The warehouse door slid shut behind me, and I took a few seconds to adjust to the lighting.


    Piqsirpoq was sitting on a small stool, wiping down a longsword, and then sneezed.


    I walked over to the toolbox, took out two masks, checked the filters, and put one on my face before handing the other to Piqsirpoq.


    He didn''t look at me or acknowledge me, but at least he took the mask and put it on.


    We continued to avoid each other''s gaze, silently cleaning the storeroom.


    Aside from practice swords, the storeroom housed a few weapons that were clearly outdated and discarded from the armory. I saw a few powerless pulse spears, various styles and materials of staves, and an assortment of swords.


    One particular saber caught my attention. I carefully picked it up, feeling its weight and balance. It wasn''t the eagle-head pommel or the ornate insignia on the guard that intrigued me, but the resonance.


    I flicked the blade, listening to the clear ring that reverberated through the air. It confirmed my suspicion: resonance, a kind of vibration in tune with my consciousness. Unlike the usual biofield resonance of living beings, this was unmistakably a different kind of wave.


    Upon examining the insignia again, I realized it didn''t ring any bells. I shrugged, gave the guard one last stroke with my finger, feeling the resonance until it faded away, and then placed the saber back in its place.


    I''d research it another day, perhaps Qana would be willing to explain its significance.


    The rest of the time, Piqsirpoq and I continued sorting through the weapons, putting them in order, and selecting those with potential defects for discard--including the two we broke today. After finishing, I updated the log on the wall terminal and locked the storage cabinets.


    "Since you''re so skilled, why do you never stand up for yourself?" Piqsirpoq asked, his back to me, tail hanging low and still, his voice muffled by the mask.


    "I don''t want to hurt anyone," I replied softly, doubting I could convince anyone. "Going after those who bully me would make me just like them." But I truly believed this. "And I don''t want to become like them."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Piqsirpoq didn''t respond, standing there in silence for a long time, unmoving, giving no indication of his thoughts.


    "Do you know what Dad said to me the last time we met before he asked the Senatus


    to exile him?" His voice, though muffled, carried a heavy nasal tone. "He told me to..." Piqsirpoq paused before continuing. "He told me to take care of you."


    Then, he took off his mask, placed it back in the toolbox, waved at the sensor to open the automatic door, and left the storeroom.


    Because it was already late, the dining hall was empty except for me.


    "I don''t want to hurt anyone," I said, inexplicably, to the food synthesizer. Unsurprisingly, the machine wasn''t convinced either, as it provided me with a bowl of brown, viscous goo.


    Regardless of how odd it looked, it was still food. So I didn''t complain, shoveling spoonfuls of the organic paste into my mouth.


    After dinner, I headed straight to the showers. Still alone, maybe I had a bit of good luck left to spend.


    Standing under the shower head, I looked up at the tiny holes.


    Something was there.


    I knew it sounded vague, but I could feel that something was different, that something was there...


    Raising my hand seemed to help; I could sense that rhythm more clearly.


    It was strange yet familiar, something I had always overlooked. But now, I saw it.


    It was the water, the rhythm of water molecules swaying under hydrogen bonds. Delving deeper, I found the structure beyond my reach, yet still faintly sensed the polarization from uneven electron cloud distributions and the quark-level vibrations.


    It felt like seeing the truth and holding the world in my hands.


    With my consciousness, I directed the residual water in the pipes, guiding the flow against gravity as I willed.


    It was... magical.


    The water flowed in a circle around me, defying gravity. I touched the surface with the tip of my claw, feeling the turbulence, and the splashed droplets hit my face.


    Like a fool, I laughed at the wondrous sight.


    I felt the other water on the floor, within reach, as if it were an extension of my body. With a command of my mind, all the liquid rose into the air, forming a shimmering, suspended curtain.


    It was somewhat gross upon reflection, but my excitement overrode any such concerns.


    Using one foot as a pivot, I spun around, my tail raised for balance, enveloping myself in a large hollow water sphere. The differing speeds of rotation caused waves to ripple across the surface, the ceiling lights casting patterns akin to those on a gas giant onto my body.


    So beautiful.


    How had I missed this before?


    Tensing my body, I increased my spinning speed, feeling all the synchronized waves around me. Those waves resonated with me, creating a symphony in response to my existence.


    I was a string in the symphony of the world, vibrating at my unique frequency, resonating with everything.


    Amid the swirling water and shifting light, I danced with all my might, feeling the wet warmth of tears sliding down my cheeks.