Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice!

Chapter 23

The next week had been a surge of portals opening and demons erupting out now. This rise was due to the Phoenix demon. Even though he is nowhere to be found currently, he had opened many portals before disappearing. We vanquished the demons and closed each portal to the point it was starting to become exhausting, 

For the first time, we got to meet a couple of members of the Heavenly Council. Trying to give us intel. It wasn't just the Phoenix demon that was the main mastermind behind this upheaval; there were small groups of enemies causing a disturbance among the people. 

What their objection was was still unknown. Soon at the end of the school year, they wanted us to start doing some traveling. I know I don't have a problem to worry about like, Micah and Beck had families also they were still underage. 

Baby as our substitute teacher was trying to help plan as well. We could plan a field trip during summer break giving us the freedom to travel. But then that creates another problem for the other students which means she would have to supervise them. If ever we were in need that would leave her unavailable. 

However, If she made it a paid trip that would help limit the amount of people that would be able to go. That means we come back to the same conclusion that she would be stuck babysitting. 

We decided to just move our focus right now to working hard at the cafe and hoping to save up the money for the trip. It was hard from time to time with demon spottings we were constantly leaving our work. We had to rotate who would go to not over-exert ourselves and if the situation was too much for one of us to handle we would call for backup. 

Not sure because the portals were only mere cracks and not fully opened there were only small demons leaking out. These cracks were like turning on the lights in a room with roaches they were scattering everywhere they might be small but there were many sometimes. 

Baby there's got to be some way to upgrade this device, much like cell phones get system updates or newer models with faster and better technology. Is there any way that we could request that there be a power level meter placed on the device? 

I most certainly will put it in a request to HQ. However, I'm not quite sure it's honestly fairly new technology it may take some time to put it together and even when it comes in there might still be some bugs. 

Yes please, that could quite benefit us so we know the urgency of the need so that way it's not overwhelming our day-to-day lives and exerting our energy. 

I can start helping you to sense the spirits a little bit more thoroughly. It won't work in long-term areas but within your surrounding capabilities, you still should be able to determine the power level of the spirits around you. 

You say spirits, not just demons I don't think I quite understand what you're saying. 

You heard me right I'd be able to give you the ability to sense spirits even energies that dwell within others. Say for example Beck and Micah's strength levels. When you're sensing the power levels within the energy around you it's not just for the demons that you're attempting to go after. You'll soon be able to adapt to all the energy that flows around you. Within yourself, others even living plants and animals. 

Every single thing that brings life has an energy; a spirit a source of life that is knitted together connecting us all. 

You do remember me telling you about this? 

Certain currents, such as warm freshwater river currents, naturally flow in a positive direction. Some, like the chilly channels of the saltwater ocean, are radically opposed. Similar to the species that coexist with them, few can endure the distinct streams that make up their largely diverse habitats. As if they are too dissimilar to ever combine, there are even spots where the freshwater and saltwater oceans are visible, separating one another. 

I see much like the light in the dark within the world and within the people in it. 

Yes, but the light and dark in the people are much like the creatures they can learn to adapt and overcome and change themselves thus being able to change the environment around them. 

I think this would be a great idea and would help me to maybe since people before they begin to change when people have negative energy Illuminating them before it consumes them. I have felt darkness around people many times before. 

Another thing I'd like to teach you that might help all of us is how to control some of your spiritual pressure. You tend to leak out a lot of energy. This has affected others around you as well as made you see your target which is why I originally made our training grounds the inside of the mountain. 

Oh wow, I apologize for that I never knew I was doing that. 

When you get out from school today you and the girls come to the training grounds. We have made some extra modifications to the barrier now thanks to the Heavenly Council for coming down they put up a much stronger barrier so won't have any more problems from here on.

(Later after school) 

Okay, ladies as you know Kaysi brought you here to train. I know you already know some of the basics of sensing spiritual pressure. An example is sensing the little ghost girl. As well you guys can sense the demons. And lastly, you know how to apply some of the spiritual pressure to manifest your weapon. 

I'd like you to learn how to sense the good and bad spirits within people long distance. Kaysi has already shown some of the applications needed to sense bad humans and the negative spirits that might linger before corruption. 

Over a vest distance, I'll be at least a good 10 miles of reach once better perfected. This skill can very much come in handy while you're battling and even before you need to be on your guard. 

Your charms for your weapons have dual purposes not only is it to contain your spiritual weapon as needed but they also can be used as an antenna so to speak for your spiritual pressure you'll notice that each gem placed on your charm has a certain color that is the same as your physical image of your aura that reflects around your body. 

I want you to start by concentrating hard enough until you can physically see your aura after that I want you to start pushing to see each other's aura. 

I already figured that one out a while back ago. The sense of my spirit and more recently started being able to see other people's spirit pressure, said Micah. 

Okay, then are you able to assess a target from a far distance? 

Being able to sense further out the distance just started. I can't go that far more like I could sense Kaysi when she was in the same building as me a couple of floors up when we were fighting that demon Phoenix. 

What are you visualizing when you see the aura then Baby asked? 

The soul ties very much like Silk ribbons that flow around people 

I also noticed from time to time that they seem to resonate with each other. Interweaving, connecting even leaving fibers behind attached. 

Yes, this is correct the residual that you see is because much like emotions each other's spiritual Aura can affect another person's leaving behind sometimes scatters of their essence connected to us. 

The same thing goes for our relationships of living things. Some have longer-lasting effects but are yet still normally temporary. Imagine playing with a small kitten whose essence is yellow. Say for example Beck played with the kitten she may have small traces of yellow within her ribbon or soul tie for a short amount of time. 

We will do a few exercises of spiritual hide and go seek once you have fully harnessed the ability to help you sense your spiritual pressure as well as your teammates. 

Through these exercises, it wasn't long before we started being able to pick up on each other's presence easier. Baby wanted us to take it a step further by heading outside the barrier to see if we could pick up the location of any demons nearby. 

After finding one or two and defeating them we decided to call it quits for today and head home. Baby told us to also cut down on our time and resources. Our spiritual pressure and awareness as well as strength should depend on the size of the demon ranking we went for. 

For smaller weaker demons Beck could hunt though she had just manifested her weapon and could take down small opponents at levels one to two. 

Beyond that point, Micah would be able to do two if there were multiples or a problem. Even battling up to three. 

In certain emergency cases if need be I would be able to accomplish a three soloed but I was told that would be my allowed Max. Even though I had to strength to possibly be able to do four. Some of my reckless nature put me in danger if I was not able to have others help me. 

Also, the rule has been if any of us were struggling that we would call on one another if there was a need. In cases where there are multiple the need for extra help is probable. 

The next morning going to school I kept having this uneasy feeling in my gut. 

Kaysi are you okay you're looking a little greener on the gills? 

Yeah, I'll be fine I just might have been training a little too hard here lately. Thankfully there are only a couple more days left of school and we can start our vacation before heading deep into work again. 

Finally, The field trip plan was set Baby told the parents about the pricing rejecting it lowered our headcount. She also has another teacher coming to help in case a kid has an emergency that would give her time away.

She played it off like if somebody would get sick or sprained an ankle kind of thing that way she could be able to get some time away if need be to take somebody to the hospital.

The walk to school was a bit gloomy it was quite cloudy today. I did not bring my umbrella; the forecast did not call for any rain. Honestly, when we stepped out it wasn't all that cloudy. The clouds seemed to have rolled in with some maybe because of the soon-approaching summer season. So we didn't get so soaked.

We hurried our backpacks over the top of our heads and ran to school as the rain slowly started to trickle down. Thankfully, the sky began to open up and start letting loose until we were through the doors.

I have not seen it pick up this fast in a while. Do we have some type of tropical storm off the coast creeping in or what? 

I'm not quite sure we have entered into the official tornado season so I wouldn't put it past the weather to change abruptly Micah said with a faint sigh. 

That's true we're just going to have to remember to grab our umbrella for the next couple of days left at school. Hopefully, it has stopped by the time we have to head home. 

I do have one of my large ones still in my locker I tend to forget it at school a lot. At least now it can come in handy. 

Oh Beck, at least you can save the day if it doesn't stop raining after school. 

The Bell rang and we headed to our first class. Slowly throughout the day, the rain began to pick up.

Sourusensā began to ring and the vibration of it was in my pocket. The first chime was at the worst timing as Lightning crashed across the sky and made the lights flicker. It nearly gave me a heart attack. 

It was a level one demon only about 2 miles out we could easily get it and get back within a decent time but with the rain, we didn't want to change it. One small demon can't do that much destruction in a short amount of time. 

They are nearly harmless even though all of them should be removed. We decided that we would not press our luck and wait until after school to handle this one. 

Sourusensā went off a second time. Micha looked at me what did you do hit snooze on that thing instead of silence, she said, jokingly. 

No, I could have sworn I hit deny and it should have shut it off. Although this is our first time ignoring it. I opened it up to see that there were now 3 small demons in the same location. This must indicate that there is a crack in a portal in that area where they're leaking out.

I can go and handle it myself Beck volunteered, and I know I am allowed levels 1 and 2 if I have any problem. I can call you guys besides I'm the only one with an umbrella, she laughed. 

Yeah just call us when you're done you might want to go back towards your house to get a change of clothes as well.

Okay, guys will do wish me luck; and again if you even start to fall into any trouble call us at once. 

Yes, I know Kaysi I am not like you she said smugly laughing as she left. 

Sourusensā went off a third time. Kaysi, if your phone goes off one more time interrupting my class I'm going to have to give you detention, my teacher shouted. Sorry, Mr. Mares it seems to be a family emergency I'm going to step out and take this call real quick I said dashing for the door. 

Sorry, when she said family she was talking about a cousin that we share I'll be right back too said Micah ignoring him and telling us to return to class!

Micah asked confused and concerned okay, so what's the situation? 

It's another small demon this one however is a level two not too far from Beck's location. 

I really can't make heads or tails of the situation. In theory, if the portal is large it could have more than one crack. We can head out there and help Beck she's going to need the help. 

A few small ones I'll go out there and clean things up also I will help Beck finish. Also if you stay it will help the teachers to be less suspicious of us. No sense in all of us going, 

Okay, but you know the rule if anything ends up being too much more serious call for help. 

Yes, that's fine, you don't have to worry about it Because I'll go with her. 

Oh, Baby, you got some time away from class to head out Micah asked as she walked up. 

Yes, I want to investigate the portal I noticed it is rather a large portal with multiple cracks this also gives me a chance to seal it. 

I feel a lot better that you'll be out there helping them. I'll stay here and hold down the fort. You guys be safe and don't get too soaking wet out in the rain I light-heartedly chuckled. 

After a little while, I started to feel a little better and realized that despite feeling uneasy, everything would be well. I adore storms—the way the raindrops fall, the fresh air storms carry, and even the sight of lightning streaking across the sky. It's awful that my friends have to brave this weather.

I cautiously started to make my way back to Mr. Manes's classroom, attempting to come up with a plausible explanation for Beck and Micha's continued absence. I chuckled, thinking I could blame it on Baby she is a substitute teacher and their absence was caused by they had to do an errand for her. You can't be angry with a teacher, right? 

Sourusensā Rings. My heart felt like it stopped. I held my breath with worry. Was it too late did the portal finally open? I was almost too scared to open up the phone. 

The uneasy feeling all day that I had been trying to choke down was right. This time it wasn't the demons, this was a level 5 demon that was right here almost in the school from the image that I could see.