Chapter 2: Education (Part 1)

In a world where people with powers exist, life is not quite like the comics. There are no heroes and villains appearing at every corner. In Neo Terra, people with abilities—known as Psyons—are free to use their powers as long as they do not endanger others or commit crimes.

To keep track of them and help maintain public safety, the organization known as DEUCALION registers, assists, and monitors Psyons when necessary.

Because of this system, powers have become part of everyday life. Some Psyons use their abilities for work, such as construction, medicine, or business, while others use them for hobbies. Others take their abilities further through competitions, combat tournaments, or by becoming DEUCALION agents.

Although Neo Terra is living through an era of relative peace, the changes caused by Psyons have created unexplored regions, new forms of life, and materials that humanity is still learning to understand. There are also Psyon organizations that use their abilities to harm others.

To deal with these threats, DEUCALION works with other organizations and sends agents around the world.

There are two ways to become an agent.

Direct Agents join DEUCALION teams and receive missions according to their abilities. They must follow protocols and orders, but they are also expected to make decisions when situations change.

Indirect Agents are registered and affiliated with DEUCALION but have greater freedom. They can work alone, accept jobs independently, or form their own teams.

However, that freedom comes with responsibility. If an indirect agent repeatedly fails, endangers civilians, damages DEUCALION's reputation, or commits a crime, they may face fines, sanctions, restrictions, or imprisonment depending on the severity of their actions.

Before becoming an agent, however, there is something even more important:

To apply to DEUCALION, a person must have completed high school or be attending university. Their school must also provide a report on their abilities, behavior, and achievements.

There are three main types of schools in Neo Terra.

Regular Schools are primarily for normal people. Along with regular subjects, students learn how to live and work alongside Psyons and how to respond to basic situations involving their abilities.

Mixed Schools are attended by both Psyons and normal people. In addition to regular education, Psyons receive training to better control and use their abilities.

Special Schools train exceptional Psyons and students with unusual or strategically important abilities. They usually have greater resources and may be funded or supervised by wealthy individuals or high-ranking DEUCALION officials.

All schools have security measures for possible incidents. Regular schools have agents assigned to watch for external threats, while mixed and special schools require certain staff members to be registered as indirect DEUCALION collaborators. These staff members must also demonstrate that they can protect their students and control an emergency situation when necessary.

Now, it is time to get up and go to school.

The room was quiet.

A boy was sleeping comfortably on his bed, although the position he was in looked more like an abstract work of art than a normal sleeping position.

On a small nightstand beside the bed sat an alarm clock.

When the hands reached 6:30 in the morning, the alarm suddenly began ringing at full volume.

Jaxon slowly opened his eyes. He was still sleepy, and the last thing he wanted to do was get up.

Without even sitting up, he grabbed his pillow and threw it at the clock.

He missed by a few inches.

—Tch...

Reluctantly, he got out of bed, turned off the alarm, and, with a resigned expression, decided to get ready.

Ten years had passed since that day.

Jaxon Armant was now fifteen years old.

He headed straight to the bathroom. After taking a shower and drying himself, he began getting ready for school. In front of the mirror, Jaxon fixed his jet-black hair, making sure the white streaks remained visible against it. His eyes, one with a red pupil and the other with a white one, still had the same unusual appearance they had when he was a child.

After making sure there was nothing strange about his face, he put on his school uniform.

It was September 1st, and he was about to begin his final year of middle school.

Once he was ready, Jaxon grabbed his things and left his room, intending to head downstairs to the kitchen.

But just as he reached the stairs, he heard a door opening behind him.

He turned around.

A little girl walked out of the room.

She was barely 103 centimeters tall, with light tan skin, pink eyes, and dark brown hair. She looked at Jaxon with a curious expression, as if she were waiting for something from him.

—Ariad? You're already up? Why? Aren't you going to kindergarten later?

—It's because you're going to make breakfast, and I want...

Jaxon smiled slightly.

She was Ariad, his younger sister. She was a sweet and curious girl, although from time to time she could be carefree and quite mischievous. Whenever she had the chance, she liked playing with her brother, and the two of them got along very well.

—What do you want?

—Ham and eggs, and three pancakes.

—Two. That's it.

Ariad pouted slightly.

—Okay...

Jaxon picked her up, and the two of them went downstairs.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ariad pointed toward the hallway.

—Here is fine.

Jaxon put her down, expecting her to head toward the kitchen.

However, the girl remained where she was, staring intently down the hallway.

Jaxon didn't pay much attention to it and continued walking.

As he crossed the entrance into the other room, he failed to notice a small table that had been left out of place and hit his leg against it.

—Ow!

The impact hurt quite a bit. Although his regeneration ability could make injuries disappear quickly, that didn't mean the pain itself was pleasant.

Jaxon rubbed his leg and glanced at Ariad.

The girl had a small smile on her face.

A smile that seemed to say that everything had gone exactly as she had planned.

Jaxon stared at her in surprise for a few seconds.

Then the pain disappeared.

—...

Jaxon narrowed his eyes.

He moved the table out of the way and continued toward the kitchen.

He put on an apron and began preparing breakfast.

He took out the eggs, ham, and the other ingredients. While cooking, he turned on the coffee maker and took out a container of orange juice.

Jaxon moved around the kitchen naturally. He didn't seem to be following a recipe or need anyone to tell him what to do. He knew where everything was, how much he needed to prepare, and what he had to do next.

While waiting for breakfast to finish cooking, he also began setting the table, preparing a place for everyone.

But something was still missing.

Lunches.

Jaxon took out several containers and began preparing four lunches.

They would all have the same things: a ham and cheese sandwich, a salad with tomatoes, an apple, and a lemon-flavored drink.

However, each one would have something different.

One would have a chocolate donut.

Another would have a strawberry cupcake.

The third would have a chocolate chip muffin.

And the last one would have an iced cookie.

Jaxon finished closing the containers and carefully arranged them so they wouldn't get mixed up.

For him, preparing breakfast and lunch didn't seem like a chore. He did it so naturally that it seemed like he had been doing it for quite some time.

When he finished, he took a pistachio-colored mug, poured himself some coffee, and placed it on the counter.

Then he looked at Ariad.

—Do you want regular milk or chocolate milk?

The girl put on an extremely serious expression, as if she were making a decision that would change the fate of the world.

—Strawberry.

Jaxon stared at her.

—We don't have any.

Ariad's expression immediately changed.

It looked as if all her hopes had just disappeared.

Then, from the entrance, a voice could be heard.

—Don't worry, sweetheart. I got you some.

Jaxon turned around.

Standing at the entrance was a woman with completely messy pearl-white hair and red eyes. She was wearing a bathrobe with little ducks on it, gray slippers, and holding a small packet of strawberry flavoring in one hand.

In the other, she held the cup of coffee Jaxon had prepared.

It was Rula Xeele, his mother.

—Be careful, Mom. It's hot. Don't burn yourself.

Rula lifted the cup and calmly took a sip.

—Don't worry. That's how I like it. And if I get burned, your father will take care of me.

Jaxon looked at her in disbelief, as if she had just pulled a prank on him.

Rula Xeele was thirty-four years old and the mother of Jaxon and Ariad. Although at that moment she looked like a mother who had just gotten out of bed, she was actually the captain of a police station in central Nexus City.

She was a Type X Psyon with the ability to use super speed and was one of the fastest police officers in the city.

In public, she was serious, organized, and always did her duty.

But when she was at home with her family, that personality almost completely disappeared.

She became relaxed, playful, and, above all, quite lazy.

Jaxon looked toward the stairs.

—Is Dad coming down?

—Yeah. He's getting ready, but he'll be down in a second.

Rula let out a small giggle.

Jaxon looked her up and down.

—And aren't you going to get ready?

Rula smiled.

—You know I'll be ready before you even realize it, right?

Jaxon gave her a tired expression.

—Sure...

He brought the breakfast to the table, and Ariad sat down as well. Jaxon placed a glass of milk in front of her and left the strawberry flavoring Rula had gotten beside it.

Rula sat next to her daughter and began stroking her head.

For a few minutes, the family quietly enjoyed breakfast.

Until they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Everyone turned around.

A large man appeared in the living room. He was 1.85 meters tall, had tan skin, bluish-black hair, and a body that clearly showed he was accustomed to training.

It was Beow Armant, Jaxon's father.

He was thirty-six years old and the vice-captain of a fire station. He was also a Type A Psyon with the ability to control water, although his limit was approximately two large water tanks.

That morning, he was already dressed for work.

Beow approached the table and, before sitting down, took Rula's hand.

—How is the most beautiful woman in the city?

Rula raised an eyebrow and replied with a teasing smile.

—I don't know. Why don't you go ask her?

Beow smiled.

—I'm not blind. She's right in front of me.

The two of them began getting increasingly affectionate.

Jaxon and Ariad exchanged an embarrassed look.

—Can you tone it down?! There's a minor present!

As he said this, Jaxon covered Ariad's eyes with one hand.

Beow let out a small laugh.

Suddenly, his expression changed, and he approached Jaxon with an intimidating look.

Jaxon immediately understood the challenge.

He stood up from his seat and took a fighting stance.

The two stared at each other.

For a moment, it looked like they were actually going to fight.

Then they both shouted at the same time:

—Draw!

Beow revealed his hand with two fingers extended.

Rock.

Jaxon responded by holding up two fingers.

Scissors.

—NOOOOOOOO!

Jaxon screamed as if his hand had just been cut off.

Beow smiled proudly.

—You're fast, but I've got my lucky girl on my side.

He walked over to Rula and gave her a kiss.

Jaxon shook his head.

—Don't get too cocky. I've beaten you before, and Mom is a witness.

The three of them began laughing.

Beow, satisfied with his victory, began eating his breakfast rather quickly.

A little while later, Jaxon finished eating. He collected his dishes, took them to the sink, and washed his hands.

Then he looked at his family.

—I'm heading to school. See you later, okay? Although... Mom, do you want to give me a ride?

Rula looked at him with a tired expression.

—My motto is: "Just because I'm fast doesn't mean I have to do everything myself." I'll take you if it's an emergency, but as long as you can go on your own, you will.

Jaxon sighed.

—What a speech. You just don't want to take me because you're lazy. Besides, before you go to the station, you're going to take Ariad to kindergarten in less than five minutes.

—I know, but if I take you, you'll become lazy. And the last thing I want in this house is another lazy person besides me. Understood?

Jaxon gave her a resigned expression.

He knew he wasn't going to win that argument.

—Well, at least get changed before I leave. Otherwise, with how fast you are, you won't even notice.

Rula disappeared from his sight.

Only two minutes passed.

When she appeared again, she looked like a completely different person.

Her white hair was perfectly styled, she was wearing makeup, and she was dressed in an elegant uniform consisting of a long midnight-blue coat, almost black, without fur, with the inside of the high collar completely closed, a white sash crossing her torso, white gloves, and a small silver insignia on her chest.

Rula spun around to show off her uniform.

Beow applauded her.

Ariad looked at her in amazement.

Jaxon looked her up and down.

—9/10. You look pretty.

At that moment, Jaxon received a hit on the head.

—Give me a perfect ten, you ungrateful son.

Jaxon rubbed his head.

—That's why I'm not giving you a ten. It's because of your attitude.

Rula looked at him indignantly while Beow burst out laughing.

Jaxon grabbed his things and headed toward the door.

—See you later. Take care. I love you all.

Rula gave him a quick hug.

Beow waved at him.

And Ariad raised her hand to say goodbye.

—Bye-bye!

Jaxon left his house and stopped for a few seconds to take in the scenery

The morning sun illuminated the streets of Nexus City. Jaxon took a deep breath and began walking toward school.

As he walked, he could see how ordinary living in a world full of Psyons had become.

A mail carrier flew over him, carrying several packages that he could easily handle. A little farther ahead, at a food stand, a Psyon was using telekinesis to move several boxes while another worker arranged them.

Not far from there, a person with extraordinary flexibility was helping place products on a shelf.

But not everyone was a Psyon.

Normal people walked among them as well—children playing with a ball and elderly people walking their dogs or sitting on a bench to play chess.

Jaxon continued walking for a few minutes until something caught his attention.

In front of him was a gym with a somewhat run-down entrance. Hanging above the door was an old sign that read:

STRON/GUEST

Jaxon smiled.

Before continuing to school, he decided to stop.

First, he rang the doorbell.

He waited a few seconds.

Nothing.

He rang it again.

Nothing.

Then he began knocking on the door.

—Coach! Are you in there? Are you alive? Can I have your gym if you don't answer?

Suddenly, the door swung open.

A fist passed within inches of his face.

Jaxon reacted on instinct and moved out of the way just in time. He immediately raised his arms and took a defensive stance.

—Shut up, you delinquent teenager! —the man in front of him growled—. Before you die, you'll have to beat me in a fight. And for that, you'd have to live to be a hundred years old, because you're never going to beat me.

Jaxon slowly lowered his guard.

Standing in front of him was a fifty-year-old man who was 1.80 meters tall. Despite his age, he still had a well-trained physique. He had gray hair, a matching mustache, and a cartoonish crocodile tattoo on his right arm.

His name was Doran Tricer.

He had been training Jaxon for five years. Ever since the boy was ten, he had been his combat instructor, pushing him to his limits so he could defend himself and withstand blows that any normal teenager would have had a hard time enduring.

Doran looked him up and down.

—What do you want? Here for your morning beating?

—No, thanks. I want to arrive at school looking presentable. I just came to see how you were... and to find out if dodging your punch will bring me good luck.

Doran let out a small laugh.

—Would it have brought you luck if I had hit you? Want me to give you another one?

—No, thanks.

Jaxon took a step back.

—Well, I have to go. Gotta start my final year strong, right? Take care. See you this afternoon.

Jaxon began walking away.

—Hey!

Jaxon stopped and turned around.

Doran was looking at him seriously.

—Try not to end up like me, okay? At least you've got a little bit of a brain. Use it wisely.

Jaxon smiled.

—I’ll try.

Doran watched him as he began walking away.

Then he spoke again.

—Hey, remember something.

Jaxon stopped once more.

—Whether you win or lose, don't go down before giving it everything you've got. Understand?

Jaxon raised one hand as he continued walking.

—Whatever you say, crazy coach.

Doran smiled slightly as he watched him walk away.

—That kid...

Jaxon continued on his way to school, still unaware that the day would turn out to be far more interesting than he expected.

Jaxon walked at a moderate pace and gradually began approaching his middle school: Ziz Middle School.

It was a mixed school where both Psyons and normal humans studied. It had a good reputation and had teachers and a principal who took student safety and peaceful coexistence very seriously. Thanks to the school's security measures, cases of bullying and abuse of powers were uncommon.

Jaxon was walking calmly when he heard a familiar voice.

—JAXON!!! GOOD MORNING! HOW ARE YOU?!

Jaxon turned around and saw a boy greeting him with incredible energy. He smiled and raised his hand to return the greeting while waiting for him to catch up.

—Hi, Nair. How are you? I see you have a lot of energy today.

—Of course I do. The secret to an organized life is having a positive attitude.

His name was Nair Alcid. He was sixteen years old, the same height as Jaxon, with fair skin, blue hair with green tips, and brown eyes. He was one of Jaxon's best friends, and they had known each other since their first year of middle school.

Nair was an organized boy who always tried to follow the rules, although he also knew how to relax and enjoy himself with his friends. He liked maintaining a calm and peaceful environment for everyone.

His ability was Type X: Kinetic Absorption.

Nair could take impacts and accumulate their energy to increase the power of his own attacks and abilities. The more impact he received and managed to absorb, the stronger he could become.

Since they met, Jaxon and Nair had gotten along very well. They had both learned to watch each other's backs, and although they had different personalities, they could always count on one another.

—Excited for this school year? —Nair asked.

—Of course. We've got to give it everything we've got if we want to move forward in life.

—With that said, we'd better pick up the pace. Otherwise, we'll be late, and we don't want that.

—Of course, whatever you say.

Nair always ended up rushing Jaxon, and thanks to that, the two of them had practically never been late.

They both arrived at school on time. As they entered, they could see the different groups of students.

The first-years walked around excited to begin middle school. The second-years wore curious expressions, wondering what the new school year would be like. And the third-years showed a much more determined attitude, aware that they were beginning their final year.

Jaxon looked at the scene with a smile.

He was ready to begin as well.

—Go on ahead. I'm going to check on something.

—Sure, but don't try to skip class. I don't want a delinquent for a friend.

—Okay, don't worry. Don't say things like that. You sound like my mother.

—She's wise. You should listen to her more.

Jaxon gave a tired expression and headed toward a slightly more isolated part of the school.

When he arrived, he found a very well-built and carefully maintained garden. There were lettuce, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, and potatoes. At the back of the garden, an apple tree was growing.

Under the tree was a boy who was barely 1.40 meters tall. He had short, pale-red hair that slightly covered his eyes. He was focused on planting something in a flowerpot.

Jaxon approached silently and stood behind him.

—How's the harvest this time, Milo?

—AHHHHH!!!

The boy was so startled that he quickly backed away until he was standing beside the apple tree, like a cornered animal.

—Calm down, it's me. I came to see how you were doing and how the garden turned out.

—It's you... Jaxon, don't scare me while I'm gardening. I don't want to ruin all my hard work!

The boy's name was Milo Kade. He was fourteen years old and quite shy. Sometimes he had trouble believing in himself, but he had been gaining confidence since meeting Jaxon.

They had met during their second year of middle school, when some bullies began picking on him. Jaxon stepped in to help him and, from then on, began inviting him to spend time with him and his friends so he could gradually become more confident.

Milo had a Type B ability called Vegetation: Limited Garden.

His power allowed him to grow vegetation within a very small space, approximately one meter by one meter. He could also create up to two vines around 2.5 meters long or one vine up to five meters long.

His ability was quite limited in direct confrontations, so for a long time he had been an easy target for people who wanted to pick on him. That was why Jaxon would sometimes invite him to train, hoping that one day he would be able to defend himself.

But Milo didn't see his ability as a disadvantage.

For him, gardening was something he genuinely enjoyed.

—Can I grab a tomato?

—Sure, but take one from the last row. Those are ready. The others should be ready by the end of this week.

—Can't you speed up the process?

—I could if it were an emergency, but I like watching nature grow naturally.

Jaxon smiled.

—You're pretty interesting. Can you pass one to me?

—Sure. Let me concentrate.

Milo took a deep breath. The soil began to move, and a small vine emerged from it. It stretched toward the row of tomatoes, grabbed one, and tossed it to Jaxon.

Jaxon caught the tomato and took a bite.

—It's juicy. When you have your farm, I'll be your number-one customer.

—I look forward to it.

Milo had always told Jaxon that his dream was to have a farm where he could grow all kinds of things and maybe have a few animals.

There was one exception, though.

He didn't like rabbits very much.

Once, one of them had destroyed part of his garden, and ever since then, it seemed like Milo was personally at war with them.

—Let's go to the classroom before we run out of time.

—Okay.

Jaxon and Milo hurried to the classroom.

A little while later, they arrived at their assigned classroom: 3-B.

They both entered and found the other students. Some were already talking with their old friends, while others were beginning to make new ones.

Jaxon had barely taken a few steps when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

He turned around.

—You both look as fresh as lettuce.

Jaxon and Milo were left with expressions that showed they had no idea how to respond. Some girls nearby had exactly the same expression.

The boy who had tried to be funny straightened up, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and spoke solemnly.

—Swallow me up, earth.

Jaxon looked at Milo.

—You heard him. Milo wants the earth to swallow him. You just got yourself some free fertilizer.

—I don't think it's right to use a person as fertilizer.

The three of them tried to hold back their laughter.

The boy was Geron Vaiten, another one of Jaxon's friends since their first year of middle school.

Geron was taller than Jaxon. He had scarlet-red hair with a black streak, a little eyeliner around his eyes, and striking green eyes with scarlet tones.

He was fifteen years old and had a Type A ability called Negation.

His power allowed him to cancel other people's abilities, but it had a very specific limit: he could keep the abilities of a maximum of ten people nullified.

Because he still had trouble controlling his ability, Geron usually wore gray gloves with an orange X that he had drawn himself.

—Did I at least make your day better? —Geron asked.

—I'd say you improved it by twenty percent.

Geron looked relieved, as if he had just dodged a bullet.

Jaxon headed toward his seat, which was in the fifth row of the third column. Milo and Geron sat nearby so they could talk.

However, suddenly, shouting could be heard in the hallway.

—I'M TELLING YOU, IF YOU ALREADY HAD BREAKFAST, YOU SHOULDN'T BE EATING MORE, ESPECIALLY IN THE HALLWAYS, UNLESS IT'S LUNCHTIME!!!

—YOU'RE SO ANNOYING!!! I HAD A LIGHT BREAKFAST ON THE WAY HERE. I BOUGHT A SANDWICH BECAUSE IT LOOKED DELICIOUS. DO YOU WANT ME TO FAINT FROM NOT EATING PROPERLY?!

—THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE WOKEN UP EARLY AND MADE YOURSELF A DECENT BREAKFAST! OTHERWISE, YOU WON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO STAY ACTIVE DURING THE DAY!!!

The shouting echoed throughout the hallway, and no one could help but pay attention.

As the voices grew closer, they finally saw the cause of the argument.

—AH, LEAVE ME ALONE, MR. SQUARE!!!

—DON'T GIVE ME NICKNAMES AND TRY TO HAVE A BETTER ROUTINE, IRRESPONSIBLE GIRL!!!

The first person to enter the classroom was Nair.

Behind him appeared a girl who was 1.60 meters tall, with short light-green hair and orange eyes. She had a small scar above her left eye.

Her name was Jena Bitar.

Jena was a very pretty, friendly, and energetic girl. She had been Jaxon's friend since their second year of middle school. Before becoming friends, they had gone through some complicated situations, but over time they managed to build a much healthier relationship.

Jena had two abilities.

The first was Type C: Stone Fists, which allowed her to harden her hands until they became extremely durable. However, the effect only applied to her hands.

The second was Type B: Wallmaker. She could create walls using whatever material was available in the area, at a maximum distance of four meters and with a maximum size of three meters.

Jena usually used this ability more for defense than offense, although she always found some way to take advantage of it during a fight.

Jena looked at the group and smiled.

—How's the audience today? Has Mr. Rules already annoyed me? How did my favorite emo wake up? Did you manage to make anyone laugh today, or did you kill the mood?

There was a brief silence.

Jaxon, Milo, and Geron looked at one another as if they were trying to decide who should answer.

Jena sighed.

—Thanks for the answer. Don't worry, someday you'll make someone laugh.

Jena placed a hand on Geron's shoulder to comfort him.

Then she looked at Milo.

—Milo, my gardener, I can do business with you later. Your vegetables are the best, and I'm craving a salad.

—Sure, no problem. I'm glad you like my vegetables.

—Thanks. You're the best.

Jena threw her arms around Milo and hugged him while he remained completely motionless, like an animal caught in a trap.

Milo looked at the others for help.

The others, however, turned away so they wouldn't get involved.

After letting him go, Jena walked over to Jaxon.

—How are you, Jaxon? Being around these three makes the day better, doesn't it?

—You're no different, troublemaker.

They both laughed.

—We have cooking class today. Can I eat whatever you make?

—Of course, but you'll have to praise me, my loyal subject.

Jena was surprised.

For a few seconds, she wondered whether the food was really worth accepting servitude.

Eventually, she reached a conclusion.

She knelt in front of Jaxon.

—Oh, great Jaxon, may I partake in your majestic creation? I swear my loyalty to you.

—Very well, mere mortal. For your loyalty, I shall prepare the greatest meal you have ever tasted! Hahahaha!

While Jaxon laughed and Jena remained kneeling in front of him, the others watched the scene as if it were a television show.

There was even a student eating popcorn.

Nair immediately walked over to him and scolded him.

—Why are you eating that in class?

Before he could continue, a voice came from the entrance.

—Leave her alone, evil tyrant.

Everyone turned toward the door.

It was a girl who was 1.70 meters tall. She had long hair styled with a combination of a hime cut and two odango buns on the sides. Her hair was a bluish-gray color, and her eyes were black.

She wore intensely black lipstick, lightning-shaped earrings, and bracelets with small spikes.

—Leave Jena alone, or you'll suffer the consequences.

Jaxon stood up.

—Challenge me if you dare.

The girl quickly walked toward him.

When they stood face-to-face, they stared at each other for a few seconds, as if they were actually about to start a fight.

Then they raised their hands and formed finger guns.

—Bang! —they said at the same time.

Everyone looked confused.

Then Jaxon twisted around as if he had just been shot.

—You've defeated me... but now Jena will never get her food.

—NOOOOOOOO!!!

—Guys, the show has gone on long enough. Do you want to finish already? You're disrupting the order.

The three of them looked at Nair.

Then they looked at each other.

And began laughing.

The girl who had just appeared was Yun Lin, Jena's childhood friend and Jaxon's friend since their second year of middle school.

At first glance, Yun had a somewhat dark appearance, but she actually loved small animals and cute things.

That said, when someone managed to make her angry, it was better not to find out what she could do.

Yun had two abilities, both Type C.

The first was Radar, which allowed her to detect any living being within a seven-meter radius around her. However, she couldn't distinguish whether it was a person or an animal, nor could she tell whether they were a friend or an enemy.

The second was Hardening: Hard Head.

As the name implied, she could only harden her head, making it as durable as steel.

With the entire group finally together, they began talking about how their vacations had gone, what they had done, what they liked, and everything that had happened over the past few days.

Then the bell rang.

It was 8:30.

Everyone took their seats and waited for the teacher to enter.

The door opened.

A female teacher entered the classroom.

She was a pretty woman wearing a light-blue dress, a light-brown vest, and glasses. However, what stood out the most was her long, messy hair, divided into two colors: one side was dark brown, while the other had a lighter black tone.

She was Professor Quetsi Duma.

The students had known her since their first year of middle school. She taught History, Mathematics, and Biology, but if she was the first teacher to arrive at the beginning of the school year, it meant she would also be their homeroom teacher.

Quetsi was kind and calm, but that didn't mean she was lenient.

If a student wasn't paying attention or started fooling around during her class, she could turn them into an example in front of everyone or assign extra homework.

She was a demanding teacher who treated everyone equally.

Quetsi placed her things on the desk and looked at the students.

—Good morning, everyone. For those who know me, I'm Professor Quetsi Duma, and I'll be your homeroom teacher, as well as your History teacher.

She looked at the list in her hands.

—I see that there will be thirty students in this class. However, I was informed that one of them won't arrive until next week because they will be transferring here. When they arrive, I'll introduce them to you, and then we'll be complete.

Quetsi placed the list on the desk.

—Before we begin, I want to tell you something. During this final year of middle school, you'll have to work hard on your studies, but I also want you to create memories that will last a lifetime. We aren't only going to prepare you for what comes after middle school; I also want you to know that you can always count on me and the other teachers. Understood?

—OKAY!!!

The teacher smiled.

—Then, let's begin.

Time passed quickly.

First, they had History class, where Professor Quetsi gave them a brief review of the origins of the Psyons and how humanity had reached its current society.

After that, they had Mathematics with another teacher, and a few hours later, they headed to another classroom for their Home Economics class.

That day, the teacher gave them the freedom to prepare whatever they wanted.

Jaxon took the opportunity to prepare some chicken breasts with rice and an orange.

When he finished, he remembered the promise he had made to Jena.

—Here you go.

Jena accepted her plate with a smile.

—I knew you'd keep your promise!

—Don't exaggerate. I made enough for everyone else too.

—That doesn't change the fact that you're my favorite chef.

Jaxon let out a small laugh as the others began trying the food.

After class, it was time for lunch.

The five friends gathered together to eat and began talking about their classes, their vacations, and whatever else came to mind.

At one point, Geron took out his device and showed them a video of a professional fight.

—Look at this. Watch how he dodged that punch!

Everyone leaned closer to watch.

—How did he do that?! —Jena asked.

—That Psyon has been training for years —Nair replied—. You can tell by the way he moves.

Milo watched the video carefully, while Jaxon analyzed the fighters' movements.

Geron, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy his friends' reactions more than the video itself.

—Wait, wait. Now comes the best part!

The group continued watching the fight until the signal announcing the end of break rang.

It was getting close to one in the afternoon.

—We have to go change —Nair said.

—Right. I don't want to be late for Physical Education —Jaxon replied.

The five headed to the locker rooms to change into their gym uniforms.

To be continued in Part 2.