Val emerged out of the water, gasping for air, her two arms extended and her palms open. Tobias and Will were already flying backwards, creating an arch and hitting the benches with their backs.

Alice also flew, the electric current destined to hit Val coming out of her hand, turning upwards, hitting the lamps and shattering them into pieces. Alice's back hit the wall, the air leaving her lungs. And then Val knew, a feeling of certainty deep within her muscles, bones and soul. She was finally truly awake.

She turned around slowly, water trickling from her head to her clothes. Will was the first to face her wrath. She moved her wrist swiftly upwards and opened up her palm. Will flew down the stairs, his body falling down like a sack, making dump sounds, as his bones cracked on the stair's edges.

One down, she thought, two to go. Time for the big fish.

Tobias was slowly recovering from Val's first attack, shaking his head. He looked up at her, and raised his fists, determined to hit her once again in his blind rage, charging at her.

Not this time, fucker. Val's left arm closed in a fist, and Tobias felt every sense of control leaving his body.

You are mine now.

Val opened her palm and her enemy was lifted slowly from the ground, elevating, his mouth a small surprised circle, his face white. She moved her hand up and down, and Tobias fell, hitting one of the Atrium's benches. A second later his body was being lifted again, only to fall in the ground. His body was moving, rising and falling, directed by her all-powerful hand. After five consequent attacks, Val stopped her wave movement and Tobias was left on the ground, unconscious.

One more to go.

Alice was already recovering, her eyes two wide bulbs looking Tobias's body with dubious disbelief.

"You fucking bitch. You killed him!"

You wanted to kill me first, Alice.

Her enemy raised her hand abruptly, trying to throw an electric current at Val, missing her entirely, hitting and breaking the bench on her right in half.

She is still dizzy from the hit, Val thought. Perfect.

She could have ended it right there and now, like she did with the other two. One swift attack against Alice, and she was a goner. But that wasn't enough. Just hitting her once wouldn't do the trick. Val wanted to truly scare her, and then maybe, she would finally had a change of being left alone.

I've suffered so long at your hands. Revenge is sweet, after all.

Val raised her arm again, while taking a few steps to her left, avoiding one of Alice's currents. She lifted her opponent of the ground and with a sudden jerk of her arm, Alice flew upwards, hitting the ceiling, breaking her nose in the process.

The jets of blood were massive, as Alice screamed and moved her arms frantically, shooting her wild electric energy everywhere, smashing lights, benches and tiles alike.

Val let Alice go and raised both her arms in front of her torso, creating a sort of an invisible shield, protecting herself from the flying debris.

Alice got up once again, but this time the possibility of an upcoming defeat, made her lose her composure. She tried to run towards the stairs, only to be lifted high up the air again, and screamed as Val dropped her wrist, leading her head first in the water, a dive Alice was not prepared for. Her body dropped with a big splash, submerging in the pool water.

One, two, three...

Val counted exactly three seconds, and then moved her both arms behind her head, making Alice's body emerge from the pool, flying all the way back to the base of the stairs.

"On your feet, bitch. Is that all you got?"

Alice got up, wet, unable to produce electricity, if only for a little while. Her eyes were shining, a crazy determination in them.

"You are dead."

Alice charged towards Val, ready to take her down with her bare hands. Val closed her eyes. The enormous glass windows started shaking, rocking back and forth, left and right, cracking in many small spots.

Alice finally realised what was going to happen, her survival instinct surpassing her madness. She stopped right on her tracks, tried to turn left in order to escape once more, but it was too late.

Val's right hand moved instinctively, her Power pinning Alice to the ground. As she opened her eyes, the windows broke with a loud banging sound and a thousand glass shards, sharp as knives, made their way straight towards Alice's face, destroying the remaining furniture in the process. Alice's eyes widened as she pissed her skirt, her skin losing all colour as the shards reached her neck and body.

"VAL, DON'T DO IT, PLEASE. STOP."

The desperate scream brought Val back to reality. She looked right behind Alice, at the edge of the stairs. Amy was there with Sebastian, the two of them being the first to reach the Atrium. Vanessa Rehberg was standing behind them, breathless, not believing her eyes.

"I know where to stop, Amy."

She dropped the shards, as Alice Green fainted. Val was wet and tired and beaten up, but she was glad. For the first time in her time, she had confronted Alice Green alone. And she had won.

***

Val felt unusually calm as she sat inside the Instructor's office, waiting for Vanessa's final judgement. She already knew that Alice was in their private infirmary, alive and well.

There is nothing to fear.

Vanessa entered her office, showing no emotion at all.

Cold and professional, she sat in her comfortable chair and looked straight at Val's eyes.

Val looked like a mess having enough time to just wipe her hair with a towel and clean the trails of blood from her nose and mouth. But the bruises were there, and it was clear that she was the one being abused, instead of the other way around.

Vanessa had a moment of sorrow in her look, before her expression turned back to professional again. She took a deep breath.

"Valentine Stone. The girl with the best original Test. You were Powerless until a few hours ago, am I right?"

"Yes."

"And now, you have the greatest and rarest power in Canton. Telekinesis. Congratulations. I just wish you hadn't used it to attack another teammate"

"Mrs. Rehberg, with all due respect, have you seen my face? My head was stuck in a swimming pool, with Alice Green sending an electric current right at it. Sending the shards against her was a despicable thing to do, but I only wanted to scare her. She would have gladly killed me. How else was I going to protect myself, when apparently no one around here is doing his job?"

Vanessa's eyes opened wide, and her face turned shamefully to the ground.

Val regretted the last sentence instantly. It was not their fault either. Who would have thought that such a dangerous individual like Alice would be a Hero Candidate?

"I am sorry."

"Don't be Valentine. You are right to be angry. I personally know the Green family. Especially her father, Aldus. I know what he is capable off. But Valentine, your past record is not far better either. Incidents of aggressive behaviour, including your stay at the Centre for the Mentally Ill for two years. This was also the result of a fight with the Greens, isn't it?"

Val nodded silently, trying to hold her tears.

Vanessa stood up, and came around her office sitting right next to her. She took her hand in hers, surprising Val.

"I want to offer you a deal, Valentine. Alice Green is alive and kicking and right now, very scared. She sucked up her pride, and agreed not to talk to her daddy about any of this. Mainly because she would be facing major legal issues, after the assault against you."

"But?"

Vanessa took a deep breath.

"But you are going to have to let it go too, Ok? No revenge plans. You focus on your amazing Power, which is the best gift someone could have, and let the grudge fade. You are adults in an Academy of Heroes, and you are going to have to act like ones, like it or not."

Val was silent for a second, but then slowly moved her head in agreement.

"I'm done with Alice Green, Mrs. Rehberg. I think she's done with me too. She used to be so much more powerful than me. Not anymore."

Val was surprised with her own attitude. But seeing Alice pissing herself was enough, at least for now. She didn't want to pursue the grudge any further.

"I am glad to hear it, Valentine. It will be the best for you and your team. And I promise you, we will keep eyes on the Green girl, night and day"

Vanessa gave Val a last smile and resumed her sit behind the desk.

"So, tomorrow is a new day. Have a good's night sleep. You are going to need it for your new training. That is all."

The discussion came to an end. The front door opened and Val knew that this was her cue. She left Vanessa's office and walked the long corridor which led to the Library. Her head was light and her heart even lighter. She was not going to be taken away by the Academy. She had all the time in the world to train with her new, amazing Power. There was only one thing left to do.