Chapter 36: Side Story : Nadia (4)

Nadia recalls discovering her power as a 'copier' about seven or eight months ago during a visit from the Public Relations department of BtP.

It was standard for schools to be visited annually by BtP's PR team. The aim was to provide accurate information and bridge the gap between superhumans and the general public. Typically, these teams consisted of a superhuman healer, a performer with an incredible but harmless talent, and a low-level superhuman copier. On that day, the BtP PR team visited their school and demonstrated their abilities to promote understanding. Two BtP members entered Nadia's classroom, which was at the moment a lab where they were dissecting frogs.

The copier began educating the students about superhumans, ensuring they would not fear those wearing the BtP arm bands in public. The PR team knew fear stemmed from ignorance. They emphasized that superhumans had only a slight advantage and were not a threat, but it was still best not to disturb them. For instance, one PR team member showcased how he could freeze the water in a lab beaker. He placed his hand above it, took a deep breath, and soon after, the water froze solid.

Naturally, the students reacted in various ways – some gasped in astonishment, some clapped, while others looked on in fearful awe, imagining themselves being frozen instantly if they ever crossed a superhuman. This BtP copier was a class-three copier, with a mimicry level between 10-40% of the original cold-manipulating BtP member's ability. Usually, copiers with mimicry levels below 50% ended up in public relations roles, health divisions, supply departments, or other administrative roles that didn't demand agility and precision.

The copier then instructed several students from each group to try what he had actually done. It has been a standard teaching method by BtP's PR team to explain the patterns and ways they operate. He directed a few students to stand at their respective desks, placed a lab glass filled with water in front of each student, and began giving the command just as he had frozen the water.

"Calm your mind..."

"Relax your body,"

"Take a deep breath,"

"Imagine something cold in each of your minds and feel that cold sensation flowing to the center of the chest, making our chests feel a cold sensation. And now, after our chests feel cold, imagine that cold feeling flowing out of our hands and into the water in the glass." The copier continued, "Vividly imagine that the water in the glass is filled with a cold air and freezes instantly."

The water in the glass in front of the copier had frozen. "Alright, everyone," he began explaining, "Every human actually has the power of thought that can control themselves and their environment. Anyone doing as previously instructed would make the water in front of them colder, even if it's just about zero point zero-something degrees." The copier cleared his throat briefly to get the attention of his audience, "This is what the superhumans actually do, they don't have any special knowledge except they are blessed with better mental power than ordinary people; some people can learn this. Alright, any questions?"

A female student raised her hand high. The copier smiled, "Yes, go on?"

"Sir, the water in Nadia's glass froze," she said innocently. At that moment, all the students quickly looked towards the glass in front of Nadia, which seemed to be partly frozen. Nadia was as puzzled as everyone else. Initially, she was just trying her best to mimic the copier's way of freezing water, and she didn't expect at all that the water in the glass would freeze. At least partially. The copier's expression instantly changed, and he approached Nadia, observing the partially frozen water in the lab glass and whispered, "After this, you're coming with us." Nadia just nodded, and at that point, the copier was replaced by a healer.

The healer simply demonstrated by instructing each group to dissect a frog in front of them, and he would then heal that frog right on the spot. Everything went smoothly except when the healer visited Angelina's group. "Why haven't you dissected it?" asked the healer. A student, slightly scared, said, "We did dissect it earlier, but..." his face turned pale and pointed at Angelina, "She healed it."

Previously, Angelina saw the frog in pain and felt sorry for it. Thus, she placed her hand on the frog intending to heal it. She was just recalling the copier's statement that every human has mental power, and Angelina just wanted to try to alleviate the frog's pain a bit. She never expected such a result. Hearing this, the healer quickly approached Angelina and gently asked, "Do you have healing abilities?"

Angelina grimaced, "I don't know."

"You'll also come with us," the healer added immediately. Gris became restless; she clearly understood that if they were identified as superhumans, they would have to leave this place and join the BtP, continuing their schooling there. She had abilities and did not want to be found out because she didn't want to be separated from Nadia and Angelina. Gris promptly raised her hand high in front of the BtP's copier and healer.

"What is it?" the copier asked. "Report, sir, I also have powers, and I am a superhuman," Gris declared, standing hands on her hips, not wanting to be outdone by the commotion Nadia and Angelina had caused, making the whole room whisper and gaze at Gris. This time the copier just took a deep breath. Previously, he had never found a single superhuman during his years as a BtP public relations officer, and now he had found three at once, making him think of nothing else but to take them all, "Alright, you're coming with us too."

Gris immediately smiled at Nadia and Angelina.

***

That's how the events unfolded, resulting in all three of them being relocated to the BtP Headquarters, living in a dormitory to continue their studies. Only afterwards did Nadia learn that the BtP public relations team was a group within BtP that deeply despised the Research Division. They went to all lengths to ensure superhumans outside of BtP were recruited as BtP members, not handed over to the Research Division.

Essentially, the BtP PR team was in competition with the Research Division to discover superhumans first. Depending on who found them, a superhuman's fate could be heaven or hell. If the trio had been found by the Research Division first, they'd definitely end up as lab rats. Nadia's own mother was so proud that she told everyone her daughter was a superhuman. No niece or nephew could compete with that, as being a superhuman was a gift and she was the mother of one.

After taking a shower, Nadia returned to her bed, feeling increasingly drained. She felt it was futile to look for someone hiding their identity. The best course of action would be to forget it as soon as possible.

***

Days passed just as usual, and it seemed that this routine might continue for another year when they would graduate from junior status and start more practical training. At least, that's what Nadia thought.

Every morning, the trio studied in their respective divisions, met at the BtP cafeteria or sometimes at the Eve Cafe for lunch. In the evenings, they often gathered in Nadia's room to hang out, watch movies, read, joke around, or just catch up. However, for the past three nights, Gris had been conspicuously absent, claiming to be on a special assignment.

"She went to the Eve Cafe," Angelina casually mentioned.

"Impossible," Nadia immediately replied, glancing at Angelina. She sat at her study desk, fingers on the keyboard, trying to complete some assignments. While munching on potato chips and engrossed in one of Nadia's novels, Angelina nonchalantly said, "It's true. I asked her roommate."

Nadia tried to refocus on her work, but unconsciously wondered, "What's she doing there?"

"Maybe drinking cocktails," Angelina whimsically replied.

"Hmm?" Nadia responded disinterestedly, turning her attention back to her computer screen.

"Or perhaps she's still trying to find info on your masked man," Angelina teased.

Nadia shot a glance at Angelina, who appeared indifferent. For the umpteenth time, Nadia attempted to concentrate on her work. Her screen displayed some text, but the image of the masked man overshadowed everything else. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, determined to refocus since she had already decided to forget about him. When she reopened her eyes, her mind started to get back on track.

"Maybe Gris has met your masked man. You should ask him when she returns," Angelina suggested, her hand rummaging through the chip bag, eyes on her book.

"Angelina."

"Yeah?"

"Let's go to the Eve Cafe now!"

"Huh?" Angelina was startled, watching as Nadia shut down her computer and started changing clothes.

"Are you serious?" Angelina asked in disbelief.

"Dead serious," Nadia responded. It seemed that Angelina's last comment had shattered Nadia's most recent attempt to forget the masked man, making her want to seek him out again.

"This will be the last time," Nadia promised herself internally.

Just as Angelina had predicted, Gris was indeed at the Eve Cafe, which had turned into a bar that night. She went there to sample various drinks; ever since she was young, when her parents were away, she would occasionally sneak sips from their private bar and grew fond of the taste. Sometimes, she would also attempt to make his own cocktails with guidance from magazines, books, or online articles, but her true desire was to enjoy an authentic cocktail mixed by a real bartender.

Nadia and Angelina typed an exit permission into the computer at the front of their dormitory and soon exited through a small door beside the main gate of the BtP dormitory. The two walked side by side, shielding themselves from the chilly night air. After about a 100-meter walk and crossing a large road, they arrived at the brightly lit Eve Cafe, illuminated by its warm lights.

"Cring," the bell above the door chimed as Nadia pushed it open.

"Welcome," greeted a voice. Instantly, Nadia looked towards the source of the sound and saw a man, smiling at her as he dried a cocktail glass behind the bar counter. She felt a sense of familiarity. Her eyes locked onto his, and a strange feeling overcame her – a feeling of comfort, of recognizing the man, and of a sentiment she hadn't quite forgotten.

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