The afternoon air carried a faint heat breeze through the academy gates, stirring the leaves of the tall shade trees. Jimmy stepped out of the shadow of the main building just as an unfamiliar voice boomed from the entrance.
"Ohhh—look who we have here! The champion himself!"
Vice Principal Rollo stood there, arms folded and a grin stretching across his weathered face. His face lit up with a proud smile. "Let's congratulate him for his win," Rollo continued, glancing over his shoulder.
Standing just ahead of him were Professor Enza, her hair pinned neatly as always and Lazen, the physical combat instructor. Both turned when they heard the word champion, exchanging puzzled glances.
"Champion?" Lazen's brow furrowed. "Who's that?" Enza asked.
Vice- principal Rollo gave them a look like they'd been living under a rock. "Don't tell me you two haven't seen the news. This guy right here..." he jerked a thumb toward Jimmy, "...won the Vatican Tournament. The announcers themselves couldn't explain his strategy at first. Even I had to watch the replay three times." His grin widened. "Brilliant work, lad. Well done."
Jimmy simply nodded once in acknowledgment.
Enza and Lazen, still half-surprised, finally joined in. "That are you. I don't know you were from our school. Well done," Enza said, adjusting her glasses. "Good luck for the rest of your journey," Lazen added with a firm nod.
"Jimmy," Vice- principal Rollo prompted.
They both repeated, a little more sincerely this time, "Well done, Jimmy. Good luck for the rest."
Jimmy signed a quick thank you and moved to pass them by, but Vice- principal Rollo called out again. "The principal wants to see you. He'll reward you for that win."
Jimmy paused mid-step and signed, "Really? I'm… not exactly the type to believe him right away."
Vice- principal Rollo's smile dimmed just slightly, replaced with a look of patient familiarity. "How many times have I told you? You have to start trusting us. We've never wished you harm. Everything we do is to push you toward a greater future."
Jimmy held his gaze for a moment before nodding and falling in step behind him.
As they crossed the courtyard, Enza's voice carried from behind. "Hey, little boy—how do you train your Whisp?"
That question seemed to snap the attention of every adult in the vicinity. Even Lazen tilted his head slightly, listening.
Jimmy signed without hesitation, I note down every attack they can use first. Then I create combos out of them.
Enza raised an eyebrow. "She didn't train herself? Everyone did that with their pets, but when they got enough experience, then..."
Jimmy's hands moved again, She always trains on her own. I just show her some paths or what should you do to make it better.
The pace slowed as curious expressions passed between the teachers. Jimmy, sensed the unusual shift, pulled out his phone to type and to ensure there was no chance of misunderstanding his signs. The conversation stretched for another few minutes, before the group reached the corridor leading to the administrative wing.
The other teachers excused themselves. Vice-Principal Rollo and Jimmy continued alone until they stopped before a tall, polished door.
"You go in," Vice- principal Rollo said. "I've got something else to take care of."
Jimmy signed of goodbye but the vice principal just waved him forward.
Knock. Knock.
A muffled, "Come in."
Jimmy pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Behind a wide desk, the principal sat leisurely eating something from a porcelain bowl with a silver spoon. His posture was relaxed, but his sharp eyes were tracking Jimmy's movements.
"You're Jimmy," the principal said, setting the spoon aside.
Jimmy's gaze flickered to the corner of the office—where another figure leaned against a bookshelf. A tall woman in a fitted instructor's coat, her eyes like still pools. He recognized the name from whispered conversations in the corridors. Viola Nicolas. Trainer of the 3rd and 4th-year students.
"Should I go, sir?" Viola asked.
The principal made a small motion with his hand, palm down, stay. Then he pointed toward the cushioned chair opposite his desk. "Sit."
Jimmy did so. The principal leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "I watched your match. You won the tournament, and I must say—your strategy was… impressive. Calculated in the moment, but executed like you'd practiced it for years. You even defeated the heir of—" he stopped mid-sentence, as if catching himself. "Well. Leave that aside. The point is, you impressed me."
His eyes narrowed just a fraction. "So, tell me. What do you want as a reward?"
Jimmy answered without hesitation. "I want to come to class less often."
The principal chuckled. "You're already doing that. That's an easy request. I could manage that with a snap of my fingers." He tapped the desk lightly. "But I'm still impressed. So I want to give you something more. Something new."
He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Let me think… Wait. Before that—there's something I've been wondering since the first day I saw you in the auditorium."
Jimmy tilted his head slightly. "How do you see?" the principal asked. "You don't have eyes and to hid it, again you wear that blindfold… yet you move without any problem. I got some curiosity."
Jimmy's reply was quiet, steady. "I can see. I don't know how, but I can see it."
"All things?" Jimmy nodded.
The principal muttered under his breath, his gaze briefly sharpening. "His talent is… sense? Is he using it from—no, impossible." His eyes softened again. "Hmph. Everyone has their secrets."
He glanced toward Viola, who had been watching the exchange silently, and gave a small nod.
..............................................................
Jimmy asked by writing, "Can I join their team really?"
"Of course, you can." the teacher replied with a warm smile. "You've got great potential. But… I also heard you've unlocked your second brain area. Can I check your Whisp?"
Jimmy's eyes met hers. She caught herself and quickly added, "See, I'm a trainer, and you're joining a team. Let's build trust. I know, you don't like making sudden judgments. But still, I'd like to see it."
Jimmy gave a small nod. He glanced around the room, measuring the room size.
The principal chuckled. "Is your Whisp bigger than this room?"
Jimmy nodded again.
"Then let's go outside," the teacher suggested.
Before anyone could move, a low rumble echoed—krumm…—and darkness swept the room. A moment later, light returned, revealing they were already outside, standing on the academy's training ground.
"Show me," the principal said.
Jimmy made a hand seal. A green seal flared, and a sharp, ringing chirp pierced the air. From nowhere, a majestic peacock-like Whisp swooped down—its sapphire feathers shimmering, tail aflame with golden sparks.
The principal's eyes narrowed. "What kind of Whisp is that?" He turned to the teacher. "Do you know it?"
She shook her head.
Jimmy typed into his phone: Pheanorion.
"Type?"
Fire and Flying.
The principal studied it. "Not native to these lands. You've got good taste."
Jimmy bowed faintly in thanks.
"You can go now," the principal said.
Jimmy recalled Pheanorion, turning to leave. But as he walked away, faint voices reached his ear—mechanical and filtered.
"Did you analyze it? What… and what we assumed?"
"…Yes. Matches only fifteen percent."
"Good. Let's go."
Jimmy kept walking, the conversation sealed behind his calm expression. Outside the school gate, he whispered to himself, "Nexus first."
The walk to the Nexus was quiet. A new receptionist greeted him as he entered.
"Need any help, sir?"
"A training room."
"Room 18."
Jimmy nodded, though his eyes flickered toward the far end of the hall before he stepped inside.
The room was just as he remembered. He released Luna.
"Electromagnetic wave."
A low hum vibrated through the floor. The lights blinked out. Every device in the room died. Jimmy summoned Peeko. "Azure light. On yourself. Silence."
Peeko, sensing the weight of the order, ignited a deep blue flame around his body.
"Now, on me."
The fire washed over Jimmy in a cool, weightless surge.
"Feel anything wrong?"
Peeko shook his head.
"Good. Back inside for now. They're coming."
Moments later, the door opened. An electrician stepped in.
"Sir, our monitors showed Room 18's lights and equipment shut down all at once. Any problem?"
Jimmy nodded slightly, watching him work. The man flicked a switch, bulbs lit again.
"Everything's fine now."
Jimmy signed: See? Everything's fine.
The man left. Jimmy lingered for a moment before stepping out.
The same receptionist was at the desk.
"Miss, can you show me what Whisp food are being actually used?"
"Sorry," she replied, smiling faintly. "It's a secret. Every Nexus has a different food chart, set by head office."
"Head office?"
"Kwantheris City."
Jimmy allowed himself the faintest smile and then took out a Breeder licences. He asked "Can I see it now?" she took it and started to make a verification of it. Then she said "well, yes. Your qualification is more than any caretaker here. You can apply for job here." Jimmy signed 'not need.' She said "Check the message in your mail."
.......................................
After 5 min,
He said, "You can free my room. Thank you for your help."
Next, he went to the medical shop to gather the same materials their teacher had mentioned and the equipment. The manager greeted him with a happy nod, and Jimmy quickly bought everything without fuss.
"Let's practice," he murmured, slipping quietly out and heading home by taxi.
As soon as he arrived, Jimmy called both Luna and Peeko outside.
"Let's practice."
Peeko tilted his head. "Food?"
"Dummy," Jimmy replied flatly. "Go practice with Luna."
Peeko grumbled in a bad mood, mumbling, "Dumta…" before heading to practice.
Jimmy gestured toward Bruno. "Watch Peeko."
The midday sun pressed down as Jimmy began making the recipe their teacher had shown them. His first attempt, failure. Second, still failure. But at the time of fifth try, the texture and smell began to match what he had practiced and smelled.
An hour later, Jimmy had managed to make a basic batch of fire food for Peeko.
When he looked over, Peeko was still trying to pester Luna into a fight, even though she kept dodging him with ease. Jimmy sighed.
"This dummy… come here."
Peeko teleported over instantly.
"Taste this."
Peeko sniffed the small, meatball-like foods and bites them before eating.
"Well?" Jimmy asked.
"Good," Peeko said with a mouth full. "Dumta tatata... Better than what you usually give me."
"Tell the truth."
Before Peeko could reply, Luna padded over, snatching one between her teeth.
"Hot…" she muttered.
"Of course," Jimmy said. "I made them for him, not for now. You already know why. I will make for you after my learning about your food."
Luna nodded. "I can do it now."
Jimmy nodded once.
She nodded again.
"Show me tonight."
"On," she said softly.
Jimmy spent the next three hours making fire-type food, refining each batch. Peeko kept sneaking over to steal bites like a shameless glutton before rushing off to spar again.
.........................................
Night.
Luna stood in the yard, her horns glinting under the moonlight. Jimmy was sitting on the door and Peeko, the glutton, munching his food peacefully. Jimmy quickly brought bottle of 3 different elements energy and said Luna to drink it. Luna obeyed. Then she nodded. Jimmy came back his position.
Suddenly near by ground started to freeze instantly, clouds were started to form and lightning spark was showing on some part on top and bottom. Then, like a small vortex appeared in field, as snow, water, lightning were attracted by something unnatural, it was assimilating on her horn and started to make a small sphere and rotated continuously.
Miniature earth swirling with water, sparks of lightning dancing along its surface. It gradually getting bigger and bigger, before it suddenly fizzled out.
"Well done," Jimmy said. "You did it."
Luna did not said anything, her eyes were totally in white and she was in trance...
Suddenly jimmy felt another shock when his codex started to heat rapidly...
Then a light erupted....
...........................................
Another message came right after: Let's fight, for real…
So, what is happening here? again, whose message was it? Was glutton ate too much food? Is it good signed to be recognized or it might downfall him? I also don't know, so, Why not stay tuned for next update...
To be Continued...