The Limiter

A large man with muscled body walked back and forth on the stage in the gymnasium. He was wearing a military uniform and instead of stars or rank, his insignia displayed an X.

"My name is Bob Titan. I am the Chief and Commanding Officer of the Anti-Stained Souls Unit," he introduced. "As you all know, we are carrying an almost complete prototypes of Cleansers. The weapons that can neutralize a Stained Soul… or an Exorcist."

The students remained calm despite the blunt threat. He wasn't going to be easy on them. Everyone knew that.

Even the third years were scared. Although they had experiences in battles, they had never seen what the humans are capable of.

'Maybe the Stained Souls aren't our only enemies after all.' Andrew thought.

Him and Andrei were at the front with the other third years behind the members of the faculty. The second years were behind them while the first years were at the back.

Several armed soldiers were guarding every 5 meters around the gymnasium. The security was so high level, it looked like they were convicted already.

"The Allied Nations thought it would be wise to… pause the Union's movements and let us handle this," Bob said. "Your powers aren't normal. And people wants normal. We– err, they want to be saved by normal soldiers."

Despite wanting to talk back, the faculty held their thoughts to themselves. They wanted to deescalate the situation, and talking back would only make it worse than it already was.

"As the Allied Nations ordered, everyone in here will be forced to wear a limiter and a tracker," Bob announced. "Every power you produce is measured and recorded in real time. Your limit will only be a quarter of your original strength. No questions asked."

The soldiers went to the students and put on a watch-looking device. It displayed the percentage they used with their Exorcist powers.

[ 0/100 ]

Franco looked at his wrist and glared at Bob.

'It's not like I can't fight an Echelon 4 without most my powers anyway.' He thought.

"Also…" Bob trailed off and grinned. "We will be confiscating your swords or your, err, 'Reference'. Please hand it to the soldiers with the cart."

Quite a few scoffed at the mispronunciation of their weapons. Their Reverences were an extension of their lives. It literally has a part of their soul. And for it to be insulted wasn't as pleasing.

But they had no choice. A group of soldiers were dragging carts and everyone placed their swords inside. Everyone hesitated. They wanted to fight back but they couldn't.

If they decided to go against the Allied Nations, then they will fight against the world. There was a rumor that that alliance would change their name to "World Government". 

Although there wasn't any solid proof, this move by the alliance made it clearer that they wanted to eliminate their biggest threat against that power.

Since the people trusted the Union due to their contribution against the Stained Souls, they would also petition for the Union to lead the World Governance.

"Now, you will go back to your respective rooms or go to the city. Do what you want as long as you don't go to class," Bob said. "Go!"

A soldier went up the infirmary and put on the device on Devin and Xia's wrists. He took a phone and showed them the video of Bob and his announcements.

"You can't be serious, right?" Xia asked.

The soldier only looked at him with a stoic expression. He took their swords before walking out of the room. Xia looked at Devin who was staring at his wrist.

[ 0/100 ]

"What exactly is happening?" Devin asked.

Xia sighed and flicked he wrist. She tried to remove the device but failed. "I don't know anymore."

She took a pen and paper from her coat pocket and wrote something.

'Device records sound. Tell your friends later. Don't act suspicious. Talk about something.'

Devin nodded, "I couldn't even buy something from London."

He took the pen and paper and wrote.

'Noted.'

"Me too," Xia said and raised a thumb up. "I wish I bought cake. London's dessert tastes good. Anyway, I will go find Stephanie. She still has to buy me a meal. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay," Devin said and went back to bed. He looked at the device who still displayed the same thing.

"What will happen now?"

–

The night came and Devin was fully healed. Xia treated him every 2 hours since all his injuries from the Divine Possession were external.

He also told his friends and classmates about the device and told them not to mention anything about the Union that could be used against them.

They pretended to party while writing notes to talk.

"Cheers to Devin's health," Morris said and raised a glass.

'I wanna kill them.'

The others snorted and raised their glasses. "Cheers!"

"I really like chocolate drinks!" Kagura wrote. 'After this, I will spend a day exhausting my powers.'

"Same," the other members of Squad Lewis said.

"Wait," Margaux raised her palms. "Devin, you're Maharlikan right? If so, then you're basically Filipino. What's up with your surname?"

"Maharlika is not the Philippines," Devin snorted. "North Maharlika has more Americans and Dutch than Filipinos. And the orphanage I was raised was St. Lewis. Every kid from that orphanage that got through the age of 17 and still hadn't had a family would assume the surname 'Lewis'."

"I want your surname," Margaux said. "Marry me. Just for the surname."

She also wrote, 'How will we train now?'

"I don't know, Margaux," Devin replied with a frustrated sigh. "I don't think I know how to do that."

"Speaking of couples," Rodney grinned. "What happened with you two?"

He pointed at Yuri and Adonis. The former was feeding his best friend a cupcake. They looked at their friends who were narrowing their eyes.

"I got rejected," Yuri said. "So we decided to remain friends. Right, Apicharit?"

Adonis smacked his head, "I told you let's take it slow. I did not reject you."

Everyone else gasped. 

"You two flirty boys," Rodney stood and got in between the two. The playful toothy grin he had made Yuri and Adonis gulp in fear. "Have you two did it yet–"

A pillow was thrown at Rodney's face. Kagura flashed behind Rodney and slammed another pillow against his head.

"Although we're also very interested, you should respect other people's privacy!" she seethed. 

Rodney was about to protest when she widened her eyes threateningly.

"Sit."

"Yes, master." Rodney went back to his seat beside Devin and pouted like a little puppy.

"You two enjoy your time, okay? Let the love blossom like the flowers," Kagura said that made the two nod.

After a while, everyone had forgotten about the secret notes. They were too busy discussing their personal lives that their rage against the Allied Nations seemed to disappear.

Meanwhile, at the opposite side of the globe, Andrea was sitting in her living room. The news about the arrest of the Exorcists were replaying on her computer screen.

She hugged her knees and rocked her body.

"I didn't do it. I didn't do it. I didn't do it," she whispered repeatedly like was chanting.

A knock on her door made her snap her head up. Opening the door, she saw Roy.

"Let's talk," he said.

She invited him inside and they sat in her small living room.

"I didn't do it," Andrea muttered. "You saw me closing the lid of the laptop, right? I also minimized the window. It's impossible that it was posted on its own."

"I know," Roy said. "Someone sabotaged you. They used your name and your draft."

"But who could it be?" Andrea cried. "I didn't want any of this to happen. The look on the children's faces. Roy– I, what do I do?"

"Release a video saying you weren't the one who posted it. Also say that everything in the article was exaggerated," Roy said. "It's the only way."

Andrea stared at Roy. She took a deep breath and said, "Okay."

–

"Well done," a deep raspy voice said from the phone.

"I did what I had to do," Doris said. "Now, will you let us go?"

"You're both ready to roam free," the man said. "Oh, how gullible you are."

"Don't say anything more," Doris said sternly. "You promised to keep the secret and not hurt her. Keep it or else I will reveal everything."

"Of course," the man laughed. "Your measly daughter from out of wedlock's identity will remain a secret."

"Make sure it does," Doris muttered. "Because I'm not playing games."

The man laughed even harder. "Ha! So am I, Mrs. Anchor. But aren't you tired of supporting your daughter from the side? You even made her a reporter. Your husband would–"

"Shut up," Doris cut the man off. "Leave my husband and my daughter out of this. And don't bother me anymore."

She ended the call and threw the phone on her table. Doris placed her head on her chair.

'I'm sorry I couldn't be strong for the both of us.'

She was about to take a nap when her office door opened. Her assistant came running inside.

"Doris, look at this!" she said. "Andrea released a video, denying her involvement from the article."

Doris's eyes widened. "What has she done?"

'What has my daughter done?'