DEG - CH3 Veritas

The school's headmaster stared out through the window with her only eye, following Berry and Nino when walking along the schoolyard and met LUMI. A judging and critical gaze, sharp like a sword. A light swishing sound was heard when the door opened and the lanky receptionist stepped in. The handsome face was rigid with steel-like eyes behind his glasses.
   "What did you get for mental picture of them, Durand?" Elizabeth did not even turn around to know that the silent steps were from the secretary. Neatly he held up a block of paper with an ink pen, something unusual in today's cybernetic society. "The boy, Berry King, is sentimental and weak. He has a good head but unstable emotions rule his mind."
  
   "A typical King then." Said the headmaster while Durand nodded. "And the girl, Nino Garnet. I saw nothing, just a bright light." The steady voice had suddenly begun to tremble, and it surprised Elizabeth. She knew Durand well, and she knew there wasn't easy to shake him. But now, he was. "My AUG, was deactivated."
  
   "What?" Elizabeth turned around and sharply looked at him. "For how long?"
  
   "four minutes and thirty-two seconds. It felt worse than migraines, as if something pressed acid in the corpus callosum." He explained, shaking his head slightly. Though he hadn't shown to be in pain, of course he had hide it well. "Particularly the same effect that was in the schoolyard. There is no doubt that the girl is the cause of it. And it can happen again, she is a danger to everyone."
  
   Elizabeth looked towards the window again and folded her hands behind her back. It was alarming, she had never heard of an AUG-ability that could deactivate other AUG:s. "Because your AUG is an implant, the effect was much milder." Said the woman, staring towards Nino and Berry as they went towards the dormitories. "For the young people here, who have their AUGS genetically, the effect is much more dangerous, and deadlier."
  
   "Shall I get her relocated?" He asked, tapping his pen against the block. For a second Elizabeth thought before she shook her head. "No, it's too dangerous. Instead, we must ensure that she learns to control herself, her power and what she is. Right now she knows nothing, and do not understand the extent of it. "
  
   "Do we understand the extent of it?"
  
   "No. That is even more reason why she must remain here. And we will put him as her mentor. "
  
   "Him? You mean --- "
  
   "Yes, he should be back by now. You may leave and inform him about this."
  
   "I understand." Durand bowed, and then turn around and left the office to perform his task. Elizabeth was grateful for that, Durand was such that he never contradicted her orders, which made it easier. Her eye followed Nino as long as they could, before she turned and looked at a small photo on the table. A younger Elizabeth and two other young women with white and black hair that stood beside her. The cold steel blue eyes stared at the black-haired woman that smiled warmly. "Is it really so? I hope not..."

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The room was repulsive and far beneath the standard for a human to live in. It was clear that Lufia had thrown all the trash there for a long time. The window in the room was dirty and cracked, with words sprayed on the outside of the glass. After a short struggle with the windows system, did it slowly and barely slide up the wall. That kind of reminded her of her old apartment, barely working technology.
   With some fresh air into the room could Nino finally take a deep breath. Disgusted did she began to pick up pouches and sacks, throwing them out the window. The sweat trickled over her skin and her stomach was looping from the horrid smells. But soon she saw the floors and walls, which was as disgusting as the garbage, horrible stained by it. Was just a miracle that rats hadn't made it a home. Though a few cockroaches was seen, making her want to scream.
   When she went out to borrow a mop, did Lufia not even endeavor to look back. Something that angered Nino just more; the wrench did not care about anything apparently. Not only that she was forced into this school, but also got the world's biggest bitch to 'roommate'. It could hardly get worse.
  
   "A mop? Yes, we have that dear." The headmistress Mel smiled gently and waved a hand, a movement that opened a door and lurid got a mop and bucket to float out. It got Nino become cold and felt chills down her spine. Her hands shook a little as she accepted cleaning articles and thanked quietly before she went back. Actually for a moment, it felt like she could faint any moment, those things wasn't natural.
   Lufia was still focusing only on the game and just snorted when Nino came back, while the red-head tried to ignore the other after best ability. First time in the kitchen, was she a little surprised that it looked much cleaner than the rest of the small dwelling. The only thing she could imagine was that Lufia never was in the kitchen, thus it was not as dirty.
   After an hour of struggling and cleaning was the room in the best condition it possible could be at such short notice. It was long since she tidied so much, it was never needed in her old apartment. Mostly because she didn't have much stuff. In the living-room could she hear Lufia curse over the game, and that the blonde female went to the kitchen.
  
   There were no words of exchanges between them, Nino knew it would only make her more angry than she was. One thing was certain, that she and Lufia would not get along, and hopefully they would not see each other too much. So without a word did Nino leave the apartment. 
   It was easy to find in the big building with the help of holograms maps from her bracelet which she received from the school. All dorm was similarly constructed, making it easy to navigate if you know the layout of one dorm. There were recreation rooms and mini-libraries in each dorm, with the great library in the main building. Not that there were many books left in modern society, but library today was huge data-bases who kept all the old texts, and were often well equipped for studies and ergonomic furniture for those that wanted to spend time reading in a comfortable environment.
  
   "Excuse me, are you Nino?"
  
   "Uh, yes?" Nino turned around and got to look down when she saw a little girl that didn't look to human. Small with blue fur, green hair, shaggy big ears and tail, the girl was like a little cute animal creature of some sort, cat maybe. The little... thing pointed at the door, clipping with the large ears. "Your boyfriend is seeking you."
  
   "B-boyfriend?" At first embarrassed, she blinked then. "Berry! Ah, uh, thank you."
   The little creature smiled and showed small sharp teeth and waved her paw against Nino who quickly went out to look after Berry. It was not hard to find him, when he was surrounded by girls from the dorm.
  
   "Watch as he blushes, so cute." Said one of them and the others giggled while Berry stuttered and became redder. His tongue-tied and nervousness caused him to slur and talking incoherently, prompting Nino to smile a bit to herself. He looked so harmless and very wimpy, but in a fun and cute way. But she realized he was in a situation that she has been in the whole time and did not hesitate to step in between. "Come here Berry." Sounded she grabbed his arm and pulled him while girls high expressed their disappointment, others mumbled if they were dating. Berry stammered slightly when he followed Nino quickly in steps. "T-thank Nino."
  
   "No worries. I'm sorry I forgot that you were waiting. Needed to clean my room. "She replied and smiled vaguely. It was all still a bit surreal for her and whatever happened, she would try to get out of here. But she did not know how, she had no money or no family or contacts that could help her outside. Instead, it was best to try to collect her thoughts and plan what she would do. "Can you show me around some more?"

   Surprised by the question did Berry nod, who started a small tour of the area in a different way than LUMI. The small AI was nice, but she followed a pattern and a path, Berry had the feeling when he spoke and described the different areas they looked in to. "You seem to know a lot about this place." Nino mumbled and looked at Berry whose ears were a little red from embarrassment as he laughed quietly and scratched himself behind the head. "Ah, read a lot about it and been here a few times before when I was younger."
  
   "Oh, okay. But it's your first year as a student here?"
  
   "Yes, so we will probably be in the same class. Introductory class at least."
  
   "Introductory class?"
  
   "They will go through the information and what kind of school it is and what benefits it gives."
  
   "Do I really need to know?" Nino muttered, slightly sour, she didn't like how it all was so forced on her. Still, she could not let go of the feeling of fear and anger within her. Most of her life had been lonely and depressing, but she knew that life. Now it had been torn away to be replaced by chaos that she did not recognize. The only thing Nino even knew was Berry, and she had only known him for two days. But now he was the only one she could rely on.
   As previously was he able to feel what she felt before she said something and quickly he pointed to a restaurant. "What do you say to eat a little? You must be starving. My treat. "He said quickly and just talk about food got her stomach to remind her that she had not eaten since yesterday. A little embarrassed she nodded and followed mumbling behind.
  
   It was one of the fine-dining restaurant chains and had a very luxurious interior. Nino immediately realized that most people who ate there seemed to be out of the wealthier class, which made her feel out of place. But Berry did not seem to have any financial problems and waiters took care of them, leading them to a table. "A-Are I really dressed properly? C-can you afford something like this?" She asked embarrassing while Berry blinked a little. "Huh? Clearly, we are the students who are going to eat. And money isn't a problem."
  
   Nino could not help muttering as she sat down at a nice table. It reminded of the diner she and Berry was on yesterday, with interior mainly in black, white and pink, but clearly more luxurious variant. Within the restaurant was it calm and silence, with quiet chatting between students. Most of them seemed to be of those rich brats that is bathing in money and that didn't really make Nino to feel better. Somehow it was shocking, that Berry seemed to be of that kind.
  
   A waiter appeared and offered them menus, and suggested if the good dishes; just seeing the prices made her eyes almost to jump out. Though it sounded delicious and she was starving. So it was kind of embarrassing when she ordered more than Berry. But she was famished and everything sounded so good. "You really like to eat." He said and smiled broadly. It caused her to become a little red cheeks and grumbling.    
   "Excuse me if I'm starving." He heard the sting in her voice and immediately regretted what he said. "S-sorry."
  
   Nino just shook his head. "No, I'm sorry Berry. I'm just touchy today. It's just a bit... much to me right now."She said slowly and became silent. Berry could not carry on a conversation because he did not know what he should talk about, he was just useless at it. Fortunately it did not take long before the food was served and then needed no words. Nino was like a starving wolf and attacked her food, it was almost as her eyes filled with tears as she felt the delicious food, arguably the tastiest and finest she had ever eaten.
  
   "This is a restaurant for fine and rich people, not dogs." A cold voice and Nino froze. A sharp look to the side and she saw a young woman, wearing a beautiful pink dress with the school emblem on her neck-less of silver. The blond curly hair framed a face that held an expression of disgust towards Nino. A haughty gaze directed against Berry. "Typically a King to dine with animals."
   Nino wanted to say something, but had too much food in the mouth and throat, but struggled to swallow. Instead Berry, hazed by the sudden appearance of the woman, took words. "Forgive me Corine ---"
  
   "Mont'Blanc." She corrected sharply and he swallowed. "F-forgive me Mont'Blanc." Nino realized that they knew each other, somehow. But it was probably not the best relationship between them. It was understandable for Nino just wanted to give the girl a slap, but refrained and tried to focus on the food. "Your table is waiting, Miss Mont'Blanc." One of the waiters bowed deeply to the woman who nodded. "Thank all the gods, because this is just sickening." She said disgusted and turned her back towards them. Nino was more than frustrated and saw against Berry poked into his food. "Who was that bitch?"
  
   "Corine Mont'Blanc, her family owns the Monty Corporation." He said slowly. Nino blinked a little and knew well about Monty, who was everything from restaurants like this, cafes and clothing brand. One of the largest corporations in the world right now. "Ah, I see... But damn what as ass she is. She behaves as if she were better than others. "
  
   What was it about the school anyway? Everyone seemed to be aggressive bitches and full of attitude. Either that or she just had the world's bad luck to meet the most unpleasant people in the school on the same day. "I do not want to eat more." Muttered Nino, her hunger was ruined after that Corine's sudden pronunciation. Sure, Nino had no class or so, but calling her a dog and pig, that just made her angry. Berry gulped a bit and looked sadly down on his own plate.
  
   "And you know her?" She looked sharply at Berry sometime nodded gently. "I've met her a few times before at parties."
  
   "Parties?" Now she wrinkled her on the forehead.
  
   "Yes, corporate parties."
  
   Nino shook her head and stood up. The whole lunch was ruined and she could not help but feel offended about it all. It was as if the whole school was out to chase her away. Not that she wanted to be here anyway, this just sealed her feelings.

   Long bright pink-colored nails stroke along the table of wood, a desk made out of beautiful and expensive mahogany, an antique from the 1800's England. Screens hovered above the dark wood, which played scenes from the restaurant. An annoyed grimace draped Corine's face as she stared at the table with Berry and the pig-like girl. It angered her something huge. "So a pig is good enough but not me? A Mont'Blanc? I can not believe." She snapped angrily, as many times as she tried to get a date with Berry without success. It was of course about business, but to see it lit a ferocious jealousy within her. She was so beautiful, had style and money, yet he chooses to eat with a shitty pig after turned her down several times? Absolute disgrace!
  
   "Damn fool." She growled, now in his mother tongue French, and chewed thumbnail. Berry and the Piglet could dream that Corine Mont'Blanc had given up yet. She snapped her fingers and immediately servant were in place to take care of her broken nail while she threw a sharp eye on an older man. "Butler, I want you to find out all the information about the pig that was with Berry King today at lunch."
  
   "Sure Mademoiselle Mont'Blanc." With a bow the man quickly left the room to perform their task with maximum efficiency. It was, after all, the best of the best who became employees of Mont'Blanc. Specialists from all corners of the world, not anyone would fit the bill to serve the corporation.
  
   While the servants took care of her fingernail, did she stared intently at the screen with Berry and his nameless girl. A certain bitterness in her eyes when she closed down the screen. Now, she really needed chocolate to suppress the bitter mood.

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   It was with angry steps Nino left the restaurant, with Berry quietly rushing after her. He could feel her anger like the heat from a furnace; a pure heat of the aggressive feeling. Nino who endured so much in so little time, no longer knew what she would do. As a rag doll had she been thrown into a world she didn't belong.
  
   A deep frustration, from all the times she lived a quiet and invisible life where no one cared about her, to being forced into a school with beings she could barely call humans, scary things. For her, an unknown world that she only read about how dangerous it was.
  
   Berry's mind was filled with her feelings; he knew them, saw its colors. The angers blood-red that pulsed with a deep purple who said she was fundamentally confused. And scared. He had seen enough to know that for some anger was a way to deal with confusion and fear; when they are defenseless and without knowledge, they use their anger to give themselves the illusion of control.
  
    He could understand her feelings; the fact was that it was what he could do best. Especially now that her feelings were so strong, did it close out others. His augmentation let him see and feel the feelings of others so clearly, scared him many times. But was also the reason why he could understand the feelings of others better.
  
   "N-Nino, don't think of it." He said gently, in an attempt to break the ice that grew. Even with his ability, he was hopeless at talking, proven as before. Nino did not answer but just went ahead with the emotions bubbling beneath her skin. If she was a cat would her hair probably stand right out, hissing. Nervously he looked around on the students that went around them. With so many people he felt slightly ill for there were so many emotions around him, yet he lacked the proper controls to weed out most of the time, although Nino's feelings were like a bonfire and made many people disappeared in her anger, fear and confusion.
  
   Something he knew he would learn this in school, which was made specifically for D-Gens to learn about their abilities, their augmentations. But he was not sure if Nino knew it, she seemed to see everyone as a threat, that everyone wanted to hurt her. A feeling that made him sad when he looked at her back. He wanted to help her to understand, to get free from the fear and confusion that haunted her. But what could he say to make her more comfortable? One word wrong and she would be just angrier and more sad, more afraid. Berry took a deep breath and took courage to say something when a roar further away made them both stop. Nino turned and looked towards him with wide eyes before they started to rush towards the sound.
  
   "What was that?" She asked quickly and Berry shook his head as he tried to follow in her footsteps. "I have... have no idea---"
  
   They soon found a large crowd of students in a circle and after managed to get through to be able to see. Within the great circle of students were two people in the middle of it. A guy who probably was over two meters, a huge muscular rock with a massive axe in his calloused hands, bare-chested and bearded like a barbarian. The other was much smaller, probably in Berry's size, with a mask over his mouth and red cap almost down over his eyes, over some cherry-red hair. In his hand was a little bear in the size of his palm, in near identical color to his hair.
  
   "Giant Sven is on it again." Said a voice in the crowd and Nino looked against the large man who most likely was the Giant Sven. Berry recognize the other and mumbled. "Veritas Kaplan. I have heard of him before."
  
    "Veritas Kaplan? The little guy? He will get crushed, why isn't anyone stopping them?"Asked Nino sharply and looked at Berry that shook his head. Before he could speak, did Sven rush against Veritas with a merciless blows with the large axe. Nino tried to move but was to shocked and couldn't believe what she saw, it was so brutal, so inhumane. With a mighty roar had the ax struck down with a cascade of dust and dirt that flew in the air. But Sven did not seem satisfied and his eyes became more aggressive when the dust lay and Veritas stood on the same site; in his hand was no longer a bear but a sword with cherry-red handles and a hollow blade that stopped the massive axe. Nino stared at the duel, how Sven was sweating and tried use his massive muscles to push Veritas backwards, but the small guy wasn't even shaking, even less moving. Berry gulped and looked with wide eyes against the combatants.
  
   "Veritas Kaplan, one of Sanctus Eques. The five most skillful sword-users in Luminance Garden, flashy buggers." An amused voice was heard behind them both, prompting Nino and Berry to quickly turn around. A man in an old styled duster coat and with a tight-fitting blue t-shirt over a well trained body. Worn old jeans and sturdy boots while smoke from a smoldering cigarette in his mouth. The dark hat covered the messy black hair.
  
   Berry stared a little while Nino was nervous to see the two heavy guns in his holster, hanging from his belt. Two modern rail revolvers. How could he even go into the school armed like that? For a second, Nino forgot about the duel, but turned back her eyes when she heard a thud and saw Sven lie on the ground, growling in pain.
  
   It was something that felt like a sharp and icy wind that cut through the bone, emitting from Veritas. Even if the guy was so small and on that distance, was it like everyone was cut like grass by a scythe. No one dared to move, or to intervene when he stepped forward and addressed the tip of the blade against the now scared Sven. "I-I give up!" Veritas did not answer, but remained silent, with eyes that were without emotion, only intense cold like that of a sword. A terrifying thought went through Nino's head; Veritas would kill Sven, even when he gave up.
  
   "So, so, enough is enough, you have proven to be the superior swords-wielder once again, Veri." The man with the hat and revolvers clapped his hands and grinned a little as he walked up to the Veritas and Sven. A callused hand slapped Veritas light in the head and replies with silent and staring eyes. "Do not look at me like that. I know you missed me." The man said amused. Veritas just let out a snort and turned around to walk away. Prior to Nino's eyes did the sword in Veritas hand shine for a second and turned to a bear in his belt again. She was sure that Veritas mumbled something to the man, who just laughed. It all had been shaking her and she looked quickly at Berry while a few students finally could move and some helped the fainted Sven. "What was that about?"
  
   Berry did not answer, but stared wide-eyed against the man who followed Veritas through the crowd of students. This man was someone special, Berry knew it but could not put his finger on what it was. Nino was not interested in it however, but sullenly she retired back, leaving Berry left and walked back to the dormitory. 
   
   This would have just been too much, this fucking day.