So. Magics a thing now !

The head Coach stood there a moment, just looking down at the unconscious man Maik had just resumed caring for. So once the lilin had projected their aura and resumed applying magical ministrations they took the chance to ask. “What happened out there ?”

The former soldier was visibly pulled from his deep thoughts and he shook them off before answering. “Everything was S. O. P....” he paused when he noticed the confused look on the teens face before clarifying. “Standard. Operating. Procedure. It means everything was going fine. So everything was S.O.P. on the way out. People came up to talk with us while we cleared a path towards the first objective, the hardware store. The locals were amiable enough...”

Leavery paused again to scoff at himself. “Huhh. Locals. As if they aren't my fellow countryman.” He inhales a deep sigh through his nose and continues. “Most of them seemed down right friendly and just wanted to talk To know what was going on, sense we were the first organized group doing anything out in public which they had seen sense this disaster started. Stevens and I were more than happy to fill them in what we had heard on the radio and we had taken a few people from the Engineering department who helped pull any analog radios from cars and showed people how to hook them up. How to use the car batteries to supplement their power needs and how to remove alternators for use to recharge them. Even how to hot wire some vehicles that weren't too dependent on electronics to operate so that they would start working again.”

The coach took another deep breath before moving on to the next topic. “And so it went. Smooth sailing except for the occasional trouble maker who wanted to get rowdy but Stevens and I were both armed and clearly not taking any of their shit. So even when punks tried to pick a fight we quickly sent them packing with their tails tucked between their legs. Or so we thought.”

“As I said the first stop was the hardware store. It was a block chain store so I was surprised that someone was still manning the register, but we had planned for it and pooled all the money from the faculty as well as emptied all the schools petty cash for this supply run. We went in, the engineers pointed out what we would need, we collected it in an orderly fashion, we paid for it and we left. We also picked up a few things for some of the people we talked with on the way over. The ones who had the coin to pay for it at least. We were coming back by anyway and we had allotted room for acquisitions of opportunity. I owe Davis and Harper 5 bucks each as it was there Idea.”

The head coach takes a moment to rub his chin before nodding satisfied with his recollection thus far. “Then we were off to the second objective. A gas station. We had picked up what we needed from the hardware store to pump the diesel and the tanks to transport it. Is amazing how much can be transported in these buses once you remove the seats. Anyway. It was much the same on the way there. Just less friendly. The store clerk demanded a down payment before he would let us in. Cant say as I blame him given the damage to his store front when we got there but some cash, news from the wider world and help setting his radio up to send as well as receive went a long way towards him warming up to us. The way we drove off some of the unfriendly characters loitering around his place might have played a part too. We paid for the fuel pumped it and were on our way again. We would have stopped there for lunch and just bought up all the guys food bars but he was asking outlandish prices so we had to wait until we reached the grocery for that.”

The deep frown and sharp inhale let the teen know that things were going to start going down hill soon. “The grocery store was a hot topic when we were planning the route. We wanted good prices to stretch our dollars and I also wanted to avoid rough neighborhoods.” He sighs another deep breath through his nostrils. “Fortunately it seems that many Publix stores do have back up generators to keep their perishables in these parts and there was one not far from here. Unfortunately there were still a lot of people loitering around. Half of the students and I kept an eye on the engineering members while they helped anyone that wasn't being a twat, swiftly making it clear that we would not tolerate anyone that was. Thank goodness for all that gear from the archery class.”

“Much like the gas station we had to practically bribe our way in. Seems that a local militia had taken it upon themselves to police the place. Even a few officers among them so Stevens handled negotiations. We handed out copies of the Chi instruction manual like candy and demonstrated the sending skill to show its use. They were suitably impressed and thankful enough to trade with us. We even shared frequency information so that we could communicate further negotiations and to coordinate relief efforts in the future. They also pointedly made it clear that the help we were so freely offering through the engineers was quickly turning into a valuable commodity while food was becoming a scarce resource even faster. It was kinda clear that they were only trading their food with us in order to foster good relations. They want more access to the Chi skills.”

There was a tense moment while the former soldier looked long and hard at the trilogies primary source for those skills. Those abilities had performed a miracle on the resource officer. Tough as the big black man was, Leavery had seen men die from less even with medical aid. And seated on the other side of that wounded warrior was their main source of Chi skill information, heck even rapid advancement. It was clear by the look in his eyes that he was none too comforted by the how the teen seemed to be a sexual deviant, with borderline mind control powers, who the trilogy had mental bound to their service and were taking sexual advantage of. <”What a tenuous situation.”>

Though you would never know it to look at Maik in that moment. In fact, upon seeing the head coach examining them with such an intense stare prompted the teen to stick there tongue out at Leavery. <”Maybe the little freak is just fine.”> So Leavery put those worries out of mind and continued. “It was on the way back when things really started to go wrong. Individuals who had just been a nuisance on the way out had apparently banded together, and on the way back and we were hit, twice. The first was the worst. We tried diplomacy that time. Stevens went out to negotiate sense he had the body armor and when he refused to pay their...” He ground the word out through clenched teeth. “Toll...” Then continued in a firm but grim tone. “They opened fire on him in mass, 4 or 5 of them.”

Then some pride blossomed in his voice. “Tough son of a bitch sill managed to draw his weapon and return fire. I opened up as well but those were the only guns we had. Students started pouring out of the buses and launching arrows. 5 of them took hits and all of the broken bones came form that rush as some of them hit the ground wrong, either while piling out of the bus, diving for cover or when the hidden attackers rushed the sides of the bus with improvised melee weapons. They were terrible shots though. Poor weapon discipline, unlike me with my gun and the students were surprisingly accurate with those bows. We either killed or injured half of them. The other half fled. We commandeered their weapons, loaded our people up and got the hell our of there.”

“The second group to try and shake us down had actually mixed in with the people who asked us to pick some stuff up for them. They were sent off balance when we didn't offer to parlay and just dropped their stuff off at a run. So when they drew weapons to try and stop us we just ran them over and opened fine on anyone who pointed anything so threatening as a finger in our direction. We were only about 10 minutes out from the school when the first attack hit but 10 minutes is a long time when you have wounded. A long tome for them to bleed and die. No time nicely ask the second group to drop their weapons.”

“I gave my debrief as soon as I got back and Harper insisted that I give it live over the radio. It was a good call as both of the churches and other militia groups like the one at the Publix offered their thoughts and prays. We made quite a few connections today. Thank god it didn't cost us any lives.” He placed a hand on the sleeping Stevens shoulder and patted it. “Especially good men like Stevens here. Were going to need people like him.”

A soft grunt came from the man in question. “Unnn, oh thanks coach.... You say the... sweetest things.”

There was an annoyed grin on Leavery's face but a grin none the less. “How you feeling soldier ?”

The officers tired to snort a laugh but it comes out as more of a rough exhale. “huhh.... God I could really use a drink.”

The coaches grin widens. “Got some bottled water right here.” Stevens actually opened his eyes to glare at the coach, a monumental effort for the bullet ridden black man at the moment, even while laying down but Leavery just laughs. An Ernest joyful thing. “I'll see what I can do about finding something a little stronger. Meanwhile you really should get some water in you. Food to if you can manage, and get some rest. You've earned it.” He nods to Maik. “See that he gets what he needs.”

Stevens sighs out the words as much as speaks them. “...Sure thing coach.” With the help of a nurse they got him partially sat up in a reclined position so that he could drink and then eat some broth before dozing back off.

By then, not only was Maik low on Chi, again, but the lilin was also hungry to boot. Thankfully they were serving dinner. James was there along with all of the Maik's other friends, except for Eugene, as they listened to him recount the days excitement. Apparently he had gone with the caravan. There was an animation to their friend as he recounted his days adventure but one could still see it. The underline tension, a light shake to the hands, a faint shadow behind the usual sparkle in his eyes and the forced joviality in his voice. “Truly. I had thought the more terrifying moment of my life was when that bullet whizzed past my leg during the fire fight but sitting there keeping pressure on Stevens shoulder wound while the bus raced back to school was even worse somehow.” When Maik and James locked eyes the jocks tone gained a new hint of hopefulness and yearning. “Oh hay Maik. I heard that Stevens is going to make it ?”

The teen answered while taking a seat at the table, tray in hand and more than happy to alley some of their friends worries. “Even managed to get him to drink and eat some. We had to pour a huge amount of Chi into him but hes well on his way to recovery. He just needs food and rest at this point.”

The relief those around the table felt was palpable and it was Stacy who broke the silence first. “Its a good thing we got more people trained in the minor healing skill. It really helped. I wasn't sure about the decision to start focusing on the more advance skills when there are still so many who had yet to lean the mind & body skill but I'm certainly glad that's how thing went now.”

Their were nods of agreement before the charismatic James got the conversation moving along again. “So. How was you guys day ? Anything interesting happen ?” Maik snorted a laugh and almost choked on the mouth full of stew. That drew a few looks.

The teen forced the food down and took a drink before continuing. “Gahhh. Well, Boyd came up with a new skill that seems pretty popular and I that I highly recommend everyone get as soon as possible.” The interest of the teens audience peeked. “Its Called Magic resistance, tier 4 skill. Apparently a strong Chi projection or auric effect can infiltrate and effect ones person even without permission, like forcing a mental link with sending or even things that are more harmful. Magic resistance provides significantly more protection from that kind of thing.”

The audience was stunned. Jose chimes in. “Oh well that's just great to know.”

Stacy grumbled. “At least we have a defense skill for it.”

More conversation followed. Stacy updated the group on her progress with Chi manipulation and her recovery levels while focusing on chi cycling. Sara talked about the logistics being implemented to determine those worthy of the fast track and gave an update on what was happening with getting the crops started. Elisha brought up the new old school filling system for keeping track of all that data. Jose was helping out with the engineers despite having been focused on computer science before the disaster and had some interesting theories about the HUD's interface. Seems the egg heads figured that it was that way because it was mimicking operating systems humans had already invented. Skip was working with agriculture directly and making strides in the green house. And that was about the time when Eugene got there. He did not look happy and it was James that voiced every ones worry. “What is it ? Another attack ?”

the super sized Mexican just shook his head. “I just... I need you all to not freak out and just... follow me. You need to see this, and I need to know I'm not crazy.”

The group shared a look, got up and made their way to follow sense they had already finished eating. Given the... reputation of the people their group included there were a lot of eyes on them when they all got up and started heading out at once. Harper herself got up to intercept them, being the only member of the trilogy present at the time. “Oh my. What seems to be the issue here ?” Eyes were directed towards Eugene and she followed them. “Mister Perez, yes ? You were on patrol today if I'm not mistaken.” She checked the clock. “You should also be with Leavery for debrief about now unless I am even more mistaken ?” The big teen was as stoic as a statue but nodded. “Yes mam, I'll be on my way in just a moment.”

Eugene turns to his friends and with the gravest tone he had ever used he whispers. “When you get the chance. Take a look at the moon.” Then straitens up and walks off to give his report to the had coach.

Harper watches him go for a moment before turning her eyes. Not her head, just the eyes to look right at Maik, giving the teen the side eye as she commands, her tone making it clear that it was not a question. “Maik, if you have finished your meal, would you be so kind as to accompany me. We need to discuss the schedule for tomorrows Chi training and it is getting late.” Without another word the teacher makes her way out and the teen follows, an apologetic shrug the best they can offer to their friends on the way out.

As it turned out they headed outside, making their way to the main faculty office building. Along the way the lilin took a moment to look up. They were on the second story catwalk that connected the various main wings of the school so the teen had an excellent view from up here. An objectively beautiful view if Maik were to be honest. The very last remnants of the suns rays added just the lightest splash of dark purple to the blackening sky. The brightest stats were shinning though the fading light in the eastern sky. It really would have been such a beautiful, tranquil and emotionally uplifting sight, were it not for the fact that Maik didn't recognize the moon in the sky. The realization stopped the teen dead in their tracks and a moment later Harper noticed, turning back to look at the teen.

Annoyance tinged her patient tone. “Daley. Come. We need to have a word with...”

The ghostly fear in Maik's voice and wide eyed stare cut her off like an executioners axe. “Does the moon look wrong to you ?”

The teachers brows furrowed, she turned, she looked, her brows unfurrowed by rising higher and higher while her heart rate rose in turn. “She took the teen my the hand and dragged them towards the main office building. There were things that needed to be discussed. For as big and world changing as the last few days had been, it all felt so very small compared to the all to large orb in the sky with the wrong pattern of craters on its surface. So very small indeed.