Chapter 38 : A new four-heroes team ?

Hey, guys and gals ! Whassup !

I don't know why I wrote this… just wanted to change a little from the usual « Hello everyone » xD

Moving on! Here's a new chapter. I decided to post it on Wednesday instead of Tuesday… (at least that's my intention as I write this note).

As usual, please write a comment, a review or send a few stones my way if you will. Also, check out my Patréon page if you want more stories. Search for Cathbel on the website.

In other news (though not really news per say), I would recommend you guys to read the Water Magician light novel on Tseirp translation website. Very good fantasy story with detailed magic system and explanation. Moreover, a hilarious main character. His relationship with his is… well, I'll let you discover it yourselves !

See ya and enjoy !

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The next day is a school day. And let me tell you… Neither Cory, nor I are happy to get up in the morning ! Personally, as the two of us are trudging the way to school in silence, I'm thinking about dropping school altogether. I mean, what's the point ? I've already done all this song and dance once ! Doing it again feels like… a rebroadcast.

It's not absolutely, completely useless as I re-learn the things I learned decades ago, but… Still ! My heavy legs and eyelids, the deep bags under my eyes just make me want to stay home and sleep ! Maybe I shouldn't have stayed up so late working on contingencies… Thing is once I get an idea sometimes, it's hard to just calm down enough to sleep. The brain just continues to run on the idea, studying it under different viewpoints and angles, simply preventing you from the rest you were seeking. It was a bit different at the time though. I… didn't see the time.

The idea I'm currently working is one of, if not the most, ambitious and brilliant I had in a while. It's supposed to combine all aspects of my power, add it to Terry Pratchett's concept about the power of beliefs, or in this case, thoughts… Supposedly, I'm hoping to give birth to my own dimension as well as amplify my powers, or even develop new forms and variations for them… Still just the embryo of an idea right now. I'm not sure about… A lot of things, actually.

According to my past life's memories, sorcerers could draw power from other dimensions to fuel their own spells, become immortal, etc… Depending on whether or not the dimension had a ruler or not, the sorcerer could draw more or less power. He could be influenced by it, or shape it in any way he deemed fit. However, I haven't read anywhere about a sorcerer actually creating his own dimension. Usually, they just take over a deserted one, vanquish the previous ruler or simply strike a bargain with Him/Her/It/Them. I don't know if it's at all possible and if it is, what can the consequences for Reality be as a whole ?

Frankly, the entire idea is ludicrous ! That's not something I should even contemplate. Not someone like me ! I'm lazy, rather shy, and prefer to remain low-key as much as I can. Not a single bone on my body can be considered 'ambitious' and actually, the feeling is such a foreign concept for me as to be called alien. And yet…

I guess the last encounter with Hyde and the subsequent fight with a berserk Cory kicked me in the ass. Maybe that's the reason why I'm even entertaining such a crazy idea. The worst, though ? It's the fact that this will be a long term project… I'm not very good with those.

As my thoughts are muddling through all this stuff, my feet continue to traitorously carry me toward the school. Speaking of which, I'm now standing in front of the doors and I just can't help but sigh… Another day of purgatory in perspective. Is this because of the Original Sin that we are almost all condemned to go through this for so long ?

I shake my head and think to myself : Stop thinking shit ! School is a privilege and an opportunity… Why doesn't it feel like one, then ?

I cross the threshold to the school with this monologue in my heart.

* * * * *

At lunch, I'm feeling a little more awake now. Don't really know why… I feel weary, deep in my body and bones, but my mind is alert, focused. At least, that's how it feels to me.

Anyways, we're at our usual place, chilling under the shade of the tree where I met Doreen for the first time. And it seems, Cory can't contain herself anymore… She's always been the odd one out of our group. The only one without powers. We didn't care but perhaps she did, 'cause she's just waiting to blurt out the secret of her new powers now…

It's amusing, really. Just this morning, she was afraid of them. It only took a little talk about how she could train her abilities for her to cheer up.

« I've got powers too, now ! » She suddenly exclaims a little too loudly. Realizing her mistake, she looks around and adds in a lower voice, a trace of uncertainty in her voice :

« I've got… Some kind of earthquake powers now. »

Peter tilts his head :

« Earthquake powers ? Do you mean you can cause them ? »

I clarify :

« That's not it… Or at least, that's only a part of it. She can basically… Quake anything with her hands. She doesn't even have to touch it. »

« Hmm… » Peter hums thoughtfully while Doreen rejoices for our friends. « Sounds like you're manipulating vibration, or maybe you're just generating them ? The question is… How powerful is it ? » And then, as if he just realizes something : « Wait… Last night ! Was it you ? »

She averts her eyes guiltily and I take the explanation off her hands :

« When she acquired her powers… We were in a pretty desperate situation. I think her subconscious took over while she was unconscious and she basically… Went berserk. Thankfully, there were no people there. »

Peter nods while glancing sideway at Cory.

He must be thinking about the damage she caused. That's normal I guess… It's not every day you see a scene right out of a disaster movie. I mean… We see it on the news regularly, but in person ? It seldom happens.

Actually, no. Scratch that ! This is Marvel. Disasters happen every Tuesday here. And in New York ? It can happen twice in a day ! That's not even counting all the bullshit happening in the shadows with secret societies - not so secret - like the Hand, Hydra, or vampires and Blade… Oh, man ! Which god decided it'd be funny to send my ass here ? Must be a sadistic bastard getting a kick out of seeing me piss my pants, that's for sure.

To Peter however, given the fact that he's just starting out his vigilante act, it might be the first time. As I am thinking of these things and wallowing in self-pity, Doreen suddenly says something outrageous :

« We could be like the new Fantastic Four ! » Seeing my face which must be a sight to behold, she continues : « Don't look at me like I'm crazy ! Think about it : we're four super-powered people… Peter's a genius ; he could me a mini Mister Fantastic. I might not be as strong as the Thing, but I'm pretty strong. And if push comes to shove, I can always call on my furry friends to help us out in fights. Nate, your power's incredibly versatile so you can be either the Human Torch or the Invisible woman… I mean man ! And Cory's the last member of our party… I don't know how strong she is, so we'll have to figure it out ! »

She claps her hand and exclaims :

« We have to find ourselves a hide-out ! »