Five minutes earlier.
"Jody, what's Sera's power?"
"Are you planning to fight her?"
"Just in case."
Jody, who had previously clashed with Sera, began to explain.
"Sera's power is creation. She can create anything, but there's one condition—it has to be made of the same material she's touched."
"Oh... got it. Creation, huh?"
"Not exactly. Her creation ability is pretty broad. She can make an exact replica of the original object, or she can create something completely different—as long as the material is consistent."
"I understand now."
"Be careful, Syd. She can even recreate body parts. She might take a piece of her own flesh and replicate it multiple times. After all, they're all made from the same material—cells, right?"
"Alright... hey, lend me your hair tie."
"What for?"
Back to the present.
Schluck!
"Argh!"
A large shard of glass was pulled from Syd's body, blood gushing forth.
"Hurts like hell!"
"Warned you."
"Yeah, I know."
Syd could finally move after the largest shards were removed.
"Jody, in your rotten school's hierarchy, the weak obey the strong, correct?"
"Why ask now?"
"Get ready to show our faces."
"What?! Why?"
"Relax. Our masks were just to keep outSyders from recognizing us. The original plan was to reveal our identities to Father Peter anyway."
"...Alright."
Syd and Jody approached Sera, who was just regaining consciousness, tied to the liquor bar. Syd spoke coldly.
"Hey."
Sera looked up, startled. Her hair still smelled of smoke, and her makeup was ruined.
"Not bad, actually. You're decent for a normal person."
"What are you going to do to me...?"
Syd removed his mask, causing Sera to gasp.
"Syd Barrett?!"
Sera was utterly confused.
"You... What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Still arrogant, huh? See, I told you, vodka doesn't burn that badly."
Syd and Jody exchanged confident glances, clearly in control.
"Shut up and listen, or today's 4K footage goes straight to BBC. Your choice."
"I don't know how you got here, but don't think you can blackmail me, you filthy scum! Syd Barrett, you dog! I'll expose you! I'll tell everyone you killed people! Just you wait, you piece of—"
"Annoying."
Slap!
Syd smacked her, briefly stunning Sera.
"Right now, you're powerless. I've got backing that can silence the media with one phone call. What do you have? Money alone won't help you against BBC; they'd love nothing more than dragging someone like you through the dirt. Honestly, I should kill everyone here, but since you're innocent enough, I'll spare you. Remember that."
Sera fell silent, crushed by her defeat.
"Now, sit still and use your powers to heal these wounds. Recreate the muscles and skin."
Sera hesitated.
"Why should I help you? If I just wait here, backup will arrive soon."
"Confident, huh? Just moments ago, you were rolling around screaming."
"You cheated, Syd! I don't even know your power!"
"You want a fair fight? Pathetic. Can fairness save your life?"
Sera looked away bitterly.
"Lucky for me, I have a second option."
"Second option?"
Snap.
Syd snapped his fingers, and Jody removed her mask.
"J-Jody?!"
Sera grew pale, even more shocked.
"Why are you two... wait! What's happening here?!"
Jody merely glared menacingly at Sera and spoke softly.
"Do as he says."
Syd flexed his wrist after the wounds healed.
"Damn it, you bastards! You set this up to ambush me!"
"How many times must I tell you? Jody wasn't involved," Syd replied calmly.
Syd pulled up a chair beSyde Father Peter, now their prisoner.
"What should I call you? Father? Priest? Scumbag priest? Sorry, I'm Buddhist, after all."
Syd's joking tone vanished, his voice becoming coldly authoritative.
"Do you know who I am?"
Father Peter trembled, glancing at Jody, whose finger pointed at him, swirling with compressed air.
"We're looking for something called the Disk. Know anything?"
Peter nodded fearfully.
"I thought so."
Syd pulled out a triangular emblem with an endless looping design. Father Peter's eyes widened with terror.
"Five minutes. Tell me everything you know about the Disk."
"If...if I tell you...what happens to me?"
"You don't get to ask questions."
"We...we were hired by Mr. Lake to hold onto it, but he collected it two weeks ago—"
Syd signaled Jody.
Whizz!
A wind bullet pierced Father Peter's calf, making him scream.
"And your business with the school director?"
"I swear! The school was our meeting point! Lake chose it through the director! That's all I know!"
Peter clutched his bleeding leg, whimpering.
"I figured you were just another petty merchant. Got a photo of this Mr. Lake?"
"N-no, but the school's surveillance might have captured him!"
"That's all you know?"
Syd stood abruptly.
"Yes... that's everything, I swear!"
"Good."
"Wait! What happens now?!"
"Your illegal deals are for the cops to handle. Not my problem."
Thud!
Syd knocked Peter unconscious.
"What a small fry."
He approached Jody, checking the time—8:54 PM.
"Reinforcements are coming. Time to leave."
"Wait, Syd...what about Sera?"
"Right... Hey, Sera, you coming or staying for the police?"
Silence.
Twenty minutes later, at 9:20 PM, near London International School's subway station, Syd, Jody, and Sera stood quietly, exhausted.
"What now?" asked Sera hesitantly.
"If not for you, I'd already be relaxing at home," Syd sighed. "Last warning—forget everything or your videos flood the internet. Try me—I won't feel guilty when I destroy your reputation."
Syd and Jody walked away, leaving Sera behind.
"You're good at intimidating people, Syd," Jody remarked.
"It's my job. Hey, let's stop by 7-Eleven before heading home."
"Why?"
"Strawberry milk. I finished it yesterday."
"You're such a child. You're already 17."
"..."
"Maybe I'll buy three more bottles," Syd mused.
"Three? You still have two at home. They'll expire."
"They're not for me."
"Then who?"
"For you. With your brittle bones, you need calcium more than me."
"Wow, rude."
.
.
.
Seraphina (Sera) Gilmour
Codename: (Not yet assigned)
Nationality: British
Ethnicity: English
Language Proficiency: English
Place of Birth: United Kingdom
Psychological Profile:
Impatient
Methodical
Quick Learner
Ability: Duplication and Creation
Capable of creating or duplicating anything based on materials she has touched.
Ability Type: Non-physical (Intangible)