Talent Storm by Brian Terenna Page A

while handing me a pen. I scribbled something that resembled my name.
    “Go down that hall to the door marked ‘talent Training’.” He pointed down the hall to his right.
    I wheeled and jogged down the hall. There was no need to be even later. “I look forward to seeing your drawing,” I said from halfway down the hall.
    After I located the correct door, I straightened my shirt, took a deep breath, and entered. There were about thirty students in the class. All sixty of their eyes locked on me. I bit my lip and made a mental note to show up on time tomorrow.
    “Nice of you to arrive at the appropriate time. You’re no more civilized than a Wilder,” said Sid.
    I looked at his chubby face and grimaced. Next to him, Lilly’s dark eyes drilled into me. She frowned, crossing her arms, then turned away. Talent, she was tough to please. It was not like I meant to hurt her. She should have forgiven me; it was an accident.
    “Jaden Stone, I presume.”
    I turned to regard an athletic man, with short, white hair and deep wrinkles, standing in front of the class. He wore a fitted, blue uniform and the handle of a large weapon stuck out from behind his back.
    I squinted and chewed on the side of my cheek. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
    He tapped his foot, staring at me.
    I said nothing.
    He smiled and held out his hands. “See everyone, there’s no reason to be intimidated. He hasn't even mastered time telling yet.”
    The class broke out into laughter.
    Were they really intimidated by me? No one had ever been intimidated by me. “Sorry everyone it's one of my weak areas, maybe I could get some tutoring.”
    Danessa laughed; everyone else was quiet. She caught my eye and shrugged. I sat in the back of the room.
    “At least you have some spirit,” he said with a smile. “While teaching, I’m Instructor Deo. In the military, I’m Commander Victor Deo.”
    My eyebrows climbed halfway to my hairline and a gasp escaped my lips. The Iron Will was my instructor. It took a second for the revelation to sink in. He fought in all three border wars. As a commanding officer, he was the victor in nineteen battles. He only lost once; although, people say it was a devastating loss. He had been awarded more medals than any other soldier or officer. His skill in telekinesis was unmatched in Coalition history.
    I frowned as I realized something. He was a once in a generation hero. What kind of expectations would he have for me? I chewed on my lip, mulling over my concern as my eyes drifted to the weapon handle sticking out from behind his back. If he was Deo, then the weapon was...
    My hand shot up. “Instructor. Can we see Peacemaker?”
    Deo smiled, the corners of his already wrinkly eyes crinkling further. “I was wondering when someone would ask.”
    He reached back, his arm glowing purple with talent and grabbed the handle. As he hefted it over his head, my eyes widened in anticipation. My classmates murmured and shifted in their seats. The blackened steel and iron weapon was over five feet long and was crafted by a master blacksmith over a hundred years ago. The steel handle was textured for grip and ended in a fist shaped pommel that was about the size of a man’s hand. The crushing end’s cylindrical core was six inches wide and a foot tall of solid iron. Four armor-puncturing, steel flanges added another six inches to the width. It must have easily weighed two-hundred pounds, maybe more, but the old man carried it with ease. All of the legendary stories I’d heard of Peacemaker ran through my head. I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing it.
    He held it out for another moment, then returned it to its holster. “Now that that’s taken care of, we’re going to separate the class into your respective talents and potential.”
    After he handed us all color-coded tags, he instructed us on where to stand. The class stood and found their positions. Next to me stood Sid, his greasy hair covering the top of