Deviant [1]

The battlefield was eerily silent as the wind rustled through the fading hum of dissipating ether energy.

Calistra's dark eyes narrowed looking at Brandon 'Now what to do with this anomaly...'

Her grip on the dagger tightened until her knuckles whitened.

'He's not just wielding Ether energy. He used Eira's skill... What the fuck?'

Such a thing should have been impossible.

Ether was not just a form of energy... and Unique skills like the 'Gravity Vortex' are bound to one's essence.

For reasons that had never been fully understood, men could not access this ether energy.

Yet here here is a man... wielding ether.

*cough* Before she could process any further, a soft cough broke the silence.

Calistra and Brandon turned to look at the short blonde-haired woman.

Eira slowly sat up and her arms trembled as she propped herself up on the rough ground.

Her eyes fluttered open and it was unfocused at first, but gradually sharpened as her consciousness returned.

"Calistra..." Eira's voice left her lips like a strained murmur.

Calistra let out a relieved sigh hearing her friend's voice.

She took a step toward her but stopped abruptly, glancing over her shoulder at Brandon.

Her body tensed and she still don't know what he would do.

Brandon's eyes darted between Calistra and Eira.

He could see that Calistra is tense after seeing him using ether.

He knows she doesn't trust him.

How could she?

He was an anomaly who defied every known rule of Ether.

'This is bad. Very bad.'

He had no idea what Calistra's next move would be.

She was clearly on edge, and if she decided he was a threat, she wouldn't hesitate to act.

And Brandon knew one thing for certain: that If she attacked, he wasn't sure he'd be able to defend himself in time.

Sure, he had just wielded Ether for the first time, but that didn't mean he had any control over it.

It had been pure instinct... nothing more.

And if she deemed him dangerous...

His gaze flicked to Eira, who was now watching them both of them with tired, half-lidded eyes.

'Men can't use Ether in this world, but I can. And for whatever fucking reason... I just used it.'

That made him an anomaly.

And he is very sure anomalies in this world weren't celebrated.

Women hold absolute power here... and I am a Deviant who could tip that power scale.

Fuck.

If Calistra decided he was dangerous, she would try to kill him.

And even if, by some miracle, he managed to escape this place alive, that wouldn't be the end of it.

No, far from it.

The Sovereign Circle.

They were the ruling body of this world... the ultimate authority over all things related to Ether.

If word got out that a man had not only wielded ether but also copied another person's skill, the Sovereign Circle would stop at nothing to find him.

They would send their agents. They would hunt him relentlessly.

And when they finally caught him?

He didn't want to think about it. But the answer was clear.

They would experiment on him. Dissect him. Study every cell in his body until they uncover the truth behind his abilities.

'Shit. I've been dragged into something way bigger than I ever signed up for.'

'I can't let her see me as a threat.'

Yet, even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.

"Calistra..." Eira's weak voice broke through the tension once more.

The black-haired woman turned her head slightly but didn't lower her dagger.

Taking a soft breath, Brandon spoke "I don't know what's happening either..."

"But I didn't mean to use that. It just... happened."

Calistra's eyes narrowed and she also saw the surprise in his eyes when he used Eira's skill.

'Even if it's a mere coincidence... I will have to report him to the Academy.'

At this time, hearing screeching noises Calistra turned her head to look at the two monsters rushing toward them.

They were grotesque creatures as their bodies twisted and warped beyond recognition.

Their dark, sinewy flesh glistened under the faint light, and jagged spikes jutted from their backs.

Brandon recognized them as they were the ones who kept following him earlier.

Calistra clicked her tongue in frustration "Two C class Abberants?"

She took her daggers as blue lightning crackled around her body 'With Eira, I can pull it off.. but she seems exhausted.'

Calistra shot a quick glance at her friend, who was still too weak to stand.

'It's just me, then.'

The Aberrants charged without hesitation and their movements were unnaturally fast for their size.

Calistra's eyes narrowed and she shifted her stance, grounding herself firmly.

The daggers in her hands thrummed with energy as she prepared for the onslaught.

The first Aberrant leaped toward her as its claws outstretched toward her throat.

SLASH!

Calistra ducked low, narrowly avoiding the swipe and the Aberrant's claws whistled through the air just inches from her head.

She pivoted on her heel, twisting her body, and lashed out with her dagger.

SHHNK!

The blade struck the Aberrant's side and sliced through its flesh easily.

*splash* A burst of black blood sprayed from the wound, splattering the ground.

"GRUAARGH!" The creature howled in pain as its body convulsed.

But there was no time to celebrate.

The second Aberrant lunged from the side with its jaw wide open and Calistra barely managed to raise her dagger in time to block.

*CLANK* The creature's teeth clamped down on the blade and sparks flew as the steel strained under the pressure.

"Damn it!" Calistra grunted, struggling to free her weapon.

The Aberrant thrashed violently, trying to tear the dagger from her grip.

Calistra planted her foot against the creature's chest and pushed with all her strength, forcing it to release the blade.

She spun away just as the first Aberrant recovered and charged again.

This time, it swiped with both claws and Calistra twisted her body, dodging the first strike, but the second claw raked across her arm.

SLASH!

A sharp pain flared up her shoulder as three deep gashes appeared and blood seeped through the torn fabric of her sleeve.

"Shit!" she hissed as she stumbled back a bit.

The Aberrants circled her and their eyes gleamed with bloodlust looking at the prey.

Calistra adjusted her stance as lightning cracked more intensely around her body.

The first Aberrant lunged again as its claws aimed straight for her throat.

Calistra dodged to the side at the last second and delivered a brutal kick to the creature's ribs.

*THUD* The impact sent it skidding across the ground, but it quickly recovered and charged again.

The second Aberrant leaped into the air, aiming to pin her down.

But just as its claws descended—

CLANG!

Brandon threw himself into the fray, using every ounce of speed he could muster, and slashed at the Aberrant's side with all his strength.

THUNK!

The dagger bit deep, and the Aberrant howled in fury.

"Grraaarghhh!" It spun around to face its new attacker as its eyes burned with rage.