Catalyst Chapter 12: Convergence II

Read chapter 12 of Catalyst by dumbhd on NovelPedia.

1 Month before Chapter 11. The sun bolsters its shine on Catalyst High's training field. The Students all began creating barriers around them, not very large in scale. Hiro smirks, closing his eyes, " Boundance. " He says, Ether flowing out from his hands. It circles around him, forming into a dome. But it flickered, some places thicker than others, some places see-through and others completely concentrated. " Not like that, Hiro! " The teacher walked up. Passing by Denis, which was perfectly executing the Boundance. His hand rested on his sword's handle, half the blade and holster missing. " I'm doing it as you told me. " " You're just letting it out, like this see? " He lifts a hand, a flowing construct of Ether emerging from the air. The circular construct turns jagged, changing forms at his will. " What else am I supposed to do? Ask the Ether nicely? " " I'm saying you're not using it correctly. You'll hurt yourself like that. You have to have intent, a shape and size. Right now, you're just letting it all fly around you and thinking of a circle. " " Well that's really helpful Argus! " Hiro says sarcastically, clenching his arms further and using up more of his Ether. Polly turns, her Boundance a flush green due to her Ether's natural hue. She chuckles at his sarcasm, Hiro smiles confidently. In the last row, Hunter stared at his hands, Ether cackling weakly. The students next to him created their Boundance with ease, yet he stood there doing nothing. " Come on.. That's it? " He was pretty disappointed. Not very, but why would he be anyways? It's not like he really wanted to do this. " Y-You alright H? " A boy next to him asks, holding up their Boundance frantically. " Yeah, yeah.. " Hunter glances. " Don't sweat it man, you'll ace it, a hunned' percent guarantee! Straight from big G! " " Not like I want to. Just here for a resume, y'know? And for my mom and dad. " Argus passes Hunter, staring at him for a moment. " Hm? Something the matter Hunter? " He stops, his blade clattering inside the holster. He stares at Hunter's hands, the Ether crackling weakly. Argus sighs, " Hunter, you're not trying. " " Yeah obviously. " He stares over to Argus, unamused. " Well you're not gonna pass these classes if you can't even create a simple Boundance. " He pokes at his hand. " Uh-huh." Hunter nods, " I know. " Argus's eyes seemed empathetic, knowing Hunter didn't even like fighting Blightborns. He continues, passing Hunter. ``It’s not my job. I write the evaluations, I don't sign the discharge papers. If I tell the Board he’s unfit, they’ll just reassign him to a worse sector. `` He sat down on the wooden stairs. They led up to the arched gate, which led outside. The field was freshly cut, green, reinforced wood borders across the entire perimeter, it seemed more like a football field or track. He rubs his jaw, feeling the scar on it. `` You can't save them all. Try to play hero, and you just end up burying them yourself. Just do the job, Argus.`` " Alright, release your Boundances! " He stands up. Hiro pants heavily, landing on his back. Denis's breathing was quick, sweat on the sides of his head. Polly exhales in relief. The other students sat down or rested. Argus walks over to the front, students look over to him. " Good job, most of you got it today! " He claps, " Now let's move on to coating. " The students got up one by one, some waiting a second or two before they got up. Rows of wooden dummies stood at the field's edge, most worn and broken, stitched together with steel plates. " I assume most of you have learned the basics of Ether Coating. Raise your hand if you have. " Nearly everyone raises their hand. " Great. Now how many of you have heard of Ether Synthesis? " A long silence. They look at each other and shrug. Argus approaches the dummy closest to him, grass crunching under his steps. " Ether, as we know, is manifested through channeling it to a specific part of your body. " Ether began to flow through him, going to hi