Over the next couple of days, Dahlia continued to work on being more used to being submerged. After a few more tests with the water she found it helped her somewhat with ignoring the feeling when she used her power. Of course it only helped in small amounts, mostly removing the discomfort of having black water flow from her nose and ears but the exhaustion was something that couldn't be tamed yet.
During one training session however, another accuracy one, Dahlia went to Yume to ask for some help. She thought that maybe she could help her with something.
"Excuse me Yume." Dahlia said a bit timidly. Normally people would come to her rather than her going to anyone else.
"*Huff* Yes Dahlia?" she said in between breaths. She was working on throwing more weighted objects such as arms and slings during her training.
She was told by her during lunch that at some point they would be using firearms in her training but Professor Suzuki had wanted to see other options before they got to something more lethal.
One would think that the idea of guns and firearms that can kill a room full of people in seconds would be shocking to the medieval girl, but in a world with magic the idea wasn't too impossible in her mind. Yes it was a shock but it wore off faster than it should.
"I wanted to ask about what you had mentioned last week, about the focus training that you do." Dahlia asked.
"Oh!" exclaimed Yume, just remembering that as well, "Did you wish to do that now? It might be a bit too loud with everyone training."
"It might be better like this." Dahlia needed to get better with tentacles.
Unlike the students here who had a long time to get perfect with their respective abilities, Dahlia needed to use every second she has here to try anything to grow her power, especially with how freely she can use it.
Not to mention, being able to use her power efficiently only during times of quiet was very counterproductive. If she wanted to seriously get better, she needed to be harsh on herself.
Yume and Dahlia went to Coach Letty and explained to them what they wished to do. Once given the approval, the two of them gathered a couple yoga mats from the storeroom and rested on the ground. Yume cross legged and Dahlia with a kneel.
"Isn't it uncomfortable to kneel on this dirt Dahlia?" wondered Yume.
"This is the best way I can find focus." the brown haired girl replied.
Whilst Dahlia was never fussed with religion, she has had to go to services a few times. So when it came to sitting on the ground she found the kneeling to help her focus better. Also she didn't really know how to sit cross legged but won't say that out loud because she was too proud to say that.
The girl kept her prayer-like stance as the fuzzy haired girl spoke about meditation.
"When I initially discovered my powers, I found it difficult to focus my clairvoyance on anywhere beyond what I can already see. While I can't say this can work for you it may help you to become more focused."
"That is fine." said Dahlia, "Any kind of progress is good progress."
Yume smiled. "Yes. Now, my ability can't be used constantly due to it making me dizzy, which I believe is the same thing you feel when you use yours, am I right?"
The other girl nodded, focusing intently on Yume's words. She has never done anything like meditation or focus training before. She knew it was like prayer but more about emptying one's mind rather than reciting words from books she hasn't read nor cared to.
The frizzy haired girl continued. "Well, when those of us have powers that cause dizziness, headaches or fainting, it's normally focused in our brains. Given that you Dahlia experience dizziness you are likely the same."
"Is it?" asked Dahlia genuinely, knowing that they're definitely not the same power but that doesn't mean the same methods might not apply.
"Well, given that that black water comes from your nose and your tentacles are seemingly coming from your spine there is a likely chance; I'm not a doctor though, so it may be good to ask Dr. Saeki." the girl advised.
Yume shifted her body to face a couple of targets. They were about a hundred feet away from them and had been untouched.
She hummed and closed her eyes. "Now when I try to focus on a target, I try to focus on everything besides the target. For example, Suto striking his target or the swooshes of Burrus' hands as he calls his shadows."
Dahlia shifted to face the targets and too focused on what she could hear. Because of the grunting, heavy breathing and the rocks and powers being used, it felt hard to focus on any particular one.
"I can't seem to focus as well as you do." she said, a bit disappointed.
Yume kept her gentle expression, eyes still closed. "That's fine. How about this, instead of the sounds, try the smells."
Dahlia again, focused on the target and attempted to describe the scents in the air. She could smell the tropical scent of the sea, the smell of her own perfume. But once she tries to delve deeper, it's like she is being hit with nothing but a bland stench. No difference between the burnt crackling of lighting or the beads of sweat bleeding off of Yume next to her from the blistering sun.
"It's too difficult. Maybe I just can't find anything that I don't already notice." she guessed.
Yume opened her eyes and thought for a moment. "Then maybe, instead of scent or sound, why not vibrations, you know like touch?"
"I don't think it'll work." Dahlia doubted.
"You won't know unless you try." she sang a little.
Yume hadn't been known by her for long but a part of Dahlia trusted her for some reason. There is always the fear that she could be the faceless and maybe that's why she keeps, not just her, but everyone in the Highlights at an arm's length but she had let Rolo take her on a date, why not trust her to help her with her power? She focused on the target and tried her best to focus her sense of touch.
"Try to close your eyes as well, it might help you focus better." she guided, shutting her eyes.
Doing as she says, Dahlia closes her eyes and lets herself feel the world around her. The first thing that comes to her is where her hands rest. The tactile feeling of her track pants as she pinched the fabric and felt the mix of softness and stiffness of the material.
Then a harsh breeze passes by. It pushes away the heat from the cloudy skies that have been brewing, the anticipation of the storm coming a couple days from now.
Wanting to feel more she traces the ground. It mounds up as she draws a line of dirt fine on her finger, feeling the dust and sediment casted from distances away from the soles of shoes and the washing of rain and flood.
Yes… now she could try and sense the target, her focus. She knew she was facing it. A tall metal stand with a bullseye on a plate hanging from it. She imagines the heat from the metal after it was set basking in the sun for an afternoon, the shifting of the plates as a target is struck and the coldness growing as it rested in the shade, providing relief to the heated and shock to the cold.
It's so real, it's as if she can feel it. She can touch and reach it. The form is so.. vivid..
"******"
A distant voice. It sounds so distant, like a hum. Yes.. there were people here. Yume.
The feeling of her long fuzzy pastel hair would feel soft yet prickly, like a hairbrush. The split ends that would coil around her fingers as she runs through them. The way her hands, so small and soft yet the smallest calluses forming, would feel like snow should they be entwined with hers.
"******!"
Rolo.. his blonde hair looked soft too.. but unlike Yume she can tell it's smooth and silky. Maybe his skin is that way too? It's spotless, no hairs and seemingly moisturised. Like skin cream it feels so nice and cool to touch it.
"*a**ia!"
What does every person here feel like? Tenha, Tansol, Burrus, Suto, Professor Suzuki, Coach Letty, even Zannos.
"*a*lia!"
What of Coach Letty's child? What would a baby feel like? What would an embryo feel like…
Wait.. Why would I care about that?
Why wouldn't you? Imagine it.. imagine..
"DAHLIA!"
Pain.. pain on her cheek as Dahlia can feel herself being launched. She opened her eyes. Snapped out of her meditation to a sight she cannot explain. Zannos had punched her in the face, hard, but it was not him that stunned Dahlia. Everywhere was enwrapped by tendrils.
The ground, the targets, the benches, the people.. Everyone was wrapped in black limbs that uncomfortably caressed every material they possessed. It was awful, violating, evil. It left no part of them untouched and it showed on their faces how much they were repulsed by this unwilling touching. But no more was the violation of her peers' space than the tragedy she almost committed.
Coach Letty hanged helpless as sharp tendrils were inches from her belly, moments from piercing and prodding the pregnant woman's insides to find the answer to Dahlia's question. Blood drips from one shallow cut on her abdomen.
What?
It was the last thought Dahlia had before all the tendrils sunk back in a blur into Dahlia's spine all before she touched the ground. Sinking to unconsciousness…
…
…
What did I almost do?
Satisfy curiosity.
She almost.. I almost..
Explored and discovered.
That isn't! That isn't..!
Good enough.
…
…
What are you?
What am I?
Yes.
You are yes.
What?
Is the issue?
…
Get out.
How?
Find a way.
Where?
Just leave!
Why?
Then let me leave!
…Fine.
- - -
Dahlia gently opened her eyes to the sounds of a vitals monitor and the distant beeping of pagers buzzing. Dahlia took a deep breath and sat up. It was dark and stormy outside, rain scraped the window and distant palms clung for dear life as the wild winds blew.
"Dahlia!" shouted Lemon. She was sitting next to her and leapt up to grab her shoulders and to look directly into her eyes.
The lilac woman was slightly stressed in her speech. "Are you ok? Can you remember who you are? Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, yes and yes." she answered all calmly.
Lemon's face wasn't particularly in distress. They were alone so the motherly act wouldn't be needed but Dahlia is still a child and one that Lemon is starting to like. Lemon continued to bombard the questions, all of which were answered by Dahlia with a calm but shell shocked demeanour, once done, she then immediately asked the question she needed to know.
As she recalled more and asked, she began to regain some emotion. "What happened? Is everyone alright? Is Coach Letty- her baby i-is?!"
"They are all fine. Mostly. That Zannos boy just barely managed to stop you." she stated.
"Stop me?"
Lemon, now relaxed, slumped back in her chair. It seems she had been on edge for a while though she would probably never admit it.
"According to what everyone said you had suddenly used your power and enveloped everyone and everything on the track. And after a bit you had almost torn your coach with your tentacles." she explained, not leaving anything out as she isn't the type to sugarcoat details.
Dahlia's expression remained dazed and in horror but inside it was twisting and turning as the fear and stress from what she almost did, what she did do, set in. "Wait, you said mostly!"
"Yeah, that Zannos boy, he almost broke an arm and leg trying to get to you. Thankfully it was just dislocated for him. I mean, still bad but at least these people have the power to quickly fix that. Beyond that it was just bruises for everyone else." she laid out.
Dahlia noticed she didn't mention the fact that she did cut Coach Letty on the stomach.
Perhaps she wants to spare me the stress.
Or maybe she just didn't know at all.
"Either way, don't worry about it, sweets." the polyad reassured. "According to the doctor, your body still needs rest for another day. Thankfully it's the weekend."
"Wait the weekend? How long was I unconscious for?"
"A few days. Don't worry you aren't in trouble. At least I hope.. Never been sued during a mission; or ever actually. But courtrooms are the least of our worries at the moment. Remember that Tansol kid in your class?" she questioned.
Dahlia closed her eyes as she thought, "Tansol, yes I- oh!"
Lemon hummed. "Exactly. By this world's logic he should've been able to halt your power with a touch, and yet…"
"What has been said?" the girl fretted.
"Don't know, that's what Tsumi has been trying to find out and hopefully defuse, but this attention isn't good." she lamented.
"Naturally." agreed Tsumi as he entered the hospital room. "Are you alright Dahlia?"
His tone was a lot more laced with concern than Lemon. It didn't mean she wasn't but she was clearly holding back any sign of it.
Lemon scoffs, "You don't think I asked her that already?"
"Honestly yes." Tsumi said with a deadpan attitude.
"Ha, ha." mocked Lemon, unamused.
Tsumi joined Lemon and took a seat next to the bed using a chair on standby.
"Anything on what they're saying?" asked Lemon.
"Their system says that her powers are indeterminate. On top of that Litis came to ask me about her power during that meeting on what would happen next. I explained that Dahlia's power is not the tentacles but the gate they come out of from her back but they don't seem to buy it." he recalled, his face showing he was thinking hard.
"Should we call the others?" Lemon suggested.
Tsumi rubbed his goatee as he spoke, "Not yet but it's looking dicey. I'm more concerned if the faceless has got us figured by now."
"It likely does, or at least will be cautious of Dahlia and us." she assumed with likeliness.
As the two discussed Dahlia's accident she only then felt the sting on the right side of her face. It was plastered with a bandage, likely from Zannos' punch. As the pain hits her she feels for a moment that the whole world gets darker before she refocuses and the lighting is normal again.
She realised something was different from before. Very different. Most of her senses were normal but she still felt like she could… feel things. Not in the sense of instincts or emotions but actual textile feelings.
When Tsumi stroked his facial hair, she could almost feel the same bristles on her fingers. As Lemon twirled her hair, Dahlia swore she could feel it in her fingers. But it wasn't just in this room. As the storm raged outside, distantly she could sense the trees being battered by wet rain, dripping off the palm leaves.
It felt like she was showering, the water pinging off her body and yet she was dry. Whatever that meditation did, it awoke something.
And she doesn't think she likes it.