Life only gives out one opportunity.
Perhaps this was Dominic’s chance at a brand new start.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He washed his face for the nth time.
Is this a dream?
“How would you like to work for B.O.G.S.?”
“I don’t know…
what is the pay?” Dominic asked.
If he was going to work for the government, he needed to know if the pay was good.
Just as Adrian was about to answer, the door to the infirmary opened, and several people laughed as one was held up; they all looked battered but in a good mood overall.
It didn’t take long for the group to notice them.
“Hi, guys,” Adrian said with familiarity, waving to them with a smile.
“Was the mission tough?
You seem a bit battered,” he said with concern.
The jolly mood the group seemed to be in died down.
“Not at all,” one of them said.
“We were just leaving.”
“But you look hurt.
Are you sure you don’t want to check in?” Adrian asked.
“Jason can check you out once he’s done.”
What’s with them?
Dominic watched the conversation quietly.
The more Adrian expressed concern for the group’s well-being, the more they refused to get themselves checked out–not even when Jason insisted.
It was like they were avoiding Adrian.
“Oh well, since you insist you’re fine,” Adrian said.
He didn’t complete his sentence before the door was shut again.
“Pity,” he added solemnly.
Is it just me, or do they seem to dislike him?
Adrian was quiet for a while, just staring at the door; his smile didn’t falter, nor did he seem affected by the group’s behaviour.
What’s wrong with him?
“Anyway,” Adrian said suddenly, “what were we discussing?”
Dominic stared at him.
Is he okay?
“I asked what the pay was.”
“Right…” Adrian said, seeming to remember.
“Right.” He clapped once.
“Jason, how much is your salary?”
“Why are you asking Jason how much he’s paid?” Dominic asked incredulously.
“I don’t know how much I get paid,” Adrian replied with a shrug.
“All I know is that I get money whenever it’s needed.”
He’s rich…
“…I’m listening.”
And here he is…
To be honest, it’s a bit of a surprise.
Even though he had said yes to the job, he hadn’t expected Adrian to be serious about it.
or that he’d get it.
But somehow, someway, Adrian had managed to pull some strings, and now he had a job at B.O.G.S.
“I still don’t like that name,” he muttered.
A knock sounded.
“Coming,” he called.
Hopefully things go well…
He opened the door to see Jason standing alone.
“Where’s your partner?” Domnic asked, looking around.
“Is he planning on doing a jumpscare?”
“He’s busy.
Apparently, he’s been sent to prepare for some diplomatic guests…”
“Diplomatic guests?” Dominic asked in confusion.
“I don’t know either,” Jason replied with a shrug.
Sounds like an excuse…
“Shall we?”
Is she the one training me?
Before him stood Saron.
He didn’t know what to think of her.
Of course, she was beautiful.
But with the knowledge that she would let him explode for an unknown reason, it was rather…
Conflicting.
“I am going to be your instructor…
my name is Saron.”
There was no one else present.
“Am I the only one who’s going to be here?” he asked.
“Well, it’s not every day someone awakens, so yes,” she replied.
“Let’s begin.”
An hour and fifteen minutes later…
“No improvements,” she said.
Dominic was in ecstasy.
White flames–beautiful white flames–covered his body.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I can summon them at will now.
That’s a big enough improvement if you ask me.” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Perhaps to you,” she responded.
Just moments ago, he could barely make a spark.
But now…
“What do you mean?” he repeated, the fire growing stronger.
“Look at this!”
“Hm.” She hummed.
“Now extinguish it.”
He frowned.
Not at the request.
He tried to extinguish it–but the flames only grew larger.
His heart dropped.
“Concentrate.”
Dominic closed his eyes, trying to extinguish it, but it didn’t listen.
It was as if he poured fuel on the flames as they continued to grow.
“You can’t,” she said coldly, stepping forward.
“No!” he snapped.
“Stay back…
I can do it.”
He kept trying, and it kept growing.
The heat was beginning to reach him.
“Enough.”
A sharp tap.
The flames vanished.
Dominic felt a cooling sensation wash over him.
How did she do that?
“I could do it,” he insisted.
“Of course,” Saron said.
“There’s no doubt about that…”
Is–is she being sarcastic?
“I just need to try again,” he said stubbornly, sparks forming again.
“That is enough,” she said firmly.
The flames extinguished instantly–obedient, as if they belonged to her.
“You’re stubborn.
If you are unable to follow proper instructions, you won’t last long here.
Just because Adrian offered you this job doesn’t mean I won’t send you back to where you came from.”
Dominic held his breath.
She didn’t yell.
Her expression had barely changed.
But the message was clear.
“I apologise.
I got ahead of myself.”
Saron didn’t react to his apology.
“Let’s begin with your next lesson.”
Dominic sat in a lotus position.
His legs had gone numb long ago.
“Your resonance is loud, but you can’t hear it, unfortunately,” Saron said.
“I want you to meditate.
Block out all external noise and listen for a single sound coming from you.”
“What sound is that?”
“You’ll know when you hear it.”
Dominic sighed.
This meditation stuff is not working for me…
The more he tried, the less it made sense.
How does one block out everything to pick up an invisible sound?
Especially someone like him with far too much on his mind.
What is he?
A dog?
“What are you doing?”
Dominic opened his eyes.
Adrian was hovering above him, upside down.
What is he doing here?
Dominic inhaled deeply.
“I’m trying to hear my resonance.”
“Oh,” Adrian nodded.
“Did Saron tell you to meditate till you hear some specific sound?” he asked.
“Basically,” Dominic replied, sighing.
“Then you’re never going to hear it.”
Dominic’s eyebrow twitched.
“Elaborate.”
Before I punch you.
“Hm…” Adrian tilted his head.
“How do I explain it…?”
“Yes…?” Dominic said, readying himself.
“Well, you know that your resonance is loud,” Adrian said.
“Yeah.
Saron said that.
“The more I think of it, the less I understand.
How am I supposed to listen for something I don’t understand?”
“It’s not your fault,” Adrian said, lowering himself and sitting across from him.
“Saron’s method is a bit old school and for those with nothing to worry about, if you ask me.
I’m also at fault–I should’ve explained the intermediary before bringing you into this.”
“I’m going to explain something, so listen carefully.”
Dominic nodded slowly.
“Alright,” Adrian continued.
“Do you understand resonance in physics?”
“Yeah,” Dominic said.
“When one vibrating object causes another to vibrate at a higher frequency.”
Adrian smiled.
“Good.”
“I still don’t see what that has to do with this.”
“Easy.”
Adrian stretched out his hands.
Two glass blocks appeared–then began to shift, reshaping into figures.
One resembled a human.
The other, a strange humanoid form, began to make a faint sound.
“This is Jason,” Adrian said, gesturing to the human figure as it floated.
“He’s constantly vibrating–because he’s alive, every heartbeat, every emotion, thoughts…
all of it creates frequency.”
The second figure rose, and it too began to make a faint sound, but with a fairly higher pitch.
“This is a spirit.
They can have different forms, different concepts, but they all represent something fundamental.”
Dominic watched silently as he made mental notes.
“For everything that exists,” Adrian continued, “there’s something behind it influencing it.”
“So how do we get powers from them?” Dominic asked.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“If you waited a few more seconds, you’d know.”
“Sorry.”
“Anyway, we make contracts with these spirits,” Adrian said.
The two figures drifted closer.
“A contract,” he said, “between a human and a spirit is made.
This is for the human to make a wish in exchange for something from the spirit.”
“When a contract is formed, the spirit aligns your frequency with theirs.”
The Jason figure trembled, and its sound mixed with the sound produced by the second figure.
“Alignment causes amplification.”
He looked at Dominic.
“That amplification is what you call power.”
Dominic stared at the figures.
“…So the powers are simply a side effect of a contract?”
“Basically,” Adrian said.
A pause.
“Now, yours is different.”
Dominic stiffened.
“Different how?”
“Your frequency doesn’t respond properly,” Adrian said.
“It’s too quiet.”
“…Why?”
“Bloodline contract.”
Dominic blinked.
“What does it have to do with anything?”
“Well, someone in your lineage signed a contract that applied to everyone after them.”
“…So?”
“…So, it means the spirit is adjusting to you.”
Dominic noticed that the sound coming from the Jason statue was quieter, but it was reacting more.
“You have to adjust to it.”
Dominic’s chest tightened.
“…And if I can’t?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“Well, your resonance amplifies, the spirit’s resonance overwhelms you.”
The glass began to crack.
“Your body won’t be able to contain it.”
The figure shattered.
“…I’ll die,” Dominic whispered.
“No,” Adrian replies, the shattered glass reshapes into something familiar.
That monster…
“Blights, a fate worse than death,” Adrian said.
The room felt colder.
“…That happens?”
“Yes,” Adrian replied simply.
He flicked his hand.
The glass shattered into nothing.
“And unfortunately, it’s not a rare occurrence.”