This smell of chalk.

These used wooden desks.

The computer at the far corner that is there for nothing but to gather dust.

Yup. It's school all right. Just like I remembered.

Entering the class at the time I'd always arrive, I could see the sun rising from the inside of the classroom.

The horizon was hidden behind the tall buildings with only a glimpse of the sun there for me to see. It was… refreshing.

I’ve seen the sunrise from the inside of the forest for more than a year and it was beautiful every time. Now seeing this made me realise how much I got used to that sight inside the forest.

"Why are you always so early? Does it hurt to be late?"

"Yes, it does."

"Then when I learn how to heal, I can heal your whole body and then you'd thank me by doing…hehehehe-SMACK UGH!"

"Thee demons dare share thy true colours now?"

"I wasn't thinking about something bad!"

"It would be bad for me."

"Huuu… Am I that unattractive?"

"No but I'm not in the right mind for anything and you are way too crazy for me."

"Says the madman…"

"Hahaha!…"

And it got quiet once again. Maybe because of the events from 'Yesterday' but it was hard to be truly happy when you just had something like that happen to you not too long ago.

I tried to put these thoughts aside but it was hard to truly return back to normal.

And now I was left with another thing. I usually share a desk with Felix. But since I decided to stay away from him until he decides to step up, I won't sit there. Since what I want from him isn't a simple apology but an explanation.

Truthful explanation. And Felix knows that as well.

And besides that, I'm not mad anymore. I had 200 days worth of time to think about it clearly. And with so much time, most wounds can heal.

But not all.

"Hey, Alyssa… Is it fine if I sit next to you for a certain amount of time?"

"Hm? Yea sure! I'd love to!"

"Don't make me switch with Fe'liu."

"You won't sit next to any other girl besides me!"

HIIIIII! Alyssa's eyes look too dangerous. Come on, brain! You got this! Think of something!

"So it's fine if I switch with Laetisa?"

"Huh? Uuuuhhh…"

Nailed it! With this short answer, I short-circuited her brain instantly. All that was in front of me was someone with a 404 Error written on their face.

I sat down next to her as I sat near the wall. But I just couldn't help but notice that intense stare coming from her as she had her mouth wide open. What are you so stunned for? You even sleep with me in the same bed.

SQUEEZE

Hold on! Don't grab my arm like that! You are not my girlfriend!

Thoughts of the unpure shall stay locked away for all eternity… She's going to make me regret my decision very quickly.

"Would you mind?"

"No. As long as we are alone, I'll behave like I always do."

"But you don't do this normally."

"I would if someone wasn't always holed up inside the forge!"

"I have to become stronger one way or another."

"Nope. Just rely on me, honey. I will do anything for you."

"That's not something healthy to say."

"You think I care?"

"That's not something healthy to say."

And so, time passed with me talking to this crazy girl that just didn't want to let go of my arm, making preparation for history class much harder. But that was until we heard footsteps coming from the hall. At that moment, she returned to her indifferent way of acting like usual with a slight conversation with me.

Now that I think about it, Gramps won't be here to teach history anymore, will it be our previous teacher or someone else? I mean someone has to look out for the twins, right?

And as time passed, more and more students, each looking at us with curious eyes. It must be shocking for them to see me interact with more people now that I have changed.

As if they could only gossip around, rumours started to spread inside the classroom like wildfire. The infamous ‘Leech’ now trying his luck with the new hot girl after already tainting the famous twins.

They even sat next to each other without any major interaction just three days ago.

Get jealous, fuckers! Do you think I just sit next to her? Do you think this is the extent of our friendship?

"What's the leech doing over there? He has already tainted the twins, now he wants to ruin our next angel?"

"I can't believe he got to sit next to her without talking with her? Did they talk before?"

"Not that I know. I never heard of such a rumour as well so this is extra weird."

"Maybe he really can brainwash people so that they would like him instantly."

Really? Brainwash someone to like me? If I could do that, don't you think I wouldn't have done that to you all already?

Though nonsense was mixed in it, the usual meaning of their conversation was about the famous leech of the football star, Felix Maximilian Weber, now sitting next to the new hot girl, Alyssa Regis, just like that.

I could already feel the jealous filled gazes upon me. Get good, fuckers. You have to at least be able to beat me before you can talk to this junior of mine! And even so, I'd not let anyone approach her unless they are good-natured.

I was playing games on my phone while waiting for the moment the biggest rumour ever would spread around the school like a pest.

And then it happened. Felix, together with Gina, entered the classroom with her hand in his. Oh boy, how much these fuckers will gossip about this now.

And talk about gossip, I could already see someone talk with a student from another class about those two. I guessed that it would take one lesson before other classes will know about it but I guess humans are just too eager to share rumours with each other.

Hmmm…

Someone is staring at me.

Sadness is the only feeling I could get from it.

Understanding how these stares felt was very weird. Like I could tell clearly that it was a sad stare.

But I didn’t care.

I had such a luxury.

Because I was the one that has his trust broken.

Trust was something very difficult to build up. It took time and energy but is worth it for the right person.

Yet one teeny tiny mistake is enough to topple it all in one moment.

But I still took a peek without really realising what I did. I could see the situation immediately.

Felix bit his lip while Gina looked at him worriedly, holding his hand tighter. So after seeing for real that I was right, I turned back, continuing to play with my phone.

My gosh, get yourself a room or something.

I could tell that Gina felt guilty about it. And that is a good thing. She did make a mistake there. So did Felix and so did I. The only thing that bothered me though is that she was so emotionless to not even consider my feelings on Friday. It was unexpected, to say the least.

I never knew her like that but maybe since we grew up more and more, change is bound to happen in a person.

It was her fault that I became so frustrated at that moment, turning partially crazy but now, I neither feel anything about her. She was curious. Maybe she experienced something she shouldn't or something happened that made her too curious.

And the Break is a topic that almost everyone on this planet wanted to know.

Human curiosity is a dangerous thing. So it's also not partly her fault for being too curious, forgetting the scene we were in. But this doesn't matter now since it happened and won't be changed anymore.

I took a quick glance and could see the huge eye bags of Felix. Did he not sleep at all? I have an excuse to have such big eye bags yet he is here not even able to get a wink of sleep?

Whatever.

I interacted very little with Alyssa to not create more rumours than we need but thankfully, everyone was occupied with the biggest rumour here that is Felix and Gina were dating, making the topic of me the new target of the infamous Leech almost forgettable.

BZZT BZZT

"Who is texting you?"

"Guess. It's Fe'liu. Says they… won't be able to get to school now that there is no awakened here."

"Isn't the principal supposed to be here?"

"I wonder. He sometimes leaves for missions. Gramps said the principal is someone who feels a great responsibility for normal people so he tries to deal with anyone threatening normal society."

"Oh… wait, are we the only awakened here then?"

"Yes but don't even think about trying something funny. The Association has their eyes almost everywhere."

"I didn't mean it like that! I just kinda… found it romantic that we are the 'only ones'. "

"Yeah, sure. Except there are almost 400 other people here. 5% are definitely married and 55% dating with most of them dating someone that is also here while we are not a couple. You are my junior. And my friend. So stop trying too much and play your role. I don’t want your name to be dragged too much through the mud."

"BUT…but…haaaah…"

It seems she gave up for now. Good. Let's just enjoy our school time, if I could. From the moment the new year arrives, the Break will happen, quickly changing the lives of everyone.

So we have about a month…

Not as much as I thought.

But the faster it came, the better. I can start my true journey and find my parents. With my search starting in London, I'd have to most likely search over the whole planet. They could be anywhere after the Break happens. So I had to find a way to speed up the search.

My thoughts kept me busy through half the day with lunch break starting just about now. An hour and a half for people to chill as much as they want while they could eat lunch in peace. It helped to relax most students' minds after 5 classes with minimal breaks.

Well, I didn't have an appetite so I skipped my lunch. Although I did make sandwiches just in case and seeing Alyssa next to me unpacking the lunch from the bag with stars in her eyes, I could do nothing but shrug at this point.

My mind was somewhere else. To be precise, it was about the books I received from the old man.

[Shadow Movement] was a movement technique specialised in concealing oneself unlike [Phasing Flash Step] that although makes the user step as silent as possible, never was its strong point. The reason to be silent for a flash step was so during the battle, no one could expect a flash step.

[Shadow Movement], as the name implies, uses the shadow element to let someone seem invisible. That is if someone had a higher shadow affinity than I have with my [All Elemental Affinity] at 30%. But this booklet talked about a different way to use it. By combining wind and light elements to suppress smell and bend light around someone, I could recreate the same effect as the original technique although not as strong as the original.

But Gramps wasn't satisfied with it and wrote a few extra pages that were more theory than an actual technique. Because the moment I could use a very good amount of space element, I could make light particles go through me while any particle that is responsible for my smell and sound does not leave my space at all, making me almost not exist in the dimension.

Some pretty deep theory you got there. Mind if I just ask how much that actually is possible and how strong I have to be to actually try that? I mean I already need a lot of concentration to hold big things with a lot of Will. Now guess how much concentration I need to have to work microscopic.

Exactly.

But thankfully, the other two books were a bit different from that theory.

[True Vision] is a technique that would let me see more than I would normally do like energy particles as well as get a 360-degree vision. This is an extremely broken skill, to be honest, but the catch, like always, is that I shouldn't be able to practice it now.

It works by moving Will inside your eyes in a certain pattern so that the light that is hitting your body from every angle will be copied into your eyes, making it seem as if you had eyes that looked at every angle while energy becomes visible, telling you if someone was preparing a certain attack you could identify.

But unfortunately, I do not possess a certain amount of control yet. We say that I have perfect control over my Will but that is at the level of a [Discipulus] staged awakened. If I tried to move my Will in that detailed pattern now, I could accidentally make my eyeballs explode.

So I had to use an earlier form of it which just attracts some of the light in front of me towards my eyes, giving me about 200 degrees of vision. Still better than nothing and the moment I have enough control over my Will, I can fully utilise this technique, making myself even more fearsome on a battlefield and not just in a duel by being able to tell what is happening much faster.

the last thing which I actually was more excited about was a book called [Theory of Elemental Combat] by Martin Abreo, a French awakened who worked for the Association from 1847 to 1965. Although he wasn't interested in becoming the strongest, he was interested in becoming the smartest fighter, becoming a jack of all trades that could counter almost every fighting style. And when he retired in the 60s, he took it upon himself to write the theories he made while trying to find counters for every fighting style he met.

His books were best-sellers inside the Association, having almost 70% of all members in the 60s own one book of him at least.

One of these theories is the theory of elemental reaction. Although scientifically, we already know how most elements would react with others, when you put Will into the matter, the whole story changes. From how you can trap lighting inside a ball of water by moving the minerals inside it to plants using the carbon dioxide released by fire to create more energy for themselves with photosynthesis.

It was pretty wild how one could accomplish so many different effects when controllable energy was involved. And with the book being extremely thick, I could tell that I'd have a great time exploring the different effects of elemental reactions.

I was actually very tempted to read more of that book but I had to stop during the first chapter that was about the wind element midway since I was in a rush to go to school. And taking out a book about magical combat wasn't something I should do at school.

I was struggling to decide if I should risk it when I heard steps coming toward this classroom.

Three people.

And all three of them have Will in the. Almost releasing their true pressure.

This means they are not from the Association nor from a guild affiliated with the Association since they would not risk hurting normal people for any reason.

"Hide your Will as much as possible."

I whispered to Alyssa with the latter nodding. She most likely felt them as well. I have a really bad feeling about this.

"Got it. But what do you want to do?"

"I'll text Big Sis Ange about this, asking if I could use my powers if needed while watching what is about to happen. If anything dangerous will happen to us, I'll intervene while you run for it."

"You think I'll leave you alone just like that? You know I'm just as strong as you so don't you dare leave me be."

"Let's just see, okay?"

I hope they didn't feel our Will before we concealed it as much as possible. The way to conceal Will is by masking it between every empty area inside your body, compressing it until it is enough to stop radiating even the tiniest bit of Will. Unless someone looks with their Will into us, they will not realise that we are Awakened ones.

And just on time, three individuals entered the classroom. Two of them were big men with black suits and sunglasses on that made them look like agents from a movie while the third and the one on the front was a boy our age with a dark orange undercut hairstyle.

Dark red eyes that looked like those of a vampire while his body was showing such a healthy colour with a strong build. I could recognise this fucker even without that training garb he had on on that day I was beaten to a pulp.

"Walter Peltro…"

The boy that has beaten me black and blue before I was trained by Gramps. Just thinking about that humiliation was making me clench my teeth. The way the others laughed at me. The way that fucker Mr Frank forced me into this fight and how I had my pride broken by this fucker.

What the hell does he want from here? What does the Peltro family want from here?

The Peltro family was one of the three known awakened families in Berlin. They were the ones controlling most of the city with the other two families being more of a vassal family for them. Saying the whole city was in their hand would not be a wrong statement but with the Association's protection, they could do nothing with the people here.

But it wasn't the patriarch, Walter's father, who came but the boy himself.

I was already hating this fucker but now realising that he was actually from the Peltro family made me even angrier. His family was part of the reason Gramps had to leave.

They most likely didn't find out that we are Gramps's students since if they did, they'd not send someone who is only [Discipulus] stage level 2 with two [Discipulus] stage level 5 guards. That may be enough to beat one of us if they countered our fighting styles but not to catch us.

"Lee. Frank. Listen up!"

So Mr Frank, who was the martial arts teacher, is that fucker’s guard. So it makes sense why he tried to push me into that fight. All for that sadistic fucker to have an excuse to toy with me.

"Remember you two! That wannabe hero is not here so we can do as much as we want but I'm the one using my powers. Try to not get over level 1 with your physical strength and only use your abilities when getting attacked, got it? Otherwise, these peace-lovers will get wind of this much faster.”

"Yes sir!"

"Yes sir!"

"Good… Let's go."

I had to pull out my phone and do what I said before immediately. I texted Big Sis Ange with the number Gramps gave to us.

As far as I know, using your abilities in front of normal people or making them involved in matters between Awakened was strictly forbidden by the Association. Anyone that did so would be hunted down immediately.

But if something bad happens before any member could arrive, then it would be disastrous.

[Big Sis Ange, I'd like to report that Walter Peltro is in our classroom. I believe he plans on using his ability in front of normal people. If there is a moment where I have to intervene, am I allowed to do so with my ability? And I'd like to ask for at least two members around [Discipulus] stage level 5 or higher to handle this afterwards.

BZZT BZZZT

I didn't expect to get a message instantly but that is better. The faster I get my confirmation, the more chances I have to help in dire need.

[Intervene only when it's obvious he is using his ability. Try to conceal the usage of abilities as much as possible but if he is using his abilities too openly, be ready to do so as well. As for the agents… our hands are full and I can only send two agents that should be about [Discipulus] stage level 5. So I have to ask you to help out if necessary.]

[Thanks! I owe you one.]

[I'll owe you one. But be warned. Don't harm him too much. If they see the boy in a state unable to recover, then you may have a target on your back.]

[I'll be careful.]

Putting my phone away, I turned toward Alyssa who was waiting for my decision. She leaned over to me, whispering with as much of a quiet voice as possible.

"What are you going to do?"

"I can use my ability in an emergency. I'll wait for now and see what happens. If there is any normal person in danger, I'll intervene immediately."

"What about me? How can I help?"

"You won't. There are two agents on their way to fight the guards while I'll be responsible for Walter."

"What do you mean I won't? I'm not dead weight! I can fight as well!"

"Yes, but I can't let you become a target for the Peltro family if something happens to that fucker while we fight. So, please. This once only."

"Hm!… You make it hard for me, Laith. But I'll listen…"

"Thank you."

"But why are there only two people coming? Why let you handle the situation in the first place?"

"I don't know but it seems like they are understaffed at the moment. But it doesn't matter. Because there is something I had to pay him back. Something that I had to pay back for a looooong time now."

Walter walked through the classroom with one target in sight, not even recognising anyone else around. He walked forward until he stood in front of a table where a beautiful girl with dirty blonde hair and shining blue eyes sat.

Most of the people inside the classroom were awestruck by the appearance of this handsome boy with his expensive clothes and good perfume filling the air with his scent.

Most were awestruck.

Most.

"You guys stand back."

"Yes sir."

"Yes sir"

Looking at the bothersome person in front of her, Gina did nothing but glare at him with anger filling her eyes. She hated Walter deeply. But now, that hatred was only stronger than before.

"Hello again, my princess. I've come to ask you again. Would you accept my proposal?"

Remembering that proposal made her mood only worse as it reminded her of the talk she had with her boyfriend on Friday.

Glancing at Felix, who was the only one not moving back from Walter, she had only complicated feelings about this situation. But seeing the dirty grin on Walter's face made only her anger grow. Felix was no different with his face visibly showing his anger, which has only been ignored by the fellow causing these feelings.

Because he knew this proposal was too good. A world where you can be someone better than all the peasants trying to fight over simple things like money. The higher beings are more interested in strength and authority.

"I refuse. As much as I am interested in that power, I will not betray my heart."

Walter's expression crumbled the instant he heard her words. He couldn't believe what he was actually hearing right now.

Gina's answer was bold yet she knew that if there wasn't a catch or a law-bound to those so-called 'Awakened' then he would have already used his abilities to force her to be with him.

But unfortunately, that was about to change.

"What?! Can you even hear what you are saying? Do you know what you will be missing out on? Do you?"

Screaming, Walter couldn't take such an answer. There was only one good choice. His choice. And anything else would only disgust him to no end.

If his face before was like that of a handsome person, friendly with all, then now it could be only described as an ugly monster, ready to slaughter this classroom at once.

Since giving her a choice didn't work, he can only resort to violence.

Just like planned.

but before even moving an inch, he got an answer to his rhetorical question.

"Oh, I do know what I'm missing out on but frankly, I rather not. I may not know what this 'Break' thing is but I am sure that it will not be something that will affect my decision now. So you can go back and stop following me around."

"Mwhahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Those words were just too funny for the three of them, making them laugh as hard as they could with Walter almost falling down on the floor. The prior image of him was already gone but now it just became worse with that cynical laugh he displayed for everyone to see.

"…what's so funny?"

A tear of joy was almost leaving Walter’s eyes but the three slowly calmed down from that outburst of laughter. They found it hilarious. But as they said.

Ignorance is bliss.

"Oh, just that you thought that even if you said no to me that I'd let you go… And the Break part obviously but I've gotta say … You do have quite the character for an ignorant wench! Do you think I'd even let you have a choice? Your body is my desire, not you… And yet I gave you a chance to choose wisely. But here you are, saying something cliche like 'I won't let go of my heart!'… Really now…"

Mocking her choices, Walter slowly approached Gina who backed off one bit at a time with each step Walter took. Lifting his hand high, an orange flame the size of three basketballs appeared. This flame burned strongly until it moved towards his hand, covering his hand in a condensed flame.

With his right hand now on fire, Walter looked at Gina with a victorious look.

Despair was the only thing written on her face now. How could a normal person fight against someone with superpowers? She saw this display once before and now being threatened by it, she could do nothing but fear.

"And? Changed your mind? Or do I have to take you by force?"

"DON'T YOU DARE TAKE HER!"

But before her fears could grow, standing between her and the boy with his hand in flames, Felix stood there right in front of Walter.

Walter only now realised that there were other people here. His priorities were already set and anyone not meeting his standard would be erased from his sight.

But now an insect was standing before him and the one he chose. And that was unacceptable.

With his mood ruined, Walter was furiously looking at this idiot in front of him. His frown grew with each second passing.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Her boyfriend. So fuck off!"

Felix was way more courageous than he ever felt. Maybe his hormones were playing with him or maybe he really treasured Gina that much but in the end, he stood there in front of a superhuman with nothing to back him up.

"You? Her boyfriend? Good joke there, buddy. Now move aside."

But Felix never moved away. He was not going to, making the person in front of him angrier. Why does such a simple chore have to become so complicated with just the addition of an idiot?

"I said move!"

Yet he stayed quiet, standing in front of him even with a burning hand almost in front of his face.

Felix was scared. He was scared for his life. He wished that person would vanish this instance but he stood there. He knew that he should not step aside. Not now.

So he prepared himself for the rest. At least he stood behind his pride this once. His anxiety grew with his knees slightly shaking but he never moved an inch.

Walter's expression changed drastically at that moment. From an angered one to a sadistic one. His smile was disturbing almost everyone in the room, erasing the first impression everyone had when he just entered the class with such a noble aura.

But the more his sadistic smile grew, the stronger the pressure he released became, forcing almost everyone on their knees while the rest tried to fight against this feeling.

This feeling was familiar to them but no one connected the dots yet.

Felix almost fell to the ground but unknown pride made him stand almost straight. He won’t let himself be pushed down by someone like him.

All students felt fear of witnessing something they thought would only be possible in movies or games. Yet here was a living example. And it threatened someone with his burning fist.

"Guys, hold him down… I know the perfect game to play since I'm bored! Why not make you Swiss cheese, no? What do you say, Mr boyfriend?"

That smile was only more disturbing with each word Walter let out of his mouth.

His two guards vanished from sight, only to reappear next to Felix, holding onto his arms each. He couldn't even move a muscle as he struggled to free himself.

But during all this commotion, his eyes still wandered to a specific spot.

On a table where a boy with black hair and golden eyes was supposed to sit.

Yet he wasn’t.

'Where is he?'

"Now… LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!"

"NOOOOOO!"

Gina's scream was the last thing Felix thought he would hear.

His best friend hates him.

His girlfriend will be taken from him by force.

He is about to be turned into Swiss cheese.

It was sad.

All this happened in a matter of days, making this development too fast for Felix, who was already giving up on life at this point.

And with Walter thrusting his burning fist forward, his eyes were already wet. So why not close them and regret his choices one last time.

But before Walter's fist could even touch a single hair of the boy between the two guards, his hand got grabbed by someone.

CLENCH

"Who… who are you?!"