Stellar Ascension

"The fundamental theory of vessel stabilization relies on the balance between sensory inputs and..."
The teacher’s voice was monotonous, like the buzzing of a fly that refused to leave.
The students paid him no mind; some were asleep, others were chatting in the back, and a few were eating their lunches in the corner.
In the middle of the room, a boy with naturally wavy dark brown hair had his face planted on the desk while he wrote.
"Stellar Ascension theory..." the brown-haired boy muttered to himself, his pen surrendering to sleep.
The teacher sighed, looking at the students, then sat down on his chair.
"I know this is extra, and it’s an additional class, and as soon as it ends, break starts... but..." the teacher began.
"You forgot to mention it’s a repeat from elementary school," said a boy with charcoal-grey hair that leaned towards blue, combed back with military precision despite him leaning back in his chair with his feet on the desk. Despite sitting, he seemed taller than those around him, but what stood out most about his appearance were his eyes—dark red, like dying embers just before they go out.
The teacher sighed again and pointed to the board. "Kai, true, it’s a repeat, but not from elementary school. It got an update before..."
"But we learned it three years ago the exact same way," the red-eyed boy interrupted.
"You have a point. Also, I have work to do. So, briefly, does anyone want to explain it briefly?... Kai?" The teacher pointed at the red-eyed boy.
"Just a scientific way of saying you got power to make something like this," Kai raised a pen and conjured a miniature spiral tornado that scattered papers everywhere.
The teacher grabbed his papers while continuing, "Yes. Kai, thanks for the example, but... does anyone actually remember the theory?... What about you?" The teacher looked at the register he had, adding a few minuses next to Kai’s name... then searched the names. "Nimo Levin... is he here?"
A student with messy, medium-length brown hair raised his hand as if he had just woken up. "Here," he said with a smile on his face.
"Do you know anything about the theory?" The teacher raised a pen.
"Hmmm... an idea about something, then a fusion happens, and stuff like that." Nimo kept his smile as he said it.
"Are you sure you guys memorized what you went through?" The teacher put down the register.
"..."
The teacher’s question was ignored by the students.
The teacher tapped on the desk while resting his chin on his hand.
(I hate this job)... the teacher thought to himself... while looking at the register again. His class was just a mandatory extra session, but it had no effect on the curriculum since the theory was studied at every educational stage, and this time, no significant grades were added.
(Absence rate today is high)... while the teacher was thinking about proposing to cancel this class.
"Idea... and vessel... collapse."
A mutter was heard from the front, coming from the student with the naturally wavy dark brown hair, who was moving his pen off the table without care.
"Simon Rose, can you tell me about the theory?... Briefly, then you can leave for break," the teacher said.
Simon lifted his head. His phosphorescent green eyes stared at the door, then looked at the teacher.
"It is the leading scientific theory used by scientists to describe and catalog the evolution of an Esper."
"And?" The teacher urged Simon to speak.
"It assumes that human consciousness has the capacity to create an Idea, or a Vessel, or both, resembling a cloud of raw cosmic gas. For this Vessel to 'ignite' and become an 'Esper,' it needs a central 'Idea' to act as conceptual 'gravity.' Meaning, 'Stellar Ascension' is the process of the 'Vessel' collapsing around the 'Idea' until they fuse, transforming from raw potential into embodied power," Simon completed.
"Well done. You can leave. The rest will re-explain the theory in detail to you." The teacher clapped.
Simon got up quickly from his seat before a miniature spiral tornado hit his chair.
Everyone looked at Kai, who was smiling. "Sorry... I missed," he apologized while Simon ran, dodging another storm.
Then he jumped, avoiding a kick from one of the annoyed students.
The teacher clapped loudly.
"Let me guess, the class agreed not to answer so I would get fed up with explaining and agree to the proposal of removing this class, right?... But Simon didn't listen to you and..."
Simon looked at a nearby student who had fired a piece of eraser with force. It hit the wall because Simon dodged it.
"Why wasn't I told about this?" Simon said to the student.
"Everyone was told at the end of the previous class, but I think you were wearing earplugs as usual," the student pointed to Simon’s pocket.
"Right," Simon replied, pulling out the plugs.
The teacher sighed while continuing to add minuses to a group of students.
"Well, the proposal is rejected," he said as he stood up. "See you tomorrow at the same time. You can leave. Also, tell all your absent colleagues that stricter measures will be taken against you if you don't attend tomorrow... and when I say your colleagues, you know who I mean." The teacher left through the door.
But the students didn't care about the teacher; they looked at Simon, who had already headed to the window and jumped out, fleeing while being followed by a barrage of attacks from students launching various things at him, from storms to sharp papers, while Kai, in turn, jumped down to chase him.
At the same time, a student began forming stones with his hand and handing them to students to throw at him.
Meanwhile, Nimo left with the students who headed to the cafeteria before the rush.
(After Simon's escape from the window and the students chasing him...)
The teacher sighed as he walked out the classroom door. He had stopped counting how many times he had sighed this morning.
The corridor in front of him wasn't a traditional school hallway; it was more like a miniature war zone. The teacher had to duck suddenly to avoid two students running horizontally on the walls, defying the laws of gravity in a frantic race to reach the cafeteria first.
"Increase in friction..." the teacher thought miserably.
Around the corner, a student jumped to punch another, but the opponent blocked the blow with his leg, creating a violent air shockwave that made the teacher cling to his leather bag with all his might so it wouldn't fly out of his hand.
"All this for the cafeteria? There's enough food for everyone..." he muttered wearily, dragging his feet.
When he saw a gathering of students at the window overlooking the courtyard, curiosity led him to take one last look at the disaster he had left behind. He glimpsed Simon dodging a hail of stones. But what caught the teacher's attention wasn't the stones, but what happened after.
When the red-eyed student threw a stone, the stone transformed in mid-air into a miniature tornado. At that moment, Simon started running.
The teacher could no longer see Simon clearly. He didn't vanish, and he didn't jump; instead, he turned into a "misty phantom." Simon ran for only one minute, but the distance he covered from the courtyard to outside the academy walls was nearly a kilometer.
Down below, Kai remained standing in the courtyard, smiling before turning to head back into the building.
The teacher closed his eyes in exhaustion and headed towards the only remaining sanctuary: the staff room.
The staff room was spacious, another world of air-conditioned calm. In the front, small desks were lined up, and in the back was a break area containing sofas and a refrigerator in the corner.
The teacher headed straight to the back and threw himself onto the sofa.
Clap, clap, clap. (The sound of slow, provocative clapping).
Near the refrigerator stood a man with short brown hair, styled with exaggerated precision, wearing a modern suit and a light blue shirt. On his wrist was a smartwatch flashing a countdown timer.
"Why the applause?" the teacher asked without lifting his head.
"Because you didn't break anything on your way here," the man replied with a smile.
"Good joke, Don," the teacher replied, looking around. "Where are the others?"
"Most are with the Director trying to convince him to amend some rules, but Gaius didn't show up today," Don Alter replied, opening the fridge coolly.
"Don, when you say 'amend some rules,' what do you mean? And why wasn't I informed?" The teacher narrowed his eyes.
"Your approval isn't important, and the suggestions won't please you anyway," Don answered while sipping water. "But don't worry, they are simple additions."
"Simple? Like what?"
"Just increasing break time." Don smiled and sat on the opposite sofa.
The teacher shot up. "So you're saying the teachers aren't satisfied that students do whatever they want, and they want to increase the time for chaos?!"
"Don't be like that, our students are respectful," Don said calmly. "Also... it's an opportunity."
"Opportunity?" The teacher raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Yes, think about it. If the break time is increased, something must be reduced or removed to accommodate the time, which is..." Don paused to explain slowly.
"The extra class!" The teacher interrupted him, realizing the trap. "This is a student proposal, isn't it?"
"Exactly. And you must agree, right? Your extra class is a headache, the students hate it, and you hate it." Don pulled out a tablet and displayed a graph. "Look, 90% of the academy agrees." Then he pulled out a paper survey and pushed it towards the teacher. "Just sign here."
"Most of the academy?" The teacher laughed bitterly, throwing the paper on the table. "You mean you sold the idea to them because reducing official study hours means increasing the hours of your paid 'private lessons,' doesn't it, Don?"
"Selling an idea? That's a false accusation. I am a committed teacher; I saw students complaining about a useless class and decided to help them," Don replied with feigned innocence.
"I refuse that!" The teacher said firmly. "Extra classes are important and..."
Clap, clap, clap. (The slow clapping returned).
"How moving! You are absolutely right," Don stood up suddenly, placing his hand on his chest with theatrical emotion. "We shouldn't increase break time at the expense of extra classes."
"Huh?" The teacher straightened up, surprised by Don's quick retreat.
"Well done, colleague," Don patted the teacher's shoulder. "Your wish is my command. So I will put an end to this."
Don took the first survey and threw it in the trash bin, then, with the sleight of hand of a magician, pulled another survey from his pocket.
"Here, sign here... and here," Don said, pointing out the signature spots. "You can read the text... very simple. The extra class stays, and the break doesn't increase."
The teacher looked at the paper suspiciously. "And? Where's the trick?"
"And... instead, the class is moved to the last period of the day, and attendance becomes optional."
Don smiled that commercial smile while placing the pen in the shocked teacher's hand.
"Everyone wins.”.