[b] Entrance Hall [/b] 

The Bruiser manning the left side of the door, codename Blockbuster as such on his nametag, traded glances with his partner Bunyan. The two had come to recognize fellow superhumans on an instinctual level. Some were reserved. Some strutted. Others seemed to try and hide. But they all had an intangible yet completely palpable sense of otherness about them. Of exceptionalism. These two had that feeling. 

Blockbuster clasped hands with Doppler not using his full strength, thinking Doppler’s nervousness was due to his first time at the hall. The raw strength of the super-strong metahuman could not be mistaken however. Unfortunately for Doppler, he wore a security uniform with gloves and Doppler didn’t have the chance to steal his powers. However there was a bare patch of skin between the glove and the cuff of his uniform. 

Blockbuster’s expression remained neutral but polite, “We don’t recognize you sir but I’m sure a representative can meet with you. We’re getting used to walk-ins.” Bunyan stared at One and was a little unnerved by the person he saw but kept it under wraps. He coughed and said, “Allow me miss.” He easily opened the door with one hand and said, “Our receptionist should be able to help you contact a League representative to discuss whatever business you have. Please allow me and my partner to search you.” 

Bunyan stood back as Blockbuster produced a scanner and waved it over One and Doppler, checking for any anomalous energy signatures, traces of weapons, and any metal. He also had them stretch out their arms for a pat-down and were thoroughly searched for weapons or any other contraband. 

Blockbuster nodded, “Go right on in.” Bunyan opened the door even further and the two were allowed to walk in, passing an automatic scanner that once again checked for any signs of danger. The door was also magically warded and any malicious spirit could not have entered. They passed a fountain adorned with a statue of the Earth and walked over elegant marble floor with the high ceiling overhead. 

A young twenty-something blonde in a suit sat at the receptionist desk and smiled, “How may I help you?” as they approached. As One drew closer her expression clouded in growing discomfort that she shrugged off after a few moments. Her nametag read Anima. 

[b] Training Center [/b] 

Mike grunted and hid a smile at the young man's eagerness under a grimace, "I like your eagerness kid but you gotta check that attitude of yours once in a while. Lesson number one, there's always somebody who beat you. You can't win 'em all." Mike gestured at Jones, a young and athletic Caucasian male in his twenties to step off of the mat. Mike walked around Emmanuel, "I only personally fight a trainee when the lesson calls for it, watching two of you younger folks fight gives me a lot of material to correct. There's a lot of people who might be a match for you, Jones included." 

"There are two types of fights. Powered and Unpowered. Powered is when both parties utilize whatever equipment and abilities they may have. Unpowered is when superhumans can't use any overt powers though of course Bruisers and Zenith-classes can't turn off their strength and durability. It's pure melee combat, no armor, no equipment, no anything. Obviously no lethal attacks or weapons are allowed, and we set the number of fighters on each side. Matches can go to who stays down first or who get's taken down the most but other than that there's no rules. We try to prepare for real combat situations as much as we can. Superhuman fights rarely have intent to kill, supervillains don't want to get buried and we don't want the baggage. So these fights prepare you for 90% of the fights you'll be having." 

Mike looked Emmanuel in the eye, "You've got an impressive style but there's always a counter. And a counter to those counters." Mike looked around the seated heros, "Anyone here got the guts to fight Flashbolt here? Or I am I going to have to pick one of you sorry excuses of a crimefighter?" 

[b] Sorcery Circle [/b] 

Thomas smiled at Sonja. He chuckled as he took her hand in his and pantomimed a handshake. Sonja Simpson was one of the League's premier mystics and Thomas considered her an esteemed colleague as well as a growing friend. The two had embarked on several missions together and taken the time to talk shop, do experiments, and just hang out. Thomas was often starved for the company, most of the other Sorcerers kept a professional distance from him due to a combination of awe at his talent and the fact he was effectively their boss. Sonja was one the only ones who cut through all of that and her more blue-collar approach to magic was refreshing. She was also one of the few that tolerated the chaotic state of his lab. 

Thomas nodded chuckling, "Quite. One of the pleasant group who don't want to steal your soul or feast on your flesh though I believe you have to be human to have a human psychological condition," he grimaced as he rubbed the hidden bald patch in his otherwise, long, and well-groomed dark hair, "You got off lucky, the patch that was burned off by that fireball still hasn't grown back. At this rate I'll have to ask Madame Rosario for one of those hair growth potions. You know how she is, once I do that, the entire Sorcery Circle is going to know about it and think I'm going bald at 33. I'll never live it down. Though I think the way I made him trip back through the dimensional hole was even slicker then the way you took down Sarin." Sonja's capture of Sarin the dangerous poisonous gaseous metahuman was still the talk of the superhuman scene and Sarin had effectively turned into a joke because of it. 

The sorcerer noticed how Sonja looked around and leaned in. Thomas had a few apprentices but they were quite engrossed in their studies, nonetheless Thomas nodded at Sonja and spread his arms muttering another nonsense phrase. A strong current of power filled the air as an invisible but nonetheless real dome encircled them. Their conversation was now completely private. Thomas kept his gaze steady but sympathetic as he listened to her silently. 

It seemed to him that Sonja was really anxious and when she stopped pacing Thomas stepped closer and put a placating hand on her shoulder, "It's alright Sonja. Not only is it my duty as the League's lead mystic, you're my friend. Friends help friends." He kept his voice soft but confident hoping to make her feel better about herself like a Leader and friend should, "You've done a lot of good for a lot of people in such a short time that's something you should be proud off." 

"But you're right, I don't think the others noticed but now that you mention it I can see the disruption in your aura," Thomas smiled faintly and said, "What your doing here is very important work and I believe your people will come around. However there are a few things we could do." Thomas mulled it over in his head before nodding, "We could let you take a sabbatical and go back to St. Louis. Th Founders, Pariah especially, wouldn't go for it but I'm convinced I could talk it over with them so that you can replenish their faith in you." 

"But you have to realize that magic is what you believe in. What each individual sorcerer believes his or her talent to be is what largely determines how and why their magic works. Some use gods because they believe they need them. Some don't because they don't believe so. All are right because magic is suited to each individual. Their personality, their convictions, their principles. You can't become a Nercomancer if you don't truly believe in it on some level, that's why they're so rare." 

Thomas continued, "You are the Spirit of St. Louis. You did what almost nobody else has done. You've harnessed the faith of an entire populace in yourself. That was how the old gods gained most of their power on a larger scale. But your powers work that way because of your deep connection to the city. You're in love with that city, it's customs and people. You believe in the city and with your magical talent it created a symbiotic link between the city and yourself a Sanctum Invocation on a massive level." 

"You believe in the city and as such your powers depend on the city believing in you. But the magic comes from in you as much as it does for any external source and I believe we can find ways to bolster your powers besides relying on the city. These solutions vary in their long-term practicality and appeal but they are there." Thomas held up a finger, "Firstly, we could have you use temporary power boosters such as items of power or mystical wellsprings such as the Druid's old tree or Glamour's power rings. We have a ton lying around but they won't power you forever and for the most part they'd require recharges." Thomas gestured at his work table where gems and accessories imbued with magical energies lay. One of them was an emerald ring that was part of Thomas's almost obsessive drive to recreate the Green Lantern ring of power. It hadn't worked so far but he believed he was getting close. 

"We could have you make another Sanctum Invocation, for a different place or city. Though I believe your connection to St. Louis is too strong for that and even then it is prone to the same pitfalls as your current situation." Locations had significance in the human conscience and powerful, metaphysical places had similar mystic power. He continued, "We can have the League begin spreading more operations into St. Louis but this will take some time but by then it should cement your hold again. You may not want to wait however. And again I'd have to speak to the Founders." 

"We can go to the Fellowship for help, they'd probably find another way but that help would come with strings. A lot. And I know you wouldn't enjoy being tied to them. I certainly don't." Though he was the regional Magus commander of North America, Thomas's liberal rivalry with the conservative Elder Council was well documented in the Supernatural scene, "The same kind of strings if you ask any of the old gods or even the Fae Queens or any other supernatural power out there." 

"I could teach you how to draw power from your surroundings. From the weather, the sun, ley lines, and such metaphysical fountains of energy. These are basic techniques you never learned because you never needed them until now. Perhaps it is the time to start if you don't mind being a student again for a short while." Thomas smiled and put both hands on her shoulders meeting her gaze, "And you can start believing in yourself. Use your own emotions, your own hopes, dreams, demons, and feelings to help power your spells. Emotions make your spells more potent, harder to control yes but you are one of the most skilled Sorcerers in the country. If you start believing in yourself, it can augment the power you receive from your people believing in you." 

Thomas stepped back and let his hands go but maintained his steady eye contact and sympathetic tone of voice, "I believe combining power items and energy drawing techniques should suffice for the near future until you can learn to unlock your own inner potential. And there's another option." Thomas sighed and looked down before looking back up, "You can revitalize the people's faith in you by taking down a thorn in their side. Dragan Music. He is in town. Nobody else besides the Founders, the original roster, and now you know. He's with Marconi building up an alliance against Legion. Taking him down would bring down an entire syndicate that's plaguing your area and boost your power even higher than before. But It is a temporary fix and I believe with patience we can unlock the power within. It is your choice however. Just don't let word get out if you decide to move on Music. Pariah would have my head." Thomas chuckled hoping to put her at ease even when he felt anxious himself for his friend. Whatever she chose he would stand by it. It's what a friend did. 

[b] The Marconi Estate [/b] 

Fontana had grinned in a wide shit-eating expression while Sixgun, or rather Fletcher Ross had spoke. Fontana was a scumbag but one that tried to play nice when it suited him. Chunk chuckled and nodded approvingly while La Sombra looked at Ross like a tiger does at another one of its kind. The Witchfinder seemed mildly disgusted but then again he reserved that expression for everyone in the room. Marconi looked amused and Music was entirely neutral as he stared at Ross. None of them seemed to notice Ross's underlying nervousness, but the sense of approaching violence was steadily rising in the air. An unexplained current of impending bloodshed. Marconi broke the oppressive mood with a smile and laughed, "You've convinced me Mr. Ross but I believe Dragan here needs some extra assurances." 

Dragan nodded and said, "I must see whether you are the genuine article with my own eyes." Marconi grinned, "It seems prudent indeed. I propose a contest. The Road Kings made your tale of marksmanship widespread. But what about your fighting skill? There will be the time when you have no weapon and you need to get the job done. Everyone else has proven themselves ten times over in this manner except yourself." 

Marconi gestured to a soldier and a big 6"10 muscle-bound and bull-necked Bosnian stepped forward. Marconi laughed and patted the man's shoulder, "This is Bender. One of my esteemed colleague's best men. So named for how he handles people. Beat him in a fight, to be held outside, with no weapons and you get the job. If not..." Fontana cocked his pistol, "we'll have to decline your application. However you can leave now with no hard feelings, no consequences, and no job if you wish. What will it be Mr. Ross?"