The rise of the unorthodox

"Welcome to Devin's training class," Devin announced, standing confidently at the edge of the field. "First, we're going to work on increasing your energy reserves."

It was the first day of training, and we were back at our usual spot. The field was quiet, and I liked the atmosphere—peaceful, with just enough room to focus. Devin, dressed in all black, looked every bit the serious trainer. His joggers and compression shirt blended into the surroundings, adding to his calm, no-nonsense vibe.

I was dressed in a red-cropped hoodie and matching shorts, standing out a bit against the green grass.

"Hey, did you get all that?" Devin asked, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he waited for my response.

I shook my head, embarrassed. "Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Alright," Devin said, undeterred. "Listen up. If you increase your energy reserves, you'll be able to use your ability longer without getting tired. More energy means you can use more powerful sub-abilities, too. Got it?"

"I got it, you moron. What do I do to increase it?" I shot back quickly, eager to get to the point.

Devin nodded like I had asked a valid question. "Well, it varies. What works for me might not work for you. For me, I just meditate. If it's working, you'll feel something—a kind of sensation inside. If you don't feel anything, then you're probably doing it wrong."

He sat down cross-legged on the grass and closed his eyes, starting to breathe in deeply. "Try to copy me."

I followed his lead, sitting down and trying to clear my mind. I waited, hoping to feel a shift or change in my body. But… nothing.

"Yeah, this isn't working, dude," I sighed aloud, frustration building.

Devin opened one eye, not fazed. "So, what do you think could work for you? It's crucial to increase your energy. You can get stronger over time, but we don't have that kind of luxury."

We both sat there, experimenting with different methods—stretching, lying down, curling up in a ball—but nothing seemed to click. I was starting to feel defeated.

Devin snapped his fingers suddenly, as if an idea just hit him. "Hey, maybe try using your hair. Stretch it out—see if that helps."

I gave him a skeptical look but nodded. It was worth a shot.

I focused, letting my hair flow down my back, slowly stretching it out. At first, there was no change, but then, a strange sensation began to grow inside me. My insides tingled. It was working! The sensation was subtle but unmistakable.

Excited, I punched Devin in the gut, unable to hold back my excitement. "It's working!"

Devin didn't even flinch. Not even a gasp. I blinked in surprise—usually, Daniel would pretend to be winded or exaggerate a reaction. But Devin just stared ahead, unfazed.

"If you keep your hair out like that, instead of your usual shoulder length, you'll constantly be getting a bit more energy," he explained, ruffling his own hair as if to make a point. "I wish it was that easy for me. For you, though, it's a constant flow of energy."

I nodded, absorbing the information. "But you'll be tired for the first few days, though, until you get used to it," he added. "It's a lot of energy to manage, and your body will have to adjust." He sat in silence after that, as if the lesson was over.

"So, can I go now… or do you want to chat about something else?" I asked, the air between us feeling a bit awkward.

Devin didn't miss a beat. "So, what's your ability called?"

I blinked, a little caught off guard. "Why do you care?"

He looked at me with a slight grin. "Call me a curious cat. Just tell me."

I rolled my eyes, then lightly punched his arm. I wasn't expecting a response—but there was none.

"Alright," I said, giving in. "It's called prehensile hair. I can stretch out my scalp's hair, make it longer. It can move on its own sometimes, like it's alive. And when I grow it out, I can't shrink it back. I have to cut it off, and once I do, it disintegrates. It's pretty versatile."

Devin's face scrunched up in thought. "That's… actually kind of useful. You could do a lot with that. And now that I know how it works, I can help you figure out some sub-abilities." He absentmindedly ran his hand through his hair as he spoke.

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, now that you know, what's your ability called? You can't just tell me you don't know."

He hesitated, his gaze drifting off to the side, looking almost lost. After a long pause, he answered. "I don't know what it's called."

I blinked, not understanding. "What? How don't you know? It should just come to you, like it does for everyone else."

Devin looked at the ground, clearly uncomfortable. "When I was a kid, something happened. After that, I couldn't remember what it was called. What I do know is this: the more power I put into it, the more this golden aura spreads through my body. Right now, it stops at my right arm. It enhances my physical abilities, but that's about it. If I can remember the name, I'll probably be able to figure things out faster. But for now, I'm just… stuck."

I was silent for a moment, processing his words. I had always thought Devin was just an obnoxious, spoiled brat. But now I saw there was a lot more going on beneath the surface. He was dealing with something that had clearly affected him deeply.

"I'll get going now. I need to grab lunch," I said, standing up, breaking the silence.

The moment I rose, the fatigue hit me. I could feel the constant flow of energy in my hair taking its toll on my body, making me more tired than usual.

Devin waved me off. "See you later."

After grabbing a quick lunch at the cafeteria, I made my way to the library. The building was massive, with walls made of intricately carved wood. It smelled like old books and knowledge, and I loved it. I walked past the librarian, nodding as I made my way to the fiction section.

After a few minutes of browsing, I found a book that caught my eye. The title was strange, almost cryptic: The Race That Once Was.

Something about it intrigued me.