THE SCORE

Noah was never in a do-or-die situation before in life. His daily life was built around diligent studying and working on devices. He avoided all conflicts or taunts. Though being called trash by others due to his low EQ level, he never had any urge for increasing his level or strength. Given his background, he did not have the resources or training to elevate his level. This would have continued and he would have faded in the sands of time unless he received the call.

His soul had been perforated by all the eyes of contempt and disgust. An orphan with no background and lowest level EQ was a matter of joke for most of his classmates. The radio transmission was more of a call to his soul, which had lit up and started burning brightly.

Though the goal was far-fetched and he was not sure if that could be achieved, he tried to make sense of whatever he could and proceed with short-term objectives. But achieving anything from now on will require strength, not just mentally but also physically. Training with Kane was the first step he took towards his goal.

Humanity can only be saved if everyone comes together and is the only thing that has not happened in decades. Fighting and killing within their own species will only not result in any solution. People have forgotten to co-exist. Noah aimed to bring humanity together to fight the coming crisis. But that also meant giving second chances to people who have lost their way. If these people can atone for their sins by doing something for humanity as a whole, there can be no greater redemption.

But to do this Noah needs to be powerful enough to fight the seven deadly sins of humankind.

Kane and Noah went down the mountain to meet with Lucy at their predestined place.

"Thank God, both of you are fine.." Lucy ran and hugged Kane.

Noah was thinking all the way. But one thing for sure was that now he was more focused on his goal. He nodded to Lucy's inquiry with a smile.

"What now then?" asked Lucy as she stopped hugging her dad.

"Aww...I was enjoying the moment. Can you not hug me more little one!" Kane exclaimed. Lucy stomped on Kane's foot who jumped off holding his leg. "Dumb daddy!" she uttered with a smile.

"You can come with me. Though I live in an orphanage I can manage something for you."

"It is fine. There is a place I have been meaning to go to for some time now. It is in the ghetto. Finally... time to return within walls." Kane announced.

"But how will you pass the command checkpost?" asked Noah.

"I have been avoiding their radar for a long time. Naturally, I have my ways..." winked Kane.

They decided to tag along till the border of the wilderness, where they will part and go separate ways. Lucy hugged Noah. She felt Noah had grown to be a part of their family. She never had a brother. "Until we meet again then. Take care of yourself."

"Don't worry, we will meet soon." Kane handed something to Noah. as he gracefully received it, Noah found it to be the G-tek device. "Don't go over 4x. I will contact you when the time is right. Your training is still unfinished."

Noah was elated to find that Kane still remembered the promise. "Make good use of the crystal and leave the cooking to Lucy", Noah replied. A shiny drop of tear could be seen on the side of Noah's eyes but he quickly composed himself as they left. He felt a sense of belongingness for the first time in his life.

But their paths were different until they cross again.

Noah took a ride to the nearby checkpost. He entered with his academy pass and proceeded inwards.

Meanwhile, the Field Assignment time was coming to an end. Everyone in Delta class has returned back to RedRock Academy. Well, everyone except Noah. All of them were asked to gather in the Outdoor Arena.

Principal Beck was in his private chamber taking a sip in his lemongrass tea when his Holo device notification popped up. There was a vmail. As Principal Beck opened it, "Hello My friend… It's been such a long time since we spoke...", he heard a familiar voice. He smiled and took another sip at his tea while listening to his old friend.

Melv was spacing out in the Arena. He was eating more chocolates than usual.

"Dammit. Where is he?"

"Did you hear the news? They found a carcass of a child near the NMZ Zone C. Poor child. Some wild beast might have..." Kaisha pretended to be sorry for the child.

"He is not coming back this time..." proclaimed Ton.

Suddenly Melv remembered the horrors of wilderness. "Ohh no. Was he really eaten by a wild beast? Noah. No, you can't leave me like this." His eyes went all watery. Noah was the only close friend he had in the whole world.

"..and the time for the Field Assignment ends", declared Professor Hicks as he looked at Ton.

"Those who have yet not returned will be marked as Failed..." grinned Hicks. He made a roll call and he deliberately left the name of Noah at last to mock him.

"Noah….Noah….Noah", he called thrice with no answer.

"Oh my… another child fails this year. Poor child." Hicks pretended.

"I am here sir..." shouted an out of breath Noah. He had to run almost 6 miles to make it in time but still reached a bit late. He was panting badly as he entered the Arena.

Melv, who had seen Noah from his crying eyes rushed and hugged him. "Are you alright?" Noah nodded as he gasped for air. Melv gave him some water to drink.

Hicks was shocked to death as if he had seen a ghost. He stepped a few inches back. Kaisha immediately covered her mouth in shock. "He was supposed to be dead. Did they fail this time too?" Ton clenched his fist in anger. "This guy", he remarked in anger. Kaisha calmed him down. "We still have the Battle Simulation. This time he won't win. We will show him his place. He can't be lucky every time." Kaisha told Ton. Ton angrily looked at Hicks.

Hicks took a big gulp and said, "You… you are late. Even if you had come but you missed the window. So I have to mark you as Failed."

"On whose authority?" shouted Melv. He was now angry at Hicks who was deliberately targeting Noah. "You sent him to the wilderness. Even though he came back safely, without praising him, you are reprimanding him by marking him failed? I will take this to a higher authority."

Hicks never expected someone to talk back at him, even insult him to this extent after all he was a professor. He took the hit badly. "You… I will fail you as well. You dare to talk back to me. Authority you say. If I say Fail it's Fail. I am the authority." Professor Hicks pronounced each word significantly to prove his superiority.

"Ohh is it. Then what am I?" a calm soothing voice came from the hallway.

"Who dares to interrupt me.." shouted an angry Hicks.

As the man came walking towards the entrance of the Outdoor Arena, it would seem it was the venerable Principal of RedRock Academy, Rufus Beck. He gave Hicks a cold stare. The atmosphere had changed.

"Sir… Why? Why are you here? You could have called me."

"I was just passing by. When I heard someone using the authority of the academy."

"I was just scaring them. They should follow the academy rules that is. Nothing else." Hicks understood he was doomed.

"Well, I never tolerate anyone that misuses authority for their selfish gains. So I came to have a look. If it's nothing I will take my leave then." Beck started leaving.

"Ohh and one more thing..." Beck turned around.

"How much did this child get?" pointing at Noah.

"I just saw him passing in the hallway in a hurry and stopped him for a talk. What an amusing child. Such a great prospect. Take good care of him..." smiled Principal Beck.

But suddenly the smiling face turned into a tense one. "Ohh… I hope you didn't mark him late. I was having a conversation that might have delayed him. I hope you can forgive me for that."

"What are you saying, Sir? It is an honor for anyone if he gets to talk with you. I will immediately revise his score." Hicks had no other way now as Noah has the backing of Principal Beck. He will have to tread carefully around Noah.

Noah was surprised why the Principal had backed him. They didn't even meet. It was a made-up story. "Once you are done. Meet me in my office." Beck told Noah as he left.

All other students never had the pleasure of the Principal communicating with them directly. They wondered what was happening. They looked at Noah with respect now as he was no longer the trash he was earlier. He survived the wilderness and even got the backing of the Principal.

But some people were having an infuriating look on them. "Damn this kid and his luck", Ton screamed.

The score was revised and he got full marks by handing the flower. But Noah was still startled at the events that happened. "Only way to know is to meet with the Principal", he thought.

Melv shouted with joy at the announcement of the marks. "Let's have fried chicken today. We have to celebrate your safe return."

"You go ahead. I have to meet the Principal." Noah went to the Principal's office.

As he knocked on the door, a voice sounded "Come in". He was entering the Principal's chambers for the first time. It was an exquisite room placed with various trophies on the wall. There was a sweet fragrant smell in the air. A large mahogany table was in the middle where Principal Beck was sitting on his chair. Wooden tables were quite rare in recent times as they were treated as a luxury and only valued by people from the past ages. But it gave the room its grandeur. The Principal poured a cup of his lemongrass tea and offered it to Noah.

"Here. Come sit and have it", uttered Beck. Noah was still clueless about this special treatment.

"So how was the wilderness? And how was my old friend?" Beck asked. Noah was still clueless.

"Who is he talking about?" Noah thought to himself.

"Yes him, exactly the person you are thinking about. Kane Calderon."

Noah was shocked. "How did you know…."

"We are old friends. Well, that is a long story. But since he disappeared I never heard of him. That is until today when I got a vmail from him. He asked me to help out his little prodigy."

"Now things are getting clear. So it was Kane. I owe him one now", smiled Noah as he took a sip of the tea. It was a fine fragrant tea, he had never tasted such a tea in his life. Rather it should be said he never got a chance to avail.

"I have known Kane for a long time, he never recommends anyone without any reason. So he did train you." Beck was measuring Noah.

"Yes, I trained with him for a few days as we were in the wilderness. It greatly helped in my survival..." replied Noah. "What is it that made Kane value him so much?" Beck could not find out the exact reason.

"Good...Good...He is still a grumpy teacher I believe", said Beck to lighten the mood.

"Haha.." laughed Noah. "But I still have a lot to learn from him. He is a genius at times."

"I know. I have seen him work up close..." sighed Beck.

"I heard about the assassins targeting you. Do you know who hired them?"

Noah had a rough guess but he did not reveal it. "Can't say for sure. Can be anyone. They wanted the flower so.." replied Noah. "Anyways I want to be stronger to defend myself from now on and also protect the people around me."

"A good notion. What is your current EQ level?" asked Beck.

"Well ...it is 11", said Noah as he hesitated.

"I don't think so. When did you last check?"

"Before leaving…" Noah was stunned at the conviction in Beck's voice. "Did anything change? Did it level up?" A ray of hope suddenly arose in Noah.

"Here.." Beck handed Noah an advanced Holo Device. Noah exclaimed, "This is the latest model!" His eyes gleamed. He wore it on his wrist to check his EQ. A sense of achievement filled Noah, he had done it. He was no longer a trash of the lowest EQ 11. His EQ has not risen by just one or two levels. It is now 15. Noah is an EQ 15 EVO.

"Was it the training? Or was it survival in the wilderness? Or was it the medicine Lucy gave?" he started thinking to himself. "Maybe it is all of them." Beck interrupted his thought. "So that's quite a level up. I have not seen anyone jump levels that fast..." said Beck. "So this is the reason.." Beck spoke in his mind. "Well, he is a prodigy after all."

"So do you like the Holo device? Keep it."

"But this is expensive. I cannot…"

"Keep it. For the sake of our mutual friend. I owe him a lot"

Noah nodded and did not argue over it.

"Ohh and keep this as well. You will need it." Beck handed a pass to Noah. Noah tried to check what it was. "This is the pass for using the Star-Gym at night. There will be none after hours, so use it as you wish. You will need it to become strong..." smiled Beck.

"Come find me whenever you need anything."

"I don't know what to say…. Thank you, Sir." Noah bowed his head and left the room.

"Things are gonna be interesting in this academy from now on…" Beck took a sip of his tea.

...