A heavy silence settled over the room, each of them lost in thought, the weight of the day's events still pressing down on them.
Then, as if to break the tension with a hammer, Vorden turned to Erin with a sly grin.
"You know," he said, stretching casually, "I think I'm already better at using your ability than you are."
Erin raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You wanna test that theory right now?"
Vorden's grin only widened as he dove behind Quinn, grabbing him by the shoulders and using him as a human shield.
"Protect me, Quinn! She's gone feral!"
Quinn rolled his eyes but didn't move, he instead sighed dramatically. "Why is it always me?"
Layla, watching the exchange from the bed, couldn't help but laugh. "You three are ridiculous."
As the others laughed and bickered, Ken stood silently by the window. The moonlight casted a soft glow across his face, revealing the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
They were still able to joke and still able to laugh.
But beneath his smile, Ken's thoughts ran deep. We have to get stronger. The beating… the warnings… Mono's threats…
Ken's eyes shifted to Quinn.
He's still at a disadvantage, Ken thought. No ability, not yet. We need to get him an ability book… something that suits him. Something that won't leave him behind.
Ken knew what it felt like to be powerless. To be mocked and underestimated. Quinn didn't say much, but Ken could see the frustration buried under that calm exterior.
I won't let anyone get left behind, he told himself. Not this time.
Behind him, the others continued their banter. Erin had started chasing Vorden around the dorm room with a glowing palm, while Layla offered sarcastic commentary from the bed. Quinn stood like a tree in the middle of the chaos, resigned to his fate.
Ken turned back toward them, that small smile lingering. Tomorrow, they'd return to acting like they had learned their place.
But tonight, they were still standing, and together, they would rise, no matter what.
As the laughter finally began to die down, Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked at the others, then at the worn-looking brown ability book in his hand.
"Hey," he said, holding it up, "do you guys think this Earth ability... is good for combat?"
Ken looked over from the window, and the others stopped what they were doing.
Vorden was the first to speak, leaning forward from where he sat on Quinn's bed. "Honestly, there are dozens of abilities that outclass Earth in combat. Fire, lightning, wind—even water based ones. Earth's sturdy, for sure, but it's mostly used for defense or utility. Unless you train hard and develop your techniques, you're gonna struggle in close fights."
Peter's expression faltered slightly. "So... it's not good?"
Vorden shook his head. "I didn't say that. It 'can' be good, but that's where the problem is." "The military gives out the lowest-tier Earth books to guys like us—people they don't see potential in. If you want to learn anything more powerful—like forming weapons, manipulating large-scale terrain, or summoning armor—you'll need a higher-level version. And those?" Vorden gave a bitter smile. "The military controls those tightly. They'll only let you progress if you pledge loyalty, follow their orders, and don't ask questions."
Peter stared at the book in his hand like it was suddenly heavier.
Erin crossed her arms. "It's how they control people. Give just enough power to be useful, but not enough to be dangerous."
Quinn glanced between the others. "So they chain you with promises. Get you to depend on them if you want to grow stronger."
Ken stayed quiet, but his gaze didn't leave Peter.
"Still," Layla said gently, "it's a start. Better than having nothing."
Peter nodded slowly, more thoughtful than disappointed now. "So... if I want to get stronger, I either follow them—or find another way."
Vorden nodded. "Exactly. And if we're smart about it… we'll find that other way."
Ken approached Peter, and placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. We're not letting anyone get left behind."
Peter looked up and met his gaze. "Thanks, Ken."
Ken took a step back from Peter, giving him a firm nod of reassurance. Then his gaze shifted, settling on Quinn.
"And I haven't forgotten about you either," he said. "You still need an ability book."
Quinn's eyes widened a little, caught off guard by the attention. He looked down, fidgeting with his fingers.
"What kind of ability do you want?" Ken asked gently.
There was a long pause.
Quinn stayed silent, deep in thought. He had spent so long hiding his weakness that he had never truly asked himself what kind of strength he wanted. Then, like a whisper buried deep in his mind, something surfaced—Talen.
"My family…" Quinn began slowly. "Their name was Talen too, right? My mother... She used to tell me stories about how our bloodline was so special."
The others went quiet, listening.
"Ken… could you teach me the Talen's original ability?"
Ken's eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in conflicted memory. The name Talen meant history, legacy, and expectations.
Ken looked away for a second, clenching his jaw. "If that's what you really want... then so be it," he said. "But I'll need to go back to my family. And…" His voice tightened. "They don't exactly consider me one of them anymore. I was labeled a failure for not living up to their standards. If I show up again, they might not even let me through the front gates."
The weight of his words sank in.
That's when Vorden stepped forward.
"If we're talking about Originals," he said, "then I guess I should say something too."
The group looked at him in surprise.
"I'm one too," he admitted. "An Original. My family... they've kept their ability line pure for generations. That's why I can do what I do—copy others' powers. But being an Original? It's not all pride and power. It's pressure, chains, and expectations you can't shake off."
He looked over at Ken.
"So it's not fair for you to carry that weight alone."
Ken stared at him, eyes meeting with quiet understanding.
In that moment, something unspoken passed between them mutual recognition, not just of power, but of burden.
Quinn took a deep breath. "Then I guess we all have something to prove."
Ken nodded. "And we'll prove it together."
The group stood still for a moment, unified by more than just circumstance now. By truth. By shared pain.
Erin glanced down at her wristwatch, the faint digital glow reflecting in her eyes. "It's getting late," she said, her voice breaking the quietness that had settled over the group. "Layla, we should get back to our dorm. We got to wake up early tomorrow."
Layla nodded in agreement, stretching her arms with a yawn. "Yeah, I don't want to start my second day already half-asleep."
The group exchanged nods and soft goodbyes. Despite the tension and uncertainty of everything they'd been through, there was a sense of camaraderie now.
"Night," Erin said, giving a small wave before stepping out the door with Layla in tow.
Once the girls were gone, the room fell into a familiar stillness, broken only by the sounds of the four boys settling in for the night.
Vorden tossed his shirt onto his bed and flopped back with a loud sigh. "I swear, we've only been here for a day and it feels like a month."
Peter sat at the edge of his bed, kicking off his shoes. "Yeah, I thought military school would be strict and boring. Turns out it's strict, violent, and completely insane."
Quinn chuckled softly, lying down and folding his hands behind his head. "Still better than what I expected. I thought I'd be invisible the whole year."
Ken smiled faintly, though he remained quiet as he finished pulling his blanket over himself. The noise from earlier had faded, and now only the hum of the night filled the room.
It felt peaceful—for the moment.
But Ken couldn't shake the thoughts spinning in his head. About what it meant to be a Talen, about soul weapons, and about the strength he'd need to protect himself and his friends
He glanced at the others—Quinn already dozing off, Peter still mumbling to himself about ability books, and Vorden fiddling with his watch.
They'd made it through day one. Barely.
But tomorrow was coming, and Ken knew he had to be ready.
No more running. No more holding back.
He closed his eyes and let the quiet of the dorm settle over him, a quiet promise forming in his mind:
I will get stronger. For all of us.