Chapter Eight — After the Bell

By the end of training, nobody looked human.

They looked like seven people who had personally offended the concept of physical exhaustion.

Kai was lying flat on the training floor.

Vikram was lying beside him.

Mei had her back against a pillar with her eyes closed.

Lyra was using three strands of her hair to hold a water bottle because apparently lifting her own arm had become too much work.

Aurora was sitting cross-legged, trying to catch her breath.

Zayne was staring at the ceiling.

Rayden was the only one who still looked remotely composed.

Kai turned his head.

“Rayden.”

No response.

“Rayden.”

Still nothing.

“Bro.”

Rayden finally looked down.

“What?”

“You're annoying.”

Rayden stared at him.

“You're lying on the floor.”

“Exactly.”

Kai pointed weakly toward the ceiling.

“I have achieved a higher state of existence.”

Vikram groaned.

“I think I've died.”

Aurora looked at him.

“Vikram, you said that yesterday.”

“I've died twice.”

“You're not dead.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you're still talking.”

Vikram considered this.

“Fair.”

Kai lifted one finger.

“I have an important question.”

Zayne didn't look at him.

“No.”

“You don't even know the question.”

“I know you.”

Kai smiled.

“That's beautiful.”

Zayne finally looked at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Kai paused.

“Can I have your water?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you drank mine.”

“I was thirsty.”

“You drank the entire bottle.”

“I was very thirsty.”

Rayden sighed.

“Kai.”

“Yes, daddy?”

The room went silent.

Rayden slowly turned his head.

“What did you call me?”

Kai grinned.

“Daddy.”

Vikram immediately started laughing.

Mei covered her mouth.

Aurora looked horrified.

Lyra whispered,

“Oh, he's dead.”

Rayden stared at Kai.

“You're doing the stairs tomorrow.”

Kai sat up.

“Come on, Daddy Rayden.”

“Stop.”

“Don't be harsh on me.”

“Stop.”

“Father figure.”

“I'm warning you.”

“Papa Rayden—”

Rayden stood.

Kai immediately ran.

“OKAY, I'M SORRY!”

The others burst out laughing.

Even Zayne.

Just a little.

---

They eventually made their way back to the residence wing.

Nobody wanted dinner.

Nobody had the energy.

They collapsed into the common room instead.

Kai and Vikram occupied one sofa.

Aurora sat on the floor.

Mei was braiding a strand of Lyra's hair.

Zayne was pretending not to listen to anyone.

Rayden sat near the window.

It was peaceful.

Until Lyra said:

“So, obviously, we're not going back to the library tonight.”

Silence.

Aurora slowly looked at her.

“Lyra.”

Lyra froze.

Mei stopped braiding.

Vikram looked up.

“Library?”

Kai sat upright.

“What happened in the library?”

“Nothing,” Aurora said immediately.

Vikram narrowed his eyes.

“That was the worst ‘nothing’ I've ever heard.”

Zayne finally looked over.

“What did you do?”

Lyra sighed.

“We found something.”

Rayden's expression sharpened.

“Something what?”

Aurora looked at the three girls.

Then at the boys.

“We heard the teachers talking.”

“About?”

Aurora hesitated.

“A man.”

Kai's joking expression faded slightly.

“What man?”

Mei answered quietly.

“We don't know.”

“What did they say?”

Lyra leaned forward.

“They were talking about someone feeding on life energy.”

Vikram blinked.

“Like... eating people?”

“No.”

Aurora shook her head.

“They mentioned unicorn blood.”

Kai stared.

“I'm sorry.”

A pause.

“Unicorn what?”

“Blood.”

Vikram sat up.

“Okay, I officially have questions.”

Zayne frowned.

“Why would someone drink unicorn blood?”

Lyra shrugged.

“Apparently it gives energy.”

Rayden looked toward the window.

“Who?”

“We don't know.”

Aurora shook her head.

“They never said his name.”

Kai frowned.

“Then why are we whispering like he's Voldemort?”

Nobody answered.

Vikram looked around.

“Wait.”

He pointed toward the girls.

“You three went investigating without us?”

Lyra smiled.

“Yes.”

“That's rude.”

“You would've gotten us caught.”

“I would have been useful.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow.

“You would have eaten the library snacks.”

“They have snacks?”

“No.”

“Then definitely not.”

Everyone laughed.

But Rayden didn't.

He was still staring out the window.

“Did you hear anything else?”

Mei's smile disappeared.

She looked down.

“We heard a name.”

“What name?”

She shook her head.

“We don't know if it was his.”

“What was it?”

Mei hesitated.

Then:

“Veyr.”

The room went quiet.

None of them knew what the name meant.

But somewhere deep inside the Academy, something seemed to react.

A faint vibration moved through the walls.

Just once.

Nobody noticed.

Except Rayden.

---

Later that night, Vikram stood alone in front of the mirror.

The room was dark except for the moonlight coming through the window.

He stared at his reflection.

He lifted his hand.

A faint glow appeared around his fingers.

His power.

His mind.

He could feel thoughts around him sometimes.

Little things.

Fragments.

Emotions.

Voices that weren't his.

He had learned to shut most of them out.

He looked at himself for a long moment.

Then smiled faintly.

“Seven.”

He whispered the number.

Seven Protectors.

Seven powers.

Seven people who were apparently supposed to save two worlds.

He shook his head.

“Ridiculous.”

His reflection smiled back.

For a second, Vikram's smile disappeared.

Then the door opened.

Kai walked in.

He didn't say anything.

He simply walked behind Vikram and wrapped both arms around him.

Vikram froze.

“What are you doing?”

“Hugging you.”

“Why?”

“Because you looked sad.”

“I wasn't sad.”

“Okay.”

Kai rested his chin on Vikram's shoulder.

“Then I'm hugging you for no reason.”

Vikram stared at their reflection.

Then he smiled.

“You're weird.”

“I know.”

A moment later, the door opened again.

Zayne stood there.

He looked at them.

“What is happening?”

Kai didn't let go.

“Group hug.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not.”

Kai stretched one arm toward him.

“Come here.”

“No.”

Vikram laughed.

“Come on.”

Zayne sighed.

Then walked over.

“Fine.”

He joined them.

Three seconds later, Rayden walked past the doorway.

Kai looked over.

“Daddy!”

Rayden stopped.

“No.”

“Come here.”

“No.”

“Family hug.”

“No.”

Vikram grinned.

“Please?”

Rayden stared at them.

Then sighed.

“You're all idiots.”

He walked in.

The four of them collided into one enormous, awkward hug.

Mei appeared at the door.

She stared.

“Are you serious?”

Kai pointed at her.

“Get in.”

“No.”

Aurora appeared behind her.

She smiled.

“You might as well.”

Lyra came around the corner.

“What is this?”

“Family bonding,” Vikram said.

Lyra stared at them.

“Disgusting.”

She joined anyway.

Within seconds, all seven were squeezed together.

Seven strangers who had been kidnapped into another world.

Seven children who had been told they were responsible for something they didn't understand.

Seven people who had slowly become each other's home.

Nobody said it.

Nobody needed to.

---

That evening, the Seven were summoned to the central training chamber.

All seven instructors were waiting.

Seraphina stood at the front.

A giant crystal screen appeared behind her.

Seven names appeared.

RAYDEN

ZAYNE

KAI

VIKRAM

AURORA

MEI

LYRA

Seraphina looked at them.

“For the first nine months, you have learned control.”

She raised her hand.

Seven columns appeared.

“Tonight, we assess mastery.”

The first category appeared.

COMBAT

Rayden — A

Zayne — B+

Kai — A+

Vikram — B

Aurora — A+

Mei — A+

Lyra — A

Kai stared at his grade.

He pointed at the screen.

“A+.”

Nobody said anything.

Kai slowly turned around.

“Guys.”

Vikram smiled.

“You did well.”

“No.”

Kai pointed dramatically at himself.

“You didn't expect this.”

Zayne sighed.

“Unfortunately.”

Kai put his hands on his hips.

“I'm literally a superhero.”

Rayden shook his head.

“You're literally late every morning.”

“Both things can be true.”

The next category appeared.

PRIMARY AFFINITY

Rayden — Shadow

Zayne — Wind

Kai — Fire

Vikram — Mind

Aurora — Water

Mei — Ice

Lyra — Manifestation

Seraphina explained:

“You all possess access to the same fundamental energy. Your bodies respond differently to it. Your primary affinities are simply the abilities that answer you most naturally.”

Aurora nodded.

“So we aren't limited to one power?”

“No.”

Vikram's eyes widened.

“So theoretically…”

Seraphina looked at him.

“Yes.”

“You're saying I could learn fire?”

“Yes.”

“Could I learn shadow?”

“Yes.”

“Could I learn wind?”

“Yes.”

Kai grinned.

“Can I learn mind control?”

Vikram immediately turned toward him.

“Don't even think about it.”

Kai laughed.

The next scores appeared.

POWER CONTROL

Rayden — A

Zayne — A

Kai — A

Vikram — A+

Aurora — A+

Mei — A

Lyra — A

Kai stared at Vikram's score.

“Of course.”

Vikram smiled.

“My brain is beautiful.”

Aurora looked at him.

“Vikram.”

“What?”

“Stop saying that.”

“Why?”

“Because you've said it fourteen times today.”

“Fifteen.”

She rolled her eyes.

Everyone laughed.

Seraphina watched them.

Then her expression softened.

Nine months ago, they had arrived frightened, angry and alone.

Now they stood together.

Laughing.

Arguing.

Protecting one another.

They had become exactly what the Academy needed them to become.

A unit.

But Seraphina knew something the Seven did not.

Their training scores weren't the reason she was worried.

Their powers weren't the reason.

It was the final line on the assessment.

The one she had deliberately hidden from them.

CONVERGENCE COMPATIBILITY: 97.8%

No group in Academy history had ever reached that number.

And if the old records were correct—

the Seven weren't merely capable of fighting together.

They were capable of becoming something that had not existed for centuries.

Something powerful enough to kill Veyr.

Seraphina looked at the seven.

Then quietly closed the screen.

“Training continues tomorrow.”

Kai groaned.

“Tomorrow?”

Vikram looked at him.

“It's always tomorrow.”

Kai sighed.

“I hate this place.”

Aurora smiled.

“No, you don't.”

Kai looked at her.

His expression softened.

“...Maybe not.”

Vikram noticed.

And grinned.

“Oh, this is getting good.”

“Vikram.”

“I'm stopping.”

He wasn't.