**Chapter 6** First Day of School

 Following the events of their shopping trip, Exalibar discovered that his ties to the facility were far from broken. But for now, those concerns took a backseat to a new challenge: his first day of school. It was a day he never imagined he would experience. James had decided that, for Exalibar and Chloe to integrate properly with other kids, they needed to be in a more conventional environment. Luckily, there were schools that accepted superpowered students without question, thanks to James's influence. He had even provided them with identification—birth certificates, IDs, and fabricated school records. Exalibar's full name was now Exalibar Maxford, taking James's surname, while Chloe chose the name Chloe Chase for herself.

The facility James ran was for the exceptionally powerful—those whose abilities were too dangerous or uncontrollable for ordinary schools. Most humans had minor abilities, like enhanced senses or weak telepathy, but the students at James's facility wielded powers like gravity control, pyrokinesis, and alchemy. Under normal circumstances, Exalibar and Chloe would have been enrolled there, but for the sake of social integration, they were sent to a regular school. Coincidentally, this was where Aisha and Dylan attended when they weren't training at the facility.

Exalibar crossed his arms, his grey hair catching the morning light as he glared at James. "I get it. We're not accustomed to normal social conventions, but going to school is a waste of time for me. I already know most of what I need to know. Remember? Force-fed information. The same applies to Chloe."

Chloe, standing beside him, rolled her purple eyes. "Speak for yourself. I actually want to go to school."

Exalibar raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"A full-rounded experience," Chloe replied, her tone firm. "I want to make friends, learn new things, and just… live."

Exalibar knew he was outnumbered. His defeat was cemented when Aisha chimed in, her green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "School's not just about academics, Exalibar. It's about growing as a person."

Dylan, leaning against the wall with his fiery red hair catching the light, added, "And it's fun. You might actually enjoy it."

Exalibar sighed, realizing there was no winning this argument. His fate was sealed.

Upon arriving at the school, they were greeted by Principal Bradley, a short, stout man with a commanding presence. His light skin and blond hair contrasted with his dark brown eyes, which seemed to miss nothing. He shook James's hand warmly. "Mr. Maxford, welcome. Thank you for your generous donation to the school. We're honoured to have your children here."

James smiled, placing a hand on Exalibar's shoulder. "Thank you, Principal Bradley. I trust they'll be in good hands."

As James left, Aisha and Dylan led Exalibar and Chloe on a tour of the school. They passed through the cafeteria, the library, and the sports field, each area bustling with students. Exalibar couldn't help but notice the diversity of abilities around him—students with glowing eyes, others floating slightly above the ground, and some with faint auras of energy surrounding them.

As they walked, Exalibar's instincts suddenly flared. A boy with an intense aura passed by his presence sending a shiver down Exalibar's spine. The boy's dark hair and piercing green eyes seemed to lock onto Exalibar for a moment before he disappeared into the crowd.

"Who was that?" Exalibar asked, his voice low.

Dylan glanced in the direction the boy had gone. "Oh, that's Ethan. He's… intense. His power is energy absorption. He can drain the energy from anything—people, machines, even the air. Just stay out of his way."

Exalibar nodded, filing the information away for later.

The bell rang, signalling the start of classes. Exalibar and Chloe stood at the door of their first-period classroom, waiting to be introduced. The teacher, Ms. Smith, was a tall, slim woman in her early thirties with blond hair and light blue eyes. Her warm smile immediately put the class at ease.

"Good morning, everyone," Ms. Smith said, her voice cheerful. "Today, we have two new students joining us. Please welcome Chloe Chase and Exalibar Maxford."

Chloe stepped forward first, her purple eyes scanning the room. "Hi, everyone. I'm Chloe Chase. I'm 17, and my powers are energy blasts. I hope we can all be friends."

The class erupted into applause, particularly from the boys, who were clearly impressed by Chloe's charm and beauty. She took a step back, allowing Exalibar to introduce himself.

Exalibar stepped forward, his blue eyes cool and confident. "Good morning. I'm Exalibar Maxford, also 17. My abilities? Let's just say I'm a jack of all trades. I look forward to getting to know all of you."

The girls in the class broke into applause, their eyes lingering on Exalibar's tall, lean frame and striking features. The boys, however, exchanged sceptical glances. "Jack of all trades? What does that even mean?" one of them muttered.

Ms. Smith gestured for the two to take their seats. Chloe sat beside Jack, a boy with the ability to control and alter his muscles at will. Exalibar found himself next to Jessica, a girl with minor telekinesis. As the lesson began, Exalibar remained mostly silent, answering only when directly addressed. Chloe, on the other hand, was lively and engaged, soaking in the full school experience.

At lunch, the four friends sat together, their table a hub of chatter and laughter. Dylan leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face. "So, you guys ready for PE after lunch? Dodgeball is on the agenda."

Chloe's eyes lit up. "Of course! I bet I can beat every girl in field and track."

Aisha smirked. "Not every girl…"

Exalibar, ever confident, lifted his shirt slightly to reveal his chiselled abs. "Personally, no one can beat me. I can take on anyone."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Try Jack. He's on your team."

Exalibar frowned. "Who?"

"Jack. The guy sitting next to Chloe," Dylan explained.

Exalibar shrugged. "Sure. But wait—why are we even here? I thought the world shunned people like us. And didn't you say James's facility is for kids without parents or those whose parents want them to be heroes? None of this adds up."

Aisha and Dylan exchanged a glance. "We never said that" Aisha replied.

Dylan nodded. "Yeah, none of us ever said that."

Exalibar's expression darkened as he realized the inhibitor chip Aisha had removed had done more than control him—it had altered his memories, feeding him false information. The world he thought he knew was a lie. He clenched his fists, his voice low. "Forget the past. I'm not someone's weapon anymore. I'm my own person now."

Chloe placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's focus on the present. Grab your sports uniform. It's time for dodgeball."

The gymnasium buzzed with excitement as the class divided into two teams of ten. Jack, the muscular boy with control over his body, led Team A, while Dylan led Team B. The rules were simple: no face shots, abilities were allowed, and the first team to eliminate all opponents won.

The game began with Team B winning the coin toss. Dylan took the first throw, his fiery eyes narrowing as he calculated his move. He hurled the ball with incredible speed, using a small blast of fire to propel it even faster. The ball ricocheted off one player and headed straight for Zayn, a boy with enhanced perception but slow reflexes. Zayn closed his eyes, bracing for impact, but Exalibar darted in, catching the ball effortlessly.

"That's a point for Team A," the teacher declared.

Exalibar smirked, holding the ball in one hand. "You good, Zayn?"

Zayn nodded, still in shock. "Thanks, man."

Exalibar turned to Dylan. "You might as well forfeit now."

Dylan grinned. "In your dreams."

Exalibar threw the ball with precision, but Dan, a boy on Dylan's team, used his air manipulation to alter its trajectory, causing it to miss.

"Cheap move," Exalibar muttered.

Aisha, standing nearby, shrugged. "Use of powers is allowed, remember?"

The game intensified as both teams unleashed their abilities. One by one members of each team fell till only Exalibar, Chloe and Dylan remained. Chloe used her energy blasts to deflect incoming balls, while Aisha's alchemy created barriers to protect her teammates. Dylan's pyrokinesis heated the air, creating mirages that disoriented Team A. Exalibar, relying on his speed and agility, dodged and countered with precision.

In the final moments, Exalibar seized an opportunity. He threw the ball at Dylan, but Chloe intercepted it with an energy blast, sending it spinning back to Exalibar. He caught it, spun to match its rotation, and hurled it back with incredible force. The ball struck Chloe, bounced off, and hit Dylan, eliminating them both.

The gym erupted in cheers as Team A claimed victory. Exalibar and Chloe, despite being on opposing teams, were celebrated for their incredible skills. The match had not only been a display of power but also a lesson in teamwork and sportsmanship.

As the excitement died down, the students gathered to congratulate each other. Exalibar found himself surrounded by new admirers, including Jessica, who had been quietly impressed by his performance. "You were amazing out there," she said, her telekinetic abilities causing a pen to float lazily beside her.

Exalibar smiled. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

Meanwhile, Chloe was chatting with Jack, who seemed equally impressed by her energy blasts. "You've got some serious power," he said, flexing his muscles unconsciously. "We should train together sometime."

Chloe grinned. "I'd like that."

As the day came to an end, Exalibar couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. For the first time, he was surrounded by people who accepted him for who he was—not as a weapon, but as a person. The past was behind him, and the future was full of possibilities.

**To Be Continued…**