As Ray is walking through the halls, reminiscing on the earlier encounter
A flicker of blue light. A sharp crackle.
Ray didn't flinch. He shifted instinctively, rolling forward just as a bolt of electricity zipped past. Turning, he locked eyes with the culprit—Josh, the academy's resident troublemaker, smirking.
Ray smirked back. "Is that all you've got, Sparky?"
Josh grinned, electricity crackling between his fingers. "You're fast, Ray, but let's see if you can dodge this."
"Are you still mad about last?" Said Ray
Another bolt shot toward him. Ray moved like liquid, weaving through tables, flipping over chairs with effortless precision. Students cheered as he leaped onto a table, balancing on the edge with feline grace.
Josh narrowed his eyes and fired again. Ray dropped, the bolt scorching the air above him. A fraction slower, and he'd be fried.
Josh cursed. "Damn it, Ray, just stand still for once!"
Ray chuckled, standing. "Not my style."
A sudden ripple of energy surged through the room.
Mrs. Lawson stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. Her ability—force fields. Within seconds, Josh was floating, encased in a shimmering bubble.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Josh thrashed, but he was trapped.
Mrs. Lawson sighed. "Detention."
With a flick of her hand, Josh drifted out of the cafeteria like an angry balloon.
The crowd laughed. Ray exhaled, rubbing his arm where faint burns tingled from the near-misses. That was close.
Mrs. Lawson and most of the teachers here were gifted. Some of my classmates have enough power to shake the world if they want. But me? I'm nothing. Ungifted. Unclaimed. Worthless in their society.
Gifted users made up less than 10% of the nation's population, but here, in the City of Dreams, everyone had some ability. High-level gifts were forced to wear bracelets and were constantly monitored. Even Ms. K—a Level 5 gifted, a government-class anomaly—was watched. She could control gravity itself, yet she was still just a pawn.
And Ray? He was just... fast. Reflexes and instincts—nothing compared to gifted users.
The thought sat heavy in his gut.
Ray dropped onto the bench beside James and Louis.
"Took you long enough," James said.
Ray sighed dramatically. "Shocker over there kept me busy."
Louis grinned. "That was a show! You dodged him like a damn ninja."
Ray shot him a flat look. "I'd be dead if I didn't."
James stole a fry from Ray's plate. "You better not get another detention. You'll miss my game Friday."
Ray stiffened. "Oh, crap. I forgot about your game." He winced. "Uh... I may have detention for the next three months."
James stared. "You're kidding."
Ray nervously glanced away. "Maybe. Probably."
Before James could react, something shifted.
The air around them felt... wrong.
James frowned. "Where's Ray?"
The group turned—Ray's seat was empty.
Louis blinked. "Guys... there's a teddy bear here."
Silence.
Then James and Sanji burst into laughter.
Ray reappeared with a pop, rubbing his temples. "I swear to god, Louis—"
Louis tossed a fry into his mouth. "Relax, it's just a joke."
The bell rang, breaking up their laughter.
Photography class started, the assignment-Take photos of whatever you find interesting, then write a 3-page paper about why and how it captures artistic expression.
Ray wandered the halls, taking pictures.
Ray's feet carried him through the halls, the camera steady in his hands. He was lost in the rhythm of it, capturing moments as they passed by.
He paused
He slowly rolled his shoulders as he leaned against the wall. The academy buzzed with its usual chaos—students shouting, energy crackling in the air, and the occasional explosion in the distance. But all he wanted was a single, peaceful day.
Not that peace ever lasted long.
He reached into his jacket pocket, fingers brushing against the cool metal of his camera. Photography was the only thing that let him slow down, the only thing that made sense. Through the lens, the world wasn't just noise—it was structure, balance, light and shadow. He could frame a moment, capture it, and for that brief second, everything stood still.
No expectations. No powers. No fights. Just focus.
His grip tightened. He hadn't had a moment like that in weeks. Maybe today would be different.
Probably not.
This school was different.
Fights weren't just common—they were expected. Violence wasn't just brushed off; it was built into the system. It was accepted, but not tolerated. A contradiction that made perfect sense here. They didn't punish us for fighting, not really. They wanted us to be tested. They wanted to know our limits. They wanted to see if we had what it took to serve them... or if we were just a waste of time.
I hated it.
I hated the system. I hated its rules. And I hated the people pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Most students here accepted it. Some even thrived in it. They believed in the academy's purpose, in the idea that we were training to be something greater. But I wasn't like them. I wasn't here to be their soldier.
I was here to get to the bottom of everything.
Because something about this place was wrong.
Were these students gifted? Or was there something much more sinister going on?