Chapter 52

The cold morning air cut through the clearing as the sun barely peeked over the horizon. It was 5:30 AM, and Class 1-A stood outside the cabin, lined up in formation. Shota Aizawa, as usual, stood in front of them, his tired eyes scanning the students.

"Good morning, everyone," Shota greeted them, his voice cutting through the stillness. "Today, we begin reinforcement training. The purpose of this camp is to not only improve your Quirks, but to prepare you for your provisional hero licenses." He paused, letting his words sink in.

"First up, we'll start with some evaluations. Katsuki, you're first."

Katsuki's face hardened as he stepped forward, glaring at Shota. Without a word, he gripped the pitcher's ball and hurled it toward the distance. The ball cut through the air with explosive force, leaving a trail of fiery energy behind it.

The machine beeped, and the distance was displayed: 709.6 meters.

There was a stunned silence. The pitch was impressive, sure, but the increase from Katsuki's last attempt was almost negligible.

"That's it?" Kirishima asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've been training so hard, man. That's just... barely more than last time."

The rest of the class shared similar thoughts, their expressions a mixture of confusion and surprise. They had expected a much higher result given how far Katsuki had come.

Shota's voice cut through the murmurs. "Katsuki's pitch shows growth, but not as much as you'd like to see. Why? Because you all have grown—emotionally, technically. But this isn't about mental growth; this is about physical growth." He gave them a pointed look. "Your Quirks have improved little since the last test because it's time to stop relying on your usual methods. Today, we focus on physical training—making your Quirks stronger, more durable."

Amelia, standing slightly off to the side, clenched her fists as she processed Shota's words. It wasn't just about her Quirk's strength—it was about control. She needed to learn how to control her abilities before they controlled her.

Shota turned his gaze to her. "Amelia, you'll be training separately with Mandalay today. We've discussed your... situation. We need to focus on strengthening your mind and control over your senses. The telepathic villain you faced before left you vulnerable—your Quirk is powerful, but without mental fortitude, even you can be compromised."

Amelia met Shota's eyes, understanding the seriousness in his tone. Her powers, like Superman's, could reach unstoppable levels—but so could the risks of losing control. She needed to be prepared.

Mandalay, already waiting nearby, gave Amelia an encouraging nod. "We'll start right away. Follow me."

Amelia followed Mandalay away from the group, the sounds of Class 1-A's chatter slowly fading as they walked deeper into the forested training grounds.

Once they were in a secluded area, Mandalay turned to Amelia with a softer expression. "I know what you've been through. That telepathic villain—it's something I can't even begin to imagine. But you need to rebuild your mind so you're never in that position again. You can't let yourself be defenseless."

Amelia's face tightened at the reminder of the incident. She had been helpless, controlled like a puppet—her own body moving against her will while the little girl she had saved and her partner, Rumi, were left behind in the building. The guilt still lingered in her heart.

"I'm not going to let that happen again," Amelia said quietly, a fire burning in her chest. "I can't. My powers... they're too dangerous."

Mandalay gave her a firm, understanding nod. "Exactly. That's why today we're working on mental strengthening. We'll focus on your telepathic defense and expanding your control over your senses. You'll be able to sense everything around you, but you'll need to learn to filter out what you don't need. The goal isn't to shut everything off but to keep your focus and prevent external manipulation."

Amelia sat cross-legged on the ground, her posture determined. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the sounds of the forest wash over her.

"Let's start with a simple mental exercise," Mandalay instructed. "I'll introduce an outside stimulus—a small thought, a feeling, or an image. You need to recognize it, and then block it from your mind. Not just shut it out—block it. Keep control over what enters your mind."

Amelia nodded, preparing herself. Mandalay closed her eyes briefly, focusing her own mind. The quiet of the forest grew heavier around them as Amelia settled into her practice. For the first few moments, she could hear everything—the wind in the trees, the birds in the distance, the rustling leaves beneath her feet.

And then it started.

A faint whisper echoed in her mind. She wasn't sure if it was from the forest or from Mandalay's influence, but it felt... foreign. It was as though someone was trying to plant a thought in her head, a suggestion that didn't belong. Amelia's breath hitched as the pressure built up.

~She spun around. It was dark, it was cold. She was alone in the oppressive silence, her vision blurring, and her strength fading. The darkness seemed to close in around her, and a deep sense of helplessness threatened to overwhelm her.

His voice surrounded her, looming like a giant over an ant. "Who are you fighting for, Amelia?" the voice taunted.

"The people," she muttered, her voice trembling. She remembered that voice, how could she not? 

"Who are you trying to save?"

"The innocent."

"What are you fighting for?"

"Justice."

"You're not saving anyone..."

"I am," she argued. She could only listen to her responses as her memory overwhelmed her.

"No, you're not. Where's the girl, Sunlit? Where's your friend, Sunlit? You left them..."~

Amelia's surroundings shifted. The oppressive darkness lifted, revealing the outside of the warehouse. Flames engulfed it, and police and firefighters scrambled to respond. Panic gripped her heart. 

"No! no? no?! Not again!?! " she screamed, her voice raw with desperation.

Mandalay's voice pierced through the illusion. "Amelia! Fight it!"

With a deep breath, she pushed the invasive thoughts away. The illusion shattered like glass, and she was back in the forest, breathless and shaking...

Mandalay gave her a proud nod. "You did it. That was just the beginning."

Amelia exhaled—one step at a time.