Zeon Academy & Two Closest Friends

Zeon Academy, established by the Arcana Federation, had a primary objective: to nurture its students into outstanding individuals who would serve as valuable human resources for the reconstruction of Earth.

Operating for several decades, the academy was dedicated to developing young talents with exceptional qualities, ensuring that the resources invested in their education would yield extraordinary benefits for the world's progress.

Ever since the Martians attacked Earth and ravaged all nations a century ago, Earth has placed a significant emphasis on cultivating young talents to revitalize the planet.

The ultimate goal was to compete with the advanced technology of Genesis, even though, at present, Earth's technological prowess still pales in comparison to Genesis.

"Good morning." Aether and Arshley, who were classmates and had entered the classroom together, naturally drew the attention of their fellow students as they greeted the entire class.

This was a routine occurrence due to their striking appearances and influential status.

Aether, with his snow-white hair, ocean-blue eyes, and remarkably handsome face, had captivated the attention of everyone in his class since the very first entrance ceremony.

His status was elevated even further by the fact that his father held one of the most influential positions in the Eastern World, making Aether one of the academy's most prominent and renowned figures.

Arshley was no less remarkable than Aether; she held the distinction of being the most beautiful girl in the entire academy, earning her the nickname "Goddess of the Academy" among the male students.

Her lustrous purple hair, resembling a precious gem, coupled with her bright golden eyes, stirred feelings of envy among her female peers.

Furthermore, her father's status as the second-most influential figure in the Eastern World only served to enhance her radiance within the academy.

"Hey! As always, you two are inseparable, making the rest of us in class feel like invisible specks," remarked a fat young man with a round face as he munched on snacks.

He greeted Aether, who was already heading to his seat.

Aether responded to the comment with a playful smile, looking at the fat young man.

"Jealous, are you?" Aether teased, placing his bag on his chair.

The rotund young man was one of Aether's two closest friends, named Ethan.

Ethan's father held a significant position in the Federation, ranking among the highest-ranking officials in the Arcana Federation as one of the three ministers.

The three ministers, as their title implied, occupied incredibly high positions below the Deputy Leader, and they were esteemed and highly decorated figures for their valor in battling the Genesis army.

Ethan continued to grumble irritably as he devoured his potato chips, seemingly bothered by Aether's affectionate behavior with Arshley every day.

"Ugh! Are you intentionally ruining my morning mood with your lovey-dovey antics?" Ethan complained while chomping on his chips.

Aether responded with a casual smile and nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

"If that's what you think, then you might be right." He casually reached over and plucked one of Ethan's potato chips, taking a bite.

Ethan froze in disbelief, his gaze shifting towards the now-empty potato chip bag.

The chip Aether had taken was the last one, the one Ethan had been reserving for himself.

"You... You..." Ethan stammered, sighing in disappointment, as his carefully planned chip enjoyment was unexpectedly thwarted by Aether.

"You're a heartless one, Aether..." Ethan sighed softly and tossed the empty chip bag into the trash.

He then reached into the pocket of his school uniform, producing a fresh packet of chips.

Observing this, the corner of Aether's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but stare at the small pocket on Ethan's uniform, muttering to himself.

"How on earth did he manage to fit that chip packet into his tiny pocket?" Aether wondered in quiet amazement, but his contemplation was interrupted when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He swiftly turned to see who it was.

"Good morning, Aether," greeted a man with blonde hair and a rather handsome face.

Aether, upon seeing him, returned the smile.

"As always, your friendly face never changes, Neil," Aether chuckled, joking with his friend Neil, who was also one of his closest companions.

Neil was known for his amiable nature, always sporting a welcoming smile.

He exuded an approachable aura, which made him easy to get along with, and people naturally felt comfortable around him.

Neil wasn't just any ordinary student; he hailed from a prominent background.

His father held the esteemed position of general and leader of all Guardian forces within the Arcana Federation.

This heritage had instilled in Neil a deep fascination with technology and a dream of contributing to the creation of a technological foundation capable of rivaling the ancient Genesis technology on Mars.

Neil's sharp intellect, friendly demeanor, and handsome appearance garnered him a fair share of admirers among the female students at the academy.

However, compared to Aether, Neil was less popular.

"Good morning, Neil!" Ethan, who was munching on his food, waved at Neil, his round cheeks making him look rather funny while he ate.

In response to Ethan's greeting, Neil turned his attention to him and offered a gentle smile.

"Good morning, Ethan. As always, you can't resist your morning potato chips, can you?" Neil chuckled and patted Ethan on the shoulder.

The pat on the shoulder startled Ethan, causing him to choke on his food and turn beet red.

"Cough, cough!" Ethan coughed violently and quickly retrieved a bottle of water from a pocket in his uniform that seemed impossibly small.

"Gulp!" He downed the entire bottle of water in a single gulp, panting heavily as he shot an incredulous look at Neil, who was still sporting an innocent smile.

"Damn you, Neil! Are you trying to kill me or something? Cough, cough!" Ethan grumbled in irritation, still recovering from his coughing fit.

Neil, seeing Ethan's discomfort, chuckled while patting Ethan's back.

"Alright, alright, I didn't mean to, so please forgive me," Neil apologized, though there was no real remorse in his expression, just his usual cheerful smile.

Aether, observing their lively morning interactions, couldn't help but chuckle and smile.

"If only this atmosphere could last forever," he thought, feeling a bit melancholic.

He feared that tomorrow's peace treaty between Mars and Earth might be marred by a terrible incident that could shatter their temporary tranquility.

Just as the class was abuzz with conversation and everyone was going about their business, the sound of footsteps suddenly hushed the room, causing everyone to cease talking and take their seats.

"Tap, tap!"