CHAPTER 41: [41] LIGHTS OUT

The fifteen students of Class 1-D filed into Training Hall B. Unlike the main arena they’d visited yesterday, this hall was smaller but more specialized, with adjustable terrain panels, weapons racks along the walls, and a high observation deck overlooking the floor.

Xavier scanned the room, noting the absence of any other instructor. The hall was completely empty except for their class.

Professor Valdez walked behind them, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor as she closed the heavy door.

"Form a line," Valdez commanded, her voice carrying that particular chill that made even Kyrie straighten his posture. "Today we determine if any of you have potential worth my time."

Alexander raised his hand. "Professor, will we be demonstrating our abilities individually or—"

"When I want questions, I’ll ask for them."

"Professor," Naomi Phillips spoke up, "what exactly will we be doing today?"

"Surviving," Valdez answered, walking toward the exit. "Or not. Your choice."

"Wait," a tall student with fluffy blonde hair spoke up. "You’re leaving?"

Valdez paused at the door, one eyebrow arched. "Did you think I’d hold your hands? No, I shipped you over to someone more qualified." She pressed her palm against a crystal panel beside the door.

The door sealed shut behind her with an ominous click.

"More qualified?" Calypso whispered, sidling up next to Xavier.

Xavier shrugged, his eyes still surveying the room. "Could mean anything. Maybe they’re bringing in a combat specialist."

"Or maybe they’re punishing us for yesterday," Ashley said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Don’t tell me this is going to be another wasted class," Kyrie groaned, leaning against the wall. "I came here to learn how to fight, not stand around in an empty room."

The students spread out uncertainly, some examining the weapons racks while others tested the springiness of the floor. Xavier remained near the center, watching the main entrance and the observation deck above.

"Maybe we’re supposed to start without supervision?" Alexander suggested, checking his watch. "A test of initiative?"

"That would be stupid," Naomi replied, examining her nails. "What if someone gets hurt?"

"Perhaps we should—" Alexander began, but his words died as the lights suddenly cut out.

One light cut out.

Then another.

And another.

The darkness swallowed the training hall completely. Xavier’s eyes strained against the blackness, his other senses heightening to compensate. The air grew heavy with an unnatural stillness.

"What’s happening?" Sayuri’s voice quavered from somewhere to his left.

"Probably just a power outage," Xavier said, though he didn’t believe it for a second. His instincts from his previous life screamed danger.

A soft whimper came from behind him—someone was genuinely scared. The sound of shuffling feet and nervous whispers filled the darkness as students bumped into each other.

"Everyone stay calm," Alexander’s voice was steady and authoritative. "Form a circle, backs to each other. This is likely part of the exercise."

Xavier felt Calypso’s presence nearby, her breathing slightly faster than normal. He reached out and found her wrist, pulling her closer to his side. "Stay near me," he whispered.

"I’m not scared," she whispered back, though her fingers curled around his arm.

"I know," Xavier said. "But I am."

A low chuckle echoed through the hall, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The sound crawled up Xavier’s spine like ice water.

"Who’s there?" Kyrie demanded.

No answer came. Instead, the temperature dropped further. Xavier’s breath began to fog in front of his face.

"This isn’t funny," Ashley called out, her usual confidence wavering.

Xavier sensed movement above them—a whisper of displaced air, the faintest scrape of fabric against metal. Someone was in the rafters.

"Essentia control exercise," Xavier murmured to Calypso. "They’re testing how we react to fear."

"That’s... not very nice," Calypso replied, her voice unnaturally small.

Another laugh, closer this time. Xavier pivoted toward the sound, pushing Calypso slightly behind him. His eyes had adjusted enough to make out vague shapes in the darkness—his classmates huddled together, the outlines of equipment along the walls.

"The dark reveals what we truly are," a voice whispered, so close to Xavier’s ear that he jerked away. But no one was there.

"Okay, this is bullshit," Naomi’s voice rose from across the room. "I’m not here to—"

Her words cut off with a startled yelp, followed by a thud.

"Naomi?" Margaret called out. "Are you okay?"

Silence.

Xavier’s pulse quickened. This wasn’t just an exercise anymore. He felt Calypso press against his back, her hand gripping his shirt.

"Someone’s picking us off," he whispered to her. "Stay close."

A gust of cold air brushed past them, and Xavier sensed rather than saw a dark shape moving through their midst. His Input Buffer system activated, the familiar pink glow of his meter appearing faintly in the darkness, casting just enough light to illuminate his immediate surroundings.

"There!" Kyrie shouted, pointing at the brief flash.

But Xavier wasn’t looking at his own meter. He was watching the ceiling, where the faint light had reflected off something—or someone—moving overhead.

"Everyone down!" Alexander commanded, just as a shadow dropped from above.

Xavier reacted instantly. He spun, wrapped an arm around Calypso’s waist, and dropped to one knee, his other arm raised in a defensive position.

A figure landed silently in the center of their group, barely visible in the darkness. The students scattered with cries of alarm. Xavier remained frozen in his defensive stance, Calypso clutched against him.

"Perfect reaction time," the figure said, voice smooth and amused.

The lights flickered back on, revealing a tall man standing in their midst. He wore a plain white mask with minimal features—just slits for eyes and a small line for a mouth. His clothing was entirely black, from his gloves to his boots, with a long coat that seemed to absorb the light around it.

"Good morning, Class 1-D," the masked man said cheerfully. "I’m Agent Phantom, your instructor. And today’s lesson was about..." He paused dramatically, looking around at the stunned faces.

"Awareness."