Reformed

Aren sighed.

- As a thank you for your selfless help, I will only answer one question you have. I will answer as truthfully as I can, and I won't ask you any questions. What do you think?

The offer was tempting; therefore, Glen accepted.

- Okay, you have three minutes to formulate your question.

- What?!

- Come on, the clock has already started ticking.

- W-Wait...

Looking at Glen's face, Aren remembered the time when he rode with Alice on the train all the way to Luesia.

While the young man put his thoughts in order, on the terrace of the Beltran mansion, there were the two young women who seemed to finish their brief conversation.

- So ... you really were kidnapped and not only that, but you were abused for months. - Melissa commented in dismay.

- Yes ... if he hadn't found me, I would still be there.

- But who would plan to kidnap you and why?

- I have some ideas, but nothing definite ... I ... I don't want to talk about this anymore. - was the last thing Emily said as she got up and left the place.

 After a minute, Melissa was still stunned by the news; however, how could she have easily believed her cousin's words? Couldn't she have deceived her? No, this was answered by a memory of the young woman a few months ago.

It was on a rainy night, Roger seemed busy with certain problems he had not shared with his wife and children, and he was accompanied only by his most trusted butler, Charles.

That day, the count ordered no one to leave the mansion; for some reason, the news indicated a revolt of a terrorist group, but it was something strange, because the newscasts recorded the streets, but no marches or groups of vandals were seen in the streets.

- Nobody answer your phones or messages today! - Roger exclaimed to everyone inside the mansion. The fences that enclosed the grounds were fully secured and barricaded for defense.

- What is going on? - Melissa wondered, looking out of her bedroom window to the outskirts where the lights of police patrols could be seen in the distance.

Needless to say, the atmosphere was somber and gloomy; at that moment, the sound of a call rang on her cell phone: an unknown number.

Melissa hung up immediately, but after a few minutes, it rang again.

This time she did nothing and let the call go through; however, for the third time it happened again.

At the end of the third call, she immediately received a message with a sender that left her worried. The name said Rosalia to which Melissa seemed to know that name, but the number was unknown.

The message said: Answer my calls, please, it is urgent.

Within seconds, she received another call. This time, without considering her father's orders, she answered.

- Hello, Rosalia?

No one answered.

- Is anyone there?

- We have her..." a distorted male voice was heard.

Then, whips and groans of pain were heard echoing in the call.

- Do you recognize this voice? Listen well, if you don't want us to come and get you, tell Roger to pay the sum-....

Before she could finish speaking, Melissa cut off the call. It was clearly a case of extortion, or so the young woman thought.

Soon, an explosion could be heard in the distance of the residence; it was where the lights and the sound of sirens of the patrol cars were located. Melissa quickly closed her curtains and turned off her phone.

Turning on her television and putting on a movie to distract her from the previous matter, her door was knocked on.

- Who is it?

- Meli ... it's me ... let me in. - said the voice of an infant.

The young girl got up and went to greet her younger brother.

- John... What's wrong?

- I'm afraid to sleep alone. Mom and Dad are busy.

The young girl sighed.

- It's okay, come in.

Returning to the present, Melissa mumbled something.

- Was that call ... real?

Back in Aren's room again, the three-minute wait was over.

- So... What's your question? 

- ... You give me a hard time ... But, never mind, here you go ... Are you a ... Reformed? - Glen asked.

- ... A what?

- A what?

Aren's transparent, sincere and quick reaction made it clear that he didn't know what Glen was referring to.

- Oh no... I screwed up..." muttered Glen.

- Reformed? ... What's that? - Aren asked somewhat intrigued.

- ... You really don't know or do you?

- ... What?

Glen sighed.

- Seriously, man ... this backfired on me. You said you came all the way from Loarre, didn't you? I guess some people still don't know.

- Yeah, cry me a river all you want, but then... What does that word mean?

With some embarrassment and disbelief, Glen turned his gaze away.

- ... Look, I'll explain it to you quickly, just for general culture, okay?

- Okay.

- ... More than 150 years ago, some people with certain superhuman or, better said, supernatural abilities appeared; although the records are few, there were people who claimed to have known them and wrote about them. Currently, the existence of this number of people has been scientifically proven ... in addition to the fact that the number of individuals who develop certain 'abilities' has increased. Scientists indicate that, just as other animals evolve to survive in their environment, it is now mankind's turn to evolve ... climatic changes, pollution and the precarious way of life of people have prompted a necessary evolution. As one would say ... survival of the fittest.

- Evolution?

- Yes ... although officially there is no truthful explanation of the origin of how people can develop these capabilities ... their existence is a proven fact; although these individuals represent less than 0. 0004% of the world's population ... about 32,000 people have been analyzed and considered people who have developed some special ability ... The name Reformed serves to mention those people who have been officially recognized by most governments in the world as people who have developed and mastered some kind of ability ... the figures mention that only about 8,000 people have been granted that title through the four major academies that are responsible for teaching these individuals.

- Academies?

- Yes, there are four. The first is the Sacred Institute of Reformed (SIR) in Russia founded 60 years ago; the second is the Royal Academy of Technological Evolution (ARET) which is here in Spain created more than 20 years ago; the third is the Alliance of Sects Unified Cultivators (ASUC) in China established 21 years ago ... although there are certain rumors and inconsistencies with some dates; and finally, the Formative Center of American Transcendentalists (CFTA) created in Canada 12 years ago.

- ... I see ... but what is not clear to me is about the abilities that these people develop to be considered supernatural.

- Ah, about that ... for example, a child who has twice the strength of an athlete specializing in brute strength or a person who has never practiced his speed can run like an experienced marathon runner ... they are usually like that, but that is not enough to get the title of Reformed ... every person with that title must have mastered a group of general qualities both physical and mental ... but the most difficult is the development of a distinctive ability that in most cases is difficult to master.

- What do you mean by distinctive ability?

- ... I guess it is no longer necessary to hide it. Take a good look at what I am going to show you ...

Aren remained silent paying due attention when at a certain moment a golden light appeared in the middle of them; soon, some symbols as if they were words in another language were shown coming out of that light.

After a few seconds, the light went out, revealing a paper written in a language that Aren did not know.

- ...

- Now, I just need to summon it. - commented Glen.

The writings of that paper shone leaving Aren blind for an instant; when he recovered his sight, the young man could see how the paper disintegrated forming from the shavings a solid sword of great finish: it was a katana.

- And this is how one can see a particular skill.

Certainly the act was worth seeing.

- ... I see ...

Holding up the Japanese sword, Glen continued his explanation.

- As I told you, the Reformed develop and master a special ability that distinguishes them; there are several kinds, but to explain that to you would be too long ... I just want you to know that this information is confidential and is not given to the general public.

- ... So ... How is it that you know?

- Well, there are always people who break conventions, but I assure you that it is better to live ignorant to this.

- I understand ...

- Average people only know as much as the big academies and world governments let them know ... but there is certainly more to tell ... even I don't know everything ... what I explain to you is just an introduction ... it will be up to you how much more you want to know.

- ...

- Finally, I will tell you that abilities have no limits ... you never know who has developed some OP ability, but what I can assure you is that every great power leads to a great sacrifice.

- What? Are you Uncle Ben?

- Whose uncle? Anyway, the development of an ability carries with it restrictions, that is, the greater the power of the ability the more restrictions it will be subject to that will limit its use. It's like a law of nature so that no one abuses their powers, both for the sake of others and for the sake of oneself.

- Restrictions ... that means you too ...

- Of course, but I won't tell you.

- I didn't expect you to tell me either ...

- Well, in short that's all that's currently going on in the world on the development side of man.

- Yes, thank you for telling me. - Aren commented.

- Well, since I didn't achieve my goal, I'm leaving ...

Saying this, Glen stood up somewhat tired and frustrated; however, a comment cheered him up a bit.

- Glen ... sorry if I couldn't answer, but there is something I can tell you ... I will not become a character in a romantic comedy ever. - Aren commented seriously.

- Ah, yes ... good for you.

With a smile on his face, Glen retired to the guest room.

Being alone, Aren remained pensive.

"Why did neither Russel nor Jhosep tell me about this... I didn't even hear any news from Alicia... Did they want to hide this from me? ... No, I must not worry about this now, I must meet with Russel and tell him about this cursed stone, I must also know if that thing I saw in that abandoned village is real ... now I must also worry about recovering my strength ... I have to go back to Loarre ... Well, I see that in the end I have a lot of things to do ...".

- Aren, are you there? - a female voice was heard near the room.

- Are you ready to go out?

- Aren't you ready to leave? Aren't you in any pain or discomfort? - the voice asked.

- No... Why do you ask?

Entering a woman in her room, a pleasant appearance was observed.

- You still haven't told me why you were in a clinic ... you can tell me while we go check in. - Emily said.

"Ah ... yes ... I forgot about that ..." thought Aren wearily.

It was late afternoon now and in a large well-kept park where families went for walks on weekends, there were two men sitting comfortably on the benches. One of them was happily holding a candy lollipop and licking it as if he were a child.

- Hey, Gajel ... have you heard what happened in the Rivas canyon? - Vincent Marcov asked.

- Hmn?

- They say that a group of military men went to check the place since they noticed an unknown individual ... it seems that Renato was absolutely right when he said that there was a creature in that place.

- Oh ...

- Also, the situation was considered minimally beta level that it was necessary to call a Reformed.

- ... Do you know who it was?

The atmosphere was darkened.

- I just know it was elementary class...

- ... I see.

- Vincent ... you know ... I am planning to generate an internal war in Le Front. - Gajel commented seriously and without the smile that usually showed on his face.

- ... Are you crazy?

Gajel smiled intimidatingly and, although the people in the surroundings did not notice this, their instincts demanded them to leave that place.

- Listen, Vincent ... something tells me that what they are doing will soon get out of control and this whole country will become hell ... I still have some things I want to do around here, but I see that they will be an obstacle for me.

Vincent sighed resignedly.

- Usually when you tell me it's because you're already doing something and you won't turn back... So, what's the plan?

- Seriously you know me well ... it's good that we understand each other ... The plan is simple, having murdered Roberto, the higher ups are trying to see about his replacement ... among some of the local leaders they have become somewhat tense in their relations ... I have two puppets who are overflowing with ambition, only they are very impulsive and overbearing ...

- Two key characteristics to commit stupidity quickly.

 - Exactly ... I plan to use them to start a fight between sides in search of taking the position of regional leader ...

- I see ... by that time, I suppose you will have disappeared from the scene without a trace, won't you? - Vincent asked somewhat defiantly.

- Of course; you know me.

The tension having been cleared from the place along with the end of that conversation, Gajel's usual 'friendly' smile was seen again as he licked his paddle.

- On the other hand, how is Renato? - asked the dark-haired, bespectacled male.

- Sleeping ... well, he's earned it ... we'll send him to ARET tomorrow, so pack your things. - Gajel answered childishly.

- Ha ha ... what awaits you, eh?

- What awaits us, you say ... but for the moment let's relax, as things will get interesting starting tomorrow.