Room 19 was surprisingly spacious—at least, more than any of them had expected. Four beds, two on each side of the room, were neatly made with dark navy sheets. Each corner of the room was fitted with a tall metal locker and a personal desk. In the center, a sleek table with four chairs and a small digital screen embedded in the wall completed the space.
The door slid shut behind them with a soft hiss, sealing them inside their new shared domain.
"Not bad," Peter said, tossing his bag onto the nearest bed and flopping down right after it. "I thought we'd be in bunk beds or something."
Quinn set his bag by his locker and nodded in agreement. "I have to admit… this is better than expected."
Vorden was already pacing the room like he was inspecting a new ship. "We got a screen, individual lockers, and," he pulled open a drawer, "Snack storage! I call dibs on this one."
Ken let out a small laugh and shook his head. "You can have it. Just don't complain when we store protein bars and medicine instead of chips."
As they began unpacking, the room filled with the casual sound of zippers, shifting fabric, and lockers clinking open. Armor sets, utility belts, and a few personal items found their places.
Peter pulled out a small photo and set it on his desk. "Mom would kill me if I didn't bring this."
"Sentimental?" Vorden teased.
"Human," Peter replied with a smirk.
Ken opened his locker and silently set a single black box inside it. He locked it without a word.
Vorden noticed but said nothing. Instead, he cracked a grin and slung an arm over Ken's shoulder. "Well, boys. This is it. Our first night at the academy. Room 19—home of legends."
Quinn snorted. "You mean legendary troublemakers."
"Same difference," Vorden said.
Laughter followed, light and genuine. For a moment, everything felt normal.
Even Ken, usually guarded and cautious, found himself smiling as he sat on his bed, watching them. It had been a long time since he felt something even close to this—ease.
But under that comfort, something else stirred—an awareness.
He knew that things wouldn't stay light forever.
Because while they joked in their room, others whispered outside it.
---
After unpacking, the four of them lingered in the dorm, unsure what to do next. Eventually, Vorden was the one who pushed open the door and peeked out into the hallway.
"C'mon," he said with a grin. "We've got free time. Let's see what kind of trouble we can find before curfew."
The others followed without protest, the quiet hum of the academy's hallways greeting them. Lights along the walls glowed softly, casting a warm hue on the metal floors. The halls were mostly quiet now, aside from the occasional distant voice or the echo of hurried footsteps.
The group wandered through the lower levels of the dorm building, eventually making their way to a nearby lounge area. A few students were already there, but they kept their distance once they noticed Ken's and Vorden's level reading on their digital wristwatch.
"Looks like they think you're one of the elites," Peter said, nudging Ken with his elbow.
Ken shrugged. "Let them think what they want. I'm only a level 4.9 just one more .1 and I'll be a level 5."
"Still weird, though," Quinn murmured. "They don't even know who you are, and yet they act like you're untouchable."
Ken gave a sideways glance, but didn't answer.
Vorden flopped onto one of the large cushioned chairs, arms stretched behind his head. "Well, if we're going to be famous, we might as well enjoy it."
The lounge had a few vending machines, some low-lit holographic game tables, and a virtual news wall cycling through academy updates and city headlines. Peter and Quinn wandered to a digital board game table and started a match, their light competitive banter adding a low background buzz.
Ken sat on the armrest of the couch, observing more than participating. His eyes followed the screen for a moment before scanning the room.
Vorden, on the other hand, leaned in toward Ken, lowering his voice just a bit.
"So… you gonna tell us what's in that black box you locked up earlier?"
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Nah."
Vorden laughed. "Didn't think so."
After a while, Erin and Layla passed through the lounge, clearly on their own evening walk. Erin's eyes briefly landed on the boys, lingering on Ken for a second before flicking away.
Vorden waved obnoxiously. "Ladies! Over here!!"
Layla rolled her eyes but returned the wave. Erin gave a small nod and kept walking.
"They'll warm up to me," Vorden said with confidence. "Just wait."
Peter groaned at the arrogance. "Or they'll freeze you solid."
As curfew approached, the academy lights dimmed subtly, signaling the approaching lockdown. The boys returned to Room 19, still laughing and joking as they walked. Something about the night—the safety of their shared space, the comfort of camaraderie made it easy to forget, even for a moment, that things at this academy were far from ordinary.
That night, as each of them lied in bed, as quietness finally settled.
---
As the others drifted off into sleep, the dorm grew still. The soft hum of the ventilation system and the occasional rustle of a blanket were the only sounds that filled the room.
Ken laid on his back, eyes open, staring up at the plain white ceiling.
His chest rose and fell slowly, but his mind was far from quiet.
He remembered the schoolyard of his previous school. The times when he got tormented.
"You're an Original? What a joke. Where's your family's ability, huh?"
They'd mocked him, push him around, make him clean their shoes, carry their bags, and do worse.
When he resisted, fists did the talking. He hadn't known how to use his power then—his *own* power, one that didn't match the legacy of the Talen bloodline.
Back then, all he could do was take it.
The bruises faded, but the bitterness lingered. Not just from the bullying—but from the silence of the teachers. The disappointment in the eyes of distant relatives. The cold rejection from those who expected him to be something else.
When he turned 16 and school finally came to an end, came with it, the government's letter: mandatory enrollment in Military School. And he only has hours to get ready before the bus arrive.
Only this time, he wasn't defenseless.
Ken closed his eyes, his jaw tightening.
If anyone dares try to push me around again…
He paused, not wanting to finish that thought.
He had spent months perfecting his ability after he awakened it. And now, he wasn't going to let anyone take anything from him ever again.
He took a slow breath in and let it out through his nose, the tension in his body slowly unwinding as he reminded himself
This Military Academy is different from all the other schools I've gone to. I need to get stronger…
Eventually, his eyes grew heavier, the weight of exhaustion catching up to him. Finally…he went to sleep.