Kai smiled. "Nice kicks! Do you have experience with hand-to-hand combat?"
Lana took a deep breath. "My twin doesn't have an ability so I've spent my life defending him against bullies. I don't have formal training in martial arts but … life has taught me strong adults are not … nice."
"But you're willing to fight strong bullies?"
Lana shrugged, "just because the watch says 8 or 9 doesn't mean they are actually strong. That depends on how well they know how to use it."
"Have you fought a level 9?"
She shrugged again. "It wasn't a big deal. I honestly never even saw him use his ability. I came out of a classroom and he had my brother up against the lockers. I kicked him in the head. He fell to the floor."
Kai nodded his head. "You need a new uniform. Wait here for a moment. I need to give you a note."
About 2 minutes later, Kai returned from what must have been his office with a sheet of paper stamped with a seal. "Take this to the supply office. They will fit you with a uniform with a proper inseam for martial arts. All I ask is that you give this class a chance. With kicks like that, I think you'll fit right in with the martial arts portion. However, we will be teaching weapons. We may need to figure something out to make you as equipped as we can."
Lana nodded with a bit of fear building inside. She needed to learn about plants to get her ability stronger. Would this teacher understand that?
"Cadet Abel, could you escort Cadet Plantwell to Supply then to her room?"
"My pleasure, Sergeant Tanaka," Blaine said with a smile.
"Bearing! Cadet Abel, remember we do not smile in uniform!"
Blaine stood straight in proper posture, "Yes Sir, Sergeant Tanaka Sir!"
The two quickly left the building. Lana stood on his left side and they marched to the supply building. It took a bit for them to find a proper martial arts-compatible uniform for Lana's smaller 5'3" frame but eventually, she was issued 6 uniforms. She was wearing one and was asked to return those other uniforms. She placed her new uniforms in her bag and they marched to the dorms. Blaine took her straight to her room, making note of the room number.
"This may sound… strange… since I just met you but … would you be willing to … come in? just for a few minutes?"
"Won't they get upset if I do that? There are rules."
Lana nodded, "there are but we won't be breaking any. Just for a few? 30-minutes max." She tried to put on a smile but she was feeling a little uncomfortable. She discovered when she was trying on new uniforms that he definitely saw her panties.
Blaine shrugged. She scanned her finger and the door beeped allowing her admittance. Blaine stepped just inside her door as she closed it behind them.
She gestured to a chair after glancing over and noting her roommate was taking a nap. Her beast weapons class took place while Lana was in Agriculture. "Please have a seat." She put her new uniforms in the washer that was in the shared kitchen with the neighboring room and set them to wash after removing the uniforms she washed yesterday. These all needed to go back tomorrow.
Lana then grabbed her bag and pulled out a pot. "This…" She chuckled to herself and looked at her feet… "Well, you'll see."
She placed her hand on top and a little plant sprouted that soon turned into a medium-sized plant. She put a few leaves against his arm and transferred the medicinal properties from the plant into Blaine to treat his bruises. She withered the plant to dust then grew another. This time, Blaine felt the pain reducing to almost nothing. By tomorrow, he'd be fine.
"How did you do that? I feel great!" Blaine said with a smile.
"There are many ways to use plants. I intend to learn as many of them as possible. I'm hoping the Agricultural Club will have access to materials I have never seen before. I also intend to explore the library but these phases we are on make moving about difficult. I was hoping to get out of combat classes. I guess my kicks today backfired there…"
"It's not a bad thing to have talent."
"I didn't say it was. I could hire someone to teach me martial arts once I'm done with school if need be but I need the materials that potentially only the military has access to. My ability won't grow otherwise."
Blaine nodded, finally understanding. "Is your fear legitimate or are you a really good actress?"
Lana gulped. "You have no idea what I endured growing up. I was told every night that I may not wake up in the morning. I view each day as a gift. I don't even know if I have a future." Her eyes started tearing up again but she quickly wiped them.
"I don't even know you and here I am doing all this crying…"
"How about you join me for dinner and we can get to know one another?"
"In the D-FAC?"
Blaine chuckled, "where else?"
"I vowed to spend as little time in there as possible," as she shuddered.
"Isn't it mandatory for the first two phases?"
"Only breakfast."
"Lana? Is that you?" Katie sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Yes Kattie. I'm sorry if I woke you. Beast weapons class was… hard on me today. Luckily, I was rescued by a saint."
Blaine laughed at being called that.
"This is Blaine. I ripped my uniform and the teacher had him escort me to get more appropriate uniforms. I need to return the ones I was issued yesterday."
Kattie chuckled, "how did you rip your uniform?" She was now sitting up on her bed looking at the two.
Blaine smiled, "the teacher asked her to demonstrate her kicks. The uniform… was no match for her." He chuckled. "We were just discussing dinner. Care to join us?"
Kattie looked at Lana, "were you still planning on cooking tonight?"
Lana nodded. "I got those pots at lunch. I think I'll get more and keep about 6 or 8 here in the room for when I need to grow food in here. I'll need some in my bag in case I need to grow something while I'm away from dirt or here."
Blaine chuckled, "we're going to eat in here?"
She pointed to her kitchen.
"Did you buy food somehow?"
Lana laughed, "no…" She took up her pot that she had set down after treating Blaine and placed her hand on it once more. A small green shoot came out which became a big shoot. Eventually, she had a tomato plant that was too heavy to hold with one hand and Blaine had to catch it before it fell.
Lana chuckled, "sorry… Understand now?"
Blaine chuckled, "that's very handy."
Lana nodded. "I have invited my brother, his roommates and my roommate to eat here so you could join us if you want."
Blaine feigned surprise, "you want me to meet your brother on our first date?"
Lana's face turned bright red and no words came out.
Blaine chuckled, "I'm teasing. I would be honored to join you and your friends for dinner in your kitchen if you'll allow me to help in some way. I'm not skilled in the kitchen."
Lana smiled softly, "after everything you did for me today, dinner is the smallest thank you."
Lana went to her desk and removed the remaining dirt, notebooks and pens from her bag. "Has anyone read the restrictions for the phases on this military bedding? When can we use our own?"
"Phase 2," Kattie replied. "My parents have already sent me a code to pick up bedding from home."
Lana smiled. "Time enough for me to build up money to buy some for myself."
Blaine looked at his watch and asked Kattie, "it's almost 5. When are your friends coming down here?"
"Almin said he'd meet me here and the others will come here when they get back from beast weapons class."
Lana asked Blaine, "have you made any friends yet?"
Blaine shrugged, "I like my roommates well enough. They seem like good people."
"Do you have any siblings?"
Blaine nodded but didn't expand on the answer.
"Are your parents still alive?"
He nodded once again but his fascial expression wasn't a happy one. In fact, it was rather terrified for a moment before he changed it to a neutral one.
"I see family doesn't bring you much joy…What can we talk about that will put a smile back on our face?"
Just then there was a knock on the door.