The moment the creature vanished and the students scattered back to their dorms, the academy seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. But the atmosphere in the air was thick with unspoken tension. There was no doubt that the event had shaken everyone—teachers and students alike. No one had expected the students to venture into the North Tower, let alone get caught up in an attack of that magnitude. But what worried everyone even more was the identity of the creature, and the fact that Caleb had been the one to stop it.
In the quiet aftermath, the teachers rushed to tend to their students, their voices hushed and serious as they ushered them into the main hall. Caleb, still on edge, couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted in the academy. He had felt the way the students looked at him now, the admiration mixed with fear. He couldn't blame them; the power he had unleashed was something he hadn't allowed anyone to see before. But now, there was no turning back.
As Caleb made his way toward the main hall, he felt a presence behind him. He turned and saw Freya, his mother, her face a mixture of worry and pride. She was walking toward him with purpose, her eyes scanning him from head to toe as though checking for injuries.
"Caleb," Freya's voice was soft but filled with authority. "Are you hurt?"
Caleb's first instinct was to brush her off, to downplay the entire situation as he always did. But there was something in her eyes that made him stop. For the first time, he saw a flicker of something deeper than concern.
"I'm fine, Mom," Caleb said, offering her a weak smile. "A little bruised, but nothing major."
Freya gave him a stern look, her brows furrowed. "You could've been seriously hurt, Caleb. I'm not just talking about your physical safety. You're playing with fire when you keep your abilities hidden like that. You don't understand what's at stake."
Caleb flinched at her words, not because they were harsh but because they struck a nerve. He knew she was right, but he wasn't ready to accept that truth yet. He wasn't ready to reveal everything about himself—especially not to the academy. It had taken him this long to keep his powers under control, and now, everything was changing in ways he couldn't fully comprehend.
"I did what I had to do, Mom," he said, his tone edged with frustration. "I didn't have a choice."
Freya's eyes softened, though there was still a noticeable tension in her posture. "I know you did, but this isn't just about you, Caleb. It's about the academy. It's about everything we've worked for. Do you really think they'll just let you go on with hiding what you are?"
Caleb opened his mouth to argue, but Freya held up a hand. "I don't want to fight about this now. Not after everything that happened. But we need to talk. You can't just pretend your abilities don't exist anymore."
The word 'abilities' echoed in Caleb's mind, and for a moment, he couldn't look his mother in the eye. He hadn't told her everything. He hadn't even told her about the extent of what he could do. It wasn't just about hiding what he was; it was about protecting the people around him from the danger his powers could bring. If Freya knew everything, would she still see him as her son? Or as something else entirely?
"I'll think about it," Caleb muttered, his voice low.
Freya's gaze softened further, but there was still a hint of worry in her eyes. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just promise me you'll be careful. You're not alone in this."
Caleb nodded, but he didn't say anything more. He wasn't sure if he was lying to himself, or if he genuinely believed things would get better. For now, all he could do was focus on the moment.
As the two stood there, the quiet hum of the academy growing louder, Caleb could feel the eyes of the other students watching them. They were all whispering, no doubt discussing the hero who had saved them all. But what they didn't know was that Caleb wasn't their hero—not really. He was just a kid trying to keep his secrets buried, and the weight of it all was starting to crush him.
The Academy's Tension
Meanwhile, inside the academy, the atmosphere had taken a dramatic shift. Students and teachers alike were still in shock, unsure of how to react to what had just happened. Caleb had become the center of attention, but not in the way he ever wanted. Whispers filled the halls, and glances were exchanged—some filled with admiration, others with jealousy.
Logan and Liliana had gathered in a corner of the main hall, their voices low as they discussed the events.
"That was insane," Logan said, his voice filled with awe. "I didn't know Caleb had it in him. That power—he really is something else."
Liliana, ever the practical one, folded her arms. "Yeah, but we need to be careful. The teachers are already talking about it. I don't think anyone expected Caleb to have that kind of control. And the way the students are reacting... it's going to cause some serious tension."
Logan smirked. "Come on, it's Caleb. He's handled worse. Besides, they're all looking at him now. They can't decide whether they should worship him or fear him. Either way, it's gonna get interesting."
Liliana wasn't as amused. "We need to make sure it doesn't spiral out of control. If the teachers find out more about his abilities—especially Freya—things could get complicated."
In the halls outside, Caleb's attention was diverted by the sound of footsteps approaching him. He turned, and as expected, it was none other than Troy, the same student who had been giving him grief earlier.
Troy's face was twisted in annoyance, though he couldn't hide the flicker of unease in his eyes. "Nice show out there, hero," Troy said sarcastically, his voice dripping with venom. "Did you really think you were saving the day? Or were you just trying to show off?"
Caleb's patience was wearing thin. "I didn't do it for you, Troy."
Troy smirked, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Oh, but that's the problem, isn't it, Caleb? You think you're better than everyone else, but everyone's just waiting for you to slip up. Don't think you're some big shot now. You're just as much a target as you were before."
"Careful, Troy," Logan said, stepping up beside Caleb. His usual easy grin was gone, replaced by something darker. "You don't want to start something you can't finish."
Troy raised an eyebrow, but he knew when to back off. "Just remember, Caleb," he sneered, "you can't run forever. Sooner or later, your little act will catch up with you."
With that, Troy turned and walked off, leaving Caleb with a mixture of frustration and a growing unease.
"Do you think he's right?" Caleb muttered, turning to Logan and Liliana. "Do you think people are really waiting for me to fail?"
Logan sighed. "No one's waiting for you to fail, Caleb. But there's a lot of eyes on you now. People don't forget when you make a splash like that."
Liliana nodded in agreement. "The academy's going to be different for you from now on. Just... be careful."
As the trio walked back toward their dorms, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whatever had been set into motion tonight would be felt for a long time. And the worst part? He wasn't sure if he was ready to face it.
The next few days were tense. The students treated Caleb with a mixture of awe and wariness, and the teachers were divided. Some praised him for his quick thinking and bravery, while others were skeptical, wondering whether he should've used his abilities so openly. Caleb couldn't escape the whispers, the stares, the ever-present judgment.
Freya had made it clear that Caleb would need to face the consequences of his actions, but for now, all he could do was try to make it through the days. But as the tension in the academy grew, Caleb knew one thing for certain: things were never going to be the same. And the price of being a hero—especially a hidden one—was far steeper than he had ever imagined.