The Curse of Gifts

Arlo rushed into the girl's dormitory and toward her teammate's dorm room. He arrived at the door and started knocking.

"Come in, it's open." A girl's voice replied from inside.

Entering the room, he came face to face with the girl whom he wanted to speak to. It was Alexia Terrano-Wix.

"Oh, it's you. I thought it was Chloe." Alexia exclaimed with a surprised tone.

Arlo stared at Alexia's face. He couldn't help it. She was exceptionally beautiful. He could feel a blush creeping up his face.

Arlo quickly looked away and suppressed his infatuation. He had other things to discuss.

"So, long time no see. How are classes going... uhm, what's your name again? I forgot." Alexia remarked casually.

"It's Arlo! How could you forget? We're teammates!" Arlo retorted angrily.

"Ah... Arlo. Sorry." Alexia responded.

'She's not sorry.' Arlo mumbled to himself. 'Wait this is not what I'm here for.' He nearly forgot why he came here in the first place.

Arlo noticed Shivan on the sofa, drinking something while watching their conversation.

"I just wanted to remind you two that we have the exclusion into the Hollow Forest tomorrow. Please could you tell Chloe if you see her? I want to make sure she knows as well." Arlo told his two teammates.

"Nah, don't worry about it," Alexia replied disinterestedly. "We're not going to the excursion. Can't be bothered."

Arlo was completely silent. He couldn't understand her. Why was she like this? He could feel his blood boiling from anger.

"Alexia, I've had enough." Arlo hissed, suppressing the anger in his words. "How long are you going to skip classes?"

"What do you mean?" Alexia replied questioningly. How does me skipping classes affect you? Did a teacher put you up to this?"

"NO!" He answered, not bothering to hide his rage. Ever since the first class, you missed out on every single group class. I've always had to work alone or with other teams and—"

"—Alexia why'd you leave the door open?" Chloe waltzed, carrying boxes of pizza. She closed the door behind her and walked towards the table.

Finally, after dropping the pizza off, she turned around and noticed Arlo at the door.

"Oops, was I interrupting something?" Chloe asked Alexia.

"Nah, you weren't. It's nothing important." Alexia replied.

Chloe nodded in response. "Shivan, how's your first taste of alcohol?"

"Hmm..." Shivan stopped, thinking how to answer. "It's pretty weird. It doesn't taste that bad, but the burning feeling isn't great. Though my body getting warm is a new experience."

'Alcohol? But we're underage. Alcohol is not allowed in the dorms. How did it get here? Huh? Why am I thinking about that.' Arlo's thoughts were a mess. He couldn't understand what he was feeling.

It was a new experience for him. He couldn't understand the mentality of the three in the room. Even someone like Arlo who tried his best to get along with everyone had his limits.

"Why... Why? Why do people like you HAVE GIFTS!" Arlo shouted at the top of his lungs.

The three of them all turned towards the distressed Arlo.

"You guys are all just a waste of talent! You guys have such abilities but all you do is laze around, get drunk and have fun!" Arlo released his pent-up rage.

"If only I had a gift, I'd use it way better than you guys." Arlo's envy could be heard. 

"A gift isn't a benefit you know," Alexia spoke solemnly.

"Huh? You guys born with a silver spoon couldn't understand. Gift users like you have life in easy mode. You get everything." Arlo retorted.

"If that's what you believe, then you're stupidly naive." Alexia countered calmly.

"What are you talking about?" Arlo's face contorted in confusion.

"Gifts are a curse. If you have a gift, your future path is decided for you. You have to be a mage, whether you like it or not." Alexia explained.

"If you want to be a mage, then it's all well and good. However, there are still several challenges with it as well. The expectations of those around you, exploitation and more.

But what happens if you don't want to be a mage? If you set your eyes on a different goal, only to find that you cannot do it because of your curse. To lose the dream you had.

So I agree, you would use the gift better than me. We don't deserve to have gifts. But doesn't mean you are right about gifts making life easier."

Arlo felt vindicated when Alexia accepted his statement. But had a question about her. "Do you lose your dream, Alexia?"

"Yes," Alexia answered plainly. "Unfortunately for me, I was a late bloomer. Normally a person awakes their gift when they are 8 or 9. 10 is usually the latest. I awakened mine when I was 12.

I wanted to become a soccer player. Not to brag, I was really good at it. I was even better than the boys around me. But unfortunately, when I awakened, I was banned from playing sports competitively.

After all, a gift user's natural strength and power was an unfair advantage. Especially with strength like mine. Mana-suppressing cuffs were useless.

Even if gift users didn't have their natural abilities enhanced, the government wouldn't allow any of them to become anything but mages. After all their most talented combat assets couldn't go to waste.

Even if any of us rejected the PCA entrance letter, we'd be forced into the military one way or another."

Arlo was completely silent throughout Alexia's spiel. However, he still had some comments to make.

"I'm sorry for your loss Alexia. But we can't change things we were born with." Arlo managed to calm his emotions.

Though he still had some bitterness, he long accepted he would never have a gift. He may be envious of them, but he believed those who had them should use them to their fullest potential.

"So, can you use your gifts for the sake of humanity? Can't you take pride in becoming a hero?"

"Huh? No way. Why would I do that?" Alexia denied Arlo immediately.

Alexia's words infuriated Arlo. Though he could understand Alexia's feelings, he couldn't understand her selfishness. 

Arlo didn't bother arguing. One thing he understood from this was that Alexia Terrano-Wix and Arlo Arcadius would never see eye to eye.

So he asked the other two.

Chloe replied, "Not interested."

"Don't care" was Shivan's answer.

"Okay then. Come to the courtyard at 8 am if you want to attend the excursion." Those were the last words Arlo said before leaving Alexia's dorm.

Though he left in a calm manner, Arlo was angrier when he left than when he arrived. Through his understanding of Alexia, he realised how much he hated her. 

Alexia was an anomaly in a school full of people who strived to become mages. She was an insult to those who were working hard to achieve their dreams. 

Shivan and Chloe were similar to Alexia in that they didn't care about the people around them, but the extreme selfishness only belonged to Alexia.

***

"So Alexia, do you hate your gift," Shivan asked after Arlo left.

"Not really. I can't actually hate it."

"Why not?" Shivan questioned.

"It's an integral part of me. Hating my gift is tantamount to hating myself. It may be a curse, but it also brings benefits. Plus having enhanced strength and body like this is fun." Alexia replied.

After a couple of seconds of awkward silence, Alexia spoke up. "So anyways, why are we still talking about this? The pizza's going to get cold. Let's eat."