We made it a point to experience the whole country.

  Irma leaned over, showing me a map of the country. “Since the nearest hotel is 5 km away from the airport, I booked a backroom in the area. We can start at the edge of the country and work our way down slowly.”

  “What about transport between cities?”

  “Boom.” she said, handing me her international driver’s license.

  “When did you get your driver’s license?” I asked, marveling at the picture-perfect image of her, like a Victorian drawing of a Nairobian goddess, "How do you look this good in your licence photo?"

  “Because I am flawless, and I got it six weeks ago.” she replied with a wink.

  “Okay, this means we can finally rent a car.” I said, handing her back the license.

  “We can also buy a car and go backpacking.” Irma suggested.

  “Are you done packing?”

  “Yes.” she answered, a hint of mischief in her tone.

  “What I saw you put in your bag was just a dress, a t-shirt, and jeans.”

  “Not forgetting my cosmetics bag.” she replied.

  “So, no bra or pajamas?”

  “I’ll buy some shorts and a shirt at the airport. And these two beauties are flawless, which means I can go braless,” Irma said with a grin.

  “Okay, let’s head out then.” I said, grabbing my suitcase.

  We traveled on Friday nights and returned on Sunday afternoons. It was fun, a whirlwind of adventure. Before we even realized it, two years had passed, and we still hadn’t decided on a car.

  “How about this one?” Irma said, scrolling through her tablet and sliding it to me.

  “Not another sports car, Irma. It’s not practical.”

  “And civilians who buy DT 300s are serial killers.” she replied.

  “Irma, since you have the nerve to talk in class, you’ll be the first to do your presentation.” Mr. Michaelson said, cutting through our banter.

  Irma strode confidently to the front of the room, the soft click of her boots echoing in the otherwise quiet classroom. She activated the projector with a flick of her wrist, her neatly organized presentation appearing on the screen behind her.

  “My presentation.” she began, her voice steady and commanding, “is about hunting vampires. As you can see from this diagram, vampire physiology and human physiology share many similarities. However, the differences are critical. Their organ structures are nearly identical, but vampires have increased organ size and efficiency. This gives them physical capabilities that far exceed human limits. They can break the sound barrier with their movements, possess superhuman strength, reflexes. Even seasoned hunters cannot take them head-on in a fair fight.”

  Irma clicked to the next slide, which detailed vampire cognitive function. “Even if a hunter could match their physical abilities, they’d still be at a disadvantage. A vampire’s brain processes information at an astonishing rate, allowing them to adapt almost instantly to any strategy or attack. And this is before factoring in their blood arts—unique abilities powered by their vampiric nature—or their unparalleled healing factor. Let me be clear: killing a vampire is not an option. They are biologically immortal. There are documented cases of individuals who were turned into vampires in their sixties reverting to the peak physical condition of a 21-year-old.”

  Irma advanced to the next slide, which displayed a striking image of Dracula. “Dracula, the Queen of Vampires, is the only known being capable of killing other vampires. Her methods remain a mystery. Some speculate it’s due to her sword, rumored to be of supernatural origin. However, there are accounts of her killing vampires with her bare hands, suggesting her power transcends any single weapon.”

  She clicked to a slide titled "Containment Strategies."

  “When it comes to hunting vampires, the goal is not to kill but to contain. The first step is disorientation. Using low-frequency sound waves targeting the iris, we can induce hallucinations, creating an opening for further action. During this window, I would use a paralyzing agent in conjunction with a neurotoxin. The paralyzing agent immobilizes them, while the neurotoxin targets the nervous system, temporarily shutting down their respiratory system. Once subdued, the vampire must be restrained using cuffs made from a combination of diamond, titanium alloy, and polycarbonate. These materials are strong enough to withstand their immense strength. Finally, they should be submerged in a liquid designed to absorb energy as well additional use of poison that target every vital organ which would further diminish their abilities. This setup ensures their containment in a secure black site.”

  She turned off the projector and faced the room. “This concludes my presentation,” she said, returning to her seat with an air of quiet confidence.

  "It's a bit strange that you remember her presentation in great detail." Ms lane pointed out.

  "Well... after... I will get to the why but the how is that I have great memory so the little things I always remember." Was she always that beautiful but the redhead is breath taking lit...

  "Okay, I understand that as well as the fact that your training is important but being in class and learning wouldn't make people close. So I must ask, when are you going to talk about those special moments that you are most fond of." Ms lane pointed out.

  "Special well let's start with my first time..."

  The sun had just begun to rise, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks, as I tightened the straps on my running gear. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and earth from the black forest ahead. Beside me, Irma adjusted her wristbands, her ever-confident smirk in place.

  “We’ll start from the fort,” Irma said, nodding toward the stone structure that had stood for decades as a training hub. “Fort to the forest, through it, and then to the peak. Think you can keep up?”

  “I might even leave you behind.”

  Irma chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. “We’ll see.”

  I looled closer and it's something I never thought I would see, "You have bag underneath your eyes."

  "Yeah I have been seating in on fraction meetings and it's a lot dealing with the human fraction they always pushing an agenda and baseless allegations which I constantly have to find evidence to prove they are wrong so it takes a toll but I am fine." Irma explained.

  The moment my foot touched the dusty trail outside the fort, I felt the familiar surge of energy ripple through my body. My heart pounded, syncing with the hum of power I had learned to control over the past few months. The crisp morning air nipped at my skin, and I could feel the quiet promise of the day in the faint rays of sunlight breaking through the horizon.

  Irma was already a few steps ahead, her lean form cutting through the air like an arrow. Her movements were effortless, fluid, and confident. She glanced back at me, “Where did all that confidence go.” she called over her shoulder.

  I smirked. “Oh, you’ll see.”

  As I pushed off, my body surged forward, breaking into a sprint. At first, the pace felt manageable, but soon, I felt the familiar rush—the world around me blurring as I poured more energy into my legs. The sound of my own footfalls faded behind the sonic boom as I shattered the sound barrier.

  The shockwave rippled out, scattering the loose dirt and pebbles on the trail. My bioluminescent glow, faint and translucent, shimmered around me, absorbing the friction and heat of my rapid movements. It was like wearing a second skin, one that protected me from the forces trying to tear me apart.

  Ahead, the black forest loomed like a living shadow, its massive trees standing like sentinels. The trail leading to its edge was uneven, a mix of jagged rocks and loose soil, but I barely noticed. Every step was deliberate, my energy cushioning the impact and propelling me forward.

  Irma slowed slightly as she approached the forest, letting me catch up. She turned to glance at me, a smirk tugging at her lips as she extended her for a celebratory dap.

  The forest air was heavier, cooler, and carried the faint scent of damp earth and moss. The towering trees seemed to lean in, their thick canopy filtering the sunlight into scattered beams that danced on the forest floor.

  Irma run in front of me backward she was just showing off now, “Congrats on being able to maintain mach 2, stay sharp in here. The embers of life at this speed will mess with your senses so don't use the emp just use sense the energy already there so you aren't overlorded.” Irma told me with sign language at this speed speaking isn't possible.

  I nodded again, my senses already adjusting. The embers—small pockets of natural energy that pulsed faintly within the forest—were like static on a radio signal, making it harder to map the terrain ahead.

  The forest was alive with sound: the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the rhythmic thud of our footsteps. The uneven terrain forced me to focus, my energy extending subtly outward to guide me around roots, rocks, and low-hanging branches.

  Irma was still ahead, but I was gaining on her. My bioluminescent glow flickered as I adjusted the flow of energy, pushing harder to close the gap.

  The trail twisted and turned, narrowing in some places and opening into wide clearings in others. Each step was a test of precision, my energy not just propelling me forward but also stabilizing me on the uneven ground.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  By the time we reached the heart of the forest, the air was thick with humidity, and the embers pulsed brighter, almost distracting in their intensity. I focused harder, tuning out the interference and letting my instincts guide me.

  When we finally broke through the edge of the forest, the mountain stood before us, its peak bathed in golden sunlight. The climb was steep, but for the first time, I didn’t feel daunted.

  The challenge was on. I let my energy surge again, my bioluminescent glow flaring brighter as I pushed forward, the mountain trail blurring beneath my feet. Every step felt lighter, faster, and for the first time, I wasn’t chasing Irma. I was running with her.

  The wind whipped through my hair, its sharp, cool bite against my skin only a distant sensation now. My heart was pounding from the sheer exertion of the run, but my body felt different—stronger. As I glanced over at Irma, she was already watching me closely, her gaze sharp and calculating, as if she knew what I was about to realize before I did.

  We had stopped at the peak of the mountain, a place we had been to countless times before. The view was breathtaking, the rolling landscape of the Central Republic of Africa stretching beneath us like a vast, untamed sea of greenery and dust. The black forest we had just run through lay in the distance, a dense web of trees and mystery. I could feel the pulse of energy beneath the earth, the same energy that flowed through my own veins, a constant hum just beneath my skin.

  It had always been there, this ability to harness and control energy, to push my physical limits. But today—today it felt different.

  “Gugu…” Irma’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling my attention to her. “You’ve been pushing yourself hard, haven’t you?”

  I nodded without answering, knowing she understood. She always understood. Her observation was sharp, and the gleam in her eyes told me she’d noticed what I had been feeling all along. The way my energy had been responding to my movements, the way it had become an extension of my body.

  “I think you’re ready,” Irma said softly, her voice carrying over the mountain’s edge like a secret.

  "Ready for what?" I asked.

  Irma stepped closer to the cliff’s edge, her silhouette framed by the morning glow, "To fly." she said, her tone almost casual, as though she were telling me to tie my shoes.

  I frowned, "Stop playing."

  She turned, an amused smile curling on her lips? "I'm serious. Look, you know how we passively absorb energy from everything around us, right? When we harness that energy, we amplify our physical abilities."

  I nodded, “I know. And by channeling the energy in our bodies we get superhuman abilities and manifesting it outside our bodies, we enhance our durability. Combining both lets us perform superhuman feats, like breaking the sound barrier without falling apart.”

  "That's how you fly you imbue your body with energy and direct that energy and the process of flying is done I wanted us to fly for years before we came to the academy but I didn't want you to fell like you had to do it so I never told anyone that I could now fly." Irma explained.

  Her casual admission made my jaw drop. "You’ve been flying? And didn’t tell me?"

  She shrugged. "You weren’t ready. But now you are."

  "I don’t know…” Doubt seeped into my voice. The idea of flying felt like stepping off the edge of sanity.

  Irma stepped closer, her expression softening, “Gugu, when you run, doesn’t it always feel like you’re holding yourself back, like you’re stopping yourself from taking off?”

  I hesitated. “Yeah… I always thought it was air pressure, so I started forcing my energy downward to stabilize my strides.”

  “Exactly! And when you jump, you redirect that energy upward to propel yourself higher, right?” Irma asked.

  “Yes, but it’s hard to change direction mid-air. It takes practice.”

  "That’s the key to flying—energy redirection. You’ve already mastered the basics without realizing it as you have shown when we run fromnthe fort till the peak. Now, it’s just a matter of letting go of your fears and just envision what where you want to go and just...” She stepped back, and to my astonishment, began levitating.

  Effortlessly, she floated upward, then tilted her body, flying upside down with her legs crossed as though she were lounging on an invisible hammock. "See? It’s easy. I know you can do it.”

  Her confidence in me was infectious.

  I closed my eyes, feeling the pulse of energy thrumming around me. The wind carried the faint hum of the mountain’s energy, a natural rhythm that resonated with my own. I let go of the instinct to force my energy downward and allowed it to flow naturally, letting it suffuse my entire body. Slowly, I opened my eyes—and realized I was floating.

  “Focus.” Irma’s voice guided me, steady and calm. “Your energy responds to your mind. All you’re doing is moving it from one place to another like walking.”

  I nodded, concentrating on moving the energy toward Irma. The world around me felt distant as I slowly floated forward. Gravity tugged at me faintly, but the bioluminescent glow surrounding my body kept me steady, insulating me from the pull of the earth and the rush of the air.

  I was flying.

  As I approached Irma, still upside down and watching me with a smug grin, she reached out, placing a hand on my chest. A soft glow of energy surged between us, forming a symbol that disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared.

  “What was that?” I asked, feeling a sudden ease in my breathing.

  “I cast a seal. It converts the raw energy in the universe into breathable air. You’re welcome.” she said, her tone light but undeniably proud.

  I exhaled, no longer worried about oxygen. With that fear gone, I pushed more energy outward, propelling myself forward faster. The world blurred around me, the mountain shrinking beneath my feet as I soared upward.

  The exhilaration was beyond anything I’d ever known. The wind roared past my ears, but the glow around me shielded me from its full force. I twisted and turned, experimenting with the flow of energy. I tilted my body slightly, rising higher into the sky, the landscape below becoming a sprawling, endless panorama of green and brown.

  I glanced at Irma, who was now casually “sleeping” mid-air, her arms behind her head. I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound carried away by the wind.

  I pushed myself further, the glow around me intensifying. The river below sparkled in the morning light, and on impulse, I descended just enough to let my fingertips skim its surface. The water rippled from my touch, sending startled fish darting away.

  For a moment, I caught my reflection in the shimmering water. My bioluminescent glow illuminated the rippling surface like a warm ember in the pre-dawn light. I felt… alive. Truly alive.

  The sensation was so overwhelming that I found myself returning to Irma, unable to contain my amazement. As I reached her, my body gave out, and I began to collapse. She caught me effortlessly, cradling me in her lap mid-air.

  “What’s happening?” I mumbled, my voice barely audible.

  “Flying is taxing on the brain.” she explained, brushing a strand of hair from my face, “Your mind isn’t used to the strain of manipulating energy in this manner.”

  I stared up at the endless sky, my eyelids growing heavier. My right hand reached upward as if trying to grasp the heavens, “I get it now.” I whispered, “Why humans always dreamt of touching the sky…”

  Those were my last words before exhaustion claimed me. The rest was a blur—vague memories of being carried on Irma’s back, the feeling of cool air against my skin, the warmth of a bed.

  Flying for the first time… It was everything I’d ever dreamed of and more.

  Learning how to fly was exhilarating. But without a pass to fly in residential areas, we were restricted to the countryside. Three weeks later, we bought an old van. It was a disaster on wheels—rusty, with a hole in the roof and an infestation of pests. Barely an hour after driving it off the lot, it broke down in the middle of nowhere. Frustrated, we pushed it back to the nearest town, a grueling three-hour trek under the sun. By the time we arrived, I was exhausted, drenched in sweat, and regretting every decision that had led to this moment.

  The tow truck took another two hours to haul the van back to the fort. I was too tired to care. I took a shower, sank into bed, and didn’t wake up until morning. When I did, I realized Irma still hadn’t returned.

  By midday, she rolled in with the van looking brand new—fully restored and gleaming as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. “What did you do?” I asked, incredulous.

  “Let’s just say I have my ways.” she said with a smirk.

  With our transportation sorted, we ventured to neighboring towns, reveling in the freedom of the open road. Sleeping in the back, indulging in junk food, and making spontaneous stops at roadside diners became our cherished routine. As we neared the end of our training, I convinced Irma to save the Party City—a legendary hotspot in Central Africa—for our grand finale.

  “Did you actually go?” Mrs. Lane asked.

  “We did.”

  Mrs. Lane raised an eyebrow, “You’ve told me a lot about Irma. What about you, Gugu? How did you handle moving away from home at twelve—leaving behind your family, your friends, your entire life?”

  I shrugged, “People didn’t really hang out with me much. It was always Irma they wanted. I was just... there.”

  “Okay.” she pressed, “but what about things like puberty? Dating? You had to navigate all that away from home.”

  “I’d already started having periods before I left, and Irma was a huge help with all that.” Damn I was like her tail.

  “And your love life?” Mrs. Lane asked.

  I hesitated, “My first kiss was with Irma. It just sort of happened after she got her invite to Fraction meetings. But dating… well, people always wanted Irma, not me. At one point, I was planning to lose my virginity in a bathroom with some guy I met, just to get it over with, but Theo stopped me.”

  “What happened with Theo?”

  I smiled faintly, “He was a good guy. We kicked it a couple of times. One night, I asked him if he wanted Irma, like everyone else seemed to.”

  "Why is it always Irma with you like I am here with you do be here with me too."Theo said as he looked at Gugu.

  "You didn't answer my question but I will be present." I said nodding while dranking my beer.

  "Nah the Irma is overrated and her shadow is where my gaze is focused on." Theo admitted.

  "I am her shadow huh?" I asked.

  "Yeah and they call me slim." Theo said.

  I chuckled at his corny joke, "You lucky I like those dimples of yours."

  "Did you just admit I am beautiful?" Theo asked.

  I shook my head while smiling and having another sip of my drink.

  "I see the red you do think I beautiful." Theo said.

  "Yeah if I do then want?" I asked looking at him in the eyes.

  "I would kiss you." Theo said. I started to lean in for a kiss and as out lips are about to met, "I am a virgin."

  I backed away immediately, "What?"

  Theo drank the whole bottle of beer he had and he opened another and started drinking.

  "Theo answer me my question we both 29 why dating life is people hitting on to me to get to Irma so it's hard for me that's why I just wanted to get it over with. Theo you are beautiful and sexy, you grew into your frame really well and alway been in the top 5 in the class, so how is that possible?" I asked.

  Theo put the second bottle down and took deep breath, "I never had the attention of women so when i started too as I turned 18 I just thought they were being nice but Klaus told me other wise and I took advantage of the situation and went on a couple of dates and they was this French girl and we kissed and went on several dates and well remember that Mrs him nickname I was given?" Theo asked.

  "Yeah I always find the name weird but Irma shut them down and I just paid it no attention because I was focused on climbing the ranks." I admitted.

  "The reason for that nickname is because of the french girl her name was Natalie and she is trans woman and I didn't know tell one of our classmates told me and I didn't believe it but when I asked her, she admitted it and that she was leaving in a weeks time and wanted to us to be intimate but I told her no she should have told me before on the first date and maybe things would've been different but I couldn't look past that. That's why I was mocked and women I go on dates with always find out about her and they feel some type of way about it which is a roundabout way of saying they didn't like that I was kissing on a trans women and in the end I just stopped trying." Theo explained.

  "That's a lot but I don't care about that it."

  "You sure it's not the achool talking?" Theo asked.

  "It might be it has made me destroy my inhibitions and I can feel that I am a bit tipsy but hey fuck everyone else you are not less or more then a man besides sexuality is a spectrum you can do what ever you want... but that still doesn't explain why you would openly admit that you are a virgin?" I asked as the cool air filled my lungs.

  "Because I have liked you since I was 15." Theo admitted.

  I couldn't stop help but smile, "Well I think that my mind has been feeling the same way as well... so let's just hung out and see what this is."

  "Okay." Theo admitted.

  Mrs. Lane leaned in, “So, was Theo your first boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, he was.” feels werid thinking about ex's.

  “And?” Mrs Lane asked.

  "We had fun and the sex was okay we both were virgins in our late 20s so it was to be expected." His head guy was not good at all, "But I was close to top 5 and wanted to get that position so we aren't official in my final yearbecause I was just pushing to finish and graduate and then we will get back into to this relationship after."

  "Did you get back together I mean?" Mrs Lane asked.

  All I hear is static after the moment I was asked that question, "I am a horrible person."