Aiden sat quietly in Charles's office, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of the chair. Charles's words echoed in his mind.Yes, his powers were stronger now—far stronger than when he first arrived at the Academy six years ago. But strength alone didn't make him invincible.Even Magneto, one of the most feared and respected mutants in the world, had been captured more than once by ordinary humans. Human hatred was a weapon far more dangerous than guns or bombs. Against the blind prejudice of society, even the strongest mutants could fall.If his identity were exposed… if he went out into the world alone at his age, the risks were unimaginable.Aiden exhaled slowly. The Professor's right. For now, it's better to wait. Until my power is sharper… until I'm ready.He straightened and gave Charles a sincere nod. "Then I'll trouble you, Professor."Charles's sternness softened into a gentle smile. "Think nothing of it. A love for knowledge is a rare gift. What's more…" His voice shifted, a teasing edge slipping in, "you have two professors here who could put any university faculty to shame. If there's something you don't understand, you can always ask Hank or myself."Aiden chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.The Professor wasn't boasting. Charles Xavier was, without exaggeration, a genius of the highest caliber. With doctorates in genetics, biophysics, and psychology from institutions like Oxford and Columbia, his academic breadth was staggering.And Hank McCoy, no less brilliant, was an engineer, scientist, and innovator whose hands had crafted marvels far beyond their time—vertical takeoff jets, holographic danger-room simulations, Cerebro. Between the two of them, there was enough knowledge to fill lifetimes."Alright," Aiden said with a respectful bow of his head. "I'll take advantage of my teachers while I have them."Charles chuckled warmly. "See that you do."---Aiden left the office with lighter steps, though his mind was still buzzing. The air in the hallway felt crisp, the summer sun pouring in through tall windows, casting golden bars of light along the floor.When he returned to the dormitory, he barely had time to push open the door before a voice called out."Hey, Aiden! Want to play basketball?"The speaker was Billy, a boy from the next dorm over. His freckled cheeks flushed with enthusiasm, his grin wide. Billy had a gift for teleportation—though, at his young age, the distance he could travel was limited to ten meters. He often used it for mischief, appearing behind friends or vanishing before a scolding could land.Aiden smiled helplessly. "Billy, you know I prefer reading to running around. Sports aren't really my thing.""Ugh, you're impossible," Billy groaned dramatically. His eyes flicked to Danny, who was perched on his bed with a book in hand. "And you! Danny, you're just as bad. You two should start a book club or something."Before either could respond, Billy blinked out of existence with a soft pop of displaced air—no doubt congratulating himself for getting the last word.Aiden shook his head with a quiet laugh. Danny, still immersed in his book, didn't even glance up."You're back," Danny said a moment later, lowering the pages slightly. His light hair caught the sunlight streaming in, his slender frame still carrying the same elegance he had inherited from his father. "So… did Professor Xavier agree?"Aiden let out a sigh, flopping down on his own bed. "No. He won't let me leave."Danny frowned, thoughtful. "Then… what about books? You've already devoured the entire library.""That part's handled," Aiden said, recalling Charles's promise. "The Professor agreed to order more books for us. And he said if we hit something we don't understand, we can go to him or Hank."Danny's brows relaxed. He nodded slowly. "That's not bad, then."But Aiden noticed his calm reaction, and his lips curved knowingly. "Why don't you seem surprised?"Danny chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Because if you hadn't asked, I was going to. My father could have arranged something similar."Aiden grinned, extending his fist. "Good brother. Always dependable."Danny's smile widened, and he bumped fists with Aiden. Their friendship, built over six years, was now as solid as stone.They were both outsiders in their own way—bookish, quiet, not inclined toward the loud games of their peers. To others, they were "freaks" or "nerds." To each other, they were kindred spirits.---"So," Aiden asked after their laughter died down, "how's your training going?"Danny's smile faltered. He raised his palm.A faint golden shimmer flickered into existence above his hand, forming a translucent sphere the size of a washbasin. It hummed softly, bending the air around it in strange distortions. But within moments, the light dimmed and vanished.Danny exhaled, shaking his head. "It's grown bigger. Stronger. But I still don't know what it's for."Compared to six months ago, the sphere had increased tenfold in size. Yet its purpose remained a mystery.Aiden leaned forward, stroking his chin. "Maybe you're still too young. Abilities evolve with age, right? Give it time.""Maybe," Danny agreed softly. Then he smiled faintly. "Honestly, I don't care if it's strong or weak. I came here to learn control, not to chase power."That was Danny—steady, grounded, unshaken by pride."What about you?" Danny asked. "How's your training?"Aiden's lips curved. "Not bad. My telekinesis has come a long way. I'm even developing it in new directions."He raised his hand, and Danny felt his body lift gently off the bed. His limbs flailed instinctively, eyes wide as he floated weightlessly in mid-air."Wow!" Danny laughed, twisting in place. "This is incredible!"Aiden chuckled at his roommate's childlike excitement. He let Danny hover for over ten minutes, testing his endurance, before lowering him back down. His mind barely felt the strain.He thought back to the boy he had been six years ago—barely able to lift a toothbrush without exhaustion. Now he could levitate a person for minutes at a time without breaking a sweat.The progress was undeniable.---That evening, the three of them—Aiden, Danny, and Jean—sat together in the garden. The summer air was warm, cicadas buzzing softly in the distance. Stars pricked the sky, their glow mirrored in Jean's bright eyes."I heard some students are going home for the summer break," Jean said, plucking a blade of grass and twirling it absentmindedly. "Will you two go?"Danny shook his head. "My father's traveling. He wanted me to stay here. Honestly, I prefer it this way. There are fewer people in the library during the holidays."Jean giggled softly. "Of course you'd say that."Her gaze shifted to Aiden. "What about you?"Aiden leaned back on the grass, hands folded behind his head, staring at the stars. "I don't have a home to go back to. The Institute is my home."The words were simple, but they carried weight. Both Jean and Danny fell silent.Jean reached over and gently brushed her hand against Aiden's.For a while, the three simply sat beneath the summer sky, the silence comfortable, the future uncertain but theirs to shape.--
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