The students walked behind the task force, heading towards the dean’s location. It all still seed so surreal when the kids thought about it. They’d woken up this morning planning on talking down their friend and had ended up destroying a building,part of a street, fighting beasts and finding out about the third one in Zen’s...or whoever’s body this was, luckily this one seed mostly composed,at least it seed that way.
Currently everyone’s eyes were on Zyro but he just stared straight ahead with a smile, seemingly excited to et the dean.
’Freya. Are you there?’
"Yeah, I’m here kid. How you been?"
Zyro almost squealed from excitent as he answered.
’You tell . I’m not even sure what year it is. Last thing i rember is... Zen ’
His mood instantly cald down but it only lasted for a second before he regained the spring in his step.
’I missed you Freya. How are you in my head? Are Rio and Riley in there too? Are they...are they okay?
"I... don’t know, Zyro. Zen and Rio got seperated and i lost track of Riley in the chaos. I don’t know if..."
Zyro’s smile faded a bit and he sighed.
’If you’re okay,then why not them? I can’t wait to see them again’
Freya didn’t know how to reply. She could already tell he had that bright hopeful smile on his face. She wondered how she’d tell him that she herself wasn’t even alive and their siblings were almost definitely dead.
In the end she just sighed.
"Yeah... too, buddy"
"hello? Am I interrupting sothing?" Lilith suddenly spoke.
’Oh right. You’re Lilith right? I saw you in so of Zen’s mories. Nice to et you ’
"Hmmm,you seem awfully accustod to hearing voices that aren’t there"
"Lili!" Freya imdiately retaliated, making Zyro feel pretty awkward .
’She isn’t wrong ’ Zyro thought, acknowledging that a normal person wouldn’t just suddenly start hearing voices in their head without being at least a little bit put off by it. He on the other hand just took it in stride.
Finally reaction to the stares boring into his back, he looked back, although he wasn’t bothered by the staring, he just wanted to know why they seed so interested in him.
The one that was most intense was Zaria’s but she seed to be keeping a considerable distance from him.
Shuffling towards her a bit shyly, Zyro whispered.
"Hi"
"..."
"You’ve been looking at a lot. Wanna talk?"
Zaria was a bit surprised he actually approached her. She pointed at his left eye and said
"You’re..."
"Oh, yeah. Reeeaaaallly long story. But long story short, I’m not the guy you’re used to"
"Are there any more?"
"Not that I’m aware. Hahaha "
Zaria was stunned. This was the first ti she’d seen Zen laugh,or... whoever this was with his face. It was slightly unnerving, but also a bit infectious. It was like looking at a completely different person,it was like Zen but at the sa ti not.
"Thanks for the glove by the way"
Zyro said, displaying the glove Jade had given him to hide his mark.
"I’m guessing you know that I’m... we’re..."
Zaria nodded
"And you guys are...cool?"
Zaria looked at Zyro strangely for a few seconds before answering.
"We’re still keeping an eye on you, and I’m sure Max and Diane can’t wait for you to cause trouble so they’ll get rid of you... but until then, we’ve got your back"
Zyro looked back at Diane and was greeted with a not so friendly expression. He smiled and waved nervously and whispered
"I feel so safe"
"So... how did Zaine bust our cover. He’s the angry one by the way"
Zaria shook her head.
"It was actually Zen who got caught, and I’m the one who caught him"
Zyro stared for a few seconds, looking completely shocked.
"No way, Zen? I never would have guessed. How? He’s just so...HIM"
Zaria chuckled and shrugged, feeling oddly comfortable around Zyro
"Guess I just have a good eye"
Before the conversation could continue, they reached a door. The dean, the highest authority in the academy was behind this door. Most people would be trembling at this point, but even after learning about the deans authority and power, Zyro knocked enthusiastically, excited to see the old man for the first and technically second ti.
The door automatically creaked open, letting the kids in with the task force and the first thing they noticed was the mundane looking man that looked like he was in his fifties,sitting in the center of the room.
"Gram-"
Zyro suddenly felt the looks from behind him intensify and will a nervous laugh he changed his greeting.
"Sir. Nice to... et you"
Zyro said, taking an awkward bow, clearly not knowing how to act. The truth was that he really did recognize the dean. Freya used to tell him stories about her adventures in the academy as a kid and back then she’d taken a liking to the nickna gramps for the dean, and in her stories always called him that. In the end Zyro got the sa habit and the words gramps instinctively left his mouth whenever he thought of the dean.
The dean stifled a small laugh , clearly amused and got up from his seat.
"Gramps ay? Do i really look that old already?"
"Not really, but you feel old, like an antique manga"
The dean looked a bit confused
"Is that a good thing "
"Yep"
The dean looked at Zyro with a look of suprise"feel?"
Zyro nodded.
"Soone (Freya) told that when a manga gets older it doesn’t reduce in value but is instead considered more valuable, especially while in perfect condition . The person (Freya) also taught that there’s a technique you can use to look into soone’s eyes and feel their heart "
"Oh" The dean looked intrigued.
"And what do you feel from ?"
"You’re old, but not in a bad way. You’re extrely wise and deep like the ocean,plus. So you’re in perfect condition, extrely valued,deep, and full of wisdom. You’re just like a really old book,or a manga. Aweso,no?"
Everyone behind Zyro was absolutely stunned. The task force was shocked because he’d just spoken to the dean like he was just a regular person while his classmates were shocked for another reason:
WHO THE FUCK IS THIS KID!?
Those words would never leave Zen’s mouth, especially in such a childish way,and Zaine would have to be at death’s door to say a full sentence without cursing soone.
The dean looked a bit confused for a few seconds before bursting into a light laugh.
"Hmm, I like it. Gramps it is then"
Zyro smiled brightly, scratching his head awkwardly.
"I’ll take care of things from here,you can leave" The dean said to the task force who reluctantly went back to their post, closing the door behind them.
"Were you kids hurt?" Was the first thing he asked
They all replied no but the dean didn’t seem to believe it.
"Sir...if i may. How exactly did you know where we were"
Zyro suddenly realized that made sense and backed up Maximilian.
"Yeah, gramps. How?"
The dean let out a mischievous smile, looking at the kids, specifically Zyro and Neo.
"You kids didn’t really think that you would be the first in centuries to gain new abilities and the public wouldn’t want to keep an eye on you? Especially since you’re hanging out with your celebrity friends" He said, referring to Diane, Zaria, Maximilian and Xavier.
"Wait,you an...?"
The dean sudden tapped a button on the table and a holographic display appeared, acting as a television.
What it was currently displaying was a clear angle of the fight they just had, with Zaria punchier Zaine into a building.
Looking at the top right corner they realized it was a private livestream channel conducted by soone anonymous called Red Sparrow.
Zaria cringed as she saw the huge explosion she caused. Her parents were definitely going to hear about this. She was dood.
Zyro on the other hand had another thought. If this person had this footage,then was it possible they got the footage from last night. He didn’t have all the mories, but he knew that what Zaine and Sable did last night wasn’t sothing he wanted on the news. It seed he’d have to conduct an investigation.
Maximilian and the others were similarly shocked, especially Maximilian himself.
How had he not detected a caraman, especially since they looked so close from this angle. It just... didn’t make sense.
Neo realized that his newfound fa might bring problems for his sister,an outco he wanted to avoid at all costs.
And Diane’s thoughts were similar to Zaria’s. Property damage, misdeanor, public violence,violation of academy and military orders. How in the world would she explain this.
Jade and Xavier were mostly safe, after all, the only significant action Xavier had made was save Diane and the video didn’t even show it properly due to all the debree, and Jade had just stood there until the beasts showed up.
Despite this the girl who had never gotten into trouble was sweating buckets,her heart beating so fast even the people without special senses could hear her panicking,not that they needed to, she looked like she’d just ran a marathon!
She only had a single father who was struggling to make ends et with a small shop and violent land sharks on his tail. What would happen if he saw this and recognized her? What would he think ? He had rejected the money she earned from fighting, telling her to keep it. She couldn’t even help him and this would just make things worse.
Jade suddenly started rapidly breathing, the constant threatening and harassnt resurfacing in her mind as she squated down, clutching her chest.
Everyone imdiately noticed sothing was wrong and tried to gather round her when a few shadow tendrils ca out of the ground, surrounding her and keeping the others away. It only lasted for a few seconds before he was once again empty but it gave him ti.
"Give her space"
He said, approaching her.
"Hey, you’re hyperventilating. You need to calm down, it’s not that serious"
This had absolutely no effect as Jade still kept breathing rapidly.
Zyro sighed.
"Okay, I’m gonna need your help here, okay?
"...."
"Good. First: Tell five things you can see right now, and focus on them"
Jade didn’t know what purpose this held but she nodded.
"You... Diane " Jade listed the nas of five of the people in the room.
"Good " Zyro said gently
"Now close your eyes, and telling four things you can hear"
Jade closed her eyes and listened carefully
"Your voice, feet, my own voice,wind"
Zyro moved behind her and covered her ears with his hands, getting closer to tell her.
"Three things you can touch"
Her breath cald down a bit as she thought for an answer.
Her hand suddenly moves to hold his wrist, claiming him as the first answer,next her bow, and finally the walls.
"Two things you can sll"
She took in a deep breath and muttered.
"Rubble... and... lavender"
Her heart rate slowed again until it was almost normal.
Zyro nodded, the lavender sll was already in the office and the sll of rubble was obviously from him.
"One thing you can taste "
Jade suddenly felt soone pushing sothing against her lips, taking it she realized it was candy.
"Strawberry"
Zyro, noticing she’d cald down enough took his hands off her ears and eyes.
"Feeling better"
Jade nodded, still a bit shook.
"Don’t worry. Although I can’t say much for the rest of you but I will personally make sure this will in no way affect your father miss callisto "
Hearing that,Jade sighed in relief. The last thing she needed was more problems.
"Thanks gramps "
Zyro said thankfully
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