an air of authority. "You all seem a bit flushed, don't you think? How about a hundred push-ups to get the blood flowing?"
Groans filled the air as students begrudgingly complied, though my anxiety rendered me incapable of uttering a word.
"Oh, so now you all think you need a break. Is fairy dust too much for you to handle?" she taunted, a wide, malicious grin on her face. "I think you all need another hundred, don't you agree?"
The collective groaning intensified, punctuated by the thud of bodies hitting the ground. Push-ups commenced, hands pressed firmly against the floor as tension coursed through our limbs. My arms and legs protested the sudden exertion, but I had no intention of earning Master Tiphe's ire.
I strained to appear as composed as possible, though the sweat that glistened on my skin betrayed my internal struggle. A feeble attempt to discreetly wipe it away only served to underscore my discomfort.
As Master Tiphe drew closer to my location, I intensified my efforts, determined not to falter under her scrutiny. But despite my best efforts, stability abandoned me, and I faltered.
Panic coursed through me as she halted before me, her gaze piercing through my facade. "You're that young boy who was targeted for elimination, aren't you?" she inquired. The question hung in the air, the answer all too apparent. I remained silent, knowing that words were unnecessary.
The revelation seemed to amuse her, eliciting laughter from Malachi and his cohorts, as well as a smattering of other students. Laughter echoed through the room, a collective mockery that left me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"Quiet down!" Master Tiphe snapped at Malachi, her voice laced with an undertone of menace. I seethed with a desire to confront him, to reprimand him for his insolence. But my current position on the ground rendered such actions impossible. Malachi was safely ensconced on the opposite side of the room.
Eventually, we reached the two hundred push-up mark, and the students moaned in protest. Master Tiphe regarded us with a mix of pity and contempt before retreating to her position. "Now, today we will learn how to handle two opponents in a wand-fight. It may seem similar, but it's far more challenging," she declared, her words piquing our interest.
All eyes were fixed on her as she conjured a virtual enemy—a yellow, illusory adversary poised for attack. Armed with a wand, it prepared to strike, only to be effortlessly dispatched by Master Tiphe's skillful maneuvers.
"Now, watch as I face two of these opponents simultaneously," she instructed. Two virtual foes materialized beside her, launching their attacks. I scrutinized her technique, noting her proficiency in redirecting the enemies' attacks against each other.
It was a strategy that exploited the weaknesses of multiple adversaries, an approach that seemed familiar. It reminded me of September, with her ability to turn the tables on her opponents by using their own tactics against them.
"If you attempt to engage both foes at once, you'll find it ineffective. You'll be forced to defend against two fronts, ultimately leading to your defeat. Instead, utilize their tactics against each other, whether facing three, four, or even ten opponents," she explained.
Master Tiphe paced back and forth, her gaze sweeping across the awestruck faces of the students. "By the end of this week, you will practice facing two opponents before we progress further. I will introduce new techniques each day, culminating in an assessment at the week's end. Passing this test will improve your chances of being selected for a mission, even if you failed your initial evaluation."
A surge of panic coursed through me, my heart racing as the implications of her words sank in. Failing this test could relegate me to an extended period of training, delaying my pursuit of becoming a capable agent. My Perk, my unique gift, would remain untapped and unused. I couldn't allow that to happen.
The specter of my uncle's legacy loomed large, the desire to follow in his footsteps and safeguard the world from the machinations of the TSA and the MSTO a burning aspiration. Yet, if I stumbled now, that dream would remain just out of reach.
But even as determination coursed through my veins, a voice in the recesses of my mind whispered doubt. What if I wasn't ready? What if my Perk remained elusive, an untamed force within me?
In the midst of my internal turmoil, the classroom transformed once more, the ground shifting to reveal an opening that descended into darkness. As we landed within the underground chamber, the entrance sealed itself shut, leaving us enclosed in an enigmatic arena.
Master Tiphe continued her instructions, dividing us into groups of two for a practical exercise. Virtual glasses descended from the ceiling, and we donned them, our vision shifting to a new reality. Each of us was provided with a wand, though the powers within them had been nullified for the sake of the exercise.
"Now, students on my right will be Group A, tasked with infiltrating the enemy base from the ground up," she declared. "Stealth is your ally, for the element of surprise is your best weapon."
Her gaze then turned to the students on her left, among them Malachi and his companions. With a total of twenty students in the class, we were divided into two groups of ten.
"You will be Group B, serving as reinforcements in case Group A is compromised. If both groups are defeated, you all lose. However, should you manage to eliminate all enemies within the base or destroy the bomb located in their secret control room, you win. Now, put on your virtual glasses."
As the virtual world enveloped me, I felt as though I had been transported to another realm, a place where reality blurred and possibilities expanded.