Alex navigated the bustling halls of the Academy for Supernatural Development, his long black hair swaying as he moved. The corridor buzzed with students, some casually showcasing their powers: a girl with glowing fingertips sketching light patterns in the air, a boy levitating a stack of books with a flick of his wrist, and another whose skin shimmered like liquid metal, reflecting the fluorescent lights. Alex's eyes darted around, taking it all in, when he caught a group of girls whispering and giggling, their gazes locked on him. "That's Lily's son," one hissed. "No way he's powerless, right? Look at him!"
Feeling their eyes, Alex turned, meeting their stares with a shy smile. "Hi," he said softly, pushing his glasses up before continuing toward his first class, Advanced Strategy. His heart pounded, but he kept his expression neutral, trying to ignore the weight of their curiosity.
At the classroom door, a man with round glasses and a neatly pressed suit greeted him. "You must be Alex. I'm Professor Kael." He paused, lowering his voice. "Just so you know, you'll be the only non-ability student in this class. Don't let it intimidate you."
Alex nodded, swallowing hard. "Got it."
They stepped inside, and the room fell silent. Thirty pairs of eyes turned to him, some curious, others skeptical. The classroom was massive, with tiered seating and holographic displays flickering with battle strategies. Alex stood at the front, his voice catching as he introduced himself. "Uh, I'm Alex. Just… starting here. No powers yet, but, um, I'm here to learn." His cheeks burned as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Before he could shrink further, a familiar figure bounded toward him. "Alex!" Alice's voice rang out, her usual cool demeanor replaced by a bright grin. She threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him over, then grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the back. The class watched, wide-eyed, as whispers rippled through. Alice—known for her icy disdain toward most men outside her brother and her terrifying shadow abilities—had just done a complete personality flip.
She pulled him to a group of four friends seated in the back. Nyx, a gothic girl with jet-black hair streaked with purple, heavy eyeliner, and a leather choker, smirked at him. Her power was unique: she could manipulate void energy, creating pockets of nothingness that absorbed light, sound, or even physical matter, leaving behind eerie voids that unnerved opponents. "Hey, Alex," she said, her voice low and teasing.
The other three—Kira, a fiery redhead with flame manipulation; Leo, a lanky speedster who left afterimages when he moved; and Mara, whose illusions could trick the senses into feeling phantom pain—looked at Nyx curiously. "You know him?" Kira asked, twirling a spark between her fingers.
"Nah, but I've heard stories," Nyx replied, smirking at Alex. "Alice doesn't shut up about her big bro."
Alex rubbed his head, embarrassed. "Only good things, I hope."
Alice elbowed him playfully. "Mostly. Like how you suck at video games."
The group laughed, and Alex found himself relaxing as they bombarded him with questions. "What's it like living with Lily?" Mara asked, her eyes wide. "Is she as scary as they say?"
"She's… just Mom," Alex said, shrugging. "She's strict but kind." He blushed when Leo asked if he had a girlfriend, stammering, "Uh, no, not really. Haven't thought about it much."
Class began, and Professor Kael dove into tactical formations for superpower battles, using holograms to simulate a hero-villain clash. Alex stole glances at his classmates' abilities: one student conjured crystalline shards that hovered like deadly ornaments, another emitted a low-frequency hum that made the air feel heavy. During a short break, most students kept their distance—Alice's reputation as one of the school's top five powerhouses, with only four students stronger, was enough to scare them off. Her shadow tendrils could slice through steel, and her protective streak over Alex was already legendary.
Still, two girls and a boy approached. The girls, twins with braided hair, had minor telepathy, reading surface thoughts in sync. The boy, Jace, was shorter but brimming with confidence, his power a mystery. "Hey, I'm Jace," he said, grinning. "You into anime?"
Alex blinked, surprised. "Yeah, love it. Attack on Titan is my jam."
"No way, same!" Jace laughed, launching into a debate about favorite characters. The twins asked about his life, keeping their questions light, but Alex noticed Alice glaring at the girls, her eyes like daggers. They backed off soon after, and Alex wondered why his sister seemed so tense.
Nyx leaned over, smirking. "Anime, huh? Didn't peg you for a nerd with that whole mysterious vibe."
"What, I can't look cool and like anime?" Alex shot back, earning a laugh.
As class ended, his phone buzzed. A text from ShadowStriker: Meet me by the fountain in the courtyard! Alex smiled, and Alice noticed. "What's up?" she asked, her tone sharp.
"Just meeting a gaming friend before next class," he said.
Her face froze for a split second. "I'm coming with," she said flatly. Nyx raised an eyebrow but tagged along, curious. Kira and Leo waved goodbye, heading off.
At the courtyard, Alex scanned the crowd, then froze. A girl with icy blue hair and matching eyelashes stood by the fountain, her beauty striking—ethereal, like she'd stepped out of a fantasy. Spotting him, her face lit up, and she rushed over, throwing her arms around him. "Alex! It's you!"
His mind reeled. ShadowStriker's a girl? And… wow, she's gorgeous. His cheeks burned as she pulled back, her blue eyes sparkling. Then she noticed Alice, and her jaw dropped. "Wait… you're Alice's brother?"
Alex blinked, confused. "You know her?"
Alice's voice was monotone, almost cold. "Hey, good to see you."
The girl—Serena, as she introduced herself—looked between them, stunned. "I… didn't know you two were related. Alex, you never said!"
"Do you two know each other?" Alex asked, his head spinning.
Serena laughed nervously. "Well, kinda. Everyone knows Alice. She's, like, terrifyingly awesome."
Alice's lips twitched, but her eyes stayed guarded. Nyx watched, amused, as Alex tried to process his gaming buddy being a girl—and the fact that everyone seemed to know his sister's reputation except him.