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***Adam***
As Adrian left the room, silence settled like a fog. No one spoke at first, each of us sorting through impressions, doubts, and contradictions.
Finally, I broke it. "I see what you mean now, Titus. He's… unique, to say the least."
Titus nodded, his face more thoughtful than stern. "I don't know if what I witnessed was precognition, but during the exams, it was as if he knew exactly what to say, exactly what to do, in order to pass. At times, it even felt like he had more information than he should have. More than once, I considered the possibility that he was cheating, and I guess in a way his power does provide external assistance."
Rachel leaned forward. "I agree. During the interview, I thought the same. But it was… strange."
"Why strange?" I asked.
Rachel tapped her fingers against her chair, choosing her words. "As you know, my ability lets me sense what lies beneath someone's thoughts—calculation, deception, goodwill, malice. Each has its own texture. With him, half the time it was like reading an empty book, as if there was barely anything there. The other half, it was like static—radio noise on a broken channel. Connected, but impossible to hear clearly. Only in rare flashes did I get a clear sense of his thoughts, and even then, it vanished almost immediately."
"It was the same with me," Mei added, her voice calm but firm. "My specialty is emotional resonance. And for ninety percent of the interview, he felt… blank. No joy, no fear, no frustration. That isn't rare, but combined with everything else, it suggests psychopathy. Or sociopathy. Although—" her tone softened, if only slightly—"when his brother was mentioned, I sensed something real. Grief."
Giovanni spoke next, his words blunt, clinical. "Vitals were clean. Pulse steady. Breathing rate consistent. Movement minimal. He was calm throughout. Too calm. He looked like someone at rest."
I nodded, adding my own piece. "Even my power—the compulsion in my voice, which almost no one ever notices—was detected instantly. That was a surprise."
Giovanni's lip curled. "I don't like him. He gives me the creeps."
"I like him," I said.
Rachel raised a brow. "Really? After he called you out?"
"Maybe because of that," I admitted, folding my hands over the file in front of me. "Think about what he said. The voice his danger sense 'evolved' into. What if it was that very voice that warned him about my manipulation? What if it explains why none of us could read him properly? The more I consider it, the more it excites me. A danger-sense power that doesn't just react, but actively guides—providing information on success instead of just avoidance. That isn't just rare. It's unprecedented."
Mei shook her head slightly. "Danger-sense abilities aren't uncommon, and the government has never directly classified them as precognition."
"Maybe so," I countered, "but who's to say they're all the same? When have you ever heard of a danger-sense ability warning someone days before a fire? Or guiding someone through a test where there are countless ways to avoid failure? You haven't. And then there's the matter of the recommendation. Someone important thinks this boy is exceptional."
Rachel's eyes softened, a hint of recognition in her tone. "Honestly… I agree. His interview reminded me of Mirah's, back when she first came through. Both of them gave the impression of people who just… always do the right thing. But Adrian's felt more extreme. More absolute."
"It makes sense," I said. "Mirah can see the future, but she still has to decide how to confront it. Adrian doesn't see it—he's guided through it. He can act on a kind of autopilot, without hesitation."
Giovanni frowned. "Do we even know who recommended him?"
I flipped open the file, scanning the notes. "No. Anonymous. Could be government. Could be a hero agency. Could even be something else entirely."
Titus spoke at last, his tone level but firm. "I don't think the boy is 'hero' material. But he is intelligent. And whatever his ability is—even if he can't explain it himself—it's useful."
I nodded, closing the file. "I agree. He's worthy of Class S."
"You're insane," Mei said flatly. Her composure never cracked, but there was steel behind her voice. "Yes, his performances across all three phases were impressive. Yes, he's unique. But S Class? How do you justify that? You yourself admit you still have questions about him. If you wanted to justify an S rating, then we should've pressed harder—asked exactly how he overcame certain obstacles, how this so-called 'danger sense' carried him through. Instead—"
I cut her off. "There was no point. My compulsion didn't work on him, and none of your abilities provided clarity either. That is precisely why he deserves S Class. First, he aced his math and English exams. Then, in the second exam, he built an entire false identity and convinced a roomful of students he was a technopath while simultaneously deducing the setup of the test and Titus himself. And then, during the interview, he answered every question without triggering a single one of your alarms. Tell me—what's the point of questioning him further, when even with all our powers combined we can't confirm something as basic as whether he's killed anyone?"
Giovanni scoffed. "That should be a negative, not a positive. If we can't get a read on him, that makes him dangerous in the wrong way, maybe class A but not the type of person you want in Class S."
I shook my head. "Or it means his mind doesn't process like anyone else's. Maybe he feels like he's killed without ever pulling the trigger. The orphanage, his brother—that explains the guilt. His answers fit. His control fits. His evasiveness fits. Everything about him is… consistent. Which is more than I can say for most we've put through this process."
Rachel exhaled, her reluctance obvious. "…Students with high criminal potential have never been barred from Sentinel. Even when they read dark, manipulative, dangerous. So why should Class S be different?"
"Because Class S is for students worthy of being presented to the world," Giovanni snapped. He leaned forward, voice sharp. "It's for those who surpass expectations. Look at him. Frame, vitals, muscle density—he wouldn't last a minute against a D-rank hero in a straight fight. S Class is for those who could topple cities if left unchecked. The boy isn't a threat. He's smoke and mirrors. Tricks. For all we know, his 'ability' just has some passive disruption field that scrambles our readings."
I turned my gaze on both him and Mei, voice cutting through their doubt. "When Mirah walked into this room, do you remember what she did? She sat down, crossed her arms, and told us she wouldn't answer a single question. And we let her. We passed her through, praised her mystery, and convinced ourselves her silence was strength. And now Adrian does the opposite—he answers everything, dismantles every one of our powers, and suddenly that's grounds for condemnation? You can't have it both ways. You can't exalt Mirah for her arrogance and mystery while condemning Adrian for clarity and deception. Both defied the system. Both unsettled us. And if Class S is for those who break expectations, then Adrian belongs there just as much as she ever did."
The words hung heavy. Giovanni leaned back, grumbling, but didn't push further. "I still don't like him."
Mei relented more slowly. "…Fine. I still believe we're rushing on incomplete information. But by our own standards—when we accepted Mirah—I suppose he qualifies."
A smile touched my lips. "Then I'll place him on the list. All that's left is his risk assessment and Sentinel level."
Rachel spoke first, her tone clipped. "Given his performance, he's manipulative, scheming, fearless, and shows limited empathy. His potential for criminality should be rated very high."
For once, the room was unanimous. I nodded and marked him accordingly.
Titus added, "As for threat level: physically, he's not special. His ability doesn't boost his body. But his intellect and tactics are exceptional, and his power—whatever it truly is—resembles a proto-precognition. That alone makes him dangerous."
Rachel looked up from her notes. "What was Mirah's Sentinel level again, when we accepted her?"
"S," Mei said without hesitation.
"Then let's mark Adrian as B- for now," I replied. "It fits. Especially since Liora Steele will almost certainly land in Class S with a ranking closer to A."
The panel nodded—some reluctant, others indifferent. But either way, the deliberation was over. Adrian Voss's fate was sealed.
***
After the interview, I returned to my seat in the waiting room. The stares that greeted me weren't hostile, not quite. If anything, they carried confusion. Suspicion. In the end, none of these students had been scammed by me directly. The ones who failed to earn seats—that's where the anger should fester. Here, it was something different.
[A scammer is still a scammer. It doesn't matter if you didn't scam them.]
Darien leaned toward me. "Adrian Voss, huh?"
I chuckled, flashing a smile. "Yeah. Nice to meet you formally." No point apologizing—there was nothing to gain from it. And how could I regret doing what was necessary for survival?
"Vincent Daintly…" Darien sighed. "It was a good name to use. I've got to admit, I'm impressed you thought of that on the spot. But… disappointed I didn't actually get to meet a Daintly."
"I wasn't trying to disappoint," I replied, tone casual. "Just pass like everyone else."
"I can get that, I guess. Anyways—" He eyed me carefully. "I assume you're not actually a technopath?"
Liora, who had been silent, shifted her attention toward me at that. Darien continued, "Me and Liora were making guesses. Since technokinesis is unlikely—even if you played it well—we figured it might be some kind of emotional manipulation. The way you controlled the room back there, it fits."
I shook my head. "No, nothing that fancy. Just a danger sense."
"Danger sense, huh?" Darien muttered under his breath.
Liora's grey eyes sharpened. "That doesn't align with what occurred in the last exam."
"Well, I've got no reason to lie," I said evenly. "You'll find out soon enough once I'm admitted. My danger sense is a bit… special. More sensitive than what's usually categorized under that name."
"More sensitive…" Liora repeated softly, her expression unreadable.
Darien broke the silence. "Anyways—how was the interview?"
[Look at this, maybe I'm the idiot. Some people really are stupid enough to befriend a scammer.]
"It was simple enough," I said, brushing the question aside. "Someone like you—or Liora—you'll be fine. Can't go into detail, obviously. But you know how it works. I just want this whole thing done and over with."
Time passed slowly after that. Most students stayed quiet, voices dropping to whispers here and there. Still, the deliberations dragged on.
"This is unusual," Liora murmured eventually. "Post-interview discussions are usually quick. By then, the staff already has enough information to make confident decisions. But your interview took longer… and now the deliberation too."
I shrugged lightly. "At least it means I'm being taken seriously. Wouldn't you be disappointed if Sentinel rejected you admission after a thirty-second chat?"
Liora's lips parted, a retort already forming. "I—"
But she didn't get the chance. The door opened, and Titus entered the room. His gaze swept across us before landing squarely on me.
"Adrian Voss," he said, his voice carrying finality. "You have been accepted into Sentinel Academy."
Polite applause filled the room. Titus waited it out, impassive, then gave a small nod. "You may now exit the premises. You will be informed soon regarding the details of your admission—dormitory assignments, schedules, and more. Thank you for choosing Sentinel."
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Now that the first 10 chapters are out, give me your honest opinions on characters and the story, and if you have any questions, let me know. I'll answer everything I think I can.