Chapter 6: Strength Assessment

Theo stands in front of an odd machine. Director Young told him it was designed to measure someone's physical strength with a single punch, but he wasn't sure how it worked. He would love to look at a blueprint and the coding for the design so he could figure it out.

The twisting wires around the base of the machine were haphazard, and the cushioned plate in front painted with a target looked like they were simply thrown together. However, the low but intense humming from the machine made Theo believe there was some sort of hidden mechanism.

Alas, he doubted he would ever be given permission to disassemble a military-owned device simply to satiate his curiosity.

"Any day now," the Director said, snapping Theo to attention. "Proceed with the strength test."

Theo cradled his head under his left arm while getting into a stance to strike with his right. He had seen his mother's combat classes before and had a vague idea about maximizing his strength, but holding his head felt awkward.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself to throw his first punch. The Director had told him he would have to punch the machine three times in rapid succession, as it takes an average of them. Also, it resets after a few seconds passes.

WHAM! Theo winces as the sting of his hand colliding with the cushion hurts more than he anticipated. He doesn't hesitate and throws his next two punches. 

Director Young is holding a tablet that shows her the results. "Strength 5." She sounds disappointed. "Theo, you looked like you were having trouble throwing the punches while keeping a hold of your head. Would you like to put it down and try again?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." Theo puts his head down off to the side, angling it so that when his vision switched to directly through his eyes, he would have a clear view of the target and his body.

He had recently figured out that when he is holding his head, his vision is normal; in other words, it is what he grew up with, so he is used to it. He is going to call it 1st person perspective. When he isn't holding his head, his vision is 3rd person perspective, giving him a wider view of his surroundings. Of course, this is how it seems to work most of the time. This wasn't the case a few times, like when he first gained the system.

Theo prepared to attempt the test again, this time feeling much more confident. WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!

"Strength 8." Director Young said. "That's average for someone who only just joined this unit. Much more acceptable."

Theo frowns, opening his status window. He reads it again, pretty sure it said what his strength should be.

{Player: Theo Vail}

{Race: Dullahan}

{Level: 1}

{6/100 exp}

{HP: 10/10}

{Strength: 10}

{Agility: 10}

{Stamina: 10}

He was correct. His strength should be a 10, not an 8. So why was the machine not measuring that? Before his mind could go on a tangent trying to figure it out, the Director spoke again.

"Your form could use some work, but you will learn that in the combat training with the others. For now, let's finish the other tests." She smiles at him, and Theo realizes she had read his body language like an open book.

That's when Theo realizes his exp is at six, but he doesn't remember getting a notification for the sixth point. He knew five points came from completing a midnight stroll, but the other one is a mystery.

"Director!" an unfamiliar voice calls out. Theo whirls around in surprise, forgetting for a moment that his head is still on the floor. Turning won't adjust his vision. As soon as he realizes this mistake, he swiftly picks up his head to look at the person.

A boisterous teenage boy with emerald green hair has entered the room. Theo does a double-take when he realizes that the boy has goat legs. In-kind, the boy is staring at Theo in horrified shock.

"Your head…" the goat-legged stranger starts.

Director Young clears her throat. "I suppose introductions are needed. Scott, this is Theo, our newest rookie. Theo, this is Scott; he will be your one-on-one mentor for the next six months."

She turns to Scott before explaining, "Theo hasn't even had his abilities for a week, so he is still in the infancy stage of learning to wield the abilities of a dullahan, the mythical creature he mimics. I will be patient with him, but I also expect progress. He's your first student ever, so show me results."

"YES! MA'AM!" Scott shouts enthusiastically. "I take care of him, no problem. He gives Theo a bright smile.

Theo continues to stare at Scott, not showing his emotions now. Was he going to be stuck with the energy bomb for the next six months? He was not looking forward to that.

"Theo," Director Young said, now addressing the headless boy. "Scott has the abilities of a satyr. He has a unique ability that allows him to identify the nature of other things, which sometimes applies to mythical creatures. That is the reason why I assigned him to be your mentor."

Theo shakes his head up and down with his hands to mimic the movement of nodding his head yes. "Understood, ma'am. Nice to meet you, Scott." He says dryly.

Scott skips over to Theo and examines him. "You should get something like a bag or holster to carry your head with. My guts are telling me that when you hold it with your hands, you can't exert your best efforts, but when you put it down, it weakens you."

Theo and Director Young stare at Scott in surprise, although for different reasons.

"It weakens me to put it down?" Theo questions.

"Yep, surely you noticed that by now, even if you've only been this way a few days." Scott beams again, completely confident in his gut feeling.

Theo knows that Scott is right. His explanation made more sense with the difference between his status window and the physical assessment results than what Director Young had said about his form needing work.

Director Young now says, "He's weakened by putting his head down? But that would mean his physical strength is above average for a rookie if he figures out a way to carry it without his hands."

Scott joyfully exclaims, "That's great! Means the people who have been here longer will think twice about picking on him."

Director Young sighs. "Scott, show Theo around the camp. We will continue his assessment another day once I've had the equipment team design something for him to put his head in."

"Yes, Director Young!" Scott said, immediately grabbing Theo's wrist. "Come on, rookie! There's a lot to show you!"

Theo stumbles as he gets dragged out of the training building by the over-enthusiastic satyr.