Principal Anthony's face lit up the moment he spotted John emerging from the corridor.
There was relief in his expression—undeniable and genuine—but something else, too. Anticipation. Perhaps even pride.
Without a word, he gestured toward the parking lot. The four of them—John, Luna, Dr. Thomas, and Principal Anthony—climbed into the sleek black car waiting just outside the hospital. As the doors shut with a soft click, a heavy silence settled over them, as if each person carried unspoken thoughts they weren't ready to share.
The engine purred to life.
The streets passed by in a blur, One-Star City glowing dimly in the early morning haze. It should have been comforting, familiar. But for John, each building felt like a quiet observer, watching him return to a place he had left in anger and confusion.
Midway through the drive, Principal Anthony finally broke the silence.
His voice was calm, even casual.
"By the way, Luna," he said, glancing briefly into the rearview mirror, "who do you think is the most talented child in our One-Star City? Someone who's gone truly far?"
John tilted his head slightly, surprised by the question. Luna blinked, thoughtful.
"Hmm," she said after a pause, "I think I know who you mean."
Her voice grew more certain as she continued.
"He studied at one of the Five-Star Beast tamer school here. A prodigy, honestly. He generated his Neuro-Core when he was just nineteen. That's rare. And now… he's already moved to a Two-Star City."
John listened intently. He had never paid much attention to the elite circles of tamers and geniuses—until now.
"Every year during the tournaments," Luna went on, "his matches are broadcast for our city. Everyone watches. He's like a symbol… a reminder that someone from One-Star City can rise that high. I don't think anyone here surpasses him."
Principal Anthony gave a slow nod, his eyes still on the road but his tone strangely deliberate.
"You're right, Dr. Luna," he said.
But the way he said it… as though he were agreeing with more than just her words.
Luna frowned, puzzled.
Why bring this up now?
What was he trying to hint at?
Before she could voice the question, the school walls came into view, towering ahead like the gates of judgment.
For John, it was as though the very building had changed. The familiar campus now felt foreign—its classrooms, halls, and silent corners buzzing with stories he wasn't sure he wanted to hear.
The school gates swung open.
Inside, a storm awaited.