A few days later, after school Levi and Kael sedaned together to watch TV together at Kael's house. before finally airing a live broadcast from the front of a magnificent dark gray building-the headquarters of NEXARIS. The camera swayed slightly due to the press, then focused on a woman in a black uniform with a silver emblem on her chest: the logo of a double helix wrapped around a human eye. Behind her, several armed agents stood guard, their faces covered by anonymous masks.
"We can't give an official statement yet," the woman said in a firm yet calm voice, "But what the public needs to know is, the subject identified by the initials W.L. has shown signs of biological instability that endangers his surroundings. NEXARIS has handling protocols for individuals with extreme genetic abnormalities-and everything is under control."
Kael swore under his breath, clenching his hands at the sides of his waist. Levi stared at the screen with an expressionless face, but the look in his eyes showed something almost like... emptiness.
The reporter on the screen kept asking questions.
"Is the subject genetically modified?"
"Is he really a minor?"
"Are there similar threats at other schools?"
The NEXARIS woman only gave a glance, then closed the conference with one cold sentence:
"We are not after ordinary people. We are after abnormalities that could destroy our social structure. This is not about school children. This is about the survival of humanity."
The screen switched to the news studio, but Levi had turned off the volume.
Kael looked away from the screen, staring at Levi.
"So... that's what they think about Liam?"
Levi remained silent for a moment, before answering quietly,
"It's worse than we imagined. They don't see Liam as a friend... but a threat."
Levi leaned forward and changed the channel. The image on the screen moved to a formal-looking yet tense discussion studio. Three panelists sat in a row with serious expressions, while the running text below the screen read:
"National Debate: Does Subject Liam Louren Have the Right to Live a Normal Life?"
A middle-aged woman with a blue blazer and a human rights emblem on her chest spoke passionately.
"We're talking about a child who lost her entire family in a great tragedy. He's alone, confused, and now... you want to treat him like a laboratory object? That violates every humanitarian principle we stand for! There is no evidence that he was dangerous all this time. She even went to school like any other normal child-"
was immediately interrupted by the bald-headed man sitting across from her. His voice was firm, almost a shout.
"That's precisely the problem! She looks normal, but she's clearly not! You know the leaked medical report that was spread yesterday, right? Abnormal cell regeneration, inexplicable biological powers... if she gets out of control, who can stop her? Wait for it to explode in the middle of the city and then act?"
The third panelist, a young professor from a state university, tried to mediate.
"I think there is a middle ground. Observation and psychological assistance can be done without taking away his basic freedom. But... I can't deny that the threat is real. What we need to make sure of is, not to let fear make us sacrifice morality."
Kael shook his head, scoffing.
"You see, this kind of debate didn't even happen during Liam's family tragedy... Now it's just a fuss after he was caught being different."
Levi remained staring at the screen. His eyes narrowed slightly, his lips pressed tightly together. They were empty-or perhaps too full to be interpreted.
"Some of them even suggested... killing him." he said softly.
Kael looked away, his jaw hardening.
"It's like we don't even know him..." he said angrily.
"They can say that because they don't know who Liam really is."
Levi didn't answer. But behind his eyes, one thing was slowly growing-a faint conviction: that this world was never willing to accept something they couldn't understand.
"We have to do something. We have to help Liam," Kael said, looking straight up at the cloudy sky.
"I also know we can't just sit there... But what can we do? We're just ordinary students. People don't even know we were ever close to Liam," Levi replied, his tone flat but full of burden.
Kael was pensive, then muttered, "If Liam was in our position... if you were arrested, do you think he would just stay quiet? Or would he take action?"
"Cih, why should I be the example? It's noisy. You don't offer any solutions either," Levi said with a small grin, but couldn't hide his anxiety.
For a moment, the two were silent. The wind blew through their hair on the rooftop of the school, a place they used to frequent together with Liam. The sound of helicopters in the distance and the hustle and bustle of journalists down there were faintly heard.
Levi suddenly corrected his sitting position. His gaze was serious.
"Yoshh... listen carefully. I'll try to analogize all the information from the debate into something we can do," he said as he reached into his bag and pulled out a notebook and pen.
She began to write down key points as she explained.
"Okay, first-from the debate, we can conclude that there are four camps:
===> The first camp, which from now on we will call human rights, supports Liam's human rights and of course his freedom but he has no guarantee that Liam will not cause harm if he is returned to society.
===> The second opposing camp strongly does not support Liam's freedom, and strongly agrees that if Liam is detained as a subject of research, it is very cruel. It is better if he is killed. So that he is free from all charges and no one will be harmed or endangered.
===> the third camp we call the mediator. They believe that Liam is a safe subject if he is treated well or receives psychological assistance. But back to the main problem, this camp is also afraid when Liam cannot be controlled.
===> Finally, NEXARIS certainly views Liam not as an individual, but as a subject. For them, the sacrifice of one person for the sake of medical breakthroughs, technology, and even AI advancement is reasonable. They believe that analyzing Liam's body could reveal new potentials in biotechnology. Morals are not the priority-results are everything."
Kael took a deep breath, trying to digest everything Levi had described.
"So, we need a strategy to push the human rights and mediator votes up, while breaking the dominance of the NEXARIS narrative and the counter camp," Kael muttered.
Levi nodded firmly. "Right. I thought of three initial steps. It's not a big thing like a revolution, but it's enough to make the first crack."
He began to write:
Step 1: Collect Testimonials & Personal Stories
"We invite students who have known Liam. Teachers too. We record videos or collect writings. Not about his strength, but about who he is as a person. The Liam who likes to help clean the school garden, the Liam who likes to bring extra lunches for his friends. Stories that make people remember that he's real - not a monster."
Step 2: Social Media Backlash
"Make a special account. Anonymous if necessary. We upload all the testimonials, create a thread, and spread the hashtag of support. Form a public opinion that opposes the NEXARIS narrative. If it goes viral enough, the media will pick it up too."
Step 3: Internal Pressure on the School
"We organize a petition. The target is the school principal. We ask the school to publicly support Liam's right to remain a student here. If the school speaks out, it will be harder for the media to keep quiet. Guardians and other students may join this wave."
Kael smiled slightly, his eyes lighting up for the first time since the bad news broke. "I like this. A movement from within. Not just resisting, but providing an alternative."
"Exactly," Levi replied. "And if this works... maybe, Liam can get the one thing the world was never ready to give him."
Kael nodded. "Hope?"
Levi looked deep into the overcast afternoon sky, before answering quietly, "Home."