Trash: Chapter 101 Fate's Encounter (Patreon)

Chapter 101

Fate’s Encounter

Knock, knock, knock.

Desperate sounds of someone frantically trying to get in from a place they are not supposed to be. The location of the sounds alone let me know what happened, someone had gone into the open courtyard area of the school and not realized that the doors will automatically lock behind them once they enter. At least not until faculty and staff unlock the courtyard for lunch use, which normally won’t occur until much closer to noon.

Given how many new people are here, the odds that one of the Royal Order of Watcher guardsman tried to sneak away in the courtyard for a quick smoke break was not unconscionable. That is why I didn’t even stop to look and see who was behind the door and just chose to depress the unlocking function of the metal door, letting the door be opened via the one-way locking mechanism. These doors were designed so people could get out, but not necessarily in, sadly this felt oddly nostalgic to vague memories of my past life. Memories of me taking breaks between intense exams to go outside into the bitter cold, if only to relax a bit and have some time to recenter myself before heading back to finish off a grueling shift of patient care. Shifts where I had to watch people die or heal slowly, depending on which ward I was in at the time, or why the patient had come to be treated.

Remembering those hard moments, I once again thanked everything that this time, I had a chance to make an immediate impact on people’s lives. While I wasn’t an instantaneous healer, I could, given enough time, determination, and above all patience heal almost any condition that I came across. At least that is how I felt so far.  Mentally, I knew that this was not the correct mindset that I should anticipate a chance when her Skills, and Magic of this world will fall short. But for now, I felt that if she trained hard enough, followed Madame Bloom’s guidance well enough, that I could save almost anyone.

The door clicked open the moment I depressed the bar enough to disengage the locking mechanism. A simple design that is oddly effective in any world. As soon as the lock was disengaged, someone was already ripping the door open in a desperate need to get in. The force was so violent that I lost contact with the metal bar and instead saw likely the last person I expected to see at that point.

“Thanks,” Johny declared, his face flushing red at realizing that I was the one who had in fact rescued him. I nodded, not wanting to really respond. My mind already realizing that of all the students who would cut out for a smoke break it would be Johny, trying to act cool with flare that only smoking cigarettes can give you. I just glance and mentally scoff at his apparently disheveled appearance. He had scuff marks on his otherwise perfect shoes, there were faint signs of rips and tears in his clothes along the knees and elbows, and even his fingers seemed to be bleeding slightly. Added to that was the fact that he looked dirty, as in, he looked like he was covered with a thin film of dust. I could almost see this, as it was now much colder, meaning that the staff likely wouldn’t clean the stone seats of the courtyard too carefully, meaning that finding a dirty spot to sit in was not unconscionable. Yet it all still seemed to be odd, as my brain was taking in everything, and seeing that something seemed off with Johny, but I couldn’t exactly tell why. It was only after seeing his body in its entirety that my mind began to come up with a reason for his disheveled state. Looking at him, I remembered how everyone in the DiVoratore household tried their best to tear me down. Scuffing my uniform, covering it with dirt and dust were some of the nicest acts that they did.

“No problem,” I reply, and begin to move to class. In my periphery, I can almost see the moment Johny reached out a hand towards me, that’s when my conscience kicks in. Seeing him in such a state, I know he will get a demerit or worse from some of the stricter teachers.  Turning back, I see that he had paused and was himself turning to go the opposite direction.

“Wait,” I call out, then before he has a chance to protest, I use my Trash Skill to clean him up. In a second the scuff marks, the dust, and blood from his fingers are gone. Mentally, I call this paying it forward. A last tie of solidarity for how hard it was to last in the DiVoratore family, for I know my own uniform would have looked much the same had I not had my Skill. Also, this was free practice and Levels for my Skill, making the process ultimately beneficial to me on multiple fronts.

“Than—thank you,” Johny stammered out, a note of surprise and awe in his voice.

Hearing his sincere gratitude, I felt better. As I could feel that he didn't sense any malice or hostility towards me and my underlying thoughts. My thoughts are on getting away as quickly as possible. While I might be held responsible for letting in a monster to the school, I can probably mitigate that by the fact that I informed someone about the danger. Also, there are far too many signs and red flags that my mind is tagging. Each use and application of Trash clues me into something else to be aware of. He had sap on his clothes that indicated coming from the back woods, the ones with pine trees in the way. Blood on his fingers seems to come from having climbed, while I get rid of the blood stains, I make sure not to heal the wounds. A clear sign of his guilt, and finally there are the scuff marks on his shoes. While I can get rid of the smudges and smears, I cannot get rid of the patches where he scratched the leather away entirely. No, all I really did was get rid of the layer of dirt and leave all his micro-abrasions present to scream of his past actions. All while appearing to be helpful.

With that, I nodded, gave a crisp pivot on my toe. This was the same type of pivot that dancers and soldiers would use, one involving the kicking of my big toe into the ground, while using my left foot to spin my body about in a 180-degree turn. Also, I remember for a fact that Johny's shadow was bubbling on his way to the stage. That said, I will only draw attention to myself if I make any haves now, which is why I decide to do an about face, retreat and find someone to inform about Johny and the signs that all point to his recent foray into climbing.

As I am having this thought, my mind is expanding and trying to help me move gracefully and silently, and that is when the system seems to come to life and acknowledge either my good deed, or the fact that I am going to immediately narc on someone.

New Skill Possible: Advanced Movements – (Dance Specialization) (Uncommon): You can move in gracefully coordinated ways.

Seeing the Skill, I paused mentally, while continuing to make my way to Mr. Karl’s classroom, my mind instantly goes to him as a trusted source as I won't have to verify myself to him. Particularly as he is already aware of my status as the arena healer. Perhaps it is the fact that I was not actively focusing on a particular action that a Skill suddenly became available.

I find it odd that I spent all weekend trying to unlock a Sword specialization Skill, but based on one toe-pivot I managed to unlock this Skill. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this might be what I needed, particularly as I often thought of many of my strikes and movements as a dance routine. Mentally, I also noted how I could work on my new Stringed Instrument (Violin) Specialization Skill while enhancing this Skill by adding a few movements to my practice. Also, the idea that it was just an Uncommon Skill meant that I could have the Arbiter badge it in no time. While the Arbiter, Mr. Yohan Smoulder, could badge up to Rare Skills, it seemed that badging an Uncommon Skill would be less taxing, and likely easier to find the appropriate funds needed on my part. The final selling point, other than being given complete autonomy by Madame Bloom to pick my Skills was the fact that my Uncommon Actor Skill was also nearing completion, meaning that if I desperately needed a new Free Skill slot opened, that would be the most likely one that I could employ the Arbiter to badge for me.

For a moment I almost let the acceptance window drop, as the available Skill selection begins to blink and flash rapidly, letting me know that its option is quickly fading. Realizing that I am about to miss out on a Skill that I have practically talked myself into, I shake my head and finally accept the specialized Advanced Movement Skill.

New Skill Accepted: Advanced Movements – (Dance Specialization) (Uncommon):

You can move in gracefully coordinated ways. All movements can be improved to be cleaner, shaper, and more defined, but dancing is where you will truly shine.

Advanced Movements – Dance Specialization: Str, Dex, Sta, Per, Int (+0.02 per level)

As is becoming slightly addictive, I felt the Skill settle into place in my mind and realized I had hit on a goldmine of a Skill. One that enhanced every base Attribute. For a moment I wondered why, the physical Attributes were understandable, as movement required the use of all physical Attributes. Then for the mental Attributes, my mind slowly began to piece the process together, as it was Perception that helped me understand how big of a dance floor, I had available. Just opening my eyes, I realized that this hallway was roughly ten feet wide, less so once the lockers were present. The Intelligence was for me to begin to count out how long my steps were and how much space would be needed to do any formal movement. It was an odd feeling, being able to mentally calculate the area in front of me. Similar to the way my mind could begin to distinguish notes and sounds thanks to my Music Resonance Skill, before it got enhanced to its current Divine Music Resonance Skill status.

Just accepting the Skill, helped me understand my own balance, how I could move faster and more cleanly by putting more weight on the tips of my toes. How I was losing so much energy by just using my heels to move and direct my body. Just that subtle shift of using my heels and toes made me feel like I had lost ten pounds and was now able to glide across the floor. Only after I take a few such light steps do I realize that I might appear awkward, bouncing and lightly dancing on the balls of my feet in the hallway. A quick scan shows that fortunately, most everyone is gone, as the hallways have been cleared, letting me know that I need to get to class quickly.

Taking a breath, I brace myself before heading towards Mr. Karl's classroom. Knowing he would know how best to handle the Johny situation.

***

(Johny DiVoratore)

The day started off terrible. It all began yesterday, Sunday, when he used an old pair of clothes and managed to make it unseen from the Bloom estate before finally making it to his new dwelling at DiVoratore Manor.

At first, he thought he was done, free and clear. That the whole weekend had been a huge headache that was now over. Mentally, he was already preparing to have to stick with Ithica for a while, especially after she saved him in the dark on Saturday and had helped find his old clothes to be used to make his way back to his new home.

A home that he had wanted but now found himself dreading.

Upon his arrival, he found his adoptive mother and her skinnier and honestly far mor frightening aunt staring at him from the grand table. The two were sitting and chatting away and seemed to have positioned themselves as if to wait for the exact moment that Johny would return.

“Oh, and there he is, the man of the hour himself,” the more wicked sister cooed.

Just hearing her speak caused a shiver of fear to run down Johny’s neck and spine as he remembered how she seemed to control the Death Eater. The monster that was so deadly and monstrous that Johny had almost convinced himself he had imagined the entire thing, up until he felt the monster emerge from his shadow and begin cutting through people indiscriminately. With a horror, Johny only pieced it together later on that he could have been one of those victims easily sliced down, had the monster not gone easy on him.

“Yes, I wanted to say, I have never been more proud of any of my children, than I am with you, right now,” Johny’s adoptive mother, Athella,  cooed out as she rose from her seat and all but seemed to float towards Johny to embrace him and hold him tightly with her ice cold hands. Hands that grabbed his face and forced him to lock gazes with her deep purple eyes. “Alas, I am afraid that you are close to being found out and burned at the stake.”

“What?” Was all Johny managed to reply with, after hearing such an outrageous claim.

“It’s true dear, that is what the government does to those who have been found to ferry Death Eaters. We have just gotten word that tomorrow, the Royal Order of Watchers, or the ROW will be setting up a screening checkpoint at your school, to catch you,” the Aunt replied, her tone musically jovial. Almost as if she was speaking of something happy to be anticipating.

“Wait, I didn’t mean to—” Johny stammered out and was about to turn his rage against the Aunt, the person who all but forced him to ferry the Death Eater.

“Oh, I know dear, but don’t worry, they aren’t specifically looking for you. In fact, according to my sources, they don’t even know you exist. This is just standard practice after such an event, they will do scan everyone entering all public buildings for a day or two,” the Aunt explained.

“A day or two?” Johny asked, wondering if he could call out sick despite having the Bloom bloodline actively awakened in his system. A bloodline that makes his being sick, wasn’t that likely.

“Don’t worry, there is a way you can avoid all suspicion and be cleared of this crime completely,” the Aunt continued. It was the additional comment about this being the process to scan for a crime that got Johny’s full attention.

“I can?”

“Yes, it is simple, all you need to do is break into the school, by using an entry way that isn’t an externally facing door or window,” the Aunt replied.

“But how is that even possible?” Johny found himself asking.

At that point, he was informed of the one way to enter the school without having to be screened by climbing over the far wall, the one with the least number of windows facing the woods. From there he would sprint out, find the brick siding and climb his way up and over to safety.

The process had been painful, his fingers grabbed and ripped on the bricks, his fingers and toes wedging into the mortar created grooves. Grooves that were just deep enough for the tips of his fingers and toes to dig into. Fortunately, he was tall, and the section of wall he chose had a slight rise, making it so he only needed to climb a few feet up before he could reach the roof. From there, he had the painful process of grabbing and pulling himself up to the rooftop. Letting out a sigh of relief at having scaled the roof, to then let out a grunt of annoyance, when he realized he still needed to get down. At first, he tried the hatches that littered the seemingly flat roof, only to find that they were all sealed shut from the inside. That was when he found the open entrance to the courtyard area, an area he frequented often to smoke and make shady business deals during lunch. Now though, now it was the spot where he would make his reentry.

Climbing down was both easier and harder than climbing up was. While he had to climb down almost twice as far as he climbed up, getting down was as simple as lowering his body fully, then dropping the last six feet or so to the ground.

He landed with a thud that made his feet explode with pain as he felt like he broke his foot, at least for the first few seconds. Fortunately, after a few steps he realized it wasn’t broken and at most sprained. Still, he had done everything he had hoped for, he had arrived safely, and now all he needed to do was get into the school, but fate seemed was still against him as these doors too were sealed shut.  In desperation he pounded on the doors, hoping and praying for a miracle, he ended up getting not one miracle, but two.

After a few beats, the dark Gods seemed to favor Johny, for someone opened the door almost immediately. Better still, it wasn’t one of the ROW members that he had been warned about avoiding, but rather Caterine himself. Just seeing her shining brightly made him feel relief and once again, he felt his heart flutter at the sight of just how beautiful she was. Not just beautiful, but there for her when he needed her most.

He said thanks, or at least he thought he did, as his tongue seemed to be tied by just seeing her. She nodded and turned to go away, only stopping after a second and facing him, she gave him a second miracle. Raising her hand, she used some type of Cleansing Skill that removed all dirt and debris from his uniform, even the dried blood stains from his hands and clothes were removed, making it look like he had entered the school normally, versus having climbed over the wall, ran over the roof, hopped down into the courtyard and now been rescued by this angel.

Then he watched the most impressive feat of all, as he watched her spin and seem to glide her way towards her next class. Seeing her move so freely, Johny knew that any feelings he had for Ithica were old and dated, as the one he truly had in his heart was the one who fate herself seemed to keep putting in his path.

Realizing that this his being rescued by Catarine Bloom, his co-fostered swapped sister, he saw the signs and realized that she was clearly the one for him. The one he was always meant to be with, a fact that his now racing heart fully encouraged.