The Morning Assembly:
The atmosphere in the school had shifted overnight. The "Gym Incident" had become a legend. Every time Serina and Evelyn walked through the halls, students practically pressed themselves against the lockers to give them room.
Alex: (Walking through the hallway, hands behind his head) "Man, it's finally quiet. No one is bumping into me. I should have had you flip a senior weeks ago."
Serina: "People are staring, Alex. It's making it harder to stay 'under the radar'."
The Introduction:
The Principal walked onto the stage for the morning announcements, but he wasn't alone. Beside him stood a boy with charcoal-grey hair and an expensive-looking tailored uniform. He had a polite, perfect smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Principal David: "Students, please welcome our new transfer student from the Central District Academy, Lucian Vance. He is here on a special scholarship from the High Council."
Allen: (Leaning against a pillar, whispering to Alex) "Lucian... 'Vance.' Sounds like a brand of expensive shoes. I already don't like him."
Alex: (Eyes narrowing slightly) "He's not a student, Allen. Look at his pulse. It's too steady. He's a 'Sealer'—a specialized spy trained to sniff out ancient mana signatures."
The Classroom (History):
Lucian was assigned to the seat right behind Alex. Throughout the lecture, Alex could feel Lucian's gaze drilling into the back of his head.
Lucian: (Leaning forward, whispering during the lesson) "That was quite a performance in the gym yesterday, Serina. Flipping an S-Rank without using a drop of mana... that takes 'unique' training. Where did you say you learned that?"
Serina: (Coldly, without turning around) "YouTube tutorials. They're very educational."
Lucian: (Chuckling softly) "Funny. But the High Council is curious. They sent me to ensure no... 'unregistered anomalies' were influencing the Academy's students. You wouldn't happen to know any anomalies, would you, Alex?"
Alex: (Turning around, looking bored) "The only anomaly I know is how you're talking during a lecture on the French Revolution. Do you want to get us both detention? I have a nap scheduled for that period."
Lucian: "My apologies. I just find... 'hidden power' fascinating. I'd love to have a chat with all of you later. Over tea, perhaps?"
The Cafeteria (The "Accident"):
During lunch, Lucian "accidentally" tripped while carrying a tray of hot soup right next to Allen. It was a classic test—he wanted to see if Allen would react with supernatural speed.
The Test:
The tray flew into the air. The hot soup was aimed directly at Allen's back.
Serina and Evelyn: (Tensing up, ready to move)
Allen: (Doesn't move an inch. He just keeps eating his sandwich.)
SPLAT.
The soup soaked into Allen's hoodie. Lucian gasped, looking "horrified."
Lucian: "Oh, I am so sorry! I'm so clumsy. Here, let me help you—"
Allen: (Turning around slowly, soup dripping from his hair) "You owe me a new hoodie. This was my favorite 'lazy-day' gear."
Lucian: (Searching for a reaction, his eyes scanning for a mana flare) "I'll buy you ten! I just can't believe I was so careless. Most people with... 'reflexes' would have dodged that."
Alex: (Grinning, stepping in) "Allen's reflexes are tied to his appetite. Unless that soup was a spicy chicken wrap, he wasn't going to move for it."
The Secret Observation:
Later that evening, Lucian stood on the school roof, speaking into a high-frequency communicator.
Lucian: "Report: The girls are definitely the source of the power. They are disciplined, fast, and dangerous. As for the boys... Alex is just a mouthy slacker, and Allen is... well, he's an idiot who let a bowl of soup hit him. There is no trace of the 'God-level' signatures here. The girls must be the ones the Council is worried about."
The Twist:
Below him, on the ground, Alex and Allen were walking home.
Allen: "That soup was really salty, Alex. I'm going to make him pay for that hoodie."
Alex: "Let him play his games. If he thinks the girls are the 'big bosses,' it keeps the heat off us. Besides..." (Alex looks up at the roof, his eyes flashing purple for a micro-second) "...it's fun watching a snake try to hunt two lions while thinking they're just blades of grass."
Alex: "Anyway, Serina! You heard the man! He's buying ten hoodies! Make sure you pick the most expensive ones. That's your homework for tonight."
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