The classroom was tense with silence, illuminated by flickering mana lights that hung from the ceiling like stars poised on the brink of ignition. Master Enjiro, with his sharp gaze and commanding presence, paced at the front, delivering yet another tedious lecture on structural integrity and mana resonances. Kael Noxvel sat near the back, his posture relaxed, but his mind was anything but calm.
I need to make this quick, he thought frantically as his eyes darted to Enjiro's jacket, where the access key card was presumably hidden away. Kael's heart raced as he mentally plotted scenarios for how he'd snag that card during class.
Enjiro's proud expression brought Kael back to reality, misguidedly interpreting Kael's intense focus as newfound diligence. Ah, his punishment has worked wonders, Enjiro thought, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face.
Darin, seated next to him, caught the glint in Kael's eye and leaned in, whispering, "Hey, do you find this lecture that fascinating? It's giving me some creepy vibes here."
Kael shot him an annoyed glance. "Shut up, Darin! It's not the lecture I'm focused on," he hissed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm just trying to figure out where he keeps that key card!"
Darin raised his eyebrows in surprise, leaning back slightly. "Oh, really? Is that what's got you so enthralled?" He smirked, shaking his head. "Don't tell me I really thought that you're becoming a model student."
Kael grinned slightly, but his focus remained on the teacher. This is so close, he thought, scanning Enjiro's pockets.
Minutes slipped away like sand through fingers. Kael strained to catch a glimpse of that elusive key card he was convinced had to be stashed somewhere on the instructor. But as the lesson wore on, his attempts were fruitless.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Enjiro concluded, "And remember, without proper anchoring, a structure is at risk of collapse!" With that, he turned, mumbling to himself as he made his way toward his office.
Kael felt the urgency flood his veins. "Ten minutes until his next class," he whispered to Darin, his excitement evident. "This is our chance!"
As they discussed their plans, Ten and Selene slid into the seats beside them, looking intrigued.
Kael lowered his voice, his excitement bubbling over. "So, Master Enjiro is about to take a break. He only has two lectures left for the day, which means we have a perfect window to grab that key card."
Darin sighed, anxiety creeping into his tone. "I don't know, man. This is a huge risk. If we get caught, there's no way we could escape his punishment. I mean, we'll probably end up scrubbing those potion cauldrons for life!"
Selene nodded, crossing her arms. "And it's not just you who'll suffer. I'd rather not be associated with a bunch of troublemakers!"
"Come on, relax!" Kael waved his hand dismissively. "I've got everything figured out. Just follow my commands, and we'll be out with the key card in no time!"
Just then, a group of boys swaggered up, led by Rax, the biggest bully in their class. His gang, including Milo and Jet, towered over Kael and his friends. "What are you losers planning now? More of your little troublemaking schemes?" Rax jeered, crossing his arms.
Kael and his friends mostly ignored him, but Rax wasn't finished. He leaned closer to Selene, smirking. "You shouldn't hang out with these losers. They'll ruin your reputation."
Selene rolled her eyes. "Better to be a loser than a jerk like you. At least my friends don't treat people like trash."
Kael felt a twist of pride in his chest at her defense but maintained a calm exterior, reminding himself that engaging could escalate things. Rax, however, took her comment personally. His expression darkened as he shouted, "You don't know who's son you're talking to, bitch!"
He grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. Selene hit it with a loud thud, visibly hurt, but Rax didn't stop there. Rage burning in his eyes, he charged at her, winding up a punch with all his strength and hurling it straight at her.
As Selene braced herself to get punched, time seemed to stretch infinitely. Kael could only watch, his instincts screaming. But before Rax's fist could land, Kael reacted on pure adrenaline. With a surge of dark energy, he created an unseen force that manifested as a hand suddenly jutted out, blocking the punch.
The momentum sent Rax stumbling back, his punch deflected awkwardly. "Oh yeah? Why don't you tell me whose son you are?" Kael said, glaring at Rax, the irritation boiling over from all the years of bullying.
Rax's glare transformed into a sneer, his anger palpable. "The punching bag should know his place. Do you even realize what you just did, Noxvel? You interrupted a boss of this class while he was about to deliver justice!"
"What a joke," Kael thought, unimpressed. "A boss, huh? All I see is a pack of pathetic rats too scared to fight alone. And you dare call it justice? Just because she refused to join your gang of thugs, you beat her to satisfy your own twisted ego."
Laughter bubbled around them, momentarily catching Rax off guard. He clenched his fists, igniting flames around them as he prepared to retaliate. The atmosphere shifted; the class leaned in, captivated and terrified simultaneously.
"Quite the mouth you've got there, Noxvel. Let's see how much more you can say after I'm done with you," Rax warned ominously, his hands enveloped in fire.
You know I'm about to be transferred to Draycrest Fighting School. Want to know why?"He smirked, eyes locked on Kael as the entire class fell silent."Because I'm about to awaken my true affinity."
Both his hands began to glow with a fiery energy, flames dancing across his skin.
Kael felt the challenge in the air, his heart pounding. "Oh? You think you're the boss just because you've got some flames?" he taunted, trying to keep control of the situation.
Before Kael could respond, he launched a fiery punch toward Kael. But Kael was faster. A ripple of unknown dark energy shot outwards, opening a compressed space just beside Rax's face. The blow connected hard with a thud. Rax was lifted off his feet, flying backward and crashing down onto his followers.
The classroom erupted into gasps, stunned silence coating the air. "How did he do that?" one girl whispered, disbelief swirling amongst her friends.
Kael stood amidst the stunned silence, calm and collected. "Oh, just so we're clear, I'm also transferring to the Combat Training Academy soon. Don't think too highly of yourself, Rax."
In the back of the classroom, murmurs of astonishment and admiration rippled through the students.
Ten was the first to break the spell of silence. "Now that's what I'm talking about! You knocked the air out of him!"
"Always the show-off," Darin muttered with a grin, but the admiration was evident in his tone as well.
""Thanks, Kael," Selene said softly, her eyes shining. "You protected me.""Ah, it was nothing," he replied, clearly showing off now.
The other boys from Rax's group scrambled to carry their leader, disgraced and defeated, towards the infirmary.
Breathless but triumphant, Kael returned to his seat, a mixture of exhilaration and relief washing over him. A new wave of determination surged through him as he looked at his friends gathered around him.
"We need to refocus on the plan," he said, leaning closer. "We've only got a short window before Enjiro comes back. Let's figure out how to get that key card!"
And with that, the stage was set for the next phase of their grand scheme
Kael and Darin stood outside Master Enjiro's office, their backs pressed against the cold stone wall of the hallway. The air hummed with the faint buzz of mana conduits.
Darin adjusted his glasses nervously. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Kael kept his eyes fixed down the hallway. "Yes I'm sure. We just need to get inside the office of Master Enjiro. After I can see his office, I can teleport myself there without a problem." He grimaced slightly. "That's the drawback of my powers - I can only teleport short distances to places I've seen with my own eyes."
They waited in tense silence until footsteps echoed through the corridor. Master Enjiro appeared, arms laden with books about offshore building management and bridges. His eyes narrowed when he saw them.
"Well this is a surprise," he said, his voice dripping with suspicion. "I was not expecting you here, Noxvel. But maybe after what you did to the son of the vice principal, you've come to me for help?"
Kael and Darin exchanged shocked glances. The news had spread faster than they anticipated.
Darin quickly adopted his most studious expression. "No sir, we both came here to talk to you about certain territories where bridges can't be built on the normal plane. We wanted you to explain all the angles and shapes of the terrain to help us understand." He gestured to Kael. "He wanted to join me today as well."
Master Enjiro's stern expression softened visibly. In his mind, Darin was the most proficient student in the school after Theron Noxvel - Kael's father and a legendary engineer. The idea that these two promising students, who usually wasted their potential, were seeking his guidance filled him with unexpected delight.
"Yes Master Enjiro," Kael chimed in, carefully taking some books from the instructor's arms. "I was hoping to receive some extra tuition to better understand the concepts you explained today."
Normally, Enjiro would have seen through such an obvious ploy. But today was different - he'd noticed Kael paying unusual attention during class. To his eyes, the boy seemed sincere.
"No problem, Noxvel," Enjiro said, his voice almost warm. "I'm pleased to see you applying yourself. You and Darin have tremendous potential, you know." He glanced between them. "Perhaps this time it wasn't your fault - maybe the vice principal's son provoked you."
He motioned toward his office. "Well come inside. You only have ten minutes, so tell me what exactly you need explained."
The office was small but comfortable, lined with shelves overflowing with mathematics and engineering texts. Several statues of former students in old uniforms stood at attention near the bookshelves, their lifeless eyes following the boys as they entered. A modest desk and office chair dominated one side of the room, while a set of small sofas occupied the center.
As they sat, Kael's eyes darted around the room while pretending to listen intently. He noted every detail - the position of the furniture, the layout of the shelves, and most importantly, the silver key card resting on the desk near the hologram controls.
Darin launched into a series of increasingly complex questions about bridge construction principles in unfamiliar territories, keeping Enjiro thoroughly engaged. Kael nodded along, occasionally interjecting with feigned interest while mentally mapping the room for his future teleportation.
Fifteen minutes later - five minutes over their allotted time - Enjiro finally concluded his explanation. "We've spent extra time, but no matter. If you love something, time doesn't matter, does it, boys?" He smiled indulgently. "Now return to your classroom. Let me know if you need anything else explained."
"Thank you very much, Master Enjiro," Kael said with exaggerated sincerity as they stood outside the office. "You really are a great person and a brilliant teacher."
Enjiro's chest puffed up with pride. "Yes, I know that. But it took you long enough to realize it." He wagged a finger at them. "Keep studying and working hard. One day you might become like me."
As they walked down the hallway, Kael's polite smile twisted into a smirk. "In your dreams. I don't want to become like you, teacher. I want to be more than a teacher, you know."
Darin shook his head. "Don't push your luck. Maybe one day you will become a teacher yourself. We don't know what will happen in the future."
Kael's smug expression remained. "We'll see about that." He glanced back at the now-distant office. "But phase one of the mission is complete. Tomorrow we work on the second - and most important - part."
An open area inside the school, surrounded by stone buildings with grassy patches for students to relax. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Other students lounged nearby, enjoying their break.
[Through the communicator]
Selene: (sighing dramatically) "Remind me again why I'm included in this heist? I could be studying, or, you know, not partaking in this madness with you troublemakers!"
Ten: (snickering, feigning an over-the-top grin) "Yeah, Kael, I'm with Selene on this one. I thought we were using your powers to scope out some pretty girls instead of distracting our esteemed teacher. But here I am, about to make the biggest fool of myself!"
Selene looked at him with frustration in her eyes—stuck partnering with a pervert who only thought about girls. She said calmly, "Seriously? Is there anything else on your mind besides girls?"
As Ten opened his mouth to reply, Kael's sharp voice came through the communicator: "Guys, focus! No fighting. We have a job to do!"
A job? This isn't a job. And if it is, then I'm not your servant—I'm only doing this to return your favor from yesterday, Selene thought to herself.
As the team bantered through their small, hidden communicators, they spotted Master Enjiro emerging from his lecture hall. Kael was positioned covertly by Enjiro's office door, while Darin hid just outside the classroom, ready to relay mission updates.
Darin: "This is Bravo. The target is on the move. I repeat, the target is on the move. Bravo out."
Kael: (replying quickly) "Copy that, Bravo. You've heard the man—Charlie and Delta, assume your stations and start your performance. Alpha out!"
Selene and Ten looked at each other, silently questioning if they were ready.
What am I doing here with this fool? Ah, the frustration in Selene's thoughts.
Ten, his eyes trained on Master Enjiro, nudged Selene with a sly grin.
"He's within range now—time to get my Oscar!"
He cleared his throat dramatically, took a deep breath like he was about to audition for a soap opera, then erupted:
Ten: (in a painfully loud, awkward voice) "DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?"
Selene flinched at the volume, blinking slowly.
Selene: (matching his volume but clearly trying not to laugh) "I know what I'm saying! Why are you yelling like a malfunctioning loudspeaker? Not everyone's perfect! I just pointed out a mistake!"
A few students nearby turned, eyebrows raised. One of them muttered, "Here we go again. Is there anything in that brain of his besides girls?" Uncalled misunderstanding
More people began to gather, some pulling out their holocam recorders, recording just in case this turned into a full-blown drama club audition.
Ten: (flailing his arms like an inflatable tube man) "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME MASTER ENJIRO MADE A MISTAKE DURING HIS LECTURE YESTERDAY?! YOU MUST BE JOKING!"
Everyone froze in shock—except Master Enjiro, who had just stepped into the hallway. Did we hear that right? one of the girls whispered, her face filled with disbelief. Everyone, except Master Enjiro himself, had assumed he was going to propose to her today. But to their surprise—and embarrassment—he was talking about something else entirely.
Jerks... Who do they think I am, some love-struck fool?" Ten scoffed inwardly, but he bit his tongue before saying it out loud. He had to stay focused today, but his acting was absolutely terrible
His tone was so monotone and robotic, he sounded like a cheap GPS stuck on "angry." He tried to furrow his brows menacingly but ended up looking constipated.
Selene: (rolling her eyes so hard it's audible) "No joke. His acting skills are terrible. Seriously, he's overdoing it like this is some low-budget drama special."
Master Enjiro, pausing mid-step, looked over, confused and concerned.
Master Enjiro: "Mistake? Huh? Did I make a mistake yesterday?"
He blinked at Ten, unsure whether to respond or refer him to the nurse.
Meanwhile, in Ten's earpiece:
Darin: (suppressing laughter) "This is Bravo. The target has taken the bait. Alpha, you can proceed now. Charlie and Delta, keep doing what you're doing—whatever that is."
Kael: (grinning) "Roger that, Bravo! Alpha on the move. Keep the target distracted... and someone give Ten a trophy for that performance. Preferably a plastic one."
As Enjiro stood pondering his possible errors, Selene continued, employing her best reasoning skills. "As I mentioned, Master Enjiro taught us well, but during one key point in the lecture, he forgot to mention critical aspects of building in harsh climates. The northern part of the city is cold and unforgiving—anyone can make a mistake, even you!"
Master Enjiro focused on her words, intrigued. "Did I really make any mistakes? What was the topic yesterday?" he mumbled thoughtfully to himself.
"Yesterday, he taught us how to build in extremely cold environments. While discussing the necessary materials, he neglected to mention the specific steel type for the joints," Selene explained.
At that moment, Kael activated his teleportation power. Dark energy swirled around him, and he vanished in a flash, leaving behind a small storm of mist where he had stood. He reappeared in Master Enjiro's cluttered office, triumphant.
"Yes! I did it!" he whispered to himself, a smirk spreading across his face. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm really that awesome..."
But he had no time to bask in his success. He searched the room for the key card, hoping to spot a silver glint.
[Back outside]
Selene noticed Enjiro's intrigue and continued. "If we were to build something there, we'd need materials with high cold resistance—otherwise, the structure won't last long. But you can't enchant the whole material at once. If you enchant pieces individually and then assemble them, the enchantments cancel each other out. So in such environments, we have to alternate—one normal joint, one enchanted joint. This way, the enchanted joint stabilizes the normal one, and the enchantments neither cancel nor amplify each other, which would destabilize the structure."
Enjiro, listening intently, felt a surge of pride. One of his students had paid such close attention! He wanted to reward her.
Ten chimed in, trying to emphasize their point with his poor acting skills. You are right. Now that I remember he forgot to mention that, didn't he?
"That was brilliant, Selene! I didn't know you paid this much attention in my class. I never thought I'd find another student as brilliant as you in my life." Enjiro was now standing near the bench where Ten and Selene sat.
He pointed at Ten with disappointment. "And where was your attention? You could have figured this out too. Anyone could have—yet no one did except Selene." He gestured to the surrounding students before turning back to Selene.
Ten, who was staring at him, blinked and thought, Wait, where was my attention again? Oh right—Maria. Not that it has anything to do with you, obviously. Unless you're Maria. Are you Maria? No? Then mind your own business.
"Come—I will reward you for your attention and brilliance." Enjiro said, a proud gleam shining in his eyes.
For a moment, Selene was lost in a world of her own making. She had been praised by Master Enjiro himself! Even though Darin had fed her the technical details, she couldn't help but feel proud.
Then, a voice crackled through the communicator:
"Charlie, this is Bravo. Keep the target occupied for three more minutes. Alpha needs more time."
Selene snapped back to reality. They hadn't anticipated this.
What should I do? What should I do? Her mind raced.
"Thank you very much, sir. I truly appreciate the offer, and I'm honored to receive anything from you. But this isn't such a grand feat that I deserve a reward," she said, her expressions shifting nervously.
What are you doing, you stupid girl? You won't get a second chance like this! she scolded herself.
Enjiro chuckled. "Oh, my dear, don't be so modest. Correcting an oversight in my lecture is a deed of high honor. You should be proud. Come—I insist on rewarding you."
Darin, watching the scene unfold, knew Ten was already out of his depth. Selene wouldn't last much longer, and Kael still needed two more minutes.
He had to intervene. He didn't want to draw attention—he and Kael had already stood out during their last visit to Enjiro's office for guidance. But he had no choice.
He ran up to Enjiro, pretending to be out of breath. "Master Enjiro! I've been looking for you everywhere! I have a question—I've been struggling with an equation requiring a higher-tier enchantment. But what if we used three smaller enchantments instead?"
Enjiro's eyes lit up. "That's a novel approach! I've never considered that."
"Exactly!" Darin said. "If we layer them properly, they should stabilize the structure. Could we discuss this further?" He glanced at Selene, silently signaling their plan.
[Inside Enjiro's office]
Kael rummaged through the cluttered office, searching every corner for the key card but finding nothing. Time was running out.
His gaze landed on glass cases displaying statues of former students—each one life-sized, clad in different school uniforms. These were students who had either transferred to Draycrest after their Affinity awakening or contributed groundbreaking advancements for humanity. Among them stood a statue of his father, Theron Noxvel.
The resemblance was uncanny—the same sharp features, the same confident stance. Kael knew his father was renowned for his expertise in mathematics and engineering. The glass coffin encasing the statue was reinforced with intricate enchantments.
Next to Theron was another figure—a girl named Cathrine Benjamin. Kael had heard stories of students like her, those who developed unique Affinities that set them apart. They were on the verge of founding their own clans. But he'd never heard of Cathrine before. If she was so remarkable, why was she forgotten?
He shook his head. No time for this. He needed to find that key card.
Darin's voice crackled through the communicator: "Alpha, status? Anything yet?"
"Nothing," Kael muttered. "Where is that damn card?"
[Outside]
Enjiro, now engrossed in conversation with Selene and Darin, began walking toward his office.
Darin knew they had only a minute left.
"Let's take this slowly," he suggested. "Maybe I can ask a few more questions..."
[Inside the office]
For Kael, each second stretched into an eternity. He counted down in his head: Five... Four... Three...
The door creaked open.
Dark energy flared around him as he activated his teleportation power. The black mist swallowed him whole just as—
[The door opens]
Master Enjiro stepped inside, Selene and Darin close behind. They scanned the room, half-expecting to find Kael, but the office was empty.
A collective breath of relief.
Selene and Darin stepped into the office behind Enjiro, their eyes darting around the room. Empty. No sign of Kael.
He made it out. Selene exhaled in relief.
Darin's shoulders relaxed slightly. Good. Now we just need to—
Master Enjiro (beaming): "Selene, your insight today was exceptional! To think, a student of mine noticed such a critical oversight!"
He rummaged through his desk and pulled out an ornate, silver-plated pen—engraved with the school's crest. "This is for you. A token of my appreciation."
Selene's cheeks flushed. "Th-Thank you, sir!" She glanced at Darin, who gave her a subtle thumbs-up.
Enjiro (turning to Darin, intrigued): "And you, young man—your idea about layered enchantments is unorthodox, but fascinating! Explain it further."
Darin adjusted his glasses, launching into a technical explanation. Selene nodded along, but her eyes kept flicking toward the statues in the glass cases.
Where is Kael?
Then—she saw it.
Her breath hitched.
There, in Cathrine Benjamin's display case… stood Kael, frozen in the same pose as the other statues.
Wearing. Her. Uniform.
Selene's brain short-circuited.
Darin, mid-sentence, followed her gaze. His voice faltered.
Darin: "Uh… as I was saying, the—the third enchantment would… stabilize the… uh…"
Enjiro (frowning): "Darin? Are you feeling well?"
Darin (choking): "Y-Yes! Just… distracted by… your amazing statue collection!"
Selene's fingers twitched toward her communicator. She activated it on the lowest whisper setting.
Selene (murmuring): "Kael. What the hell are you doing?"
Kael's voice (barely audible, strained): "I am the statue now."
Darin (whispering, horrified): "WHY ARE YOU WEARING HER CLOTHES?!"
Kael (gritted teeth): "Teleportation accident. Don't ask."
Selene (whispering, barely containing laughter): "Where's the actual statue?!"
Kael (deadpan): "Girls' locker room. In my uniform."
Darin's hand flew to his mouth to stifle a snort.
Enjiro, oblivious, patted Darin's shoulder. "You seem overcome with inspiration! Now, about those enchantment layers—"
Selene (whispering urgently): "How long until you can teleport out?"
Kael: "Five. More. Minutes."
Darin (whispering, panicked): "We can't just leave you here like this!"
Kael (miserable): "You have to. If Enjiro turns around, I'm dead."
Selene bit her lip, watching Kael's statue-form—his face locked in a perfect imitation of noble determination, despite the frilly ribbon around his neck.
Then—
Enjiro (suddenly): "Selene, why are you staring at Cathrine's statue so intently?"
Selene's blood turned to ice.
Selene (blurting): "I—I just admire her! Such a… uh… heroic pose!"
Enjiro nodded sagely. "Ah, yes. She was one of our finest. A shame her legacy faded."
Kael's eye twitched.
Darin (desperate to distract): "Master Enjiro! What if we used four enchantments instead of three?!"
Enjiro's eyes lit up. "GENIUS! Let me diagram this!"
As Enjiro turned to his chalkboard, Selene and Darin exchanged a look of sheer panic.
Five minutes had never felt so long.
[Later – Girls' Locker Room]
The moment Kael's teleportation cooldown ended, he vanished from the display case—reappearing in the locker room beside Cathrine's statue (still dressed in his uniform).
Kael (into communicator, frantic): "Selene. I need you. Now."
Selene (whispering back): "Why? What's wrong now?"
Kael (dead serious): "I'm in the girls' locker room."
Selene (pause): "…What?"
Kael: "And I'm still wearing Cathrine's clothes."
Selene (longer pause): "…WHAT?!"
Kael: "Just—get here before someone sees me!"