Part 1
three months had passed.
I was finally beginning to find my way around this gigantic high school. For the first few weeks, I got lost almost every day. The arched corridors, the staircases leading to other staircases, the wings with their mixed names of numbers and letters.... As a result, I was often late. But with time, I found my bearings.
The courses at Konfrant are on a completely different level.
Before, my ability was enough for me to get excellent marks without having to revise. But here, I feel I'm going to have to work hard... very hard. Not to shine, no. Just to make the grade.
This school doesn't recruit its students at random. Most have been selected for their genius, rigor or discipline. Of course, there are always a few exceptions, but on the whole, I feel I'm surrounded by brilliant people. There's a kind of silent pressure here, not imposed by the teachers, but by the students themselves. Everyone seems to have specific goals, an obsession with something they want to excel at.
Maybe that's why we're given so much autonomy.
I also quickly established a routine. Even if some classes weren't compulsory, especially the non-specialty ones or the options, I attended almost all of them. Perhaps because I needed structure. Perhaps to keep my mind occupied. In any case, my days were full.
After classes, there was MMA.
A club of about fifteen people. The atmosphere quickly became fraternal. I think it's something peculiar to combat sports. Respect comes naturally after a few exchanged blows. Some of the members were in my class. Five didn't even belong to the school: students from the surrounding area, young people from the town. After training, we'd go home together in a small group. We'd talk about anything and everything. It created a special atmosphere. An after-school bubble.
Yuna was in her final year of high school. And Naël had taken the literary speciality. So we didn't bump into each other as much as we used to.
Yuna was quite well known at school. She was on the student council. She'd drop in on clubs for surveys, forms, or just to talk to the people in charge. She connected with everyone. She had this gift for building bridges.
We saw each other on weekends, and sometimes ate lunch together. It was less frequent, but always pleasant. Like a break in the race.
With Naël, it was different. We saw each other constantly. At every break, during training sessions... and we shared the same room. It was like Franc-Fort, only more independent.
On the whole, things went well, even if sometimes his manic side came out. He'd get annoyed over the most trivial things: a badly folded sock, a badly hung towel, a bag not put away on the right side. It became a running gag between us. I'd annoy him on purpose, he'd grumble, then I'd tidy up.
As for my bracelet...
I made sure not to show it. It stayed tucked under a long sleeve, or stashed under a bandage I'd pretended was medical. It's too conspicuous. It might attract attention, raise questions. And I didn't feel like answering anything about it.
I hardly ever used aether anymore.
Precognition, on the other hand, activated itself. It was like a reflex, an involuntary muscle.
I now knew how to regulate it. It was a power you could tame, like controlling your breathing or your strength. I could feel it rising. I'd let it happen... or I'd force myself to stop it. But I often lost in this face-to-face confrontation...
Part 2
While I was in class, vaguely thinking about this, that... and probably nothing very useful, the teacher's voice brought me back to reality:
- That's it for today. You're dismissed.
I jumped a little. Kameron, my seatmate, tapped me on the shoulder.
- Class dismissed. So, you never told me what you thought of my proposal yesterday.
His proposal?
I vaguely remembered that he'd mentioned something to me while we were sparring at the MMA club... But I couldn't put my finger on it. A total blank.
- I'll tell you again tonight at training, ahah.
I forced a smile, hoping it would come back to me in the meantime.
- Okay, but it's for tomorrow.
- No worries. I'm thinking about it.
I tried to divert attention.
- Are you coming to eat with us at the canteen?
He laughed.
- Man... you were really out of it during class. I told you I had a date.
And then, bam. It came back to me.
During class, he'd told me about a girl he'd met. That heartbreaker...
Obviously, my brain had decided to retain that, and not the important part.
- Well... see you then.
- See you tonight!
I grabbed my bag and headed for the canteen.
They were already there. Naël spotted me at once.
- What took you so long, Leo?
- Yeah, sorry... the teacher dropped us late.
Not entirely true, but not entirely untrue either.
Yuna wasn't there today. She was probably with the other girls on the student council
In her place was Persival.
Persival Penrose-Jasperson.
He too was new, like us. Except that he was from England, a senior in high school, and had that strange elegance that always made him look like he'd stepped out of an old British film, even in a t-shirt.
The first time we'd seen him was at the MMA club.
Tall, red-haired, with a pale complexion studded with freckles and eyes so deep brown they were almost reddish. He was wearing a well-ironed black sweater and a soft leather bag, not a sports bag.
Yet he was doing surprisingly well. He'd told us he was an English boxer.
I sat down next to them, my tray in hand.
- We were just talking about Kameron," says Naël with a mischievous smile. Did he tell you he was going to see Yuna?
I stopped dead in my tracks, fork in the air.
- Wait... Yuna? That's his famous appointment?
Nael burst out laughing.
- I was just explaining to Persy that he was going to flunk out. And I told him so! That guy thinks his smile is enough for anything.
- I was taught never to underestimate anyone," Persival replied calmly.
His little British accent gave every sentence an air of ironic elegance. Even when he spoke of rejection in love, he sounded like he was reciting Shakespeare.
He continued:
- But let's talk about yesterday's proposal.
- Ah, yes... let's talk about that. Earlier, he mentioned it again, but... I completely forgot what it was. I didn't dare tell him I'd forgotten.
Naël shook his head.
- That's because you were still in your bubble. You should write a Léo version of the "things not to forget" notebook.
I shrugged, falsely offended.
- Very funny. But what exactly was he talking about?
Persival took over, still with his impeccable calm:
- He wanted us to go to a fighting tournament. Organized by the town's youth, apparently.
- Ah, was that all it was? Frankly, it sounds great. Where's the tournament? At a club?
Naël looked up from his plate, more serious than usual.
- That's just it, no. It's not an official thing. It's an illegal tournament. The fights take place in a disused underground parking lot south of Konfrant.
I paused, my fork dangling over my tray.
- Illegal... like really illegal? With illegal betting and wagering? Or just something not declared to the town hall?
Naël smirked.
- Let's just say that if you see the police turn up in the middle of it, it's no surprise.
- Damn..." I muttered.
Persival, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised.
- In England, this kind of event exists too. They call it Bare Knuckle Boxing. It's fairly regulated, even if it's not legally recognized. Maybe that's the case here too.
- Frankly, I don't think it's that organized, given that it's organized by local kids," I replied.
Nael continued:
- According to Kameron, it's a regular, structured tournament. There are referees, a running order, an elimination system... but it's also a place where people test things they don't show elsewhere.
- Stuff like what?
Naël shrugged.
- He didn't want to go into details.
I instinctively looked down at my wrist, hidden under my sleeve.
- And he wants us to come just to look?" I asked, a little wary.
- Yes, this time," replied Persival. But I understand that some of them also come... to recruit.
People take part in this kind of tournament to let off steam... but also because there's a prize for the winner.
He said this in a neutral, almost detached tone. But his gaze hardened briefly.
There was a short silence.
Then Nael, with a falsely menacing smile:
- In any case, if you forget why we're going again, I'll sign you up. And I'll tell Kameron you bet against him.
- We'll see you in the final of the tournament, then," I said with a smile.
Nael regained his seriousness:
- Seriously... Kameron really wants to take part.
Yesterday, I thought it was another one of his stupid jokes. But it's not. He's really into it.
When you see him again... try to dissuade him, Leo.
- Okay, let's do it this way. See you tonight, then.
It was already time to join our afternoon classes.
Kameron is quite stubborn. I'll find my best arguments in the moment, as usual.
But before that, we'll talk about his famous meeting with Yuna.
I've got a few things to say to her about that.
Bonus - Character sheet: Kameron
Full name: Kameron Akmuller
Age: 17
Date of birth: December 25, 2000
Status: Lycéen en première générale, spécialité Scientifique
Physical description:
Height: 1m88
Hair: Black, medium-length locks tied in a bun or tail
Eyes: Hazel
Personal life & ties:
Born in Kofrant, he lives with his mother and two little sisters.
A very protective older brother, he juggles his family responsibilities with his personal ambitions.
A student at Konfrant high school since 10th grade, he is well acquainted with the school's social dynamics.
He has been grappling and wrestling since the age of 14, which makes him formidable on the ground.
An active member of the Konfrant HightSchool MMA club, he quickly made a name for himself with his technique.