[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z71df68qLp0][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]J O N A S   L E H R E R:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][color=silver]6:21 PM, Friday Evening | [i]Orlaith Valley Trail and Park[/i][/color][/sup][/INDENT][/URL]
[INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"It would likely be best if I started at the beginning."[/b][/color] Jonas began, [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"For some reason Crestwood Hollow has recently come to the attention of a powerful individual whom I can only identify as a Draoi."[/b][/color] Pausing, Jonas rubbed his shaved head realizing that the students before him had no idea exactly what a 'draoi' was. 

[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Actually, I need to explain further."[/b][/color] He stated. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Each of you are what is called a Hyperhuman, a human born with a mutation that upon puberty grants you abilities beyond those of your peers. What you need to realize is that before 1967, there was no such thing as a Hyperhuman."[/b][/color] Jonas looked around at the six students before him. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Long before Hypes, magic was brought into the world. In approximately 200 BCE, a druid, or rather a draoi discovered a way to leave this world. Finding a great oak that had been uprooted doing a storm, the draoi wandering beneath, finding himself in what we have come to call the Tree of Life and Death."[/b][/color] 

Pausing for a few seconds, Jonas resumed talking. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"The draoi eventually escaped, taking within him a seed and from that seed grew a new variety of tree. A white oak."[/b][/color] Jonas searched for a reaction among the group. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"The very same variety that the 'Hanging Tree' that sits in the middle of Crestwood Hollow is. These white oaks are a tether to the Tree of Life and Death, as such they provide a significant boost in magical energy in their immediate area."[/b][/color] 

Taking a deep breath, Jonas let out a small sigh before continuing. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Allow me to cut to the chase, in October 1967, in the middle of a coronal mass ejection, a cult of draoi cast a spell seeking to boost their own energy. What they did instead was create you."[/b][/color] Jonas said as he looked each member of the class directly in the eyes. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"Hyperhumans are not a natural mutation, you were created by magic."[/b][/color] 

Standing up straight, Jonas took a few steps forward before continuing. 

[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"As a result, each of you contain raw magical energy inside of you, energy that a draoi can harvest and use to enhance their own abilities. Energy that can be manipulated and corrupted turning each of you into unrecognizable monsters. As Winter can attest, a being I recognized as a draoi attacked the dance two weeks ago. He was searching for Elroy Bain, although I have yet to discover why, but what I do know is that he was able to turn Aiden's powers against him, unleashing flames far more powerful than even Aiden himself has yet to produce. Several suspected Hyperhumans around Crestwood Hollow have gone missing and in response I formed this group not only to protect each one of you, but to train you to protect one another and those you care about. Make no mistake, you're all targets and as long as this draoi is out there, none of you are safe."[/b][/color] Allowing a minute for everything he had just said to sink in, Jonas waited before answering the rest of Winter's questions. 

[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"As for this weekend, I needed to see how each of you would react under stress. I couldn't have you breaking down, and that fact that most of you didn't try to kill one another is a pleasant surprise. Despite being put into teams, ultimately you came together as a group to confront me and that's exactly what I need you to do the next time the draoi comes for one of you."[/b][/color] Without faltering, Jonas continued to speak. 

[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"None of you were ever truly in harm, the flames could only singe your skin, the dinner you all ate contained an ancient elixir used to protect warriors in combat. It would have taken a lot more than a forest fire to hurt any of you. Additionally,"[/b][/color] He paused, holding up the ancient gauntlet. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"I was hiding in plain sight, directing the flames. While I did test some of you,"[/b][/color] He stated sending a knowing look towards Sebastian, [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"I directed the fire away from those who weren't able to escape it on their own."[/b][/color] Turning, Jonas locked his eyes directly on Winter, before continuing further. [COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B]"And I'm afraid to inform you Miss Carlyle, the only one who allowed yourself to go 'insane' is you. There are going to be many times in this life where you see something that no one else can ever understand and you're just going to have to grin and bear it."[/b][/color][/INDENT][/INDENT]