Ethan

Ethan stood up, and knelt down next to me.

"I still want to help," He reached out to touch me again.

This time I didn't move away. My head dropped, and watched his hand as it went to my back. Ethan ran his hand down my spine gently, and at first I didn't know what to think. Then Ethan did it again. A little harder this time, and my body moved automatically into his hand.

My eyes drifted halfway closed. Then my chest started to vibrate as a rhythmic thrum emanated from me. The sound startled me, and I darted backwards into the wall with a thud. Looking down at my own chest.

"Is that the first time you've ever purred?" Ethan was smiling at me as if this was the funniest thing he'd ever seen.

The sound had already stopped as I looked at Ethan with only the tiniest slits of my eyes showing. Ethan saw this look, and stopped smiling slowly.

"Sorry," Ethan was still clearly pleased with himself.

At least he wasn't smiling anymore. I looked down at the watch, and the time was all the motivation I needed to get moving. I darted past Ethan into my open door, and Ethan had noticed the time as well. He closed the door for me, and then his feet thundered over to his own room. I transformed to my human look, and got dressed quickly.

I rushed out of the room, and grabbed my damaged pants. Then my dirtied shirt. Tossing them in my room on the floor to deal with later, and slamming the door behind me. Ethan come out of his room looking as worn out as I felt. Then we left the room together.

Ethan was back to having a hard time meeting my eye as we rushed to our first class. We shoved through our way into our first class, and the teachers eyes bored into our backs as we went to our seats. It was easier for me to stay awake this time, but I knew it wasn't because the class had suddenly become interesting as I fidgeted in my seat. If Ethan said anything, I was as good as dead. I felt like walking dead by the time I got to the fitness portion of the day.

I needed to up my stamina. Ethan stuck close to me for the whole class. He seemed to relax around me, but not completely like he did back in the room. I let my tired body go on automatic as I tried focusing inward. I could swear that I could feel my mana draining throughout the day, and I could definitely tell when it was regenerating.

I focused on that feeling, and reached for it. It was like a swirling ball at the center of my being. Then as I was looking at this swirling ball I noticed there were little particles of energy floating outside of the ball. I mentally pushed those little specks of light into my swirling ball.

New skill. Mana absorption level 1. Would you like to activate this skills passive collection?

(Yes) (No)

System what do you mean by passive collection?

System will collect nearby mana particles for user.

I skidded to a stop breathing heavily. System activate Mana absorption's passive collection ability.

Passive collection of mana now active. System will collect nearby mana. Mana density, and level of skill determines speed for mana collection. Currently in low density mana. Approximately 1 mana will be absorbed per hour.

strength +1 stamina +1

Wait did the system just give me strength, and stamina? System did you just give me strength, and stamina?

Through physical exertion user has increased strength, and stamina.

Sweet! I smiled to myself. This just became my favorite class. System what are my stats?

15 hp

strength 10.5 (reduced while camouflaged)

agility 10 (reduced while camouflaged)

stamina 10.5 (reduced while camouflaged)

instinct 5 (reduced while camouflaged)

damaged resistance 5.5 (reduced while camouflaged)

9/30 mana

Right, my excitement dimmed down. Stats reduced while camouflaged. I turned to watch Ethan come up to me. Ethan kept his eyes down as he came up to me.

"If it makes you feel better this is just a costume I wear not to get killed," I pointed up at my own face.

Ethan smiled nervously.

"Didn't help," I watched him nod.

I wanted to go sit down, but this was a fitness class so sitting wasn't an option.

"Lets go through the moves again," I walked Ethan over to a circle.

We stepped inside, and started slowly going through the motions of combat. We started going faster with each motion. Seemed like Ethan knew hand to hand fighting pretty well.

"You know what you're doing don't you?" I looked at Ethan as he nodded.

"Yes," Ethan dropped his eyes, "My family said I was good at it."

"If you're going to spar why don't you do it seriously?" Luke was just outside of the circle.

"We're just practicing the motions Luke," I stepped in front of Ethan knowing he wouldn't speak up, "Not that it's any of your business."

"You've got a mouth on you," Luke snapped, "A big mouth for an F."

Ethan let out a quiet snort of laughter behind me. He knew full well I wasn't a class F ability less person. I turned my head so I could see Ethan out of the corner of my left eye, and kept most of my focus on Luke.

"Coming from a guy with the ability to harden himself," I turned both eyes on him, "I mean with your skill you should have easily outdone Conrad. Yet Conrad ranked above you. You must of failed at something to get placed at level four instead of higher. My guess would be you failed at marksmanship. Big guys like you only shine when you're close to your opponent."

Luke just looked at me, and then smirked.

"I halfway expected you to be as stupid as you look cyclops," Luke's smirk broke into a full fledged smile as rage raced through me, "One eyed little orphan. That's what Conrad said about you. You've got no ability, and you can barely fight. Brute strength alone won't get you very far. Not with normal human strength. You'll never be anything but another gravestone to be forgotten."

The air around us changed, but this time it wasn't me doing it. Several of the nearby weights raised up slowly. Ethan? I whipped around to look at him. His eyes were glowing faintly as the weights stopped in the air, and started spinning in place.

Ethan didn't have to say a thing to terrify Luke, and his friend. The faint glow to his eyes said it all. Ethan was a natural. A person who was born with their ability. Naturals were many times stronger than people with implanted abilities, and their bodies had grown with their abilities.

By the time they got to military academy they were years ahead of anyone they could school with. Ethan started swinging spinning weights around in quick precise movements. Hitting Luke repeatedly without the slightest bit of hesitation. I could tell Ethan wasn't trying to hurt Luke since the weights slowed before striking him. Luke was still bruised, and battered by the end of the onslaught.