Morning Rush Hour

  The alarm buzzed sharply, dragging the MC out of sleep. He blinked groggily, his eyes adjusting to the light spilling through the cracks in the curtains. Rolling over, he checked the time on his phone—8:30 a.m.

  He yawned, stretching lazily in bed, unbothered by the time. “Plenty of time to get ready,” he thought, pulling the blanket off. Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him.

  Homework.

  His eyes widened. The homework due first thing Monday morning.

  “Oh, no, no, no, no—” He practically flew out of bed, grabbing his bag from the desk corner and rifling through crumpled papers. Sure enough, there it was: an unfinished worksheet staring back at him like a bad omen.

  With no time to waste, he grabbed a pen and hunched over his desk, scribbling answers as fast as his half-awake brain could process them. His handwriting was rushed, barely legible, but that didn’t matter. Getting something down was better than nothing.

  ---

  Twenty minutes later, he shoved the worksheet into his bag and bolted to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth at record speed, threw on his uniform, and snagged a slice of bread from the kitchen. Running out the door, he barely had time to tie his shoes.

  The streets were bustling as usual, and the MC weaved through the crowd, his mind racing. “I better not be late… again.”

  ---

  As he approached the school gates, the bell was already ringing, signaling the start of the day. He sprinted the last few meters, slipping through the gate just as it began to close.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, he slowed down, only to feel a sharp smack with a ball of water against the back of his head. The impact sent him stumbling forward, his hand instinctively rubbing the sore spot.

  “Morning, genius,” a voice called out mockingly.

  The MC turned to see one of Caelum’s friends grinning mischievously, his hand still raised from the hit. Behind him stood Caelum, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed and a wide smirk plastered across his face.

  ---

  “Still hasn't gotten tried of being a loser, huh? You are so pitiful that you couldn't even retaliate. ” Caelum teased, pushing himself off the wall. His voice dripped with amusement. “What’s the matter? Afraid of being normal?”

  The MC rolled his eyes, brushing off the comment. “Relax, Caelum. The school rules are clear—powers aren't allowed on the school field and everyone is very much the same. You should try reading them sometime.”

  Caelum let out a loud laugh, clapping his hands together. “Oh, that’s rich. Coming from the guy who didn’t even do his homework until this morning!”

  The MC shrugged nonchalantly. “ Probably your hypothetical guess but I still finished it, though.”

  ---

  The Shift in Tone

  The laughter faded, and Caelum’s expression hardened. He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “You’re always like this, you know? Acting like nothing matters. Like nothing anyone says or does can bother you.”

  The MC didn’t respond, his face unreadable.

  Caelum’s voice grew quieter but sharper. “You brushed her off, just like you’re brushing me off now. Did you even care how much that hurt her?”

  The words lingered in the air, cutting through the usual morning chatter. The MC met Caelum’s glare but didn’t flinch.

  “Let it go, Caelum,” he said evenly, his tone calm but firm. “The past is the past. We can’t change it.”

  Caelum scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

  With a wave of his hand, Caelum turned and walked away, his friend following behind. The MC stood there for a moment, adjusting his bag strap and letting out a quiet sigh before heading toward his classroom.

  ---

  The MC strolled into the classroom, his steps casual, almost deliberately slow. Despite Caelum's earlier words, he was determined not to let them linger in his mind. He pushed open the door, ignoring the faint murmurs of classmates already seated, and walked to his usual spot near the window.

  Sliding into his chair, he set his bag down and propped his elbow on the desk, resting his chin on his hand. From the corner of his eye, he caught Caelum’s sharp glance, burning with unspoken frustration. But the MC simply leaned back in his chair, staring out the window, pretending not to notice.

  ---

  The classroom door creaked open, and the teacher strode in, carrying a stack of review sheets. He set them down on the desk and cleared his throat, silencing the buzz of conversation.

  "Good morning, everyone. As you know, the final exams are just around the corner," he began, scanning the room. "Today’s lesson will mostly be a review. If you don’t want to pay close attention, that’s fine, but don’t disturb those who do."

  The class relaxed at the words. Some students flipped open notebooks, while others leaned back in their seats, chatting quietly.

  ---

  Lured by the Breeze

  The MC opened his notebook and doodled absentmindedly, his pen tracing meaningless shapes on the page. His focus wavered, his head nodding slightly as he fought the fatigue from staying up late the night before.

  A soft breeze drifted through the open window, carrying with it the faint scent of grass and the sound of distant chatter from the courtyard. The MC’s eyelids grew heavier with each passing second. The warmth of the sun and the soothing rustle of leaves worked together like a lullaby.

  He rested his head on his folded arms, the cool surface of the desk a welcome contrast to the warmth of the day. His breathing slowed, the muffled voice of the teacher fading into the background as sleep overtook him.

  ---

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  From across the room, Caelum leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His gaze lingered on the MC, his expression unreadable. Whether it was irritation, curiosity, or something else entirely, no one could tell.

  For now, the classroom carried on, with the MC slipping further into his nap, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents swirling around him.

  The Fiery Arrival

  The peaceful hum of the school day was shattered by a sudden, deafening boom. Outside, in the courtyard, flames roared as an object hurtled from the sky and struck the ground, sending waves of heat and ash in all directions. A plume of smoke rose into the air as students from the upper floors rushed out to the corridors and balconies, craning their necks to see the source of the commotion.

  “What the hell was that?” a student gasped.

  Below, a man stood in the smoldering crater. He was tall—easily over 6'4"—and his body was encased in a sleek, high-tech armor with designs that mimicked glowing blood vessels pulsing in deep crimson. He rolled his shoulders and stretched, cracking his neck as if he’d just finished a light workout.

  “Ah, this armor’s incredible. Took the landing like a champ,” he said, his voice calm and almost impressed with himself.

  Before anyone could react further, a shimmering distortion appeared beside him, and a woman materialized out of thin air. Her hair was cut just above her neck, her expression sharp and impatient. She wore the same armor, though hers had faint blue veins running through it.

  “Kairos, how many times have I told you not to make such an entrance?!” the woman scolded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the lingering smoke.

  The man—Kairos—shrugged, his nonchalant grin visible through the semi-transparent visor of his helmet. “What can I say, Keria? It’s my signature move.”

  Keria folded her arms, glaring at him.

  “We’re here for a mission, not to show off.”

  Caelum's Defiance

  Above, the atmosphere on the balcony grew tense. The rumors of kidnappings by a mysterious group targeting students with elemental powers flooded everyone’s minds. Panic rippled through the gathered students, their whispers growing louder.

  Caelum stepped forward, his face set with determination. “So it’s true… They’re finally here.”

  He raised his right arm, palm outstretched toward the pair below. Red energy began swirling around his hand, crackling like a storm, forming into a sharp, massive arrowhead. The sheer intensity of his elemental power silenced the murmurs of the other students.

  “Get back, everyone. I’ll handle this,” he said coldly, focusing all his energy on the attack.

  From the courtyard, Kairos noticed the energy forming above. He glanced up, his helmet visor shifting slightly to analyze the arrow. “Oh? This kid’s got some real potential, what a little badass.” he said, smirking.

  Keria followed his gaze, nodding. “Impressive control for someone his age.”

  Caelum's Power Push

  Caelum gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he poured everything he had into the attack. The veins in his right arm glowed a fiery red, his muscles visibly straining as he held the massive arrow steady.

  “Just a little more…” he muttered, using his left hand to stabilize his trembling arm.

  The red energy pulsed brighter, casting an eerie glow over the balcony. The other students stared in awe, some too stunned to speak, while others murmured nervously. Finally, with a shout of effort, Caelum released the arrow, the force of it launching him backward.

  The Shocking Outcome

  The arrow tore through the air, a blazing streak of red that seemed unstoppable. It sped toward Kairos and Keria, its sheer size and power causing the ground below to tremble.

  And then… it vanished.

  The arrow struck Kairos's armor but didn’t explode or ricochet. Instead, it dissolved into glowing streams of energy that were quickly absorbed into the armor’s glowing veins. The energy pulsed through the suit, illuminating its intricate designs.

  Kairos glanced at his chest, patting it casually. “Not bad. Definitely packed some impact,” he said, almost amused.

  Keria sighed, brushing ash off her shoulder. “Reckless as always. At least it tested the armor’s capacity. All the fire one are all the same.”

  Above, the students broke into panicked whispers.

  “They just absorbed it?”

  “We’re doomed!”

  The balcony erupted into chaos as students pushed past each other to get back into the safety of the classroom. Some rushed to Caelum, who was still on the ground, winded from the force of his attack.

  Caelum sat up slowly, his hands trembling. He clenched his fists, frustration clear in his expression as the two figures below remained untouched, standing confidently in the wreckage.

  And yet, despite the chaos around him, the MC remained slumped over his desk in the classroom, entirely unaware of the events unfolding outside.

  Inside the classroom, panic was palpable. The students had gathered together at the back of the room, eyes wide and hands trembling as they helped Caelum sit on the floor. His right arm was still sore from the strain of the massive arrow he’d tried to fire, his face contorted in pain as his classmates offered what little comfort they could. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by a quiet frustration at his own weakness.

  Suddenly, the door to the classroom slammed open with a crash. Kairos stepped into the room, his imposing frame filling the doorway. He was calm, almost casual, but the energy around him was anything but. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the air seemed to grow heavier, charged with an unspoken threat. His eyes scanned the room, and the students instinctively took a few steps back.

  “Well, well,” Kairos said with a slow, almost pitying smile as he looked at Caelum. “Quite the display earlier. You’ve got quite a bit of raw potential, don’t you? With a bit of sharpening, you could become a true powerhouse, a reliable fighter for the truth, maybe even a hero in your own right.”

  Caelum didn’t respond, still wincing from the strain on his arm. The rest of the students could only watch in stunned silence. Kairos’s words, though flattering on the surface, carried a sinister undertone, like a predator sizing up its prey.

  As Kairos continued his inspection, a soft snort came from the front of the room. It was barely audible, but it caught his attention. His eyes shifted toward the source: MC, still slumped over his desk, completely oblivious to the unfolding tension around him.

  Kairos approached MC’s desk, a wicked smile curling at the edges of his lips. He bent down, tapping MC lightly on the shoulder. “Hey, kid,” he said in a smooth, menacing tone, “Do you know what’s going on here? Did you work overnight or something?”

  MC stirred slightly, still half-asleep. His groggy eyes barely opened as he mumbled, “What… What’s going on?”

  Kairos’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t even know, do you? You’re just a clueless kid, lying here while the world is falling apart around you.” His voice dropped into a low growl. “You think you can just sleep through this, just like you sleep through everything? Wake up, you pathetic fool.”

  MC, still groggy and trying to clear the fog from his mind, struggled to keep his nonchalant tone. “I’m awake… I’m just not interested,” he muttered.

  Kairos laughed darkly, but there was a trace of annoyance in his voice. “You’re not even worth the effort. I can’t sense any elemental power from you. Not a single spark. Tell me, kid—are you just that weak, or are you never going to awaken at all?”

  MC’s eyes sharpened, his tired expression momentarily flickering with a hint of defiance. “I don’t care about that. I'm not trying to live in a fantasy life.”

  Kairos’s amusement shifted to something colder. “It’s more than just what you think. It’s your future. The world you live thrive will all the powerful individuals.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “But I guess it doesn’t matter. Not like you’re ever going to be anything special.”

  MC sat up slightly, trying to maintain his composure, but Kairos’s words were like needles pricking at his pride.

  “What’s your name, kid?” Kairos asked, his tone almost playful, as if trying to provoke MC.

  “Azurith,” Azurith replied, his voice still calm but now tinged with a hint of irritation.

  Kairos’s face twisted into a mocking grin. “Azurith?” he repeated, almost as if savoring the name. “What kind of pathetic name is that? What kind of parents would name their kid something like that?” His laughter echoed through the classroom. “I bet they were just as clueless as you are.”

  That was the breaking point. Azurith’s tired eyes flickered with a surge of anger. “At least my parents didn’t raise me to be a lunatic like you,” he shot back, his tone venomous.

  The words struck like a spark to dry tinder. Kairos’s face darkened, and his hand clenched into a fist. In the mind of Kairos, moment from his childhood reoccurred.

  His parents like a shadowy figure morning in tear and seething with anger while holding onto a boy as same age as him. Kairos's hand reach out to his parents. " Mom… I'm sorry, it was accident. I never meant to hurt him- " suddenly his dad slap his hand off from approaching.

  " QUITE! You are an monster! Look what you did to your own brother. " his father seething with anger in his voice answered. Kairos tears start to flow down to his cheeks uncontrollably, he was genuinely sorry and in a lot of regret for his action yet- "I wish I had never born a monster like you! Get out of our lives! " his mother said in tears.

  The words broke Kairos and made him feel he was no longer considered as their own son. The memory stung—sharpening his anger toward Azurith. In an instant, his anger surged, and he moved with terrifying speed.

  Without warning, he struck Azurith across the face, the force of the slap sending Azurith reeling to the side. Blood splattered from his lip as his head snapped back.

  “YOU SHUT YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH YOU BRAT!” Kairos snarled. “You’re nothing!”

  In one swift motion, Kairos grabbed Azurith by the back of the neck and slammed his face into the blackboard with brutal force rapidly without mercy. Azurith gasped, his body shaking with each impact. Blood trickled down from his forehead, but he gritted his teeth, trying to resist the overwhelming force pressing him into the board.

  The students around them froze in horror. Caelum tried to push himself up, but his body was too weak from earlier to do anything meaningful. He could only watch as Azurith struggled, his body barely hanging on.

  “You’re worthless,” Kairos muttered, his voice low and menacing. “You have no power, no value. You’re just a weakling.”

  Azurith’s vision blurred, the world spinning as his consciousness began to fade. His breaths were shallow, and his head felt like it was about to split open. His body was barely responding, his limbs heavy and weak.

  Kairos, satisfied that Azurith had been broken, began to form a ball of flame in his hand, the air around him crackling with heat. “I’ll finish this quickly. No more distractions. You will be burn away like a worthless trash as you are.”

  But as the flame ignited in his palm, something inside Azurith shifted.

  A surge of energy erupted from deep within him, a powerful, raw force that flooded his body. His body erupted with a nuclear blue light, his muscles tensing as if jolted awake by a shock. The temperature around him spiked, and the light began to swirl with chaotic energy, like the storm before a crash.

  Kairos’s eyes widened in surprise as Azurith’s body radiated with an unearthly glow. The surge of energy felt otherworldly, almost as though it didn’t belong in this timeline.

  But then, something shifted within Azurith. The nuclear blue light began to flicker, replaced by black and red energy. The aura twisted, as though a different version of Azurith—someone from an alternate timeline—was trying to break free, trying to take over his body.

  Kairos’s breath caught in his throat as the chaotic energy warred within Azurith. The black and red light fought against the nuclear blue, trying to suppress it, but Azurith’s willpower remained strong. The nuclear blue light flared back to life, pushing back the corruptive energy as Azurith’s body regained control.

  The struggle within Azurith was evident in his eyes as he roared with effort, a powerful punch landing on Kairos’s neck. The larger man staggered backward, losing his grip on Azurith and dropping him to the ground. The intense pressure around Azurith’s body slowly began to dissipate as the conflicting powers calmed.

  Before Kairos could recover, Azurith’s foot lashed out, sending Kairos crashing out of the classroom and into the courtyard below. The students gasped in shock, some staring wide-eyed at the transformation they’d just witnessed.

  Keria, who had been watching from outside, snapped her attention to the scene. Her eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued but unsure of what had just transpired.

  Azurith stood, his expression serious but calm, his body now radiating pure power. His limbs were back to normal, the nuclear blue light dissipating, leaving only the raw strength of his energy in its wake. He stepped forward, walking slowly toward the balcony.

  Below, Kairos groaned, struggling to rise. His anger was palpable. “That little bastard, he awakened. ” he muttered, but the fury in his voice was matched by a growing sense of respect for the boy who had just defied him.

  Azurith stood tall on the balcony, looking down at Kairos, his eyes cold and unyielding. Without a word, he leaped from the edge, landing lightly on the ground below. Kairos glared at him as he rose to his feet.

  The two locked eyes—there was no question now. A fight was inevitable.