Chapter 5: Exchang Student

Jim felt an unsettling sensation lingering at the back of his mind, a nagging premonition as if the air around him was charged with impending change. Uncertain of its origin, he attempted to brush it off, dismissing it from his thoughts like an unwelcome guest.

As he settled into his morning routine, the vague feeling faded into the background, overshadowed by the familiar rhythm of his day. However, upon arriving at school, the atmosphere felt charged in a different way. The bustling hallways were filled with an unusual buzz, a greater throng of students than he was accustomed to.

Many of his classmates sat hunched over their desks like desperate scribes, their pencils a blur as they wrote frantically. Occasionally, he caught snippets of their anxious chatter—urgent questions and hurried exchanges—revealing the palpable tension in the air. Clearly, a large number of them were grappling with the weight of forgetting an assignment or succumbing to the familiar trap of procrastination.

In stark contrast to this frantic energy, Jim had completed his work the previous weekend. Habitually proactive, he loathed the anxiety of unfinished tasks even more than he disliked the chaos of last-minute rushing. To him, pressing obligations felt like a heavy stone lodged in his chest.

As was his custom, he claimed his usual spot at the back of the classroom, near the window, where he could escape into the world of his novel. Today, he was deeply engrossed in 'Revenge of the Dammed,' captivated by the gripping tale unfolding within its pages.

At that moment, Kendrick, the novel's beleaguered protagonist, was navigating the treacherous dynamics of survival. Joined by a motley crew of fellow survivors, he faced a moral dilemma when one member attempted to pilfer his scant rations—a serious offense during the apocalypse, where food was more elusive than water in a parched desert. 

As tension mounted along their perilous journey to a distant colony, a sudden ambush struck, and Kendrick was forced to confront the very thief he had once considered abandoning. Jim felt a thrum of sympathy as he read about Kendrick's struggle with his own humanity, aware that saving this man could lead to his own demise. 

Despite the protagonist embracing such reckless bravery, Jim found himself questioning this moral compass. Sacrificing an arm during such dire times seemed like a foolish gamble to him; in a world so unforgiving, self-preservation reigned supreme.

His thoughts spiraled deeper into the pages, engrossing him so completely that he barely registered the teacher's arrival, only snapping back to reality when she commanded the room's attention. With a start, he hastily stowed his book and fished out his notebook, eager to avoid her scrutiny.

Jenna stood at the front of the class—first-year English teacher, middle-aged, with chestnut hair that framed a face often marred by a disapproving frown. Yet, when she was pleased, her expression could transform into a warm and radiant smile that lit up the classroom.

Known for her unwavering discipline, Jenna could just as readily reward diligence as she could enforce punishment with an iron hand. Many students walked carefully around her, wary of inciting her ire—a reputation Jim was keenly aware of and had actively worked to evade.

As the architect of the assignment that loomed over the classroom like a storm cloud, Jenna preferred to assign tasks well in advance, providing students the opportunity to work through them methodically. This approach was a dream for those who thrived on structure and organization but an absolute nightmare for procrastinators and daydreamers.

True to her methodical style, she called for the assignments to be submitted at the front, one by one, as she meticulously reviewed each piece of work. This process made it nearly impossible for anyone to conceal half-finished efforts or absent submissions. For some, the walk to her desk felt akin to a long trek to the gallows—a path fraught with dread.

The first student to face her was Dan, who always occupied the front row next to the school's enchanting beauty, Sein. As the names rolled on—each student summoned to unveil their efforts—Jim leaned forward, anxiety creeping closer to the surface with every pass. Jonna, Faith, Williun… one after another, they were called upon, vulnerable in their assessments, each stepping into the light or retreating back into the shadows of uncertainty. position from the right row next to the door and then progressing to the middle, then the left row.

The assessment went quickly with the teacher pausing to explain some concepts that some were not understanding as well as taking notes of those that required additional help and those with incomplete work.

Expressions were varying as students walked to their seats, some looking calm and thoughtful while others looked like they had just survived a calamity of some sort. They were definitely the ones who hadn't completed their assignments.

With nothing else to do, Jim just studied his fellow students as they interacted among themselves. Suddenly, the vice original walked in. he was sporting one of his oversized suits that did his small physique no favour whatsoever.

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to him. Miss Jenna sent the student she was evaluating back to their seat.

"I apologies Miss Jenna and students for the interaction," the vice principle said clasping his hands in front of him as a sign of apology." as all of you know we have been expecting some exchange students today..."mammurs interapted him in the middle of his speech as students begun whispering to each other.

He silenced them by releasing a little bit of his aura.

" I don't believe I should remind you to mind your manners," he said, giving a pointed look to the students before proceeding to invite the new students in.

gasps and murmurs erupted once again, with the whole class becoming chaotic as five students walked in. Three boys and two girls. These new students were nothing like what people had speculated at all. They had an air about them. 

Not only did they possess otherworldly beauty and spectacular physiques, but they also exuded elegance. 

The vice principal once again interrupted the chatter and handed the students to Miss Jenna before making a quick exit, not wanting to stay there even a minute longer.

Miss Jenna invited the students to introduce themselves. Everyone instantly became quiet, everyone was holding their breath to hear what the beautiful strangers had to say. 

The first to introduce themself was an extremely tall blond-haired boy who stood at an astounding height of about 6'8 feet.

"Hello everybody, my name is Kevin Grey," gasps could be heard around the class as people marvelled at his beep and smooth voice. His deep grey eyes became deep as he uttered the words Please take care of me.

At that point, most people had been rendered defenceless by his general perfidiousness. Jim, on the other hand, remained his cool and collected self as he analysed the charming young man.

He concluded that the young man possessed the sirmic ability. This ability made its host incredibly attractive and alarming while granting him supernatural speed and agility. Jin marked this man as dangerous as soon as he laid eyes on him. 

 There was a dark side to the ability he willed that most people don't know about, but about Jim knew this secret and understood that the further away he was from Kevin he was the better.

The next to introduce himself was a not-too-tall young man who was only a few inches shorter than of Kevin. He was sporting black hair with a few red strands mixed within it. He introduced himself as Jonah Mairs. he proceeded to introduce the girl beside him, who resembled him greatly. She also had black hair but with way more red strands than his. Her name was Stella Mairs.

Jim thought they were probably tweens, she was only an inch roller than Jonah, not to mention their faces were almost a carbon copy of the others. There were slight body movements that most would miss alerted Jim to the fact that they were probably communicating telepathically.

The two, as if reading his thoughts, snapped their heads towards Jim, the gaze eerily cold. Jim didn't flinch, staring directly at them as he concluded that they were probably telepaths with the ability to read minds and communicate using their minds. This was the basis of their ability, but they were capable of so much more, like manipulating objects with their mind. But to ensure his safety, Jim didn't dare to dive into the unity grityies of their ability, especially with them eavesdropping.

The twins exchanged a subtle, dry glance, their expressions betraying nothing as they resumed their cool and aloof stances. The next to step forward was a petite girl, her height barely grazing 4'5" to 4'7"—his judgment on her exact stature remained uncertain. She possessed a cascade of silky blond hair that framed her delicate features. Her striking green eyes sparkled with flecks of silver, the shimmering hue conspicuously highlighting her gaze. This captivating girl was known as Harmen.

Harmen possessed an ability intricately linked to metal, yet naming it proved challenging; the sheer variety of such abilities left him unable to attach a definitive label to hers.

Then there was the last member of their small collective, a girl who towered above them all at an astonishing 8 feet, her remarkable stature accentuated by the warm, ebony tone of her skin. The luminescence of her complexion resembled polished silver, captivating those who dared to look her way. Her luxurious black hair was artfully arranged into a smooth bun, complementing her tall frame. She wore oversized glasses that enhanced her allure, framing a face of striking elegance. With keen, analytical grey eyes, she surveyed each individual in the room, her gaze revealing an astute intelligence.

Her name was Hadiza, a perfect match for her impressive presence.

As the group entered, the other students greeted them with a warm welcome, their enthusiasm filling the classroom. Yet, amid the friendly atmosphere, Jim remained skeptical; something felt off about this peculiar group. The extraordinary number of users with rare abilities felt too coincidental to him.

Aside from the arrival of these new students, the day unfolded uneventfully. After completing his assignment, Jim collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion settling in. However, despite his weariness, sleep eluded him, frustration knotting in his stomach.

Outside, two shadowy figures lingered, watching Jim intently through the window before vanishing quietly into the darkness, their presence adding an unsettling layer to the night.