2 July 2011 at 17:34

Saint Crown High School, which Philip attends, is located on a huge campus north of the city's financial center. Behind it, surrounding the campus, is a huge nature reserve filled with trees.

What few people know is that at the center of the reserve is an abandoned firing range that once belonged to the country's armed forces. Philip and his teacher, James Akrep, train there every day.

James is a former local hero of the UK and was aware of this place because he had participated in several military trainings prior to what is known as "The Great Southern War". A war in which the UK, along with its allies, defeated the Union of South American Countries. He was a vital protagonist in the war, which is why, after the war, he was given the opportunity to be the country's Local Hero despite being a Psychi.

James is a tall, stocky man in his fifties. He has a thick, unkempt beard, a large scar on his left cheek and his left arm has been replaced by a metal prosthetic. He wears heavily armored military fatigues.

After leaving the Hecker clinic, Philip stopped by a famous fast food joint for lunch and immediately headed to this shooting range. There the routine consisted of meditation, stretching, martial arts practice and finally, use of firearms and bladed weapons. Philip excelled in all disciplines, making James think he was a monster.

Philip decided to finish training early because he had a date with Clara and needed to get ready. While he was getting ready, James struck up a conversation.

—From tomorrow you're free.

—What are you talking about? —Philip asked, rather puzzled.

—I have to go back to the UK —James replied with a rather serious face. He had been somewhat absent during the whole training session, and Philip was beginning to notice the signs that something wasn't right.

—Is it serious?

—It is serious, but it's something I have to sort out on my own —said James, clenching his fist, then pulled some photos out of his pocket and showed them to Philip. Look, someone has been sending me these for some time.

Philip takes the photos and, looking at them, is horrified. Several adults in their thirties and fifties, brutally murdered. Among them all, one woman stands out, her face clearly visible.

—Who are they? —Philip asked with shivers running through his body.

—They are my former comrades from the first regiment of UK Local Heroes. Someone has been hunting them down and sending me these images. As it's some kind of revenge against me or something, I must help in the investigation.

—Why would someone do something like this to you? I don't understand. If it's revenge against you, why involve other people in this way?

—The only thing I can think of is that it's someone who resents the dark reform of 1993.

Philip instinctively opened his eyes. Cold sweat ran down his neck and back.

—James, what was the Dark Reformation like in the UK? —Philip asked, somewhat anxiously.

—It wasn't pretty, but it was entirely necessary.

—Even when the freedom of your people was taken away?

James scratched the back of his neck, somewhat uncomfortable with the questions.

—Agggh. As I told you. The only way for society to accept the psychis, was to force them to be harmless. There was a lot of suffering before it came to that, things very similar to what's going on here, now.

Philip did not answer. He is aware that James supported the British dark reform with all conviction, but he still felt it was deeply misguided. James continued.

—If you're wondering if I did the right thing, I don't know. I can only assure you that to this day I have no regrets, even with all that I had to sacrifice to make it happen. Friends, family, my heart.

—... And the dark reform worked.

—Until this incident,  there hasn't been another serious involving Psychis or dark energy in eighteen years.

James folded his arms. Philip sighed and tried to speak normally.

—Then we won't be seeing each other for a while. It's going to be difficult, considering what's going on and that I still can't get a handle on that technique you taught me.

—In a little while you will. Although absolute evasion is a technique that takes years to master completely, you managed to understand it quite well in just one year. You still have a long way to go, but I'm sure that in a few years you'll be the hero who defends this city. You have talent.

Philip at that last sentence changes his expression to a more depressed one.

—What's the matter, don't you like your talent?

—It's just a bittersweet feeling. I like this talent, I used it to protect myself and I will use it to protect, but there is something that bothers me a lot.

—Mmmh?

—Why do I have it?

James placed his right hand heavily on one of Philip's shoulders.

—Talent is not something you can explain, boy. If, out of guilt over having it, you decide to use it to help others, that's fine, but don't waste your life. The most important lives for you should be yours and those of your loved ones. Then you can think about the rest of humanity, don't forget that.

—I understand... —There was a short silence. Well, it's time to say goodbye.

—Wait Philip, one last thing —said James. He took a large black suitcase he was hiding in the trees and opened it in front of Philip.

—I brought you this as a parting gift.

The suitcase contained two firearms: a small submachine gun Skorpion vz. 61 and a silver semi-automatic pistol with a strange engraving of a dragon in opaque colors. There were also many magazines for both weapons.

—This pistol is modified to fire bullets reloaded with energy. I brought you some of its magazines. You can use them in the future, and you know how to use them.

Philip felt a slight discomfort at the sight of these weapons. They were specially chosen items for him. He may realize that, but he still felt that something was wrong, or at least that there was one thing he didn't understand.

—Why would someone who wants to be a hero need firearms? I've been asking myself this since we started training.

James rested his hand on his chin, thoughtfully, taking about ten seconds to return to the conversation.

—Mmmh. There are times when a hero has to make tough decisions, I'm just giving you the tools for the day when you have to make that kind of decision.

Philip said nothing, just closed the black suitcase and walked towards the exit, his back to James.

—I guess you're right. I hope we see each other again soon.

—Yes...

Philip turned around and shook hands with James. At that moment, he felt a tingling in his wrist, under his blindfold, and the sound of glass shattering in his ears.