"Wake Up, Wake Up, Wake Up, BROTHER Wake up...!!!"
Annoying voice of Raven was ringing in Rafael's ear. What a way to wake up!!
"Shut Up!! What do you want?!" Rafael shouted, flinging the covers off. Even half-asleep, Rafael refused to lose the sibling war. Raven seemed to be thinking something. Though the silence wasn't long.
"You are supposed to be at the table now. Father doesn't seem to be pleased at your unpunctuality." Raven smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Aghh...I should be the oneteasing!!
"Go away! I'm coming." Rafael snapped. He got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. When he returned, Rafael found himself in a dilemma about what to wear. After spending some moments he chose to wear a fitted, long-sleeve black dress shirt, buttoned up neatly with a pointed collar and a slim-fit, tailored black trousers that gave a sharp, clean silhouette. He was heading to the entrance ceremony of the Central Asia Super Gene Academy, the prestigious institution for Exons, and such an elegant outfit suited him perfectly. He gathered his materials and stepped out.
At the dining table, his parents and Raven were already seated.
Rafael glanced at his father, trying to read his expression, but it was in vain. His father remained as taciturn as always.
Rafael's chest tightened. Father's silence is worse than his anger. What do I say?
"Good morning, Father and mother. I apologize for my tardiness." Rafael's voice was low, almost subdued. He expected his father to explode on him. But it turned out it was quite the opposite. He didn't say anything. His father turned his gaze to him. Perhaps thinking how to discipline him with words.
"Good morning. Still as lazy as ever, I see. I had hoped the title of Exon might sharpen you, but perhaps I was expecting too much. Still, don't be late at your entrance ceremony. Listen carefully to the Instructor." his father's words came out steady, unshaken.
Rafael nodded, showing that he understood. He didn't talk after that. After finishing the meal, father left for the Central Asia Astro Lab, a Scientific organization monitoring space and extraterrestrial threats. He was working as the deputy director. Thus, their family status was nothing less than prominent. Rafael didn't wait long, he left after saying goodbye to his mother. Mother was very excited to see his son go to one of the most important academies in the world. She gave him a ton of advice before he left.
The sun blazed harshly, its glare bouncing off the glass and stabbing at his eyes.
The heat pressed down on him as he stepped outside. He remembered the stories of [Exora], the asteroid that had burned away one-fifth of humanity and rewired the rest. Without it, there would be no Exons. Without it, there would be no CASGA. And without it, perhaps he wouldn't feel the weight of his father's expectations
As Rafael climbed his transportation vessel, he was thinking about the primitive vehicles that were used before World War IV. They were controlled manually and had wheels in them that rolled and travelled. But those vehicles are now seen only in museums. His vessel was not the most luxurious or the most modern one, but it was a mid tier. It ran on electricity, but far more efficiently than the clunky low-tier models. It could be kept on auto-pilot mode or could be neural driven. It had no wheels, it uses magnetic levitation to float. Though the height is not that great, but it was quite enjoyable.
Rafael keyed in his passcode and the vessel hummed to life, lights flickering across the console. Designed for three passengers, it was nothing extravagant, but sleek enough to make him feel proud. Sliding into the control seat, he chose neural drive over autopilot. Riskier, yes...it always left a pressure in his skull—but he liked the control.
The vessel lifted with a soft shudder, gliding above the maglev road. Skyscrapers stretched like steel spires on either side, glass facades gleaming in the sun. Above them all loomed the Central Asia Astro Lab, piercing the sky like a monument to human ambition. Rafael adjusted the speed, the city sprawling beneath him like a living circuit board.
I wonder if I could ever escape this mess. These steel towers make the city feel unbreathable...
Though the name of the city is Celesia, it is mostly regarded as the City. He was driving at the northern part of the city, where resides most of its population. There was a river flowing under the bridge that connects the central part with the northern one. The riverbank was cluttered with new developments, including that flashy 'super shop' Mother and Raven kept talking about. Rafael barely gave it a glance.
I hope todays session wouldn't be too long. I need to go the alley.
Before long he reached the CASGA campus. It was at the central part of Celesia. The campus was literally...huge. I wonder...how much did they spend on it?!! Its outer walls were crafted from rocks infused with shards of [Exora], which shimmered faintly from within, casting an eerie glow against the black, matte stone. The walls were immensely tough—so resilient that even the most powerful Exons would struggle to pierce them. The academy soared around 300 floors above ground, with another 20 floors buried deep underground. Though the underground floors can't be seen from outside. Its breadth stretched wider than a dozen football fields laid end to end, making the campus feel like a city unto itself.
Rafael guided his vessel to a stop. I guess this marks the end of the ride. Time to shrink it…
Stepping onto the campus, he noticed the subtle difference in the air. The smell here was cleaner, fresher—almost unfair compared to the stifling heat and grime of the city outside. Can I carry the air with me?!! That would be fascinating...I need to find an Exon who can do that. That's a task for another time.
He stepped into the campus after a quick identity check—just a scan of his iris and fingerprints. But the moment he crossed the threshold, he froze. The interior was nothing like he'd ever seen. Steel beams soared above him, and the academy stretched so high its top vanished into the ceiling. The entrance ceremony was supposed to be in the auditorium, yet he had no clue how to get there.
Unknown places… always give me the creeps…
A blonde-haired young man caught his eye. Sharp features, fair skin, and a commanding presence. His all-gray outfit—a high-collared jacket with angled panels, layered pants, and fitted boots—made him look like he belonged to the place, effortlessly standing out.
After a few seconds, he gathered the courage and approached. "Excuse me… are you heading to the entrance ceremony?"
The boy turned, smiled warmly. "Yeah! I'm a new Exon. Are you a new student too?"
Talkative, huh…
"Yeah," he admitted. "I'm not really familiar with the campus. Could you show me the way?"
"Sure! Let's go together. Oh—by the way, I'm Fedric Krane. Yeah, that Krane family. My father reminds me of it every five minutes, like I'd forget. Anyway, pleasure's mine."
A Krane, huh… inventor family.
"Rafael Tron," he said simply. "Let's get along."
Fedric's eyes lit up. "Wait… Tron? As in Tevic Tron? Deputy Director of CAAL? Oh, man! I've heard of him everywhere. My father never shuts up about his research—says he's one of the few people who can make other scientists feel like amateurs."
Rafael stiffened. Not this again…
"Ahh… yes. That's him."
"Incredible! No wonder you looked familiar. I've heard a ton about your family. Honestly, I was hoping to bump into someone interesting today—and here you are! Guess luck's on my side. We're going to be friends, right? Oh, don't look so serious—I promise I don't bite. Unless we're in sparring practice, then maybe just a nibble—"
Rafael sighed internally. I asked for directions, not a running commentary.
After that, silence fell between them.
As they walked down the corridor, they passed one massive hall after another, each large enough to hold nearly eight hundred students. After passing several halls they reached the Auditorium.
The place buzzed with chatter. Rows of students filled the seats, their voices merging into a restless hum. Plush chairs, lined with deep fabric and built-in cooling systems, kept the hall comfortable despite the crowd. The soundproof walls swallowed the roar of hundreds, leaving the noise strangely contained.
A glossy black platform floated just above the ground, humming like it was holding back a storm. Light flickered under its surface—soft, restless, alive.Above, holographic banners turned lazily, each carrying the academy's emblem: a black shield etched with a silver flame, a crystal burning at its heart.And behind it all, a curved holo-screen stretched wide, stars drifting slow as if the universe itself was watching.
At its center glowed words carved in light:
[WELCOME TO THE SUPER GENE ACADEMY]
[ENTRANCE CEREMONY OF THE NEW EXONS]
[THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD]
That's one fancy way to welcome students… not a bad theme, though.
Rafael and Fedric found seats in the middle, settling side by side.
"Hey, buddy, do you see the holo-screen? My grandpa designed that. Of course, it's been upgraded over the past forty years," Fedric said, clearly fishing for conversation.
"Oh. I didn't know that."
What a bother. Just shut your mouth before I sew it shut. It's hectic enough already. Of course, Rafael kept that to himself.
"Who do you think will be our instructor today?" Fedric pressed.
How the hell am I supposed to know? Do I look omniscient?
"Oh, sorry. I guess you wouldn't know," Fedric muttered.
Maybe I should find another seat before I lose my mind.
"I don't think it'll be the headmaster. Probably a Yellow-stage Exon. What do you say?"
Do I have to bribe him to keep quiet? How much would he take?
"No idea," Rafael said flatly.
As Fedric droned on with unnecessary questions, Rafael barely registered the girl seated beside him. Red hair, sharp purple eyes, heart-shaped face. She wore a shiny grey top tucked neatly into black formal pants, sitting with quiet elegance—but he didn't have time to focus.
Darkness swallowed the auditorium in an instant. Silence followed, thick and heavy, clawing at their senses.
At the center of the stage, a figure emerged, a blackish aura radiating from him. His sharp, angular face and pale, flawless skin caught the corner of attention, piercing eyes under bold brows, a straight nose, thin lips, and long brown hair framing rigid elegance with a touch of wild energy. When he spoke, his voice cut effortlessly through the tension.
"I welcome the new students, the new Exons to the Super Gene Academy. I am your instructor for today's ceremony. As for my introduction, I go for 'Darkbringer'.
The name alone sent a shiver down spines. Even though Rafael couldn't see anyone, he was sure that everyone's jaw fell as they were shocked. Why wouldn't they be? The instructor was none other than the Director of 'Eclipse ExonCorps'. One of the most formidable Red Exon of Celesia. Darkbringer continued to talk.
" As you all know about me more or less, let's not dive into details. Let's discuss briefly what exactly an Exon is. Basically, our DNA's are modified. The modification is anything but simple. Even now after sixty years of [Exora] calamity, scientists couldn't figure out how the radiation triggered the gene."
Father is researching this… I wonder what progress he's made, Rafael thought, his curiosity clawing at him.
"But the power granted to us by the radiation…" His voice dropped, slicing through the tense silence. "…is a blade that cuts both ways." He paused, letting the words settle, letting the weight of them press against the students' chests. "Some wield it to save… others to destroy." His gaze sharpened, sweeping the auditorium. "Humanity trembles under the latter." He clenched a fist. "That fragile balance… rests on us. Exons are the hand that must strike for justice—or the world falls."
He turned slightly, letting his aura darken. "Some of you have already unsealed your abilities. Others… are still unsealing." A shadow of a smirk touched his lips. "Step through white… ascend green, yellow, orange… and when you reach red…" He raised a hand, palm outward, as if holding the apex itself. "…you will grasp the pinnacle of humanity. But beware—the higher you rise, the heavier the weight of your responsibility."
Darkbringer's voice lowered, almost a growl. "Celesia stands unscathed. The neighboring cities too—free of mutated monsters… for now." He let the words hang. A slight tilt of his head, eyes narrowing, made the silence suffocating. "But the world teeters on the brink of doom. Exons—lower your guard for even a heartbeat, and humanity will be lost… forever."
Rafael's hands clenched. The words sank deep, heavier than any weight he had felt. So this is what it means to be an Exon…