SYSTEM ASCENSION

”It doesn’t exist. Not anymore.”

The world around Kael’s eye blurred for a second.

’It doesn’t exist? Did he erase it? Can he erase... things...or people. If he erases me...’

”It can only work on small things though.” Elias shrugged like he was reading the boy’s mind.

In fact, he didn’t need to read Kael’s mind. The boy was fragile, and just Elias’ little stunt already got his leg shaking.

Elias stood up and began to walk to the washroom.

”It requires a lot of vital energy to use too. Reserved for emergencies.”

Kael subconsciously nodded, biting his finger. ”yes, you should reserve it. You should.”

Elias scoffed and walked into the bathroom. As the door opened, a sudden alert drew his attention.

[System ability: Void]

[Level:01]

[Xp: 05/100]

[Skill: void erase]

’It increased?’

He shut the door behind him and walked further into the spacious bathroom.

”Hmm.” His eyes wandered around.

He walked over to the stand, and grabbed a towel. Activating the colourless energy, the towel vanished.

[Xp: 10/100]

”So it increases if I use it.”

He sighed softly and looked around.

”Well...I should leave that for now.”

He simply took a bath and returned.

Kael was sitting, lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Elias. He could tell that the boy was troubled about something, but he wasn’t one to care.

Five minutes later,

”Let’s go,”

They both went to history class.

Because of what happened a few hours ago, many students soon realised that Elias and Kael were the remaining council members and their attention multiplied.

They sat at the back of the class and soon, people began to fill the class.

The professor came in at exactly seven am sharp. It was Ned.

”Settle down.” He quietly said.

All the students sat down as he stepped to the podium.

”Let’s begin.”

The door opened and the last student walked in, wearing a hood. She wasn’t as short as Tiana but she wasn’t that tall either.

Student Council. Coco.

Although all attention was on the professor, Elias’ eyes were drawn to her. She took quiet elegant steps to the seat at the front. And when she had finally arrived, she stopped and looked back, straight at him. Their eyes locked for a moment, then she sat.

”Then,” Ned clapped his hand and a projection appeared beside him. ”Let’s look into the—”

He interrupted himself this time, eyes moving to the door with a quiet urgency. All the students stared at him in confusion, but only a few of them seemed to understand what was happening.

Ned’s ability is danger sense.

Elias narrowed his eyes.

”Hostile aura.”

PRINCIPAL OFFICE

The doors to the principal’s front yard slammed open.

Board Member Joran Zaela stormed in, flanked by two A-rank elite protectors. His daughter’s face was bandaged, but the fury in her eyes didn’t need medical attention.

”Principal Owen!” Joran’s voice cracked against the marble.

Students and staff scattered.

Principal Owen stepped out of his office before they reached it, already rolling his sleeves up.

”Board Member Zaela. Miss Zaela. I was just reviewing the report.”

”You’ll do more than review,” Joran snarled. ”You’ll provide me the boy. Elias Morail. Right now.”

”That’s enough.”

Joran took a step forward. ”Enough? My daughter is missing teeth because your ’provisional’ let his hand slip.”

Owen met his eyes. Then he looked at Ume.

”Miss Zaela, you initiated physical contact. Twice. In front of eight witnesses and the student president. You insulted his lineage. On record. In the council chamber.”

Ume flinched. ”I was—”

”You were bullying a specially admitted student signed in by Mr. Rowan, on his first day,”

”Mr. Rowen?!” Joran flinched.

Owen finished. ”And you chose to do it with a Black eye.”

The word landed. Joran’s jaw locked. ”What did you just say?”

”I said Black eye, Board Member. The gate’s been closed for centuries. Yet one walked in and registered. Did you think he’d let you slap him?”

While Owen said these words, he kept his eyes on Joran’s expression, and the man was really shaken.

’I was wondering why Mr Rowen wanted me to wag Elias’ status at the leading family’s face. He really does have something to do with how Elias got here.’

Owen continued. ”You want Elias? File a formal Board inquiry. Subpoena his reclassification results. Do it by the book. But if you send dogs into my academy to drag a student out of class because he made your daughter bleed after she drew first blood? This is a place to write about the future, not wimps!”

Joran stared at Owen like he wanted to rip him apart. If what the stand-in headmaster had said was true, then he had bigger problems. Finally, Joran turned on his heel. ”This isn’t over, Owen.”

Owen said to his back. ”Medical will send you the dental bill. Have a good day, Miss Zaela.”

The doors slammed again on their way out.

Owen just adjusted his cuffs, and stepped closer and peered through the window, to be sure they were really leaving.

Joran Zaela was halfway across the yard, dragging Ume by the elbow, when the school doors down the hall clicked open.

Students filed out, the council behind. Precisely class one A who had chosen to follow Ned.

Elias was behind.

Still in his old uniform, hood up and hands in pockets. Eyes half-lidded like he’d just woken up from a nap he didn’t ask for.

Ume saw him before her father did. Her finger shot out, trembling with fresh fury.

”HIM!” Her voice cracked. ”THAT’S HIM! THE TALLEST ONE! THE FREAK THAT—”

Joran turned, and saw Elias.

He turned back and deflated immediately.

All the rage bled out of him so fast it was physical. The two A-rank raiders behind him actually took a half-step back.

”Is that human?”

”The height is—”

Joran raised a hand to his face. Slowly. Like he could hide behind his own hand. ”...Why is he still alive?” he whispered.

It was the same face. Older, taller, but definitely the same face. Same face who had pleaded for death in his grasp, times without number. Same face his cleanup squad swore they’d buried.

”DAD!” Ume shrieked, stomping her foot. ”ARE YOU SEEING HIM?! HE’S RIGHT THERE! ARREST HIM! KILL HIM! DO SOMETHING!”

Every student in the yard stopped. Every staff member froze. Even the wind held its breath.

Elias kept walking to them.

Joran’s hand didn’t leave his face. ”Ume,” he hissed through his teeth. ”Shut. Up.”

”WHY ARE YOU—”

Joran grabbed her wrist hard. ”Ume. Stop talking.”

She reeled. ”What? He...”

”NOW!”