Reggie slammed shut a book on Astrobiology and stood.
"So they haven't confirmed other lifefohrms even in our galaxy, and suddenly SEOPEs started to appear, with their entry still mysterious to them," he said while stretching.
He took his bag and the book from the table.
He located where he had picked it up and fixed it back on the shelf.
"I guess the school library isn't all that boring," he said to himself as he walked towards the exit.
He had decided to use today as his leisure time and came to the library of the school which is always open even during this crisis where studies had been paused.
As he opened the door and walked into the corridor, he was stunned to meet no one else but Rose of the Watsons who was possibly coming to the library.
He had already met two other classmates already who came for a completely different purpose but he never expected to meet Rose, who he hadn't seen for about a month now.
His mind wasn't ready for this surprise, neither was his heart — it started racing.
He decided to just pass by and proceeded on his path but when he got closer, trying not to look in her direction, she called out, "Reginald, you came to the library too."
She said his name in full.
Reggie, having no choice, calmed himself and gave a reply, "Y-Yeah, Rose. I had something on my mind and decided to visit. You?"
He finally lifted his sight to look at her having said that.
She was beautiful. Words were not enough to qualify her beauty, Reggie thought.
"You look stiff. Please relax around me. I actually respect you.
I guess I should start being less formal with you. Anyways I've been coming now and then this month to read novels," Rose said, then continued moving. "Okay... See you around when school reopens next week, Reggie."
Reggie, caught off guard with her calling him by that instead of the 'Reginald' everyone in class calls him, stared blankly at her as she made her way into the library.
He walked out of the school, hardly containing his excitement.
Just then he shouted, "Yes!" and began to run with mixed feelings.
He stopped a taxi and boarded it, having calmed down.
He said to himself, seriously, "So tomorrow is the day I learn to utilize the power dwelling in me... hmm."
He closed his eyes, wanting to recall all that had happened during the month after accepting to fight the SEOPEs and prevent them from obtaining the crystal of the dead.
_Flashback_ #
Reggie said suddenly,"Jude, I'll do it. I'll fight them so please teach me all know about the power".
"I hope you are not expecting me to teach you anytime soon," Jude clarified.
"Huh," Reggie interjected. "I thought you'd..."
Jude cut him short, "No! No! No! Not now. Right now, looking at you, I can say your body is not physically prepared for the tedious work you'll probably do after your debut.
And also, you don't even know how to fight with a sword."
With the mention of that, Reggie recalled having been stabbed by his predecessor with a sword he summoned out of thin air. He also remembered the wound from the piercing healing right after he was chosen — the crystal of the dead entered him.
He said, "Now that you mention it, I actually remember the cyan SEOPE summoning one from nowhere during our encounter.
If I may ask, is healing one of the powers it grants?"
"Well, I guess it does that to some extent," Jude said, crossing his lower pair of hands and scratching his head with the upper right hand. "I'm not sure since I didn't see that as a trait with my time with Wayf — Reggie's predecessor."
Okay, let's get back to the point.
So for one month, that is, till a few days before you open school, which I've learnt you younger ones all attend, we'll train you with swords and the vigazer while you carry out an exercise routine we will give you."
"Okay, I agree, but I've wanted to ask why you know a lot about humans, how we do things, and other things, being a SEOPE?" Reggie asked.
"Well, that's because I learn. After learning about social media and the internet, learning about Earth is easier.
I mean, I wasn't a regular old dude where I come from.
That is also the reason I take charge in communicating with you since the others can't speak English. So till you find the ability to communicate with beings that holders of the crystal were from — one of the first abilities of the second set that every holder gets — I'll be their spokesperson.
With that said, let me teach you how to come here to our hideout and also introduce you to the others, starting with..."
_Present_ #
Just then Reggie was brought out of his deep thoughts, which now felt like he was dreaming what had happened, as the driver kept calling, "Young man! We're here... Young man!"
He paid, apologized after getting down, and continued covering the rest of the journey on foot.
He passed by a family friend's shop and purchased certain items as instructed by Mrs Jenkins.
Soon he made his way home with a smile that was hard to tell the cause of — whether it's him about to utilize his powers soon or Rose having talked to him even if briefly.