Hear My Voice

...You should have been there. It was so funny!

Ha! Nice to hear there's still stuff to laugh about back at school.

Yeah. Each day has its moments.

So how come you never come to class, Sevyn? Last time I asked you said, "Maybe. If I feel like it."

Oh, you mean back when you asked me to pretend to be your boyfriend? Yeah, I vaguely remember something like that.

So hurry up and feel like it, already! It's as if we only ever see you when we randomly run into you in town like this.

Yeah, well, I'm pretty okay with that.

As I told you before...I'd rather skip school totally than be taught by those inept teachers. I just can't deal with that lot denying things they know nothing about... Without even trying to listen to others who know more on the topic.

I know you probably don't wanna hear it from me, the guy who also once called you a liar, but...

Don't you think you'd have a better chance of them coming to see you're the real deal... If they actually saw you each day?

Nah, I've lost all hope with 'em. They've peeved me off way too often, already.

But I guess you're right that we'll never see eye-to-eye if I reject them totally.

Hey, I've received a message. Who could it be from...?

Ha! Speak of the devil... It's from IDA. They're demanding I volunteer to help 'em out.

Yeah. I've volunteered to help the school before, as well.

So they force the badly-behaved students into volunteer service, huh?

If that's the case, wouldn't it just be easier to turn up for class as normal?

Much of a muchness, really. I prefer to hang out with the younger kids than be frowned upon by the teachers. Hm... It seems as if they want me to do the same as last time and look after some lower grade students. So that totally works for me.

Hm...?

Something up, Sevyn?

Nah. It's nothing. It seems I have no choice but to help out anyway. The school's not giving me the option to refuse. And if I did skip it, I can already tell it'll only make matters worse.

Well, I guess we better let you get to it, then... It kinda feels weird having Sevyn go to school on a day we aren't there, though...

Maybe we'll even see you in class next time!

Maybe. If I ever feel like it.

Not that again! At this rate, we'll never see you attend an actual lesson.

Perhaps you might try showing your face in class before we all graduate? Anyway. See you around, I suppose...

May as well head over to school now, then.

Yep.

Huh? Are you planning on coming too? The summons was only for me, you realize?

It's a call for volunteers, right? So wouldn't that mean it's open for anyone to join?

Besides, if you're heading to L Block, that might mean we can meet that little "apprentice" of yours, Sevyn!

It's been a while since he got caught up in that laboratory incident, so it would be good to check in on him.

I see... Well, it's your time to waste, so I won't stop you. I also want to see how the little guy is getting on.

Great. Then let's head on over to the IDA School and see what's going down on da L Block!

Whatever. Let's just hurry up and get this over with...

Phew! That's the help with today's lessons over with. I was expecting the kids to be way louder and uncontrollable, but they all seemed pretty studious.

Don't forget that, even though formal classes are over, there are still the after-school activities to go. They expect us to supervise them, even though we are only volunteers.

I hope they also go just as smoothly...

Hey! Is that Lucky Sevyn?

Uh-oh. I know that voice...

I knew it was you! What's up, "Sevyn Up"?

Heya, kid! Still washing your head in the toilet bowl, I see...

What are you doing here? You shoulda told us you were coming!

Well this is my school, too! But we're only here 'cause I suddenly got summoned to help out.

Hmph! And we swapped contact details and everything...

Haha! Sevyn actually gave you his number? I missed out on that!

Heh heh... Well, I am his number one apprentice, after all. Although he hardly teaches me about anything to do with Shamanism...

Oh, I see...

Since you are here, the Magnificent Sevyn, why don't you teach me more on how to be a shaman!

Right now? That's a little too sudden for a proper lesson, ain't it?

Come on! You hardly have taught me anything, so far. Was the whole "you've got talent, kid" thing just a lie?

Nah. You really do have potential. I wouldn't have told you that if I didn't think so.

So then come on and teach me, already! I wanna become a great shaman as soon as I can!

*sigh* I hate it when you get all stubborn like this. It reminds me of how you just wouldn't give up when I told you I was putting your apprenticeship on hold that time.

I warned you, remember? Becoming a shaman isn't all a bowl of cherries. Walking such a different path in life will likely be full of hardships.

And I already told you! I wanna be like you despite all that!

After all, it was you, Sevyn Wonders, who saved me back then, when nobody else could! So I owe my life to you!

......

Okay, okay... I guess I have to baby- sit you all as part of this volunteer gig, anyway. I may as well give you a taste of the basics while I'm at it... But only a tiny taste, now, you hear!

Yippee!

What are you talking about? And who is this guy, anyway?

He's Sevyn. And he's my shaman master! He's gonna teach me all about spirits.

Your Charmin master? Woah, that sounds so cool!

What are spirits? Are they cute?

Yeah, they sound kinda cool, too. Can Master Sevyny teach us as well?

I'm not sure whether I should include you two...

Oh, what the heck... You can listen on too if you wanna. Let's get this lesson started, eh?

Yaaay!

...And that's why there aren't hardly any powerful spirits whose presence can be seen by people left nowadays.

But spirits do still exist. Even you should be able to hear the voices of lesser spirits pretty easily if you try.

Woah! Really?

Yeah. All you gotta do is believe in the elemental powers within you. Sense the elements flowing through your body... And focus... Focus...

Listen carefully now and see if you can hear them...

......

......

......!

Ah! I heard them just now! A murmuring sound. Coming from that way...

Hey, that was pretty quick! And you got the direction right. How many different voices could you make out?

A high-pitched one. A lower one. And one kinda in between. So...three types, I guess.

You even got the number of 'em right. See. You really do have potential!

Yaaay!

I guess you really do know untapped talent when you see it, huh, Sevyn!

Woah! So spirits really do exist!

Hey... Did you hear anything?

Nope. Not a thing.

I guess all that talk of sensing spirits is harder than it seems, huh?

Yeah... I didn't really follow any of it.

So... What did you hear exactly? Isn't it kinda weird how we can't hear anything, but only you can?!

Whattaya mean? Can't you tell there are spirits right over there?

Huh? I can't see anything...! You're kinda scaring me!

......

(And so it begins... This is the trial that all who wish to become shamans cannot avoid. For the majority of this world are people such as these. I, myself, am still going through it.)

What's going on here? Is someone conducting supplementary lessons instead of the designated extracurricular activities?

Well, well, well... If it isn't Sevyn?

One can only be amazed how you never turn up for your own lessons... But somehow have the audacity to play teacher with the younger, more impressionable students?

Tch. Whatever...

Well, your attitude certainly hasn't improved. Don't you tut at me, boy! I am in charge of today's volunteers. And that includes you. So any mischief you cause will reflect badly on me!

Just my lucky break! Having you in charge today of all days...

I knew I should have skipped this volunteer work the moment I saw your name in the summons message.

Oh, so you know this teacher, do you Sevyn?

Not enough to admit it. He's a professor who was assigned to a couple of my classes that I ended up mostly skipping in the end.

He claimed my magic was bogus and demanded that I only do things in the way that he taught in his lessons.

I know phony baloney when I see it. All your talk of the power of spirits, or whatever you call that poppycock, was dubious at best.

Don't tell me you have been filling these poor children's heads with that nonsense?!

So what if I did teach them a thing or two? It's not like it's causing anyone trouble, is it?

It is indeed causing trouble! You can't just go around teaching impressionable youths such wasteful things. Why, their very futures could be at risk thanks to your bad influence upon them!

*gasp* How dare you call Master Sevyn a bad influence or troublemaker! He saved my life, I'll have you know! If he hadn't used his special powers, I wouldn't even be here today!

Don't waste your breath on him, kid...

Whattaya mean, Sevyn?

Getting angry at the likes of him won't change a thing. This is just one of the hardships of being a shaman that I told you about.

You don't need to worry your little, blue head off on my account. If I cared about each and every insult thrown at me, I couldn't have made it this far.

It's all water off a duck's back. My pride keeps me going.

Your pride?

Yep. Us shamans are strong. I am strong. So I won't lose. That's the kinda pride I mean. Kid. If you're gonna make it as a shaman, you're gonna have to live proudly.

I get it, now... I just have to stop getting angry or crying over dumb stuff like this.

That's the spirit!

But...

But what?

I'm still annoyed!

At this teacher... And even my friends... Why can't they see how awesome you, the guy who saved me, is... or how cool shamans are?!

It's not that easy a thing for people to understand...

I don't care if it's easy or not... I just want others to respect you. Shamans are like the coolest thing ever, so how can I make people accept them...even a little?

Oh, I know! Everyone, follow me!

Huh?

I'll show you that shamanic powers are the real deal! Let's go check out the Garden of IDA. There should be plenty of spirits hanging around in a place filled with nature like that! I'll tell you what the spirits have to say. So, come on!

He's run off without us. What should we do?

I guess we should probably follow him, huh?

Yeah. Let's go see what he says is there.

What about us, Sevyn?

*sigh* We had better go after him, too. We are responsible for his safety as volunteers...as well as me, being his shaman master.

While that kid is so strong-willed he didn't give in when he was abducted by the laboratory... He also doesn't know when to quit.

Haha! But that's what makes him a good and eager apprentice, huh?

He said he was heading to the Garden of IDA, right? We better head out there stat!

......

I don't want any part in this, but as I am in charge of these volunteers and students... I guess I have no choice but to watch over them to ensure their safety...

Some flower beds... Just the spot! There might be some spirits around here.

You guys wait a second... I'll see if I can hear their voices.

So, er... Focus... Focus... Feel the elements flowing...

I see... Didn't you once say something about how earth and water spirits like flower beds, Sevyn?

Yeah. It's something my great-grandpa taught me. But it's pretty amazing that this kid thought of that all on his own.

Attaboy! You show 'em, kid!

Water...spirits... Flowers...not enough...?

I just heard the voices of some water spirits! They told me that the flowers here are suffering because they haven't been watered lately...

You heard 'em too, huh? That's exactly what they were saying.

Well, I didn't hear anything... Besides, there is a roster for who is meant to water the plants each day, so they should be watered daily.

Oh no!

What's wrong?

I just remembered... It was my turn to water these plants yesterday, but I totally forgot about it.

Really? You know you'll get in trouble for neglecting such duties.

I'm sorry, okay! I'll give 'em a good watering right after we're done here.

Haha! It's lucky we found out in time. But I think that also adds credibility to the existence of spirits who can communicate with the likes of Sevyn.

Does it, though? As I can't hear them myself, I'm still not so sure...

I swear this reeks of the occult. You're either delusional or making this whole thing up...

Why, anyone could tell whether the soil is dry in this flower bed by simply looking at it!

So you still don't believe me, huh?

Well, I won't give up yet! Let's find us some more spirits to try listening to!

There're plenty of trees 'round here. Seems like as good a place as any...

Let's see if we can find us some spirits, then...

Hallo, Mister or Missus Spirits? If you are there, please let me hear your voices...

The kid is really giving it his all. Don't you want to help him, Sevyn?

He was the one who started it. I think it's better if we just keep quiet and let him finish it himself.

Ground...Roots... In-fest-ation?

I see... That was an earth spirit! He told me that this tree here has a whole bunch of bugs eating its roots, so it could get really sick.

Bugs? How can we tell from here? Are they like really small or something?

He said the roots, so they're probably underground. That would mean we can't see them from here, anyway.

IT. IS. MOST. UNEXPECTED. TO. FIND. SO. MANY. PEOPLE. GATHERED. HERE. AT. THIS. EXACT. MOMENT. PARDON. BUT. ONE. IS. SCHEDULED. TO. CONDUCT. MAINTENANCE. ON. THESE. TREES. SO. PLEASE. ALLOW. ONE. TO. PASS. THROUGH. HERE.

Maintenance on these trees, huh? Well that's good timing!

Hey, Mister Gardener Android! I think there may be some insects or something eating away at the roots of this tree. Can you give it a look?

UNDERSTOOD. ALLOW. ONE. TO. PERFORM. AN. ARBORICULTURAL. EXAMINATION.

ADJUSTING. CAMERA. ANGLE. AND. MAGNIFICATION. COMMENCING. SCAN. OF. ROOT. SYSTEM. YOU. WERE. CORRECT. ONE. SHALL. APPLY. INSECT. REPELLENT. IMMEDIATELY.

APPRECIATIONS. FOR. INFORMING. ONE. OF. THE. PROBLEM. ROUTINE. MAINTENANCE. IS. USUALLY. CONDUCTED. ONLY. ONCE. PER. MONTH. INFESTATION. LIKELY. OCCURED. BETWEEN. CHECKS. SO. ONE. SHALL. ATTEMPT. SHORTENING. THE. SPAN. BETWEEN. SUCH. CHECKS. UNTIL. THE. PROBLEM. IS. RESOLVED.

Great! Thank you. I'm just glad to have helped. But it was actually a spirit who told me, so you should really thank him as well!

WHERE. IS. SAID. SPIRIT? NONE. OF. ONE'S. SENSORS. DETECTS. ANY. SUCH. LIFEFORMS.

Hm... So even this guy's sensors can't pick anything up? And I thought the school's androids were cutting-edge tech.

Something doesn't feel right...

......

No! I won't give up yet. I'll search for some more spirits.

Okay! You just wait and see, now. I'll show you my shamanic powers!

I sense there's a spirit around here somewhere...

Woah! What's with those drones?

Where those drones here before? Are they for surveillance or something?

Nah. I don't think they fly around here normally. It's after school hours so maybe one of the extracurricular activities' mechanics clubs is testing them?

Ah... They sure scared me, suddenly flying right over my head like that...

Hm? What's wrong now?

I can hear something... It's coming from above us!

What? No way! I can't hear anything here either...

Wind... Air... Pollution... Bother...

...Gotcha! This one was a wind spirit. She said the drones that passed by polluted the air a little, so she had to clean it up just now.

Huh! He's spot on. That's exactly what the wind spirit said. I only just taught him how to do this, so I can't believe he picked it up so quick.

It's amazing. He seems to have more of a knack for this than even you expected!

I wasn't wrong. I told you I have an eye for spotting talent...

A~h... Did the air really just get cleaned now? That would be amazing if it was true!

Here we go again with the airy-fairy talk...

Air cannot be seen with the human eye, so you can sprout whatever mumbo- jumbo you like. Even people pretending to be psychics offer more so-called evidence than this.

I am not pretending or making it up! I am being totally serious here!

I guess I need to find a more obvious example so you can tell I am for real.

You're doing great, kid. Seems you've got the art of hearing lesser spirits' voices down pat.

Yeah...I guess.

What's up? You don't seem that happy about it?

No. I'm happy for the praise. And I got to hear the voices of some spirits which was pretty cool.

It's just...despite all that, nobody else believes me...

I guess I need to track down even more spirits until one tells us some- thing that puts away any doubts...

You might have to make peace with having your doubters, kid. I told you the way of a shaman wasn't going to be a bowl of cherries.

I give you an A for effort. But you ain't gonna change people's minds in one afternoon...

......

So, are you done with your little pep talk? You've wasted enough of our time on this hoodoo voodoo mumbo jumbo!

If you have nothing more meaningful to offer as an extracurricular activity, I say we call it a day and... Have you students head back to your dorms...

Sir, sir! We have an emergency!

What now, son?

Do you know this guy?

Hm... Oh, yeah. Now I remember. I think he is in one of my classes.

If I am not mistaken, he is in the school's robotics club that the professor here is in charge of.

You're not mistaken! Nice of you to remember who I even was, jerk.

But we don't have time for that... You see, Professor, the robotics club has screwed up majorly...

Get to the point already, boy!

We were just taking our drones for a test flight, but it seems there was a bug in their behavioral routines... And now all the drones have gone out of control and are running rampant!

They are currently flying about the Garden of IDA in a most unpredictable manner...

What in blazes?!

Yikes!

That was a drone! Probably one of the group that buzzed us before.

Those models come equipped with weapons! Why, they could seriously hurt people! Especially if they attack in numbers!

Yeah... We're really sorry about that!

Being sorry isn't going to help matters! Can't you shut them down remotely? Did you try the emergency power down command? CTRL+ALT+DELETE, even?

The bug seems to be affecting their ability to accept any orders. The only option we have left is to bring them down manually...

You mean to directly engage with them in physical combat? Why, that's way too dangerous for students! No teacher would allow such a thing.

Then what else are we going to do?

W-woooah!

Help!!! I'm scared!

We should really contact the IDEA about this...

The IDEA will never make it in time. I guess I'll just have to take matters into my own hands...

Wh-what did you do?!

Oh, I just used some of that bogus magic you hate so much. Why don't you leave these drones to me and concentrate on evacuating the students to somewhere safe, Professor?

Well...er, if you insist...

This way, students! We shall circumvent the drones and take refuge in the clock tower!

No! Wait!!!

This is no time to argue, boy! Move out, I say!

What is it, kid?

I can hear voices coming from that direction. It sounds like the wind spirits are agitated...

Enough of that poppycock! We need to hurry and take refuge!

They say the air is being disturbed and polluted in that direction. It must mean more of those drones are there! It's not safe to go that way!

We've told you...no one else can hear those imaginary voices. I am not risking your lives on such quackery!

Oh...!?

Eep! Drones really did come from that direction!

This way! Follow me! The spirits are quieter over here. I can lead you safely!

You what now?

You got this, kid?

Yep! We'll be fine. Afterall... I'm a shaman, too!

That's the spirit! I'll leave them in your hands, then...

C'mon everyone! This way, quick!

The rest is simple... We just clean up this mess. Hey Aldo. I'm guessing you stayed back to lend me a hand here, right?

Of course I did! Let's down these drones before anyone gets hurt! Be careful with them. They are acting unpredictable, remember.

I hear ya! But we'll be fine. As little boy blue just said... "Afterall, I'm a shaman, too!"

Phew! That's the lot of them.

Yeah. It seems everyone's out of immediate danger. I sure hope those students made it to safety, though...

Yeah. They're good.

How can you tell?

I just got a message from the kid. They fled to L Block and are now watching us from the roof. They want us to join them there once we are done here.

Ah, that's right. You guys exchanged contact info, didn't you? We should make sure they are okay. So I guess we may as well head up there now.

I guess. Personally, I'd prefer to head home instead of seeing that professor's ugly face again... But I really should give that kid some praise and encouragement, huh?

I'd know that long hair anywhere... It's Master Severny!

Wow! You fought those drones and lived!

I can't believe you took on that many drones at the same time without getting hurt. Color me impressed!

Gee...thanks, guys. It sounds like you didn't have any faith in me at all...

We were just worried about you.

Yeah, yeah... The Professor and you were probably more worried about... How my untimely demise might reflect on you and your precious robotics club, I bet!

Hey, kid. Were you worried about me, as well?

Not the slightest! You saved me once before, so I knew you wouldn't lose. In fact I told everyone! That "Double-O Sevyn" would pull through okay.

Haha. Looks as though your little boy blue had full faith in you!

Of course he did! He is my apprentice, after all! Besides... Even if no one else believes us, shamans have got to believe in other shamans, don't they?

Huh...? Hey, Sevyn Seas! Did you just call me a shaman?

Well, didn't you just call yourself one? You have pride, kid. And you saved others by listening to the voices of the spirits. Without a doubt, you're a shaman! Of course you're only a rookie one. But I can work with that...as I teach you more formal lessons.

Awww... Master Sevyn!!!

I guess that makes you formally Sevyn's apprentice. Congratulations!

Sevyn...

Erch! I forgot you were listening in, Professor. Are you going to tell me not to fill the poor kid's head with poppycock, or whatever?

Yes, well...I shall be most annoyed if you teach them the ways of truancy... Or how best to break the school uniform dress code...

...And what about shamanic teachings?

Yeah...after all you saw today?

I must admit that student there did indeed save several others...myself included. I still do not understand the nature of these spirits you go on about. You must admit that it is hard to believe in something one cannot see.

However, after having experienced, firsthand, what appeared to be their assistance... I can no longer outright deny their existence.

Hard to believe in something one cannot see, eh...

Humans can't hear the spirits' screams. They can't even see them. So they will feel no empathy for the creatures.

So, if something is invisible, it doesn't exist? Maybe I'd think that way too if I hadn't been born like this.

But I can hear them. I hear the heartbreaking cries of these living things you treat as objects.

If you can't hear the spirit's voice, I can hardly put you in charge of conveying what he has to say. Besides, like that man, some people do understand me, even if they can't see or hear the spirit.

You're a human. Of course other humans understand you?

Just because we speak the same language, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll actually understand me.

Hmph...

When I was a kid, I used to get so angry when people didn't believe what I was saying.

But some people will understand if I explain it to them.

You know... I'm pretty hopeless with machines.

Huh?

Those programs you so easily write, well, they are beyond my comprehension. As far as I'm concerned, they are something I cannot see. But those programmers and others who know about that stuff can make machines do all sorts of things. I believe in them enough to ride Cargo Buses and speak with androids.

What is it you're trying to say?

That you should similarly believe in us. Sure, there is no getting around the fact that you can't see or hear spirits yourselves.

But we can communicate between them and you I can hear the spirits' words, and you can, in turn, hear my words... So it's like we are intermediaries or interpreters. If you just listen to the spirits via us, you can reap the spirits' blessings...like we did today!

Now that you put it that way, I see... I shall keep that in mind.

I'd hoped a professor would've been quicker on the uptake than this!

Hah! Despite teaching us a valuable lesson, your attitude still needs improvement. Please try not to go influencing your young apprentice there with your misbehavior.

Gee... And here I thought we had finally made some progress, but you had to go end it with a chiding...

Well, I guess you should consider it a step forward and be happy about that, at least... Besides, you seem to have gotten approval to teach your apprentice.

Yeah... I should count today as a great success and leave it off here for now. Shall we call it a day, Aldo?

Sure...

See you around, kid!

I look forward to my next lesson, Shaman Master Sevyn!

Oh, one more thing!

What is it now?

I shall no longer criticize your method of magic. So why don't you consider joining us back in classes again? You might even come to understand machines better...if you only try to listen.

......

I'll think about it. Seeing as you finally listened to me for once... Until next time, folks.

Hey, look! It's Sevyn!

Fancy seeing you in the classrooms! Have you decided to get educated for a change?

Yeah, I thought I'd give it another go. Playing hooky only seems to lead to more trouble, anyway.

Well, good for you! We do worry about you when you go MIA for so long, you know...

There's no need for that. It's not like I'm sick or anything.

But how are we to know that if you aren't around?!

Hahaha! What she said! It's a total paradox.

......

Hm? What's up?

Nothing... It's just, I didn't expect to be welcomed back so warmly. I thought you'd all treat me as if I'm some kind of feral beast or something.

Feral beast?! It's not like we hate you, Sevyn!

I dunno. You all used to call me a liar, remember?

Yeah, well, we are really sorry about that... But you saved us all the other day. And that experience made me realize you are the real deal. And I have been telling everyone about it, haven't I guys?

Yeah. And I got to see your magic. Defeating synth humans and drones like that... It was pretty cool! I don't think anyone in our class doubts you anymore, Sevyn.

That's a relief to hear. I guess people will continue to think you're totally bogus forever... Unless you actually connect with them and allow them to accept you.

Huh?

It'll make life easier as a shaman the more people accept us. And it will be better for my little apprentice and the spirits, even. I need to ensure the shamans' powers and teachings remain for those people that only we can help!

What's wrong? You seem to be troubled by something...

Nah, it's nothing. I was just mumbling to myself. I guess what I was trying to say is... I hope you don't mind if I join you all back in class again, do you?