The classrooms felt silent as Zenon and Levi stood at the entrance.
They couldn't believe their eyes.
Most of them had only heard of him but never seen him in person. But now this figure they've only dreamt of meeting was now standing at the entrance to their class.
And he was talking to a boy who looked like he was around their age. News had already circulated from the students who had seen them together earlier.
Captain Zenon was present in their School with his brother.
They had initially discarded it as a joke. A baseless rumor. But now, what they all initially shrugged off as a joke from a prankster was now standing before them a a reality impossible to ignore.
With a small sigh, Zenon murmured, "I guess I really shouldn't have come here with you." Zenon exhaled slightly, his eyes scanning the sea of students staring in awe.
Levi, still absorbing the weight of the many gazes drilling into him, didn't even look at him as he muttered back, "You think?" His voice was simply dry. "That realization came really late."
The murmurs and whispers around them drowned out their words, their quiet exchange lost under the whispering excitement running through the classroom.
Levi shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the door. "Yeahh, I think tomorrow would be a better day to start." He took a small step back. "I've gotten a good feel of the environment, I'm sure—"
He noticed his body wasn't moving and he was just walking on a spot. Confused, he tried again but his feet remained in place.
That was when he felt it—something light, barely there, pressing against his shoulder. Levi glanced down and saw a single finger. Zenon's.
His entire movement had been stopped by just one finger.
Levi slowly tilted his head up, meeting his older brother's unreadable gaze. "Showing off now, are we, Captain Zenon?"
Zenon's lips curved ever so slightly into a gentle smile. "Like I said, you'll survive..."
Then, before Levi could react, he turned him around by the shoulders, and pushed him forward.
"Hey, wait—!" Levi tried to resist, but before he could even take another step back, the door clicked shut behind him.
The classroom went silent. Every single student was staring at him.
He felt the weight of their attention pressing down on him like a boulder. At this point, melting into the floor sounded like the best option, if possible.
But there was no going back now.
He scanned the classroom for an immediate escape, eventually discovering an empty seat near the window at the far end of the class.
Considering its position, it was like the heavens had finally decided to grant him one blessing.
Without meeting anyone's gaze, he walked forward, his head lowered.
Each step felt like a mile.
The classroom itself had the science fiction feel he had been getting from the school. The desks weren't standard wooden or metallic ones. They were each floating circular boards with a curved backrest.
A soft blue light glowed faintly from underneath them, giving the illusion of hovering just above the ground.
The moment he sat down, the hushed whispers returned.
"It's actually true?"
"No freaking way Captain Zenon actually has a younger brother?"
"He doesn't look like him at all."
"Shut up dumbass, he'll hear you."
"I can already hear you, idiots," Levi muttered, exhaling sharply, as he leaned back and tilted his head toward the window.
"I thought my heart was actually about to stop." His fingers drummed lightly against his knee. "That walk here felt like forever."
His gaze shifted outside. Despite everything, the school's landscape still amazed him.
"Those two would've loved it here..." A thought struck him, and he muttered aloud, "Now that i think about it, what's the name of this school?"
Before he could dwell on it, a voice spoke beside him. "It's Rakuzan."
"What the—!" Levi jerked so hard he nearly toppled off his seat.
Steadying himself, he whipped his head around to find a boy with black spiky hair grinning at him.
The boy chuckled. "Here I was, thinking you would've gotten some of their calm composure after spending a night at their place, huh?"
Levi frowned, eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the familiar face beside him. "I'm beginning to think you all got a secret quest to give me a heart attack."
Kyle chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
Levi's eyes drifted to his head, noting the new dark look. "Decided to relax with the dye and gel, I see..."
"At least act more surprised to see me here," Kyle said, brushing a hand through his now fully black, untamed hair.
"Besides... I got tired of the new look. Takes a lot of stress to maintain, so I'm going back to all-natural Kyle." He grinned, holding a mock pose as if flashing for a camera.
Levi let out a short breath. "Still living in your imaginary reality show."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Kyle replied.
Levi shook his head, then leaned back into his seat, eyes shifted to the ceiling.
"Speaking of quests…" He trailed off.
Kyle tilted his head. "Huh?"
Levi didn't respond immediately. His fingers stopped drumming against his table.
He wanted to say something to tell Kyle about the screen, about the new main quest and the ridiculous penalty that came with it. But the words got stuck halfway.
Aside from the fact that he didn't fully understand what was going on yet.
There was the newly added penalty.
A full stat reset.
And worse—sealed progress for a year.
Not only would he be sent back to square one, he'd be locked there watching others grow stronger while he stagnated.
How was he even supposed to pass a test with that kind of threat hanging over his head?
"There you go again…"
The voice was soft, and the feminity was unmistakably.
Levi blinked, sharply turning to his side only to find Violet standing just a few steps from him
Her arms crossed were crossed, watching him like a little sister who had just caught her big brother stealing cookies.
"W-When did you—?"
"You can't go three minutes without retreating into that head of yours," she said, reaching up and poking the side of his forehead gently.
"It's nothing…" Levi laughed nervously, rubbing the spot she poked. "I was just trying to remember the school's name."
"You are a terrible liar, my good man," Kyle joined in, slinging an arm over Levi's shoulders with exaggerated pity.
"Well… that aside." Violet tilted her head, smile playing on her lips. "Aren't you going to ask us anything?"
Levi blinked. "Ask…?"
"Helloooo," Violet said, waving her hand in front of his face like she was pointing to a billboard-sized clue.
Levi stared at her, then at Kyle, realization sinking in. He knew what she was hinting at.
He'd already pieced it together the moment Lyra said she'd "handle it." The whole class thing. The registration. The fact that both Kyle and Violet were now in the same school uniform. That had been her doing.
The surprise faded almost as quickly as it had come.
"Detective Sherlock Holmes here already figured it out," Kyle said, sighing as he leaned back in his chair.
Violet huffed, folding her arms and puffing out her cheeks. "Hmph. You're boring."
"And terrible with women," Kyle added, giving Levi a side glance.
Levi's mouth twitched. "Hmmm... Whatever that meant…" he muttered absently, then his eyes widened slightly, as though something had just clicked.
"Hey guys... uhm, do you know anything about a… Bearer test...?"
Kyle and Violet both froze. Slowly, they turned to look at each other.
Then, without a word, Kyle stepped away from him, standing beside Violet like they were about to deliver a synchronized performance.
In perfect unison, they chorused
"What?"