I came out of the headmaster's room with a lot on my mind. This guy from the Bureau didn't seem trustworthy but his offer was something I couldn't ignore.

"Ho ho, looks like someone got bamboozled." The voice came from my right. The Marcov guy was smirking at me rather oddly. He and the girl with him were just chilling on a small bench.

They were supposed to go in after me, but I guess the guy from the Bureau took more priority.

Rose wasn't around here anymore. Maybe she was busier than I thought.

"That reminds me, what did you two show up for anyway?"

They were still in their flimsy clothes. Did they really came here for a vacation?

"I know this might not sound true or even perhaps it just might sound stupid but I came here to just see you. I owe your old man a lot." He stopped for a second. "I owe your grandfather a lot." He pretended like the earlier mistake never happened. "So I thought it'd only be fair if I gave you a warning in his absence."

"What warning?" I was awfully skeptical about these two.

"I don't have to remind you that your powers are special right?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Surely, you're aware that it could be used for war purposes? And as that guy said, research." He gave me a knowing grin.

'You were eavesdropping?'

"But wars-"

"Are banned by the UN. I know. But think about it. There have been seven instances when just one individual was enough to destroy an entire nation." He came close. "And your gramps happens to be one of them," he whispered and took his seat again. "So think about it. Wouldn't anyone who knows you carry his blood, recruit you and try to run tests on you? After what the world saw in that vid, I'd say it'd only be fair. " His grin widened. "After all, you possess the same power."

He wasn't wrong. But my powers weren't that special like my grandfather. Gramps could use nuclear energy to strengthen his body, he could make a miniaturized sun in the palm of his hands and he could even fly. My powers were basically like the vanilla version of his. I couldn't do any of that, yet. I could mildly strengthen my body but that was my limit. And basically just making small amounts of plasma took a lot of concentration for me, let alone fusion.

Even as a three year old, I was so jealous, that I'd often kick him whenever he refused to pick me up on his back. Of course, he just laughed it off.

Now that I thought about it, I did miss him, a lot. 'Where are you, gramps?'

But I couldn't live in the past forever. "I can see why you'd be worried. But don't worry, I won't make any rash decisions. At least not on my own. I have my mom after all."

The guy looked at me with wonder and broke down in suppressed chuckles. "Well, at least you're not like him in that regard. You're more like your father-" He paused. "Looks like it's our turn." Both of them stood up and the woman went to the door.

'Father? But, wasn't he confusing gramps with?'

Now, even I was confused.

"There's a war brewing. I'd be careful, if I were you." Before leaving, the man looked back and whispered in a faint voice.

'A war brewing? In this age?'

The guys from the Bureau came out of the room and these two went in. No one made any eye contact with each other. Did those four have history?

'Not my problem.' I turned to leave. But I still didn't like that man's grin. And this new thing about wars kind of weighed on my mind too not as much the money issue though.

***

The whole time towards the dorms, the offer was on my mind. This wasn't a bad offer but it had its drawbacks. The pay was good but the risk wasn't anything to sneeze at either.

'What should I do?'

I was so engrossed in thought that I came back to the dorm before I knew it. I subconsciously ignored all the stares and everything. Just how much did I want this?

***

"No." One word was enough.

"But mom-"

"No. And no means no." Mom sat on the bed, legs crossed.

Elsa and Merin had left the room the moment this discussion began. Meaning, the two of us were alone.

"It's ten thousand gold! That's-"

"Worth more than five years of my income, I know." Mom smiled. "But think about it, why do I work?"

"Wha-"

"I work for you guys. So you two can have a brighter future. So you two don't have to suffer. But if you suffer, did all those nights I worked, did all those holidays I skipped have no value?"

"I don't-"

"Please Helio- don't do it." Mom was serious. And maybe rightfully so.

I sighed. She was right. Maybe I was too absorbed in the money making thoughts that I'd forgotten about all that my mother had suffered. And it was because of that, I wanted this. And yet, it was also because of which I'll have to decline.

"Alright." The words flowed out. I wasn't really sure about this job but it did make me feel a lot better. Maybe if I'd taken it, I'd have been so guilty that I couldn't do anything about it. Maybe it would have been my ruination. And yet, I couldn't just forget about it either. It really was a lot of money.

"Come here." She invited me with open arms.

I went closer to her, and hugged her. This always calmed me down, and filled me with warm feelings. "Mom, why do I have a seal on me?"

She smiled. "So you've heard." Mom thought for a second. "Yes, there's a seal on you that was placed by someone important. But-" She paused. "Can we not talk about it now? I want to sort my thoughts first. It's… it's about your father."

"Alright." I moved back. And when I was about to say something, something caught my eye.

The door wasn't closed fully. And there were three sets of eyes on us. Of course, they hadn't noticed that I'd caught on.

"I actually had a dream you know." I spoke aloud and walked closer to the door, pretending as though I was just walking around.

"Really?" Mom had caught on too.

When I did reach the door- I opened it as fast as I could and three people fell on the floor, clearly startled.

"Care to explain?" My voice came out a little hoarser than I thought.

Elsa had a history of eavesdropping so that was expected. But I didn't expect the same of Merin and then there was the third guest: namely, Selene. I hadn't seen her in a while but I sure wasn't glad to see her.

"Well-" From the looks of it none of them had excuses.

I sighed. "Well, come on in."

Now that I had extra crowd, I couldn't really talk about that dream with mom either. But I guess there was always time.

It was already afternoon and there wasn't much time before the evening. But my mind was already made up. I didn't want to make mom's countless sacrifices meaningless.

"Why are you here again?" So I tried to distract my mind by focusing on the uninvited guest.

"I kind missed your duel. But you're actually a hot topic among the third years. You even talked back to Shaun and Humo, before even starting the fight." Selene giggled. "So yeah, you're pretty famous."

I already knew I was famous. "But third years huh? I guess everyone is watching that video?"

"Well, some of the third years were present in the gym too, so they saw. And both Shaun and Humo were third years too, so they could accurately tell others about you: and they are gossiping about you, a lot. They're even setting bets on you about the upcoming newcomer's tournament."

'I haven't even joined the club though.'

"And you happen to know that because?"

She was perplexed for a moment. "I'm a third year too. So I heard it and-"

"Didn't you say you were in second year?"

"I'm pretty sure, I said I was your senior."

Now that she mentioned it, she really didn't say she was in her second year, did she?

I didn't know all that much about the third years but form what I heard they often spent time away in different places of the world doing various tasks to earn credit.

The passing rate of every class was less than 20 percent. And every third year was guaranteed a spot in the explorer program. Meaning, Selene's future was already set.

Selene seemed awfully chill with everything, so I never really even thought of the possibility about her being a third year. "Oh and the recruitment for the clubs will begin tomorrow. I'd suggest you prepare yourselves. Because, let's face it, you're famous."

Again, I already knew I was famous and it bothered me lot. Did she have to rub it in, every single time?

"Oh, Helio? Who is that?" Mom began.

And so, a long debate about why I had so many friends who were girls, began.

***

Before evening I headed out. Though I said I'd give that man my answer at evening, we never really agreed on a meeting spot. And I didn't even remember his name either. Why the hell did he have such a weird name anyway?

Aimless, I just walked around. Of course, I kept my eyes peeled for the palm trees. I surely didn't want to become one with them.

My stomach felt like there was a fountain of acid inside. 'I still haven't had lunch, have I?'

This was a weird day. A really weird day. And to think, I still hadn't even had lunch.

I never asked how or when mom and Elsa would return home either. But I guess they were going to ask Marg. 'But why did she help those two back then?'

There were so many things that I wished I had the answers to but I didn't. With a sigh I just headed for the convenience store. If I was going to waste my time roaming around, then the least I could do was get my dinner too.

"I was tired of waiting for you, and you never showed up." The voice came from behind me.

"Really? Well, it might have been a bit stupid of us for not agreeing on a place."

He chuckled. "Fair enough. Now, what is your answer?"

I hadn't turned around yet. There were a lot of people around this place and the fact that these guys were in suits attracted some attention. But this attention could have just been the product of my fame too.

"Sorry, but I'll have to decline your offer."

"Really?" He became suspiciously quiet.

And the moment I turned around, he was gone. Only the masked woman was behind me.

Skeptical I turned back and his face was just a centimeter away from mine. "Duel me."

He was close and very serious.

I was also very serious. I matched his passion. "No thank you."

I ignored him and just kept on walking past him. I already had enough of duels and all that stuff. The man stood there, dumbfounded.