Ascension Of The Ashen Fiend: Chapter 14 Mood Shift (Patreon)

Waking up to the sound of her alarm Naomie felt none of the usual lingering drowsiness of sleep. Getting out of bed, Naomie quickly groomed and dressed. Today was Sunday, meaning it was a recovery day.

Still, Naomie found breaking her regular rhyme and rhythm hard, and she liked starting the day early. It gave her plenty of time to get everything that needed to be done.

Walking into the dining hall, Naomie couldn't help but frown when she saw Thane eating. He had changed in more ways than Naomie could count.

There was an undeniable physical change. Working six days out of the week, with constant Refinements and a strictly regulated diet, had done wonders for Thane. Gone was the gaunt, starved figure that Naomie had first interacted with.

Thane had grown explosively over the months. He had shot several inches up to 5'11, with an impressive physical build. Thane's broad shoulders were layered with muscle with a figure that tapered down into a narrow waist that gave way to well-defined legs and calf muscles. There wasn't an inch of fat on his body. The daily treatments in the NHU had burned it all up and converted it directly into muscle.

However, Thane had also lost something, it was an almost unperceivable change, but Naomie had caught on to it nonetheless. The first few times Naomie had talked with Thane, there was a certain air around him. He was very energetic, almost eccentric, but in a very peculiar way.

Naomie had found him interesting and had even been looking forward to befriending Thane, but that had all gone away the day after his first refinement. Slowly but surely, Thane had become colder. He barely talked to Naomie outside a few cursory greetings.

She had even once tried to ask Thane if she had done something to upset him. Instead of answering, Thane had only fixed her with a dead stare and shook his head. Realizing she wasn't going to get a better answer from him, Naomie had gone to Charles to ask for advice.

Only yet again for Charles to shake his head. He had told her Thane was going through something that had caused him to close off. When she pressed further, Charles remained tightlipped, not giving an inch.

Coming out of her reminiscence Naomie blinked when she realized where she was seated, Thane was staring at her from across the table. While there wasn't any hostility in his gaze, it was less than inviting.

Steeling herself against the challenge in Thane's gaze, Naomie didn't look away as she began to eat, and after a second more staring, Thane did as well.

They ate in silence, neither one feeling pressured to say a word. Almost too quickly, Naomie looked up and realized she had finished her meal. She saw Thane had as well.

Once again, at a standstill, Naomie sighed, "Five months and three weeks, almost half a year, and I don't know anything about you."

Thane froze before looking away, trying to hide the guilt that flashed through his eyes, "We've been busy training. It doesn't leave a lot of time to talk."

Naomie rolled her eyes at the half-hearted excuse, "If you think I'll believe that for a second, you're more lost than I thought."

"Oh, have I somehow offended you, miss? Please excuse me for not prioritizing every minute of my free time to be at your beck and call." Thane's voice was sharp and criticizing, and Naomie grit her teeth.

"That's not what I meant! You've barely talked to me outside of saying hello, and goodbye. We train seven hours a day together. You don't even talk during water breaks." Naomie was almost screaming the built-up frustration of being ignored for the past few months, finally reaching a breaking point.

"Yeah, so what," Thane snapped, "I was focusing on training. You said it yourself. Besides, why would I want to talk with you in the first place?"

Pausing for a moment, Naomiew tried to control the mess of anger and rage building inside her, "Yeah, why would anyone want to talk to someone like me."

The spite in her voice made Thane pause, "It has nothing to do with you. It's just that some things have changed."

Naomie's frown softened, "You said you wanted a friend. What changed, Thane? Believe it or not, I was a little hurt when you shut me off like that."

"That wasn't my intention," Thane said defensively, "I'm not used to sharing anything with anyone, and I was joking when I said I wanted a friend."

Snarling at him from across the table, Naomie fought the urge to throw her plate at Thane, "So you think it's okay to fuck with people whenever you feel like it? You smile, flirt a little, then leave them high and dry."

"If it gets me what I want, then absolutely," Thane said confidently, staring Naomie down, "I thought I would end up working for AetherTechnolgies, and being the only friend of the CEO's daughter might have a few benefits."

Shooting up from her seat Naomie slammed her fist on the table, "Fuck you, Thane! I thought you were different here, but you're like everyone else!"

"Used to, used to." Thane said, repeating, "But now I have nothing to gain from becoming your friend. So no need to worry."

Thane grabbed his plate and got up from the table, "See you out on the gym floor."

---

Walking through the halls Monday morning, Charles' mind was on his two trainees. It was the start of Naomie and Thane's last week before the entrance exam. He was confident that Naomie would make it in. She was in perfect physical condition and had been taught every military procedure since she could read.

Charles was less sure about Thane's case. However, in the short time, he had been training, Thane had made a staggering amount of improvement. Charles also understood that Thane had a fierce intellect and was mature beyond his years because of his upbringing.

All in all, Charles would bet that Thane had a forty percent chance of getting in. Stopping for a moment, Charles remembered the look set in stone on Thane's face. It was similar to the hardened eyes Charles had seen on the faces of his companions during their deployments.

If Thane did make it in, Charles knew his potential as a level-headed individual would be spotted by teachers and administrators. Shaking his head clear of such thoughts, Charles focused on his primary objective, training the two teenagers he thought so highly of.

Entering the gym, Charles was immediately put off balance as he spotted Naomie and Thane racing each other around the track. They were almost ramming into each other, exchanging glares as they tried to outdo each other.

When Naomie and Thane reached him, both were breathing hard, but Thane was nearly doubled over from the strain, "Thane, what have I told you about aggravating your condition."

Forcing himself to stand upright, Thane's face was impassive, "I know, but there's only a week left before the exam. I can't slack off now."

Naomie muttered something under her breath, too quiet for Charles to hear, but Thane's head whipped around to glare at her. Feeling the hostility radiating off the pair, Charles knew he had missed something.

"Naomie, would you like to speak up?" Charles asked sternly, glaring at the teenage girl.

Naomie crossed her arms and adverted her gaze, "My bad."

Shaking his head, Charles sighed, "Whatever is going on, it ends now. You don't have to like each other, but I won't tolerate trash talk during training. Am I understood?"

Naomie and Thane nodded after a second, "Alright then, stretch a little, and then join me in the weight room."