The sound of a loud harmonic whistle pierces his ears, John flinched at the sound of such powerful a sound, his body twitched from his rude awakening. His large hand slaps the alarm clock, silencing it. The wendigo huffed, groaning lowly as he gets ready for the day. First, he brushes his teeth. Having a deer skull made things easy to brush since he lacked any gums in the first place. After brushing, he noticed that his teeth were whiter than the skull making up his head. After rinsing his mouth, he takes a shower, he prefers hot showers as to relish the sting the hot water gives to him, making the colder air feel amazing as his thin fur dries up. After some lotion, breakfast was served. Amazingly John finds himself feasting on scrambled eggs and sausages, his teeth gnashing through the food with ease as he gulps them down. Turning on the television, the news came on. The two faces on the screen were also monsters. Actually...it was multiple heads on one body, a hydra to be exact. It was really weird to watch, seeing a hydra technically conversing with himself but at the same time telling the news. 

"And now for the weather. Left Larry, what's it looking like out there?"

John chuckled at the news, it was quite funny in all honesty. Though thoughts begin disturbing his routine, his eating slowed down to a stop. He remembered doing this for years. Hard work and determination were all put on the front line to give him the best life he could imagine. Sure it was far from luxury, but it was something that he could live with, and be happy. He did the same things, it was like clockwork to him. But with the new information now invading his once-normal life, he couldn't suppress the feeling of difference. What was familiar was now alien to him. Everything was alien to him. John very well knew that he didn't know everything about the universe, but when the simple reality he had lived in was now shattered, he felt alone and scared. Chills ran down his spine, what was out there? What did he miss out on? Are humans indeed extinct? These questions haunted him, and while the wendigo desperately wanted answers, he was also internally pleading for life to return to the way it once was. But doubt whispered in his ears. His eyes were just beginning to open, he told himself, he couldn't just close them now. From what the angel said, this is the world for what it is. Is he so desperately urgent for normality that he wanted these new memories erased?

Vrrrrr! Vrrrrr!

His phone was vibrating. Turning his head from the TV, John turned it on and looked through his message board, he found a text from Holly. John's eyes narrowed, her profile picture was the same as the days before, a rainbow splash of hair day on her mane. 

Hey! You doing alright?

John texted back.

Yeah, I got the medicine and I'm feeling much better.

Good, you just left without a word.

Oh. Sorry for leaving without a word, I just needed time to myself after the whole thing.

Oh, that's alright. Have you moved? We checked your house and there was a sign of your house being for sale.

John paused. He doesn't know if he should mention the truth of the world to his friends. He shook his head, perhaps now is not the time.

Yeah. My manager mentioned a job opportunity over in another state. He sent me there. I think it was to get rid of me, but it seems that the pay is good at least.

Damn, well at least you got the better end of the deal. But that means you won't be seeing us any soon?

John frowned, even when his face was incapable of doing so, he thought he did. Since he moved to Mythos, he realized that he couldn't visit them like he used to. Even though they are a bus ride away, he couldn't visit them as easily. 

Don't worry, I can still visit you guys. 

Good, Lily was going to miss you if you can't hang out with us.

 It's alright, I'm not going to stop hanging out with us any time soon. But right now, I have to get used to the new state first, so I will be gone for a while. Alright?

Yeah, I'll make sure to relay the message.

Thanks. Bye!

Bye.

John turned off his phone, then turned to his laptop. It was time to do some college courses. Why? Because it became apparent he cannot get a job here unless he takes one of the mandatory courses. This only applied for immigrants, John sighed and just rolled with it, perhaps it would be better than he assumed it would be.

...

...

After registering courses through his laptop, the wendigo wanted to see what he was exactly getting into. He searched the address but found himself hesitating from the fact that he didn't get his car yet. John shook his head, the angel mentioned that he would get his car by tomorrow, which is today. And presuming that everything was in place as they were, he would find his keys on a hangar. Which he did, and sighed with relief since he thought he lost it. Driving over to the university, the first details that catch his attention was the modernity of the foundations. The walls were a modern plaster of white and lighter shades of earthly pastels of green and brown. The architecture was also belonging to modern times, seeing how minimalistic the structure of the buildings was in general. Spread far from one another, the roads and sidewalks were broad, designed to compensate for many people walking. Potted plants and various gardens were seen across the campus of the university, it felt like being in some kind of miniature paradise. John shakes himself out of the trance, he came here to attend to his new class semester, and thankfully he managed to snatch a scholarship before doing so. Expenses were now the least of his worries.

In total, the wendigo had signed up for 4 classes and will attend them over two years. With his bachelor's in accounting, he felt the need to search up for any educational courses was beyond him in academic terms. After all, at his age, he had essentially completed his trial of finding his place in the world. But the courses he is taking? They were academical by his observations, though they seem to serve both immigrants and resident monsters as well. Despite his memories of being in college were faint, he still remembers it being more or less like school but costing money to attend. His four courses take up small portions of his weekday schedule, all taking around noon, and some in the evening. Right now at noon, his first course class of the day was Mythos world history. John guessed that it was essentially world history, but most likely telling in perspectives that are beyond the illusions established onto the people. John didn't know what to bring, he just brought his laptop, a thin binder with dividers and college-ruled paper, and a small backpack. Other than what he usually brings, he just looked like a senior in college, if said senior had failed his final exams and was held back multiple times. Either way, nobody seemed to take too much notice when he suddenly came around and sat on a chair. Most of the monsters were smaller than him. John was around 7 feet in height, most of the monsters around him were at least 6 feet or 5 feet. Though he still noticed that some of the monsters were smaller than they should be. Like the behemoth, who should have been much bigger than the entire room but is somehow shrunk down to the size of a human, or a tall human at least. The wendigo noticed that he was dwarfing everyone much more than he usually does. Perhaps it was something he ate since he heard wendigos tend to get bigger when they eat meat. Then again, he did eat sausages for breakfast, so that might be the case. He was in a few minutes before class started, so he had some time to at least look at the people next to him. 

There wasn't anyone on the left chair next to John, so he presumed that they are late. The right person in the chair was a female, eyes on her phone. There was something peculiar about her. Sure, she was a horse girl, short brown coat covering her whole body, with a small diamond mark shape oh her forehead with another white patch covering her muzzle. She wore a beanie hat, grey, much like most of her clothes. It seems to match her, in John's opinion, how brown and grey blend so well with one another. Though, John could see the darker brown shade of hair under the beanie hat. In fact, her hair is more comparable to a mane, how it flows down the back of her head and further beneath that as well. John wasn't sure if she was using hair dye, but he noticed a single strand of gold in her mane. But what caught his attention the most is her eyes, it was like they're made of opals, shimmering in different shades of pastel colors whenever she moves her eyes around.

"Uh...hello?" said John.

"Hmmm?" the horse girl looked up from her phone, staring at him with disinterest.

John's own eyes were simply a ring of red light, mimicking eyes. "Uh...how are you doing?"

She sighs. "Doing fine, and you?"

"I'm doing fine, y-" John stopped himself from repeating. "Sorry, yeah, I'm fine right now. What's your name?"

"Iris. Iris Garcia."

"Joh Carter. Nice to meet you."

Iris nodded. "Are you new to Mythos?"

John was taken back slightly. "How'd you know?"

Iris shrugged with a little smirk. "Just a guess. I'm not though, people just outside the border of Mythos are still considered residents. Are you from another place?" 

"Oklahoma. Last time I checked when I moved out of Florida, from my parents."

"Oh. Out of state." Iris chuckled.

"I moved into Mythos actually, but I don't have a job yet. So...I'm relying on my life savings...and credit card."

"Man, that's a bummer. How old are you?"

"Uh...29 years old."

Just a second ago the horse girl was drinking some water, she nearly spits that out from her surprise. "29? Holy shit, you're the oldest one in here."

"...what?" John's brain lapsed from the surprise. 

"From the last time I eavesdropped while on my phone, the oldest one here is 25 years old. What job did you have?" questioned Iris.

"Accounting, I got a bachelor's degree and just went to the workforce right after," answered John, leaning back into his chair. "Got a decent enough salary after 5 years."

"Nice." Iris checked her phone again. "Alright, class is about to start. Wanna talk later?"

"Sure."

The professor was already there, and she appears to be a jackalope. By far, she was the shortest amongst all the monsters in the room. She was barely above 1 foot in height...which should be expected since a jackalope is just a jackrabbit with antlers.

She stood on a high chair, waving to everyone.

"Hello everyone!" said the jackalope. "Welcome to Mythos world history. My name is Mrs. Lupe, and I will be your professor for the semester. Now...I'm not exactly going to make the course hard for any of you. As long as you get your work in on time, there shouldn't be any problem with any of you. Understand?"

Students mumbled understandingly. "Now as you all know, much of world history has been more or the less the same as human records have always been. Though, Mythos University teaches the history in the eyes of the angels, as they oversee both sides of the mortal plane. Any questions?"

Iris spoke aloud. "It was said that humans are extinct, so...that means they used to exist, right?"

Mrs. Lupe nodded. "According to Astral Records, humans have gone extinct around 4000 years ago. This was due to the Last Human War."

Pressing a button, the screen projector activates, lighting up the screen just before the wall. The projector shows a timeline, but zooms in to the very beginning, on the very far left. "But before we can do all of that..." the projector shuts down, the jackalope taking out a clipboard. "We have to do the usual procedure. Please bear with me."

...

...

Much of the day had repeated itself in the same fashion from the last 3 classes. Mr. Elvis, who is an elf and apparently rocking that Elvis Presley hairdo was his Monster Etiquette instructor since this particular class is open to both immigrants and state residents alike. The other was overseen by Mrs. Geass, the course is about macroeconomics, just so that when he graduates it would look good on his resume. He assumed that the last one would be the same. With his courses so close together, John found no need to head back home, but at the same time be grit his teeth slightly whenever he had to take campus lunch. He swore himself that he would try his best to stay on the beef jerky in the vending machines but at times it never felt enough.

 Thankfully, Iris was willing to share a food piece or two with him, since they found out they shared the same schedule. Right now, he was at the lunch table with the horse girl.

"Kind of unbelievable we have the same schedule," John said as he ate a bit of the glazed donut. 

"Don't think you can get lovey-dovey with me just because we share the same schedule. I promised my parents I wouldn't have a relationship until I finished college." Iris pointed the fork at him, meant for the noodle cup in front of her.

"I...wasn't really planning to." John sighed. No wonder she was acting so distant throughout the last 3 classes. "Not even in high school?"

"Nope, my parents are strict about relationships. And...pretty much everything." Iris sighed.

"Oh..."

"Last class is Ability Assessment. I heard that no one really takes it."

"Why is that?"

Iris consumed her noodles, then spoke again. "Currently? There's only one class. Rumors I heard about while we're moving around say that the teacher there is intense."

"Wait. Why didn't I hear of them?" John questioned.

"You're not a very good listener are you?"

"...only when I need to be." John pouted.

Iris frowned but brushed it off. "Also, a friend of mine likes this class especially. He's second year, like me."

"Who is he?" John tilted his head.

"He WAS supposed to be in our first class. His 2 other courses are different, but he also shares this last class with us."

"What's his name?"

"Hey! Who are YOU?!" a new gruff voice cuts between them.

The wendigo turned to find a new kind of monster trudging towards them with an aggressive march. Though he admits that the person was seemingly marching towards him. John noticed that this was a Nemean Lion, how he seems to be a lion that's just standing on two legs. Though unlike comparison to the actual myth, this lion seems different. He seems to reflect the light around him, making it seem that the lion was glowing a natural light around him. His form was a sunny yellow, the tip of the lion's mane smoldered with descending colors from yellow-orange to orange-red. Despite being smaller to John, only just under 6 ft tall, he was far muscular. The brand T-shirt on his body is barely containing the rippling muscles that lie underneath. His jeans seem to hug his waist and legs where his large paws stick out underneath. Unlike his flaming yellow body, his eyes were a deep ocean blue, absorbing the light that is being reflected, drawing the wendigo in to stare at his eyes. As a matter of fact, the lion was right in front of him, demanding answers.

"Well?!"

John was unable to respond. "I...what?"

"Chris, it's fine, he's just someone that has the same classes as I do." Iris summarized.

"Oh yeah?" The wendigo felt the lion's pecs bump against his skinny body. "You're not here to take her from me, or we're gonna have a problem."

This time John had a response. "I wasn't planning to. Look, I'm sorry if you don't have the same schedule as your...girlfriend. But if you think I have some sort of crush on her, I'll let you know that our schedules matching is completely coincidental."

"Hmmm..." Chris narrowed his eyes.

"Wait a minute. Are...are you Iris' boyfriend?"

"He is," answered Iris, getting between the two. John backs away, standing before her boyfriend to protect him. "I haven't told my parents but we keep in contact. When we finish college, we'll start officially dating."

"Oh. I'm sorry if I seem intrusive, my apologies." apologized John.

"Yeah, sorry." mimicked Chris, gritting through his teeth.

"Come on, class is about to start." Iris ushered them over to the last class of the day, Ability Assessment.

...

...

The Ability Assessment classroom for the last course was much smaller than the others, only a few assorted tables that are scattered across the room. Various bookshelves were on one side of the room while the other side remains empty in contrast. Two windows were peeking to the outside world where the evening sky blends with the passing orange rays of the sun dipping beneath the horizon. A single desk with a computer can be seen on the right side of the room, right with the bookshelves. The rest of the essential furniture was there, a projector and whiteboard, along with many other things. But what surprised John is that someone was sitting in one of the tables, having been here much earlier than anyone else. From the looks of him, John sees that this was a bunny with white fur, crimson eyes looking down at his phone. He wore a T-shirt, meant for his size with his backpack set right next to him on the floor below. John glanced at the shirt, seeing that the front had the simple image of a full moon, while the backside shows a black rabbit in an eternal jump, grazing over where the moon would be.

"Who's that?" John heard Chris talking with Iris, out of his line of sight.

"I don't know," answered Iris. 

John sat next to the bunny, seeing that Chris was unwilling to share the third seat alongside Iris. As of now, the professor was nowhere to be seen, so John took the time to get to know this new person next to him.

"Uh...hello." John greeted.

Quickly putting away the phone, the bunny says, "Hello! What is your name?" to which John notes that the student has a heavy Chinese accent.

"My name is John, are you from China?" John noticed from the edge of his eyes that Chris was raising a brow at his question.

"Yes, my family immigrated from China a few months ago. Life here in America is taking some time to get used to."

"You have a good grip on vocabulary despite only being here for a few months." complimented John.

"Xièxiè." 

"...I'm sorry, what?"

"It means thank you in Chinese." said the rabbit.

"Oh....oh! I never asked for your name?"

"In English Pronunciation, it is Yue Yun. Chinese pronunciation is Yun Yue."

"So it's backwards?"

"More or less."

The sound of a door swinging open and slamming on the wall catches the attention of practically everyone because of how explosively loud it was. A muscular hand was flat on the center of the door, leading back to what appears to be a brown werewolf of sorts. But John was unable to pinpoint what type of monster this professor was. The werewolf was obviously female, though she seemed slightly hunched over constantly as if there was a slight ache on her back. Various spots can be seen from what her exposed fur entails, and a mane on her head that was much more unkempt and wild than Iris'. Her emerald eyes were in a narrowed stare, scanning each of them like a soldier marking targets for elimination. John also noticed how muscular she was, mainly by the arms...that and her breasts are big enough to cause the polo-shirt to lift slightly to reveal a bit of her belly. If John could blush, he would be rose red all over.

"Hello class." her voice was commanding, John felt shivers run down his spine. The presence she was giving off was near-murderous. It was so intimidating that no one dared to say a word as she struts over to the desk, opening her laptop. Without asking for attendance she just quickly skims over all the details of Ability Assessment. From what John could get out of it, this course was for realizing one's abilities and controlling them. He didn't exactly know why he took this class, but he knows he is a wendigo, so then perhaps he can take this course to discover his abilities. That...and the course was the most expensive out of all four.

"You got 5 seconds to say you're here. John Carter?"

"Here...!"

"Iris Garcia?"

"Here!"

"Chris Sol?"

"Here."

"Yue Yun?"

"Here!"

"Good." The professor closed her laptop. "Welcome you four, to the Ability Assessment course. I am your professor, Cherry Luna, but during our time you will refer to me as ma'am or sir." 

"Wait." Chris was the first to break the silence of the four. "Sir?"

"By the way, we're going out." just as she came in, she was already heading towards the door, not even bothering to answer the question given.

John stumbled to catch up with the sudden order, along with everyone else following along. "Where are we going?" Yue Yun asked.

"To Mythos State Central Park. If you don't keep up, you will be considered absent! And I do not tolerate absences!" 

...

...

Everyone was in a fast-paced jog in hopes of keeping up, John was able to reserve much of his energy thanks to his height just being above 7 ft. Mrs. Luna was above 6 ft, but she was jogging like she was taking a stroll on a leisurely day. Everyone else was on the verge of running! Yue Yun was a few feet behind Mrs. Luna compared to John, he guessed that being a rabbit helps with stuff like this. But Chris? Last time he checked, the Nemean Lion was straining much harder than the others. Turns out that Iris had bruised her ankle when getting out of the seat, so the Nemean Lion became her knight in shining armor by carrying her the entire way to Central Park. John was ahead of Chris, where he was in last place.

"Fucking damnit!" John could hear Chris hissing from his predicament.

"A little further!" Yue exclaimed.

The minutes were ticking by with agonizing slowness, the sensation of fire burning within their muscles flaring within them. John huffed, looking back to check up on Chris. His yellow face was as red as a tomato, gasping for air as the weight of Iris was becoming too much of a burden for him. John slowed down, turning to Chris.

"Let me carry her!"

"This isn't nothing," Chris wheezed. "And I'm not letting your bony-ass hands touch her again!"

"I get it, but I'm not gonna allow someone to get a heart attack for being the superhero to their girlfriend." retorted John.

The lion looked like he was about to reply, but Iris gave her voice. "Chris, just do it. Just catch your breath, alright?"

He grits his teeth, but after a long pause, he sighed in defeat. "Fine, but once her ankle heals that's the last time you get to lift her in your arms again."

John nodded and picked up Iris from the Nemean Lion, letting her grasp his neck as she lied on his back. His knees buckled for a moment, the new addition to weight now burdening him but he continues to jog. The wendigo saw the lion quickly passing him only after a few seconds of catching his breath. Fortunately, the carry would not last for long. In the distance was the iron gates to Central Park. Everyone was waiting for him, even Chris who was still hands on his knees to take in more air. John came in last, setting down Iris as he used his tall body as support to relieve the weight on her bruised ankle.

"You're last." Mrs. Luna pointed out.

John swallowed. "Yeah, I mean, I'm still here and kept up so...I shouldn't be considered absent." 

A small smile creeps on her face. "You are right, you aren't going to be considered absent. In fact," The smile transformed into what people call a "shit-eating grin". "I lied about being absent."

Everyone deadpanned. Chris broke the silence. "Are...Are you kidding me?"

"Yes, we actually could have driven there."

"I'm dropped off by my mother." Yue Yun added.

"...most of us could have driven there." Luna corrected.

"Okay," Iris raised a brow. "Then what was the reason for making us run in the first place?"

"First lesson everyone!" Cherry Luna announced to the four. "The body's abilities are more present when under stress! From this point on with each semester you take, you will be jogging from the university to central park."

Everyone groaned.

...

...

It was still only a few minutes after 6:00 pm since John had entered the Mythos State Central Park. He was the last in line since he was the support pillar for Iris to walk. This was John's first time being in Central Park, and he believes that the rest have never been in this park, except Iris and Chris, she didn't seem as wide-eyed as he and Yue are. The trees were taller than any tree he has ever seen. John had seen a few redwood trees before in a few parks he had seen when traveling on vacation. But these trees? These were trees that he has never seen before. The leaves were an unnatural color, like the light from the setting sun is being refracted in the very leaves and splitting into different colors through each leaf. The wood of the trees can be seen like any other bark skin, a muddy shade of brown tinged with orange in the sunlight. The roots were huge as they snake their way above and below the earth, John was sure that he could use these roots as benches if he wanted to. Spearing through the grass was the sidewalk as it was lit through various light posts, the wendigo compared the whole thing to lighthouses in the dark. Various benches were strewn across the branching sidewalks, as far as the light can reach. But that isn't what's going to happen today. Cherry Luna was heading out to an open patch of grass with a light post right behind her.

"Alright, this is where we begin," announced Luna. "Now listen closely, I want you to do more than just take notes in this class. I want you to apply them to your everyday life because these lessons may decide if you are a danger to Mythos."

"Whoa whoa, how am I an endangerment to Mythos? I mean, I know I have abilities but-"

"Let me stop you right there." Luna raised her hand. "I know you're thinking that you won't be able to hurt anyone because you don't know how to control your abilities. But that's the problem," she walked over to the newspaper dispenser next to the bench under the light post, motioning her free hand which the group moved over under the light. Luna tossed the newspaper to Yue, who caught it while stumbling back.

"People who cannot control their abilities tend to accidentally activate them. Just read the paper."

Everyone's eyes turned to the big bold text at the top of the newspaper.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES CAUSED FROM UNINTENTIONAL ABILITY BY FIRE ELEMENTAL

The most recent wildfire on August 4th, 2018, has been investigated and discovered traces of elemental essence. Vale Smith, a resident of California, has admitted to accidentally causing the forest fire when her combustion abilities had suddenly misfired and set several dozen trees on fire...

Cherry Luna continued her teachings. "You see, some cases of natural disasters and crimes are caused by unintentional abilities misfiring. Mythos City has to cover up the evidence by removing certain evidence and framing the incidents in more "human" causations."

"I heard about this. What's so new about this?" Chris shrugged.

"You aren't in the only one in this class," Luna growled. "I suggest you keep a more open mind, only two of you have any real reason to be here." turning to John and Yue Yun.

"I have a reason though." Iris points out. "My parents still have their halos on them, so they don't know what they are. I'm the eldest sibling in my family, but I'm the only one without a halo."

Luna seemed to soften, ever so slightly. "Must be hard for you, yeah?"

"Yes, before I took this course, I was learning to use my abilities on my own. So I came here to better control my abilities."

A little smile was on Luna's face, before turning to Chris with a mean glare. "That makes 3, so you better mind your manners, Nemean Lion."

Said Nemean Lion scoffed at being called out. "Fine."

"As you all know, all monsters have some kind of ability. Whether to fly or to swim faster than any creature in the sea, all monsters, or people, if you want to be more formal, have inherent abilities that are at their disposal. Now in most cases, you can live a life without having to take this course, ability misfiring is rare. But at the same time, they can have unforeseen consequences if left unchecked. That's why this course exists, it helps control abilities to minimize ability misfire to a near-zero percent, with the bonus of looking good on your resume since abilities can also help with jobs and opportunities." Luna smirked.

"Now Iris," Mrs. Luna turned to the horse girl. "You must be a Tikbalang, am I correct?"

She seemed rather surprised, the same was John, he never heard of any creature like that before. "Y-Yes, how did you know? I've never told anyone about them, except Chris."

"It's my job to know what kind of abilities a monster has off the top of my head," Luna's smirk grew a little wider. "Anyway, you have the most training out of everyone here, so you should be first."

John noticed how hesitant Iris was, but encouragement from Chris allows her to limp forward. Mrs. Luna gestures to show the extent of her abilities. Sighing, calming her nerves, she begins to concentrate. The grass starts moving as if brushed by a breeze. From the blades of green a growing flower blooms in front of her. John was amazed, just like Yue was as well. She smiled, moving to another talent. She begins floating in midair, before whisking herself around the trees in a fast pace before finally landing where she once was. She would suddenly vanish from sight, only for John, and the rest of the group, to shiver at the sensation of touch before she reappears. The grass wilted, making a new pathway. John's memory had suddenly become blank, wondering what he ate this morning before the confusion went away. Her mane solidified, turning into spikes before softening again. And last but not least, she touched a low branch of a tree, where flowers bloom. 

"I see." Luna's smirk turned to a smile. "For someone who trained on their own, you did pretty well."

"Thank you." Iris smiled back.

"Now tell me, how long have you been doing this self-training?"

"I think, 5 years since I first started, on weekends in the forest park near my home." 

"Hear that everyone? This is one type of training any of you can go through. Now," Luna paused. "This is going to be a simple physiology lesson, can anyone tell me why abilities are more active when we are in our designated environment?"

The silence was present, but Chris answered shortly afterward. "Monsters tend to feel safer in the environment they would reside in the wild. Because of the psychological comfort of being in their natural environment, their abilities will tend to unlock over time."

"Spot on." praised Luna. "What Chris answered is the most natural method to unlock a person's abilities. Though, from what you all heard from Iris Garcia, it takes years for a person's abilities to unlock. But if you are unlucky, it's been recorded that the current record for the longest time for abilities to unlock was almost 400 years."

"Wait, wouldn't I die by then?" Garcia tilted his head.

"No, at least...you would reincarnate."

"So wait, the Buddhists were right about reincarnation?"

"All religions are right in some way. Reincarnation was an idea we borrowed from the Buddhists though, it helps with keeping things normal. When a person with a halo reaches the endpoint of a human's lifespan, their memories are taken to a storage unit and their personalities are rewritten to a new unique template."

"In any case," Cherry Luna continued. "We should get the rest of your abilities accounted for. Chris, you're up."

John watched the Nemean Lion sighed but steps forward. "Look, I don't have any abilities of my own, alright?"

"Of course you do. Nemean Lions are impervious to almost any kind of attack due to their hide. Though Heracles still killed one by choking it to death." Luna shrugged. "But I can demonstrate it to you."

"How?"

"Well...I can't hurt you without your consent."

"...I'll allow it."

"Thank you."

Luna got into a stance, right leg forward and left leg back and body leaning forward, left hand out and right hand pulling back. John witnessed her muscles bulge out as she strained their power. The joints were locked as tightly as possible to avoid loss of strength, the right hand clenching into a fist. When the fist was let loose, John could barely even see the blur it made. But he knows that it made an impact, not even the chiseled muscles of the Nemean Lion saved him from the blow. His eyes popped out and he stumbled onto the floor in seconds, clenching his chest as he seemed to have the wind knocked out of him. But what made the wendigo shiver was the wind and how it seems to blow away from the punch alone. Such speed and power would only come from such a powerful punch, and John was sure that if he was the one taking it, he might have had his bones shattered on impact, or even a hole in his chest if he was that unlucky. 

"Such hide prevents any kind of wound from appearing. Minus your weakness to breathe, you're practically invincible."

"Thanks, I've never been hit that hard before....or by a woman." Chris coughed, hacking as he quickly replaced the air expelled from him.

Luna's little smile grew to a wicked grin, showing her large canine-like teeth. "Alright, pick yourself up, Yue is next."

"But...I don't have any."

"Wrong. Usagi only has one controllable ability. The rest is intuitive. But...let's say I have a headache. Is there anything here that can help me with that?"

The wendigo watched on since he was the last one to demonstrate his abilities. Yue seemed to blank out, eyes darting from left to right. He dashed out of sight, beyond the darkness dotted in lights of the posts.

"Should we go after him?" asked Iris.

"No. He'll come back."

A minute later, Yue came back with a handful of flowers. They had white petals and the center is yellow.

"Chamomile." He gave the flowers to Luna. "If you boil them into a tea, you should be relieved of your headaches."

"Nice, very nice. You know, I already have chamomile tea packs at home. That's why I asked you about it headaches."

"Oh, did I do well?" The Usagi's head turned down to the flowers.

"You did exactly as expected. Meaning you passed."

A smile was on the Usagi's face. Luna turned to John, and he knew what was coming next. But at the same time, he did not anticipate what he was going to hear.

"And the last but most dangerous, John Carter."

"Wait...me?" John was surprised by the statement.

"You're a wendigo. You can do a lot more than just get big and strong when you eat meat. Quickly, turn to the side." turning her finger as if to rotate him.

John did as told, all Yue and Iris gasped as he seemed to vanish, like a piece of paper standing up and seen on its side.

"Invisibility, it's inherent to every wendigo as whenever someone is looking at them by their side, they seem to be invisible. Now then, make some ice."

"But...I only discovered what I was a few weeks ago."

"That doesn't determine the extent of your abilities at your current point. Just show me what you can do."

John sighed and concentrated, stretching out his hand as if about to catch something, feeling his head spin and his stomach empty itself. He felt like he was going to vomit whatever food he had left in his belly. 

"Snowflake." Luna's voice cuts through his nausea, snapping him back into reality.

"Sorry?"

"...you only made a snowflake."

John looked at his hand. There was a single snowflake dead center in his large palm. He found it cute, in all honesty. Luna's brows scrunched close together.

"Huh...well, I knew that you wouldn't have that much control over your power. But...I thought it would be more...explosive."

"Is that bad?"

"No, how do you feel?"

"I feel like I haven't eaten for days."

"Alright, your ice demonstration is enough for me to pinpoint something about you."

"What would that be?" 

"You're not the most dangerous in this class anymore. That belongs to Chris now." in response, Chris felt his pride swell a little.

"Yeah, figured as much." he seemed disappointed, though he was a little relieved at the same time. While he knows that having these abilities at his disposal could make his life easier, he found himself knowing deep down that doesn't change what he wants, even if he did have them. He wanted a normal life, a life he could enjoy with no troubles.

"But now you are the most human." said Cherry Luna.

"What?"

"It doesn't mean anything. But it's a title that is honored by the angels and celestial beings." Luna explains. "There aren't that many monsters that lack abilities, especially their inherent ones. So they're often treated as black sheep of the flock. But they're protected by the angels and celestials, so it evens it out."

"Oh. So...what happens next?" John asks, looking at the others as if they had the answer.

"Everyone else can leave, I need to talk to John for a moment."

Chris sighed with relief, once again, sweeping Iris into his arms while Yue asked them for a ride home. Chris agrees to this as they move away and leave for their homes. In contrast, Chris was now under the light with Luna, all alone in the park. She was the first to say some words.

"Sorry for wasting your time, I need to give something to you."

"What is it?"

She takes out a folded piece of paper, John takes it accordingly and unfolds it to show her writing.

Human Club: Building 4 Room 777

"This...this room is in the center building of the university."

"Yes. You don't have to go there, but if you would like you could stop by with other people in your shoes. It'll help you feel at home since you're the most human of your class. The club meets together every Saturday." offers Luna.

John didn't know what to say, he wasn't sure if any words could describe what he is feeling. It wasn't joy or disappointment, but it felt along the lines of insincerity. "I'll think about it."

"Good, you're dismissed, make sure to get plenty of rest tonight." and with that, Luna walked off into the darkness as well.

Now John was left all alone, the wendigo slowly walking back to his car, driving himself own, and stepping into his bed. It was just like any other day to John, despite how different things are. He wondered to himself if he could live a life like this. And while he would love to answer that question, his dreams would have to make due, eyes fading into blackness as he slumbers.