Chapter 1 School Begins

Chapter 1 School Begins

Xavier descended the stairs to find his father and mother standing before him, wearing expressions of frustration and weariness respectively. His mother appeared visibly upset, while his father seemed drained, even though the hour was early. Both of them were scholars and researchers, placing a high emphasis on education.

Isabella Aeon, a woman whose presence seamlessly merged intellect and grace, stood at 5 feet 8 inches. Her stature emanated a quiet confidence, a clear reflection of her keen intellect. With chestnut-brown hair often gathered in a neat bun, her oceanic blue eyes radiated curiosity and determination.

The woman stood with an air of authority, one hand resting on her hip while the other held a butcher knife. Her gaze remained locked on her son ready to attack at any moment.

Beside her stood a man sharing Xavier's raven-black hair, though his was worn long and secured in a ponytail. Named Benjamin, he stood tall at 6 feet 2 inches, yet was the same height as Xavier. Despite his slender scholarly appearance, Benjamin's presence often made Xavier feel as though he was a giant. Perhaps Xavier thought he needed to be a giant to deal with the quick tempered behemoth next to him.

Usually the voice of reason, Benjamin was showing a clear preference today, his normally balanced words leaning toward one side.

"X, school starts in 30 minutes, and you still need to find your classes. Kiddo, your ability may not save you today."

X was the moniker his best friend had given him in preschool, a name that stuck with him through the years. Only his family referred to him as X. Unbeknownst to him, X had not been addressed by that name in over half a millennium.

Although his mind didn't react to the endearing nickname, his body responded with an unusual thrill. A chill ran down his spine, an unfamiliar yet not uncomfortable sensation, causing him to shiver slightly.

Witnessing his peculiar reaction, his parents momentarily forgot their irritation, and his mother inadvertently dropped the imposing knife.

With concern etching her features, Isabella questioned, "Are you alright, son? Do you have a fever?"

X, puzzled by his own body's response, shook his head in bewilderment.

Trying to steer the conversation toward positivity, Benjamin chimed in cheerfully, "Well, it's the first day of high school. Let's go get your partner in crime and head to school."

X perceived the warmth in his father's voice. Since preschool, it had become a tradition for his parents to accompany him on the first day of school. This cherished family custom had been upheld every year, even in his previous regressions when he joined the army instead of pursuing further education. Their deaths had inflicted profound wounds on his psyche.

As the family stepped outside, they were greeted by a striking girl with vibrant, fiery red hair. Samantha Stronghold, X's best friend, exuded an aura of strength and vitality. Standing tall at 6 feet, her athletic physique emanated power and capability. Broad shoulders and well-defined muscles testified to her incredible super strength.

Her emerald-green eyes held a fierce determination, twin beacons of intensity that mirrored the strength she wielded. Beneath fiery red waves of hair cascading to her shoulders, she embodied a dynamic energy as potent as the flames themselves. Samantha's fair skin was adorned with freckles across her nose and cheeks, enhancing her natural beauty.

Samantha's radiant smile brightened as she watched the family of three leave their home. She approached them with ease, devoid of any awkwardness. Isabella, feeling a sense of familiarity, embraced Samantha as if she were her own child.

Isabella: "Sam, are you ready for your first day of school?"

Samantha (Sam): "Absolutely, Auntie. I'm thrilled since our school is affiliated with the military, so most of our courses are aligned with the army's interests."

Isabella chuckled, recognizing that while she and her husband hadn't been able to join the esteemed ranks of Cosmic warriors, Sam and X had the potential to do so.

Concluding her embrace with Isabella, Samantha turned to X, scrutinizing his physique with an intrigued gaze. X, puzzled by her intense scrutiny, couldn't help but ask, "Hey bud, is something wrong?"

Shaking her head, Samantha commented, "You seem broader, and it's hard to tell under the hoodie, but your muscles look much bigger."

X laughed and reminded her, "Sam, you ate dinner with us yesterday and spent most of the summer at our house. You even put me through your hellish workout sessions every day. Of course, it will show results at some point."

Superpowers develop in a manner akin to muscles, although several factors influence their growth. For instance, Sam possesses super strength, and lifting progressively heavier weights will eventually enhance her power. However, X's efforts in weightlifting wouldn't grant him super strength; only his muscles would get stronger. Another case in point is Isabell's telekinetic abilities; she can only manipulate objects that fit in her hand. She attempted to enhance her telekinesis through rigorous training, but it yielded no results.

Benjamin steered the conversation back to school, "Alright, everyone in the car. We can't be late on the first day of school." Sitting in the car, X and Sam occupied the back seat, gazing at the bustling streets outside. Numerous billboards showcased enticing products, each marked with the planet of origin. There were also advertisements urging people to join the military, specifically the Cosmic Warriors, featuring footage of soldiers donning impressive black armor adorned with medals.

Watching the commercials, Sam's eyes gleamed with admiration and longing. She was eager to join the ranks and conquer new territories.

On the contrary, an unconsciously deepening scowl spread across X's face. As Sam turned around with her beaming smile, she noticed the severe expression etched on X's features. It unnerved her so much that a cold sweat broke out on her forehead; she was afraid to even speak.

Blinking, X met her gaze, and his expression instantly softened into the gentle smile that was his trademark. Sam began to question if she had imagined the previous intensity.

Breaking the silence, Benjamin's voice pulled her attention. "Hey, Sam, when's your old man scheduled to come back?"

The question elicited a smile from Sam. She replied, "Uncle Ben, Dad should be back at the end of September. His regiment is being stationed back here for a while to gather supplies. Apparently, a new planet was discovered, and the major powers are showing interest in it. Dad didn't say why."

Isabell and Benjamin both grew more intrigued upon hearing this. Although human society had expanded across numerous planets, Gaia remained their heartland, comparable to the capital of a country in earlier times. Thus, when something captivating was found, most humans would bring it back to Gaia to showcase their discoveries.

However, such findings weren't always good.

Similar to ages past, students and parents streamed into the school. The boards displaying students' names were now virtual and much larger, simplifying the process of locating names and homeroom classes for both students and their families. Sam and X found their names listed under A1.

Perplexed, X examined his and Samantha's names. Seeing his friend's puzzled expression, Sam couldn't resist teasing. "Questioning life, X? Hehe."

X looked at her and grinned, shaking his head. "I do well in academics, but in this school, combat takes precedence. Why am I in class A1 with you?"

The fiery-haired girl before him was undoubtedly this year's class representative.

Sam reminded him of the answer, "You aced all the written exams for this school, and uncle and aunt are no pushovers. They're highly regarded scientists for our race. In a school established by the government for the government, it's only natural that you're held in high esteem. They probably expect you to follow in their footsteps. Now, if you didn't have any powers, well, they'd likely discard you."

X sighed. "Seems like they'd discard me either way, huh?"

Sam chuckled, "The government would. If you possess powers, there's at least a chance you might mutate or give birth to a powerful user. But if you don't have powers, they don't need you; they've got enough people prepared to be cannon fodder."

Upon hearing her blunt yet sensible statements, X couldn't help but agree. While regular high school freshmen might succumb to government propaganda, the education these two had received from Butcher at X's home taught them to think critically about everything and to place their trust solely in family. And naturally, family included Samantha.

As they made their way to class A1, they drew the attention of passing students, not just due to their tall stature and striking appearances, but also because of the aura that Sam unconsciously emitted. She was on the verge of opening her cosmic map within her body, a move that would significantly heighten her presence. When one unlocked their cosmic map, their power would gradually accumulate, each stage of power denoted by a distinct cosmic name.

Finally taking their seats in the middle and front of the classroom, the two friends were poised to embark on their high school journey.