Emmeth Crown, 20 years old, Bellum, black eyes, black hair shaved on the sides with a long fringe covering his eyes, tall, skinny with pale skin. That day he refused to wear any proper battle clothing and was wearing his normal clothes – a black large shirt with an open third mental eye stamped on the chest, sagging his black jeans pants and wearing his punk black shoes with white shoelaces, an inch high white platform and silver-plated metal toecap. As he was the newest combatant in training under the tutelage of Arian, the Chromatishan took his pupil to see Guy Slayer, his ex-pupil and now a former combatant, in a small village, in the north of Warland.

— You might light him — Arian said in his way of speaking and making his skin look quite red in anger. — His a Bellum light you, and that didn’t turn him off from taking my charges!

— If you say so, headman… — Emmeth simply said.

— Allons-y, Emmeth! I want to see you positively powered up!

— Whatever…

Arian tried his best to make Emmeth more interested in field control, his specialization, but the young man never cared about it. If Arian would be his tutor, he needed help to make Emmeth understand the field control powers.

— Oui! — Said Arian. — They are currently here!

— Where are they? — Asked Emmeth, not seeing anyone around and suddenly a tall man wearing a black armor with a large sword covering his back appeared accompanied by a tawny skinned man wearing a red tarboosh hat over his head with tattoos on his left arm. — How did you see them from so far away? — Emmeth asked barely seeing them.

— An electrician never shows how he does his wire connections! — Arian teased.

— Wait… — Emmeth used his mind powers to read Arian’s mind. — Are you trying to make me use field control?

— Guy! Caleb! — Arian ignored his pupil. — It’s so positive to see you guys again!

— And you still talk so electrified, Arian — Guy giggled under his armor, hiding how funny it sounded to him.

— It’s good to see you didn’t reverse your polarity — Arian smiled, remembering what happened in Sunland.

— You know I got permission to keep him with me, don’t you?

— Did you? — Arian was surprised by that. — How are you currently dealing with such electrified negative power?

— Well… — Guy simply started but was interrupted.

— Wait! — Said Emmeth, reading everyone’s thoughts. — Why the hell are you carrying a corrupted saint? If he escapes, we are doomed!

— You are a funny guy… — said Guy, a little pissed off. — Chose your words carefully, or I will chop your head off.

— No, no, no! — Arian hurried to say, turning pale blue. — Je suis désolé! I power your pardon! — Then turned to Emmeth. — Sacreblue, Emmeth! How can you turn me off like that! I’m shocked by your conduct!

Emmeth was reading Guy’s thoughts until he felt a mental block.

— Eaql rayie! You have a great mind! — Caleb said. — But you are still just a kid. You should respect your veterans.

— Are you guys crazy? — Emmeth kept saying. — There’s a corrupted saint right here!

— In first place, he is stable and is not giving people trouble — Guy explained, taking the lead. — Second, the corrupted saint is a war hero, just like me, Arian and Caleb. If it weren’t for him, we would have lost the battle against an aberration some years ago. He saved thousands of lives that day. That cost his humanity. He didn’t want to become a saint. You should start respecting Nero, or I swear to Mundus, I will end with you.

Emmeth was confused by Guy’s gentle tone over an important subject.

— I… I don’t understand!

— Some things you are not supposed to. Just trust us. As fast as you understand this, you will not get in trouble with us.

Emmeth turned to Arian and whispered:

— You said you were a war hero, but why didn’t you tell me there was a corrupted saint there?

Arian whispered back:

— Because there’re scars you don’t want to be welded to! — Then he turned to the other two. — I’m really, really désolé, mes ami!

— Don’t worry, Arian — said Caleb. — He will not read our minds anymore.

— You guys can see it, light? Emmeth is my most negative student! And he refuses to charge the field control circuits!

— Whaaat? — Guy made. — That! That is totally wrong! Arian is the best to teach field control! If he taught a Bellum like me, he can teach any Bellum!

— That was watt I was electrifying saying! — Arian completed. — Emmeth is the most negative one! He doesn’t even try to power it a little!

— He probably just needs real action — Guy suggested.

— What could that be? — Caleb was now curious.

— We need to find real danger for him. Bellums are supposed to train every day to keep their muscles ready for action. In his case, it may be a little different for his big brain. Are you from the Crown family, right, Emmeth?

— That’s right… What do you mean?

— Why are you not wearing your crown?

— I don’t need it — Emmeth answered, meaning he wouldn’t wear his magical family symbol and weapon, which can amplify his natural abilities. — I have all the mind powers I need to crush any enemy right here! — He said, pointing to his mind.

— I don’t think so… You are just posing like a stupid kid for us, veterans who have been in real battles.

— That’s your problem! Not mine!

Guy activated his advanced field control power, making Emmeth bow to his knees.

— That’s not fair — Emmeth complained. — He is blocking my mind powers! — He pointed to Caleb.

— I’m not — Caleb replied. — It’s called a seal. It’s different.

— Whatever! — Emmeth shouted, making a visible mirrored force field around himself, blocking Guy’s power.

— The boy is spoiled — Guy said, letting the field control pressure go.

— Tell me something I’m not charging up! — Arian complained.

Guy wave navigator ringed. It was Bard Aqua calling from the Wave Box emergency number. Guy activated the camera to show his old friend to the others.

— Bard? Are you okay? — Asked Guy.

— Yes. Everything’s okay. I’m on a mission in the area. I was thinking about requesting help. I’m not liking this place. It’s all creepy and I’m not sure how to deal with supernatural beings.

— Supernatural? — Guy wanted to confirm. — Like what?

— You know, evil spirits… They don’t say what the thing really is in the closest town. They just sent me here, and then I came! I don’t want a second time getting in trouble because I can’t be sure about what the hell is happening in this place!

— Understood. I will respond to your request, but I need you to open the request for more three people.

— Three? — Bard tried to look through the visor. — Ah! Hello, Arian! Who is the other guy? And where’s the third guy?

— He is inside that mirrored sphere — Guy pointed out.

— Oh… Okay, then, if there’s no problem, I would like to have all the help I can get to not end with my ass spanked again.

Guy giggled.

— Yes. Send your position — Bard did as he was told and the location was showed on the local map in the wave navigator. — We are going. It will not take much time now.

— Are you sure this is insulated? — Asked Arian. — I don’t want to shock Emmeth in his first try.

— Well, if he fails this, you probably should just turn him off from being a combatant — Guy suggested.

— Oui! — Arian made. — Why the thunders that lightning didn’t hit my brain?!

— You are a good teacher, Arian. I’m sure that.

— I’m really off for what Emmeth said, I… I didn’t know he would be so negative…

Guy positioned himself and hit the mirrored sphere in the right direction using his sword like a baseball bat.

— Sorry, I didn’t hear you! — And ran to follow it at super speed.

— Oh, vous! — Arian couldn’t help but show a shy smile. — Don’t let me off the circuit! — And he created sparks around his body to fortify his legs and started to run too.

Caleb didn’t say a thing. He just created a flying boat using his tattoo creation powers and followed them sliding in the air currents.

At the abandoned mansion entrance in the middle of the woods, Bard welcomed Guy.

— Hello! — He said, before lowering his head as the spherical force field hit the ground close to him and broke, revealing Emmeth. — Who is this one?

— A newbie — Guy answered.

— Really? I think this mission is a little dangerous for a kid.

— I’m not a kid! — Emmeth shouted waving his hands in the air but remaining on the ground.

— He’s spoiled — Guy completed.

— Oh… Do you think that he…?

— Yes. He needs to face something dangerous or give up on being a combatant.

Emmeth used his mind powers to turn up and stand on his feet. He silently studied the place. He knew where he was and smiled, planning something.

— When are we going in? — He asked still looking at the old house.

— Just let the others arrive and we will get in.

Arian and Caleb finally arrived.

— Let me charge my lungs up, s'il vous plaît! — Arian wasn’t a good runner, and to keep Guy’s speed required more energy than he anticipated.

— I could have given you a lift if you had waited — suggested Caleb.

Emmeth thought about saying something for his weak teacher, but he was still entertained by the old house and forced the doors open, slamming them. Inside, there was only darkness.

— The first one to come out is a frightened little girl scared out of their underpants! — He said and floated into the house, disappearing.

— Emmeth! Non! — pleaded Arian, turning yellow. — What charge do I take with this little battery?!

— Don’t worry, Arian, I will go after him — Guy said.

Guy was using his field control powers to study the perimeter as well and he knew exactly what to do and followed Emmeth closely.

— Je suis stupide! I’m stupid! — Arian complained, feeling incompetent. — I should currently be following him! I’m his electrician!

— Why is he still talking like that? — Asked Bard.

— It’s psychological — answered Caleb.

— Who are you again?

— I’m Caleb Iwaw. And you?

— I’m Bard Aqua — He answered, thinking for a moment. — Do I know you? I think I know your name from somewhere…

— Me too. It’s as if I know you from somewhere, but I can’t recall where I…

— AAAAAAAAAAAA!

Caleb couldn’t finish his sentence, as Guy screamed from inside the house.

— Oh, non! Oh, mon Dieu! — Arian said desperate, turning even paler. — That thing shocked him!

— Did you see something, Arian? — Asked Bard.

— Oh, non — he made, being embarrassed. — I can’t light a thing inside the house.

— I guess you are blind too. Whatever is inside the house took control over it — suggested Bard.

— The worst mistake is rushing ahead of time and slowness at the opportunity. They are fine… I can… — Caleb tried to reassure what was happening before being blocked. — That thing… Have mind powers too!

— Oh, non! Oh, non! Oh, non! — Arian was losing his mind.

— We need to do something now! — Bard said and ran inside the old house.

— I will go with you! — Caleb followed.

— But… — Arian was alone now. — Non, Arian! You had taken charge of bigger and more high voltage battles than this! I just wish my brother were here to take this discharge with me… Oh, Adrian, watt would you do now? — He closed his eyes and heard his brother's voice telling him to go inside the house. — I’m going, mon frère! I’m not turned off by my fears anymore! I can take this shock… I can…

Arian slowly stepped on the house, turning his skin into a magenta tone. He was still using his field control to detect any of his comrades and there was no one around anymore as if they had vanished in thin air.

— This is not shocking me… This is not shocking me…

One more step in the middle of the big hall and he took his kitchen knives out, ready for battle, sweating cold.

‘BLAM’, made the door, closing shut. Arian hurried to check it, turning the door handle. He heard steps. Quick ones. Tiny fast steps passing behind him. He turned to see what they were and saw nothing. He then tried to focus his field control powers on his surroundings and noticed not one, but tens of little creatures running behind the furniture. Arian got back to the center of the hall pointing his knives every second to another direction. He was almost getting dizzy by turning so many times.

— Attack! — Said a little voice coming from above and a little dark creature jumped over Arian’s face, blocking his vision.

Arian struggled to get the little thing off, more were coming after him, and he couldn’t see a thing, but feel them climbing his pants. He tried to cut them off him with his knives and they kept climbing and were now tearing small parts of his battle uniform. His pauldrons fell off his shoulders, then his coat sleeves were ripped off, then his pants legs. Arian was getting crazy in the middle of that trouble, and let out a huge discharge that should have fried the little things. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Arian was now getting weaker and he didn’t know what else to do. He felt the rest of his pants fall to his ankles, showing his rainbow-colored underwear. Arian was getting dizzier, and concentrated his powers to make a huge electric plasma ball between his knives and launched it to break the doors. This time it worked as he thought and the old doors broke into pieces. He forced his body into the door direction, while more and more little things got over him.

— Aaaaah! — He made reaching for the door and feeling his underwear leaving his body.

Outside, under the sun, the creatures vanished and his skin turned orange. He almost fainted catching his breath, and, getting up, he just ran away, looking for help.

Something, or someone, on the upper floor, saw him ran away and left the window.

Bard heard the Arian exploding the doors and ended in the kitchen, also losing the presence of anyone else in the house. He took his lute from his back and tried to play some notes while singing a simple chorus:

— Come out, little monster, I will show you the way. Come out, little monster, it’s time to play…

Bard then saw someone passing fast out of the corner of his eye.

— Hey, you! Show yourself now! — Bard followed the shadowy person into the bathroom.

The place was falling apart, mold all around, crooked wood, and plastering coming off the walls and ceiling. In front of him, there was a bathtub covered by a curtain and behind the curtain the shadow of a person. Again the lute was played.

— Don’t fear me now, my friend. I’ve come to amend. I will show you the outside, the nice place untried…

Bard turned the curtain abruptly and screamed:

— AAAAAA!

It wasn’t a person, but thousands of cockroaches walking over each other forming a human figure. Big, smelly, wingless rhinoceros-cockroaches. They fell to the bathtub, revealing they had eaten someone and left only their skeleton behind.

— No… Just, no… No, fucking no! — Bard screamed.

Crying, Bard ran back to the kitchen. Taking his breath back, he felt a heavy bug fall over his head. He slapped the back of his head, making his skullcap fly away. Bard was now shaking, seeing more of those cockroaches with its paws wiggling in the air trying to turn up.

To be continued on the next episode…