Retribution and Rebirth

The next morning, I woke up early. I packed a small bag with some clean clothes, the box of my mother's photos, and my father's data chip. That was all I needed.

I went downstairs to wait for the academy bus. Usually, I took the public bus, but students with good rankings were entitled to a shuttle that picked them up near their homes. It was one of my new perks.

The bus arrived. It was a luxury bus, quite different from the public ones.

I got on. All the seats were taken. The bus was full of students I didn't know, arrogant faces all wearing the Beta building badge. Ranks C and B.

A boy, sitting near the entrance, looked me up and down. He had a powerful aura and a superior air. He was clearly one of the best in his class.