[17] Training: Introductions

Training began and I was introduced to a co worker of Berry’s whose name was Thomas. He was nothing like the gleaming eyes and happy smiles of Berry as he contrasted in stern grunts and calls to order the seven new comers in the room –myself included. There were three girls and four guys. At a first glance it was easy to tell that our ages varied from teen to middle-aged.

The first thing we learnt about identification numbers. We learnt that every wielder had one. It helped to keep us all accounted for. We learnt that whenever a wielder was removed from the system of numbers, a newcomer was given their number. It was a replaceable thing –though it was believed that no wielder ever could be replaced for their individuality. Thomas explained that these numbers help us to look out for one another. We protect humans and we protect each other.

After the explanation, I understood why Caesar had called Ethan ‘nine-o-two.’

Moments passed before we were finally told to introduce ourselves to everyone in the room. We were to state our name, category and how we found out we were a Guardian. I was the last in line to speak. I listened to the others, familiarizing myself with their faces, names, characteristics. I hoped I would make some acquaintances by the end of the day.

The first to speak was a teenager named Jeremy –fifteen at most, who fell into the logical category. He had a head full of straight, black hair, with blue braces sticking out when he spoke. He wore a pair of rectangular frames to hide dark chocolate eyes. He had freckles too, and he looked like quite the nerd. He claimed to have found out his Guardianship by accident.

Standing beside him was Ashley, a girl appearing to be just my age. She was tall, slender and blonde, and she, too, fell into the logical category. There was an extremely professional aura to her, and she said that she found out by force. I wondered how that could be so. Berry and Thomas shared a glance as she claimed this, but they said nothing.

A woman in a wheelchair was up next. Her right leg had been amputated. She wore a caramel complexion, and there was proof in her eyes and in her slow movements that she'd been worn down by age. She wasn't exactly old, but she was just past her middle ages. Despite the obvious struggle to survive, she wore a beautiful smile. In a soft but audible voice, she uttered, “My name is Daphne. I’m in the creative category. I found out by use of my abilities over a long period of time.”

Then there was a guy who looked twice my age. His name was Josh, and he was a dancer. He was tall and muscular. I spent so much time wondering how he’d become so tall that I didn’t even hear how he’d found out.

Next was a boy named Mason. He was a cute ginger with blue eyes and flushed cheeks. He looked somewhat around my age but I had a feeling he was still younger than me. He said that he fell into the logical category, and that how he found out was pretty weird. He said he grew up as a human and his foster parents had only recently told him that he was born in Valendale City.

Thomas asked him if his full name was Mason Garcia, and when he confirmed this, Thomas said he knew his parents and that he would talk to him more later on.

The last guy to speak was named Olivar. He stood beside me. He had an accent that was slightly difficult to understand. “Ma nem’s Olivar, Em... I fall intuh the creeayytiive cataagoree, I foond out by acciident.” He was lightly tanned, with jet black hair and dark brown eyes. He was quite short -shorter than I was.

Then it was my turn to speak. I panicked internally. I remembered what Ethan had told me just the day before... about saying what my heart wanted me to say.

It was just an introduction... why was I being so jumpy?

“Hi, well... my name’s Faye. I fall into the creative category, but I... don't think I fall into just one field, and... I don't think it was an accident that I found out... I think I just always knew something was off about me.” Berry looked at me with an expression I couldn't decipher. I stared down at my flip flops for a moment, feeling awkward.

Did I say too much?

Did I blow things out of proportion?

Should I have just stayed with the layout everyone else had followed?

I blew it...

“Very well,” Thomas said, “Now, all of you are no longer just names. You're numbers too.”

Berry rose the clipboard he was holding the entire time, and waved it for us to see. “Jeremy,” he began, “You're going to be three-o-five. The previous wielder is now a retiree.” Jeremy nodded. “Ashley, you're now seven-four-two. That wielder became a void soul. Tragic, really.” Ashley shrugged in acceptance. He continued. “Daphne, you're number two-two-five. The last wielder to own that number...well... I'm not sure you want to hear that story.”

“No, please,” Daphne begged, “Tell me.”

Berry paused for a moment, turning to Thomas. They shared a serious expression and turned back towards her.

“He was executed,” he said.

Daphne thought about it for a second and shuddered.

He went on, “Josh, you're four-twenty, Mason you are nine-fifteen, Olivar, you're nine-hundred, and Faaaye... is an exception.” Berry dropped his arm with the clipboard and looked up at me grinning.

“I'm a what, now?” I asked in disbelief.

Thomas explained, “Because you came in just the right circumstances, there was no one missing, dead, or kicked out when you arrived. You got a whole new number. You're one thousand. It would explain you starting off the new seventeenth floor, as well.”

“We haven't had a one thousand here at Academy One for a long time, Faye” Berry told me, then he turned to the rest of newcomers, “Overtime, the number of wielders from our Academy who were actively on the field began to drop. Our lowest population as an entire Wielder society in this country ever, has been eight hundred and four. It started to rise once more, and we have in total seven academies in this country now because of the rise. Our very own Academy One is finally up to its primary level of population one thousand once more, thanks to Faye. Mind it not, you will learn more about population and such in the history session. It’s really a good thing, I think... to see how our work pays off in the population.”

“It was ridiculous,” Thomas added with a shake of the head, “Think about it; if one thousand is the primary level, what do you think about eight hundred and four in an entire society?” He sounded distressed.

The seven of us made disturbed faces. That was a pretty low number. That was below average. I was glad it began to rise again.

My main concern was me being an exception. I felt put on the spot somehow. I didn't like it. I felt like this was one of the things that would make people recognize me and make me popular in the eyes of the Guardian society. I tried to shove the thoughts out of my mind.

I didn’t want to be popular, I just wanted to belong.

I was engrossed in the short description of the fluctuation of our population, and I wanted to learn so much more about the history of this place.

I observed Berry throughout the entire introductory session. He was no longer the bubbly guy I met a few days ago. He wasn't the happy man I saw this morning at breakfast -the one who greeted the chef -his wife- with the same love in his eyes that has obviously lasted throughout their many years of marriage. Here, for a few brief moments, he was all about the serious business. I hoped he wouldn't stay that way. My mind went back to the medical centre... and how Caesar was so enthusiastic about what he did that I felt like I loved Science, too. I hoped I would see that side of Berry again.